Midvale Journal | March 2023

HILLCREST HIGH STUDENT LEADS THROUGH ADVERSITY, AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

Hillcrest

High senior Toccara Dumas has seen a few things in her life that a 17 year old shouldn’t have to see.

As a biracial child, she’s experienced an unwelcoming feeling from both the Black and white communities. She wrote about her experiences and insight in an essay contest. She was awarded with the Larry H. Miller Company Education Scholarship that was presented to her at the 39th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Luncheon.

“I wrote the essay and had my mom and English teacher look at it, not so much to proofread, but more to see if I shared the message, ‘You’re never too Black or you’re never too white. It’s never going to be enough with being a mixed child,’” she said. “I’ve had to figure out who I am and learn to live within both communities. It’s about seeing what works best for you.”

“I am living proof that love between two different races is possible,” she wrote.

Although her parents divorced when Dumas was 1 year old, her stepfather, who is Black, stepped in to “bless me with a multicultural community.” While Dumas maintained a healthy relationship with her mom’s white side of the family, her exposure to Black culture was often limited to attending a mostly Black Baptist church.

“When I was younger, I didn’t really understand the racism. Kids would talk about my hair, and they’d throw paper balls or erasers is my hair. It was hard and made me insecure,” she said.

In her childhood, Dumas remembers a neighbor threw rocks at her bedroom window, called her derogatory slurs, egged her mother’s car, smeared animal feces on their property, and made death threats.

“Discrimination plays a different role for mixed children than it does for full Black people,” she said.

Dumas said often insensitivity plays a role when people talk to her.

For example, she has been asked in history class if she sides with the north or the south during the Civil War. Since Dumas is biracial, she doesn’t neatly fit into either community and she even has faced prejudice as a female.

“I think people need to think and be careful in what they say and do; you never know when you’re just going to hurt somebody’s feelings,” she said.

Dumas has a 4-year-old sister, who she’d tell: “Do what you got to do you. People are not always going to like you and that’s OK. At the end of the day, you got you and that’s all you

got. You got to stay strong to yourself.”

In her essay, she also addressed what needs to be done in the world.

“If we want to see change within our communities and people, we need to start caring for the home that we live in,” she wrote.

She said what is needed is more scientists, doctors and environmentalists to save planet Earth, which she wrote is

dying. She said that under appreciated women and people of color can fill those roles, but more importantly, she pointed out that it’s not an issue of color, but about the roles that are needed as a community and human race to bring about change.

Her scholarship is earmarked for college where she hopes to make an impact and study animal science.

Continued page 6

Hillcrest High student body and yearbook historian Toccara Dumas, taking photos at a wrestling meet, recently was awarded the Larry H. Miller Company Education Scholarship at the 39th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Luncheon. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

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Utah Division of State History opens Engagement Room in Midvale

By Sarah Morton Taggart | s.taggart@mycityjournals.com

Ina way, Don Lind has come home. A sculpture of the scientist and astronaut who grew up in Midvale and died in 2022 can now be viewed at the Midvale Collections Center for the Utah Division of State History.

The building at 7292 S. State St., formerly used by the Department of Workforce Services, is one of five locations being used to store the state’s collection of historic artifacts—but the only one where the artifacts are accessible to the public.

“We’re excited to be here,” said Jennifer Ortiz, director of the Utah Division of State History. “We’ve been working on opening the Engagement Room since the summer of 2022.”

Access to the collection was closed to the public in March 2020, after the building it was housed in was damaged by a 5.7-magnitude earthquake. The collection, which has an estimated value of $125 million, will be moved again to its permanent home in the Utah State Capitol in 2026.

The collection includes 1 million photographs, 31,000 artifacts, 30,000 books and 25,000 pamphlets. Of all the items, Ortiz was quick to name her favorite.

“I love the Philo T. Farnsworth television tubes,” she said with a smile. “They’re a real claim to fame for Utah and connected to TV, an invention everyone has interacted with.”

Astronauts and inventors aside, the Utah Division of State History places an emphasis on documenting the lives of ordinary Utahns.

“We’ll be absorbing the Salt Lake Community College textile collection in the coming weeks,” Ortiz said. “The clothing represents what a typical 19th- and 20th-century Utahn wore. We’re trying to get a fuller picture of who people were and are in our community today through clothing choices.”

The division recently held a “Scan and

Jou r nals

YOUR

Share” event in partnership with the Salt Lake Chapter of the Genealogical Society of Hispanic America.

“We documented important items such as photos of the first Mexican American parade in Salt Lake City and ephemera-like posters from the Chicano Movement in the state,” Ortiz said.

A table of Midvale artifacts was on display during an opening reception of the Engagement Room on Jan. 27. The space has cozy lighting with plenty of tables and chairs and is available by request. Anyone wishing to access the archives can call 801-245-7227 or email historyresearch@utah.gov.

“We’re working to make the collections more accessible,” Ortiz said. “We had an En-

gagement Room before, but here we can make available a variety of different objects, not just 2D. It adds a layer to the research people are doing.”

Staff are still working on procedures for accessing the artifacts.

“Our pamphlet collection is housed at the state library, a sister agency,” Ortiz said. “So if someone wants to see it we need to arrange for transport. Things that are here onsite can be called up quicker and easier.”

Sabrina Sanders, the artifact collection manager, led tours of the storage area that will not typically be open to the public.

“Every item is in a database, down to the smallest political pin,” Sanders said.

For those who can’t make it to the Mid-

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vale location, around 300,000 photos and other documents in the collection have been digitized and are free to view online at www.history.utah.gov/library-collections/digital-collections/.

Donations are accepted, though they must go through a committee to make sure the artifacts meet certain collecting and acquisition requirements. For example, the object must relate to Utah history and not already be represented in the collection.

“We’re working to recognize the cultural and historical gaps in the collection,” Ortiz said. “Then move forward to fill in those gaps and hold ourselves accountable to represent the state’s full history in our community.” l

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The most requested books, including yearbooks and city histories, are on display at the Utah Historical Society Engagement Room. (Sarah Morton Taggart/City Journals)

A sculpture of Don Lind is one of thousands of artifacts being stored at the Midvale Collections Center for the Utah Division of State History. (Sarah Morton Taggart/City Journals)

For almost as long as Midvale has been a city (established 1909), Goff Mortuary has been a stable presence.

The mortuary, located at 8090 S. State St., originally started in Midvale in 1915. The original founder was Clifford Isaac Goff. He was born July 27, 1877 in West Jordan. His father, Hyrum Goff, was 27 and his mother, Maria Tryphena Arnold, was 22 at the time. Clifford married Sabina Larson in September of 1903 in Salt Lake City. They had at least two sons and three daughters, but the exact number of children from Goff is unknown. He passed away May 4, 1942, in Midvale at the age of 64 and was buried in Midvale.

Clifford Goff operated the mortuary until his son, Louis E. Goff joined him. Back then, Goff Mortuary advertised themselves as C.I. Goff and Son Mortuary. Louis Goff eventually purchased the mortuary from his father and with the help of friends, family and part-time employees, enjoyed success in the mortuary business.

In the early 1950s, Louis Goff hired Gates P. Christensen and later sold him a portion of the mortuary. In the mid 1950s, Goff Mortuary was incorporated and a new mortuary was built on State Street,

Goff Mortuary serves Midvale for a century

By Annabelle Larsen | a.larsen@mycityjournals.com

where is still stands today.

After the death of Louis Goff in 1971, Christensen and Delworth W. Ballard purchased the mortuary from the Goff family. Eventually, Christensen retired and Ballard, along with a team of licensed funeral directors and embalmers accepted the responsibility of continuing the Goff Mortuary tradition, keeping the Goff name intact as the company’s titular title.

In January 2011, Chad M. Anderson purchased the mortuary. Anderson has worked alongside Ballard at Goff Mortuary since May 2003.

The Anderson family has been involved in the funeral industry since 1866, making Chad a fifth generation funeral director and embalmer, providing mortuary services to folks from Midvale for many years now.

“There’s a lot of history and heritage, so it's an honor to serve those families that we have been for a century,” Anderson said.

Although the world has changed a lot in the past 100 years, much of Goff Mortuary services have remained the same. They have a vintage hearse that can be used by families for services, and thanks

to a small staff, the experience is more personalized and unique.

“Most things have stayed the same, technology has been implemented in ar-

eas, but overall we kept things similar to what they have been for the life of the mortuary,” Anderson said. l

Clifford Goff, pictured in dress-attire on the left, stands in front of his mortuary service in Midvale in the 20th century, on the corner of Center Street and Main Street. (Courtesy of FamilyTree)

Cottonwood Connect Ski Shuttle opens for Midvale residents

The days of being stuck in traffic going to a canyon could be ending sooner than we think for Midvale residents and visitors.

An updated, reservation-based public transportation service to the various ski resorts is now possible through the Cottonwood Connect Ski Shuttle.

Reservations for ski shuttle roundtrip rides to Alta, Brighton, Snowbird and Solitude are accepted on a first come, first served basis. These services are scheduled to run Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays through April 16.

The goal of the new ski shuttle is to reduce traffic congestion, improve air quality and enhance the visitors’ experience, as well as residents’ experience as they journey to and from the canyons’ ski resorts.

As stated on the Visit Salt Lake website: "This public, private partnership was funded in part by Salt Lake County, Visit Salt Lake, Utah Transit Authority (UTA), Alta Ski Area, Snowbird, Solitude Mountain Resort and Brighton Resort. Cottonwood Connect will help supplement the recent reduction in ski bus services provided by UTA. Passengers will pay $10 for a round-trip service and reservations will be

By Annabelle Larsen | a.larsen@mycityjournals.com

required through the online booking portal. A fleet of mini-coaches and large passenger vans will ramp up their frequency throughout the program. Beginning with a weekly capacity of 736 passengers and ending with a 1,120 weekly passenger capacity. Snow Country Limousine was selected as the service provider after a request for proposal process by Visit Salt Lake."

Areas served by Cottonwood Connect include Midvale, Cottonwood Heights and Sandy with stops at area hotels and public park and ride lots in partnership with UTA and UDOT. A full list of stops and routes can be found at visitsaltlake.com/cottonwoodconnect.

“I’m proud of everyone who came together to make this a reality. Cottonwood Connect will benefit so many across the valley who want to use our canyons this winter and environmentally it’s another win for our community,” said Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson.

“We felt strongly about helping to create a way for our visitors and locals to enjoy more options to reach our mountain playground,” said Kaitlin Eskelson, president and CEO of Visit Salt Lake. “Salt Lake is the perfect urban basecamp for

winter adventures and our goal is to create a seamless experience.”

“We appreciate Salt Lake County leaders for providing the Cottonwood Connect service,” said Sandy City Mayor Monica Zoltanski. “Sandy City is pleased to support the program by including the

shuttles with UTA buses who are guided by the Sandy Police Ski Bus Bypass Service as a direct way to promote transit use and ease traffic congestion in our neighborhoods closest to the canyon.” l

“I’m so grateful that this scholarship can help me with what I want to learn,” she said.

This year, she began studying about her passion of animals at Jordan (School District’s) Academy for Technology and Careers, commonly referred to as JATC.

“So far, I’ve only had experience with dogs, but this summer, I’m planning on taking a humanitarian trip to Tanzania and will get some experience with marine conservation and dolphin conservation,” she said.

Dumas, who played volleyball three years for Hillcrest, is a student body officer and yearbook historian who often is seen taking photos of student events.

“I’ve always really liked taking pictures when I was younger, so my mom got me a little camera. I’ve never had a professional camera until my teacher lent me a camera to take to a football game one night and I played with it a little bit to figure out how it works. I just started taking pictures and looking up and asking questions and I just got better and better,” she said. “It was my motivation for running for SBO. I just I wanted to be able to support everyone and be a positive part of everything.”

Her adviser, Shannon Hurst, has appreciated having Dumas as the student body historian.

“Everyone needs a Toccara in their life,”

Hurst said. “She is one of the kindest, most loving and understanding people I’ve ever met. She is also a dependable leader with a creative mind. Toccara continuously serves the school in her capacity as the student body historian and does an amazing job.”

UTA buses drop off and pick up skiers and snowboarders at many of Utah’s resorts such as Snowbird. (Image courtesy of Snowbird)

Hillcrest High senior Toccara Dumas recently won an essay contest and was awarded a $5,000 scholarship at the 2023 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Luncheon. (Larry H. Miller Company)

Canyons District provides counseling after student hit by school bus

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

It was a gray late January day with temperatures in the high 30s when Jordan High students were done for the day at 12:45 p.m., with an early dismissal bell schedule. About 15 minutes later, Jordan sophomore Jennifer Flores Diaz was walking across State Street at Princeton Drive (8375 South)—and never made it to the other side.

A Canyons School District school bus taking home 16 Hillcrest High students turned left from the neighborhood west of State Street and struck the 15 year old, who died at the scene.

Once he learned of the accident, Student Services Program Administrator BJ Weller, who is a certified counselor and licensed clinical social worker, rerouted from going to a nearby school to the scene where he was able to provide immediate counseling services and support.

“Everybody there was working extremely well together—the police, our transportation team, risk management, our crisis team,” he said. “Everybody was there with compassion and trying to protect privacy and to let the police officers do their investigation. It was a picture of community partners working together to support a tragic situation.”

In addition, several others from the District’s student services personnel with backgrounds in counseling went to the scene to assist the teenager’s extended family who arrived, the Hillcrest students on the bus and the 70-year-old bus driver.

Hillcrest High administrators went to help get the students to a nearby restaurant to provide police statements and awaited parent or guardian pickup, Canyons District spokesman Jeff Haney said.

Since that day, Jan. 27, Jordan High Principal Bruce Eschler said there has been an outpouring of support for Jordan students in remembrance of the 15 year old. Diaz, who attended Jordan since her freshman year, was an older sister and babysitter, and who liked to play soccer.

“She’s a good kid, with lots of friends,” he said. “She’ll be missed.”

Eschler released an immediate statement to the Jordan community.

“Our deepest condolences go out to the student’s parents and family and to Jordan High teachers, staff and students who are struggling with pain and loss,” it said. “This is a difficult time for all of us. We want to express our appreciation for the support you have shown our school community as we’ve faced a time of intense difficulty.”

That night at the Jordan High boys and girls basketball games, there was a moment of silence in her honor. A community vigil was held, and a makeshift memorial of flowers, balloons, notes and candles stands on the corner near where the accident occurred.

Jordan student body service vice president Franklin Lovell knew Diaz through

friends.

“It’s hard to go through when it’s someone in our community and to see the effect on her friends and family is devastating,” he said.

Days later, students rallied together to release balloons from the school soccer field in her memory. Students in several neighboring schools wore her favorite color blue or Jordan High school colors in her honor and high school student leaders in Canyons and Murray school districts delivered banners in support, Eschler said.

“Anytime we have these tragedies, our sister high schools always try to support,” he said. “There’s a big outpouring by the community to ensure everyone’s taken care of.”

Jordan student body president Spencer Jackson said it was appreciated.

“The schools I met with wanted to show they care and understand what we’re going through,” he said.

While Hillcrest High students are trying to find a way to support their own students who were on the bus and can’t be identified for privacy reasons, their student leaders were one of the first to deliver a banner that said, “We love you, Jordan.”

Hillcrest High Principal Greg Leavitt said that they shared supporting their sister school in the school newsletter.

“It’s really good that our students reach out to each other like that,” he said. “Our student body officers get together quite a bit in the district so they know each other quite well and want to support one another.”

While police are conducting an investigation, Canyons School District is also internally investigating, Haney said.

Canyons’ investigative team is comprised of human resources, transportation and risk management personnel who will look into the accident, Haney said.

“It’s always a challenge to respond to a

crisis that is going to be heartbreaking for so many people. Every crisis is different. When we respond to crises, we are here to provide counseling and our support,” he said.

Three student services personnel came to the scene on Friday to provide assistance and grief counseling to the students and the bus driver and then later to the victim’s family when they arrived, Haney said.

“We were able to support folks, to talk with them and make sure that they had what they needed emotionally that day. Obviously, it was a very traumatic experience.

Investigators review the scene on Jan. 27 after a Jordan High teenager, Jennifer Flores Diaz, was hit and killed by a Canyons School District bus turning north onto State Street. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

Jordan High sophomore Jennifer Flores Diaz’s principal said the 15 year old will be missed by the Jordan High community. (Photo courtesy of Canyons School District)

Hillcrest High student leaders presented Jordan with a banner in support of losing their classmate in the Canyons School District bus accident. (Photo courtesy of Hillcrest and Jordan high schools)

This one in particular because it was in the Canyons District with the Canyons District school bus and Canyons students and a bus driver were involved. I think it hit really hard for many, many people. So, we immediately deployed the resources necessary to support our community,” he said.

Counseling services were available to the community that night at Jordan High as well as Hillcrest High administrators reaching out to its 16 students to make sure they had the needed support, Haney said.

Students were able to talk with counselors when they returned to school on Monday at both schools as well as at the schools where the siblings attended. Weller said that students are encouraged to talk with someone, write or journal about it, get professional help, make a positive difference such as serving others, and take care of themselves with sleep, healthy eating and exercise.

Haney said Jordan faculty and staff were prepared to talk to students and know what to look for with those who were struggling and be able to get them to the counseling center to help, where six counselors and two social workers were available as well as additional support from the district office.

Eschler said it was a collaborative effort.

“I’m really proud of our teachers and counselors for looking out, watching and ready to help our students,” he said.

Additional effort was made by Hill-

crest High administration and counseling to provide the support to the students who were on the bus and for anybody else who was affected, at any of the District’s schools, Haney said.

Hillcrest’s Leavitt estimates there was an increase of 50 counseling visits following the accident.

“I feel like the kids know that we care about them—and the Jordan kids know that we care about them. I feel like the community knows that we’re doing our best to care about them,” he said.

Weller said that when he arrived on the scene, one of those he helped was the bus driver. Weller describes him as a “sweet man with a gentle soul who was just in shock.”

While Haney can’t comment on specifics of the bus driver, who has driven for the District for four years and following protocol, was placed on paid administrative leave during the investigation. However, he did say, “We are providing counseling services to the bus driver, who is understandably very upset. We want to make sure that the bus driver gets the services and supports necessary because it’s been a tough time for everyone, him included.”

The driver, as well as all 181 drivers in Canyons School District, has a commercial driver’s license and a criminal background check.

“Canyons District provides that training for bus drivers, and then they can get their

license,” Haney said, adding that the course is free. “It’s a substantial amount of training to be a bus driver in the Canyons School District and we do constant training and updating. When accidents happen, there are reminders to our bus drivers on things that they’ve already been trained on to keep in mind as they head out on their routes every day.”

School bus 1279 was able to be driven away from the scene as no damage was done to the vehicle, Haney said. It was taken into custody by police following the accident.

It is one of 185 buses in the Canyons District fleet that the Utah Highway Patrol annually evaluates.

“Every single bus is evaluated for safety elements and to ensure that all of the parts are working correctly. They regularly undergo inspections, and we have a team of mechanics that ensure that all of our buses are working,” he said.

Those evaluations are performed typically in the summer.

Canyons administrative team met that Friday and the Monday following the accident and talked about it, including reviewing the District’s response.

“We’re constantly evaluating how we respond to crises. And then of course, what we can always do because there’s always something we can do to improve our processes moving forward,” Haney said. “Our emergency management team has an inci-

dent command manual with a general guideline of how to respond to emergencies. We use our expertise and experience to help us.”

The emergency management team that meets regularly every eight weeks came in place after a student shooting at Union Middle School in 2016. It was used again in spring 2017 when a shooting occurred after school near Brookwood Elementary, which left a student injured and killed another and the child’s mother.

“Since that time, it’s become even more solidified. While we are often given direct tasks, such as a safety audit of our schools and buildings, we review our emergency response plans and any issues that we need to develop a plan for,” Haney said. “It’s always a challenge to respond to a crisis that is going to be heartbreaking for so many people—and every crisis is different.”

Following the accident, Canyons District Superintendent Rick Robins acknowledged the accident in a statement.

“The loss of any child—at any time—is heartbreaking for a community,” it said. “Today, the entire Canyons District community mourns the tragic passing of one of our beautiful and cherished students who died in an auto-pedestrian accident involving a school bus. Canyons District sends our heartfelt condolences to the family of the student, as well as the student’s friends, teachers, and school staff who will struggle with the pain and loss of a loved one.” l

Renowned Hillcrest robotics hosts FIRST LEGO League

Hillcrest High School recently hosted 15 FIRST LEGO League robotics teams, including several from Canyons School District schools. Student competitors not only built their robots specific to this year’s SUPERPOWERED game, but they also had to demonstrate how their teams follow the core values of FLL and present their projects (a solution to a problem tying to the theme) in an engaging way to the judges. At the competition, Hillcrest robotics students also engaged youngsters and showcased their robot. l

Photo by Julie Slama

138 Years of TRUST

WHY A LOCALLY OWNED, FAMILY OPERATED MORTUARY REALLY MATTERS

Larkin Mortuary is the most respected funeral home in the Salt Lake Valley. Its pioneer founder, George William Larkin, arrived in Utah in 1863, having emigrated from Cambridge, England. He started the Larkin tradition of arranging funerals in 1885 and today, with six generations of history serving Utah families, Larkin Mortuary remains locally owned and family managed.

Our quality reputation is everything to our business and we have established ourselves in the local community as a qualified and trusted resource. We are not a national franchise and are not controlled by any outside influences. Larkin can meet any need by providing traditional funeral and graveside services, cremation facilities, cemeteries, indoor and outdoor mausoleums, cremation niche and scattering gardens, personalized life memorials and legacy keepsakes.

One of the most important aspects of being locally owned and operated is our firsthand knowledge of the communities we serve. With 138 years of excellence and innovation in providing quality memorial products and compassionate service, Larkin Mortuary provides a full spectrum of end of life services.

Being a qualified resource to you is our core mission. Larkin’s vertically integrated services provide a premier floral shop, monument, urn and vault manufacturing facilities, and beautiful memorial meeting and luncheon facilities. These full range of services offer individuals and families the flexibility to design a custom memorial tribute for their loved one. Multilingual staff honor and facilitate important traditions of many cultures. Larkin can also assist with legal transactions and documentation for timely and efficient transfers to other countries.

We are community minded and active in our places of worship and donate either monetarily or with our time to many worthwhile causes in the local area. Being community-minded is who we are. It defines our character and provides a solid foundation with the people we serve.

Memorial preplanning services are offered by qualified and compassionate Larkin counselors who will help determine final wishes. Advanced funeral arrangements can provide peace of mind knowing that end of life plans are complete and will be carried out exactly as specified. Preplanning reduces the details and decisions loved ones must confront during a time of grief.

The family and staff at Larkin Mortuary understand that arranging a funeral or memorial service is a deeply personal experience. Realizing the sacred nature of the profession, Larkin is honored to serve the community by providing genuine care at this sensitive time of life.

Our memorial services are available in any of our beautiful buildings amongst our four locations along the Wasatch Front or in a building of your choice. For more information visit www.larkinmortuary.com or call (801) 363-5781 for an appointment with an experienced funeral director.

‘Messiah’ choir returns to Midvale after a three-year hiatus

By Sarah Morton Taggart | s.taggart@mycityjournals.com

Prior to the COVID-19 shutdown, members of the Midvale Utah Community Messiah were working hard to learn composer George Frideric Handel’s masterpiece. Exactly three years later, they will finally be able to perform it. The performance will take place Sunday, March 26 at 7 p.m., at the Union Park Stake Center chapel located at 7699 Chad Street.“This performance is open to all and there is no cost for admission, but in keeping with the tradition that the first performance of ‘Messiah’ was for charitable purposes, those who attend are encouraged to bring an item of food to donate to the food bank,” said Jan Litster, who has been involved with the ‘Messiah’ performance since it began in 1984. l

Lexi Holt (left) and her mom, Ashley Holt, sing during a rehearsal of the “Messiah” in February 2020. (Sarah Morton Taggart/City Journals)

New Husky head coach to build player-driven football program

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

Robby Kaelin was in his element as an assistant football coach for his alma mater, the Skyline High Eagles.

But when Hillcrest High’s head football coach post became open, he felt a tug.

“It felt right,” Kaelin said. “It’s something about the timing, about the potential and opportunity of the program. It’s just a gut feeling that this was the right move for my family and for me at the time.”

Kaelin was announced head coach in January.

“We liked how prepared he is, his overall outlook, what he sees already with the school and where we can go,” Hillcrest athletic director Scott Carrell said.

Kaelin replaces Brock Bryant, who after four seasons, stepped down in December.

In the past 10 years, Hillcrest hasn’t had one season with a winning record. Over the decade, they haven’t even had 10 region wins. This past season, the undersized Huskies went 0-10.

That doesn’t faze Kaelin.

“It’s a great opportunity with all Hillcrest has to offer. The players that I’ve met already have so much heart and resiliency and care and desire. I feel I am able to help them as they strive toward their goals,” he said. “In terms of being small, both in numbers and in size, we’re planning on running a spread system which gets the ball out very quickly, gets the ball to playmakers in space, and doesn’t rely a lot on holding the ball in the quarterback’s hands for a lot of time.”

Already, Kaelin is familiarizing himself at Hillcrest. He was at the Husky fair that exposes incoming students to the teams, clubs and programs at the school. He also is meeting with current football players to learn about their goals both in the classroom and on the field.

“I’m sharing more about our vision, our hallmark that we’re going to live by as a program,” Kaelin said. “We are already planning on our after-school sessions of throwing and catching and learning the playbook starting in March. Our incoming freshmen group is doing their freshman lifting already and every Friday, they’re doing their throwing and catching pull-in as well.”

The team also will participate in spring football before summer conditioning that is slated to begin in June. For multi-sport athletes, Kaelin will work with them to understand his system.

“I’m a big encourager of multi-sport athletes. I think the more that you’re able to perform different skills, it helps your abilities in football. So those that are participating in basketball or baseball, we completely understand not being able to attend a throwing session or attending an after-school weightlifting program. One of my big goals is to be on the same page with the other head coaches and assistant coaches at Hillcrest, to make sure

that our players that are involved in other sports and they’re lifting, they’re still receiving agility training, as well as speed and conditioning training,” he said.

Kaelin said academics will be emphasized as well.

“One of my program’s goals is to help every student-athlete be college eligible whether they decide to go, whether they decide to play sports in college, but we want to ensure every student-athlete graduates. Grades and attendance will be a big focal point,” he said. “One of the great things that Skyline’s current head coach John Rowbotham has done, is in terms of expectations and accountability. Every player knows what is expected of them, both on the field, at home, in the classroom, in the community. They all know what’s expected of them and they have a desire to achieve those expectations and meet those standards. We’ve been very involved with the community there. That’s one thing that we hope to bring is a greater involvement with the football team and the community and to have a positive relationship.”

Kaelin plans to implement a player-driven program to meet expectations, standards and accountability. “It allows the players to control their own destiny with their own team values, their own team goals,” he said.

There also will be a leadership council, which will help make team decisions and goals.

“I’ve seen the difference when coaches establish goals as opposed to players establishing goals. The commitment level is much greater when the players have created their own goals and values and strive to achieve those,” Kaelin said.

Another goal is to build up the youth program.

“I’ll be working with the youth program, trying to funnel more of our league and youth players into our program. It’s tough when you don’t really have that funnel of players,” he said, adding that his 3-year-old son is “already talking about the Huskies.”

While Kaelin grew up playing baseball, basketball, volleyball and soccer, football is his true love. As a kid, he followed the San Francisco 49ers and idolized NFL’s two-time most valuable player and Super Bowl XXIX MVP, quarterback Steve Young.

“I was able to meet him. He signed my jersey one time when he was here as an emcee for the Winter Olympics,” he said. “I grew up loving football. One of the very first things I ever wanted to be for Halloween was dressed up as a football player. I just loved watching football as a kid. That was one of the only things I could concentrate on.”

Kaelin played middle linebacker and fullback for Skyline.

“I just loved the game of football and I love obviously the X’s and O’s, but the greatest thing about football is that there are so many life lessons that we can learn—about teamwork, perseverance, discipline, hard work. Football is not an easy sport. I know that there’s a lot of sports that are very difficult as well, but I feel football is one of the tougher sports, especially mentally; you find out more about yourself and learn that you are capable of more than you thought possible,” he said. “Football is the ultimate team game. You can’t rely on just one person. It’s about the team. It’s not about the individual. One of our hallmarks is specific about team—it’s not about me; it’s about us. Players need to rely on those other 10 players on the field as well as the other 50 to 120 players that are on the team and their coaches. It really is a commu-

nity where you learn to trust one another and care about one another.”

After serving a church mission, Kaelin went directly into coaching at Skyline as he finished his undergraduate at the University of Utah. Then, he worked as the U’s football recruiter for two years.

“I’m an alumnus of the U and I worked at the U. I love the U and I bleed red. But one day, I was sitting in my office—and I absolutely loved my job—watching film on players and techniques when two thoughts came to my head. One, my job probably wasn’t conducive to having a family as I was there all hours of the day and all hours of the night. And two, although it was very gratifying, I didn’t feel I was really helping on a deeper level for anybody else. So, one of the ways I realized I could be involved with football and be able to help other people was by both teaching and coaching. I got my teaching endorsement, where I could have a greater and lasting ability to help others as they go through life. I was fortunate enough to return to Skyline,” he said.

At Hillcrest, Kaelin is planning to teach physical education classes beginning in the fall.

“I was not looking to leave Skyline; I love Skyline. I coached there eight, almost nine seasons, doing everything from the defensive side of the ball to the offensive side and being director of football operations there as well. I’ve been involved in the community, and I have strong relationships with players that I’ve built,” he said. “But I did have the goal to become a head coach at some point. Hillcrest just feels right. We are going to build the program from the ground up; we really want to focus on the fundamentals and establishing a good solid foundation.” l

Former Skyline High assistant coach Robby Kaelin is now Hillcrest High’s new football coach. (Photo courtesy of Skyline High Football Media Team)

Union eighth-grade students learn realities of life

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

Union Middle School parent Clair Hamill brought his son, Rowan, to school on Jan. 10. That day transformed his eighth-grader.

“When I brought him to school yesterday, he was just my son; when I picked him up, he was still my son, but I was a grandfather,” he joked. “He had three kids and a wife. I told him I had to start getting a lot more involved in his life because obviously I missed all that.”

Hamill’s son got his mock life scenario the day before his father volunteered Jan. 11 at Union’s Reality Town, a role-playing opportunity for students to follow a financial literacy curriculum to better understand real life. As an army veteran, Hamill chose to station the military recruitment booth along with another volunteer who actually is a recruiter.

“I got the email saying they needed volunteers, and it looked like a fun way to hang out with kids in school and help them,” he said. “I like how realistic this makes it. How better can it be because Rowan has to pay bills and figure out childcare. He was complaining how much that cost and I said, ‘Dude, I know. I was there.’ He has to plan and do some quick math to learn how to balance his financial situation.”

Since 2016, Union students have learned how to balance careers and family on a set budget, said counselor Lynn Nelson.

“The day before, we give them their jobs and let them look through the booklet that outlines what they’re responsible for,” she said. “They have to determine their transportation, groceries, housing and everything for their families.”

Their professions are set by Reality Town’s company, based on students’ grade-point averages.

According to Reality Town, the interactive simulation also encourages better school performance.

“By using GPA requirements in correlation with the educational requirements of the various careers, students who are not putting in their best effort at school may not be able to get the job they want in Reality Town such as students with a C average cannot become doctors, or lawyers,” the website states. “In using this system, students who are applying themselves can see the wide range of options available to them. On the other hand, students who are not putting forth their best effort in school are able to see their limited options, as well as possibly limited income potential.”

Reality Town also sets students’ marital status and if they are parents.

“It tells them if their spouses have an income or if they stay home and how many children they have and need to be responsible for,” Nelson said. “We talk to stu-

dents about taxes about where a tax goes and about health and dental insurance and why it’s important to have it.”

At Union, it even teaches them about following the rules as the school’s DARE officer handed out violations for loitering, speeding, vandalism, improper passing and other disobediences.

Afterward, students can reflect upon questions that are provided or teachers may opt to hold discussions or assignments based upon the activity, Nelson said.

“The biggest thing is it’s a shock to a lot of them to see what life may be like when they’re 30 years old. They role play that they have a month’s net pay with or without their spouse’s money. Then they learn this is what a car costs, this is what housing costs, this is what groceries are going to cost and all those things. And some have no idea,” she said. “It’s just like the game of life and they want to win. It’s teaching them to set goals now to impact their future.”

Dozens of volunteers from parents and community members to high school students, including some who did it themselves in middle school, and even Canyons Board of Education Vice President Mont Millerberg, took part to ensure the eighth-graders could take part in the learning activity.

Eighth-grader Andy Sutherland’s mother, Natacha Meyer, volunteered at the personal care station.

“This is a good exercise for the children to become aware of what it means to live in the world that we live in today, the kinds of responsibilities that are ahead of

them and the importance of taking their education seriously,” she said. “I’m at personal care because I want them to learn that we have only one body in life and it is fundamental to take care of it.”

She hopes her son “gets an understanding for the way our society works and that enthusiasm to participate in it with consciousness and awareness.”

He already has a basic understanding of how to budget, prioritize bills and be careful with spending, she said.

Parent Josh Larsen said he finds volunteering rewarding.

“If you want to do well in life, take time to do some volunteering,” he said. “You’ll find some happiness involved and by doing so, it’s helping the students.”

While Larsen’s son had a Reality Town job in the medical field, he chose to staff the entertainment station.

“We let them pick which kind of entertainment they want, then we help them do the math, deducting it from their total. We encourage them to make wise decisions,” he said. “Some students come here first, but I suggest that maybe they should get some of their basics, like housing, first.”

Eighth-grader Arkady Wilson pur-

chased a $75 movie pass for his family of five. He already had visited the doctor’s office and childcare booth as he navigated the Reality Town stations.

“I’m learning to find ways to pay for everything based on my income and that of my wife’s,” Arkady said.

At the entertainment station with Larsen was Hillcrest High senior Sohil Narra, who advised students about their choices not only in the game, but in their near future.

“I wanted to be a part of it because financial literacy is a big deal,” he said. “As I plan for college, a lot of my decisions will come to financial aid so it’s good to know what my options are. Coming here and teaching younger kids about making good financial decisions is a good way to help the community especially with things they’ll be focused on in the future. I want them to see what their options are and sticking to what they know is best for them rather than giving into temptation like buying a car or buying a PS5 (PlayStation 5). It’s about making smart choices.” l

Canyons Board of Education Vice President Mont Millerberg helps eighth-grade students balance their budgets at Union Middle’s Reality Town. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

When I brought him to school yesterday, he was just my son; when I picked him up, he was still my son, but I was a grandfather. He had three kids and a wife. I told him I had to start getting a lot more involved in his life because obviously I missed all that.

Clair Hamill

In The Middle of Everything

City Hall – 7505 South Holden Street • Midvale, UT 84047

MIDVALE CITY DIRECTORY

City Hall

801-567-7200

Finance/Utilities 801-567-7200

Court 801-567-7265

City Attorney’s O ce 801-567-7250

City Recorder/Human Resources 801-567-7228

Community Development 801-567-7211

Public Works 801-567-7235

Ace Disposal/Recycling 801-363-9995

Midvale Historical Museum 801-567-7285

Midvale Senior Center 385-468-3350

SL County Animal Services 385-468-7387

Communications 801-567-7230

MIDVALE CITY ELECTED OFFICIALS

MAYOR

Marcus Stevenson 801-567-7204

Email: mstevenson@midvale.com

CITY COUNCIL

District 1 - Quinn Sperry

Email: qsperry@midvale.com

District 2 - Paul Glover

Email: pglover@midvale.com

District 3 - Heidi Robinson

Email: Hrobinson@midvale.com

District 4 - Bryant Brown

Email: bbrown@midvale.com

District 5 - Dustin Gettel

Email: dgettel@midvale.com

WHO TO CALL FOR…

Water Bills 801-567-7200

Ordering A New Trash Can 801-567-7202

Permits 801-567-7213

Court 801-567-7265

Paying For Tra c School 801-567-7202

Business Licensing 801-567-7214 Cemetery 801-567-7235

Planning and Zoning 801-567-7231

Code Enforcement 801-567-7208

Building inspections 801-567-7213

Graffiti 385-468-9769

PUBLIC SAFETY & EMERGENCY CONTACTS

EMERGENCY 911

UFA Fire/UPD Police

> Non-emergency 801-840-4000

Uni ed Police Department

> Midvale Precinct 385-468-9350

Public Works 801-567-7235

Rocky Mountain Power 877-508-5088

Message

Recently, Salt Lake County and the Unied Police Department completed a study to determine where youth violence originates. While crime statistics usually look at where a crime occurred, these two groups put together information to show where the criminal came from. This data shows that Midvale City has one of the highest youth violence rates in Salt Lake County. Unfortunately, our kids are going into other communities and committing violent crimes.

Since this discovery, we’ve been working to create more youth programming outside of the school system in hopes of providing the youth in our community more opportunities. In this month’s mayor’s message, I want to talk about some of programs we are working to start.

YOUTH LEADERSHIP PROGRAM

For several years, Midvale operated a Youth Ambassador program where high school students would participate in a service-based leadership program for the city. During their time, each student would complete community service projects, participate on the City’s parade oat, serve as ambassadors over community events, and then received a $1,000 scholarship for

By Mayor Marcus Stevenson

they’d learn about how cities work, the projects we are working on, issues facing our community, and in turn get their feedback on how we can better respond to community needs. In order to get feedback on our proposed program, I recently did two town halls at Hillcrest High School. The 100 or so students who attended were engaged, observant, and committed to bettering their community. I was incredibly impressed with their feedback and questions, especially around gangs, homelessness, and requests for more job training programs before they leave high school.

While we are still guring out details on this program, we hope to have it up and running beginning next school year.

SPORTS PROGRAMMING

Unfortunately, it can be harder to nd youth sport programs in Midvale than it is in many of our surrounding communities. That reality exists for a few reasons, but one of the largest being that our county owned and operated recreation center is at the end of its life and doesn’t have the same commodities that exist in many other rec. centers. While a long-term project, Midvale City is working to secure the funding needed for a new rec. center which will provide more youth sports programming. More immediately than a new rec. center, we have been in preliminary conversations to bring in new soccer program into the city. Speci cally, we’ve been starting conversations with AYSO and Utah Avalanche to provide more soccer opportunities for Midvale’s youth. While we still have a lot to gure out with bringing in either group, we hope to have these programs expanded in our community sometime in the near future.

GANG PREVENTION

While both the youth leadership program and sports programming are geared towards keeping kids out of gang violence, we are also working to help those who have already entered it. We are partnering with the Salt Lake Area Gang Project and Choose Gang Free to provide gang prevention programming outside of school hours in the evening and during the summer break.

college. While this program was limited to 3-5 students each year because of the scholarship funds, it was a staple of our community for many years. With the COVID pandemic, this program was put on hold and has not been brought back.

As our city has discussed restarting the youth ambassador program, I’ve pushed to create a new program that allows for more kids to be able to participate. This has led us to conversations around starting a youth council, or a youth leadership program, which is what we are working on right now.

In short, the idea of a youth leadership program is to allow youth in our community to get involved in local government where

Fortunately, the pieces have been put into place for this program and it will be starting shortly. This program will work one-on-one with individuals involved in gangs and help get them out by providing a support system. That support may be anything from reducing food insecurities, helping to nd employment, or getting these kids into new hobbies.

THE GOAL

While we hope to see the immediate impacts of the work we are doing now, kids make poor decisions for a variety of reasons, and it will likely take years before we see any signi cant changes. In the meantime, it’s critical that our city act urgently in hopes that our e orts will make the lives better for youth in our community, and that will translate into better lifelong outcomes.

Marcus’

In The Middle of Everything

Protecting Our Lifeline: Groundwater Awareness Week 2023

Groundwater is a vital resource for communities around the world, providing water for drinking, irrigation, and industrial uses. To raise awareness about the importance of groundwater and the need for its protection, Groundwater Awareness Week is observed annually from March 5 through 11.

During Groundwater Awareness Week, organizations and individuals come together to educate the public about the importance of groundwater and the challenges it faces. The week provides an opportunity for communities to learn about the science of groundwater, the ways it can be protected, and the role individuals can play in preserving this critical resource.

An important focus of Groundwater Awareness Week is the need to protect groundwater from contamination. Groundwater can become polluted through activities such as oil and gas drilling, and improper disposal of hazardous waste. By promoting responsible use of land and resources, individuals can help prevent groundwater contamination and ensure the safety of their communities.

A common contaminant is dog poop. Dog poop, if not disposed of properly, can have a signi cant impact on groundwater quality. When dog poop is left on the ground, the rain can wash it into storm drains, streams, and rivers. From there, it can make its way into groundwater. When dog poop decomposes, it releases nutrients and bacteria that can contaminate groundwater, making it unsafe for humans and animals to drink.

To prevent dog poop from contaminating groundwater, it’s important to pick it up and dispose of it properly. This means putting it in a plastic bag and throwing it in the trash, rather than leaving it on the ground or in a storm drain. If you’re out on a walk and there are no trash cans nearby, take the bag home with you and dispose of it there. By picking up after our pets and disposing of their waste properly, we can help protect our groundwater and keep our environment healthy. So the next time you’re out for a walk with your furry friend, remember to bring a bag and do your part to protect our precious resources.

How to Greet a Dog Properly

By Salt Lake County Animal Services

Before you go putting your hand (or face) in front of a dog you don’t know, make sure you check with the owner AND the dog. Salt Lake County Animal Services has some suggestions on How to Greet a Dog safely. Did you know these most common mistakes that lead to getting bit by a dog?

#1 – DON’T Put your hand up to a dog’s nose. A dog’s sense of smell is extremely powerful. They could smell you before your hand is in their face.

#2 – DON’T Lean over a dog or put your face in front of a dog’s face. If you’re going to pet them for the rst time, pet their shoulder.

WHEN APPROACHING A DOG:

Step 1: Make sure the dog has a leash, a collar, and an owner. If it doesn’t, call Animal Control. Step 2: Look at the dog’s body language. Look to see if it is a happy/relaxed dog.

Step 3: Ask permission from the Owner: “May I please pet your dog?” It is okay if the owner says “no!”

Step 4: If you have permission, do a quick body language check again.

Step 5: Angle body slightly away from dog.

Step 6: Keep hands to yourself until the dog approaches you, seeking out interaction.

Step 7: Pet the dog calmly and quietly, avoiding sensitive areas.

Step 8: Remain standing if it is a large or medium sized dog. If it is a small dog, you can crouch down, making sure you are still not leaning over the dog.

If you are bitten by a dog, contact your local Animal Control to le a bite report. Visit AdoptUtahPets.org for more information.

Disc on 6th Disc Golf Course Opening for the Season

Attention all disc golf enthusiasts! Get ready to dust o your discs and hit the course because, weather permitting, Disc on 6th Disc Golf Course is opening for the season on March 1, 2023, at Midvale City Park.

Disc golf is a growing sport that combines elements of traditional golf and Frisbee. The goal is to throw a disc into a basket in as few throws as possible. Disc golf courses are often set up in parks and other public spaces and o er a fun and challenging way to get outside and enjoy the great outdoors.

Disc on 6th Disc Golf Course, located in Midvale City Park, is a popular destination for disc golfers in the area. The course features 9 holes with a practice basket for pre-game putting practice. Players of all skill levels are welcome, from beginners to seasoned veterans.

In addition to the fun and challenging gameplay, disc golf is also a great way to get exercise and enjoy the outdoors. Walking the course and throwing the disc helps to improve cardiovascular health, strengthen muscles, and reduce stress. It’s also a social activity that can be enjoyed with friends and family.

Disc on 6th Disc Golf Course is open to the public and free to play. Players are asked to respect the course and other players by following the rules and being mindful of their surroundings.

If you’re a disc golf enthusiast or just looking for a fun and challenging outdoor activity, be sure to check out Disc on 6th Disc Golf Course at Midvale City Park. Get ready to throw, aim, and have some fun!

MARCH 2023 CITY NEWSLETTER

WWW. MIDVALECITY. ORG

A Look Back at Midvale City’s Old Jail House

By Bill Miller, Midvale Historical Society & Museum

On the west side of S Main St. (7818) stands the old, but stately, building that was once known as the Mitchell Apts. (not sure of the name today). If the old building could speak, what interesting stories it could tell! The tale, of course, would be about its early ditizens who periodically lived in this unique building. Their stays were short, but of interest to Midvale’s early residents, especially law enforcement branch of our “fair city”. The reason for this keen interest was because this building known as “THE MIDVALE CITY JAIL HOUSE” and the council chambers.

The Jail House was built near the turn of the century, (1900’s) as can be determined by early historical records. The downstairs (1st oor) was composed of a small o ce for the Chief of Police and his associates, plus the jail cells. The jail cells were the temporary residence for Midvale’s law breakers. The serious, who having lost control of their judgement, o ended or hilarious provoked the residents and the police.

The cells in the city jail, though not comfortable or gracious, were adequate. Each was equipped with a bed, sometimes a chair, access to a water tap and sink, plus a

necessity- an open view Gentlemen’s chamber. The open view chamber, of course, had its drawbacks! It was a promoter of conversation.

Upstairs, in the old City Jail, was the mayor’s o ce, and councilmen chambers. This was the o cial meeting house for Midvale’s civic business responsibilities. As can be imagined, occasionally the City Council meetings were interrupted by the outspoken burst of conversation by the cell mates below on the 1st oor. Sometimes as the city o cials were mounting the stairs to the council chambers, an indignant occupant of the cell block would appeal for justice or more leniency.

Sometime after the original construction of the City Jail an addition was made on the north side, to house the city’s retruck. The Old Jail House became inadequate for the o enders whose sentences were of a long duration, were moved to the county jail or the state penitentiary.

Around 1960 the jail house was o cially abandoned. It stood idle for several years. Finally, the Old Jail House was sold to May A. Mitchell in January 1964. As a result, The Mitchell Apartment’s began.

This information was taken from a fact sheet by Harry S. Wright, October 20, 1978.

AGING WELL CONFERENCE

Midvale Senior Center is hosting an Aging Well Conference to help with memory and mental wellness to not only add years to your life but life to your years. The conference will be held on Thursday, March 23, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. We will begin the conference with a lunch of either salmon, a chef salad or sandwich with side salad. Classes include Boosting Memory and Cognition, Tool Kit for Success: Managing Anxiety and Depression, and Food and Mood. They will be taught by Valley Behavioral Health. The suggested donation for the conference is $4.00 to cover the cost of lunch. Call 385-468-3350 to register or for more information.

Curbside Bulky Waste

2023 Spring

23, 24,

(MTI).

The

residents who currently receive City garbage service.

Curbside pick up will be provided for approved items that are boxed, bundled or bagged. The intent of this program is to reduce pollution in our streams, rivers and lakes and to keep our City clean. When utilizing curbside collection, residents are reminded that hazardous materials such as oil, batteries, paint, tires and other pollutants will not be collected.

Please follow your regularly scheduled garbage pick up day listed below to determine when your Curbside Bulky Waste pick up day is scheduled. Comply with the Bulky Waste Pick Up Guidelines (listed on back). If you don't comply with these important guidelines your items will not be picked up.

If your regular garbage pick up day is: Your Curbside Bulky Waste pick up day is scheduled for:

Monday Monday, April 3

Tuesday Wednesday Thursday

Wednesday, April 5

Monday, April 10

Wednesday, April 12

Properly prepared items may be placed curbside up to one week prior to the scheduled pick up dates, no later than 6:30 a.m. on the scheduled Curbside Bulky Waste pick up day. Items placed at the curb must not obstruct sidewalks, gutters, storm drain inlets, water meters, or the free movement of traffic.

Help prevent stormwater pollution. Do not obstruct sidewalks, gutters, or storm drain inlets.

For more information, visit www.MidvaleCity.org/BulkyWaste or call 801-567-7235

curbside bulky waste program is available to all Midvale City

Hillcrest student officers lead school community to support Big Brothers Big Sisters

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

Even though they had squeamish looks on their faces, Hillcrest High administrators kept their word and swallowed some crickets to help raise funds for the school’s winter fundraiser.

Faculty joined in the effort, taking a pie to the face or getting their legs shaved, all for money that was donated to the cause.

Hillcrest High’s student leaders planned and organized several activities and events that kept donations rolling in during December, all earmarked for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah. In a social media post, the nonprofit thanked Hillcrest students who donated $20,074.54 for their “incredibly hard work” to support their mission of mentoring youth.

In 2021, 968 Utah elementary through high school students were served and 65 are currenting waiting for a mentor, according to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah website. About 80% live in poverty, 60% are identified as kids of color, more than 45% live in single-parent households and 10% have an incarcerated parent.

Hillcrest High Principal Greg Leavitt said Big Brothers Big Sisters was an organization that “resonated with our community. We had a unified effort of our kids and community to help them and it built school spirit and inclusion. The SBOs really worked hard to give to people who could really benefit.”

Much of the winter fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters rested with Hillcrest student body officer and class leaders.

“We decided our goals matched up with theirs and then we brainstormed some events that we thought would raise the most money and be fun for students at the same time,” student body president Kaleolani Kirby said. “We had two or three of us in charge of each event, taking the lead on the planning and contacting whoever, the advertising, all the coordination and logistics. But when it came

to helping at the event, it was all of us doing whatever we could to make it happen.”

There were several schoolwide tournaments; a game night of volleyball, Spikeball, Super Smash Bros and trivia; a Polar Express-themed night of babysitting 25 local children which included a visit from St. Nick; a formal school dance; and other activities all with funds going toward Big Brothers Big Sisters. Students also sold concessions at games to make money for the fundraiser as well as collections at the opening and closing assemblies.

Several area businesses supported the students by holding spirit nights, donating a portion of the proceeds to Big Brothers Big Sisters. Even neighbors got involved contributing to the fundraiser when students came to perform odd jobs for them.

“We did a business blitz where we went to businesses around Hillcrest asking for donations or if they wanted to donate gift cards and put them together in a basket, where teachers could bid on it,” she said.

Student body officers’ adviser Shannon Hurst said several of those activities brought in large portions of the $20,000-plus that was contributed. She said that the winter formal tickets brought in about $6,000, followed by about $3,500 from donations at opening and closing assemblies; $2,000 from the faculty raffle; $1,900 from odd job contributions; and $800 from business donations.

Additional funds came in from sweatshirt sales and “save or shave,” where students put in money to either save or shave a classmate’s hair.

Kirby, who has donated clothing items to Big Brothers Big Sisters, said she’d like to be a Big Brothers Big Sisters mentor.

“It means more when you’re doing service and really connecting with people who can benefit and you can really see the change that it makes,” she said. “By doing this fundraiser, it’s helped increase involvement at school and in our community. It’s a great feeling that comes when you see all these students be able to work toward a big goal and

know how it’s going to help others.”

During the fundraiser, Kirby said student leaders were at school from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day.

“It is hard to balance the fundraiser with school as we were crazy busy, but it also was cool to all our planning and work turn out to see the increased student involvement and spirit,” she said. “I love the big events where all the students are together. As student government leaders, we’re super invested, and want to see others enjoy their high school experience. This and Burning of the H have been some of my favorite things we’ve done this year, because it’s all about Hillcrest and Husky pride.”

Kirby began her involvement in student government serving as freshmen secretary.

“I was shy and quiet going into freshman year, so I challenged myself to be outside my comfort zone. Being student body president is one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, but also the most rewarding. I’ve never really saw myself as a leader. I knew I was a really hard

Hillcrest High students donated money for Principal Greg Leavitt to eat a cricket at their assembly; all the funds were earmarked for their winter fundraiser. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

Hillcrest High student body officers held a Polar Express babysitting night, complete with a visit from Santa Claus, to help raise funds for Big Brothers Big Sisters. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

Hillcrest High students raised funds that will go to help the mentoring program at Big Brothers Big Sisters. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

worker, but I told myself, I can do this even though I was nervous. It’s been cool to grow into my potential more and connect with some students or groups that I probably wouldn’t have had the chance,” she said.

Kirby, who has played soccer four years for the Huskies, has been able to become more involved at school as well. Student leaders often attend or volunteer at events for different clubs, sports and departments.

“I love being able to go to school events and then, see people through the halls and talk to them and have the connections I have with my teachers,” she said.

Kirby also has become a more familiar face this year as a SBO-filmed TikTok featured Kirby and went viral, getting 2 million views worldwide.

“That was fun, and we had a great turnout at that away football game at Jordan (High). I think with Instagram and Tik Tok and other social media platforms, we’ve been able to advertise and highlight our events, and we’re seeing a lot more student involvement because of that,” she said. “One of the biggest things I’ve learned is how to recognize people’s strengths, how to delegate to them and make people feel valued. It can be a hard task to take 14 individuals who all are involved and have important contributions, and mold us into an effective delegation. Once we came together, we were able to do a lot for the student body. We have a year-long spirit bowl that has really united us and boosted student involvement this year.”

Involving students in activities and the

fundraiser also was a goal of senior class president Carissa Jameson.

“We found a lot of creative ways to get people to help in a cause that we were all really invested in,” she said. “Through all these activities, it has been a good way to bring people together and help raise people up.”

One of Jameson’s favorite fundraising activities was volunteering for odd jobs in exchange for fundraiser donations. It ranged from wrapping gifts to painting a room in a house.

“We asked them if there was anything we could do. My group cleaned up a yard, decorated their tree and put up lights,” she said.

While it was students versus faculty in basketball for the opening assembly, the closing assembly featured the top two dodgeball teams facing off.

“We had a lot of students get involved in those activities and there were a lot of people cheering them on; it was pretty cool,” she said.

Jameson said as senior class president, it has been rewarding.

“It’s opened a lot of different opportunities for me and I’m able to meet a lot of new people,” she said. “One of my favorite things has been to help people with this fundraiser. I think we had a big impact on Big Brothers Big Sisters with our donation, and on the students, through creating more school spirit. I’m trying to make the most of the experience and not just for myself, but to make the world better for all of us. When we work together, we’re able to accomplish a lot of great things.” l

Hillcrest High student body vice president Kunal Kamteker gets donations for Big Brothers Big Sisters from seniors Jaren Ruff and Lanie Mower at the school assembly. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

Husky alum named high school referee of the year

In one swift move, Utah High School Activities Association official Scott Maxfield moved his hands to make a T.

It wasn’t a shove or a swat on the arm that warranted the technical. It wasn’t even at a game, but rather it was in jest at the UHSAA’s distinguished service awards where Maxfield was being honored with a wooden plaque as the male official of the year.

“I’ve had 44 years of officiating; I have it down,” said the girls’ and boys’ basketball and football referee.

There are 2,500 referees who officiate UHSAA sports.

“Scott is a perfect example of an official,” UHSAA Assistant Director Jeff Cluff said. “He was a high school coach and has a great background of the game. He also officiated some college and junior college football. He is really proficient and excels; his ability to communicate with coaches is a strength. Scott understands how coaches think and he also understands the value of that communication between an official

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

and a coach—and that’s what makes him so good. He has a great temperament and is somebody that coaches really enjoy having on the floor or on the field because of his ability to manage the game and do what’s best for the game.”

Maxfield played football and hurdled in track and field at Hillcrest High in Midvale before graduating in 1974 and then, continued as a student-athlete at Snow College in Ephraim. He was an assistant girls’ soccer coach at Bingham High in South Jordan between 1995 and 2005, including in 2003 when the Miners won the state title, before coaching the boys’ team for five years.

“Scott referees all over the place. He just finished the 5A state championship game in football and has worked at least 10 championships; he’s one of our top-rated high school basketball officials,” said Cluff, who said that the sports’ associations evaluate referees and recommend them for postseason play.

Maxfield began refereeing when he heard about it from a family member. He

started with football and added basketball the following season.

“It started off as a way to get a little bit of extra money for Christmastime and what brought me back year after year was the camaraderie of my officiating brothers and sisters,” he said. “We take our craft seriously and are working to improve it all the time. We want to understand rule knowledge and apply those rules during the game.”

While Maxfield will say the games are exciting and “a rush, mentally, emotionally and physically” and they work hard to get the calls right, “at the end of the day, you just want to feel you’ve just given up your very best.”

That is something Cluff knows as well.

“Regardless of how good you are, you’re going to miss a call,” he said, adding that even professional officials miss calls. “The call you miss is the one everybody remembers. It’s a tough gig. It can take three, five, seven years or longer to become a quality high school official and there is continuous training.”

With all the calls students, coaches and fans make at referees, Maxfield is patient— to a point.

“I don’t tolerate people who make it

I’ll ask if the students if they’ve brought a Sharpie for autographs, just to have fun and showing the humanistic side of the things,” he said.

It also helps to create a positive environment and foster good sportsmanship.

“I think in sports, you learn life lessons. Sometimes you win, other times you learn how to lose. Sometimes calls go your way, sometimes they don’t. You may not be picked first; it’s those life’s lessons in interscholastic sports some people make it, and some don’t. It teaches you life’s not fair and sometimes life’s hard, but it helps you understand the ups and the downs, the joys of winning and the sorrow of defeat—and the willingness to bounce back and do better than next time,” Maxfield said.

There’s also been a bit of fun as he’s officiated at schools, seeing traditions from taco shells on the basketball floor to releasing a pheasant on a football field.

“My favorite are the unifying ones, where fans may show up in old basketball gear that doesn’t fit or when they announce the visiting team and they turn their back and pull up newspapers to read,” he said.

Through the years, Maxfield has gotten to know numerous officials as well as high

personal. Don’t try to embarrass me or my crew. It’s not going to go well for you. I don’t give a T very often because I feel like I’m a good communicator. But there’s times when they’ve crossed the line and then, that’s grounds for me to give a technical foul or to throw a flag. The bottom line is that games are won on the floor, on the court, on the field, on the track, whatever it is, the games are won there. It’s unfair to hang that responsibility on what’s perceived as a missed call,” he said.

Maxfield tries to defuse any situation before it could even arise.

“One of the things I really liked to do in basketball is go to the students and I try to say hi, get to know them a little bit, tell them who I am and hope that they will cheer for us. We need to feel some love once in a while and I see how that disarms people, and they feel like we’re approachable. Sometimes,

school administrators and coaches.

“Most of the coaches I know very well and call my friends,” he said. “When I go into one of those environments, whether it’s a football or a basketball game, I never want to disappoint; I think an important aspect that people don’t know and understand is that the official-coach relationship is not adversarial. It’s more that we want to try and take our skills and bring them together where, regardless of the officiating contest, whatever the sport is, it’s done according to rules and the players are kept safe. It’s the kids who determine the outcome.”

Through his years officiating, the game day experience for referees has changed.

“When I first started refereeing football and basketball for that matter, it usually constituted climbing into a car and going with your crew to drive together to a game. Most of the games were at 3:30 in the afternoon

UHSAA Assistant Director Jeff Cluff honors referee Scott Maxfield with the male official of the year award. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

“Scott understands how coaches think and he also understands the value of that communication between an official and a coach—and that’s what makes him so good.”

— UHSAA Assistant Director Jeff Cluff

as a lot of schools didn’t have lights. We’d spend four or five hours together, talking about football or basketball, our family, our kids,” Maxfield said.

At some schools, they provided sandwiches and even white socks. Another had a complete meal for officials. The referees were expected to change into their uniforms in classrooms and even in a custodial closet. Now, they may be handed a bottle of water or Gatorade and some of the newer schools have officials’ dressing rooms, he said.

“After officiating, we’d see each other at all the meetings, camps and clinics and it solidified our friendship. We’d go over rules and talk about game situations and go back and review a call, maybe see it from a couple different angles, slowing it down,” Maxfield said. “A lot, because of COVID, has changed and we do some stuff online.”

When he began, Title IX allowing female sports was developing as was female officiating.

“It used to be that there were officials who didn’t want to do women’s sports because the style of play is different, but now many, like me, do both. There are women officials who referee both; it’s personal preference. Both males and females are working officiating at the highest levels and that speaks well for our officiating community,” Maxfield said. “One of the most challenging parts is our numbers don’t necessarily grow as quickly as the number of schools that crop up so it’s a huge challenge. A lot of people work extra games during the week, to make

East Midvale students explore Asian culture during ‘Living Traditions

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

EastMidvale fourth-grader Brooklyn Rioux likes learning about other countries.

That’s why she brought her dad, Matt, to East Midvale’s eighth Living Traditions event that showcased Thailand, Afghanistan, Maldives, Kuwait, Nepal and Japan in Asia.

“I liked learning about all the countries,” she said. “I just learned about Nepal. With their religion, they create beautiful sand art for good thoughts and once it’s complete, it’s destroyed, and it’s also illegal to intentionally kill a cow there.”

Matt Rioux said the family has attended for seven years, starting with her older sibling who was at the school.

“It’s fun to learn about the different nationalities and sample their food,” he said.

This year, there was a “taste of Asia” with fried rice, but also, with traditional Afghanistan food which was provided by some parents.

sure that we can get every game covered.”

Even so, he spends time with newer referees to teach them.

“I’m a product of a lot of good officials who took the time to put their arm around me and said, ‘Hey, why don’t you try this way? Why don’t you do this?’ I was flattered and humbled when I received this award. I am the official I am because of the guys who were before me who gave me their time and knowledge, so I try and pay that forward,” Maxfield said. “There’s a lot of things that take place on the officiating field that you’re not going to find in a rule book—how to deal with different types of situations, how to recognize when momentums have changed, and emotions have changed and being able to deal with it in the right way. This past month, I’ve spent some Saturdays at Junior Jazz, basketball games, working with these young high school officials who may want to pick up our trade. I just find joy in giving back and teaching trying to help what I know.”

While Maxfield has been invited to be an official for soccer, he instead, takes a “time out” to spend more time with his family.

“It gives me time to decompress. People don’t realize officials have meetings, there are rules to study, there are clinics. It’s a tremendous amount of time away from my family. All of us referees are making sacrifices to make sure it’s a great environment for kids,” Maxfield said. “This way, I can put away my shirt so when I pull it back out, there’s excitement and enthusiasm to get back going again.” l

“That whole table was just filled with sweets and savories and their native foods, and I was just so grateful for their generosity and their presence and their willingness to share with our families,” said East Midvale school community facilitator Shelley McCall, who oversees the event.

Many of the 550 students, former students, parents and community members in attendance enjoyed the food while listening to the 17 Kenshin Taiko drummers during the evening.

“We do this because we value diversity,” Principal Matt Nelson said. “Our families have all kinds of backgrounds to come together to learn about each other and the world.”

At the event, families are given a “passport” asking about flag colors, languages, art, geography, animal life and more. As they tour the school, they find the answers in each grade level’s display.

Parents also appreciate students’ art projects relating to the different countries that they did under Melonie Stauffer, the school’s Beverley Taylor Sorenson art specialist. In addition, families could make red lanterns, tying in with the Lunar New Year festivities happening.

Angi DuBreuil came with her first-grader Madison and third-grader Connor.

While Madison liked the Afghani “spicy ice cream” samples, Connor learned about the mosaic tiles made in Kuwait.

“We come every year and like the food and performances, but it’s also a chance to get to learn more about their friends’ backgrounds and see the community together at the school,” she said.

Kindergarten teacher Carrie Dumas said the event been a fun tradition.

“It’s one of the more popular community

engagement nights that we have. It’s a big hit with the kids and their parents. It’s awesome because we have such a diverse school culture here and it’s really when students get to see something that represents their home country or that country of their parents.”

The tradition began in 2016 with students learning about The Americas of Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, the United States and Venezuela. Since then, they’ve rotated, studying several countries from different continents.

“We rotate it on a six-year rotation, so we are highlighting Asia again, but with countries that are different this year than before,” McCall said. “A lot of the grades picked countries where students are from. That is what is so cool about our community—we have families from around the world.”

Sometimes during the week, parents come in to share with the classes about their homelands.

“One family from Afghanistan gave a presentation to our first-grade students with a PowerPoint of pictures from the country. They talked some about the country’s culture, the geography, the food. It was just a much deeper level of engagement and learning about that particular country,” she said.

At East Midvale, the approximately 600 students speak more than 15 languages. Many students who live within the school’s boundaries are refugees and have shared their culture with others, she said.

“This is really a celebration of the diversity within our walls,” McCall said. “It started as my first big event as a community school facilitator, and it really was about looking at the strength we have in all our schools and celebrating everyone that was here. The festival is really focused on family and gathering—and that’s what we showcase. Everyone’s welcome in our school; we want everyone to come together and share who they are and learn about other cultures.”

Scott Maxfield, seen here before the triple overtime 5A football state championship with his son and grandson, has officiated high school football and basketball for more than four decades. (Photo courtesy of Scott Maxfield)

The Kenshin Taiko drummers perform for students and their families at East Midvale Elementary’s Living Traditions night. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

European adventure awaits youth,

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

Experience traveling to the top of the Swiss Alp peaks, visiting Bavarian castles, riding on an Italian gondola, looking at masterpieces in the Louvre.

These and other opportunities are on the itinerary of a France, Germany, Italy and Switzerland Education First Tours 10-day trip led by Shannon Hurst, who is a Hillcrest High teacher, coach and student body officers’ adviser.

“EF Tours provides students with the opportunity to experience and interact with different cultures and see things they only

see in textbooks or talk about in the classroom,” said Hurst, who has led previous group tours to Peru, England, Ireland, Italy and France. “It’s a very valuable experience for our youth.”

An informational meeting for the June 17-26, 2024 trip will be held at 6 p.m., March 9 in Hillcrest High’s presentation room, 7350 South 900 East, Midvale. Visitors may enter through the southeast or southwest doors of the school. The trip is open for anyone who is entering ninth grade and older. Additional details are available in the QR code. l

Hillcrest students meet the mayor

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

Midvale

Mayor Marcus Stevenson met with Hillcrest High students during a recent app or homeroom period where they asked him questions from city management to his plans to improve Midvale City. Senior Gloire Hangi shook hands with Midvale’s

youngest ever-elected mayor. “When I came here the city wasn’t looking good about four years ago,” he said, adding he has since seen improvements “to help the community of Midvale.” (Photo courtesy of Cher Burbank/ Hillcrest High) l

During the 10-day European travel, students can ride the boat from Kapelbrucke on Lake Lucerne, Switzerland. (Photo courtesy of EF Tours)

UPD in crosshairs: Midvale

Days appear numbered for Unified Police Department—the second largest police force in the state, which serves nine cities and townships in addition to county-wide services–with the likely passage of HB374, a bill that would dissolve UPD on Jan. 1, 2025.

Bill sponsor Rep. Jordan Teuscher, R-South Jordan, says he wants to eliminate the agency over concerns with “double taxation,” and “conflict of interest,” which stem from the County Sheriff’s dual functions as sheriff and CEO of Unified Police, according to Teuscher.

“You have situations where what might be best for the county may not be the best thing for UPD, and what might be the best thing for UPD may not be the best thing for the county. And with that, conflict of interest,” said Rep. Teuscher during a Feb. 15 House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee hearing.

Created in 2009, UPD is an interlocal police agency whose shared services model allows participating municipalities to access specialized public safety services—like K9 units, Forensics, or SWAT—while keeping in place precinct-level autonomy over local enforcement.

The model has won deep devotion from its participating parties.

“Our whole city recognizes the benefits of sharing services within the municipalities. It provides a far more robust police department for our residents than we would have if we started our own police department,” said Millcreek Mayor Jeff Silvestrini, UPD board member, addressing the committee.

“My concern with this bill—and I stand in opposition to it—is it throws the baby out with the bathwater. There is no reason to dissolve the entity in the first place,” he said.

Although as Teuscher understands it, the entity was created with the intention of growing to serve as a “metro-style” county-wide police force; instead, the entity has seen it’s market share shrink in recent years with the departure of some cities—which he says results in conflicts and unintended misappropriation.

‘Perception is reality’

Opponents of the bill, however, fiercely reject accusations of double taxation, and say Rep. Teuscher is pedaling exaggerated claims he’s failed to provide substantive evidence for.

“The fact that they’re going to destroy the entire police department, the second largest in the state, out of data that doesn’t exist, that’s where it becomes frustrating for me,” said UPD Chair, Midvale Mayor Marcus Stevenson, in an interview with the Journal.

“There is a perception that UPD is subsidized, and while there is no data to back

By Zak Sonntag | z.sonntag@mycityjournals.com

that up, perception is reality,” he said. “We have a legislature that is going to make a pretty big decision with inaccurate information.”

The only data produced includes a county audit, which lawmakers agreed showed no evidence of double taxation.

Although an internal work group assigned by the Sheriff’s Office did bring to light areas for administrative improvement.

The committee determined that a jurisdiction-specific Metro Mental Health initiative—which dispatches social workers alongside officers responding to calls implicating mental illness—received financing from a general fund meant for countywide services, according to Silvestrini, who drafted a report on the findings not yet made public.

Silvestrini said stakeholders nonetheless agreed the organization functioned fairly, legally, and that double taxation and conflicts of interest are not born out.

“With the exception of the mental health unit, we had consensus that all the things that the county was paying for out of the general fund were in fact county wide services,” he said, in an interview with the Journal.

‘Killing our officers mentally’ County Sheriff Rosie Rivera—at the heart of the purported conflict—adamantly defends the integrity of UPD and her functions as its CEO.

“This issue has continually come up the entire time I’ve been sheriff…since 2017. We have done numerous things to try to convince people that the UPD is a great organization; we’re very transparent, and there is no conflict. I believe it’s a perceived conflict,” Rivera said during the Feb. 15 hearing.

Rivera lamented the sponsor’s unnuanced solution, and said the process has deeply decimated officer morale.

“This disruption over and over is killing our officers mentally. It is taking a huge impact on them and their families and we need to do something to help them,” she said.

Lt. Nate Lord, who spoke on behalf of UPD officers during the committee hearing, confirmed the toll on rank and file servicemembers.

“The declination of our morale is rampant and it’s going fast. We’re not comfortable with constant turmoil and turbulence, because every year someone comes to question our police department,” said Lord, who added that the department was still recovering from “one of the roughest years we’ve had in decades,” referring to a tumultuous period of nationwide protests that followed in the 2020 wake of high profile racial police killings.

‘A lot of this has to do with politics’ UPD board member and Holladay May-

or, Robert Dahle, expressed anger with the legislative process, which he said tilted favor to the bill sponsor and disregarded people in uniform.

“There’s a major amount of frustration because of the legislative process. We had a lot of supporters to speak against the bill, and right out of the gate they said, ‘Five of you can speak. For one minute each,’” said Dahle, during a city meeting the following day. “Then the bill sponsor sat up there for 15 minutes and made claims that we weren’t able to refute.”

“The thing that angers me the most is that what people forget with politics and policy, and a lot of this has to do with politics, they forget that there are human beings on the back end of this—and they have been really damaged,” Dahle said.

“This could have been fixed in a way that was controlled and less damaging to the individual officers serving our communities. It was easily fixable at the county sheriff level. So to have this legislation come in and basically take a hammer to it is awful.”

Dahle also worries that the coming alternatives will fail to replicate the efficiency of the current UPD model. “I still think it’s the best model and the best way to police a community,” he said.

Rivera, too, chided lawmakers for underappreciating the financial burden the bill imposes on local governments.

“There are legal implications and their financial implications that have not been looked at. I do think it is going to be very costly for our communities,” she said.

UPD 2.0

Opponents suffered a blow with the unexpected announcement by Sheriff Rosie Rivera that she would no longer oppose the bill, explaining during a February press conference that the writing was on the wall.

“If we were to kill the bill, the sponsor has said he will continue to bring it back. This problem will never go away,” she said, expressing fatigue that the Sheriff’s Office had been backed into a corner by political forces. “I chose not to oppose this bill because I have a responsibility to create long term stability for public safety.”

The announcement caught UPD board members unawares.

“Being that the sheriff is our CEO and the board gave direct policy direction against this, I was shocked and disappointed by her position,” UPD Chair Stevenson said, even while admitting he understands the politics that forced Rivera’s hand, and that the board believes Rivera has the officers interest at heart.

Stevenson said he intends to continue his fight against the bill, but other members have already begun pivoting attention to crafting a new interlocal police force, which Mayor Jeff Silvestrini is calling “Unified 2.0”

“In terms of real politics that bill is probably going to pass no matter what we decided to do. So I would rather focus my efforts on UPD 2.0, and providing assurance to our officers they’re going to have stability in their employment, and providing assurance to the residents of my city that we’re going to have a robust police department,” Silvestrini said. l

Mayor frustrated the state’s second largest police force could be dissolved based on ‘data that doesn’t exist’

HB374 would dissolve the UPD in 2025. Midvale Mayor Marcus Stevenson is frustrated the decision could be made with “data that doesn’t exist.” (City Journals)

“

—David C

“

Robert and Mark were great! We had pipes burst at night and they were right there to help us get the water shut off and to help us get all the water out and dried. They were both professional, communication was great and they were thorough.I would recommend them to anyone! ”

—Anna D

When I was a kid, I worried about four things: my Halloween candy being stolen by siblings, missing a spelling word on a test, accidentally eating mayonnaise and nuclear war. In that order.

While those four things were the main cause of concern, I also worried about rainy days because stupid boys would throw earthworms down my shirt. I worried about wearing dresses to school because stupid boys would look up my skirt.

I worried about running out of books to read because I couldn’t imagine that apocalyptic scenario. I worried about earthquakes because we were constantly told The Big One would happen when we least suspected.

I guess I worried a lot, but I’m pretty sure our state legislators at the time didn’t give a rat’s behind about my mental health. In fact, children in the 1970s weren’t really considered people until they had a job and started paying taxes.

But now, our illustrious leaders say they are really concerned about the mental health of Utah’s youth, but only in select situations. There is talk to ban social media for kids under 16 because of the harmful impact it has on their mental wellness.

However, representatives don’t seem

A Mental Health Day

Peri Kinder Life and Laughter

society. Even though teens with access to these treatments have demonstrated better mental health.

This is a “problem” our leaders don’t have to “solve” because, hear me out, it isn’t a “problem.”

On a related note, I found it interesting Utah will still permit cisgender female teens to get breast implants. Because Utah.

Do you know what else affects a child’s mental health? The fear they’ll be shot at school. The fear that climate change will eliminate elephants and polar bears. The fear their overworked teachers will quit because public money has been siphoned off to private and home schools.

I won’t clump all our elected officials into this bunch of wackadoodles because there are many people working to help trans youth, create sensible gun laws and reduce the load of our poor public school teachers who get beat up each year during the legislative session.

milla introduced a bill that would legalize psilocybin in Utah under strict controls. Because this is Utah, this mushroom therapy bill will probably go down in hallucinogenic flames, but hopefully it gets the conversation started.

Another way to help our youth develop better mental health? Stop passing harmful bills. Start passing bills that help our children and grandchildren deal with the everyday pressures of living in this world that feels like it’s gone bananas.

I agree social media causes great harm to our teens through cyberbullying, shaming and creating a comparison mindset. But there are additional issues we could tackle to help our children sleep better at night.

concerned about the mental health of transgender youth since our state leaders banned gender-affirming care for minors. Even though suicide rates skyrocket for trans youth who often feel stigmatized in

I vote that each educator be given a 10-day trip to Hawaii, paid for by the record-breaking state liquor sales. Of which they’ve heartily contributed, I’m sure.

Speaking of addressing mental health, Senate Minority Leader Luz Esca -

I never had to worry about cyberbullying as a kid, although actual physical bullying was definitely a thing. I worried about being pushed off the monkey bars onto the hard concrete. I worried about kids laughing at my homemade polyester pantsuits.

What I worry about now is how to create an inclusive and safe environment for our youth. I also still worry about accidentally eating mayonnaise, and nuclear war. In that order. l