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food pantry, showers, washers and dryers. These are some of the facilities Hillcrest High Principal Greg Leavitt said he’s proud of being incorporated in the new Hillcrest High School. The building is expected to be open for fall term. “We serve about 100 students, many of them refugees coming from about 25 countries and some of our other students are without homes or are living in shelters,” he said. “They need laundry facilities, showers, food. These human service rooms are here to help them take care of their hygiene, their clothes, provide them food during hard times. In today’s world, more and more students are needing help whether it’s socio-economically, educationally, mentally. If we want our student to learn, we need to start with shelter, food and stability.” The rooms will serve to “support students, not judge them,” he said. “We won’t deny anyone.” The human service rooms are part of what Leavitt has discussed weekly the past 2.5 years with architect and Hillcrest 1989 alumna Greta Anderson and other construction team members. He anticipates he’s midway in his weekly construction meetings, based on his experience from being a part of Draper Park Middle School’s build team. “We started after the bond passed and will continue until the last plugin is put in and the last construction trailer leaves,” Leavitt said. “It’s been great working with someone who knows the school. She knows the importance of our performing arts program and our traditions like the senior Continued page 7
The commons area on the main floor will be a gathering space for students in the new Hillcrest High School, Principal Greg Leavitt told school community council members. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
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Youth group for girls meets in person after a year of being virtual By Sarah Morton Taggart | s.taggart@mycityjournals.com
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mma Price was a shy, soft-spoken 10-yearold when she became a “Jobie.” Seven years later, she’s auditioning to be part of the productions company at Hillcrest High School. “It really did help me,” Price said. “I was a shy person. It’s definitely influenced the way I interact with other people. It’s brought me out of my shell and surrounded me with good people who support me in the things I do.” Job’s Daughters International is a leadership group for young women ages 10 to 20. One difference from other youth groups is that members come together from different cities. Price is still close friends with another girl who lives in Millcreek and was initiated on the same day. “I like it because she gets to know girls outside of just our area,” said Kim Price, Emma’s mother. “It’s good to know people outside of your comfort zone.” There are eight bethels, or local chapters, of Job’s Daughters in Utah. Midvale is the only one between Salt Lake City and Price and includes 18 members from Midvale, West Jordan and Murray but also as far away as Tooele, Orem and Bluffdale. “You have these younger girls looking up to older girls,” said Janci Lawes, guardian for the Midvale bethel. “The older girls take on leadership roles. The mentorships and friendships that happen with this organization are very exciting to see. A lot of these girls would not have met if not for Job’s.” Most Job’s Daughters are related to a Master Mason, though a relationship is no longer required for membership. “You’d be surprised the number of people who have relationships to Master Masons and just don’t realize it,” Lawes said. The Midvale bethel was instituted in 1962 and typically meets at the Midvale Masonic Temple at 7689 S. Center Square. The temple is home to Canyon Lodge #13, a Masonic order
Journals T H E
Sisters Zoe Price (left) and Emma Price have gained confidence and lasting friendships as member of Job’s Daughters, which meets at the Masonic Temple in Midvale. (Photo courtesy Kim Price)
chartered in 1907. Job’s Daughters is built on ceremony, procedure and music, which has made adapting to a pandemic all the more challenging. Lawes became the Midvale bethel’s guardian in June 2020, but has known most of the girls since her own daughter, Kira Lawes, joined in 2015 at age 11. “The rest of these girls, they’re not even mine and I missed them like they were my own,” Lawes said. “It was good that we could still meet virtually, but it’s not the same. You just can’t sing together virtually.” The Midvale bethel’s last traditional meeting was the first Saturday in March 2020. A core group of nine girls met virtually twice a month until the third Saturday of March 2021, when they were able to meet in person again. Yet many things are different.
“We’re not allowed to sing in person and the girls can’t wear the regalia because they change in small spaces,” Lawes said. “We’re all looking forward to being back in the robes for our ritual practice.” This was Lawes’ first time taking on the year-long post of supervising a bethel, but she’s no stranger to the institution. “I’ve been involved since before I was able to be a Job’s Daughter,” Lawes said. “It runs in my family. My mom was heavily involved and I’ve been around it forever. There’s so much this organization has to offer people. I learned a ton and I’m still friends with people I met during that time, even though we’re spread across the country.” Still, Lawes was nervous to begin her post during a pandemic. “Our core girls that continued to stay with us, they have demonstrated more patience than I have,” Lawes said. “I know they have been frustrated, as we all have. But they have not let it get them down. They have continued to participate and stay involved and that says something.” Some meeting rituals were able to continue virtually. “Girls all have parts to memorize for regular meetings,” Lawes said. “It’s a great skill and also teaches them how to study. The girls learn to stand up and speak in public. They learn to speak their opinions. Most start out really shy, but the other girls do not let you be shy. They bring you in and bring you out. It’s a wonderful thing.” Price agreed. “Jobies has helped me memorize things more easily and helped me in speaking in front of people and large groups,” she said. A number of leadership roles are available to the girls, include the chaplain who leads prayers during meetings, and the recorder, who
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takes notes during meetings. Lawes’s daughter, Kira, is currently serving as honored queen of Midvale. She, along with four other officers, are elected every six months and have a number of duties like keeping track of finances and organizing several fundraisers each year. Job’s Daughters also learn lessons in charity. Past service projects include helping out at the Humane Society of Utah and the Utah Food Bank. Job’s Daughters was founded in 1920 in Omaha, Nebraska on the teachings from the Book of Job in the Old Testament. However, members from all faiths are welcome. The only religious prerequisite is a belief in a supreme being and members of the Midvale bethel represent a diverse array of faiths. One role of the honored queen is to lead “obligatory Sunday,” where she invites the other members to visit her church. Kira Lawes doesn’t have a specific religion, but wanted to learn about Buddhism during her term. A visit to the Buddhist temple wasn’t possible due to COVID-19, so instead they participated in a virtual event. Lawes’ advice for girls wanting to join? “Reach out to someone who’s already a Job’s Daughter. If you don’t know anyone, girls can reach out to the bethel closest to them or the state Grand Bethel, who can help them find a good fit.” Most members are related to a Master Mason, but if no relationship can be found they have the option to be sponsored by an unrelated Mason. “We’re a lot less formal now than when I was involved,” Lawes said. “And I think that goes with the times. I know that we were less formal when I was a kid than my mom was. Things have to change to keep going. I’m super proud of these girls for sticking with it so our organization stays alive.”l
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Midvale City Journal
Hillcrest High makes headlines in the theatre world with strong finishes at Shakespeare festival, region By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com
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illcrest High thespians aren’t taking anything for granted after last spring’s closure of schools dampened their theatre season. “It has inspired the kids to work hard; they are just as passionate,” Hillcrest High theatre director Josh Long said. “They do what they need to do with COVID to keep from having any outbreaks to disrupt their season.” That attitude has resulted in students’ success, beginning last fall with the 44th annual 2020 high school Shakespeare competition that was held virtually this year instead of in Cedar City. At the competition, Hillcrest’s Shakespearean team took first place in Sweepstakes as well as first place for the ensemble scene of “King Lear.” Students also placed first in tech Olympics. Individual and small groups of students also placed well with Carson McFarland placing first and earning the Ray Jones college scholarship award in his monologue of “Cymbeline;” Max Abbot, Zach Harvey and Robyn Otteson placing second in duo/trio scene of “Othello;” Jacob Winegar earning third place in his monologue of “The Two Gentlemen of Verona;” and Porter Eldredge, Elizabeth Martin and Alden Parks being finalists in duo/trio scene of “The Two Gentlemen of Verona.” On the tech side, Jessica Wood earned first place in the tech portfolio and received a college scholarship award; Ian Abbot placed first in lighting and Fisher was first in sound.
Hillcrest theatre competed its one-act play, “Incident at Vichy” at region, where the team took Sweepstakes and was expected to compete at state in April. (Photo courtesy of Michelle Abbott)
Students also took to the stage in “Hunchback of Notre Dame,” which was moved to February, allowing extra time to figure out how to best present the show and keep students and patrons safe during a pandemic. “I’m so glad it went over well even if it did give us some additional work with COVID. I was really encouraged by the actions of parents who volunteered to help with sets and costumes as well as the students, who really wanted live theatre to be back,” Long said. The students recently competed at region virtually, qualifying 70 student for the in-person state competition set
for mid-April. Their second-place finish in their one-act play, Arthur Miller’s “Incident at Vichy,” propelled them to win Sweepstakes, with Carson McFarland being singled out with outstanding performance. The entire cast also was awarded outstanding ensemble performance. “We have a strong male cast and it was written entirely for 17 men, but we made a couple of them women,” he said about the play that was set in 1942 in France that addressed Jewish men being taken to concentration camps. Individually and small groups, Hillcrest nabbed nine top three places at region. Elizabeth Martin won humorous monologue with “The Comedy About a Bank Robbery;” Zoe Liu and Amelia Miller took first in classical scene with “Fuente Ovejuna;” Zachary Harvey and Alden Parks placed first in contemporary scene with “Amadeus.” Second-place finishes went to Carson McFarland in his dramatic monologue of “Amadeus;” Joseph Abbot and Serena Rogers in their classical scene of “Ivanov;” Elizabeth Blackwelder and Ruth Woodland in their pantomime, “Monster in the Closet;” and Rachel Johnson and Jacob Ruplinger in the musical theatre category with “Assassins.” Celine Bovey and Robyn Otteson nabbed third place in their contemporary scene of “Mosquitoes.” “They’ve worked hard to give it their all,” Long said. “They’ve learned not to take anything for granted.” l
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2021 EVENING S ERIES Amphitheater Parking: 495 East 5300 South Ticket Info: 801-264-2614 or www.murray.utah.gov June 4 ................................. Les Miserables, Movie Sing-Along June 5 ................................................... Murray Concert Band June 17-19, 21-23 ........................ Disney's The Little Mermaid June 26 ...................................................... Murray Symphony
LUNCH CONCERT SERIES * Tuesday at Noon in Murray Park Pavilion #5, FREE June 1 - BD Howes ...................................................... Acoustic June 8 - Vaudeville Nouveau ................................... 50's - 80's June 15 - Wasatch Jazz Syndicate ........................ Jazz Quartet June 22 - Riding Gravity .............................. Surf & Rockability
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STOP IN FOR STORIES * Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday at 11 a.m. in Murray Park White Gazebo, FREE Murray City Library sponsored Storytelling * Location may change This program has received funding support from residents of Salt Lake County, SL County Zoo, Arts and Parks (ZAP), Utah Division of Arts and Museums, and Museums & National Endowment for the Arts.
Page 6 | May 2021
Graduations01: This year’s commencement at Waterford School will likely resemble the one shown here from last spring. (Photo courtesy of Waterford School)
Commencements look different, yet familiar during pandemic as schools determine ceremonies By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com
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ll the pomp and circumstance will be outside for the graduating seniors of Waterford School, Jordan High School, and Paradigm High to reduce the chance of COVID-19 transmission. “We will be having our graduation ceremony outside on our Sandy campus this year, similar to how we did it last year, but we will likely be able to welcome more guests,” said Amanda Apple, Waterford’s director of marketing and communications. “We have not finalized all the details yet because we continue to experience a changing landscape of guidelines, but we plan to follow all Utah State Health Department and CDC guidelines to maintain all the testing, distancing, and masking protocols mandated.” The Waterford ceremony for 73 seniors is planned for 7:30 p.m., Friday, June 4. Senior orchestra members will perform as well as the vocal ensemble, Troubadours, and select third- through fifth-grade students will perform the song, “Irish Blessing.” A senior speaker has yet to be named. As of mid-April, Jordan High planned to host two graduation ceremonies, one on Wednesday, May 26 and the other, on Thursday, May 27, weather-permitting. Times to be determined. “Our ceremony will be on the football field, as we have done some years ago,” Principal Wendy Dau said, adding that families will sign up for which night they prefer to attend. “This will allow families to have four tickets. If for some reason, the capacity of the stadium can go higher to say 50% , we will push the
graduation to a single night on Wednesday. It will be as close to a traditional graduation ceremony as we can create.” In case of inclement weather, commencement will move to the school auditorium with dates and times to be determined. The theme is “Dig the Moment.” Graduation speakers include Valedictorian Kira Brooks; Salutatorian Megan DuVal; Senior Class President Davion Washington; Student body President Brooklyn Wagner; Graduate of Promise for Latinos in Action Vanessa Gonzalez Pliego; and Graduate of Promise for AVID – Neema Delphine; and seniors Michelle Dominguez and Taylor Tilby. The commencement also will be livestreamed. A free dinner-dance with fireworks will be held for seniors that week; the date has yet to be set. Students attending will be COVID-19 tested before being allowed to participate, Dau said. About 70 Paradigm High students are scheduled to graduate at the outdoor amphitheater in Thanksgiving Point’s Ashton Gardens at 6:30 p.m., Friday, May 28. Tickets are required; each graduating senior will receive four complimentary tickets and families have the option to purchase up to six more at $12 each. The ceremony also will be livestreamed on Paradigm’s YouTube channel. Graduation speakers will be selected in May. American Heritage of South Jordan will celebrate nine seniors at its graduation at 6 p.m., Wednesday, May 26 at The Azalea in
Daybreak in South Jordan. Tickets are not required. To the east, Juan Diego Catholic High plans to hold its traditional ceremony on Saturday, May 29. Attendance is by ticket only. In Midvale, Hillcrest High will hold its commencement at 9 a.m., Wednesday, May 26. Other details haven’t been announced. Jordan Valley School families are welcome to celebrate the four 2021 and eight 2020 graduates at its commencement exercises on 10 a.m., Friday, May 21 in Midvale Middle School’s auditorium. Nearby at Cottonwood High, 338 graduating seniors voted to hold a traditional commencement together, which will be held at 1 p.m., Thursday, June 3 in the school auditorium. Seniors will be able to invite up to five guests and tickets will be distributed when students pick up their caps and gowns. The program will include two senior speakers, selected following the May 13 auditions, as well as the valedictorian, salutatorian, senior class president and the student body president. Live music will be provided by the Madrigals and the combined orchestra and band. The evening of graduation, Cottonwood’s PTSA graduation night committee will hold “Grad Night at All Star Bowling” in West Valley City. Graduates will be bussed at 10 p.m. and the bus will return at 3 a.m., Friday, June 4. As of press deadline, several other area high school administrators were still determining commencement plans.l
Midvale City Journal
Continued from front page bench.” In fact, during a March 10 tour for the School Community Council, Leavitt pointed out where the senior bench would be placed, near the student body officer and international baccalaureate rooms. “Students now know it as a place to sit on by all the posters in the main foyer, but back in the day, only seniors could sit on it,” he said. The bench will be placed not far from the performing arts area, where the 1,400-seat auditorium will have a hidden orchestra pit, and a proscenium that is larger than other area schools, Leavitt said. There also will be a stage tech area with 10-foot doors to move in larger set pieces. A little theatre is being built adjacent to the auditorium. “This is how Broadway feels, folks,” Leavitt said to the council of about 25 members. “They typically don’t build them like this.” Leavitt showed the council the school’s first alumni room that will double its use for the PTA and SCC, and rooms for the sewing, woods, ceramics and robotics programs. There is a professional kitchen with an adjacent dining room designed to allow students to gain culinary experience. More than 500 students have enrolled for foods courses this next term, he said. Another highlight of the new Hillcrest is a college-style lecture room that seats about 150 people, Leavitt said. “We can use it for an IB test, a community presentation, a faculty meeting, professional development” he said. Canyons Board of Education member Mont Millerberg told the group: “This is my favorite addition. It has a collegiate feel that a department could bring several class-
Canyons Board of Education member and 1968 Hillcrest alumnus Mont Millerberg says the new school being built on the former soccer field and part of the main parking lot is “absolutely awesome.” (Julie Slama/City Journals)
es together to have the same instruction or presentation. It will help students understand what we mean by being college-ready.” The lecture room sits near the west-facing front doors, where once students walk in, they will enter a commons area and can have quick access to the main office, administration, counseling and support staff. Above the commons is the library, with a view of the Wasatch Mountains, as well as the SBO and IB rooms. Near the auditorium are the choir and instrumental music rooms, complete with practice rooms, a music li-
brary and instrument storage. While not all rooms were completed, Leavitt showed classrooms, science labs and collaboration rooms. “It’s great to have this space to collaborate and the windows into the classrooms allows us to see what is going on,” he said, adding that security measures have been put in place throughout the building in case of emergencies. “The new building is full of light, openness and it’s very manageable. There are no dead corners. It has a welcoming feel.” While students watch the brickwork finished on the exterior walls this spring, Millerberg, who graduated from the current school in 1968, said he will be sad to see his building go. He quickly added, this one is “absolutely awesome. I’ve walked through it about 10 times and each time it gets better.” The new Hillcrest High School building, which will have gray and green interior, is being erected by the school’s stadium on the east side on the former soccer field and part of the main parking lot. It is expected to open to 2,160 students. The sports complex and fieldhouse already have been completed and students have been using them for athletics and physical education. The existing school that was built for about $5 million in 1962 will be demolished with the area used for parking and playing fields. The STEM building that was constructed from the 2010 bond will remain in place. The $118.3-million school, designed by the architectural firm of FFKR and built by the construction crew of Westland, is being funded from the $283-million bond that voters approved in 2017 to modernize and upgrade Canyons School District schools. l
Boxers fight to relieve stress and depression
W
ith all the stress in the world nowadays, maybe take up boxing. Physically hitting a punching bag produces a response in your body that helps to relieve tension. “We are committed to standing up against depression and suicide with strength and honor,” Bfit Boxing trainer Johnny Olguin said. According to the American Psychological Association, 75%vof Americans have experienced stress symptoms in the last month. Money, work and the future of our country top the list. Stress negatively impacts the body and your health. It can cause headaches, depression, insomnia, high blood pressure and heart attacks. The stress hormones release when experiencing an event increase adrenaline and trigger the fight or flight endorphins needed to protect your body in an emergency. The constant release of these hormones day after day puts your health at risk. “Everyone needs stress relief,” Kearns Oquirrh Park Fitness personal trainer Bill Caughey said. Bfit boxing club in West Jordan offers boxing fitness classes and is organizing the Wasatch Warrior Rumble, a boxing exhibition to fight against depression and suicide. The rumble is scheduled for September and will
MidvaleJournal.com
By Greg James | g.james@mycityjournals.com
include a boxing exhibition, food, music and prizes. All proceeds will go to organizations fighting suicide and depression. The rumble is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 25. Utah state heavyweight champion Helaman Olguin trains a teaches classes at Bfit. Last June, he scored a six-round majority decision over Adam Stewart in a bout that was televised on ESPN. Olguin has won six straight bouts in the past 15 months. In January, he defeated Carlos Reyes by technical knockout. Bfit offers youth boxing on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. “My son loves it,” Brooke Mckeever said. “They do pretty hardcore endurance training along with boxing. They make it fun and competitive and keep the kids engaged.” Boxing is more than a way to better fitness for some. The Utah State Golden Gloves Championships are scheduled for May 21–22 in Davis County at the Legacy Events Center. The Championships determine who will advance to the Rocky Mountain Regional Championships. Utah hosted the National Golden Gloves in 2016. Professional boxing legends such as Micahel Spinks, Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvin
Bfit boxing gym provides youth training as well as adult fitness classes. (Photo courtesy of Bfit Boxing.)
Hagler, Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson all got their starts in the Golden Gloves. “If you are looking to get into the best
shape of your life and always crave more, we highly recommend giving boxing a try,” a Legends Boxing customer Carley said. l
May 2021 | Page 7
What’s your legacy?
The Midvale Middle’s Trojan mascot congratulated eighth-grade students at last year’s drive-by MYP ceremony. (Photo courtesy of Midvale Middle)
Midvale Middle to honor its MYP students who make a positive impact in community By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com
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M
idvale Middle School will celebrate its “road” scholars, similarly to Rhodes Scholars. That is, administrators and teachers will be on the curb in front of the school awarding Midvale Middle School eighth-grade students their International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme certificates in a drive-by ceremony. The two-hour celebration will begin at 5 p.m., May 20 and students will be assigned time slots to ensure numbers are limited and social distancing guidelines align with the Salt Lake County COVID-19 guidelines. “We’ll have it decorated outside, with teachers along the route cheering,” said Shelley Allen, Midvale Middle School MYP program coordinator. “We’ll announce student’s name, award them their certificate and a flash drive that includes all the students’ accomplishments. At that point, students can hop out of their cars to pose for a photo.” All MYP students will receive a pizza to make a celebratory night with their families. The COVID-style celebration is similar to last year, when about 150 students or 75% of the MYP honorees attended. The capstone of MYP is the Make a Difference project, which requires students to research, plan, organize and reflect, Allen said. “They have the power to change the world and we hope they will use the knowledge they’ve gained through MYP to make an impact on their community,” she said. Many of the students’ Make a Differ-
ence Projects this year were tied to the pandemic, Allen said. “Many students learned about others’ stories and the impact COVID-19 had whether it related to animals, businesses, police, schools, health care or personal stories,” she said. “It was a starting point and what we saw was their sharing of stories and how they became grateful for many things we have taken for granted.” Some students developed their research into other assignments in English and history, she said, as recently Allen and eighthgrade core teachers merged projects so they could be used in English-language arts, social studies and their MYP award. “When it came to taking action, some students expressed kindness, writing notes to people who may be lonely or putting up signs to reach out to others,” Allen said. “Their opportunity was expansive, but many students did positive things to make others’ happy.” Midvale Middle School received its authorization from International Baccalaureate to offer the full MYP program in August 2012. Recently, it was renewed so Midvale Middle will continue to help students take ownership of their learning, make connections with the world around them and to empower them to be good citizens, Allen said. “MYP unifies our students,” she said. “We embrace our diversity. Our international-mindedness makes us better people who are making connections and becoming good citizens.” l
Midvale City Journal
Hillcrest’s Earth Club cleans roadways, recycles, composts, gardens in effort to improve environment By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com
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ophomore Sydney Gardner cares about the environment so she joined Hillcrest High’s Earth Club in its first year. In March, she and her friend, Carissa Jameson, donned bright orange vests to walk along Highway 71 to clean up litter. “People are seeing us, knowing that we are taking the initiative to make our community a better place,” Sydney said. “I’m happy to do it; I care about the environment.” Carissa added it’s something engaging she could do with friends while helping the environment. They were two of about 20 Hillcrest Earth Club members who teamed up with the school’s chapter of National Honors Society members to walk the route from 5900 South to Lindy Drive, filling about 10 yard waste bags of trash as part of the Adopt-a-Highway national campaign, said Michael Chen, who founded Earth Club along with Sofia Moeinvaziri and Rian and Andrew Liew. “We’ve committed to cleaning up the highway at least three times per year for two years,” Michael said. “We want to help the community. It’s a small thing to help the environment, but it’s one where we can do our part and make a noticeable difference.” While the group picked up items as small as cigarette butts and drink cups, they also recycled some larger items such as discontinued real estate flier racks, said their adviser, Jake Flanigan. “It was awesome way to reach out to the community to make them aware that these students in Earth Club care and they’re willing to sustain trash pick up in our community,” he said. As part of the commitment, official signs will be posted at each end of their stretch, indicating Hillcrest High’s Earth Club is responsible for its cleanup. The idea behind participating in the program came when club’s service community coordinator Abigail Slama-Catron saw the signs on other highways and thought it would be a good way to serve the community, Sofia said. “It’s a great idea,” she said after their initial pick up. “We got about seven new kids involved so we had a good group willing to do something to have a positive impact on our environment.” Plus, member sophomore Ray Powers points they’re being proactive: “If we take initiative to pick up litter and maybe it will remind other people not to throw out trash in the first place.” It also provided those National Honor Society members a platform to provide community service, Michael pointed out, as members are required to perform 10 hours of service per quarter. “We want to create a stronger coalition to help our Hillcrest community, and this is one way we can give three hours of service together. It feels good to do something to clean up our community and rid it of random pieces of plastic and parts of cars,” he said. “We are making a difference.” The 70-member club’s main goal this year has been composting and the day after the road cleanup, they built their composting bins that they had purchased after writing and receiving the Be a Philanthropist grant for $500. “We outlined what we wanted to do and what we needed the money for,” Sofia said, indicating with the grant they purchased two large compost tumbler bins, thermometers and buckets.
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Hillcrest Earth Club members pick up trash along Highway 71 in Midvale and Murray as part of their commitment to the Adopt-a-Highway program. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
“The tumblers will help the Hillcrest compost program we started become more permanent,” Michael added. The composting has mostly been waste from the school cafeteria, fruits and vegetables that may have been thrown out. Sofia added as the food services staff prepares meals, they add in ends of lettuce and other produce pieces. The compost will be used in the school garden, which currently is in the courtyard, but will be moved to the southeast corner of campus as the old building is torn down and students move to the new school. Earth Club oversees the school garden and plans to continue producing tomatoes, peppers, onions and other items they use to make salsa as the club and the school’s FCCLA and Latinos-in-Action team up to hold a “Salsa Salsa” party celebrating both food and dancing. Traditionally, pumpkins also are grown in the garden, which students have painted and shared with the community. Flanigan said they plan to harvest lettuce, beans and other cut greens from the garden prior to the school coming down. Much of this year’s produce has been shared with the faculty and staff. Hillcrest’s Earth Club is looking to share its composting and gardening successes with Canyons School District schools as well as some in neighboring districts. Another part of Earth Club is weekly recycling of paper and cardboard at the school. “Since the beginning of school last fall, they recycled at least a ton,” Flanigan said. This year, it has evolved to include picking up dona-
tions of items that faculty and staff no longer want as they prepare to move into the new building. “We’ve taken fake plants, bikes, chairs, metal filing cabinets, picture frames, glass beakers— about anything. We recycle or donate what we can and then, also look at items to sell to put money into our club activities like gardening and composting,” Sofia said. Another simple, but significant act students did was to update Google Maps of the school during construction. “We have had so many people come to the front doors looking for our gym, which has been torn down and rebuilt, but Google Maps didn’t show that. This update has saved in reducing traffic and idling as well as crowds during the pandemic,” Flanigan said. This year’s activities will wrap up with an Earth Day celebration. With COVID-19 restrictions on holding in-person assemblies, Rian created an environmental film to show in each classroom. They also want students to get involved by writing better ways to take action to take care of the Earth, Sofia said. While the club plans to continue these projects next year, there are several ideas on the table for next year ranging from an environmental mural and holding more events as allowed during the pandemic to possibly investigating water rights in the area and looking at ways to become more energy efficient at the school. “These kids have a lot of big ideas,” Flanigan said. “They’re pretty passionate and are motivating their peers to care more about our Earth.” l
May 2021 | Page 9
Midvale Literary Festival names winners in fiction and poetry By Sarah Morton Taggart | s.taggart@mycityjournals.com
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he Midvale Arts Council didn’t let a pandemic stop the first Midvale Literary Festival. The virtual festival consisted of two parts: a writing showcase and a Flash Writing Contest. For the main competition, Midvale residents were invited to submit their short stories or poems and a panel of judges awarded the two outstanding entries to Victoria Wetzel’s story “Lagoon Day” and Sara Schmachtenberger’s story, “The Blue Note.” Schmachtenberger also won first place in the fiction portion of the Flash Writing Contest. More than 50 writers signed up and were given 24 hours to create a brand new story. Contestants were given the prompt of either “hospital and single shoe” or “hotel and broken clock.” The resulting stories had to be 1,000 words or less and ranged from romance to sci-fi. Second place went to Ren Bromiley for “The Grand Sicily,” and Wetzel’s “Time Warp” placed third. Each winner received a trophy and Amazon gift card. “We wanted to give people a reason to write something new,” said Bob Bedore, vice president of the arts council’s board of directors. “I’m glad we did. It was a lot of fun. We were pretty excited
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with the quality of the submissions.” Schmachtenberger has been writing for years, but just recently started to share her work. She won a blue ribbon in the arts council’s Harvest Days Visual and Literary Art Contest a few years ago and posts some of her stories online. “Right now, I’m more focused on my 80,000-word book,” Schmachtenberger said. “I write short stories when I get too many ideas jumbled around in my thoughts. I need to get them out or they stay in there and disrupt my writing process. This contest provided an outlet for that.” Schmachtenberger is currently on the third rewrite of her first novel, which is about a young woman who is learning to cope with loss and taking on a great responsibility. In contrast, Schmachtenberger’s winning short story is about a world-weary ER nurse who contemplates returning to her roots after a traumatic experience. “With writing, I feel like I have a notepad and a pen, and I just follow these characters around,” Schmachtenberger said. “It plays out and I follow.” For the Flash Fiction Contest, Schmachtenberger took five or six hours
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Sara Schmachtenberger won awards for two different stories during the first Midvale Literary Festival. (Photo courtesy Sara Schmachtenberger)
to write her story, “The Doll Hospital.” “Initially I thought (the prompt) was a little grim,” Schmachtenberger said. “But then I thought, ‘Nah, we’ll make it fun.’ What a cool idea to have a prompt and a location. It was a really amazing challenge.” For the Flash Poetry Contest, participants were all given the same “word bank.” All five words (shoulder, nod, attach, wait and enchant) had to be used in a single poem, though the writer could change the tense or plurality. “We thought it was going to be really hard, but the three winning poems were all very different,” Bedore said. “One poem was about a woman with a newborn child, one believed in a relationship that was more in their head, and one was about someone who couldn’t cry when they wanted to for a play. Three different stories came out of those five words.” The top poets were Mary Mason of West Jordan for her poem, “Life Renewed,” Grace Meservy of Lehi for “Why Can’t I Make Myself Cry,” and Andrew Walker of Midvale for “Wait.” “Poetry really has to follow a pattern, but I don’t do that,” Mason said. “I write what falls out of my head. The five words gave it some shape and form, then it almost wrote itself. When you write, sometimes things just work.” Mason doesn’t consider herself to be a poet, but did enjoy taking poetry classes at the University of Utah 40 years ago. She was urged by her daughter to enter the contest for fun. “I do a lot of things and people are
Mary Mason proudly sent this photo to her children after winning first place in the Flash Poetry Contest. (Photo courtesy Mary Mason)
always amazed,” Mason said. “People think, ‘Oh, I could never do that.’ I say, ‘Yes you can!’ People are crippled by the idea that if they don’t do it perfectly the first time they’ve failed. You just need to practice. You can be adventuresome and try things and like it or find it wasn’t as wonderful as you’d hoped. But at least you made the effort.” The arts council plans to bring the festival back next year, potentially with live readings. “I saw how excited people were not only to win, but to have something to do,” Bedore said. “Being a part of this really helped them get out of a funk, give them confidence to try something new. For me personally, that was very cool.” All winning stories and poems can be found on the arts council’s website: www. midvalearts.com/literary-event-winners. “This provided me an opportunity to be more vulnerable and let my writing see the light of day,” Schmachtenberger said. “Now I have two trophies. They’re good reminders to keep going, keep sharing, get out there.” l
Midvale City Journal
Comprehensive soccer training taught virtually by pros By Catherine Garrett | c.garrett@mycityjournals.com
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ormer Utah Royals professional soccer player Alex Kimball will again headline a six-week virtual training course that begins June 14 for young female soccer players, ages 12 to 17. A sneak peek of the first week is being offered for free to give those interested a glimpse of the program. “This course has brought girls from across the country and has provided great insight into many aspects of the game that are often missed when competing at a high level as a teenage female athlete,” Utah-based Sport Ready founder Robin Cecil, a physical therapist of 25 years, said. “They are learning from phenomenal professional athletes and specialists how to listen to their bodies, how their own training must be individualized, how their self-talk really matters, and how to increase their confidence both on and off the field.” The first run of this program this spring brought several positive responses including from a soccer player named Teya who said, “This course is like nothing I have ever done before. It teaches me what I’ve got to do off the field and it will help me more in the long run.” Former professional soccer player Colette Jepson Smith along with former BYU player Elise Flake will also be featured in the training along other sports professionals, including RSL nutritionist Michelle Meinking and mental strength coach Kelsey Ruff. Additionally, sports endocrinologist Nicki Keay will help participants learn to identify symptoms of imbalance training and how to balance their training behaviors, which will improve performance capacity. “This training program provides female youth athletes with the strategies necessary to help them meet their sport demands in today’s competitive youth sports structure along with the tools to monitor their readiness to compete,” Cecil said. “We educate and help you train yourself in ways that you’ve never probably learned before,” Kimball said. “I wish I knew then what I know now.”
Former BYU soccer player Elise Flake will be featured in a virtual six-week training program of worldclass instruction for female soccer players, ages 12 to 17, that begins June 14. (Photo courtesy BYU)
Cecil compares high-level athletes to a sports car. “Both burst with speed and agility. Both have the drive to perform by covering the distance in the fastest and most efficient way possible. To compete, a car and driver need to be ready. Preparation and training are paramount. Before the race, all systems are checked and a racing strategy is in place. Knowing when to step on the gas and when to step on the brake is paramount to staying on the track. It is the same with young athletes. Blindly going the distance without the right preparation and training, a plan, and not taking care of issues as they arise leaves athletes facing a long and dangerous race to the finish.” Kimball will provide “Alex’s Daily Touch” along with hosting live question-and-answer sessions with NWSL, WSL, National and NCAA D1 female soccer players. The training will take about 30 minutes
Former Utah Royals soccer player Alex Kimball will headline a virtual six-week training program of worldclass instruction for female soccer players, ages 12 to 17, that begins June 14. (Photo courtesy Robin Cecil)
per day, four to five days a week, depending on the individual schedule of each participant. The cost of the online training is $199. Enrollment can be secured and more information can be found at: sportreadyacademy.com/p/ultimate-virtual-soccer-training-for-female-athletes-with-alex-kimball. Individual athletes who subscribe at Sport Ready Academy will receive a 10% discount on the course. Teams that are interested in signing up can reach out at info@rusportready.com for special pricing. Plans are also in place to expand this type of training to other sports, as well as expanding the number of soccer professionals featured in this program.l Former Utah Royals player Colette Jepson Smith will be featured in a virtual six-week training program of world-class instruction for female soccer players, ages 12 to 17, that begins June 14. (Photo courtesy Robin Cecil)
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May 2021 | Page 11
Hillcrest to put on ‘Follies’ in May; storyline parallels their own By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com
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n his junior year, he played the lead in “My Fair Lady” and his senior year, the lead in “Brigadoon.” Now, 42 years after graduating from Hillcrest High, Brian Bentley is returning to the stage in the last performance in the 59-year-old auditorium. Bentley will play Dimitri Weissman, who is the producer of the Weissman Theatre, which soon will be torn down to become a parking lot. Before that happens, a reunion of actors grace its stage, running a parallel to Hillcrest as former performing arts graduates have been invited back to be part of Stephen Sondheim’s “Follies.” Hillcrest, too, will be torn down and the auditorium will be a parking lot for the new school come fall. The show will be at 7 p.m., May 12-15 in the auditorium of Hillcrest High, 7350 S. 900 East. There also will be a 2 p.m. matinee, May 15. Tickets are available at hillcresttheatre. com. “There’s been 59 years of performing arts memories on that stage and I’ve intimately been involved in 36 of those years on that stage,” Bentley said. “It’s been an important part of my life” —including befriending the woman who now is his wife. Seven years after graduating, Bentley started teaching at Hillcrest and for 22 of the next 23 years, he directed choirs—even though he did play clarinet in the school band—and
has been instrumental in Hillcrest musicals. Even during his tenure as the international baccalaureate director, he was involved in the shows. Since retiring in 2016, he has returned to be a vocal coach (online this year) and even played piano during 2018’s “Hairspray.” Joining Bentley will be this year’s 26-member productions company as well as performing arts alumni who expressed an interest in performing in the school’s last show in the auditorium. “I had 169 fill out an interest survey,” Hillcrest director Josh Long said, adding that they ranged from recent graduates to those dating back to the late 1960s. “We plan to have the alumni perform as former actors coming back the night before the theatre is torn down and encountering ghosts of their younger selves, who will be played by our current students. It’s been an incredible experience working with the alumni.” Some alumni will sing duets with their younger selves, others will tap dance, and more will promenade in the opening scene as they come back to see their former theatre. Long plans to identify alumni with a sash that indicates their graduation year and in the show’s program, name the productions they were in while in high school. Initial plans call for Bentley to join his former graduate, Keri Anderson Hughes, in the
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Hillcrest High’s auditorium will host Stephen Sondheim’s “Follies” with a cast of both alumni and current students in its final musical in the school before it is torn down this summer. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
song, “I’m Still Here.” “It will be exciting to see alumni that I’ve known and directed before whether in musicals, choir or as their vocal coach. I’ve heard from some on Facebook, but in person, there will be a lot more reuniting,” he said. While he can’t say he has sat in every seat in the auditorium, he has walked by every seat as he checked to make sure they had their seat numbers before every show. He knows every crack and hole, including those that held three rows of removable seats in the front of the auditorium that eventually were permanently removed. He knows the green-and-white tiled walls—ones that he joked were called “bathroom tiles”—that have not helped the acoustics in the auditorium. “When it was built, the auditorium was designed as a gathering space rather than performing space. It didn’t have a fly system and it wasn’t built with acoustics in mind,” he said. The auditorium, as well as choir and band
rooms, received a seismic, heating and air-conditioning upgrade in summer 2001. When Bentley returned that fall, he saw there was a “3- to 5-inch bump” on the stage, which he insisted had to be fixed. “It put us in a real bind to get that musical on that year; it was a tight schedule,” he said. When Bentley thinks of “Follies” being the last show in the auditorium he knows so well, he grows nostalgic. “I’m a real proponent for a school being built. I saw how the older building inhibits the technology we use and have at our fingertips. It will be hard to see it come down, but educators really need a state-of-the-art building,” he said. “When I walk out of the auditorium the last time, it will be an intense emotional experience. Kids have been the blessing, a real gift in my life; they have taught me more than I ever know. This is a perfect tribute to the ending of our historic building.”l
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Midvale City Journal
Psych 101: Minding the mind By Cassie Goff | c.goff@mycityjouranls.com
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hroughout this series, I’ve written at length about the importance of mental health, well-being, and self-care. Self-care is becoming increasingly more popular in the form of mediation. It’s as if everyone I talk to either already has an established ritual or are working to figure out their preferred technique. The history of meditation is rooted in Buddhism. Eastern Buddhist monks structure their lives around meditation and have done so for centuries. It is believed meditation forms can help achieve an ideal state of mind. Traditionally, meditation forms are based on the two principles of creating awareness and attention to the present moment and nonjudgmentally accepting emotional states. Meditation began making its way through popular culture as mental health and well-being benefits began to be documented and spotlighted by famous names. Through historical and modern discourse, meditation and mindfulness go hand in hand and are often used interchangeably. A mindful individual is thought to be oriented in the present, sensitive to changes in context, and aware of multiple perspectives. By the 2000s, mindfulness and meditation practices were commonly utilized in mental health settings. Mindfulness training involves deliberately staying in and being aware of the present moment. Ideally, this provides an opportunity to acknowledge and accept difficult physical and emotional sensations. In thousands of formalized studies (and even more informal), meditation has proven to be effective in helping to reduce anxiety levels, alleviate depressive symptoms, decrease bodily pain, reduce reactivity, reduce high blood
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pressure, cultivate less psychological distress, and increase brain functioning. On a lesser scale, meditation is effective for increasing neuroplasticity, developing emotional intelligence, improving sustained attention and working memory, improving sleep, increasing overall health, and most importantly, reducing stress levels. Various forms of mindfulness practices and techniques exist. There is no right way to go about meditation. (There are more traditional forms, for sure, but those don’t always work for everyone.) However, a foundational aspect to most meditative techniques is breath. Mindfulness is all about quieting the mind and being present in the moment, so focusing on breathing is one of the best ways to spark such a mindset. Some will focus on the bodily experience of breathing; focusing in on how your
chest rises and falls with every breathe. Some will focus on deep breathing; timing with various patterns such as a counting to four with a deep breath in, holding for two at the top of the breath, and breathing out for four. From there, any number of meditation practices can be utilized. Some will focus more on the bodily experience, asking for attention on the muscles; as you contract and release every muscle in your body, moving from head to toe, or from toe to head. Some will ask for attention on thought processing, as you focus on quieting the mind, stopping the pesky and unwanted thoughts, to cut out all but one. Some will ask you to focus on what you’re perceiving with each of the five senses. Some will lead you through a guided exercise, asking you to imagine different perceptions or visualizations. As with any form of self-care, the key is finding what works best for you and your own well-being. I know some people who take a 10-minute pause in their work day to focus on their breathing. I know some people who breathe intuitively for a few moments in between Zoom meetings. I know some people who go to yoga (sometimes even with goats). I know some people who go on weekend meditation retreats. I firmly believe taking time to yourself, even if it’s a few moments or an entire weekend, to close your eyes, breathe, and calm the mind, is extremely important for well-being and mental health. So if you haven’t given meditation a try yet, the present moment is a good time to start. Research from Albert, Baer, Cahn, Chambers, Closimo, Chu, Davis, Diez, Feinstein, Gallant, Garland, Hayes, Helena, Hollis-Walker, Hoffman, Jose, Kramer, Malinowski, Moore, Miyake, Polich, Teper, Wang, and Weg. l
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May 2021 | Page 13
New CEO for Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Salt Lake By Bill Hardesty | b.hardesty@mycityjournals.com
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eAnn Saldivar, chief executive officer and president of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Salt Lake, announced on April 5 that she is leaving her current position to pursue other professional goals in the philanthropic sector of Utah and the Mountain West. Saldivar has served the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Salt Lake kids and families for the past 31 years. The last 16 years as CEO and president. The Board of Directors was aware of the upcoming announcement and conducted a national search to fill the position. The Board announced the appointment of Amanda Ree Hughes as CEO effective mid-April. Saldivar will remain with the Clubs through the end of June to facilitate the transition of leadership and completion of projects currently underway. LeAnn Saldivar "It has been a great privilege to serve as the steward of this valued organization for so many years and to witness the generations of young people whose lives have been changed by its mission," Saldivar said. "I have great faith in the Board of Directors' choice of Amanda as the new CEO and look forward to watching the continued growth of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Salt Lake under her leadership,"
Saldivar began her career at the organization in 1990 as the Club's front desk receptionist while in college. She has essentially served in every key role in the Club, becoming CEO in 2005 and leading the Club through some transformative years. Saldivar was born and raised in the Salt Lake Valley and graduated from the University of Utah. Over the years, Saldivar has impacted the Boys & Girls Clubs of America movement across the Pacific region and nationally. She established the first formal staff training program at her organization, developed statewide trainings, and served on the National Training Committee for seven years. Saldivar was instrumental in starting the Utah chapter of The Professional Association and was a member of the National Professional Association Board of Directors for six years. She also served on the Advisory Council for the Pacific West office of Boys & Girls Clubs of America for six years. She is an active advocate for youth issues in Utah, having served on the Utah After-School Network Advisory Board, Salt Lake Gang Prevention Steering Committee, HR Executive Roundtable, and other local boards and committees. Saldivar led the merger of the two largest
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Boys & Girls Clubs organizations in Utah in 2015 and the acquisition of another Boys & Girls Clubs in Carbon County in 2017. Saldivar led a $7 million capital campaign to expand services in two new facilities. Ultimately raising nearly $8.5 million, the two recent locations (Larry and Gail Miller Club in Murray; and the Spence Eccles Club in the Capitol West area of Salt Lake) are now open. In 2017, Saldivar was awarded the Nonprofit CEO of the Year by Utah Business Magazine and Executive of the Year by the Association of Boys & Girls Club Professionals. She also received the Blue Spirit Award in 2017, the highest honor a professional can receive from the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Amanda Ree Hughes Hughes returns to Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Salt Lake after serving as a consultant for Boys & Girls Clubs of America for the past two years. She had previously served as the director of Development for Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Salt Lake with nine years of service to the organization in fundraising and public relations. "Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Salt Lake has a long and proud history of providing excellent service to kids and families as one of the premier youth development organizations in our state," Hughes said. "I am honored to return to my Club home, especially in this time of unprecedented need. I look forward to joining the team of dedicated professionals to create positive outcomes for all youth in the greater Salt Lake communities." Hughes is a nonprofit administrative professional with more than 24 years of professional experience in marketing and fundraising, including several leadership roles. Born and raised in a rural Utah town, she is an alumna of Southern Utah University and holds a Theatre and Special Education degree. She also received her master’s degree of Fine Arts in Arts Administration and Management from the University of Alabama. She has worked in various management and leadership roles for the Utah Shakespeare Festival and the Southeast at Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Horizon Theatre Company, and the Center for Puppetry Arts before returning to Utah to find her second home at Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Salt Lake 11 years ago. Hughes has served for the past two years as a consultant for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, helping lead Clubs across the Pacific and Southwest regions in the states of California, Utah, Idaho, Colorado and Montana in stewardship and resource development and building strong leadership teams at the Club level. With a successful track record in fundraising, community relations, and board development and her core strengths of building relationships, developing organizational strategy, fostering public relations, and advocating
Amanda Ree Hughes was appointed CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Salt Lake. (Courtesy of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Salt Lake)
for youth positioned her for the Greater Salt Lake Club's CEO role. Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Salt Lake According to a press release, since 1967, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Salt Lake have offered positive alternatives to children who may be surrounded by negative influences, showing them how to live successful and productive lives. Boys & Girls Clubs give their members, ages 3-18, access to dedicated, trained professionals who can provide guidance in adopting healthy lifestyles and pursuing educational objectives. Most importantly, Boys & Girls Clubs equip young people with the skills they need to resolve conflicts peacefully, improve relationships with every aspect of their day-to-day lives, and function as responsible citizens. Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Salt Lake serves kids at seven locations in Salt Lake, Tooele, and Carbon County. Before the pandemic, nearly 6,500 youth attended these Clubs, with over 1,200 members coming to the Clubs each day. In the early days of the pandemic, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Salt Lake provided virtual activities and mentorship, emergency childcare for children of essential workers and first responders, and meals for families experiencing food insecurity. For more information, visit www.gslclubs.org or call 801-322-4411. l
Midvale City Journal
Credit union wants to help students learn FUNDamental financial skills By Heather Lawrence | h.lawrence@mycityjournals.com
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he Utah Board of Education requires high school students to take a financial literacy class to “gain the information and skills to implement a life-long plan for financial success.” To help with that requirement, America First Credit Union has developed a free curriculum for teachers. “FUNDamentals is a new program that we’re really excited about. We’re trying to get the word out to school districts and get the content into teachers’ hands,” said Nicole Vipers. Vipers works at AFCU’s corporate office in Ogden and travels to the Salt Lake Valley to work with school districts as needed. She said the program is a winwin-win for students, teachers and the credit union. “As an organization, we benefit from individuals who are financially literate. We believe that process starts very young. We’ve created a curriculum that’s aligned with the state’s requirements, but it’s also very flexible,” Vipers said. FUNDamentals curriculum has two full lesson plans for grades K-five and eight full lesson plans for grades six-12. There are 48 additional content packs or mini lessons. AFCU reports that as of March, 54 educators were using the program. The lessons are designed to be flexible. The modules don’t have to be done in a certain order and can be adapted as needed for grade level and time. Financial literacy itself is a bridge between math and ELA, so Vipers said the program was designed to be used “cross-curriculum” by teachers in those core classes. “We’ve tailored it to the state financial literacy requirements, but also aligned it with the common core requirements for math and ELA. We hope it’s used by teachers for multiple subjects,” Vipers said. To see the FUNDamentals program in action, visit www.americafirst.com/ fundamentals and watch one of the several animated videos on topics from checking accounts to student loans and budgeting basics. Teachers who want to use the curriculum can register at www.education. americafirst.com to request a log in. The credit union says it will approve requests within 48 hours. “April is financial literacy month, and we want teachers to log on, use the curriculum and give us feedback. To encourage that, we ran a promotion where teachers could log in and use the content, then send us a picture of them in their classrooms. “All teachers who did that and filled
MidvaleJournal.com
New curriculum called FUNDamentals was designed by America First and is complimentary for educators across Utah. (America First Credit Union)
out the ‘nomination form’ were entered into a random drawing for $500. We’ll announce the 10 winners on May 5,” Vipers said. Vipers hopes to get the word out to educators all over the state. “It’s a great resource and it’s designed to fit teachers’ needs. There’s so much content. There are videos, handouts, presentations and certificates teachers can print when students pass off a certain skill.” Teachers can also use the sign in page to request a virtual or in-person visit from an AFCU employee to speak to students. “We can send a loan officer, branch manager or credit counselor. Topics are based on teachers’ needs, whether that’s budgeting, loans or building savings. And it’s all free,” Vipers said. Nominations for one of the $500 classroom grants are available on the America First Credit Union website. The content is available to public, private and charter schools. Vipers said they also want to make the program available to parents who homeschool. “These are critical life skills,” Vipers said. “With this program we’re expanding our commitment to elevating financial literacy and making it easily accessible to educators and students.” l
FUNDamentals curriculum meets the Utah Board of Education requirements, but aims to make learning fun with dozens of videos, lessons and real-life scenarios. (America First Credit Union)
To promote April as Financial Literacy Month, AFCU is holding a random drawing for teachers who use FUNDamentals during April. Winners receive a $500 classroom grant, and the curriculum is free. (America First Credit Union)
May 2021 | Page 15
Rezone for ‘nonconforming residential’ property back on the table By Erin Dixon | e.dixon@mycityjournals.com
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idvale staff recommended a rezone for approval in April, but Midvale City Council and residents did not agree. The land in question lies at 7488 S. Casa Blanca Dr. The property is left over from a rezone in the 1980s; a large single residence built on commercial land. Today it is embedded between commercial, high density and some smaller lot single-family homes. “This piece has seen nonconforming residential use for 40-plus years,” Alex Murphy, Midvale city planner said. “We’re not rezoning any of the existing neighborhoods....We’re trying to deal with this one remainder piece that’s been left alone for decades….” This same piece of land was brought to council last year. “Last May and June nearly my entire neighborhood stood in opposition to a proposed rezone,” resident Michael Densley said. “You, the city council, listened to our concerns and voted down the proposal unanimously. I still have concerns.” “This time we have less information and are told that these drawings are not final and will change,” he said. “I am the engineer for the project,” Sattar Tabriz said. “A project similar to this may be built. It may be two stories, not three because of the cost but we’re definitely looking at a 12-unit condominium project.” “We were here six or seven months ago, we listened carefully to the citizens of Midvale,” Tabriz said. “We’re actually downzoning; this is a commercial zone.” Even with changes, some neighbors are distrustful. “The city council instructed the developer to meet with the neighborhood and to talk with us. They never followed your instructions,” Densely said. Forty neighboring residents signed a petition drafted by Densley asking for these changes: A wall should be constructed to block access to the existing neighborhood; proof that UDOT has approved redesign for a driveway onto 900 East; and trash and hydrants are moved to a different part of the property. “How do you meet with COVID?” Tabriz asked. “We’ve delivered on every aspect from the previous issues. We are OK with being held to all those conditions. We can meet any condition your planning department can live with.” Even with a 40-signature petition, some residents were in favor of the project. “I am in favor of the rezoning,” Linda Wills said. “Since this property is located between a large apartment complex and a neighborhood it seems logical…as a blend.” “Some neighbors have been concerned that visitors will park on the street and walk
Page 16 | May 2021
over to the townhomes. Everyone in the neighborhood has their visitors park on the street. Some of them have their own cars on the street every day so it seems a little hypocritical to stop this development based on something that everyone does,” Wills said. In the end, the request was tabled because of the lack of communication between the developer and the residents and to give the developer time to make a final plan. “Right now I’m not willing because I don’t know what we’re going to get,” Councilmember Paul Glover said. “If we change the zoning he could turn around and sell it and we could get something really horrendous.” “When this came up before, we were encouraging the developer to meet with the owners to talk about some of these things. I know they took some of the public comments and incorporated those things but there was no meeting,” Councilmember Quinn Sperry said. “We’re looking at the agenda items later on with the developer that’s been working for 18 months or so and has been working with neighbors outside the council meetings….” One of the requested changes, sealing off the sidewalk entrance from the condos to the existing neighborhood, goes against what the city has in its master plan. “Our general plan really pushes us to have trails and connections through neighborhoods,” city planner Murphy said. “Fencing off that access might be possible, but it might be stymieing what the general plan and zoning is calling for.” Councilmember Bryant Brown has had bad experience with higher density being accessible from low density streets. “I understand the connection looks good on paper...but all it is is facilitating parking for density,” Brown said. Residents are well aware of higher housing prices and the need for more housing options. An increase in density was something that was agreed on by some residents and council. “There was a report that came out that normally on the Wasatch Front there’s like 20,000 units for sale at any given time and last weekend there were 1,100,” Brown said. “Any time we can inject new construction that’s for sale I’m typically for it.” “I think the city needs to take a proactive stance to make sure that when we say we want to balance the affordable housing we do it,” resident Sophia Hawes-Tingey said. “We have a lot of homeless people because the gap is increasing between who can afford a house and who can’t because the cost of housing will continue to skyrocket.” l
Local resident Michael Densley shares the conditions the neighbors would like to see changed on the development before they would support the zone change. (Screenshot)
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Midvale City Journal
In The Middle of Everything City Hall – 7505 South Holden Street • Midvale, UT 84047
The Heart of the Matter
MIDVALE CITY DIRECTORY City Hall Finance/Utilities Court City Attorney’s Office City Recorder/Human Resources Community Development Public Works Ace Disposal/Recycling Midvale Historical Museum Midvale Senior Center SL County Animal Services Police Dispatch Unified Fire Authority Fire Dispatch Communications
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CITY NEWSLETTER By Mayor Robert Hale
back in a tidal wave. If you are waiting for approvals or plan reviews, please be patient. Thank you, thank you. Later this year data from the US Census 2020 will begin to be shared with the State, Salt Lake County and Midvale. Then in 2022, changes will be made in various levels of government and government funding reflective of that new data. We should all expect government will get incrementally closer to the governed, as a result. Big changes? No. Perhaps a block or two will switch districts in how these are represented in City Council, County Council, State Representative, State Senate, or less so in the House of Representatives. Now, let me address a potential issue we face as a society in the Valley of the Great Salt Lake: Water. If you and your family have lived here for generations, or you just moved into Our Town, you know already that water is an engine that keeps our place habitable. It has never been in excess but a very short time. It has been in shortage F O R E V E R ! No different this year, either. Be conscientious as an individual, a family, a home owner, an apartment renter, a business owner, in short – a water user. We all share the water that is laid down as flakes of snow, as raindrops, or percolates up from a deep well after passing through substrata for perhaps decades. Once it is turned into wastewater, it won’t be back soon as the clean fresh sparkling water we frequently take for granted. The mantra: Use what you need, but need what you use, is never truer than now! Happy Mother’s Day. Happy Memorial Day! Congratulations to our graduates – You did it!
2021 Midvale Harvest Days Confirmed — SAVE THE DATES
WHO TO CALL FOR… Water Bills Ordering A New Trash Can Reserving the Bowery Permits GRAMA requests Court Paying For Traffic School Business Licensing Property Questions Cemetery Water Line Breaks Planning and Zoning Code Enforcement Building inspections Graffiti
Life is frequently three steps forward and one or two in reverse. The net progress is forward, but it takes perseverance and a bit of retrenchment to stay the course. Headwinds often blow harder than expected. Sailors pay little mind – they just adjust the tac so that the destination is not lost to sight – it just takes a little longer to arrive. As a city government, this is a principle that is kept in mind, for it is frequent that goals are set, headwinds increase, goal timing is adjusted until, finally, achievement! As this City grows, it is very easy to visualize an ideal future that includes parks in every neighborhood, bicycle lanes on every street, a police car just around the corner when needed, preservation of every historical amenity, convenient retail stores, convenient bus and transit stops to take us to our desired destinations, etc., etc. The weightier matters come with preparation for such desired features. Sufficient subsurface infrastructure must be planned and built that include sewers, water, storm drain, UTOPIA fiberoptics. Our Community Development Department is very busy these days with plans and inspections of all that has been on the drawing boards of homeowners, business owners, developers, the City itself, and other government entities. The City Council has also been taxed recently with one Council meeting in April in session until 11:58 p.m. The slowdown during the pandemic’s height has not slowed down the growth in our economy – it has all come roaring
MAY 2021
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For more than 80 years, Midvale has come together to celebrate the harvest of friendship and community found in the middle of everything. “While we always cherish this annual celebration, this year is particularly pertinent by the ongoing pandemic, whose dwindling seems finally in sight - though the view is still obscured by hills and coming in a bit foggy,” said Mayor Robert Hale. “Harvest Days is a wonderful opportunity to safely gather to celebrate what makes Midvale such a wonderful and connected community.” The Harvest Days Festival will be held on Saturday, August 7, 2021. The festival will be kicked off by the Midvale Harvest Days Parade that starts at 10:00 a.m. at Copperview Elementary and ends at Midvale City Park. The festival will continue in the park with loads of activities sure to please the entire family. The amphitheater will be busy throughout the day with DJ Cooper Brown who will have fun activities for the entire family, and we have a lineup of local talent who will perform on stage. The vendor market will include businesses who are selling a variety of unique products and showcasing their services; and the incredible food trucks will be sure to tempt you! In addition to the Festival, the Harvest Days celebrations include the annual Neighborhood Block Parties, free Bingo Night and more. Visit www.MidvaleCity.org/HarvestDays to stay up to date on the festivities that are planned.
In The Middle of Everything
WWW . MIDVALECITY . ORG
Midvale’s Main Street: A Precious Metal Needing Restoration Very few, if any, historic main streets in Utah are as well preserved as Midvale’s. Several buildings that exist today have changed little since first constructed in the early 1900s. These buildings sprung up to house businesses, banks, and restaurants, which supported the smelter business’ operations and employees. While the smelting industry boomed, so did Midvale’s Main Street. As the industry declined, so did private investment in Main Street. The construction of the two interstates, I-15 and I-215, isolated Main Street and discouraged major redevelopment from occurring. This isolation preserved Main Street’s character, look, feel, and charm. Walking down Main Street, one can see the city’s history preserved in a unique and authentic way. The isolation that preserved Main Street also led to the appearance of neglect. Several buildings have been condemned due to age and lack of reinvestment. The infrastructure needed for growth and expansion is missing. As a result, Midvale has been hiding a precious metal beneath layers of dust and tarnish for several decades. PLANS, STUDIES, AND BUDGETS Over the past seven years, Midvale City and its redevelopment agency have been working to remove that dust and tarnish, restore the area, and allow Midvale’s history, character, and charm to glimmer and shine once again. These efforts began with the creation of a Community Development Area (CDA) and an accompanying CDA plan. The CDA allows the city to raise funds earmarked for development of a specific area. The city then developed a small area plan which outlines how to guide the successful development of Main Street. The adoption of the small area plan was followed up by of a form-based code specific to the Main Street Area. The form-based code ensures that future development along Main Street contributes to the look and feel the city hopes to maintain. Finally, the city’s redevelopment agency adopt-
ed a revised budget for the CDA which highlighted the fiscal and economic impacts redevelopment would have. PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES To remove tarnish from silver, an effective solution includes water, vinegar, and baking soda. Midvale’s City Council has been developing effective solutions with staff to restore Main Street. To address the infrastructure related problems, the solution involves an in-depth infrastructure analysis, public funding, and private partnerships. An engineering firm assisting the city with an in-depth infrastructure analysis is nearly finished. For public funding, the CDA has already received pledges of financial support from Canyons School District, the City, and Unified Fire Service Area. Negotiations are progressing with Salt Lake County and the water districts. The city is in the process of evaluating possible private partnerships. City Council and staff are also developing a solution to address a lack of private investment within the Main Street Area. The solution for this is twofold. One: Develop a program for business owners to obtain low interest revolving loans. Two: Create a program that supports developers willing to build a second or third story within the Main Street Area and dedicate a portion of their development to affordable housing. Finally, a crucial solution required to restore Main Street is developing and enhancing its position as an arts and culture district. Several arts-centric businesses and organizations already exist along Main Street. The city believes that by leveraging what is already there, enhancing it with public art,
Ranked Choice Voting According to the Utah Ranked Choice Voting website, www.UtahRCV.com, Ranked Choice Voting is a nonpartisan electoral reform that gives voters the freedom to rank candidates in order of choice. Instead of choosing ONE candidate, ranked choice voting allows voters to rank all candidates according to their preference (1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.). In each round of Ranked Choice Voting, the candidate with the lowest number of votes is eliminated. When a voter’s number one choice is eliminated, their second choice is included in the count for the second round. This process continues until the final round. Some think that ranked choice voting sounds complex when first hearing about it, but the process has proven to be both simple and intuitive while at the same time creasing voter and candidate engagement and ensuring “a more fair representation in election outcomes.” Below is a chart that illustrates what ranked choice voting looks like.
creating an arts center, and supporting the development of additional art-centric outlets will secure Midvale’s Main Street as a thriving arts district. A vibrant and attractive arts district will provide Midvale residents with a beautiful amenity and attract visitors from around Salt Lake and Utah counties. REAL GOLD DOES NOT FEAR THE MELTING POT Midvale’s Main Street was once the city’s center of culture, commerce, and activity. Through luck and circumstance, Main Street has been preserved. The city will soon be restoring Main Street through a concerted effort from private developers, nonprofits, the city, and other local taxing entities. The redevelopment efforts aimed at Main Street will restore it in a way that provides Midvale with a sense of place and an arts and culture district, while maintaining its rich historic value. Visit www.MidvaleCity.org/MidvaleMainStreet to stay up to date on the progress!
MAY 2021 CITY NEWSLETTER WWW . MIDVALECITY . ORG
Midvale City 2021 Municipal Election During the May 4, 2021 City Council meeting, the Mayor and City Council will consider using Ranked Choice Voting in the City’s 2021 municipal election. Earlier this year the Utah Legislature approved a bill that allows more cities to try ranked choice voting. Ranked choice voting is an electoral system that allows voters to rank candidates by preference instead of only picking one candidate for a position. Voters submit ballots ranking their first and second choice, and, if there are more candidates, third, fourth, and so on down the line (See Ranked Choice Article for more information about the electoral system.) Ranked Choice Voting will be discussed at the May 4, 2021 City Council meeting which starts at 7:00 p.m. at Midvale City Hall. The Council’s decision will be posted on the City’s website www.MidvaleCity.org/Elections on May 5, 2021. If approved, the City would implement a communications plan to educate residents about the new process. Ranked Choice Voting does not include a primary election. So, the Declaration of Candidacy submission deadline would change. Please review the summary below: OPEN SEATS In accordance with UCA 10-3-301, notice is hereby given that the following elected City positions are to be voted upon in the Midvale City 2021 Municipal Election. The open seats are four-year terms: Mayor – At Large District 4 – Council Member District 5 – Council Member TRADITIONAL VOTING (VOTE BY MAIL) • Declaration of Candidacy Submission Deadline o June 1 through 7, 2021 (excluding Saturday and Sunday) o 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in City Recorder’s Office o Deadline: No later than 5:00 p.m. on June 7, 2021 • Election Dates o Municipal Primary Election Day August 10, 2021 o Municipal General Election November 2, 2021 RANK CHOICE VOTING • Declaration of Candidacy Submission Deadline o August 10 through 17, 2021 (excluding Saturday/Sunday) o 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in City Recorder’s Office o Deadline: No later than 5:00 p.m. on August 17, 2021 • Election Date o No primary election o Municipal General Election November 2, 2021 CANDIDATE ELIGIBILITY Interested candidates must be a registered voter, resident of Midvale City for at least 12 months immediately prior to the date of the election; and resident of the district candidate is running for 60 days prior to the date of the election. Please direct questions to the City Recorder at randreason@ midvale.com. ELECTION RELATED LINKS: Utah State Site: http://vote.utah.gov S.L. County Clerk: http://clerk.slco.org
Lost & Found Pets: Where to Begin Salt Lake County Animal Services If your dog escapes from your yard, bolts out the front door, or goes missing while you’re on vacation, here’s where to start looking and posting. WHAT TO DO IF YOUR PET IS LOST: • Visit your local shelter and surrounding shelters within 24 hours. Keep returning. All lost pets that come into Salt Lake County Animal Services are listed at www. adoptutahpets.org. Email a photo of your pet and where they went missing to animal@slco.org, and/or call Dispatch to report your missing pet: 801-840-4000. • Post your pet’s photo on social media (ex: Facebook, Nextdoor, KSL), flyers on public bulletin boards and around the neighborhood. Call local veterinary clinics as well. • Look for your pet during the day and at night. Call for your pet and stay in one place long enough for your pet to respond to your call. Organize a search party. • DON’T GIVE UP! HERE ARE SOME SIMPLE STEPS TO TAKE IF YOU FIND A LOST PET: • Lost pets must be reported to local animal control within 24 hours. It’s the law, a shelter is the FIRST place most pet owners look for their missing pet. • If you find this pet in Salt Lake County Animal Services jurisdiction, take it directly to the shelter (511 W. 3900 S.) during business hours (10 AM – 6 PM, Mon-Sat.) If it’s outside of business hours, please call animal control dispatch at 801-840-4000. SLCO Animal Control is 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. • You can take a picture of that pet and post it on social media (ex: Facebook, Next Door App, KSL) with where you found the animal and that you took it to Salt Lake County Animal Services. • Inquire about our Cat Foster Finder Program. PREPARE YOURSELF BEFORE YOUR PET GETS LOST: • Make sure your pets have current ID tags and their microchip info is current. All pets in Salt Lake County with a current pet license can receive a free microchip at Salt Lake County Animal Services. Throughout 2021, microchipping and licensing clinics will be held the second Thursday of the month from 2-4 PM at 511 W 3900 S. Questions? Email animal@slco.org.
Midvale City Council Appoints New City Manager
Midvale City officials are pleased to announce that Matt Dahl has been appointed as city manager. Former City Manager Kane Loader retired at the end of March after serving Midvale City for 32 years. The appointment was made official by the Midvale City Council on Tuesday, April 20. The City Council’s confirmation of Mayor Robert Hale’s appointment of Matt Dahl as City Manager was unanimous. Mayor Hale and the City Council members agreed that Matt’s experience, professionalism, and leadership are important in ensuring continuity. “My choice for a new city manager was to select someone who could maintain the inertia and direction that this city has.” said Mayor Robert Hale. ‘We have developed a cadre of staff that is second to none. And I am proud to say that Midvale was recently named the 7th best small city in the nation to start a business. Matt Dahl has been one of the reasons why our city is doing so well.” Matt has 16 years of experience in local government. He began his career in Salt Lake City, where he worked for 13 years, raising from project coordinator in the Redevelopment Agency to Deputy Director of the Housing and Neighborhood Development Division. While in Salt Lake City, Matt managed numerous commercial, housing, and infrastructure projects. Since 2007, he has served in the senior leadership of the Utah Redevelopment Association, which provides technical support for redevelopment administrators and works with legislators to improve redevelopment throughout Utah. Matt began working for Midvale City in 2017. During his time with Midvale, he has served as the Redevelopment Agency Director, Community Development Director, and Assistant City Manager. He also represents Midvale City on the Utah Infrastructure Agency Board and served as a Commissioner on the Utah State Commission on Housing Affordability. Matt expressed appreciation to the Mayor, City Council and city staff. “It is the biggest honor of my professional career to be appointed as city manager to serve such a great community,” said Matt Dahl. “We have a very dedicated, hardworking team at Midvale City. That shows every day. The myriad of challenges that come up would be insurmountable without them.”
Canyons Online to launch in fall, program met with caution by some online learners’ parents By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com
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he Canyons Board of Education unanimously approved the launch of Canyons Online, a technology-driven educational initiative for grades three through 12 that will begin this fall. It will replace the existing Canyons Virtual High School. “This past year has taught us how important in-person instruction is because of relationships and connections students make with teachers and their schools,” Canyons School District Superintendent Rick Robins said on March 31. “What it also has taught us is how we can deliver education virtually. Some of our students have flourished online, while others have missed those relationships in our schools. We realize we can offer our students the flexibility of online learning while blending it with those connections.” That ability to make and maintain connections with their neighborhood schools is what makes Canyons Online unique among other online-learning programs, he said. Canyons Online elementary-age students will be able to participate in before- and after-school music programs, science fair and debate. Middle-schoolers enrolled in Canyons Online can take electives at the local school, plus compete in science fairs and debate. Canyons Online high school students will be allowed to dual enroll so they can have full access to high school programs. “We’re re-establishing relationships with kids who have stayed online with their neighborhood schools to build that instruction and connection into Canyons Online,” Robins said. “The blended online format will have the academic component, whether it’s support and remediation or acceleration, plus the connection to their neighborhood school. This is really at the heart of what personalized learning can be.” Those changes sound better to a Canyons School District parent of an online elementary school learner, who asked not to be identified since the student has severe anxiety. “I haven't looked at it in-depth yet, but that sounds like a good step,” the parent said. While the parent has been told this year that there were no extra activities allowed at school, choir was offered. The online learner was denied the opportunity to come into the school, even after school, for spring photos. “We were told that the school was not allowing ‘outside people’ in for picture day,” the parent said, who was shocked to think the school officials considered the student “an outside person.” In the fall, the elementary student was taught with other online students across the district at that grade level and was assigned a teacher, whom the parent said was “always prepared, great at classroom management” and loved by the child. That bond was broken this spring when more online students returned to in-person learning so the teacher was reassigned to in-person instruction, frustrating the online child. “They have been asked to be flexible, and they have done it. Kids are resilient, but even a rubber band can only stretch so far,” the parent said. “I have been a teacher, so I understand the needs of the school are important. But I don't think it was clearly explained to anyone—parents, kids, or teachers—that a teacher could be reassigned during the year.” That has impacted students’ emotional learning, the parent said. “They aren't little adults; they're kids, and they need trusted adults in their lives consistently. This past year has been scary in a lot of ways. They can't have that fun recess and work time with their peers if they're online, but their teacher's face is a familiar sight,” the parent explained. The last day with the beloved teacher was planned to be fun, but the parent said the student, who initially was excited
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Canyons Online is a technology-driven educational program for grades three through 12 that will launch this fall. (Screenshot)
about the activity, was crying so much about it being the last day with the teacher that the online learner didn't even want to join the Zoom meeting. Under the new program, licensed teachers with training in digital teaching will be hired to instruct classes in core subjects, said district Instructional Supports Director Amber Roderick-Landward to the school board. Canyons Online high school students can take the online classes for credit, both original and recovery. This move of hiring dedicated teachers to online learning would eliminate shifting existing teachers to meet the demand. “We are moving away from a COVID-19 response and moving toward a service model,” Robins said, adding that this expansion will build upon CVHS, which has served “its time and purpose. This is thinking much differently about how we provide flexible, online learning for students.” Funding for the startup and operation of Canyons Online would use federal stimulus money as well as $680,000 from the CVHS budget. This would include the salaries of the newly appointed administrator Michelle Shimmin, 13 full-time instructors, 10 adjunct teachers, one full-time counselor and 10 education support professionals. Some current online teachers, who asked not to be identified, are concerned since the district initially stated it would limit enrollment with the program in third through eighth grades. That would reduce teaching of several grades to one teacher and they are uncertain as to the expected workload as well as the support they would have now without working with a team. The Canyons parent said there should be consideration first for students who have individualized educational programs. That wasn’t discussed at the board meeting, only it was stated that students would be selected by a random lottery. Stephanie Pursglove has a high school daughter learning at home because of health reasons since soft closure last spring. She questioned why students were asked to commit to online learning before the new program was revealed. “I see their plans, and I think their plans sound better (than this current year online), but I think I’d have to see what it actually ends up looking like,” she said. “It sounds
better on paper, but that’s where they initially said these are all the AP (advanced placement) classes we’re going to have; these are all of the honors classes that we’re going to have online. (Later they said,) ‘We’re not going to have any.’ So, they said we needed to commit (to learning online) in February and now they’re totally changing the program.” Part of the challenges for her daughter, Morgan, have been the limitation of online courses. Instead of having a full schedule with AP and honors classes, there was just one honors class offered for her. Morgan said she hasn’t learned as much because of that this school year. “It’s been easy; I haven’t learned a ton—just the basics of each subject,” Morgan said, adding that the online curriculum would improve with advanced courses and electives. “People who have already taken the super basic level one classes have nothing really to do.” Her mother worries that Canyons Online’s description fails to mention electives, accelerated courses or dual immersion, all of which Morgan has needed this past year. This year’s online instruction, Pursglove said, wasn’t what it was described. “It was not as advertised. It wasn’t like a normal class where you were in with the teacher every day for class. It was self-taught. The first semester, Morgan was the only student that was actually tuning into class every day,” she said. “She had a teacher who would just start the class. She’d say hi to Morgan for five minutes, then she’d play this video that she found online. So, the whole class time was just watching a video of someone else teaching. There was no plan for online.” Morgan’s current English class took more than a semester to study “To Kill A Mockingbird,” a book she read with last year’s honor class in one month. Her math teacher is sprawled out instructing from a couch and others “still have no idea what they’re doing,” her mother said. Pursglove was told not to worry about Morgan’s educational progress because these courses still would prepare her for college entrance tests, but she doesn’t know how when “the classes are pathetically easy.” After Morgan finishes her classes by 3 p.m. each Thursday, she devotes extra time to complete course packets to get some other high school class requirements fulfilled. She also is taking an ACT college entrance prep class and the Pursgloves hired a tutor to ensure she will be prepared for college. “We were able to supplement a lot where I’m not sure that everyone did that and I’m not sure everyone’s able to do that. She’ll come out OK,” Pursglove said. Morgan also lacked communication informing her of student activities. She’s learned of some opportunities when friends have reached out to give her a link to vote for student body elections or telling her about concerto night auditions. “The only thing we got was the weekly email,” Pursglove said, adding that some emails to the school have gone unanswered. Morgan said she has gained the valuable lesson from this experience: to empower herself to learn. “I am much better at time management. I am more self-motivated. The first quarter, I totally did absolutely nothing and had to do everything like the last week of the quarter. I would just watch YouTube all day. That was kind of rough,” she said, adding that now she has a schedule for her day. “I can get everything in and I’m just a lot more motivated. It feels like every single class, there’s no structure;
Midvale City Journal
it’s all up to you. There’s no teacher, no deadline, no bells, no assigned class time.” In the Canyons Online model, Roderick-Landward said that the students will be able to learn at their own pace and their educational activities will test their competency. At the board meeting, member Mont Millerberg said he was excited about Canyons Online as it has taken the “high points” and has “eliminated the pitfalls” of online learning this past year. “I am excited about this,” he said. “For a little over a year now, we’ve been using the phrase that we need to reinvent education. I look at this model and I see on the high school level, they have full access to what goes on at the school: If I want to do core classes online, I want to do elections at school, I want to play athletics, I want to do any of those things I can at part of the high school. But I also have my flexibility to do things on my own and I can actually accelerate the pace. I can probably do more than sitting in a classroom. I look at middle school, and even the elementary, and what’s available to where they can still access the bricks and mortar and all the positive that comes out of that, but choose to do some of it, but not all of it. I love the model.”l
Over the fence in West Jordan: City organizes diversity committee By Heather Lawrence | h.lawrence@mycityjournals.com
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n 2020, West Jordan approved the organization of a diversity committee. In April 2021, the first committee members were approved by the City Council. “This happened last year when the protests were happening downtown and across the country,” Councilmember Zach Jacob said in April. “There’s a lot I don’t know so I want to listen, where those in power listen to those who are formally underrepresented.” The new committee begins meeting in May 2021. The following individuals are the first members. Carlos Moreno, Ryan Eddins, Shelly Parkin, Luis Garcia, Joelma Yangali and Mitchell Larson. More will be added in the near future. “What we’re doing is establishing a diversity committee, not a minority committee, Councilmember David Pack said. “Comprehensive and varied. Race and ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, education, profession, socioeconomic status, religion, representation from all four districts in the city.” Carlos Moreno, one of the first committee members is eager to build bridges between community and government. “I see … cases in the community where they don’t trust the leaders, not because of bias or something they saw, it’s because
is looking for champions in your community!
Community
Champions
are leaders who lift and inspire. They work to build a better community.
Above left: Joelma Yengali is a regional translation officer for the LDS church and volunteers as assistant chapter manager to recruit women into leadership. (Photo courtesy West Jordan City) Above right: Mitchell Larson is a financial analyst at Zions Bank and is fluent in Spanish. (Photo courtesy West Jordan City)
they don’t know them,” Moreno said. “If the city did something in Spanish that would be really helpful. What I want to do is create like a civic engagement class or
how the city works for everyone. “This is not about racism. It’s building friendships, fellowships, relationships between the citizens and the city.” l
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May 2021 | Page 21
David Hale, nearby resident to the Midvale Mills project, voices his support for the project. (Screenshot)
When community and developer agree By Erin Dixon | e.dixon@mycityjournals.com
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hen was the last time residents were pleased at a close-density project? Midvale Mills is a redevelopment at 300 E. 8000 South. Adam Nash, the developer, has been working with the city for almost 18 months on this project. In December 2019, Midvale City Council denied the first rezone request. The developer approached the city with a new plan and was denied twice, once in May 2020, and again in September. In October, council advised a townhome portion of the plan be removed. In February 2021, the planning commission rec-
ommended to city council the approval, but the applicant requested a delay in the public hearing. Finally in April, the plan was approved. What changed in that time? The project size was decreased from 12 acres to 10. There are only 72 units down from 122. There are four parking stalls per unit and 55% open space. There is no longer community garden space, or a trail leading from the development to the existing neighborhood. “Over the last year and half, I and my neighbors have voiced strong opposition to the previous development plans,” David Hale,
resident of the adjacent neighborhood, said. “I would like to express my support. My initial concerns were centered on the high density proposed as well as the trail cutting through our Larson Cove neighborhood. The recent plan has eliminated both concerns.” “I think this is a terrific example of coming together. Of where there was opposition and misunderstanding...where this has coalesced in a neat process where the developer…everyone, opening lines of communication…staff…community…all of these folks have come as a show of support,” resident Christopher Ashby said.
Even the developer was pleased. “I’m really happy to be to this point,” Nash said. “We went A through Z, and now we’re on A and B. We went through 28 revisions.” “You’ve come a long way from a 5-0 denial,” Councilmember Dustin Gettel said. Nash stated that the homes in the property will be for sale, not for rent, and will start at about $450,000. For more history on this project, see: midvalejournal.coml
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May 2021 | Page 23
Hillcrest tennis, golf off to swinging start By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com
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Hillcrest boys tennis, seen here playing against Juan Diego Catholic High, is up against some of the 5A region’s and state’s top teams: Olympus, Skyline, Brighton and East. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
illcrest High senior Alex Qi is a Utah’s No. 1 ranked youth table tennis champion, but these days he’s found on a much larger court. He’s Hillcrest High’s No. 1 singles tennis player who walked onto the court as an inexperienced player his freshman year. “Table tennis translates in the sense of general form and my stroke,” said the graduating International Baccalaureate student. “I’m enjoying it, and as a team, we’re happy, wholesome and get along—plus we’re getting better.” Hillcrest High’s boys tennis team is up against some of the 5A region’s and state’s top teams— Olympus, Skyline, Brighton, East—but eight-year Hillcrest head coach Robert James echoed Qi’s assessment. “I was impressed that we came back, we were ready to go,” James said. “Some have played on their own, and I’m liking the progress I see and we’re showing that improvement.” During the COVID-19 pandemic, Qi said tennis is “the only thing that kept me fit” and hopes to qualify for state and “win at least half my matches there.” Of the 23 members on the team, 14 return with experience. Last spring, only one player graduated. James said freshman Aarav Parikh has made an early impact on the team. “It’s unusual for a freshman to come in and play varsity, but he’s getting along pretty good,” he said. In doubles, James said that the Elbel twins have shown strength, but are playing with other partners.
Senior Anthony Elbel has teamed up with sophomore Brian Yu and senior Alex Elbel is partners with senior Ian Tsai. “Both teams are going to be tough; they’ll have an edge when it comes to outsmarting their opponents,” James said. Also, off to a low-and-slow swinging start this season is the 21-member girls golf team. While coach Dave Richardson expects the competition to be stiff against the same east-sided schools, he known his young team will be in for vast improvement. “We have a lot of underclassmen who are new to golf, so there will be a big learning curve,” he said. Early in the season, he anticipated strong play coming from freshmen players Lola Nielsen and Kylie Powell. Those girls will be led by seniors and team captains Jenna Riddle and Paris Freebairn. Joining them on the leaderboard, Richardson expects, will be sophomore Ava Perkins. “We have three girls who are competitive, and I expect will go on to state,” he said. “For the majority, it will be the basic ABCs of golf: how to hold the club and how to swing. The kids all get along and support each other, but as far as playing, they will need to hit 100,000 balls before they get good, but initially, they will get better quickly. Then, we’ll see how they like it and how they are dedicated to make themselves better.” l
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Hillcrest baseball topped region in early season play By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com
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illcrest High catcher Ryder Mathis has been known to catch a few pitches in the offseason from Brady Lail, the former Bingham Miner who has played for the New York Yankees, Chicago White Sox and Seattle Mariners organizations. “Ryder’s going to get a lot of looks from colleges,” predicted his coach, Daryl Hernandez, about the junior student-athlete. “That has given him experience of what a pro pitcher can throw at him.” Mathis is just one of Hillcrest High’s baseball players who college scouts may coming looking at, Hernandez said. Senior Talon Yates pitches, plays infield and outfield for the Huskies—plus is a quarterback and running back on the football team. “He’s one of the toughest kids; he will do anything for the team. He’s getting some good looks from colleges, but it’s tough since COVID impacted not just his junior year, but also extends college athletes for another season,” Hernandez said. Junior shortstop Bryce Young and sophomore outfielder and pitcher Jeb Thomas also are expected to get some looks by colleges and help lead the team this season. “We have a young team with only three seniors so we’re getting experience and looking to the future,” Hernandez said about the team that has nine freshmen and sophomores. “Our juniors and seniors are stepping up and taking the younger players under their wings.” Early in region play, the Huskies nabbed
two sizeable wins against East and also beat Highland starting off to lead the 5A region with Olympus at 4-0 at press deadline. Prior to region, they lost to Kearns and a close game to Juan Diego Catholic High, after leading the first four innings. “We’re seeing our team step up to the challenge of our region,” he said. The Huskies face “tough teams” in region, and had yet to play Olympus, Skyline, Murray, Brighton and Cottonwood, the latter who has won region the past few years. Two years ago, when Hillcrest played in 6A, they lost in the state playoffs, after finishing third in region. “We just want to play our game; execute simple plays—not make those sports center moments. Our goal is get our defense together so we give up less runs,” he said. Even following COVID-19 health and safety guidelines, the seven-year Hillcrest coach is excited about building its program and ensuring players know about Hillcrest baseball. “At the start of every year, I ask, ‘What years were we baseball champions?’ (1980-83) This year, four kids got it right and the rest did pushups. It’s important to know our history,” Hernandez said. Since Hillcrest doesn’t have a feeder youth league, Hernandez welcomes student-athletes who show interest and athleticism. Nine of the players, like Yates, are multisport athletes who come to offseason practices
Hillcrest junior Braden Rosenhan is safe at second, but the Huskies lost 5-3 to Juan Diego Catholic High. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
as schedules allow. “We want them to be healthy, heal up before joining us for baseball. We did reach out and this past summer played some summer ball, getting anyone out there who wanted to see what the team looks like. We paired up younger players with returners, who embraced that leadership role,” he said. There is an eighth-grade team that some former players’ parents run so Hernandez has
reached out to them to welcome them to watch practices and team up throwing balls. Last year, the Huskies were able to play in a St. George tournament before COVID-19 put an end to their season. “It was hard to watch four seniors end their four years on the team like that,” he said. “We did recognize their contributions to the program, but it was an abrupt end. We’re just glad to be back, playing ball.” l
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Hillcrest senior Talon Yates tries to beat out an infield hit in the early season game against Juan Diego Catholic High. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
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May 2021 | Page 25
Hillcrest soccer: Heading to the top By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com
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t’s good to have goals. Just ask the Hillcrest boys soccer team. As of press deadline, the Huskies amassed 15 goals, resulting in 4-4 overall, 3-2 in 5A region play, and are making progress on the team goal of becoming better each game. Using their feet and their heads (both physically and mentally), they’re heading to the top of what Hillcrest coach Brett Davis calls “a pretty solid region.” Early season, Davis said Brighton “will rank high, with lots of seniors” and he expected Murray and Skyline to play well. Five games in on the season, those are three of the top four teams, with Highland also in the top of the region. Davis said he liked what he saw in their first home region game, a 2-0 win against Olympus. “That was a big win for us; they’re a perennial powerhouse,” he said. “It was a nice confidence booster.” Since then, the Huskies defended their home field with a 2-1 win over East and 3-1 over first-ranked Brighton. “We played very well and kept the pace for a full 80 minutes—total team effort,” Davis said giving Brighton its first
Hillcrest junior Kelvin Chae battles for the ball in the home win over Olympus High. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
region loss. “I expect us to be in the top half (of region) this year. We can rival anyone on a given day.” Even in their losses, Davis has found the positive. “We were able to string 10-15 pass-
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es together,” he said. “It’s exciting to see where their potential can take them the next several years.” Davis said that his team is small in size, so his game plan is to outsmart their opponents. “We’re young and not super big,” he said. “We’re learning to play together and learning our game well enough to be smarter. We may not beat them physically, but we can beat them mentally.” Davis said that he’s wanting the players to see what collectively they can do and to learn to trust themselves and each other. “We’re wanting them to learn what to look for, to see things, make decisions, improve their skills. We want to improve each
time we step on the field,” he said. Younger players, freshmen as well as sophomores since last year’s season was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, are looking to the four seniors, like Hilario Cruz, and three juniors, for leadership. “He’s a very good player with excellent skills and a great understanding of the game. He’s our conductor on the field,” Davis said. Junior Jose “Chito” Cortez also is a leader on the field. “He sets up other boys, creating opportunities for them,” Davis said. He also said he can count on energy and leadership from junior Nate Collard and mentally, he knows junior Amir-Leo Beharic is strong. “We want our players to step up, take responsibility and build the team,” Davis said. “We want them all to become good leaders. Our overall philosophy is to develop these young people into productive young men. The things they learn on the field—thinking, decision-making, problem-solving—translates into life skills.” Two years ago, in 6A, the Huskies finished second in region, narrowly missing the title. Last year, the team played a tournament in St. George before the season was canceled and sent off the seniors with a farewell video. This year, even with the COVID-19 testing every two weeks and following other health and safety guidelines, Davis is glad they’re having a season. “We’re just playing better each game and rising to the occasion,” he said. “I’m excited to see our game improve each time we play.”l
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Hillcrest junior Jose Cortez dribbles ahead of his Olympus opponent in the win over the Titans. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
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Hillcrest track athletes ready to overcome barriers, compete again By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com
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illcrest High’s Angie Jeffery loves to run—and race—until she can’t. As a four-year varsity track and threeyear cross country runner, the senior knows a little bit about building endurance, setting a tempo, pacing herself and racing. But she also knows how to pull herself out of a race. Jeffery has costochondritis, an inflammation of the cartilage that connects a rib to the sternum. When if flares up the pain mimics that of a heart attack or other heart conditions, according to the Mayo Clinic. She also has premature ventricular contractions where extra heartbeats in her heart’s two lower ventricles disrupt her regular heart rhythm, making it feel as if she has skipped a beat. “When I race, my heart just gets too excited and throws off the rhythm,” Jeffery said. “It feels like I can’t breathe, like I’m choking. My chest hurts from the inflammation. It can come from anxiety or overexcitement, but it doesn’t allow me to breath efficiently and my body struggles and locks up. Then, I know I have to stop.” It’s not every race. Jeffery knows after racing with these episodes to ice her chest, lay on her back, elevate her legs and mentally calm her breathing, but still she can’t quit. “It’s too fun. I may say at the time that ‘I’ll never run again,’ but in a few hours I’ll change it to, ‘I’ll just go out for a little jog.’ Running clears my mind; it’s almost therapeutic,” said the student-athlete who also has played soccer for three years for the Huskies. Jeffery isn’t Hillcrest’s top distance runner. She raced one of her best races as a freshman at state in the 3200 at 13:30, after placing fourth at region.
Hillcrest senior Angie Jeffery tries to manage her heart condition while racing the 3200 for the Huskies. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
Her sophomore year was plagued by her heart condition. Still, she ran to a fifthplace medal at region. Last year, she was training for the season with a stress fracture, but quickly got time off when schools were put on soft closure and spring sports were canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, in her senior year, Jeffery is making the most of it, wanting to better her freshman time of 13:17. “Last year, my goal was 12:30 and I have random papers around my room with different splits to get that time. I have one for every 100-meter splits or ones where I work certain 400s. If I sit in class and know
Hillcrest senior Anthony Vail won the 100-meter dash in 10.94 seconds at the March 24 meet against Highland and Murray. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
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Hillcrest leads the way in the 100-meter hurdles in the March 17 meet against Cottonwood and Skyline. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
I’m racing that day, I will keep breaking it down in different splits,” she said. “A lot of the girls’ team is doing well. We have a great group of distance runners and a lot of freshmen girls came out and are killing it; they’re really improving.” Her coach, Scott Stucki, knows Jeffery is a wild card. “I take what I can get with her and what her body can give us,” he said. While expectations of this year’s team may be a bit unpredictable since last season the Huskies only competed in a home meet, Stucki expects great things from his returners—senior Alaina Stonebraker in the sprints; senior Meg Standiford and junior Alycea McVey in the throwing events, junior Ella Vincent in pole vault, and senior Maggie Erekson and junior Sophia Clark in hurdles. Distance runners will include junior Erin Atkinson, seniors Megan Liddiard, Faith Amos and Paris Snow. He also knows from cross country season that freshmen Anna Ames and Claire Hastings can put in solid performances. The boys’ track team will be led by senior distance runner Anthony Davies, who is expected to beat the 1991 school record of 9:27.37 in the 3200 as well as possibly the 1600 school mark of 4:13.44 set in 1976. “He already has run faster than the school time for the 3200,” Stucki said, adding that it doesn’t count since it wasn’t with a timing system. Early this season, at the Canyons Track & Field Challenge, Davies ran 9:37.25 in the 3200. At the Snow Canyon Invitational, he ran the 1600 in 4:15.38.
Joining him to lead the team is senior sprinter and jumper Anthony Vail; senior throwers Gavin Hawley and Parker Boggess; hurdler Spencer Holladay, pole vaulter Lucas Bolster and distance runners juniors Charles Hooper and Derek Croft; seniors Greg Canals, Calab Conlon and Zack Steed, and sophomore Sam Timmerman. “It’s been hard to predict knowing how the underclassmen will do without a season last year,” he said. He is fiddling with relay teams. The 4x800 relay is new this year and replaces the medley relay, which gives “more opportunities for distance runners,” Stucki said. The Huskies’ track season began with a couple home meets with hand-held times in the cold weather. Top runners proceeded to run weekend invitational meets, including the Copper Hills Invitational that after a few events in the pouring rain and snow was canceled as the timing system kept malfunctioning. “We’ll likely have a few athletes get to state, but it’s hard to know how well we’ll do there at this point,” he said. “But nobody knows quite who and what they have. All the teams are in the same situation because of COVID canceling last year.” Even the location for the state meet, and how it may look different this year during the pandemic, was undetermined at press deadline. For Jeffery, she’s just happy to be back running. “A lot of us are happy to be here, having a season, doing what we love,” she said. l
May 2021 | Page 27
Residents encouraged to conserve water as drought persists By Joshua Wood | j.wood@mycityjournals.com
Editor’s note: this is the second in a fourpart series looking at the state’s drought conditions.
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he entire state of Utah is experiencing drought, and 90% of the state is seeing extreme drought. While the state’s snowpack received a boost from wetter conditions in February and March than it saw in early winter, water totals for the year are below normal. That means there will be less runoff than normal, lower reservoir levels, and the need for residents to conserve water. “Utah’s statewide snow water equivalent (SWE) peaked at 12.6 inches on March 27, which was 81% of normal and about 10 days early,” stated Jordan Clayton, data collection officer with the Utah Snow Survey and US Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. “Unfortunately, our SWE didn’t last at 12.6 inches for more than a day, and recent warm temperatures have caused the statewide SWE value to plummet.” Utah entered the current water year needing a snowpack well above average to compensate for persistent dry conditions. Another below average year sparked Gov. Spencer J. Cox to issue an executive order on March 17 declaring a state of emergency due to drought conditions. “We’ve been monitoring drought conditions carefully and had hoped to see significant improvement from winter storms,” Cox said. “Unfortunately, we have not received enough snow to offset the dry conditions. I ask Utahns to evaluate their water use and find ways to save not only because of current drought conditions but also because we live in one of the driest states in the nation.” While the entire state has seen drought conditions persist, the severity has varied within the state. By early April, SWE for major watersheds in the northeastern Uinta Mountains and southeastern Utah stood at around 90% of normal, while southwestern Utah was at just 50% or normal. The majority of the state’s basins stood at around 70% of normal. March may have seemed stormy to area residents, but precipitation for the month was just 73% of normal. This further exacerbated an already disappointing water year. As the state’s lower than normal snowpack melts this spring, much of the runoff needed in streams and reservoirs will not make it there. Prolonged drought conditions have left Utah’s soils thirsty. Soil moisture was at just 40% of saturation at the end of March. That was down 6% from the same time last year and was near the minimum levels seen since sensors were installed to take the measurements over a decade ago. “Soil moisture levels in the state have started to wet up due to the melting snow but are still extremely dry compared with previous years,” Clayton said. “Forecasters have had to reduce the anticipated gains from melting snow
Page 28 | May 2021
Below-average snowpack and dry soil will impact reservoir levels. (Joshua Wood/City Journals)
to account for the likelihood that a significant portion of this year’s snowmelt runoff will soak into headwater soils and not make it to downstream reservoirs.” Utah’s reservoir storage in early April was down 14% from the previous year. Below-normal snowpack and dry soil will likely keep those levels lower this year. In his drought executive order, Cox made recommendations for residents to conserve water. These included reducing indoor water waste, fixing irrigation inefficiencies, converting unnecessary turf areas to waterwise landscapes, and considering purchasing water-saving devices like smart-timer controllers or low-flow toilets. Even taking shorter showers can help make a difference. Other suggestions issued by the governor’s office included fixing water leaks, only running full loads of laundry or dishes, and turning off the tap while brushing teeth, shaving, soaping up, doing dishes or rinsing vegetables. Further recommendations and water-saving tips can be found at SlowTheFlow. org. Residents can anticipate a summer of saving water, lower reservoir levels, and potential economic damage resulting from drought conditions. “This winter ranks 34th of the 41 years for which we have collected statewide SWE values at our SNOTEL sites,” Clayton said. l
Below-average snowpack and dry soil will impact the spring runoff. (Joshua Wood/City Journals)
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MidvaleJournal.com
May 2021 | Page 29
The mask mandate ends in SL County, but we still need to remain vigilant
Aimee Winder Newton Salt Lake County Council | District 3
Toward the end of Utah’s 2021 General Legislative Session, a bill was passed signaling the end of mask mandates across the state. House Bill 294 stated that all COVID-19 public health orders statewide would come to an end once three criteria were met: 1) the state's 14-day case rate is less than 191 per 100,000 people, 2) the statewide seven-day average COVID-19 ICU utilization is less than 15%, and 3) 1,633,000 prime doses of a COVID-19 vaccine have been allocated to the state. Additionally, H.B. 294 provided that all blanket mask mandates would expire on April 10, 2021. If the state failed to meet any of the three criteria, however, then local health departments could recommend a mask mandate for their jurisdiction, subject to the approval of the jurisdiction’s legislative body. As we approached April 10, the Salt Lake County Council received hundreds of emails from constituents on both sides of the issue requesting that the Council either vote to extend or not to extend the mask mandate in Salt Lake County. It also became clear that the state as a whole would satisfy only two out of the three
people in a confined space and you don’t know if they have been vaccinated, please wear your mask. While masks are not required by the State of Utah or the Salt Lake County Health Department, individual business and property owners have the right to require masks on their property. Please be respectful. I support these businesses and their right to require a mask to help protect their employees and customers. The Utah Board of Education has also not lifted its requirement that masks be worn in schools. Additionally, masks are still required by the state in gatherings larger than 50 people. In places where masks are not required, let’s not judge those who choose to wear a mask or those who feel comfortable not wearing one. We need civility right now more than ever! I am looking forward to seeing this pandemic end. I know we are all tired and ready to get back to normal. Please remember that just because the mask mandate is over, it does not mean the pandemic is over. Please be safe, respectful, and continue to sanitize. We will get through this together!
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criteria, and therefore a mask mandate could be recommended by the county health department, pending the approval of the county council. For us, that meant we would await the recommendation of Salt Lake County Health Director Gary Edwards and then determine the county’s next steps. The Council received a letter from Edwards on April 7, in which he stated he did not believe a mask mandate was necessary and that he would not be recommending a mask mandate for Salt Lake County. Because state legislation said that the council could only consider a mandate if the health department director recommended one, the Council did not have action to consider. The mask mandate ended in Salt Lake County as state law dictated. At a recent press conference, the County Council emphasized the need for vigilance as we continue to fight against the spread of COVID-19. The vaccine will help us return to normal. I’ve been fully vaccinated and recommend that residents get their vaccine as soon as possible. I also hope we can all be considerate and mindful of others. If you are around
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Moms are good for all kinds of things; homemade cookies, clean underwear, and guilt, just to name a few. Although each mom is different, we often feel we’re doing everything wrong when it comes to raising children. Do we back off, step in, offer advice, stay silent, help them succeed, let them fail? We’re never sure and we’re usually winging it, just doing the best we can. It reminds me of when my brother knocked the wind out of himself by being stupid. Mom thought he was choking and performed the Heimlich. He couldn’t breathe for two hours. She did the best she could with the information she had. I love mom but she wasn’t perfect. Thank heavens. She cheated at Skip-Bo, had no patience with stupidity, and hated animals with a passion. When she got remarried and moved to a ranch in North Carolina, we found it a unique and hilarious karma. Her emails to me often started with, “Well, I kicked the rooster again today.” Mom might have loathed poultry, but when the wind snapped her beautiful globe willow tree in half, she mourned it like a family member. Every spring, mom’s garden would bloom with color. She loved ladybugs and butterflies. She’d also hand my daughters a saltshaker and tell them to feed the snails. (They didn’t realize their role in her evil ex-
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termination plot until much later.) She taught my girls that flipping off another driver was perfectly acceptable – even necessary. Convinced that video games would usher in the apocalypse, mom refused to buy an Atari system, but she sewed puppets to teach us stories from classic literature like Hamlet and Beowulf. (I threw the Ophelia hand puppet into the river, watching her skirts float up around her as she sank to her death. My childhood was a bit melodramatic.) Mom could be stubborn to the point of madness, but she was also whip smart and ready to jump into a theological debate at the drop of a Bible. She’d experienced a lot of loss and trauma in her life and wasn’t a mom who showered us with hugs and kisses, but we never
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doubted she loved us. She wasn’t just a mama bear; she was a mama velociraptor when it came to defending her kids. Mom once told me her children were her inspiration. An inspiration to move across the country. As a final joke, mom requested each of her children to speak at her funeral. I considered digging up the Beowulf puppets and delivering her eulogy via Grendel, the monstrous creature doomed to wander the earth. She would have loved it. Mom worked as a teacher’s aide at an elementary school before she died. (I don’t think the two are connected, but it was an elementary school.) At the funeral, her coworkers told me what a great woman she was. I already knew that. We often put the dead on a pedestal (which is dangerous because they can roll off and fall on people). But mom wouldn’t want to be remembered as being a perfect person who never messed up, got angry, felt alone, burned dinner, swore, failed, tried again, and again, and again. If you’re a mom on Mother’s Day this year, that’s the message for you. You were never meant to get everything right. You don’t need to achieve perfection. It isn’t even possible. Just embrace your wonderful messiness. My mom was better than perfect. She was human.
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food pantry, showers, washers and dryers. These are some of the facilities Hillcrest High Principal Greg Leavitt said he’s proud of being incorporated in the new Hillcrest High School. The building is expected to be open for fall term. “We serve about 100 students, many of them refugees coming from about 25 countries and some of our other students are without homes or are living in shelters,” he said. “They need laundry facilities, showers, food. These human service rooms are here to help them take care of their hygiene, their clothes, provide them food during hard times. In today’s world, more and more students are needing help whether it’s socio-economically, educationally, mentally. If we want our student to learn, we need to start with shelter, food and stability.” The rooms will serve to “support students, not judge them,” he said. “We won’t deny anyone.” The human service rooms are part of what Leavitt has discussed weekly the past 2.5 years with architect and Hillcrest 1989 alumna Greta Anderson and other construction team members. He anticipates he’s midway in his weekly construction meetings, based on his experience from being a part of Draper Park Middle School’s build team. “We started after the bond passed and will continue until the last plugin is put in and the last construction trailer leaves,” Leavitt said. “It’s been great working with someone who knows the school. She knows the importance of our performing arts program and our traditions like the senior Continued page 7
The commons area on the main floor will be a gathering space for students in the new Hillcrest High School, Principal Greg Leavitt told school community council members. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
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