Midvale Journal | November 2023

Nov. 2023 | Vol. 20 Iss. 11

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MIDVALE’S NEXTGEN INITIATIVE

MOUNTAIN AMERICA EXPO CENTER

GIVES A VOICE TO STUDENTS

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

A

s a Hillcrest High senior, Nyah Cox is part of a new movement in Midvale to provide the city’s youth with a platform where their voices can be heard. Through Mayor Marcus Stevenson’s NextGen Initiative, high school students are encouraged to get involved with community issues and shape the city’s future.

Cox, and 10 other students, make up the first NextGen cohort. They have committed their time to meet once a month at Midvale City Hall, to learn about local government, offer ideas for change and discuss topics that affect the city.

“I wanted to get involved so I could be a voice for other students and kids like me who want to have an impact on their community,” Cox said. “There is a lot I hope to accomplish during my time in the initiative, and ultimately, I hope that myself and other youth in this initiative can help other kids want to speak up and voice their opinion on things that are happening around them.”

Stevenson hopes to harness the energy, optimism and passion of youth leaders to increase their opportunity for civic engagement. He met with students at the end of the last school year to introduce the program and get their feedback.

He was surprised by how enthusiastic students were to talk about their biggest concerns which included homelessness, gang violence and policing. As part of the program, Continued page 6 The first NextGen Initiative group met in October and will serve through April 2024. It is made up of high school students from Midvale who want to get involved with community issues. (Photo courtesy of Midvale City)

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Nov. 2023 | Page 3

New Canyons District administrative changes aimed to enhance student education

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

C

anyons School District recently made some historic decisions, including naming McKay Robinson as assistant superintendent and Tom Sherwood as the District high school director amongst other administrative appointments.

Both are familiar faces in the District.

Robinson, who has been the elementary schools’ performance director the past four years, will now lead the implementation of Canyons’ new strategic plan with the intention to improve and enhance student education, provide professional development and supervise directors in several areas. He also will be part of the decision-making in the superintendent’s cabinet meetings amongst others.

He already has had influence in the district as he helped to lead and support elementary school principals through the COVID-19 pandemic. He also was part of the team who helped to build safety protocols in Canyons schools. For his contribution, he earned 2022 Apex Award as the Administrator of the Year.

It’s not the first time he’s been honored.

Robinson earned the 2012 Utah Association of Elementary School Principals’ Rookie of the Year Award and the 2013 Utah PTA Outstanding Administrator of the Year, where he served as Lone Peak Elementary’s principal for six years. He then was principal at Sandy Elementary for four years and was awarded the 2016 Innovator of the Year Award from the Canyons Association of Elementary School Principals.

During his time in the district office, he also was lauded with Utah State University’s 2000 Teacher of Tomorrow Award.

The 23-year educator was inspired at an early age to enter the profession.

“It was my third-grade teacher, Mr.

Journals T H E

New Canyons School District Assistant Superintendent McKay Robinson takes a spin on a tricycle during a Sandy Elementary event in 2019. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

Miner, who stepped up in my life and became more than just a teacher,” Robinson said. “He became my advocate, my biggest fan, and my hero, inspiration. It was at that time as an 8-year-old that I decided I wanted to be just like him. Ever since that time I have known what I wanted to become and do with my life, and I have never looked back.”

Robinson, who earned his bachelor’s in elementary education with a minor in

Korean from Utah State University, began teaching at Sprucewood Elementary. While teaching there, he earned his master’s in teaching at Grand Canyon University. He was awarded his master’s in education in administrative licensure, leadership preparation program at Brigham Young University shortly after teaching fourth grade at Butterfield Canyon Elementary in Jordan School District and being an intern assistant principal at Southland Elementary (Jordan

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District), and at Union Middle (then Jordan, now Canyons District) and Lone Peak High (Alpine School District). He earned his doctorate in K-12 leadership and policy in 2020.

While known as a baseball aficionado, he also is an outdoors enthusiast, camping with friends and family and racing his road bike in cycling events including the 200plus mile LoToJa (Logan to Jackson, Wyoming) Classic, which is one of the longest

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Midvale City Journal

Huskies girls’ soccer competes in first round of state playoffs

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

W

ith a good enough RPI, Hillcrest High’s girls soccer team made the first round of the 4A state tournament with an away game against Sky View.

The Huskies traveled to Smithfield where they scored a goal in the first half, but Sky View scored two and a third one in the second half to put away any hopes of Hillcrest advancing to the next round. The Huskies finished the season 6-11.

Hillcrest ended fourth in region 10 and was led by sophomore Ella Blackbourn in goals and sophomore Danika Hickcox in assists.

“We finished in the top half of our region, that was good for our young team,” said head coach Brett Davis about the competitive region that had two of its teams in the state semifinals. “We were ranked high enough to get into the playoffs, which was one of our goals. It helped our younger players gain that playoff experience, which will be vital in the upcoming year.”

Davis, in his second year as the girls’ head coach, was pleased with the overall development of the 36-member team.

“This year we were able to plan and have open workouts in the summer and the team responded. We had some girls step up, really buy in and start to develop the new culture which

translates onto the field. As the season went on, we got better in more than just playing skills, but also in becoming a family,” he said.

That, Davis said, is critical.

“In a team sport, it’s critical that you have an understanding for each other, even deeper than just an acceptance of each other. There’s a whole different dynamic in a sport like soccer, that’s so much dependent on what everybody else is doing simultaneously and being able to read each other. You don’t stop after each play or that you have timeouts. In soccer, you have 11 players on the field in your team, along with the movement and adjustment of 11 players on the other side, the movement of the ball, so the more you understand each other and can get an idea of what the rest of your teammates are thinking and doing, then the more likely you are to have success,” he said, giving credit to his five seniors in bringing that “unifying culture in our team bond.”

Looking ahead, Davis foresees about nine returning starters.

“We were surprised at the number of freshmen players we had come in this year, and their level was much better than we had expected. We had freshmen that were able to step in and play varsity minutes in the playoffs,” he said, adding that he reinstated the freshman/ sophomore team that has been missing for six

years. “With more teams, the players were getting more touches on the ball and touches in a game situation are far more beneficial than touches in practices.”

Davis anticipates more growth in the program as players are making a commitment to boost the middle school feeder program, encouraging youth in the community to learn skills and giving back to the community, re-

cently by refereeing unified soccer matches.

“It’s important they’re realizing it’s not just about me, but it’s about us and what we can do together,” he said.

The Huskies return to the field with some open gym opportunities in January, with “more intense preparation” beginning around the end of the school year. l

USA cycling-sanctioned bike races in the country.

Sherwood, the recipient of Canyons’ School Administrator of the Year APEX Award in 2021, steps into the director of high schools after serving the past 15 years as principal at Brighton and Jordan high schools. This is his 26th year in education.

“I’ve developed a good understanding of instruction, high school athletics and activities, and have a vision and carried out that vision for the schools; I have made strong efforts to be transparent and friendly and welcoming to our school communities,” he said.

That helped Sherwood transition to his current position where he will use his visionary leadership to guide and support principals at the District’s five comprehensive high schools as well as at Canyons Technical Education Center, Diamond Ridge and Entrada alternative schools as they prepare students to be college and career ready.

“I want to help principals be more effective in what they do. The job of the high school principal has become so big that it’s more than one person can do and it’s a high-demanding, time-consuming job. The average high school principal probably averages between 60 to 70 hours per week of labor and that includes extra work supervising athletic activities, dealing with person-

nel issues or working with the community about concerns. In this new position, I want to problem-solve to make it more manageable so principals can focus more on the most important work, which is student learning,” Sherwood said. “I’ll serve on the superintendent’s cabinet to help make informed decisions that impact high schools and make sure that we’re trying to move forward in a positive way with policies, procedures and resources.”

Another part of his position is to help coordinate and be the liaison with athletics and activities.

“Athletics and activities are a big part of what we offer in high schools. My involvement with the USHAA Board of Trustees and executive committee the past 12 years has really helped me learn a lot about best practices,” Sherwood said. “I’ll be helping with making sure that all coaches follow the state requirements, making sure that our district’s coaches get more training on appropriate coaching techniques and positive coaching behaviors. Ultimately, I want to make sure that we’re doing the best job we can and providing the best product we can for students.”

During his tenure at Brighton, where he also previously taught biology and chemistry, Sherwood oversaw the building and transition from the old school to the current and ensured education continued

throughout that and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Those were challenging years, especially with COVID on top of it and keeping everything safe. We were holding instruction in that manner while building a school and making sure that the new school had all the necessary elements. When we started, I had no idea how big of a challenge and how time consuming that would all be and then it was compounded. I’m proud of the finished product as well as what we’re able to accomplish during those years,” he said.

Known as a multitasker (Sherwood has a sign in his office from his assistant principal that reads “don’t interrupt me while I’m texting” as he admits to texting, calling and doing everything at the same time), he will stop to listen to a student or take a break to boogie down on the dance floor with them (while admitting he doesn’t dance).

“I’m going to miss the students, giving them a high-five, cheering them, watching them perform, seeing their presentations, their banter back and forth in the hallways, just developing good relationships with the students in my building,” Sherwood said.

“They’re why I got into education—to make a difference in the lives of students. There is something about teenagers; their energy and positivity is contagious and they’re just a fun group of people to be around.”

Other recent Canyons’ appointments

include Butler Middle School’s principal Paul Logan as the District’s federal and state programs director, replacing Wendy Dau, who was appointed Provo City School District’s superintendent; East Sandy Principal Bryan Rudes will replace Logan at Butler Middle and Scott Dwyer will join him as assistant principal after working as an adaptive physical education teacher in the District’s special education department.

Midvalley Elementary’s Assistant Principal Dan Ashbridge will become East Sandy’s new principal.

Corner Canyon High Assistant Principal Marielle Rawle will replace Sherwood as Brighton High’s principal, and joining her as an assistant principal will be April Sagala, a Jordan High counselor.

At Corner Canyon, Dina Kohler, formerly Hillcrest High assistant principal, will take the helm as its principal as Darrell Jensen left to be Provo City School District’s assistant superintendent. Jordan Denos, from Davis School District, will serve as an assistant principal for the Chargers, as well as science department chair Taylor Anderson, filling the vacancy of Steve Bailey, who retired. OJ Gulley, an Oregon middle school principal, will take Kohler’s place as Hillcrest High assistant principal. l

MidvaleJournal.com

Hillcrest High senior Hailey Pedersen chases after the ball against Juan Diego Catholic High. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

Nov. 2023 | Page 5

Continued from front page the NextGen leaders will be able to present their ideas and recommendations to the city council, based on those issues.

“It was really eye-opening to me to see how aware our kids are, how much they see the things impacting our community and how much they have opinions on how we address some of these really difficult topics,” Stevenson said. “We really are trying to make sure this is student-led and they get an idea of the inner workings of the city, but we also really dive into some of those issues that they’re most interested in.”

Part of the goal for the six-month NextGen Initiative is to dive into the day-to-day functions of city departments, from public works to planning and zoning. Students will get a firsthand look at how decisions are made, projects are approved and problems are addressed.

Stevenson just turned 29 and has been engaged with community work since he was 18. But it was when he was in eighth grade that community service piqued his interest.

He found it was daunting to figure out how to get involved at that age and hopes this new program creates an avenue for youth to follow their desire to serve.

“When I was in eighth grade, I was interested but didn’t find a way to start getting involved until I was a senior in high school,” he said. “So there were four years…that I just didn’t even know where to go. So we can be proactive and show that this option exists and help them take that little leap of faith.”

The NextGen group consists of Jacklyn Wei, Matthew Miller, Hayley Carvalho, Tessa Andersen, Isabella Goates, Ivy Costello, Nyah Cox, Ethan Mears, Manvi Chechi, Benjamin Bridge, and Maqee Chavez.

“You don’t have to save the world, but one small impact can do a lot of good for you and the people around you,” Cox said. “Every kid in this initiative has an equal stand, that’s what I like about it, that other kids, from other backgrounds, no matter how they grew up, can be involved in something like this.”l

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Page 6 | Nov. 2023

Inaugural middle school unified soccer state tournament met by enthusiastic players, partners, fans

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

I

t was the first year of Utah’s middle school unified soccer and Jen Morphy was on the sidelines.

She wasn’t one of athlete’s mothers, but rather a mom of a ninth-grade peer tutor, who was assisting the athletes with the ball so they could have the same opportunities to play.

“It’s a really great program, and I love that,” she said. “Through unified sports these kids are getting to do so many things.”

Unified soccer, a program of Special Olympics Utah in partnership with the Utah High School Activities Association, allows student-athletes with and without disabilities to play on the same team.

While the teams are coed and play competitively five versus five on a smaller sized soccer field for two eight-minute halves, the focus is on development of skills, friendship, cooperation and sportsmanship as often players on either team will cheer for one another.

Fourteen teams played in the inaugural state tournament, split in four divisions based upon ability, said Boston Iacobazzi, Unified Champion School’s college-growth coordinator. There were about 150 student-athletes from area middle schools: Mountain Creek, South Jordan, Oquirrh Hills, Joel P. Jensen, West Jordan and Mt. Jordan—as well as from nearby Alpine and Davis school districts.

“They had a great time and loved it,” he said. “It was really cool as some of them had never played soccer before. Some were super pumped to get to wear uniforms with their school’s name on it.”

Mountain Creek teacher Karlee English said that was true of her players, who were coached by volunteer Hannah Swett.

“We have worked hard for weeks in preparation for the tournament,” she said.

“Most of the kids had never even played soccer before this. By the time the tournament came most of the students understood the game and really enjoyed playing soccer.

Most of all, there was a real camaraderie between the athletes and the peers they were playing with. I actually had to do a drawing for peer tutors because so many students wanted to do it.”

Morphy’s son, Dane, has been a middle school partner athlete in unified basketball, which was introduced last winter, and with unified golf, which was new in spring 2022.

“My older daughter was a peer tutor for two years; she would say, ‘they need friends too.’ Dane knew all these kids through his sister, so he became a peer tutor and absolutely loves it. My younger daughter wants to be a peer tutor next year,” Morphy said.

As well as being a parent and a fan, Morphy also is Mountain Creek Middle

Mountain Creek Middle takes on South Jordan Middle in the middle school unified soccer state championship game. (Photo courtesy of Jen Morphy)

School’s PTA president.

“We want opportunities to include all our students, like this. We have one kid in their class who has seizures; half of his body doesn’t work how it’s supposed to. Last year, he was so good at basketball. It was fun to see him be able to do these things in a setting that allows him to excel. With soccer, our peer tutors would shag a ball and it goes right to one of the kids in the class to dribble back up the field. Our school had two teams and what’s fun about that is you have an entire sideline cheering you on. It’s not just parents, but you have all your peers there, so it feels even bigger,” she said.

When teams scored, Morphy said, “The kids would get so excited and then the peers were happy for them and everybody on the field comes in with high-fives and hugs.

The sidelines were jumping up and down.

They’re so happy and love being a part of all of it.”

English said the score at the end wasn’t what was important.

“Honestly, the highlight for me was watching a young man and his peer on the opposing team (South Jordan) who were very enthusiastic in working the ball down the field and the athlete ended up getting the goal. It was so much fun to watch both teams cheer this young athlete on. It wasn’t about who won the game; it was celebrating as one in this victory for this young man as he scored. The beauty in this moment wasn’t directed by any adult to cheer for this young athlete; it just happened spontaneously,” she said.

At the same time as the middle school tournament, Iacobazzi also was overseeing 54 unified high school teams in the state playoffs.

“I’d love to get more middle schools involved and have high school soccer players help with their training. Ideally, we’d like each district to run its own middle school league then we hold one state event with teams from all the districts across the state,” he said.

Morphy said the tournament was a huge event.

“The whole community was there together—so many parents, families and so many games going on. It was fun because at Mountain Creek, it’s a tight group. Some of our students could see their friends who had gone on to high school and give them hugs and they’d cheer each other as they played,” she said.

Iacobazzi was planning surprise visits to present the medals to teams at their schools in early November.

In division A, Moose Nation from Mountain Creek got first; SoJo White of South Jordan was second; Eagles Blue from Oquirrh Hills took third; and Mt. Jordan was fourth. In division B, Joel P. Jensen Jaguars were first, SoJo Blue of South Jordan was second; Moose Stampede of Mountain Creek placed third; and Eagles white of Oquirrh Hills, fourth. In division C, local teams West Jordan won, with the Mountaineers from Mt. Jordan, second; and in division D, Joel P. Jensen Panthers were the champions. l

Midvale City Journal

Hillcrest High among local area teams who excelled at state championship as Utah’s high school unified soccer program grows

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

B

ack-to-back champions.

In any sport, it’s a difficult accomplishment. In the growing sport of unified soccer, it’s remarkable. This year, 54 unified soccer teams competed, up from 30 last year.

Yet Murray High succeeded in that achievement to defend their state championship title.

Murray High junior Mia Cox scored a goal in that title game and was receiving congratulatory hugs and high-fives afterward from her teammates, friends and family, her principal and superintendent.

“It was exciting,” she said. “I like kicking the ball with my friends on the team because it’s fun.”

Unified soccer is a program of Special Olympics Utah in partnership with the Utah High School Activities Association, that joins high school-age students with and without intellectual disabilities playing side-by-side on the same team. Five coed players take to a smaller-sized field in 10-minute halves playing in competitive or player development divisions.

“We had teams from Richfield High School to up in Logan in eight divisions,” said Boston Iacobazzi, Unified Champion School’s college-growth coordinator.

“Several schools had two teams and a couple had three.”

Teams first played in local tournaments before they competed in the regional round robin competitions until the top two finishers from each division were determined. The state championships in those divisions played Oct. 10 at the Real Salt Lake stadium.

“It was close competition for a lot of the teams at both the playoffs as well as at the championships. A lot of games went into overtime and ended in PKs, which was exciting,” he said.

At the local tournament in Midvale, Hillcrest High senior Haylee Wardle was all about winning.

“Let’s go!” she encouraged her teammates. “We want to get that gold.”

Wardle, her teammates and coach Rebecca Remy watched as Hillcrest freshman Johnny Bisby brought the torch into the school’s stadium. ASL club members signed the national anthem as well as the athlete’s oath.

“We have a lot of Husky pride and we want everyone to feel that at our school,” said Remy, who has been an assistant during her 20 years teaching, but stepped in as head coach this year. “I love seeing the students in other areas besides academics, witnessing their sportsmanship and inclusion and the unity with their peers, and using their skills on the field. It’s great our drill, band, cheer and a bunch of different clubs and teams are supporting all the unified teams competing.”

In front of hundreds of fans at the RSL stadium, Hunter High junior Whitney Rasmussen took the athlete’s oath and sang the national anthem before joining her team to take a silver medal in their game.

For many student-athletes, it’s an opportunity to not only compete, but also to develop their skills, meet people, see old friends and belong to a team.

“It gives them a place to belong and to represent their school, just like their

Hillcrest High senior Kori Carmona controls the ball in a regional matchup against West Jordan High.

(Julie Slama/City Journals)

MidvaleJournal.com

Hillcrest High players give each other a high-five after scoring a goal in the regional unified soccer tournament. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

peers,” Iacobozzi said.

Longtime friends Mia Jackman of Riverton High and Jaymi Bonner of Herriman High gave each other hugs when they saw each other at a tournament, which was supported by Jordan School District’s superintendent.

Mia’s dad, Jared, is thankful for unified sports.

“It gives them the chance to do things that they’re seeing typical kids do and a chance to interact with some of their peers,” he said. “It makes them feel part of the school.”

Jaymi’s mom, Jeana, likes unified sports “enriches everyone’s lives and gives us perspective. It’s about, teamwork and sportsmanship. It’s not only about winning and being the best. That’s a valuable lesson that our kids are teaching us.”

Herriman High received silver medals at state.

Jordan High junior Kaitlyn Unzaga decided to play because “it’s really fun and it gets my energy out.”

She was warming up at the RSL stadium before both Jordan teams would win their division championships.

“I always play no matter what if I win or not win. I really love playing for my school with my friends,” she said. “At school, we eat lunch together and practiced our kicking and defense, and how to move left and right. Then, we hang out.”

Her coach, Jenna Fox, said the school’s program has grown from five stu-

Hillcrest High freshman Johnny Bisby brought the torch at the regional unified soccer tournament his school hosted. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

dents to 22.

“The kids keep telling the incoming freshmen about it, so our numbers are getting bigger,” she said. “We have a developmental team and a more competitive one so we’re getting all abilities playing time and we’ve got some awesome peer tutors who are playing with them. What’s fun is the kids are all friends and they respect each other. So, we play together, we go to class together, we celebrate together.”

Several Jordan High students, teachers and administrators were watching the games along with Canyons School District’s superintendent and other district administrators and school board members.

“Jordan SBOs (student body officers) gave us a send-off. They lined up creating tunnels for us to go through and we got cheered and waved off for state. That was super special for our team,” Fox said.

“Having the championships at RSL, it makes them feel like royalty.”

Both Jordan teams as well as other teams, including Kearns High, that took first, were given medals by royalty — Miss Utah Sarah Sun and Miss Utah’s Teen Jaylynn Lindley along with Utah’s First Lady Abby Cox. l

Nov. 2023 | Page 7

Two distinguished Hillcrest alumnae receive school alumni association’s top awards

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

T

wo notable Hillcrest alumnae credited their high school teachers for the impact they’ve made on their lives while being honored with the fifth annual distinguished alumni awards during halftime of Hillcrest High’s homecoming football game.

Carri Phippen Jenkins, class of ‘79, was recognized with the Distinguished Alumni Award while Shreya Mahasenan, class of ‘19, received the Distinguished Young Alumni Award. Both awards are given by Hillcrest High Alumni Association to graduates who have given extraordinary service to the community, the nation, their profession or to the school.

Jenkins, who for two decades has been the spokeswoman for Brigham Young University, was involved in student senate, ran the 440 and 880 in track, sang in choir, cheered with the spirit team, wrote for the student newspaper and performed in “Hansel and Gretel” and “Brigadoon” on Hillcrest’s stage. She remembers Hillcrest as “a place where everyone felt appreciated and supported; people weren’t judgmental of one another.”

As a student, she made strong connections with Sandra Clark, her English teacher.

“I remember we read ‘Julius Caesar’ and she had it on a record player,” Jenkins said. “We would play that record and every few minutes, she would lift the needle up and say, ‘Do you know what things were being said here?’ This was Shakespeare and we were sophomores, so she would explain it. When we understood it toward the end of the play, she’d keep the record playing. I’ve used that as a model to make sure people understood what was being said because you can write a great article or statement, but if it’s not communicating what you need and people don’t understand it, then who is benefiting?

That lesson sunk in,” she said.

Jenkins reunited with Clark as a student teacher.

“The teacher I was doing my student teaching under was sick a great amount of time, so I was really on my own. I went back to Ms. Clark, and she helped prepare me for teaching ‘Julius Caesar,’ by sharing her curriculum and aids,” she said, adding that her parents, who were educators, encouraged her to get a teaching certificate in addition to her journalism degree.

Her debate coach, Dennis Edmonds, supported her.

“He was the best trainer I have for my job now, because he really had to make sure we were well prepared. He really taught us to slow so we’d address the issues raised by the other person and focus on what they had brought up.

You just didn’t transition and move to whatever it was that you wanted to on your index cards, you had to address their concerns, their arguments,” Jenkins said.

She also loved being in choir and musicals under Leo Dean: “He was just so wonderful and caring and really started a lot of the strong music traditions that Hillcrest still has today.

Page 8 | Nov. 2023

Brian Bentley was my classmate, and the star of all the musicals, and he stepped right in to continue building the program that is appreciated so much today.”

One of her favorite memories was on a choir trip to Oregon when the choir “sounded the best it ever had.”

“It was one of our final performances, and I don’t have perfect pitch, but for that one time in my life, I felt like I had and knew we were right on. It was so beautiful; this song was performed with our unique high school voices coming together. Mr. Dean was proud of us; for me, his praise was more rewarding than that high ranking. He was the most caring, decent individual and educator I’ve ever met,” she said.

Another fun highlight was when Jenkins ran track under coach Jeannie Crickmore Wilson.

“I had a lot of fun at track, but at the University of Utah Invitational, it was pouring rain.

Most of the schools left and we had the mile relay, which was the end of the meet. We were the only competitors, but to win that race and the meet, we had to run it. So, we literally did the bunny hop around that track and stuck it out. Our coach was pretty strict, but she had a fun side; she was OK with it, knowing it was a lesson in seeing things through once you make a commitment,” she said.

Jenkins attended Ricks College in Idaho where she earned a combined English and journalism associate degree. She then went on to earn her bachelor’s and master’s from BYU in communications and a teaching certificate in journalism and English.

The distinguished young alumni Mahasenan said she maintains strong connections to her alma mater.

“I was invited to do a couple of posts for the global ‘Global Voices’ blog and I always tried to kind of reflect back on my experience at Hillcrest and what about Hillcrest specifically was so beneficial for me,” she said, adding she returned to speak to students as well.

Mahasenan, who studied in the International Baccalaureate program, credits many of those teachers under the direction of John Olsen, specifically biology teacher Alex Mettler, chemistry teacher Jeff Salter and former English teacher Mark Doherty.

“Most of my teachers clearly loved what they taught,” she said. “That’s important for me as a student. The teachers’ attitude, their passion toward a subject, it’s going to rub off on me and that kept me motivated with my classes,” she said.

Under teacher Matthew Hart, she was able to take medical anatomy and physiology as well as exercise science and sports medicine.

“Those are two classes were helpful because when I came in for an interview or to a school application, it was more than saying I had studied the basic sciences. It proved my passion, that I had taken steps to learn and expe-

Carri Phippen Jenkins, Hillcrest High class of ‘79, was recognized with the Distinguished Alumni Award while Shreya Mahasenan, class of ‘19, received the Distinguished Young Alumni Award. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

rience more, and it was a differentiating factor,” she said.

It was during high school that Mahasenan not only competed on the Science Olympiad and mock trial teams, she teamed up with Husky classmates Madison Hooper and Marie Miskin to develop a device that could impact concussion diagnosis and treatment and were awarded the $1,000 STEM Entrepreneur Award and the Impact Hub In-Kind Award.

For Mahasenan, it was personal. As a hockey player, she had several concussions leading up to her senior year, but it was one where she and an opposing player both went for a puck and collided that impacted her greatly.

“I know my head also hit the ice, but I didn’t think I was hurt. It was a couple weeks later that I detected something was wrong,” she said, saying people would tell her of her unusual, inconsistent behavior. “It was a huge interruption my senior year when I was taking this college-level coursework with IB. I tried to push through it although it was hard to read, to write, to even communicate what I was feeling. I was sensitive to light, to noise, any form of stimulation. I’m grateful to my friends who supported me and to those teachers who worked with me and cared. I now use that experience as a benefit to other people, especially athletes, as I can truly understand what they’re going through and can connect with as patients.”

Mahasenan studied anatomy and cell biology at McGill University in Montreal. While there, she was part of the pre-med society and advocated for better concussion safeguards for young athletes. She became a certified educator for the Concussion Legacy Foundation Canada

and spoke to public groups to expand awareness and knowledge surrounding concussion safety.

She also served as a campus paramedic for three years.

“That experience of first-line health care is important to me. It’s always been a goal of mine is to feel empowered, and able to help a person if I see a medical emergency around me, so it’s an amazing opportunity,” she said. “It was rewarding to not only be certified and experience first-hand emergency medicine, but to make the campus safer.”

Having graduated with a bachelor’s degree in June, Mahasenan now is a University of Utah clinical psychology lab coordinator working with geriatric patients with depression.

“We spend our time talking to them, getting a sense of where their depression is at, some of the stresses behind their depression, how it manifests and if our treatment is improving those functions,” she said.

It’s a position she enjoys and is looking to see if she can manage as she hopes to enter medical school in a few years to become a clinical physician, perhaps in neurology, taking her back to her days at Hillcrest.

“There’s a lot of continuity between what I was doing in high school and how it inspired me to pursue certain paths,” she said. “Purpose is the biggest thing that I got from Hillcrest. I hope this award serves as motivation to keep having that direction.” l

Midvale City Journal

Game by game, first-year Hillcrest head football coach sees improvement

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

H

illcrest High put the pigskin in the endzone for the first touchdown of the team’s last regular season against nearby Jordan High.

After Jordan took the lead 8-7 at the end of the first quarter, the Huskies overtook the lead in the third, 13-8. Jordan scored six in the fourth to beat the Huskies 14-13.

It wasn’t the highlighted game of the week as the 1-9 Huskies challenged the 3-6 Beetdiggers, but it was something that firstyear Hillcrest High coach Robby Kaelin liked.

“We had a few too many mistakes here and there to win it, but our kids played hard throughout the whole game,” he said. “It was the most complete game that we played as a team, so it was good.”

Kaelin pointed out successes on the field this season.

“I think our defensive effort throughout games improved a lot. Our tackling ability improved even though there’s still things we need to work on in the offseason,” he said. “We saw a big improvement with players just rallying around each other and believing that they could compete in every game.”

Kaelin stands by his preseason plan to spread the offense.

“The spread was still the best move that we had offensively. We dealt with a lot of injuries this year. We had more than 30 kids who

dress varsity miss at least one game because of injury or illness. We had multiple kids out multiple weeks, and we were down to our third- and fourth-string quarterbacks by about week four in the season so because of that, we couldn’t do nearly as much offensively as we had planned to. We simplified the offense a ton and got back to basics. I feel like we built a good foundation for our program,” he said.

The coaches’ approach was one of positivity.

“There’s a way to go about coaching where it’s not all just yelling; it’s building their competence so if the same mistake happens again, they’re able to overcome that on their own or with minimal help, rather than constantly having to be reminded of that mistake and what they need to do to improve. We focused on positive reinforcement and support.

They know they have people in their lives who support them from the 90-plus players on the team and the other nine coaches, there’s at least 100 people who each player knows has their back along with family, friends and teachers.

Every player knew that people cared and loved them and that they were doing good things,” he said.

While Kaelin said the process will take time, the team is encouraged.

“We focus on small successes because

every big change takes little steps in the process,” Kaelin said. “Our first game (against Carbon High) had a lot of points (41-20) and it was great to see the energy and excitement these kids had in the locker room after winning a game. It was very positive and rewarding to see the hard work we put in the summer and fall camp made a difference.”

Kaelin said the team made strides off the field as well.

“Behind the scenes, we worked on work ethic, discipline, team honor. We focused on the players finding success in their everyday lives and enjoyment in what they were doing.

We succeeded in that aspect,” he said. “We also had players step up in leadership roles; rather than waiting for coaches to bring things up or trying to manipulate the system or skirt around the rules, they took responsibility and initiative. That’s a big thing we saw.”

Some of those leaders were the 19 seniors.

“We have some good leaders in place and obviously, we will miss the leadership of our seniors. We had seven senior captains this year who did an amazing job. Because of their leadership, they were able to push those underclassmen into those leadership roles as well.

They were teaching by example,” Kaelin said.

“At the same time, we have a wonderful freshman class. They’re in their own playoff jour-

Hillcrest High junior Guillermo Martinez knocks down a pass intended for a Canyon View High receiver. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

ney as a No. 1 seed, which hasn’t happened in years for a Hillcrest football team. These players are dedicated, they’re together as a family.

Our goal is to have them together with our very good core coming back continue to make the strides that we’ve made this year.” l

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Six Canyons schools get a boost from United Way volunteers

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

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S

ix Canyons School District schools recently got a helping hand from United Way volunteers.

As part of United Way of Salt Lake’s Day of Caring, 33 projects in Salt Lake and Davis counties were beneficiaries over several weeks, said Roni Scheidler, United Way of Salt Lake volunteer engagement director.

“Post-COVID, we learned it’s better, especially for our schools, to give them flexibility on the date as we work to help with what’s needed,” she said.

East Midvale and Copperview elementaries were on board early in the school year.

In late August, M.A. Mortenson Construction and Engineering volunteers joined forces with the Utah STEM Action Center at East Midvale to work with preschoolers and kindergartners learning math games.

At Copperview, CHG Healthcare volunteers reassembled the Cougar Exchange Clothing Closet by helping with the closet’s shelving and sorting clothes for students in need.

In September, Midvalley students listened to O.C. Tanner volunteers read “There’s Only One You” by Kathryn Heling before helping students create a school rock garden. Each class was given a copy of the rhyming picture book.

In early October, a portion of Midvale Elementary’s blacktop was transformed by Jacob-

Jacobsen Construction volunteers worked together to build GaGa Ball Pits on Midvale Elementary’s blacktop as part of United Way of Salt Lake’s Day of Caring. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

sen Construction into pits to play GaGa ball, a variation of dodge ball. The volunteers also refurbished the school’s Little Free Library and restocked student emergency kits.

Next door at Midvale Middle, Dominion Energy volunteers worked alongside students

on the upkeep of the campus grounds, updating kits and writing thank-you notes to area emergency personnel.

A late October grounds beautification project was planned for Sandy Elementary. l

Midvale City Journal

Skate with the Mayor brings youth together for a wheely fun day

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

I

n a fusion of civic engagement and youth recreation, the annual Skate with the Mayor event was held Oct. 7 at the Copperview Recreation Center Skate Park (8446 Harrison St.), inviting skateboarders of all ages to skate with Midvale Mayor Marcus Stevenson.

While the event demonstrates the mayor’s commitment to youth empowerment within the city, it also acknowledges the challenges facing today’s youth and celebrates their resilience, energy and hope for the future.

“Midvale has many kids that need extra support and positive social interactions,” Stevenson said. “Skateboarding offers an inclusive and supportive community for struggling kids, primarily because it’s a low-barrier sport that doesn’t discriminate based on age, gender or socioeconomic background.”

The groups Pushing Ahead and Chill Foundation provided free skate instruction for new boarders while experienced skaters competed in the best trick contest.

Through a donation from the Salt

Lake County Health Department and Home Skate, 25 new skateboards were given away to Midvale students who were selected by teachers, counselors and principals for demonstrating courage while facing challenges and being good role models.

KTR Midvale, an indoor sports playground, and Utah Skatepark Advocacy, an organization that helps communities create safe, quality skateparks, were also represented at the event.

“Unlike many traditional sports that require expensive equipment, specialized facilities or formal coaching, skateboarding simply requires a skateboard and a hard surface, which can be found in any neighborhood,” Stevenson said. “Kids from any background can easily access the sport, creating a sense of belonging, community and empowerment.”l

Write for the City Journal.

Midvale Mayor Marcus Stevenson joins members of Utah Skatepark Advocacy during the Skate with the Mayor event held on Oct. 7.

The advocacy group supports Utah communities in expanding access to quality and safe skateparks. (Photo courtesy of Midvale City)

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velocitypatients.com Nov. 2023 | Page 11

Utah’s transportation partners release statewide master plan for future

By Tom Haraldsen | t.haraldsen@mycityjournals.com

G

overnment leaders and transportation gurus have released an updated Unified Transportation Plan for Utah, one aimed at addressing the state’s needs through 2050. It encompasses all forms of transportation, from cars, buses and rail to bike and pedestrian paths.

The plan was a collaborative effort created over a fouryear period between the Utah Department of Transportation, Utah Transit Authority, the Mountainland Association of Governments, the Wasatch Front Regional Council and several metropolitan planning agencies. Its stated goal is “preserving and enhancing the quality of life in Utah” as Utah’s population grows.

“Utah’s great quality of life keeps generations of families here and attracts many new residents every year,” Governor Spencer Cox said. “Careful, collaborative transportation planning is key to ensuring safe, efficient and comfortable travel for all Utahns. Community health, economic vibrance, and livability are closely linked to travel choices—from walking and biking to riding transit to driving.”

Davis County Commissioner Bob Stevenson said the plan “ties things together nicely. We realize all the growth the state will have over the next 30 years and the need to start on some projects immediately.”

The trail systems along the Wasatch Front, for example, are being completed to literally connect with each other. The Parley’s Trail completion in West Valley City in early October helped link east and westside communities, and a new section of the Bonneville Shoreline Trail in Davis County was planned to open on Oct. 24.

South Jordan Mayor Dawn Ramsey, who chairs the

WFRC, said “the planning process looks at the relationship between transportation, land use and economic development by thoughtfully coordinating housing, jobs and transportation connections together. City and town centers yield numerous benefits by improving access and reducing the time spent getting from point A to point B.” Of immediate concern is the rebuild of Interstate 15 from Farmington to North Salt Lake, with plenty of questions and concerns expressed by residents in the communities affected. It’s a challenge for UDOT. “As our state grows, we are committed to providing safe transportation choices for all people to get where they want, when they want, in the way they want,” said UDOT Executive Director Carlos Braceras. “Those needs are different today than they were in previous years, and in the Unified

Plan, transportation partners throughout the state collaborate to identify solutions for the evolving needs that we anticipate in the years ahead.”

“Utah’s quality of life revolves around transportation choices,” said Carlton Christensen, chair of the UTA board.

“UTA is proud to be part of Utah’s Unified Transportation Plan as we work closely with UDOT, regional planning partners, and municipalities to ensure every community has accessible, healthy options. Riding transit offers a less stressful way to get there.”

The plan, which is available to read online at unifiedplan.org, outlines goals for its implementation. An interactive map on the site is broken down by regions, modes of transportation and into 10-year segments, highlighting what projects are scheduled.

It estimates that households will experience almost six days of less driving per year once improvements are completed. The state’s economy will be bolstered through infrastructure investments and job growth. Utah’s GDP will grow by approximately $247 billion and over 271,000 jobs will be created. And the changes will reduce air pollution from emissions by 13%.

Over the course of the plan’s implementation, more than 4,700 miles of transportation roads and pathways will be added.

This is the latest version of a plan that’s been updated for years. Previous versions have been praised by the U.S. Department of Transportation as setting a standard for cooperation between entities with varying needs.l

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Page 12 | Nov. 2023

Midvale City Journal

In The Middle of Everything City Hall – 7505 South Holden Street • Midvale, UT 84047

The Upcoming Municipal Election

MIDVALE CITY DIRECTORY 801-567-7200 801-567-7200 801-567-7265 801-567-7250 801-567-7228 801-567-7211 801-567-7235 801-363-9995 801-567-7285 385-468-3350 385-468-7387 801-567-7230

MIDVALE CITY ELECTED OFFICIALS MAYOR Marcus Stevenson 801-567-7204 Email: mstevenson@midvale.com CITY COUNCIL District 1 - Quinn Sperry Email: qsperry@midvale.com District 2 - Paul Glover Email: pglover@midvale.com District 3 - Heidi Robinson Email: Hrobinson@midvale.com District 4 - Bryant Brown Email: bbrown@midvale.com District 5 - Dustin Gettel Email: dgettel@midvale.com

WHO TO CALL FOR… Water Bills Ordering A New Trash Can Permits Court Paying For Traffic School Business Licensing Cemetery Planning and Zoning Code Enforcement Building inspections Graffiti

801-567-7200 801-567-7202 801-567-7213 801-567-7265 801-567-7202 801-567-7214 801-567-7235 801-567-7231 801-567-7208 801-567-7213 385-468-9769

PUBLIC SAFETY & EMERGENCY CONTACTS EMERGENCY UFA Fire/UPD Police > Non-emergency Unified Police Department > Midvale Precinct Public Works Rocky Mountain Power

CITY NEWSLETTER

By Mayor Marcus Stevenson

Marcus’ Message 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 Communications

NOVEMBER 2023

911 801-840-4000 385-468-9350 801-567-7235 877-508-5088

A Look into Public Safety

Within the last few weeks, I was able to participate in a ride-along with both Unified Fire Authority (UFA) and Unified Police Department (UPD). While both experiences were quite different, it was eye-opening to see a small glimpse into the day-to-day of their jobs and all the situations they must be prepared to respond to. For each ride-along, I chose a Friday evening, because we seem to see greater activity on the weekends, specifically at night. Here’s just a glimpse of what I saw and what I learned.

UNIFIED FIRE

I arrived at Station #126 at 2:00PM, which is the station near the intersection of 700 E and 7200 S. Because our fire fighters work 48hour shifts, this was the last day of the crew’s shift, and they would be going home the next morning. As I arrived, I had to wait a few minutes because the crew was out on a call dealing with a flooding issue at a big box store in the area – pipes in the ceiling were leaking, and UFA was called in to figure out how to shut off the water and clear the area as necessary.

Once the crew arrived back at the station, we talked for a while about expectations for the night and the plan if the night was slow.

Unlike police, fire doesn’t actively patrol, so they wait for calls to come in, but plan their days to stay busy regardless of the call volume. Their plan that evening included medical training, exercise, dinner, going to the Hillcrest High football game, and cleaning the station in preparation for the next crew coming on shift in the morning.

In Midvale, because of the 911 call volume we receive, our two fire-stations are staffed with 6 people. The firetrucks are 4-handed crews, meaning there are 4 people on each truck, and then there is an ambulance crew of 2 people. This is important because when a structure fire does happen, they implement a “two in, two out” rule, where two firefighters go in the building at one time and two stay out. This gives the firefighters greater safety in case something goes wrong on a call. Having two paramedics means that for medical calls they can do more life-saving work on scene before a patient makes it to the hospital and allows the firetruck and ambulance to respond to different calls if necessary.

Our first call came in as a “miscellaneous fire.” In the station, an alarm goes off and a robotic voice comes over an intercom system that states what type of call, the location, and some other details.

While I felt anxious, the crew was simultaneously calm while moving quickly to get their gear on and get out of the station. For this call, it was someone burning their yard waste after doing an extensive yard clean up. With no fire containment set up, and dry grass all around, the situation could have turned badly, but luckily it hadn’t.

The crew’s captain spoke with the homeowner, educated them on the law (you’re not allowed to burn yard waste in Salt Lake County), and spoke to them about why it was unsafe. The captain was forceful in tone, but also understanding that not everyone is going to know every law. The homeowner was receptive and agreed to stop.

Our second call was reported as an overdose near The Shops at Fort Union. When we arrived, there was a gentleman lying in a grassy area, and the paramedics were ready to go. However, as they approached the man, he woke up and it became clear that he was likely someone experiencing homelessness, who was sleeping in that area.

To say the least, he looked pretty surprised to have several people standing around him with a firetruck, ambulance, and a police ve-

hicle all with lights on. The crew spoke to the man for a few minutes and determined he wasn’t in need of medical attention.

The third call was a minor car crash on 7200 S. While just a small fender bender, a woman involved in the crash was complaining of back and neck pain. While she didn’t speak any English, the captain of the crew spoke Spanish and was able to communicate with her about what she was feeling and how the crew could help. They did some basic tests, offered her a ride to the hospital, but recommended that she could likely get herself to urgent care if she wanted to.

That evening, I left around 10PM so the crew could get some rest. With only three calls in eight hours, it was a pretty slow night.

However, it was fascinating to see all the different types of calls they need to know how to respond to – anything from flooding to fires, and overdoses to car crashes, all in one day. Plus, I really appreciated seeing the work they do to build a connection with the community, which included spending some time at the Hillcrest High football game that evening. Thank you to Captain Pate at #126 for taking me along, I tried to stay out of the way while learning everything I could!

UNIFIED POLICE

Unfortunately, we’ve seen more challenges around the 7200 S / I-15 area with drug trafficking, specifically fentanyl, meth, and heroin.

For the last few years, our police chief has requested a new sergeant to oversee the Direct Enforcement Unit, which is focused on getting large amounts of hard drugs off our streets. This year, we finally approved this request, turning a two-member unit into a three-member, and I was able to ride with our new sergeant. Unlike most of our officers, who respond to 911 calls, this group proactively goes out and conducts long-term investigations focused on large amounts of narcotics in our city.

For this shift, I met the unit at our police precinct at 4:00PM and would be with them until about 2:00AM. They started by talking about the shift and the most recent intel on the people they were

MAYOR’S MESSAGE CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

In The Middle of Everything MAYOR’S MESSAGE CONTINUED looking for. One unique thing about this unit is that they all drive unmarked vehicles – meaning they look like regular cars.

And I’ll say this, you may not always see police vehicles, but they are around, and they’re doing work to apprehend the worst offenders.

On this evening, the unit was focused on the areas around the several low-cost motels along 7200 S. It felt like a whole other world. I drive down 7200 S every day, and I’ll see interesting people or sometimes odd things, but spending 10 hours in this area, watching, waiting, and talking with folks, gave me a whole other view, almost like zooming into the issues we see.

TAKEAWAYS OF MY TIME WITH THIS UNIT: a) While we have people in those areas using drugs, that’s not the focus of our officers, and it shouldn’t be. Our State doesn’t have enough resources to arrest all the drug users and get them into the help they need, so arresting them often means they’ll go to jail, but quickly be out and back on the street, doing it all over again. It doesn’t fix the problem and costs us more as taxpayers. Our officers know this too, which is why they’re focused on catching the individuals who are selling. b) Just because someone looks sketchy, or that they’re up to no good, doesn’t actually mean that’s the case, and we can’t arrest people for just existing in an area. I bring this up, because I know our community often feels frustrated that we have so many characters in the 7200 S area. Our cops can’t just arrest someone because of the way they

WWW . MIDVALECITY . ORG

look, and again they’d likely end up back here anyway because of the low-cost hotels. c) If a cop wants to talk to you, they’ll find a way. Now, talk doesn’t necessarily mean search, arrest, or seize anything from you, but as they’re trying to find information on the big targets, and they see someone they want to talk to, they’ll patiently wait for you to make a mistake – jay-walking, not using a blinker, etc., so they can gather more information to get to their real goal. d) Lastly, even as we pulled someone over who was a known fentanyl dealer in the area or spoke with a woman who admitted to being addicted to meth, but was looking to get help, they treated everyone with respect. I was surprised by the amount of conversation I had with the sergeant about how we both have family members who have struggled with substance use disorders, and how the goal was to get the users help, while putting away the dealers.

And because we often have the same people coming back to this area, they knew many of the individuals on a firstname basis because of how often they’ve interacted.

For my ride with Unified Police, I’ll keep it to that, as I don’t want to compromise any of their work, or the individuals they work with. For our community, remember, that even if you don’t see police in these areas, it doesn’t mean that’s the case, and the city is investing a lot of time and money in addressing drug trafficking, while proactively building relationships with the hotels in the area in hopes of having them help. Thank you, Sergeant Lavin, for letting me tag along!

Midvale City’s 2023 General Municipal Election Proposed Recreation Bond, Ranked-Choice Voting, and Key Dates As Election Day approaches, it’s important to stay informed about the voting process as well as the candidates and propositions that will appear on your ballot.

This year, voters will have more time to cast their votes. The state’s official General Election Day has been moved from the first Tuesday in November to Tuesday, November 21, 2023, to accommodate a special election for Utah’s 2nd Congressional District.

Midvale City is once again embracing ranked-choice voting (RCV) for the upcoming election, following its successful use during the last municipal election in 2021. Ranked-choice voting is an electoral system that allows voters to rank the candidates in the order they prefer rather than picking a single candidate for a position. In the counting process, if a candidate receives a majority of first-choice votes, they are declared the winner. However, if no candidate reaches the required majority, the candidate with the fewest first-choice votes is eliminated, and their votes are redistributed to the remaining candidates based on the voters’ subsequent preferences. This process continues until one candidate accumulates a majority of votes, ensuring that the ultimate winner has broad support. All registered voters should have

phlet also explains the bond’s financial impact and other important information to help voters make an educated decision. Residents can find a digital copy of the Pamphlet and additional details on the bond at EngageMidvale.com.

Many voters will see elections for their Midvale City Council representative on their ballots. Three of Midvale’s six City Council seats, Districts 1, 2 and 3, are up for election this year. Voters can read candidate profiles at vote.utah. gov or watch the October 4 Midvale City Candidate Forum on the Midvale City Government YouTube channel to learn more about those running for office.

When residents are ready to cast their ballot, here are a few important dates to remember.

• To vote by mail, your ballot needs to be signed and postmarked no later than November 20, 2023.

• Early in-person voting is available between November 14 and November 17 from 3-5 p.m. at select Salt Lake County Voting Centers. received their Vote by Mail ballot in the mail on or shortly after October 31.

Midvale City residents should have also received a Voter Information Pamphlet (the Pamphlet) with details about the City’s proposed Recreation bond. The Pamphlet contains information about how bond funding would be used - if voters approve the bond - to support the pursuit of a new, modern recreation center for the city and the construction of four new dedicated walking and biking paths. The Pam-

• Voters can vote at any Salt Lake County Voting Center on Election Day, November 21, 2023 from 7 a.m. - 8 p.m.

• Additional voting information including locations for Voting Centers and ballot drop-boxes can be found at www.slco.org/clerk/elections • Anyone looking to register to vote can do so online at least 11 days before Election Day at www.slco.org/ clerk/elections/voter-registration, by mail, or in person at a Voting Center with a valid ID.

NOVEMBER 2023 CITY NEWSLETTER WWW . MIDVALECITY . ORG

SENIOR CENTER ACTIVITIES November & October Midvale Senior Center will be hosting a Thanksgiving Holiday Meal on Friday, November 17 from 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM. We will be serving a traditional Thanksgiving Meal. There will be two seatings, one at 11:30 AM and another one at 12:30 PM for those wanting to dine-in. To-Go lunches will only be available from 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM. Reservations should be made by Thursday, November 2, by calling 385-468-3350. The entertainment will be piano music by Leigh Hintze.

Our Winter Holiday Meal will be served on Friday, December 17, from 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM. There will be two seatings, one at 11:30 AM and another one at 12:30 PM for those wanting to dine-in. To-Go lunches will only be available from 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM. Reservations should be made by Friday, December 1, by calling 385-468-3350. The entertainment will be piano music by Sam Melonas.

We will be having the following entertainment during December: Time Steppers Christmas Around the World on Monday, December 4, at 12:00 PM. Hillcrest High School Madrigals on Thursday, December 7, at 1:30 PM. Riverton Bell Choir on Friday, December 8, at 1:00 PM. Leigh Hintze will play piano music for our Noon Year’s Eve Celebration on Friday, December 29, at 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM.

Midvale City Launches New Website Featuring Public Works Report a Problem Portal and Multilingual Translation Capability Midvale City is excited to introduce its brand-new website, featuring an innovative addition - the Public Works Report a Problem Portal. This portal revolutionizes the way residents can engage with Midvale City and report non-emergency issues efficiently.

While emergencies like water leaks, downed stop signs, or sewer backups should still be reported directly to Public Works at 801-567-7235, the new portal simplifies the process for all other non-urgent matters.

Using the Public Works Report a Problem Portal, residents can conveniently submit their requests, which are then directed to the relevant city division for prompt attention.

Additionally, users will receive email updates on the status of their requests. The types of issues that can be reported through this user-friendly platform include concerns related to City parks, water, roads, sidewalks, curbs, gutters, storm drains, streetlights, signs, fences, and snow removal.

But the portal isn’t the only exciting feature of Midvale City’s new website. The entire website has been redesigned with a focus on creating a clean, welcoming, and user-friendly experience for residents, businesses, tourists, visitors, and city staff. Here are some key highlights of the website: 1. Curated Search Functionality: Say goodbye to endless scrolling and irrelevant content. Midvale City’s new website offers an advanced search tool that allows users to quickly locate the information they need, making the online experience seamless and efficient.

2. Translation Capability: One of the standout features of the new website is its multilingual translation capability. Users can now translate content into more than 50 languages, ensuring that language barriers are no longer an obstacle for residents and visitors to access vital information and engage with the city.

3. Transitioning to a New Web Address: To reinforce the website’s status as an official government source, Midvale City is changing its web address from www.

MidvaleCity.org to www.midvale.utah.gov. This transition aims to assure users that they are accessing an official government website.

This website redesign aligns with several important objectives: 1. Improved Communications: Midvale City aims to bridge the gap between the city administration and the community, fostering open and effective communication channels. Residents will have easier access to news, updates, and events happening within the city.

2. Building Trust: By enhancing transparency and making information readily accessible, the city intends to build trust and confidence among its residents. A well-informed community is more likely to engage in civic matters and contribute to the city’s progress.

3. Promoting Community and Economic Development: The website serves as a catalyst for economic growth by showcasing Midvale City’s opportunities and resources, making it an attractive destination for businesses and investors.

4. Enhancing Identity: The website’s design mirrors Midvale City’s identity, emphasizing its unique character and strengths while presenting a unified and modern image.

5. 24-Hour Access: With the new website, constituents can access city information, forms, and submit inquiries round-the-clock, reducing the dependency on traditional communication methods such as phone calls and in-person visits.

Midvale City’s new website is not just a digital platform; it’s a testament to the city’s commitment to progress, community engagement, and efficient governance. It represents a vital step toward a more interconnected, responsive, and inclusive Midvale.

The city encourages residents and visitors to explore the new website, engage with its features, and provide feedback to further enhance the user experience by completing the online website survey on EngageMidvale.com.

Consumer resilience suggests solid holiday shopping season

By Robert Spendlove, Zions Bank Economist

T

he hustle and bustle of the holiday season generates a flurry of economic activity, from hiring to retail spending to demand for travel and services. Holiday sales are also a barometer of how the economy is doing locally and nationally.

As we head into the winter holidays, here are several factors impacting the holiday shopping outlook: Utahns are feeling merrier about the economy compared to a year ago. Consumer sentiment rose to 76.3 in September, as measured by the University of Utah’s Kem C. Gardner Institute’s Survey of Utah Consumers. That’s up from 63.9 in September 2022. Consumer confidence has also improved nationally in the comparable University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index. Higher confidence often leads to increased spending.

Inflation is slowing but still too high. Despite the gradual slowdown in price growth over the past year, a third of shoppers expect inflation to influence the way they shop during the 2023 holidays, according to Bankrate’s 2023 Holiday Shopping Survey. Annual inflation slowed to 3.7% in September, still above the Federal Reserve’s target rate of 2% inflation.

Wage growth has boosted purchasing power. Wage growth has been outpacing inflation since May. While this will help ease some families’ holiday budgets, household

income has yet to fully recover the purchasing power lost to inflation in recent years. Utah’s total personal income, the sum of income earned by all Utahns in the state, grew by 4.5% in the second quarter of 2023, compared to 4.3% nationally, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Retail spending may soften. After stronger-than-expected consumer spending over the summer, a recent Federal Reserve report suggests retail spending might be slowing, particularly on non-essential items. “Consumers may have exhausted their savings and are now relying on borrowing to support spending,” according to the Federal Reserve’s latest Beige Book report. However, that doesn’t mean consumers will stop spending. Bain & Company has projected 3% growth in U.S. retail sales during the win-

ter holiday season. Meanwhile, Deloitte’s annual holiday retail forecast predicts sales will increase by as much as 4.6% this holiday season. Most of that growth will come from online sales.

Household budgets are still tight. Nearly 40% of shoppers nationally planned to start this year’s holiday shopping earlier than normal, according to a National Retail Federation survey. This is not necessarily to get their shopping done early, but rather to distribute the financial cost across the entire season. Just over a quarter (27%) of U.S. holiday shoppers have money set aside for this holiday shopping season, according to Bankrate.

Employment is strong. U.S. employers added 336,000 jobs in September, far surpassing expectations, while the unemployment rate remained at a low 3.8%. Utah’s job market continues to show strength, gaining 35,200 jobs in September, with unemployment at a very low 2.6%.

Because a higher employment rate correlates with higher spending, the strong job market is good news for local retailers who get a boost from holiday sales.

Lags in economic data and outside factors influencing consumer behavior make retail sales hard to predict.

Uncertainty from global conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine could impact the holiday retail outlook. But current signs of a resilient consumer point to a solid holiday shopping season. l

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Page 16 | Nov. 2023

Midvale City Journal

Season comes up short, yet golf suits Huskies to a tee

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

H

illcrest High boys golf team ended its season with a round of golf together at a local course.

“We could have a dinner, but these kids like to play golf so why not?” their coach, Dave Richardson, said.

The weather that October day was perfect, unlike it was for 4A region 10 championships, which were held at West Valley City’s The Ridge Golf Club course.

“It was cold and wet, just a complete downpour,” Richardson said. “(We were) wetter than ducks on a pond.”

It was a season where the coach was hopeful for his team’s chances to make state, but numbers didn’t add up in the Huskies’ favor.

“In the state, we ended up in a tie for 17th and the top 16 teams get to play at state. We were something like 1.9 strokes out. It was that close,” he said about the six team scores that he reported. “I have four really good golfers, however they were just never consistent enough to all play really well at the same time and that’s what hurt

W

us.”

A highlight for the team was when the team competed at the Stansbury tournament.

“They all play great that day and we came in second in that tournament. If they all played like that the rest of the time, we would have made it. We have the talent, but we just didn’t have the consistency we needed,” Richardson said.

He said that the region was dominated

by Park City, one of the top teams in the state. Cottonwood, Murray, Stansbury and Jordan high school teams also got state berths. Hillcrest finished sixth in region.

Five Huskies will graduate, leaving two returning starters Alex Lopez and Max Schramm. Richardson anticipates sophomores Miles Morgan and Chandler Chase will move up to varsity with consistent practice in the offseason.

“They’re good friends, got along great and they all pull for each other,” he said.

“It’s a pretty tight-knit group. They’re a great team.” l

Hillcrest High senior Matthew Miller tees off for the Huskies at a tournament held at Meadowbrook Golf Course. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

Anny Sooksri opens her fifth restaurant in the Salt Lake Valley

hen Anny Sooksri opened Tea Rose Diner in 2007, she wanted to share the Thai flavors of her homeland. The location in Murray at 65 E. 5th Avenue has been a staple for Thai food lovers across the valley.

Since then, she’s opened Chabaar Beyond Thai (87 W. 7200 South) in Midvale, Tea Rose Thai Express (6014 State St.) in Murray, and Fav Bistro (1984 E. Murray Holladay Rd.) in Holladay. Her newest addition is Uncle Jeffi's (1968 E. Murray Holladay Rd.) located next to Fav Bistro.

Uncle Jeffi’s feature a brunch and lunch menu with a Thai twist. Alongside the regular breakfast meat selection of ham, bacon and sausage, is the option of fried shrimp, tofu, corned beef or soft-shelled crab. Next to French toast and waffles, you can find Thai pancakes with coconut cream sauce and chai butter.

“It’s more like a healthy choice,” Sooksri said. “Everybody knows that when they have my food, it’s fresh.

It’s not frozen. So it tastes much better, it tastes like Thailand.”

Growing up in Thailand, Sooksri watched her grandmother making her favorite foods from scratch. It inspired her to bring those recipes and flavors to the U.S., when she moved to Cali-

MidvaleJournal.com

fornia in 1995, where she was around many Thai people.

She quickly learned that if she wanted to learn English, she had to move away from that community so she could stretch her language skills.

She came to Utah and became a pioneer in the Thai food scene.

Curries are always customer favorites in her restaurants, but she encourages people to try new flavors and new menu items. Sooksri hopes her customers can experience the real tastes of Thailand, beyond the yellow curry, like the eggplant dishes and Thai omelets.

“The curry is always super popular but the Thai omelet is something you must try,” she said. “It’s an egg mixed with coconut butter. Instead of the regular eggs, you have that coconut flavor. And then it’s stuffed inside with fresh vegetables, so it's like a creamy, flavorful egg with fresh vegetables and the sweet and sour sauce.”

Each of her restaurants offer a different culinary experience, but feature fresh food, cooked to order. She doesn’t make sauces or dishes ahead of time. Instead, her chefs create each meal from scratch. It takes a little longer to create each dish but customers know the wait is worth it.

Tea Rose Diner is a casual Thai restaurant, offering comfort foods found in Thailand. Tea Rose Express is the fast-food version of Tea Rose Diner, providing quick, fresh meals for people on the go. The Chabaar Beyond Thai menu is a fusion of traditional Thai dishes including the curry pot pie. It’s also well-known for the spiciness of the food.

Fav Bistro has an extensive fusion

menu, with a range of options customers can’t find anywhere else. And Uncle Jeffi’s offers fresh breakfast and lunch items in a bright and colorful setting. For more information, visit bestthaifoodinutah.com.

“Everything is fresh so it tastes much better,” she said. “I just want people to feel how I used to feel when I was young. That is our difference, and it’s good for you, too.”

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Midvale City Journal

Hillcrest girls tennis repeats as region champions, sixth in state; program’s best results in decades

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

T

his is the best Hillcrest High girls tennis team in 20 years—and it’s only going to get stronger.

That’s what head coach Creighton Chun is conveying about his back-to-back region champions, who also took sixth place at state.

“We had region champions in our one, two and three singles and our first doubles, were a fifth seed and upset every team ahead of them to become region champs,” Chun said.

“Our sixth place at state is the best finish we’ve had in 20 years; we had two girls that made it to the semifinals, first time in 20 years and one went on to the finals. Another player made it to the quarterfinals, so we had three girls in the quarterfinals, again, first time in 20 years.”

As a 15-0 region champion, with high universal tennis rating, Hillcrest’s top player, junior Fabiana Gonzalez, was a first seed at the state tournament in Liberty Park. After a bye in the first round, she won in the round of 16, 6-0, 6-0, and won in quarters, 6-1, 6-1.

In the semifinals, she met a Japanese exchange student who attends Snow Canyon High.

“That player only lost twice all season— to the 5A and 6A state champions, otherwise maybe she would have been seeded higher.

Both of her parents were tennis pros in Japan,” Chun said. “Fabi played her game and put it away. She played excellent tennis against her, the best I’ve seen her play.”

The 6-3, 6-3 win put Gonzalez into the finals.

On the other side of the bracket, Orem High senior Maya Inouye had a first-round bye, then advanced the next two rounds 6-0, 6-0. In her semifinal match, she won 6-2, 6-2.

An hour after the semifinals, the final match began.

It was a game where they were familiar with each other’s play.

“They’ve played together and against each other before; they’re friends,” Chun said.

“Fabi has three losses in three years and two of them have been to Maya. Last summer, Fabi beat her twice.”

Gonzalez took an early command of the match, winning the first set, 6-2.

“The first set Fabi played so well; she knew what she had to do,” he said.

After getting down in the second set, Gonzalez rallied back to make it 3-3.

“She lost focus a bit during the second set and lost that 3-6. We regrouped. I told her to let it go and she was doing well in the third,” he said.

During that close third set of the threehour match, Inouye started to cramp and stopped play twice to stretch.

“That just got Fabi in a different mindset. She thought that she could out rally her rather than be aggressive and put away those shots. Fabi had her chances; she had double

MidvaleJournal.com

Hillcrest High junior Camila Andrade volleys the ball in the state quarterfinals before advancing to the semifinals. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

match point. The way the match ended was a heartbreak. If Fabi wins the point, she’s back on serve. Fabi was up there, ready to hit the ball, to be aggressive, to probably put the ball away,” Chun said.

Instead, the ball hits the net cord and trickles over onto Gonzalez’ side of the court.

“It was where she can’t even get it. That was probably the hardest thing, the way that ended. It was a hard match; I was so proud of her,” Chun said.

In the second singles, junior Camila Andrade, who was undefeated in the season entering the state tournament, won her next two rounds 6-4, 6-2 and 6-4, 7-6 after a first-round bye to make it to the semifinals.

“Camila played wonderful. She was a four seed, so she played the one seed in the semis. She has improved so much from last year and was playing great. She ended up losing 2-6, 4-6, a respectable score. I’m very proud of Camilla’s play,” he said.

Even as region champion, third singles junior Jacqueline Wei had to compete in a playin held at Brighton High to advance to play at Liberty Park.

“Jacqueline played at Brighton and the mother of the girl Jacqueline beat at Brighton came to watch her at Liberty Park because she could not believe how well Jacqueline was playing,” Chun said. “Jacqueline won the first round 6-0, 6-0, then the round of 16, 7-6, 5-1.”

In quarterfinals, Wei was matched with the No. 2 seed.

“She was playing her best tennis before that and she had a chance with this matchup,” Chun said. “She’s undefeated at this point in state.”

Exhaustion also played a factor for the players in the third singles action.

“Jacqueline played really well, and it

Hillcrest High junior Fabiana Gonzalez returns the ball in the state championship game. (Julie Slama/ City Journals)

Hillcrest High’s girls tennis team repeated as region champions. (Scott Carrell/Hillcrest High)

was a close match. She needed a little more strength and stamina. She just couldn’t hang on and wasn’t hitting as hard because she didn’t have the energy. She played so well all season,” he said.

The first doubles team, junior Ava Butler and sophomore Ava Booker, also were matched at Brighton High.

“Unfortunately, it was an off day for them.

They played unusually poor that day and lost.

If they played like they had played at region where they played so well, they would have been playing at Liberty Park,” he said.

His second doubles team had a high enough rating to advance to Liberty Park. The team of freshmen Ameera Al-Sweedy and Siah Kim, which had lost to the one seed at region, came back to win the consolation bracket to take third place.

“They played exceptionally well at region, but they were matched against a stronger team from Cedar City at state,” Chun said about their loss 3-6, 2-6 in the round of 16.

“They had been playing exceptionally well.”

“Our program is getting deeper and we’re getting some good players coming in next year.

It’s going to be a dogfight to get that last spot in doubles on our (varsity) team,” he said, adding that he awarded 11 varsity letters this season.

In JV, sophomore Rosemary Lu won first singles and freshman Kyla Stalberger won second singles to become region champions.

Sophomore Erica Patterson placed second in third singles, while the first doubles team took fourth and the second doubles team took third.

Overall, the team finished second in the JV championship. l

Nov. 2023 | Page 19

Managing Grief in the Holidays

THERE’S a

By William G. Hoy

OPTION for TREATMENT-RESISTANT

H

olidays in grief can be particularly challenging with familiar and sentimental sights, sounds, and smells reminding us our loved one is not here. Because this period of the year is built around relationships, a death in the family can make these weeks very difficult. But rather than attempt to just “grope our way” through these special days, there are ways to grow personally through the holidays as grief becomes transformative for us.

Saying goodbye to a loved one is anything but easy, especially if well-meaning friends and family members expect you to just “get on with your life.” Allow time and space for grieving and crying this holiday season. Keeping a journal can provide a vital opportunity for reflection during the holidays. These weeks will not be the same as before because of the “empty chair” at the table so the pain is inevitable.

A list of favorite holiday activities might be quite lengthy but make that list anyway.

The list might include many holiday traditions such when the house is decorated, when and where worship takes place, and in whose home the family meals are shared. Though it is impossible to do everything “just like when Mom was here,” you can evaluate what you do for the holidays and determine, with your family’s help, which of those traditions you want to preserve.

In evaluating holiday traditions, consider creating something new.

Lighting a special candle, purchasing a unique holiday decoration, providing gifts to a needy family, or hosting an international student can become meaningful holiday traditions.

Well-meaning friends or family may want you to attend parties and gatherings, hoping to “cheer you up” but take control of your schedule and do only as much celebrating as you feel ready to do. Choosing which events to participate in acknowledges that grief is a tiring experience. Even under the best of circumstances, holidays can be taxing so attempting to attend every event, party, or celebration may bring about total exhaustion. Instead, say “no” to some well-intentioned invitations.

Simply remind friends, “My energy level hasn’t returned to where it was before he died; thank you for understanding my need to decline.”

Pay close attention to physical well-being, too. Adequate rest, good nutrition, and moderate exercise is essential for the grief process. Lean meats with fresh fruits and vegetables are better choices than sugar- and fat-laden treats. If your health care provider approves, a brisk walk or other moderate exercise can help you feel better physically and emotionally. And eating a healthy diet coupled with moderate exercise is a remedy for insomnia for many mourners.

Be sure to consider the spiritual aspects of life, too. Because holidays have spiritual roots make sure to include time for worship and reflection during this period.

Volunteering to help others or making a memorial contribution is a meaningful way to put feet to faith during the holiday season.

While it is inevitable to face pain at the holidays, following these suggestions can help bereaved individuals and families find transformative growth during this special season of the year.

William G. Hoy is educational consultant to Larkin Mortuaries in Salt Lake City. Following a career of care for the dying and bereaved for a Long Beach, California-based hospice program, since 2012, Dr. Hoy has been Clinical Professor of Medical Humanities at Baylor University in Waco, Texas.

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Midvale City Journal

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Nov. 2023 | Page 21

Salt Lake County won’t be shutting down

W

e’ve all heard the threat of a possible federal government shutdown if Congress can’t get their act together.

A stopgap bill was passed to push the Oct. 1 deadline to Nov. 15. But what will happen on Nov. 15? No one really knows. Here in Salt Lake County, you don’t have to worry about programs not getting funded, budgets not being balanced or debts escalating. Our Salt Lake County Council takes very seriously our charge to ensure a balanced budget will keep the county operating.

October begins the county budget process with the mayor presenting her 2024 budget to the council, setting the stage for a meticulous six-week evaluation by the council. During this time, we scrutinize proposals, dissect programs, and engage department heads in rigorous discussions. Every decision is weighed against the ultimate goal of a balanced budget that will sustain the county operations. The final budget will be passed on Dec. 5.

The Salt Lake County Council will be passing a balanced budget before the end of the year to keep Salt Lake County operating. You won’t need to worry about the jail not operating, your favorite recreation center closing, libraries

Aimee Winder Newton

Salt Lake County Councilwoman| District 3

shutting their doors, meals not getting delivered to vulnerable seniors, or conventions getting canceled at the Salt Palace. We take very seriously our charge to not only fund what taxpayers expect, but to do it in a fiscally responsible manner.

Our Triple A bond rating is a source of great pride for Salt Lake County, placing us among an elite group of only 29 counties in the nation. This rating is hard earned through maintaining the county’s strong financial health, which includes balanced budgets, controlled spending, and effective financial planning. This special rating helps you, the taxpayer, because it means we get lower interest rates. We are dedicated to ensuring that your hard-earned money is used wisely.

In Salt Lake County we know how to work together, and our success lies

in our ability to collaborate. Both Democrats and Republicans serve on the council, and we know how to get along!

Partisanship will never keep us from fulfilling the needs and expectations of the people.

As we get closer to Nov. 15, there

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Hark! the Herald Angels Scream

I

t was the Peri Kinder Cabbage Patch Kid Life and Laughter frenzy of '83 and parents had lost their dang minds. I was a young mother and didn’t think my 6-month-old daughter needed the trendy toy of the year, but watching crowds of people attack each other over a doll was inconceivable.

TV news showed Black Friday sales where hundreds of loving parents trampled their friends and neighbors to get one of the elusive Cabbage Patch dolls. I understand wanting to find the perfect present, but having mom arrested the day after Thanksgiving because she shot a store employee with a crossbow doesn’t exactly ring in the holidays.

Each year brought a new toy so necessary and valuable that people went shopping armed with baseball bats and pepper spray to ensure they got the Furby, Beanie Babies, Tickle Me Elmo or Teddy Ruxpin for their child who already had too many toys.

Shoppers expected riots, looting, broken bones and black eyes for every Black Friday sale. News reporters showed videos of chaos, pandemonium and anarchy. If you didn’t get a concussion while saving on bath towels, was it even Black Friday?

I didn’t often participate in Black Friday, although I once waited outside Toys R Us at 5 a.m., in freezing temperatures,

to save $50 on a Barbie Dreamhouse. My early-morning shopping adventures ended when a full-grown adult stole my 8-year-old daughter’s promotional football at Mervyn’s.

If I wanted to experience holiday anxiety, panic and frustration, I didn’t need to shop the Black Friday sales. I could feel all that stress in the comfort of my own home. But now, if there was a Black Friday sale on gas, gluten-free cake mixes or bags of dog food I’d definitely get up at 4 a.m.

Today, Black Friday just isn’t the same. Instead of waiting in line for hours while your toes freeze, people just turn on their phones and cybershop until their fingers bleed. There’s no frenzy, bedlam, fracas, turmoil or mayhem. Not even a hullabaloo. Just scrolling and clicking. Like every other day.

Americans are a wacky bunch. We spend Thanksgiving Day offering appreciation for our abundance and then eat until our livers explode. By midnight, gratitude is over and it’s time to spend until our credit cards warp. Within hours of Thanksgiving dinner, we’re in combat-mode, ready for holiday shopping.

It’s so on-brand for Americans.

Buddhists teach about a realm of hungry ghosts who have large stomachs but tiny mouths. They are tormented by unrelenting cravings that can never be satisfied. A student once asked Buddhist teacher and peace activist Thich Nhat Hanh, “What is it like in the realm of hungry ghosts?” he answered, “America.”

Ouch. But accurate.

Because it’s not just Black Friday anymore. It’s Small Business Saturday, Shell Out Sunday, Cyber Monday, TakeAll-My-Money Tuesday and What-Did-I-Even-Buy Wednesday. Social media platforms taunt us with shiny items that

might ease the relentless craving for more. But only for a moment.

Back in 1983, I never imagined how the world would change in 40 years. I thought we’d go on beating each other up for toys until the end of time. I never dreamed we’d be buying holiday gifts online, watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on our phones or hanging Christmas lights that could be controlled through an app.

I probably wondered if we’d ever learn that violence isn’t the best way to start the holiday season. Especially a holiday with the catchphrase, “Peace on Earth, goodwill toward men.”

Let’s face it, holiday shopping will always be a jungle.

Speaking of jungles, what’s on sale at Amazon?

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