Midvale Journal | September 2023

MIDVALE RESIDENTS SHOW OFF THEIR WATERWISE YARDS

By Annabelle Larsen | a.larsen@mycityjournals.com

Water conservation is vital to life in this state. Everyone tries to do their part, whether it be running your sprinklers in the early morning, or something as simple as turning off the tap when you are brushing your teeth.

One Midvale couple Kelley Cantrell and Larry Patterson takes water conservation very seriously and adapted their entire yard to be more eco-friendly, while still maintaining style. Displaying a lovely xeriscaped yard that includes rocks, sand, and many desert-type plants that require very little water.

The popularity of xeriscape yards—yards that put an emphasis on using plants and yard set-up to emphasize the natural requirements of the local climate—have become more prevalent in the past several years, even driving down a neighborhood road one can see a variety of xeriscaped yards.

The couple changed their front and back yard over several years to accomplish their water conservation goals, and now show off their vibrant and unique xeriscaped yard. Although they stated that this process was long and took around 12 years to complete, in the end it was worth it, and they both are happy with the outcome of these changes, and are happy to share what they have learned from this experience.

Cantrell and Patterson displayed a variety of plant life and a lot of shade in both their front and back yards, keeping the temperatures down without sacrificing aesthetics. There’s a variety of different plants that thrive in Utah’s climate, such as asters, various types of cacti, several trees, mint, yucca plants, aloe and sedums. Patterson mentioned that the sedums are great pest repellents as

Continued page 5

The backyard of the Patterson/Cantrell household displays decorative car skeletons. (Annabelle Larsen/City Journals)

BE A MEDICAL

KANYOS BIO - CELIAC DISEASE:

This is a two-part study is for adults 18 -70 years old. Which part you are put in will determine how long you will be in the study. It can be either 56 days or 58 weeks long. You must have a diagnosis of Celiac Disease either by a positive celiac serology test or a biopsy and have followed a gluten-free diet for at least 12 months to qualify.

HORIZON - UNCONTROLLED GOUT:

This is a four-part study for adults 18 years and older and can be up to 45 weeks long. You will have 18 visits and you will come to the clinic at least 11 times for blood draws. These visits will be 48 hours before you have the infusion, you will have infusions every week for 22 weeks, and they can take up to 2-3 hours. There is one phone call 30 days after your last infusion. You must have uncontrolled gout defined as meeting the following criteria: (a) you must have an elevated level of uric acid (b) you must maintain the serum acid with Allopurinol at the maximum medically appropriate dose of 300 mg, or with intolerable side effects meaning it didn’t work for you based on medical records or the subject informing us the Allopurinol didn’t work. You must also have one of the following symptoms of gout: The presence of at least one tophus (uric acid builds up around your joints) recurrent flares are defined as 2 or more flares in the past 12 months, or the presence of chronic gouty arthritis.

Virtual Study for Asthma

BATURA AVILLION ASTHMA:

PFIZER CHILD LYME DISEASE VACCINE:

You may qualify for this clinical research study if you:

• Are 12 years of age and older*

• Have had a clinical diagnosis of asthma by a healthcare professional

• Are actively using short-acting beta-agonist inhalers (as-needed rescue inhaler, such as albuterol) to control or reduce asthma symptoms, alone or in combination with either low-dose inhaled corticosteroid (Flovent® , Pulmicort® , or Asmanex®) or leukotriene inhibitor montelukast (Singulair), zileuton (Zyflo®), or zafirlukast (Accolate®)

• Meet additional study criteria

*Parental consent is required for individuals under 18 years of age.

This study is for children 12 years and older who have a diagnosis of Asthma from a prescribing healthcare provider. We will need documentation of diagnosis from medical records or a letter from your child’s physician. You must be capable of signing and understanding the eICF (including assent with parental/legal guardian consent for children ages 12 - 17 years old). Your child must be actively using a SABA (short-acting beta antagonist) alone or SABA on a background of either low-dose ICS (inhaled corticosteroids) or a LTRA (Leukotriene Receptor Antagonists such as Accolate, Montelukast, Singulair, and Zafirlukast. This study is 52 weeks long with 8 virtual visits. You will get paid $50 for each completed visit, and you will make a total of $400 for the study. You and or your child will be required to use the Science 37 app, which can be downloaded on your phone.

The BATURA Study is now enrolling participants 12 years and older for an asthma research study. This research study is enrolling. Learn more.

This study is for healthy children or children that have stable pre-existing chronic medical conditions. This is a study for children 5 to 17 years old. Children and their parents must be able to attend all appointments and phone calls. This study is 2 years long; there are 6 clinic visits and you will get paid $116 for each, as well as $116 for any unscheduled visits. There are 2 phone calls, and you will get $25 (parents or guardians will get this money) for each of those phone calls, and there is a weekly ediary that you will get paid $10 for upon completion. Parents will get $87.75 for any TeleHealth visits. This study is a 4-dose series; you will get your first 3 doses at your first appointment, your next dose during month 2 and month 3, and then your last dose at 18 months.

AZ BATURA Asthma Study Flyer_V3_09722

Utah company PowerChess hosted another tournament, and the competitors did not disappoint. Tension was high for the young chess players as they maneuvered their way through this complicated game, but thankfully they each had support from friends and family, as well as their coach and the founder of PowerChess, Powell Walker.

During this most recent competition several parents and siblings talked about their experience with PowerChess.

One parent, Shauna, discussed their family’s passion for chess, and their longtime friendship with the owner. “Chess has always been a part of our home life,” Shauna said. Her family not only participates in PowerChess tournaments once a month, but they also take lessons from Walker, as well as going to chess tournaments across Utah.

Several other parents said that their kids look forward to these tournaments and that often the players can barely sleep the night before because they are so excited.

Another unique aspect of the game is seeing the pairs of players line up to begin their games. Oftentimes, an adult pairs up with a grade school-aged kid and the match that ensues is close, with each side giving it their all to be the champion. One family said about chess: “There’s a universality that connects generations, and I don’t know where else you would find that.”

Walker said PowerChess has only been around for over a year, but has been able to grow immensely during that time. They have even teamed up with the Park City School District and Canyons School District to host af-

Jou r nals

MIDVALE TEAM

The Midvale City Journal is a monthly publication distributed directly to residents via the USPS as well as locations throughout Midvale. For information about distribution please email hello@thecityjournals.com or call our offices. Rack locations are also available on our website. The views and opinions expressed in display advertisements do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions held by Loyal Perch Media or the City Journals. This publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the express written consent of the owner. © 2019 Loyal Perch Media, Inc.

PowerChess hosts July tournament

By Annabelle Larsen | a.larsen@mycityjournals.com

ter-school chess programs, coupled with their group classes and tournaments. This company has also been able to expand to be able to vendor with Salt Lake County and have access to the recreation centers across the county to help host these tournaments and classes.

Walker started playing chess at age 8 and fell in love with the game. This interest for the game can be seen through his dedication to teaching chess “fun’damentals” (as Walker calls them) that is implemented into the learning process for the game.

This passion for chess is also seen in the participants, such as Braxton, who loves the fact that chess has millions of possible combinations and moves to play the game and hopefully win.

Another kid who participated in this last tournament was Beckham Rawle who came with his father, Jason Rawle. Beckham is 6 years old and excels at chess. He even secured the second spot in the Under 650 section of the tournament. Beckham, having seen a chessboard for the first time while on vacation a year ago, started his journey to chess stardom. His dad said once his son picked it up, he was, “obsessed.” Practicing and reading about chess between 3-4 hours a day, Beckham is a chess-force to be reckoned with. He also participates in national and state competitions across the country.

Version Cortez Senior took first place, with Nathan Peterson in second in the over 650 section of the tournament.

Eli Mullin from Rowland Hall secured first place in the under 650 category, with Beckham Rawle of Ridgecrest Elementary School taking second. l

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Two competitors face off. (Annabelle Larsen/City Journals)

A chess player makes his first move. (Annabelle Larsen/City Journals)

Continued from front page

well, trading in voles, moles, and mice that often eat garden plants, for bees and hummingbirds, that help with pollination. Mint is also used often as a natural mosquito deterrent, so with the interesting combination of these variety of Utah plants, pests seem to be no more for the Cantrell/Patterson household.

Their yard is not only home to a variety of pollinators and plants, but their three dogs reportedly enjoy the xeriscape yard as well. There are several spots in their backyard that consist of dirt pathways and non-silica sand that their dogs love to play in and around.

The couple said that maintenance of their yard is very simple, and although it takes a bit of daily maintenance, it overall saves them time in the long run. Any watering they do is with a bucket, and varies depending on the plant that they water. Because Cantrell and Patterson opted out of a sprinkler system, their watering is done by hand, but because the watering is so minimal it takes no time at all. This combined with the few weeds that sprout up for them, yard maintenance has become an easy and enjoyable task for the two. “Why are we just watering and watering and watering?” said Patterson in regard to the upkeep on his yard.

Patterson said that he views xeriscaping in Utah as, “an investment, not a last ditch resort.” And Cantrell/Patterson talked about how they slowly built their xeriscaped yard, paying for adjustments as they went, but in the long run they saved a lot of money by paying less for water. “We haven’t paid $20 over the city minimum water bill in years,” said Cantrell. They also sport solar panels along the roof of their home, and solar powered lawn lights throughout their yard. The couple also mentioned that they understand that oftentimes xeriscape is not realistic for everyone, and often people want yards that have lawns for their children and pets to play in, but that the xeriscape yard works well for them.

Cantrell and Patterson are passionate about sharing their knowledge of water conservation with those who are interested. When asked for advice on how to start a xeriscape yard, their answer was: “Do research!” They gave examples of checking out the Conservation Garden Park in West Jordan, checking in with the Utah State University Extension office for information on which plants to use and what works best in this state, and even visiting local nurseries such as Deseret Nursery Perennial Farm in Salt Lake City. Nurseries have staff that can be helpful for those looking to revamp their yard or garden. The couple also mentioned that oftentimes, those with xeriscaped yards are happy to offer advice to those who ask.

Lastly, the Utah Department of Natural Resources also offers a Landscape Conversion Incentive program, that can help those that are eligible be able to receive a loan to incentivize water-conservative lawns across the state. For more information visit conserve water.Utah.gov. l

A decorative yin yang made of rocks in the front yard. (Annabelle Larsen/City Journals)

The house shows off a variety of plant life. (Annabelle Larsen/City Journals) A couple poses in front of their xeriscaped yard. (Annabelle Larsen/City Journals)

Harvest Days celebrated as a week-long festival in Midvale

It was a week of block parties, arts events, dancing, festivals, games, music, fireworks and a parade as Midvale City celebrated its annual Harvest Days Festival. Held from July 31 through Aug. 5, the festival committee made sure there was something for every resident to enjoy.

Marilyn Stokes, 78, has lived in Midvale all of her life. Stokes was one of several residents who incorporated neighborhood block parties into this year’s Harvest Days celebration. Stokes has held the event for many years in an effort to bring her neighbors together.

“We usually talk amongst each other and visit and get to know each other,” Stokes said. “I always say you don’t have to like everybody, but you should know who your neighbors are.”

Thursday night was a family game night and Friday featured food trucks and a concert performed by James Romero y Los Amigos Three Generations at Midvale City Park (425 6th Ave.)

The main event was held Saturday, Aug. 5, starting with a fun run and parade. Throughout the day there were activities that included sumo wrestling, salsa dancing, inflatables, carnival games, Nerf Wars and more. A free concert by Shuffle was held before the event finished with a fireworks display.

“Our theme this year was Let’s Play Midvale which means we really focused on activities for kids and the entire family to engage with,” said Midvale Mayor Marcus Stevenson. “We’ve had Hillcrest High here with their football and soccer teams, we have bingo, mini golf, Nerf wars, all sorts of things. It’s been a great day and I’m really happy with the turnout and how things have gone.”

Midvale Arts Council announced the winners of the 2023 Visual Arts Contest during the festival week. Erin Grimshaw is a 16-year-old artist and the first youth to win Best of Show and People’s Choice at the Midvale Visual Arts Contest.

Additional first-place winners include Chair’s Choice: “In a Hollow Log down by the Cumberland River Just Outside Nashville City Limits” by Wendy Dewey; Children’s Art: “My Friend Neil” by Akilan Sudhakar; Youth Art: “The Mexican Kiss” by Guadalupe Medina and “Snow” by Grimshaw; Traditional Media, painting: “Tova” by Suzanne King; Traditional Media, drawing: “loose ends” by Brian Abel; Three Dimensional & Heirloom Arts: “Elk in Coral” by Daniel Harman; and Electronic Media: “Still Standing” by Cassidy Huntsman.

For a complete list of winners, visit midvalearts.com and @midvalearts on Facebook/Instagram.

“There’s been a big push both from

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

the city and from residents to revamp and revitalize Midvale and I think these events do just that,” said Harvest Days organizer Molly Signoretty. “We’ve had several mural festivals, Harvest Days and just a lot of community events that can bring the community together and revitalize what Midvale can be.” l

Free family activities were held at Midvale City Park on Saturday, Aug. 5 including bounce houses, miniature golf, soccer demonstrations, carnival games, bingo, Nerf Wars and more. (City Journals)

Erin Grimshaw is a 16-year-old artist and the first youth to win Best of Show and People’s Choice at the Midvale Visual Arts Contest, held in conjunction with Harvest Days. (Photo courtesy of Stephanie Johnson)

From left, Midvale residents Liliana Jensen, Angelle Southworth and Lincoln Jenson enjoyed the Harvest Days festival in their festive balloon hats. (City Journals)

Midvale Middle’s math teacher contender for top state teacher honors

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

WhenMidvale Middle math teacher

Max Eddington went to the University of Utah as an undergraduate, he was planning to study piano performance—then, later, Russian.

“I had no plans of being a teacher,” he said. “All while growing up, I was very serious about piano. I’m a classically trained pianist, and I paid for most of college as a pianist.”

Eddington’s love of Russian came about in eighth grade when a girl who spoke Russian moved to the United States from Yugoslavia and sat next to him in math class.

“She had no idea what was going on. My brother-in-law speaks Russian so he would teach me things to say to her and then she would say things back. I tried to remember them so my brother-in-law could tell me what they meant. It was fun to know words in another language and I became kind of obsessed with Russian,” he said.

With his mind set in those disciplines, Eddington chose his classes.

“When my dad, who really is a gifted mathematician, asked to see my freshman schedule, and I didn’t have any math classes on my schedule since my AP (advanced placement) calculus had fulfilled the requirement, he said, ‘You need to take a math class even if you don’t need it.’ I said, ‘I don’t want to spend money on credits that I don’t need.’ His exact quote was, ‘You never know when you’re going to want to be a math teacher.’ I just rolled my eyes and I didn’t take one. So when I got my first job as a math teacher, I called my dad. He knew me better than I knew myself at that point,” Eddington said.

Now, that math teacher is a candidate for the state teacher of the year, after being heralded Canyons School District teacher of the year this past spring. It was the first time in Canyons’ history where the top three finalists were all from Midvale.

“I knew that I was the middle school choice, but I was totally surprised, no idea that that this honor was coming,” he said. “When it was announced the winning teacher is from a Midvale school, I hadn’t even put it together that all three of us (finalists Hillcrest High’s Tasha Jensen and East Midvale Elementary’s Rachel Teasley) taught in Midvale.”

Eddington was awarded a $1,000 cash prize from the Canyons Education Foundation and an inscribed crystal award from Canyons Board of Education as well as a gift basket. He was selected from a record number 3,000 nominations.

On hand was Midvale Mayor Marcus Stevenson, who was joined by Canyons School District Superintendent Rick Robins, to honor the teachers. The finalists also were honored at the Midvale City Council meeting with a proclamation.

“My family came up from Arizona, my

girlfriend, friends and so many came. I had a great crew there to support me,” he said.

Eddington is in his ninth year teaching.

“I taught my first four years at four different schools and each year, I could tell the school was not a total perfect fit for me so I went to a different school. Midvale is just the perfect combination of students, staff, faculty, the building—everything about it just fit and I feel so supported. I love it and have no plans of leaving,” he said.

When Eddington first started, he taught an honors section of math along with general education courses, but he prefers teaching the non-honors classes.

“My skills are better geared toward helping students who are not feeling motivated to learn, who are struggling or behind. I’m skilled at reaching and connecting with and filling gaps in their educational past and helping them make big strides in their learning,” he said.

While Eddington earned his Bachelor’s in Russian, after serving a church mission in Russia, his Master’s in Education from Arizona State University is a dual certification program that included teaching kindergarten through eighth grade as well as special education kindergarten through 12th-grade students with mild to moderate disabilities.

At Midvale Middle, he teaches students who have Individualized Education Programs.

“Having that education has been im-

portant for me to know how to educate kids with disabilities because it’s something that I studied to know how to approach those students in my general classes who have individualized learning plans,” Eddington said, adding that he has used his Russian as well to help students who speak that as their native language.

His approach for all students starts with personal relationships.

“I try to communicate with every single student in every class every day. I try to know things about them outside of academics and to find ways for them to know that I am not just a teacher, but I’m a person who cares about them,” he said. “At the same time, I have very high expectations for every student, and they try hard to reach those goals. I spend a lot of energy, trying to get my students to understand why learning these things are important. One of the most common questions that I get as math teacher is ‘When are we ever going to have to know that?’ I help them imagine their futures and the fact that they’re going to need to earn money. They’re going to need jobs and the best way to be secure is to be educated. My main answer to the question is that ‘You’re going to have a higher earning potential, be more secure and graduate from high school.’”

Eddington also challenges his students to find something in their lives not connected to math.

“I try to help them feel confident because a lot of these kids have convinced themselves at some point, that they’re not able to do math. But when they realize they will have to use basic math skills throughout their lives, it helps them kind of break down the walls of math trauma. Being afraid of it is no way to live. So we just really work on trying to become comfortable with it and not afraid of it—confident that we’re all able to do it,” he said.

Eddington also tries to have them envision their future, mounting his framed degrees on the wall and place the award he received as teacher of the year nearby.

“We talk a lot about higher education in my class and it’s a good visual for them to have in the classroom to help them see what can be ahead for them,” he said.

When Eddington made the decision to teach, he wanted to be in a middle school.

“It was a time in my life that was difficult, and I didn’t really have mentors and teachers who really cared about me. I like being there at this formative time in their lives and being an adult who cares and treats them with respect,” he said.

More than 20 of his students respond to Eddington so well that they were prompted to write nominations, praising the fifth-year Midvale Middle teacher, for this award.

“When you walk into Max’s classroom you are overwhelmed with the sense of community and belonging,” said Midvale Middle Principal Mindy Robinson, who as a former math teacher, also appreciates his problem-solving skills on the school’s building leadership team. “Students are respectful. They are willing to take risks and are encouraged to care for one another, while being engaged in every part of the lesson.”

When Eddington decided to teach, he gave up another job he loved.

“I was the wilderness driver guide in Alaska and drove tours across the state and in the Yukon Territory. I’ve been on a highway called the Top of the World Highway to a one-lane, dirt highway in northern Alaska. I saw migrating caribou and hundreds and hundreds of moose during those two years. It was a cool experience, but it’s a five-month contract that (conflicts) with the teaching schedule,” he said, now having to limit his outdoor adventures to some backroads in his time off from school or when he’s not on stage as he was two summers ago when he played Willard in “Footloose” at Sundance Summer Theatre.

“The reason why I continue teaching is because it’s making a difference in their lives,” Eddington said, then adds mathematically: “Even if it’s a slight angle, it goes on a more positive trajectory. That means a lot to me and that’s why I teach.” l

Midvale Middle math teacher Max Eddington receives a hug from his mother as his dad looks on; they traveled from Arizona to witness their son being named Canyons School District teacher of the year. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

Valley Behavioral Health hosts back-to-school charity picnic in Midvale

Assummer winds down students prepare to return to school. For many, back-toschool shopping for supplies is exciting, but for others, it is an event that can cause a lot of financial stress.

Many schools send students home with a list of supplies to buy. Ranging from notebooks to pencils to folders, alone these items can be inexpensive, but combined it can add up for families, especially those with several school-aged children.

With this yearly expense in mind, Valley Behavioral Health wanted to help offer a solution to these families.

Valley Behavioral Health has been offering their community mental health services to the Salt Lake community since 1987.

Valley Behavioral Health started when Salt Lake County noticed there was a lack of behavioral health services available for the community, despite strong evidence supporting its effectiveness. Originally owned by Salt Lake County, Valley has since become a private nonprofit and a leader in the greater Salt Lake valley and its surrounding areas.

Valley Behavioral Health’s website states, “Today, Valley is part of something greater than we could have ever imagined, and we have no plans on stopping anytime

By Annabelle Larsen | a.larsen@mycityjournals.com

soon. We will continue to work with our partners, old and new, to offer the best possible care across a wide range of mental health, behavioral, and substance use disorders.”

Julie Winn, the vice president of Children, Youth, Family & IDD Services at Valley Behavioral Health and former licensed clinical social worker, knows that for many families in Utah, getting back to school without spending a small fortune is imperative for students to succeed in their classes. She stated that, “two out of three kids go to school without the proper supplies.” And that, “having the correct supplies can improve educational outcomes.”

The charity picnic, hosted by Valley Behavioral Health, aims to help families that are low-income or no-income. They provide each student a backpack full of school supplies including pens, pencils, notebooks, folders and more. Each participant is also given a sack lunch. Lastly, Valley Behavioral Health also brings in a petting zoo and offers face painting for the kids to make this experience fun as well as helpful.

The event has taken place for five years. Several buses bring students in and many parents bringing their school-aged children as well. l

Kids show off their face paint while in the petting zoo. (Courtesy of Valley Behavioral Health)

Midvale City looks to expand the usage of local trails

Midvale City may be working toward revamping the Jordan River Trails, making it into a multi-modal path that would be used for non-automotive traffic such as bicycles, golf carts, pedestrians and skaters. Midvale is currently working on a feasibility study for this project and making sure that this new endeavor for the city would be able to create a path that is safe, accessible, comfortable and convenient for all residents and visitors. This feasibility study will cover the canal trails along the East Jordan and into the Salt Lake City canals as well.

The funding for this project has come from Midvale City applying to the Salt Lake County Tourism, Recreation, Culture and Convention (TRCC) Support Program and was awarded $240,000 for the development of local canal trails, and another $600,000 was awarded in the form of a grant from the Transportation Investment Fund.

Assistant City Manager Nate Rockwood stated that UDOT has done a generalized feasibility study, and that from this study they were

By Annabelle Larsen | a.larsen@mycityjournals.com

able to find it as a feasible project, which then granted the city the money for this endeavor. Rockwood said, “The tricky part of this process is to deal with all the different canal companies.” He also mentioned that this project will need to be worked in phases if it is going to be successful. Since quite a bit of money has been directed toward Midvale City, concerns have been raised. Councilmember Dustin Gettel stated he is in favor of improving trails; but to make sure the money is being spent wisely.

Although the funding is there, and the feasibility study is underway, there are still concerns from residents about this new possible development. One such community member stated at a city council meeting the concerns of her and her neighbors. Those concerns included the possible destruction of the wildlife habitat that has grown in this area over the years, including several 60-year-old trees. There have also been concerns of vandalism and theft in the areas near the canal trails as they would be more accessible to everyone. l

Hillcrest boys golf team shooting to make state

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

Hillcrest High’s boys’ golf coach is cautiously optimistic about his team’s chances this season.

“We could be pretty good if everybody plays as they did at tryouts and get those scores in tournaments,” coach Dave Richardson said about the 14 members who made the school’s team.

Their season kicked off on a hot Aug. 16 morning, facing all six teams in their new region, 4A region 10. The varsity squad was led by seniors Keaton Glover, Rhett Robinson, Matt Miller, Camden Lampshire and Isaac Stalberger; juniors Alex Lopez and Max Schramm; and sophomore Miles Morgan.

“(We have) lots of potential this year,” Richardson said. “Our juniors give us depth so I have hope for next year. They’re pretty good players and they’re committed and that makes a huge difference.”

Early season indicates Park City High may be the team to beat, but Richardson sees good golfers on all the teams. He also likes his team’s chances.

“For the first time in a long time, we look pretty strong. Instead of just having instead one good golfer, I’ve got a bunch this year. We have a solid top four or five guys. I’m excited,” he said. “This is the best chance I’ve had in a long time for the team to make state.”

The team has six more tournaments and several nine-hole duals before region on Oct. 2 at The Ridge Golf Course in West Valley City. State is at the same course on Oct. 11-12.

During the season, he will adjust the varsity team as players improve.

“Those JV kids are fighting for a spot on varsity so if they’re getting a good score at a dual, they have a chance to move up,” he said. “Our season is short and compact and starts immediately after tryouts, so the players have to get out and practice over the summer. We have a lot of players who are out playing baseball in the summer so it’s hard for them to get in some rounds.”

Miller, who shot well in an early season scrimmage, is one of those players who is a two-sport athlete. He had returned the night before the first tournament from a baseball-related trip and was a few strokes off his usual score.

“I plan to be back on the range and the course this week so I can shoot lower next week,” he said. “We had some good scores today. Alex shot well, in the 70s. I think we’re going to be pretty good. We had some nerves in this first tournament, but we have a solid group of core players.”

Miller took up golf at age 10, using borrowed clubs and learning the game from his

Uncle Val. His first competitive play was his freshman year at Hillcrest under Richardson.

“He helped me change my swing from a baseball swing to a golf swing,” Miller said. “He taught me that I’m not a good enough golfer to get mad every time. I’m just very competitive.”

As an honors student who one day wants to enter the medical or business field as a career, Miller enrolls in concurrent enrollment, and takes advanced placement and international baccalaureate classes. He has studied in the medical pathway program at nearby Canyons Technical Education Center.

He also has played on varsity alongside these players all four years and has his sights for the team to finish in the top three at region. Personally, he wants to improve upon his best score of 85.

“Our guys are solid up on top. They practice a whole lot more and are serious about this sport. I focus more on baseball and want to play in college, but I like golf and I enjoy playing nice courses and hanging out. As a team, we’re pretty close; we will play a round sometimes when we don’t have practice or a tournament or we’ll play pickleball,” he said, adding that in all three sports his favorite part is “hitting the ball hard. We have a fun time together.” l

Hillcrest High senior Keaton Glover hits the ball off the first tee during the Aug. 16 tournament. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

An aerial view of the Jordan River and its accompanying trail. (Image courtesy of Midvale City)

More than 20 Hillcrest student-athletes honored with distinguished UHSAA award

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

For more than 25 years, the Utah High School Activities Association has recognized students who have excelled in the classroom as well as in athletic competition with the academic all-state award.

This year, Hillcrest High School has 21 student-athletes receive this honor based on their athletic ability and academic proficiency.

“With over 85,000 students participating in high school activities, this award is the most prestigious honor the UHSAA presents to senior students,” UHSAA Executive Director Rob Cuff said. “On behalf of all those who are associated with the UHSAA, I congratulate and pay tribute to those individuals who have earned and received this distinguished award.”

One student, Abigail Slama-Catron, received the top honor for three different sports: cross country, basketball and track and field.

Hillcrest had five two-sport athletes receive the award: Jacob Baird, cross country and track and field; Roy King, football and tennis; Sam Martin, cross country and track and field; Naoto Robinson, cross country and track and field; and Teya Snowder, soccer and track and field.

One-sport academic all-state athletes are: Blaise Brady, soccer; Laura Curtis, soccer; Lily Greenwood, tennis; Cameron Jessop, cross country; Kunal Kamtekar, track and field; Kaleolani Kirby, soccer; Maria Manousakis, track and field; Elijah Moon, cross country; Sowmya Paritala, tennis; Ray Powers, swimming; Morgan Staker, tennis; Eric Torina, baseball; Connor Walton, soccer; Cole Winegar, basketball; and Zach Winegar, basketball. l

Abigail Slama-Catron, cross country, basketball and track and field

Jacob Baird, cross country and track and field

Roy King, football and tennis

Sam Martin, cross country and track and field

Naoto Robinson, cross country and track

Teya Snowder, soccer and track and field

Positive attitude, dedication, more players builds Hillcrest High girls soccer program

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

In his second year as Hillcrest High’s girls soccer coach, Brett Davis already is building the program. The Huskies’ freshmen and sophomore team returned after a six-year absence.

“That was a goal when I was hired to build a third team,” he said. “Last spring, we went to Union and Midvale middle schools and gave information out. We were at Harvest Days with a skills booth. We’re building the program. This year, we have 37 girls, some of those players will play on a couple teams. The boys, I’ve coached for years, and we’ve always been fluid like that so with the girls, it makes sense to give them more playing time and more experience.”

Davis has held practices since May, when allowed, coaching the student-athletes in a progression of technical skills that led up to tryouts.

The Huskies opened their season Aug. 3 on the road against Spanish Fork High.

“We played some good soccer for 25 minutes; we’ll get to being able to play a solid entire game. I only have five seniors. I have solid juniors and our sophomore class is really good, but we’re learning to play together yet,” he said about the 5-0 loss. “I’m expecting it’s going to be a year that we have to fight because we’re young, but they can play and it’s fun to watch. Right now, we’re not super deep; we rotate about 15 players.”

Captain Abby Mathis said that first loss came as a learning experience.

“We don’t think the score reflects how well we played, especially how great we played that first half. I think we learned we need to carry that same first half energy into the second half,” No. 14 said. “We need to come with the mindset that we can do this.”

Similar to the Spanish Fork game, the Huskies led Juan Diego Catholic High on Aug. 14 at half with a goal from sophomore Ella Blackburn. They were outscored by three goals in the second half and lost to the Soaring Eagle, 3-1 on their field. The team also lost to Fremont, 5-0, Aug. 10 on the road.

“Our midfield has one senior; it’s carried by a couple sophomores,” Davis said. “Our attacking mid and our defensive mid are both strong juniors. Our defense is young, but they’re doing all right.”

The Huskies held on to a 2-1 win

Aug. 8 against Ben Lomond High at home, playing on the football turf as a broken pipe flooded their soccer field.

“We scored one in the first half and again, in the second half. Then, they put one in with about eight minutes to go. We’re just trying to get our youth to have good game management, but they move well and support each other,” he said. “We don’t have those big-footed players like we did last year so we’re working on trying to figure out how to find the goal other ways. We need to keep practicing. We create opportunities, but we need to finish those with one extra touch and the confidence to shoot.”

On Aug. 14, the Huskies also beat nearby Jordan High 3-2 on the road, their first region win.

Mathis, who began playing in second grade with her friend Sarah Pruden on a AYSO (American Youth Soccer Organization) team at Union Middle School on Saturday mornings, said one difference in winning and losing in the past was the attitude when they come to play.

“Our attitude makes a lot of difference. One of my goals this year is to be more positive and encourage others, ‘you can do this.’ If we can keep our team positive, it’s going to help motivate us,” she said. “I try to lead that way at every practice. I make sure the girls are coming with high intensity and energy and are just positive the whole time.”

Mathis has played with Pruden through high school and expected to play together senior year until Pruden tore her ACL during spring season with her club team.

“She’s a great player and once she got me to play soccer, I never looked back or considered another sport. I just love the adrenaline rush before games and the excitement to go out and play soccer. I like getting to contribute to the game and the team,” said the National Honors Society member who said she wants to study in the medical field at college as well as play soccer intramurals.

Within the first two weeks of school, Hillcrest will have played every team once in their new region, 4A, region 10.

“We’re getting our players to gel and adding some coverages,” Davis said. “We set up our preseason schedule against teams that were going to be tough for us, but it helps us prepare for season by playing higher quality competition. We’re going to have some very tough games and that’ll be good for us, especially come state playoffs.”

Mathis agrees: “We will be able to compete this year in our region, and I think we can go farther in the state playoffs than we have the past three years I’ve played for the Huskies. We’re building a culture here. I’m proud to be a part of Hillcrest soccer.” l

Hillcrest High junior Addy Back makes a save in the first half of the game at Juan Diego Catholic High. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

MIDVALE CITY DIRECTORY

City Hall

In The Middle of Everything

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

Marcus’ Message

801-567-7200

Finance/Utilities 801-567-7200

Court 801-567-7265

City Attorney’s O ce 801-567-7250

City Recorder/Human Resources 801-567-7228

Community Development 801-567-7211

Public Works 801-567-7235

Ace Disposal/Recycling 801-363-9995

Midvale Historical Museum 801-567-7285

Midvale Senior Center 385-468-3350

SL County Animal Services 385-468-7387

Communications 801-567-7230

MIDVALE CITY ELECTED OFFICIALS

MAYOR

Marcus Stevenson 801-567-7204

Email: mstevenson@midvale.com

CITY COUNCIL

District 1 - Quinn Sperry

Email: qsperry@midvale.com

District 2 - Paul Glover

Email: pglover@midvale.com

District 3 - Heidi Robinson

Email: Hrobinson@midvale.com

District 4 - Bryant Brown

Email: bbrown@midvale.com

District 5 - Dustin Gettel

Email: dgettel@midvale.com

WHO TO CALL FOR…

Water Bills 801-567-7200

Ordering A New Trash Can 801-567-7202

Permits 801-567-7213

Court 801-567-7265

Paying For Tra c School 801-567-7202

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

Planning and Zoning 801-567-7231

Code Enforcement 801-567-7208

Building inspections 801-567-7213

Graffiti 385-468-9769

PUBLIC SAFETY & EMERGENCY CONTACTS

EMERGENCY 911

UFA Fire/UPD Police

> Non-emergency 801-840-4000

Uni ed Police Department

> Midvale Precinct 385-468-9350

Public Works 801-567-7235

Rocky Mountain Power 877-508-5088

By Mayor Marcus Stevenson

Midvale Main: How We Plan to Revitalize Main Street

A BRIEF MAIN STREET HISTORY

When Midvale City was established in 1909, Main Street was its heart. With the smelter to its west, Main Street became the home to smelter o ces, banks, restaurants, and shopping, with the homes in the Avenues neighborhood built for the industrial workers.

Once I-15 was constructed, Main Street was no longer a viable north-south route. The freeway drew tra c away from Main Street and cut o access from the rest of the city that had since expanded to the east. Main Street businesses, therefore, saw a decline in both foot and vehicular tra c. Since then, Main Street has struggled to stay vibrant and support its many local businesses.

MODERN DAY CHALLENGE

Main Street can be described as a “chicken and egg” situation. What comes rst, public investments into the street or private investments into the buildings? Because most of the buildings along Main Street are privately owned, Midvale City cannot force a property owner to invest in a building or bring in a speci c tenant. For years, the private property owners have asked Midvale City to invest in the public side of the street: art, parking, lighting, etc. so they can bring in tenants and be successful. At the same time, Midvale City has asked property owners to invest in revitalizing their buildings and bring in tenants, so the City would have more tax dollars to invest in the public side of the street. In short, we’ve waited for building owners to make the street successful, and they’ve waited for Midvale City to do the same.

A RECENT SOLUTION

Fortunately, at the beginning of 2022, Salt Lake County and Canyons School District voted, and approved, to help fund the Redevelopment Agency (RDA) of Midvale City’s Main Street project area. An RDA allows cities to encourage development in areas where the market has struggled to naturally do so. To help spark development, a project area shifts newly generated property taxes from their usual uses into the project area. As an example, on your property taxes, you pay amounts each year to the school district, county, city, public safety, etc., but if you own property in the Main Street project area, then a portion of your property tax is re-routed and reinvested directly back into the project area. That property tax is then used to encourage development, revitalization, and support a ordable housing initiatives. Turning Main Street into a project area gives our city the resources to start investing in the street in a signi cant way.

REVITALIZATION EFFORTS & PLANS

Midvale’s goal is to turn Main Street into an arts & culture district, while keeping the same historic feel, investing in current and future businesses, and creating a space where all income levels can own a business and live in the area.

In 2020, the Midvale City Council approved what’s called Form Based Code, which focused on street design, building types, open space, landscaping, and parking. Speci cally, along the street this code ensures that new development brings in a similar style to the older buildings on the street: up against the street, store fronts on the street level, and apartments above. This code is the guide for how Main Street will progress and is the foundation for our many revitalization e orts.

Now that this area is an RDA, the City has been investing heavily in the public side of the street to make Midvale Main a place where residents, businesses, and visitors can enjoy. These improvements are designed to bring a strong sense of place to the street and encourage private investment in new local shops and restaurants.

Here are just some of the ways Midvale City is investing in the public side of Midvale Main:

• Public Art – Midvale has invested in murals with Los Muros on Main: Midvale City Mural Festival. We now have 33 murals along the street, which helps improve the feel and safety of the street.

• Community events – Along with the mural festival, Midvale hosts Trick or Treat on Main Street for Halloween, and Light Up Main Street for the winter holidays. Additionally, we’ve partnered with private groups for both the Main Street Car Show and the Tattoo Showdown. We are always looking for new opportunities to bring visitors to our street.

• City Hall Plaza – an important piece of the Main Street puzzle, is ensuring that both ends of the street are activated. This is part of the reason why we are building a plaza on the north side of City Hall, which will act as a year-round community space, and host the Utah Food Truck League throughout the summers. The plaza is expected to be completed early next year.

MAYOR’S MESSAGE CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

In The Middle of Everything

MAYOR’S MESSAGE CONTINUED

• Street lighting – it’s critical that the street feels safe and unique, which is why we are investing in better lighting. We will be installing festival-type lighting, which can be used on a day-to-day basis, and for the events we hold. String lighting that drapes across the street is one example of lighting we are looking at, which is expected to be installed early next year.

• Street & sidewalk design – to help slow down cars, we’ve recently added bulb outs onto the street. This is where you expand the sidewalk further into the street, and then you can activate this space, usually with outdoor dining. This not only better engages the street but helps slow down drivers on the road. You can see a bulb out example in front of Tres Gatos Co ee.

• Parking – While we have a focus of tying the surrounding neighborhoods directly into Main Street, we also recognize that we need to ensure adequate parking. Midvale has longterm plans for three above-ground parking structures adjoining the street, to support future businesses, residents, and visitors. The process of designing these parking structures is expected to start next year.

Midvale is also incentivizing private property owners to invest in their buildings. Here’s how:

• Façade Improvement Program – earlier this year, Midvale City approved a new grant program to help property owners improve their storefront, signage, and landscaping. As an example, restoring the Vincent Drug sign would not be an easy or cheap thing to do, but this program gives the private building owner an option to apply for funds to restore the historic signage, which will help transform the way Main Street looks and feels.

• Small Business Loan Program – this program gives low-interest loans to businesses to help remodel their buildings. The Pearl, a theater on Main Street, was approved a loan that they’ve been using to invest in remodeling their building. This program helps ensure that the existing businesses can keep up with the progress being made on the street and that the City can attract the right businesses to activate the street.

• Upper Floor Housing Initiative – this program is focused on ensuring the housing along the street remains a ordable. These funds are used to keep current and future units a ordable by incentivizing property owners to provide units at below market rate. As the street progresses, this program will help keep a ordability in place for both current and future residents.

While Midvale Main still has many more years of revitalization to go, things are moving in the right direction. I hope our residents will remain excited, while also patient, as we work to revitalize this area in a way that honors its history and supports the diverse businesses that have called Main Street home for many years.

MIDVALE MAIN WALK & TALK

SEPTEMBER 15 AT 5:30 P.M.

If you’d like to learn more about our plans for Midvale Main, please join city sta and I for a Midvale Main Walk & Talk, in conjunction with Co ee (or whatever you drink) with the Mayor on September 15. This will be an opportunity for residents to get an in-depth view of our revitalization e orts and have your questions about our e orts answered. We’ll start at Tres Gatos Co ee at 5:30 and then work our way down the street as we talk about the past, present, and future of our historic Main Street.

Resolve to be More Prepared by Creating a Family Communication Plan

Creating a family communication plan is a proactive and important step to ensure that your family is well-prepared and can stay connected during emergencies or unexpected situations. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you create an e ective family communication plan:

1. Identify Possible Scenarios: Start by listing potential emergencies or situations that might require communication. These could include natural disasters (earthquakes, hurricanes), accidents, medical emergencies, power outages, and more.

2. Contact Information: Create a list of essential contact information for each family member. Keep in mind that your cell phone may or may not work or you may not have it during an emergency. This should include:

• Full names

• Phone numbers (home, work, mobile)

• Email addresses

• Social media pro les

• Addresses (home, work, school)

3. Emergency Contacts: Include contacts for friends, neighbors, and relatives who live outside your immediate area. These individuals can serve as points of contact if local communication is disrupted.

4. Designate Central Contact: Choose an out-oftown family member or friend as the central contact person. This person can act as a hub for information dissemination since local communication might be a ected during emergencies.

5. Communication Methods: Determine the primary and backup methods of communication:

• Phone calls

• Text messages

• Social media

• Email

• Video calls

• Messaging apps (WhatsApp, Telegram)

• Two-way radios

6. Meeting Places: Identify safe meeting places both within your neighborhood and outside of it. Choose a spot near your home as well as a location further away in case your immediate area is a ected. A mailbox or the neighbor’s tree across the street are great options.

7. Emergency Services: Teach family members how to access emergency services in your area, including police, re, medical services, and local emergency numbers.

8. Special Needs: Consider any special needs your family members may have. This could include medical conditions, medications, mobility issues, or language barriers. Make provisions to accommodate these needs during emergencies.

9. Practice Drills: Regularly conduct practice drills to ensure that everyone knows the communication plan. This will help your family respond e ectively and quickly during a real emergency.

10. Update Information: Review and update the contact information regularly. As phone numbers change or new family members are added, make sure your plan remains current.

11. Distribute the Plan: Distribute copies of the communication plan to all family members. Keep physical copies in easily accessible locations like wallets, purses, and backpacks, and store digital copies on smartphones, computers, and cloud storage.

12. School and Workplace Plans: Discuss and understand the emergency communication plans at schools and workplaces. This will help you coordinate actions and communication during an emergency that occurs when family members are separated. As often parents are at work and kids are in school when events occur.

13. Regular Check-Ins: Make it a habit to check in with family members, especially during extreme weather conditions or other potentially hazardous situations.

14. Community Resources: Familiarize yourself with local community resources and emergency services that can assist during di erent types of emergencies.

Remember that the goal of a family communication plan is to ensure everyone’s safety and well-being. Regularly reviewing and practicing the plan will help your family stay prepared and connected in times of crisis.

Midvale Senior Center Fall Prevention EVENT

A simple accident like tripping over a rug or slipping on a wet oor can change your life. According to the National Institute on Aging more than one in four people aged 65 years or older fall each year. The risk of falling – and fall-related problems – rises with age. However, many falls can be prevented. Join us on Wednesday, September 13, from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., at Midvale Senior Center for a Fall Prevention Event. Sally Aerts, a fall prevention specialist, will discuss how to stay active and independent and Alicia Nichole Shepard, of the Utah Department of Health and Human Services, will discuss state-level fall prevention e orts. There will be Tai Chi and EnhanceFitness demonstrations, tness checks and a drawing with prizes.

Please join us for a FREE Community Grief Support Presentation

Understanding Grief: Caring for Yourself, Caring for Others

Thursday, September 14, 2023

6:45–8pm

Larkin Sunset Gardens Mortuary 1950 East Dimple Dell Road, Sandy, Utah

William

Author

SPEAKER

G. (Bill) Hoy, PH.D., FT

Educator

Grief Counselor

Chaplain

Bereavement is not about “recovery,” but rather, about finding renewed life. The basic task for a bereaved person is to learn to live in a radically–changed world that no longer includes the physical relationship with our loved one. In this practical, community workshop, Dr. Bill Hoy will help bereaved people and those who care for them understand the practical steps to take charge of their grief and live again, even in the aftermath of incredible sorrow. For those in attendance who are curious about how to help, there will be ample ideas for the practical things to say and do (as well as to not say and do!).

During the workshop, we’ll find answers together to questions like:

• What simple actions can I take now to get my life back on track?

• Is what I’m feeling and seeing normal?

• How do I deal with well–meaning friends and their unwanted advice?

• The holidays are coming; what in the world are we going to do without them?

This event is complimentary of Larkin Mortuary and registration is not required.

For more information, call (801) 571-2771

Huskies strokin’ ball in hopes of repeating region championship

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

F

abiana Gonzalez picked up a tennis racket when she was 3. In Venezuela, she spent a dozen hours every week practicing her stroke, challenging herself to get better.

Her first tournament was at age 10.

“We played on a super small court because it was an orange ball tournament,” she said. “I hit the ball hard, but it was out (of bounds) because of the shorter court. I lost in the first round. I played Camila (Andrade) and that’s how we met. We became friends and our parents became friends.”

Fast forward six years and now, Gonzalez is still perfecting her stroke as she, and Andrade, both play tennis for Hillcrest High.

Juniors Gonzalez and Andrade are the

Huskies No. 1 and No. 2 singles players, respectively, on a team that only has five seniors.

“I have a very young team, but I have five varsity players who returned,” said head coach Creighton Chun. “Every year, we’ve been getting better. We graduated two key players, Sowmya Paritala, who was strong at third singles, and Lily Greenwood, who played on our No. 1 doubles team.”

Even with the returners, Chun said this season started early.

“There was one week after tryouts then you have your team, but you still have to figure out who is playing varsity and JV with challenge matches and who is playing which position and get those

Hillcrest High’s coach expects his No. 1 singles player Fabiana Gonzalez, seen here playing against Alta Aug. 10, to be a state champion contender this year.

things settled right off because the season starts before school,” he said. “Then, some of that may change for a game because a player may be gone on vacation yet.”

The Huskies had five matches scheduled before school began. As of press deadline, they had won one and lost two.

Chun plans to continue to hold challenge matches through the season, “so girls will have a chance to move up into varsity.” He also may move players around to play singles or doubles with different partners.

“We will see who they match up and play well together with,” he said. “When you have a girl that’s coming every day to practice, getting better and improving, she should be rewarded if she plays better—and you want your best person to play.”

Besides Gonzalez and Andrade, several players—senior Anna Fetzer, junior Jacklyn Wei, junior Ava Butler, sophomore Ava Booker, sophomore Rosemary Lu, and others—may be playing singles or doubles to determine the best matches, he said.

This year, the Huskies have 33 players on the team, the largest in recent history, Chun said, adding that after years of trying to find tennis courts to practice and compete on because of the rebuild of Hillcrest High, players now can use the new courts on campus.

“We don’t have to have split practices or locations because we have enough courts right here and that’s a big difference. It will help to build our program,” he said, adding that the team also has a tennis ball machine. “That’s a game changer. Now my brother (Chris, his assistant coach) and I can be coaching, have one court set up with the ball machine going for some players to work on groundstrokes or volleys while we can work with other players. This way, girls won’t be waiting for their turn to do some drills so we can build this into a more competitive program.”

Chun even scheduled some non-region competitions amongst the new region they’re playing, 4A region 10.

“I’m just giving my team some practice before region; we’re going for the championship,” he said about the Sept. 13-14 region championship that Hillcrest is hosting, about two weeks before state, Sept. 29-30. “Fabiana

is one of the favorites for the state title. Last year, she should have made it to at least to the semis, if not for her wrist injury.”

Gonzalez said although she had treatments, “I kept playing even when it was hurting. I wanted to play my matches for high school. After state I took a break for a couple weeks from tennis and just worked out to stay in shape.”

That gave her an opportunity to heal before playing tougher competition in U-18 tournaments this summer as a 16 year old.

“I wanted to get better rankings to play in bigger tournaments. I play tennis to get better,” she said.

It was her dad, who sometimes calls her “Serena” (after former American tennis professional Serena Williams “because he loves her game”), who put Gonzalez and her eighth-grade sister, Luci, in tennis lessons because “he liked watching it a lot.”

“I love tennis,” Gonzalez said. “I like that it creates discipline for me to work on things. The best thing is playing competitively in tournaments.”

The Gonzalez family came to the U.S. when she was 12.

“The economy is not great in our country, so our money wasn’t strong and it was getting harder to pay for stuff to live. We decided to come here so we would have a future to go to college and have more opportunities,” she said, adding she wants to play tennis at a college in Florida, California or “somewhere hot.”

The honor roll and advanced placement student practices two hours daily with her club team. Andrade plays with a different club.

“In Venezuela, we played each other a lot of times, usually in the state tournament. But here in Utah, we’ve only played to see who is No. 1 and No. 2 at the school. She knows how to play deep and then she’ll drop shot you,” Gonzalez said, adding that she personally likes to play the baseline and when the opportunity arises, “be aggressive to finish the point fast.”

She believes in her teammates.

“We have a good team; we have good doubles teams,” Gonzalez said. “We want to win region back-to-back and we want to play to win at state.” l

Cherry Almond Raspberry Lemonade S’mores

Unsung heroes: Remembering creators of Hillcrest High’s 60-year-old school song

Atthe Sept. 8 homecoming game, when students and alumni link arms to sing the Hillcrest High School Song, few will realize the words of that song were written by a 1949 Jordan High graduate.

Donna Dowd Mickelsen wrote the words for the Huskies the first year Hillcrest High opened in 1962-63 when her brother, Mick, was a senior and the student body vice president.

“Donna was 15 years older and had gone to Jordan,” Dowd said shortly before his 60th class reunion. “She was a singer and got an offer to go to Hollywood to sing with the big band, but she decided to marry her high school sweetheart, Don, and had three boys. She always wrote poetry so when the high school music teacher, Leo Dean, needed lyrics, I told him my sister was good at writing poetry. He had her write the lyrics and he wrote the music. It turned out to be a beautiful song. The way he wrote the melody was really lovely; it’s not your typical rah rah school song. With her words, it’s just very sentimental and beautiful. I’m proud it has continued as the school song. It keeps her memory alive.”

His only sibling died in 1992 from a brain aneurysm.

Dowd has the original sheet music and recently shared the lyrics she wrote in “beautiful

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

cursive writing” with the Hillcrest High Alumni Association.

“We basically had the same singing voice, only hers was an octave higher than mine. We had the same personality, the same sense of humor,” he remembered. “When she as with her third child, which she lost, she got polio. She was only 23. She was in an iron lung, paralyzed up to her neck for a while. Over the next couple years, it went away except for her right leg which had atrophied. Eventually they fused her hip so she could walk, but she’d have to swing her leg around so she wouldn’t have to have crutches or a cane. She was an amazing woman who never let anything get her down. She was shy, but always had a great spirit and was always happy.”

His sister also kept writing poetry.

“After Donna passed away, we found she had written a couple of loose-leaf notebooks of poetry that were just outstanding. One of my best friends who was into poetry said her writing was magnificent and we should definitely have this published, but then months went by and we didn’t do it,” he said. “Now her grandson is going to try because he thought it was good…so she lives on.”

Dowd said many students, himself included, came from Jordan when Hillcrest opened so there wasn’t an established rivalry

or a surprise when someone who didn’t attend the school wrote the lyrics.

“We sang the song all year, maybe more in those days than they do now. We sang it at all the games and assemblies, everyone knew it, but I don’t think that a lot of people outside the student body officers and my close friends knew that my sister had written the lyrics,” he said.

Dean taught music at Midvale Elementary and Midvale Junior High before becoming “an outstanding bandleader at Jordan High. I wasn’t playing saxophone in the band after sophomore year, but I was friends with him, and he came to Hillcrest too. He was the nicest guy in the world; we all adored him. He was the most patient teacher and so kind and obviously cared about his students. It didn’t take long for him to write the music to my sister’s lyrics. It was amazing that it took as little time to get it all together and to teach the song to

the students. It was the beginning of the school year, the same time as when we were deciding the school colors and mascot and all those things,” said Dowd, who was Dean’s junior high drum major.

That first graduating class, who attended Jordan until their senior year when Hillcrest opened, remains bonded to both schools to this day. The 1963 Hillcrest and Jordan classes are planning to celebrate their reunion together homecoming weekend.

“I really had wonderful pals back then who are friends to this day, and I’m going to be thrilled that I can see some of those people who I haven’t seen for a good 40 years,” Dowd said. “We all kind of moved away, but there’s a fair chunk that are coming back and we’ll be at the game and at the reunion, remembering all these memories from Jordan, and of that first year at Hillcrest, and hopefully, singing the school song.” l

score <=3 and “complete remission” was defined as a CGI-S score <=2 at the end of treatment.

Hillcrest High’s first student body vice president Mick Dowd found the lyrics to the Hillcrest High School Song his sister handwrote after her death in 1992 and gave them to the school’s alumni association. (Photo courtesy of Mick Dowd)

Union Middle students begin online while new school construction finishes

Retired Union Middle School teachers

Allen Richardson and Michael Goodwin saw each other May 16 when they said goodbye to the school where they both had worked. They planned to meet up again at the new Union Middle in August once it was constructed, but that reunion is on hold as the school isn’t quite ready.

Instead, Union Middle sixth- through eighth-grade students will start the school year with online classes Aug. 21 for about two weeks. Starting with remote learning will provide crews enough time to substantially finish the 219,000-square-foot school rebuild at 615 E. 8000 South, said Leon Wilcox, Canyons School District’s business administrator and chief financial officer.

“We’re working like crazy to get Union finished,” Wilcox said. “The main thing is inside, we’re trying to get all the electrical done, those sprinkler heads for fire suppression, and tying that into the fire alarm system. There’s a big shortage right now in qualified electricians so our general contractor is pulling electricians off other jobs trying to get this done for us. Then, the fire marshal will go through his testing.”

Union Middle families can check out Chromebooks and are given access to free Wi-Fi. A temporary learning site is available for Union Middle’s accommodated core classroom and extended core classrooms.

Previously scheduled before- and after-school activities are postponed.

The two-week delay will give crews the opportunity to finish the media center as well as the kitchen. With the postponement of in-person learning, the kitchen’s electrical work is expected to be finished, which means students wouldn’t be starting off with paper bag lunches, he said.

Wilcox said crews are trying to ensure the school will open for the students and be a safe, welcoming environment.

“I was over there the other day and there

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

were 200 men and women not only working on the fire system, but also trying to clean up everything — washing the windows, dusting off the millwork, installing furniture and things of that nature. It all goes back to the labor shortage that started way back, when there weren’t enough workers who supply materials like the concrete we needed when we were working on Peruvian Park and Glacier Hills. The same thing happened at Union with that back up, and then, coupled with the weather last winter, it slowed down construction,” he said.

Other schools have used the former Crescent View Middle School to house students during rebuilds, but Wilcox said that virtual learning gives them an immediate alternative rather than getting that former school ready and redirecting school bus routes.

The ribbon-cutting for the school has been changed to a grand opening on Sept. 6 for the community.

Once school is in person, other areas, including the 600-seat auditorium, are expected to be done by early winter, he said.

The entire school project—building, design and equipment—totals $62 million, Wilcox said, which was made possible through the $283-million bond measure approved by CSD voters in 2017.

Richardson, who taught English, reading and art history at Union from 1974 through 2004, said there were many fond memories with the old school building.

“We teachers would fight over fans. The cooling system wasn’t very good here. I can see why they’re replacing it for nothing more than heating and cooling. I had my own fan, and I was the envy of many teachers until they got their own,” he said. “Seriously, it was really a good experience working here. Each year got better. My last year was my best; I finally learned how to do it after learning little tricks over the years.”

Richardson added, “By and large, students were well behaved. I have some really

good memories, but I’d have to say, my worst student of all time became my best and he’s still in touch with me.”

Goodwin started teaching at Union when he was 25 in 1973. He taught English, French, art and American history for 25 years and, in 1998, he went to Mt. Jordan Middle.

Much of the structure of building looked unchanged, but the inside was remodeled since it was first constructed in 1968, he said.

“All these rooms used to be pods with removable walls,” Goodwin said. “You could have four classrooms, you could have two big classrooms, you can have one classroom and that was the greatest thing. The walls, when they were put together, were soundproof so you didn’t hear anything from other rooms. We could reconfigure it to what we needed.”

Union, then as it is now, is known for its theater program. Goodwin directed ninthgrade plays.

“We started out with ‘Christmas Carol’ and Allen, here, did scenery for it. We did extravaganzas and vaudeville shows. We had a lot of talent every year for the 15 years I directed,” Goodwin said, adding that he also taught a number of those students who performed. “During rehearsals, if they weren’t on stage, I’d have them do role practice from their classes. I never called it homework because that sounds like work. When it’s called practice, it solidifies what they’re getting in the classroom.”

Goodwin planned to return his former school one last time.

“It’s going to be a sad day when they take the wrecking ball to this school,” he said. “I watched Mt. Jordan be demolished and I was tearing up. I spent a lot of time there, too. New schools are needed for progress, but we have a lot of good memories with this building.”

Now, Goodwin and others, can view the video he made up of still images of “Union Middle School 1968-2023” and will put on YouTube to relive those memories.

Other Canyons School District construc-

tion projects

At Alta High, construction continues on the $4-million band room expansion that is expected to accommodate about 140 student musicians.

“We didn’t enlarge it when we just did the renovation (which finished in 2021),” Wilcox said. “The program had about 70 kids and it’s basically doubled. The room that was built was for about 80 students so it’s hard to get everyone in when they’re playing trombones and drums and saxophones.”

The new band room will be 6,000 square feet. It will be housed in the former driver’s education and dance room as well as adding about 2,000 feet to those, he said.

Dance will use its other designated classroom and driver’s education will use a room near the gymnasium, Wilcox said. He also said the current band room will be converted into a yoga room which can double with dance.

Construction began soon after the 202223 winter sports season; it is expected to be completed at the end of this winter’s sports season, depending upon materials and labor, he said.

Eastmont Middle’s Patriots have returned to their home to celebrate their 50th year in their school after moving to the former Crescent View halfway through last school year.

“We had an asbestos problem, so we had to go mitigate all the asbestos in the building. Basically, it was tearing up a basement floor and having an abatement company go through and make sure it was all cleaned out,” Wilcox said.

On that level, the flooring will remain concrete.

“The issue is we still have water until we have fixed the water issue from the groundwater. They’ve given us some estimates of what we can do, but until we do that, there’s no use putting the tile back,” he said.

Wilcox said it took four months to remediate the project at a cost of $500,000. l

In July, crews were working to clear the old Union Middle School as the new school building was being constructed to the east of it. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

School literacy activities propelled students into summertime reading

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

Kids may have been sitting underneath a tree reading a good book this past summer, thanks to several elementary schools holding literacy events before school let out in spring.

Midvale, Sandy and Silver Mesa elementaries were amongst the schools that held literacy events.

Midvale Elementary

At Midvale Elementary, families explored the literature and culture of six different countries: Afghanistan, Colombia, India, Mexico, Peru and Spain during their evening event.

Kindergarten teacher Olivia Warren was helping with the station about Spain. She said the country was chosen since one of the students’ teachers was from the Canary Islands and it gave them a chance to learn more about their culture. Before the event, students in the class read a children’s version of “Don Quijote.”

At the literacy night, all students could make a flamenco fan and learn about the costumes and dance. They also learned about the La Sagrada Familia Roman Catholic Church in Barcelona, which has been under construction for more than 140 years.

“We have lots of diversity in our school,” Warren said. “We have students from Afghanistan, from Africa, from Spanish-speaking countries, from all over. In our morning meetings, we learn to greet each other in students’ languages; it’s a lot of fun and a way to make everyone feel welcome.”

At the India station, first-grade teacher Annie Love was teaching students about the country’s national animal, bird, fruit and flower as well as common spices used in cooking and the number of languages spoken as students colored a printout of the flag. They also read books about the country.

“Our students thought it’s really cool to learn about someone from a different country who’s in our classes. We picked a book and read about the country, which has been great to promote reading, but also learning more about their classmates and the world around them,” she said, adding that a family brought in pictures to share with students.

Fifth-grader Vianmey Bentorc was checking out the Mexican activities.

“It’s fun; I’ve already learned about India. Now I’m reading the recipes here in Mexico, so I know it’s helping with my reading,” she said.

Elisha Brown who brought her kids, pre-kindergartner Beth, third-grader Caroline and fifth-grader Juliette, also were checking out the information about tortillas, tacos and popcorn at Mexico.

“They’ve been super excited to see all the different cultures and do the crafts that are symbolic of the countries and their literature,” Brown said. “I like the fact they receive books after learning about all the countries.”

There were both English and Spanish books provided by the Assistance League of Salt Lake City, which was part of a push to urge students to read, starting with Read Across America Day, said Heidi Sanger, Midvale community school facilitator.

“Students can explore the world around them through books, so this gave us an opportunity to expand it and invite visitors to share their unique experiences and culture and maybe teach a song or a game or some words in their native language as well as learn about their traditions,” she said, adding that there are more than 12 languages spoken by students at Midvale Elementary. “It’s a great way for our community to learn and celebrate each other.”

Canyons Board of Education Vice President Mont Millerberg also was rotating through the literacy night stations.

“I love to see what’s going on inside our schools, to see what the kids are learning, what’s being taught,” he said. “This is a fun idea to share all the different cultures we have in our Midvale area; we have such an array.”

Sandy Elementary

Michelle Seguin’s two boys—first-grader Calvin, who enjoys Mo Willems’ books, and fourth-grader Jamison, who likes to read about World War II—were anxious to check out the books at Sandy Elementary’s literacy event.

“The kids are huge readers,” she said. “That’s important because reading opens doors to all things; you can’t really learn anything without reading first.”

Sandy Community Schools Facilitator Isa Connelly agrees.

“Reading is fun and amazing,” she said. “We’re helping build our students’ home reading libraries so they can stop the ‘summer slide’ or forget things that they’ve learned. Our focus is to make our students scholars so we’re wanting them to have books to read all summer.”

During the event that stretched from before school into the evening, students in second and third grade received donated books. All students could learn how to check out e-books on devices as well and look at the book fair where families could buy one book and get another free.

“We made it fun with Popsicles and different resources, literacy games, a reading nook with Jordan PLT (Peer Leadership Team) and after-school reading with Alta PLT,” Connelly said, adding that the school will have free books for students available during summer lunch times.

School PTA President Bree Dietz said there was a lot of excitement for reading generated from their literacy event.

Before school, her own daughters wanted to take off their shoes and curl up in the reading nook with books. First-grader Lynnley just finished her first chapter book, “Love Puppy,” and her second-grader, Everley, is into the Magic Tree House series.

Mallory Boggs, who is the school’s PTA president-elect, helped organize the event.

“We decided to make it an event to bring the community together at the school to support literacy and learning,” she said, adding that her boys, Quinton and Zeke, are into Lego, Minecraft and Harry Potter books and “I’m

sure they’re both excited about Popsicles.”

Silver Mesa Elementary

Since 2017, black robes, cauldrons and wands have appeared in the spring at Silver Mesa to capstone the monthlong Harry Potter-themed reading activities. During the month, students earned points through literacy activities for their houses, named after those in the Harry Potter book series.

Parent Tracy Madsen brought her kindergartner Jack, who loved following Silver Mesa’s School of Witchcraft and Wizardry map to explore adventures from journalism with Rita Skeeter to the wizards’ duel, as well as third-grader Eleanor, who was a fan of learning about potions since “it’s like mixing up ingredients like cooking,” and fifth-grader Hadley, who has attended every year it has happened while enrolled at the school.

“It’s a really fun tradition and they just they love it,” Madsen said. “It’s magical; they love Honeydukes (wizard candy) and the magical creatures.”

In the potions class, Professor Severus Snape (aka parent volunteer Ryan Shaw) was teaching the students how to make slime.

“In our world, there’s so much emphasis on STEM that sometimes reading gets a backseat,” he said. “But they’re intertwined, they need to read to learn more about science. So that’s what we’re doing here. They’re doing a science experiment, but they need to be able to read the directions to do the potion.”

Shaw said that students aren’t just excited to do all the magical activities, but also to read more. His son was reading the entire Harry Potter series to earn points for his house.

“He’s just obsessed with earning points for his house that all he wants to do is read— and that’s definitely a good thing,” he said.

Fourth-grader Ryker Remy, who was selected as a Gryffindor, said he picked an owl as the creature he thought was most powerful in What’s Your Patronus? session.

“It feels like it can fly and help you out of dangerous situations,” he said.

His mother, Becca, said she liked the activities as it gets him “pumped to read more.”

“It’s magical how this comes to life every year; the words on the page just transform into reality,” she said.

Whitney Crocket, mother of preschooler Archie, first-grader McCoy, third-grader Lincoln and seventh-grader Zane, agreed.

“We never miss it,” she said as they readied to go to Spanish karaoke room. “They’re excited; they love the Harry Potter theme, and the activities they do here all tie into literacy. It’s well done.”

Her third-grade son, Lincoln, was the top reader in the Slytherin house.

“I love everything here,” he said. “I love reading.” l

During Midvale Elementary’s literacy night, kindergarten teacher Olivia Warren helped students fold fans symbolic of those used in Spanish flamenco dancing. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

Last month, I watched the neighborhood kids trudge back to school. Hunched under the weight of heavy backpacks, the little Quasimodos marched into the school year carrying a 300-page summer homework packet, an associate’s degree they earned at math camp, 750 colored pencils, scissors, an emotional support stuffed animal, cleaning products, a mass spectrometer, a non-BPA bento box and some allergen-free crackers.

When I attended elementary school in the 1900s, we didn’t use backpacks. They hadn’t been invented. It was too cumbersome to drag our handcart to school, so we carried our math, history, language, science, reading and social studies books home in our arms every night.

Most kids didn’t fail because they didn’t understand the homework, they failed because they were too weak to carry 50 pounds of textbooks.

Parents and educators set the bar for us at “extremely low” and we were lucky to hit that. One of my biggest challenges came in fourth grade when I started the school year wearing homemade avocado-green culottes. And it got worse. My Bionic Woman lunchbox had an unreliable latch, so I spent lunchtime worrying my PB&J would fall onto the floor and

Getting Schooled

Peri Kinder

Life and Laughter

everyone would laugh.

Not sure if I learned anything that year.

The motto at the elementary school near my home is “Academically smart, character strong.” I don’t think my school had a motto, unless it was “Sit down and shut up.” It wasn’t that our teachers didn’t care, they just thought “quiet reading time” or “rest your heads on your desks” was the best way to spend the majority of our day.

But that first day of school was always exciting. New school supplies had to be arranged carefully in my desk, including a brand new cardboard pencil box with a built-in pencil sharpener that was never sharp enough to create a point. It just mangled the top of my pencils, leaving a broken lead I kept pushing back into place.

And, of course, there had to be space

for my colorful hoppy taw, for hopscotch, and a bag of cat’s-eyes so I could shoot marbles at recess. Not real cat’s eyes. I’m not that old.

My grandson is in sixth grade, taking classes like flight science, robotics and computer engineering. When I was in sixth grade, we wrapped eggs in styrofoam and threw them off the school roof.

#Science

Luckily for today’s hard-working students, they get vacation days all the time. They’re off for Burning Man and Mardi Gras and Oktoberfest and (ironically) International Literacy Day. In the 1970s, we had Christmas Day off and a half-day for Thanksgiving. We didn’t even miss school for being sick. We just took our pneumonia-filled lungs to class and hoped we didn’t die during recess.

I’m not saying elementary school was better in the 20th century. It wasn’t. Not at all. If we could eat with a spoon in kindergarten, we would be at the top of the class. Kids who knew the difference between a letter and a number were named class president. Our role models were Bugs Bunny and the Muppets, so we were trained early in sarcasm.

Kids are so much smarter now than we ever were. I’m amazed at what my grandkids learn. I have a 7-year-old granddaughter learning Spanish and a 6-year-old granddaughter building LEGO robots. When I was their age, my biggest challenge was learning cat’s cradle. I guess the content in those heavy backpacks is paying off.

Free

“Dozens of doctors told me that there was nothing more that they could do to expect to be in a wheel chair. I went from the top 1% in the army Special Forces to being in so much pain that I could not tie my shoe or hold my new daughter. I did physical therapy and pain killers for years, but nothing worked. Finally, I went to Dr. Smith and I improved exactly as he told me I would. I couldn’t believe it! My wife cried, “I have my husband back.”

—Steve M., Army Special Forces

CSCS Chiropractic Physician