Midvale | September 2025 by The City Journals

Midvale celebrates Suzanne Walker’s legacy of service

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

Walker shaped the city’s cultural community through her dedication to the arts.

or devoting her time, talent and vision to the Midvale Arts Council, Suzanne Walker was inducted into the 2025 Hall of Honors at the Midvale Performing Arts Center on July 30. Walker’s leadership and commitment helped shape the arts program in Midvale, which has introduced thousands of people to music, culture and the performing arts.

“The arts are at the heart of what makes Midvale a connected and vibrant community,” said Midvale Mayor Dustin Gettel. “From the murals in our Midvale Main Arts & Culture District to the long-standing work of the Midvale Arts Council, creativity is part of who we are. Events like the annual Art Show and Hall of Honors remind us why it’s so important to recognize those who help shape that identity. Suzanne Walker is one of those people.

“Her decades of service as a volunteer, mentor, organizer and advocate have left a lasting mark on our schools, families and creative spaces. From building up the Arts Council to helping transform Old City Hall into the Midvale Performing Arts Center, Suzanne has shown how much one person can accomplish when they lead with compassion, empathy and love. She represents the very best of what Midvale stands for.”

Walker and her husband, Wade, joined the Midvale Arts Council in 1995. At the time, the organization wasn’t hosting many

ed performing when he was in a Midvale kindergarten class and now he is a theater teacher.

“I love hearing how people’s lives have been changed [by the arts] and how they’ve grown,” Walker said. “They’ve come out of their shell. They’re a little more confident.”

Although Walker stepped away from the Midvale Arts Council seven years ago to spend more time with family, she still volunteers at events and is heavily invested in what she calls the “front porch” theory of community building found in Patrick Overton’s book, “Rebuilding the Front Porch of America.”

“The front porch used to be where we would gather, tell stories, share news, gossip, just be together. The front porches are going away,” she said. “The arts have become the new front porch. That’s where we gather, that’s where we celebrate, where we tell our stories, where we build community.”

events, but Walker decided to change that. In 1997, the council held its first community theater performance of “Forever Plaid” with a great response from residents.

Everything snowballed from there.

Now, the Midvale Arts Council hosts a summer concert series, visual and literary arts competitions and holds outreach events at local schools to get kids excited about the arts.

“My biggest joy was getting a grant from the Sorenson Legacy Foundation to

bring the Missoula Children’s Theater into each of the elementary schools,” Walker said. “The Missoula Children’s Theater is amazing. They travel all over the country and all over the world, and they have everything to put on a production. They have costumes, lights, props, scripts and music; everything except the kids.”

Walker said the impact of that experience was transformative for many children in Midvale, many of whom had never been exposed to live theater. Walker’s son start-

Walker also spent years as a volunteer in elementary and high schools, even named Volunteer of the Year for her influence on Midvale youth. Currently, Walker is working with Days for Girls, an organization that increases access to menstrual care and education for girls around the world.

“Suzanne has given so much to Midvale,” said Midvale Councilmember Bryant Brown. “Her selection for the Hall of Honors is not only well deserved, it is the very least we can do to recognize a lifetime of quiet, consistent and meaningful service. We are proud to celebrate her.” l

Suzanne Walker (center) is surrounded by family during her induction into the 2025 Hall of Honors at the Midvale Performing Arts Center. (Photo courtesy of Walker)

September 25 | Alta View Hospital

October 2 | Riverton Hospital

October 7 | Intermountain Medical Center

October 9 | LDS Hospital

September 25 | Alta View Hospital

October 2 | Riverton Hospital

October 7 | Intermountain Medical Center

October 9 | LDS Hospital

Join us for Ladies Night Out at Intermountain Health! We invite you to gather your friends for a night of fun just for the ladies. You’ll meet local providers, learn more about our services to empower you in healthcare decisions, taste delicious food and enjoy interactive activities.

• Women’s heart health

• Labor and delivery services

• Sports medicine programs

• Cancer care

• Pediatric care

• Labor and delivery services

• Pediatric care

• Mental health education

• Cancer care

• Nutrition programs and healthy recipes

• And, many more medical specialities

Scan the QR code for additional event information

Midvale City Council greenlights roadway reconstruction project

The roadway and underground infrastructure improvements will be divided into three phases to accommodate the opening of the West Main Apartments. The entire infrastructure project is scheduled for completion by next spring.

By Giovanni Radtke g.radtke@mycityjournals.com

WestMain Apartments is set to open its doors to tenants in the fall, and Midvale is moving forward with an infrastructure project to accommodate its future occupants.

In a special session on July 22, Midvale’s City Council unanimously approved an agreement with Beck Construction and Excavation to carry out Midvale’s 2025 Roadway and Utility Improvement Project. The infrastructure plan aims to reconstruct roadways and update the sewer, water, and drainage systems on Main Street and the streets west of the historic city center.

“I’m just excited about this because we have so much business and growth on Main Street, and it’s going to trickle over to this road,” Councilmember Denece Mikolash said moments before the vote. “It will be great to have this all cleaned up and ready to go.”

In its contract bid to the city, Beck Construction laid out a phased approach to meet the project’s tight deadlines. The building contractor will begin by installing a new waterline, storm drains, and repairing the sewer system and roadways on the streets encircling the West Main Apartments: Depot Street, Smelter Street’s east side, and the northern half of Stagg Street.

The new storm drain installation is to address the problem of flooding along Stagg Street, which currently does not have a storm drain system, Midvale’s Redevelopment

Agency Director Kate Andrus said during her presentation to the city council on July 22.

“In addition, the city-owned parking lot behind Main Street, just south of First Ave., has a lot of flooding issues and pooling,” Andrus said. “And so as part of this project, they’re going to put in a storm drain system to address those issues.”

The first phase of construction is scheduled to be completed on Sept. 24, in time for West Main Apartments, located at 7598 S. Main Street, to connect to the city’s water and sewer systems before its grand opening.

Once the apartments’ opening is accommodated, Beck Construction will immediately begin finishing up construction on the rest of Stagg and Smelter. The second phase also includes work on Main Street and Holden Street’s surface and underground infrastructure, which involves installing storm drains and a new waterline on the south side of Holden Street, tying the line into Center Street’s water system.

The second phase is expected to wrap up by the end of October, with the project’s final completion date scheduled for April 2026, in case weather conditions require Beck Construction to return and reapply the asphalt, Andrus said.

The construction team will work weekdays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and is prohibited from blocking road access from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m.

Council Member Bryant Brown raised the concern of construction work “materially impacting” community events planned on Main Street before the vote on July 22. Andrus responded that city staff have informed Beck Construction of the events planned by the city and community groups up until spring and have requested that the company work around those dates.

Funding for the project comes through several revenue streams, including Midvale’s RDA project fund and “related utility bonds.”

The city will also dip into the half-million dollars it receives annually from the state government’s County of the First Class Highway Projects Fund, according to the city council’s summary report.

The price tag for the infrastructure improvements will not exceed $3.29 million, and the city will pay Beck Construction based on monthly progress, Andrus said. l

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Design plan for Midvale’s 2025 Roadway and Utility Improvement Project (Courtesy of Midvale)

Cover map detailing the project area of the 2025 Roadway and Utility Improvement Project (Courtesy of Midvale)

The Guy’s Guide to Prostate Health: What You Need to Know

Prostate health may not be the most glamorous topic, but it’s a crucial one for men’s overall well-being. As men navigate their 40s, 50s, and beyond, understanding and prioritizing prostate health becomes increasingly important. This guide covers the essential things every guy needs to know about this small but vital gland’s role in male reproductive health.

As men age, the prostate can undergo changes, leading to various health concerns, including Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), also known as an enlarged prostate, and Prostate Cancer.

Recognize the Symptoms – Don’t Ignore the Signs

Being aware of potential symptoms is crucial for early detection and management of prostate issues. Common symptoms to watch out for include:

• Frequent urination, especially at night

• Difﬁculty starting or stopping urination

• Weak urine stream

• Pain or burning during urination

• Blood in urine or semen

• Pain in the lower back, hips, or pelvis

“If you experience any of these symptoms, it’s essential to consult with your doctor. Regular prostate exams are vital, especially as you get older. Talk to your doctor about when you should start getting screened for prostate cancer. Screening typically involves a digital rectal exam (DRE) and a prostate-

speciﬁc antigen (PSA) blood test. Early detection signiﬁcantly improves the chances of successful treatment for prostate cancer,” said Dr. Blake Johnson, a urologist at Holy Cross Hospital – Salt Lake.

BPH Treatment Options

The goal of BPH treatment is to alleviate symptoms and improve the quality of life. Treatment strategies vary based on the severity of symptoms.

For mild symptoms, lifestyle adjustments can be effective, including reducing ﬂuid intake before bedtime, avoiding bladder irritants like caffeine and alcohol, following a healthy diet, and exercising, especially pelvic ﬂoor exercise.

Moderate symptoms often require medications that either relax the muscles in the prostate and bladder neck or shrink the prostate gland.

For more severe or persistent symptoms, minimally invasive procedures offer alternatives to traditional surgery.

• Prostate Artery Embolization (PAE):

This procedure involves blocking the blood supply to the enlarged areas of the prostate, causing it to shrink over time.

• Prostatic Urethral Lift (UroLift): Small implants are placed in the prostate to lift and hold the enlarged tissue away from the urethra.

• Water-induced thermotherapy: Uses heated water to remove the extra prostate tissue.

In severe cases, surgery may be necessary to remove part or all of the prostate.

Prostate Cancer Treatment

Prostate cancer treatment depends on several factors, including the stage and grade of the cancer, the patient’s age, overall health, and personal preferences.

“For low-risk prostate cancer that is slowgrowing and hasn’t spread, active surveillance may be recommended. This involves regular monitoring with PSA tests, digital rectal exams, imaging (for example MRIs) and possibly biopsies, without immediate treatment,” said Dr. Leland Rogers, radiation oncologist at Holy Cross Hospital – Jordan Valley Cancer Center. “If the cancer is more aggressive, we have several treatment options, including surgery, radiation treatment or hormone therapy.”

Surgery – Radical Prostatectomy: Surgical removal of the entire prostate gland and surrounding tissues. This can be done through an abdominal incision or laparoscopically, using smaller incisions and a camera.

Radiation Therapy:

• External Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT), uses high-energy beams that are targeted at the prostate gland to destroy cancer cells.

• Brachytherapy where radioactive seeds are placed directly into the prostate gland to deliver radiation internally.

Hormone Therapy reduces the levels of male hormones like testosterone, which can fuel the growth of prostate cancer cells.

“Taking proactive steps to understand and care for your prostate health is an investment in your overall well-being,” Dr. Johnson said.

If you have concerns about your prostate health, schedule an appointment with a urologist by visiting www.mountain. commonspirit.org/care-and-health/urology. For all healthcare needs, schedule a consultation with a primary care physician or a specialist at mountain.commonspirit.org.

Learn more about the services, care providers and missiondriven work of the Holy Cross hospitals and CommonSpirit Health at www.holycrossutah.org.

At CommonSpirit Health, we make the healing presence of God known in our world by improving the health of the people we serve, especially those who are vulnerable, while we advance social justice for all.

Holy Cross Hospitals have been trusted by Utah families since 1875. Treating your whole family tree.

For 150 years, Holy Cross Hospitals have cared for Utah families in their most tender, powerful, and vulnerable moments. From newborn checkups to post-op recoveries, we’ve seen generations through their highest highs and hardest days.

We’ve done it all with one purpose: to treat people, not just patients. We care for every person with personalized treatment powered by compassion and respect.

Our belief that we all hold the power to heal helps us provide care that spans generations and stands the test of time.

Learn more at mountain.commonspirit.org/holycross150

Hillcrest students tackle water pollution with award-winning invention

The teens’ innovative portable water purifier filters harmful microplastics to clean contaminated water.

By Julie Slama j.slama@mycityjournals.com

AMarch

2024 study in the “New England Journal of Medicine” was the first to link microplastics and nanoplastics in the human body to increased health risks. It found individuals with plastic particles in their arteries were 4.5 times more likely to suffer a heart attack, stroke or other cardiovascular issues within three years of surgery than those without.

Researchers examined more than 200 people and discovered about 60% had plastic particles in a main artery — possibly inhaled or ingested unintentionally.

Motivated by growing concerns about plastic pollution, a group of Hillcrest High School students spent the past year developing a portable microplastic purifier designed to clean bodies of water. Their prototype, shaped as a small boat, uses semi-permeable membranes and organ silanes to trap and neutralize microplastics, making them easier to collect with a highspeed suction pump.

One of the students Sashwath Narayanan emphasized the advantage of mobility.

“Other systems cannot be transported to different locations, so a new purification system has to be built if you want to use the same product at another place,” he said. “Ours is transportable.”

The team also designed the system to be cost-effective, targeting government agencies that already spend $50 million on water purification — which doesn’t include microplastic removal.

“I would estimate that our processor would cost $1,000 to $2,000 once we get established,” Om Sanghvi said. “Others are

representing

and

Samhith Vajjala and Sashwath Narayanan. (Photo courtesy of Bhavi Sanghvi)

probably tens of thousands of dollars.”

Along with teammates eighth-grader Swayam Sanghvi and juniors Shreya Sanghvi, Kevin Siju Eappen and Samhith Vajjala, the group earned second place and a $5,000 award at the 2025 Tim Draper High School Utah Entrepreneur Challenge, hosted by the Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute at the University of Utah.

They also won the $500 Top Online Vote Award and $100 for being one of the 20 finalists. Each team member earned a spot in the Lassonde Founders program and received a $1,000 housing scholarship for the Lassonde Studios.

The competition challenged students statewide to identify a problem and present a creative solution.

Narayanan said the idea originated on a trip, when he used a plastic water bottle for convenience.

“I thought how much microplastics were in there and I wanted to design something that can help eliminate all those microplastics in lakes and rivers, because all those plastic water bottle go somewhere and they’re harmful to the environment,” he said.

Sanghvi was already aware of microplastics’ health impacts through his mother, a doctor, who had told him about related diseases.

The students experimented with several designs before settling on one. They first tested the prototype in a bathtub to check the suction system.

Narayanan admitted the process was tough.

“We had to manually solder the different wires to the motors. We had to learn how to work the Arduino (programmable microcontroller) and how to connect Raspberry Pi (a small, versatile computer) to create the app for the prototype,” he said, adding they also used a 3-D printer in the process. “We brought in some more people and to help us with the engineering part of it. One of our teammates as one knew about electrical components and soldering, another knew how to work with Arduino; we learned from each other.”

They spent about three months building and troubleshooting the prototype, often working weekends.

“We thought we had it at one point with all the wires connecting everything, then it stopped working. So, we had to try again and then again,” Narayanan said.

Now, the team is focused on refining the design and securing partnerships to bring the device to market.

“Once we get partnerships, we can look into the overall technological aspects of the system,” he said. “We plan to create this into a real business in the future, if we can get enough initial capital.” l

Huskies hit the pitch: McArthur leads Hillcrest into promising season

After a quick turnaround from tryouts to kickoff, Hillcrest’s girls’ soccer team faces top teams early, setting the tone for a competitive season

By Julie Slama j.slama@mycityjournals.com

Just three days after tryouts and only hours before their first match, Hillcrest High School’s girls’ varsity soccer team took the field with optimism, guided by interim head coach Preston McArthur.

“The girls had three opportunities to practice and they’re already grooving with each other,” he said. “Our chemistry is building. We’ll hit our stride during the season, but the girls are doing well in the short period of time we’ve had together.”

McArthur, previously an assistant coach for both the boys’ and girls’ programs, assumed the head coach role following Brett Davis’ resignation in July. Davis had been at the helm of both teams for years, and McArthur stepped up with little time to spare before the season began.

“The transition on the surface with a familiar face has been good, but now I’m doing all the back-end stuff – paperwork, all the admin(istrative) stuff,” he said.

His prior involvement with the teams has eased the transition, especially with returning players.

“We have familiar faces on our back line. Our defense will be more experienced and more solid, and the attack is looking young, but more dynamic than it has been in the last couple years,” he said. “We had more girls try out this year than we

did last year and we kept more girls as well. Defensively, we have more flexibility, more depth. Offensively, we have more flexibility as well, which is really a great problem to have.”

This year’s roster includes 39 athletes, with nine seniors — some of whom are returning to the team after time away from the program.

“We welcome them back. Our style of play and formation will be slightly different from last year. I feel our formation was a little bit light on the defensive end last year. I think the reason being is because we were light on defenders. This year with depth in our defense, we’ve switched to a more flexible formation — 4-2-3-1 — it allows us to transition forward a little bit easier, but it still gives us coverage on the defensive side,” he said.

The Huskies have scheduled a challenging pre-season lineup in August with matches against Timpanogos, Hurricane, Pine View and Brighton.

“That sets us up well in terms of competitive targets we should hit throughout the season,” McArthur said. “Brighton got second at state last year, so they are contenders for state this year. Our game against them sets the tone for the season. We will play them early. It’ll be competitive. Our goal is to make them feel as uncomfortable as possible, and then we’ll go compete in our region, and we’ll do well, and then we’ll meet them back in the playoffs.”

Now part of the 5A, Region 4 lineup, Hillcrest also will face off against Kearns, who went undefeated in that same region last season.

“They’ll be a good competitor, but we should compete well in region,” he said, adding the players have practiced to-

gether since late June.

McArthur brings his own high-level playing experience to the program. A former midfielder at Desert Hills High School, he won a state title as a sophomore and finished runner-up as a junior before the COVID-19 pandemic ended his senior season early. He went on to play at Snow College — where his teams ranked in the top 10 and top 15 his freshman and sophomore year, respectively — and later at Park University in Phoenix. His coaching experience includes leading a girls Avalanche club team and assisting both Hillcrest squads. l

team

Hillcrest High created a portable microplastic purifier

won second place in the 2025 Tim Draper High School Utah Entrepreneur Challenge. Pictured are Swayam Sanghvi, Shreya Sanghvi, Om Sanghvi, Kevin Siju Eappen,

Last October, Hillcrest Huskies fight for the ball against the Cottonwood Colts on their home pitch. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

New region, new turf, same Husky heart

Hillcrest football opens the season away, but with focus on growth and grit, the community-backed team is hungry to compete.

By Julie Slama j.slama@mycityjournals.com

TheHillcrest Huskies kick off their football season Aug. 15 on the road in Logan.

“Starting the season on the road is tough,” said head football coach Robby Kaelin. “We will be going into a hostile environment; Logan is a great football town because everyone comes to games and packs the stands. We won’t have the energy of all our fans, but we’ll make sure our kids will have come out with energy, because there’s a lot of factors against us there. There’s not much room for errors or first-game jitters because they’re a good team, so we need to battle through and have energy and positivity.”

Husky fans won’t wait long to see their team at home. The JV plays Summit Academy Aug. 20, and varsity hosts Cottonwood Aug. 29 before starting region play Sept. 12 vs. Hunter. West follows on Sept. 19. In the stands may be 65 Little League players who were trained by Husky coaches and players in the offseason.

“A lot of the youth come watch and support our team; it’s great to have them in the stands with us,” he said.

Hillcrest joins a competitive 5A Region 4 this year.

“We’ve got a tough one. There are some very solid and established teams with West,

West Jordan and Granger. Hunter and Taylorsville are good teams as well with a lot of size and returning starters at the varsity level. Cyprus and Kearns round out the group. It’ll be a good challenge, but definitely a region we can compete in,” Kaelin said. “We’re excited about this year. We’ve got a good, cohesive group of kids who have all been working hard this off season and we’re excited to see what we can do continuing to build the program brick by brick. We’re in the process of building something that can stand a long time.”

Returning at quarterback is junior K’von Houston, who earned the starting job as a freshman, but was sidelined most of the season by a collarbone injury.

“Last year, he got thrown into the fire as a sophomore; he had some growing pains there, but did really well,” Kaelin said.

“We’ve also got one of our running backs (senior Charlie Brown) who got some time last year and a few other running backs we’re excited about this year.”

Brown also will start as linebacker as he did last year while sophomore Keli’I Batimana transitions to running back after playing safety and receiver last season.

“He’ll also play a prominent role on the defensive side of the ball again this year,” Kaelin said. “Receiver wise, we’ve got a couple who are returning. Everybody else is either new to the front at varsity level or is transferring in so it’ll be interesting to see how we can mesh all together there. We’ve got good talent on the offensive line and are returning two senior starters, who are great leaders for our team. Defensively, we look pretty much brand new from last year. A lot of underclassmen who are going to be step-

ping up defensively for us.”

With only 14 seniors, Kaelin leans on underclassmen: 21 juniors, 23 sophomores, and 29 freshmen.

“A handful of them are actually first year football players too,” he said adding student-athletes have returned to their boundary school to play or reached out to a friend who plays to ask how to be part of the program. “They have been in the school and seen some of the hype and positivity come from our program and have just wanted to be associated with it.”

The Huskies will still run a spread offense, but plan to introduce new formations.

“We’ve got quite a few tight-end bodies who we’re excited about. We’ll do a little bit of 11 and 12 personnel, with one running back, one tight end or one running back and two tight ends, but the main point of our offense is to get the ball into the hands of our playmakers quickly and let them operate in space,” Kaelin said.

Players prepared all summer with strength and speed training and practicing at Union Middle while Hillcrest’s stadium underwent renovations. New turf and an eight-lane track were recently completed; Kaelin said the team was slated to play on the new field for the annual Green and White scrimmage.

“I’m very excited about how our team has jumped together; they’re very cohesive. They constantly push each other,” Kaelin said. “We’ve got great leadership at all age groups, at all levels. We’ve got a great incoming freshman class who are willing to work hard, and they’re learning from our upperclassmen, who have trusted in the process of building this team.” l

Midvale transfers a roadway to Sandy City

Midvale’s city council approved a land transfer of over an acre of Cy’s road within Sandy’s boundaries while maintaining rights to the water line stored beneath the street.

By Giovanni Radtke g.radtke@mycityjournals.com

Midvale owns a piece of Sandy City and plans to give it back for $10.

The city council of Midvale voted 4-0 on July 15 to approve a quit claim deed, transferring some 1.32 acres of land along 8800 South Cy’s Road to Sandy.

The initiation of the deal sprang up when Midvale’s Public Works Department was made aware of the city’s ownership of the land by a Sandy resident calling in and asking for code enforcement and property maintenance on Cy’s Road, said Glen Kennedy, Public Works director, at the July 15 council meeting.

“We were obviously confused and

ies, Kennedy said. The property transfer will rid Midvale of its liabilities of maintaining the land while still holding the rights to the water lines lying beneath Cy’s Road, according to a Midvale City Council Summary Report.

The resolution approving the deal declares that the Cy’s Road parcel “requires maintenance, burdens Midvale City fiscally, does not provide any benefits to city residents or visitors, and has no financial value due to its use as a public right of way.”

“Sandy has assumed, and just like we assumed, that it was public right of way within Sandy,” Kennedy said. “They have been servicing it as such, plowing it, road signage, [and] asphalt maintenance. It’s really just a roadway in Sandy.”

told her that she lives in Sandy, she needed to contact Sandy, which she already had,” Kennedy said. “And their code enforcement directed them to us because we were

the property owner.”

Midvale acquired the parcel of road “probably in the 80s,” presumably to construct water storage tanks within Sandy’s boundar-

Per Midvale’s municipal code, any parcel the city wants to put up for sale that it has owned for at least a year, that is over one acre and/or has a reasonable estimated value of over $100,000, needs to be put up for public comment before a sale can be made. There were no public comments for the Cy’s Road sale. l

Seen playing at the homecoming game in 2024, Hillcrest Huskies defense stops Murray Spartans. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

Map of Sandy City circling 8800 S. Cy’s Road where the parcel of land is located] (Courtesy of Midvale)

SaltFire Brewing Company is coming to Midvale

The interest-free loan dispensed by Midvale’s RDA will help SaltFire renovate an evangelical church on Main Street into a new bar and restaurant.

By Giovanni Radtke g.radtke@mycityjournals.com

Anold evangelical church on Midvale’s Main Street will soon be home to a new bar and restaurant.

Midvale’s Redevelopment Agency approved doling out a $250,000 interest-free loan to SaltFire Brewing Company on August 5. The loan will support the brewery’s plan to revamp the Evangelico Eterno church, located at 7584 Main Street.

Unlike SaltFire’s South Salt Lake location, the brewery’s bar in Midvale will also house a restaurant. SaltFire plans to sublease half of the building to Cutthroat Burger, which will provide the dining portion of the taproom’s menu.

“This feels like one of the easiest actions we’ve had,” Councilmember Bryant Brown said before the 4-0 vote approving the term sheet for the loan.

The Utah-based brewery will use the interest-free loan for kitchen renovations, purchasing beer equipment, signage, and furnishings. The RDA’s loan also requires SaltFire to spend 5% of the total allowance to advertise its Midvale location, according to a summary report submitted to the Redevelopment Agency of Midvale.

The RDA only gives out zero percent loans to businesses that provide a public benefit to Midvale’s community. To help meet that requirement, the loan obligates SaltFire to participate in all RDA-led events taking place on Main Street. Saltfire also needs to host at least three events a year, which can

include live music, trivia night and beer festivals.

“The application has met and exceeded the minimum requirements for consideration,” the summary report states. “The proposal demonstrates great promise for both future and existing businesses on Midvale Main Street, bringing in more visitors, beatifying the street, and engaging with the community on a regular basis.”

SaltFire also plans to set up a “rotating gallery” of artwork created by local artists. The taphouse already hosts a gallery show at its South Salt Lake location, where the artwork is left on display for sale, with all proceeds going to the local artist, said Aubrey Ruiz, RDA program manager, in her presentation to the RDA board on July 15.

“It’s really another way to support local artists and another way to bring in foot traffic,” she said.

To satisfy the public benefit loan’s economic impact requirement, SaltFire states in its business plan that it anticipates the Midvale location will generate $600,000 in revenue in its first year and aims to increase revenue to over $1 million within three years.

“I think one of the best things is that the job creation is going to be seven to 10 positions, which is a little bit more than they proposed in their original business plan,” Ruiz said on July 15.

SaltFire will begin making loan payments a month after its grand opening or by Feb. 1, 2026, at the latest. The brewery’s goal is to open next February, right when loan payments start kicking in.

Once up and running, Saltfire will be open 7 days a week, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sundays. l

The patio of SaltFire Brewing Company’s South Salt Lake location (Giovanni Radtke/City Journals)

Renderings of SaltFire’s location on Main Street (Courtesy of Midvale)

Depth and talent power Hillcrest’s girls’ tennis team toward state goals

The Huskies’ deep lineup and challenging preseason are part of the plan to prepare for October’s state tournament.

By Julie Slama j.slama@mycityjournals.com

Hillcrest High opened its season with a dominant 5-0 win over Alta High, sweeping all three singles matches and both doubles sets. The performance reinforced the Huskies’ status as the favorite to win their region and make a strong run at the state title.

“We’re going to do very well,” head coach Creighton Chun said. “We’re a solid team; we have some JV girls who could play varsity.”

Leading the team is sophomore Luciana Gonzalez, last year’s 4A state champion at No. 2 Singles.

“Luci is playing well; she played summer UTSA tournaments and usually made it to the semis,” he said, adding she played up an age group so it would be more challenging to her.

At No. 2 Singles this year is freshman Joshya Yerrapureddy.

“I knew she was coming in and expected her to be a strong member for our team,” he said.

Sophomore Nivedita Bakshi returns to the No. 3 Singles spot after last season being the No. 3 Singles state runner-up champion.

“She found her niche in that spot,” Chun said. “It’s also saying how strong our singles are still going to be with my third

singles from that team last year still at third singles this season.”

The doubles lineups include sophomore Krithika Karthikeyan and freshman Junee Ngo as the top team, and junior Ameera Al-Sweedy paired with senior Ava Booker on the second team. Also contending for varsity playing time are juniors Siah Kim and Lila Vawdrey, along with freshmen Bella Manuel and Parisha Khakural.

“We have a lot of depth so it will be hard for a region team to challenge us,” Chun said. “I’ve had players improve a lot, like Krithika, and I have players who are natural athletes, like Junee, who will make an impact their first year on the team.”

To prepare for a state title push, Chun scheduled a challenging preseason lineup.

Hillcrest will face several strong programs, including Brighton, Skyline, and Orem — which Chun described as “they’re probably a top 5 team” — along with Green Canyon, last year’s 4A state champions. Hillcrest finished as 4A state runner-up, and also had the No. 1 singles champion, Fabi Gonzalez, who has since graduated and is playing college tennis.

Chun expects some challenging individual matchups throughout the season, including Granger High’s top singles player, Samantha Salea, who also is in Hillcrest’s new 5A Region 4.

The 5A state tournament opens Oct. 4 at Brighton High, with subsequent rounds on Oct. 9 and 11 at Liberty Park. The region tournament will be held Sept. 24–25 at West Jordan High, with varsity, JV, and alternates (players ranked No. 15 and higher) all participating. Hillcrest currently has 30 players on its roster. l

Hillcrest’s Luci Gonzalez returns the ball with a backhand shot at the 2024 4A state championship.

(Julie Slama/City Journals)

Back to school with big changes

the gym are receiving new flooring, and an elevator is being installed in the decades-old

“It’s going to look like a whole new school on the inside,” Wilcox said.

Principal Stacy Kurtzhals said the renovation uncovered some quirky surprises; when some lockers were removed, “treasures” of dated candy and snack bags were revealed behind them.

“I’m looking forward to the building looking as good as the teaching and education that happens there,” she said.

Corner Canyon High

At Corner Canyon High School, about $13 million is being invested in upgrades. The work began with the installation of a secure entry vestibule and new artificial turf for the baseball and softball fields.

A new turf soccer field is expected to be completed in time for the fall season, and a new practice field for soccer and lacrosse is currently under construction.

By the end of the year, the school’s new field house is slated to open, complete with an indoor practice football field and a weight

Hillcrest High

Hillcrest High’s $5.5 million in enhancements includes an expansion of the track from six to eight lanes. The school’s football and lacrosse field is being upgraded with new artificial turf and a new scoreboard is in place for the start of the school year.

Additional facility improvements across the district

Brighton High: A new teen center featuring washers, dryers, showers and a food pantry is set to open this fall. A new employee daycare facility is also on the way.

Indian Hills Middle: Construction is underway on a new choir room and an expanded band room.

Albion Middle: The school’s kiva area is scheduled for updates this fall.

Sandy Elementary: New carpeting will be installed. l

In late July, crews worked on the new turf at Hillcrest High’s Schick Stadium. (Julie Slama/City Journal)

MIDVALE CITY DIRECTORY

City Hall

801-567-7200

Finance/Utilities 801-567-7200

Court 801-567-7265

City Attorney’s O ce ......................... 801-567-7250

City Recorder/Human Resources ... 801-567-7228

Community Development ............... 801-567-7211

Public Works 801-567-7235

Ace Disposal/Recycling 801-363-9995

Midvale Historical Museum 801-567-7285

Midvale Senior Center 385-468-3350

SL County Animal Services 385-468-7387 Communications 801-567-7230

MIDVALE CITY ELECTED OFFICIALS

Mayor - Dustin Gettel

Email: dgettel@midvaleut.gov

CITY COUNCIL

District 1 - Bonnie Billings

Email: bbillings@midvaleut.gov

District 2 - Paul Glover

Email: pglover@midvaleut.gov

District 3 - Heidi Robinson

Email: Hrobinson@midvaleut.gov

District 4 - Bryant Brown

Email: bbrown@midvaleut.gov

District 5 - Denece Mikolash

Email: Dmikolash@midvaleut.gov

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

In The Middle of Everything

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

S EPTEMBER 2025

CITY NEWSLETTER

Midvale Monthly with Mayor Gettel

Top Five Most Surprising Things I’ve Learned Since Becoming Mayor (No late-night band required)

When I became Mayor, I thought I had a pretty good idea of what the job would be like. After all, I’d already served on the city council for seven years. How di erent could it be? Well, it turns out there were plenty of surprises!

5. How much time I spend on Doodle polls.

If you want to know the true secret of municipal government, it isn’t found in budgets or ordinances … it’s in scheduling. I spend an astonishing amount of time coordinating calendars and lling out Doodle polls. Running a city often means setting policies, debating ordinances, and meeting with outside community partners. Turns out, the real test of leadership is guring out whether seven people can all make it to Tres Gatos for a Tuesday meeting at 11:45.

4. How little time I spend at City Hall.

I imagined long days in my o ce, my desk stacked with papers and a line of visitors waiting outside the door. The truth is my work as mayor takes me into neighborhoods, schools, businesses, and community centers all over Salt Lake County. One hour I might be at a ribbon cutting on Fort Union Boulevard, and the next at a Uni ed Police board meeting in Millcreek. City Hall is important, of course, but most of the mayor’s job doesn’t happen behind a desk. The real work happens out in the community!

3. Being the mayor is very di erent than being a councilmember. Serving on the city council is like being part of a team. You share ideas, debate proposals, and make decisions together. Stepping into the mayor’s role doesn’t change that teamwork, but it does change how I contribute to it. Instead of being one voice among ve, I’m now responsible for running our council meetings and making sure everyone’s perspectives are heard. It’s a shift from being a participant to being a facilitator, and that brings a new kind of responsibility that’s both challenging and energizing.

2. How many more people recognize me out in public. When I served on the council, I could walk the Jordan River Trail or pick up groceries without anyone batting an eye. Now when I’m out on the trail, folks often wave me down to talk about the river’s future or just to say hello. It’s a funny kind of visibility, people recognize you not because you’re a celebrity, but because you’re their neighbor who happens to be the mayor. Honestly, some of my most meaningful conversations as mayor have occurred in the produce aisle or out on the trail.

1. Every single day is rewarding and exciting.

One thing I didn’t fully appreciate before taking o ce is how varied and ful lling the days can be. The sheer variety keeps me on my toes, and the reward is getting to see Midvale from so many di erent angles: our challenges, our triumphs, and our incredible people. Yes, some days are exhausting, but I’m also inspired by our residents and our city sta every single day.

Announcing: New Midvale City Entrance Signs! “Midvale: The Middle of Everything”

We want everyone to know when they are in Midvale. The arts are the heart of Midvale and make us a connected and vibrant community; from the murals and Art House in our Midvale Main Arts and Culture District, to the long-standing Midvale Arts Council, creativity is part of who we are.

Our new entry way monuments will help de ne the borders of our community and remind residents and visitors that we are proud of our identity.

“We’re trying to solidify a sense of place, a certainty that you are in Midvale,” Adam Olsen, Midvale’s Community Development Director, said. “Right now, a few of the signs are faded and easy to miss as you drive by.” We’re changing that. The new signs are bright and colorful, taking inspiration from the majestic outdoor landscapes of Utah, the beauty of its natural features, as well as the incredible sunrises and sunsets seen from right here in the heart of the valley.

For over two years, sta and elected o cials at Midvale City worked with Consor Engineering and residents to perfect the ideal entryway signs.

One point of feedback from the survey responses was to reduce the number of colors used in the lettering and create a more cohesive visual impact. The nal design uses Midvale’s brand colors, black, white, maroon, orange, yellow, baby blue and gray. The signs will be made out of polished aluminum with re ective shine, while also reducing the e ort required for maintenance, including removing grafti.

Consor also helped us determine the best place for these signs. “The study looked at the most visible places along the busiest corri-

dors into Midvale,” Olsen said. “We asked what would make the greatest impact in those locations.”

There will be ten new entrance signs, with the rst three scheduled for construction in the coming year. The rst will be built on Jordan River Boulevard and will be visible for those entering the city from the west. The second will be on State Street and for those entering from Murray. The third will greet drivers exiting the I-215 freeway onto Union Park Avenue.

As these signs become a reality, we hope you will feel an increased sense of pride in your city and community. If you have any questions, please reach out to Adam Olsen, Community Development Director and project manager over the entryway monument signs: aolsen@ midvaleut.gov, (801) 567-7231.

In The Middle of Everything

Creating Connections: A Plan for Midvale’s Parks and Open Spaces

“A goal without a plan is just a wish.”

— Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, author and aviator

Our very rst Parks and Open Space Plan is turning our wish for a vibrant, connected city into an actionable plan. It has been a year-long collaboration between residents, stakeholders, businesses and leaders. Horrocks and MHTN Architects, Alta Design and Planning, and Zion Bank Public Finance gathered and analyzed the data, the Wasatch Front Regional Council (WFRC) provided insight and a broad perspective, and our city planners worked tirelessly to create a plan that will improve the environmental and personal health of the entire community.

Of all the cities in Utah, we have one of the lowest number of green spaces per square mile. This isn’t what we want for our future, but all of our land is spoken for. If we want to make improvements, we have to get creative.

“We’re trying to get to a di erent place,” Wendelin Knobloch, Midvale’s Planning Director said. “We’re trying to make very good use of what we already have.”

Making the Plan

With our partners, we have come up with a plan that builds on the good things we already have. For example, “a street that in and of itself can become a recreational facility,” Knobloch said. “We can recon gure it to become a linear park next to the street and get more function out of what we already have.”

Matt Ryan, WFRC Community Planner, said that by taking a look at the park system as a whole, Midvale has the opportunity to increase access and availability to parks and open spaces, and identify new parks and open space opportunities. Midvale can also improve trail connections to schools, neighborhoods, and Wasatch Choice centers, o ering more ways to get around for a healthier, more livable community.

Horrocks led community engagement e orts for the project in Spanish and English. They utilized multiple means of outreach to engage the public including an online survey, community focus group meetings, tabling events, and one on one interviews with city o cials to help understand the needs and wants of residents.

McKenna Mathis, Public Involvement Coordinator for Horrocks said the participation and feedback was better than expected. “Our online target was 150 responses. We got 234, which was a big win.”

At the Los Muros event in June, another 150 responses were collected. “Tabling events were the most successful way to reach the public,” Mathis said.

MHTN compiled the data collected and made recom-

mendations to Midvale City. Ryan Wallace, Urban Designer for MHTN said, “This project has been exciting to think about non-traditional ways to increase access to open space. How do we provide an added level of access and connectivity to parks? How do you go about retro tting a city that is built out?”

While we only have control over what happens in our own borders, our partnerships will allow us to plan trails and walkways that connect with other cities and provide continuous access across the valley.

What’s Next

The Parks and Open Space Plan will rst be reviewed by the Midvale Planning Commission this fall, followed by consideration by the Midvale City Council. Here are the basic steps of the plan:

• Connectivity and Access

 Develop new pathways

 Improve crossings and coordinate with nearby cities and agencies

 Prioritize critical ADA compliance

• Creative and Multipurpose Use of Space

 Add amenities that are currently missing or limited

 Develop public land near canals and UTA station areas

 Add outdoor tness equipment, walking markers and educational signage

 Enhance park strips

 Consider indoor multi-use recreational facilities (see the note about a pool below!)

• Resilience and Sustainability

 Exchange high water plants for xeriscape or native options

 Use data on water, energy and maintenance costs to guide decisions

 Provide resources/training on landscape use for residents and businesses

• Community Centered and Inclusive Plans

 Encourage nonpro t and resident stewardship groups

 Host events to share initiatives and engage the community

 Create online resource for city park information

 Identify and preserve local landmarks

 Provide translations for physical and digital materials

• Step-by-step

 Prioritize high impact, low cost projects

 Seek grant funding

 Monitor actual operations and maintenance costs

 Schedule regular check-ins with partners

 Use public land (UTA, UDOT, Salt Lake County) for shared parks

Why a Parks and Open Space Plan?

Three reasons:

• As we grow and evolve, parks, trails and open spaces, active lifestyles will enhance the well-being of our residents and visitors.

• We are “in the middle of everything” and can be a connection for other surrounding cities.

• Caring for our green spaces responsibly allows us to maintain a healthy and thriving environment for ourselves and future residents.

Active transportation and connecting open spaces is a

successful strategy proven through other communities. Not far from home in Sugar House, a former rail line was transformed into a long, linear park with options of active transportation and play. “It’s not wide, maybe 100 ft at its widest, and 50 at its most narrow,” Wallace said. “There are amenities like lighting, and seating. There are art sculptures and some areas for speci c activities such as bocce ball, sand pits, or volleyball.”

Planning Isn’t Over

“We want residents to know that engagement is not one and done,” Emily Seang, Community Planner for MHTN, said. “As the plan gets adopted and rolls out, there can be other ways for residents to share their thoughts and participate in the community.”

We encourage you to subscribe to get updates through our website EngageMidvale.com/parks-open-space and attend Planning Commission and City Council meetings this fall when the plan is presented.

What Else We Are Working On

This is only one piece of the big plans we’ve been making for Midvale’s future. Other projects include:

• Water and Sewer Master Plans

• Active Transportation Plan

• Transportation Master Plan

• Station Area Plans

• Corridor Studies for Fort Union & State Street

WFRC’s Land Use and Transportation Connection Program (TLC) has funded many of Midvale’s planning projects, such as the Transportation Master Plan, Main Street Urban Design Project, two station area plans, State Street Corridor Study, and an ongoing Porter Rockwell Trail Plan.

The plans build on and support each other, all with the goal of improving the health and wellbeing of our city and residents now and for the future.

What This Means for You

The new Parks and Open Space Plan is our guidebook, written with you and for you. Midvale City is the steward of the land for residents, dedicated to providing a high quality of life with accessible spaces and valuable amenities. Together with residents, neighboring cities and support from the WFRC, we can make improvements, step-by-step, that will bene t us now and in the future.

SEPTEMBER 2025 CITY NEWSLETTER

MIDVALE. UTAH. GOV

Animal Bites: Prevention and Reporting in Our City

Animal bites can happen quickly and unexpectedly — whether from a familiar pet or a stray animal. Knowing how to prevent bites and what to do if one occurs helps keep everyone safe.

Preventing

Animal Bites

• Ask First: Always ask the owner’s permission before approaching or petting a dog.

• Stay Calm: Use a quiet voice and slow movements when interacting with animals.

• Give Space: Never approach a dog that is o leash and not in full control by its owner.

• Avoid Teasing: Do not pull ears or tails, climb on, or chase animals.

• Read Body Language: Watch for warning signs like growling, sti posture, or a tucked tail.

• Educate Early: Salt Lake County Animal Services o ers free humane education presentations for children, teaching respectful animal interaction and bite prevention in a fun, age-appropriate way.

Reporting Animal Bites

If you are bitten by an animal:

1. Seek medical attention, even for minor bites.

2. Report the bite to Animal Services by calling dispatch at 801-840-4000 or the local health department immediately.

3. Provide as much information as possible, including the type of animal, location, and owner (if known).

Prompt reporting helps ensure the health and safety of both people and animals in our community. It also helps track rabies exposure and ensures biting animals are monitored appropriately.

Let’s work together to prevent bites and protect our neighbors — two-legged and fourlegged alike.

For more information or to request a humane education presentation, visit AdoptUtahPets.org.

Real jobs, real talk: Career days connect kids to future professions

Hundreds of students get a taste of future careers through hands-on lessons, advice and real-world insights from community professionals

By Julie Slama j.slama@mycityjournals.com

SomeLone Peak Elementary students might find themselves rubbing the quarter Drew Pearson handed out, remembering how he once counted 4,000 of them from his car wash change machine before switching to mobile phone tap payments.

Or perhaps they’re thinking about how he keeps hot water flowing through the tubes yearround to stop it from freezing when the temperature drops to 32 degrees.

“It’s important to provide quality service people expect and to expect to meet challenges in any job,” said the Classy Chassy car wash owner in Cottonwood Heights to the students during their career day. “There may always be rude people and malfunctions in a job, but it’s how you approach it and respond to it that counts.”

Pearson was one of hundreds of professionals who visited local elementary schools this past year for career day presentations. Speakers shared details about their educational paths, how school subjects apply to their work,

the pros and cons of their careers and some of the exciting parts of their jobs. Career fields ranged from water quality and veterinary science to law enforcement, public transit, music and fitness.

Entrepreneur Cody Coonradt, who develops healthcare software, encouraged students to examine the products they use and ask themselves what’s missing, and how they might fill that gap.

“When looking at product management, we need to determine what we’re going to build and how we’re going to build it and what we’re going to charge, not just what it will look like,” he said. “While developing it, we also need to look at ‘are we going the right direction? Do we have the right people? Do we have enough money?’ Do not follow your passion, but rather, follow your curiosity. Passion comes from experience, but curiosity is infinite. Be patient.”

Third-grader Enzo Van Wangower said he learned the importance of staying curious.

“If I’m curious and it’s fun, I should try to do it,” he said.

His classmate Duyen Huynh added: “You’ll never know what you can do to help people, like he is with doctors and health care.”

At Glacier Hills Elementary, around 25 professionals participated. Among them was BMW sales manager Ben Beer, who motivated students to aim high now so they’re ready later.

“Try to be the best at everything you do

got to learn how cool the body is and how it works,” she told them. “Nurses are needed in operating rooms to helicopters on emergencies. It’s a lot of hard work, but it’s rewarding to help someone in need.”

In a nearby classroom, Mac McCann of Wildworks explained how it takes 30 images to make just one minute of animation. He said how he often records himself moving to use as a reference for character motion.

“To be an animator, you have to make things look believable,” he told students. “We can always get better. If you like to draw a lot, this could be a good career for you – taking the things you draw and bringing them to life.”

right now and you’ll be ready to do it when you have a job,” he said.

He also answered students’ questions about car manufacturing — how one factory may produce engines and transmissions while another focuses on dashboards. He said white has long been the most popular car color, however, new designs inspired by the aurora borealis are growing in popularity.

At Midvale Elementary, school nurse Tara Aka showed students how to take their blood pressure, wrap their arms with ace bandages and listen to their heartbeats.

“As a nurse, I earned my bachelor’s degree, learned a lot of math and science and

Teacher Jill Oaks emphasized career days are important for expanding students’ understanding of the working world.

“They’re learning about the community, whether it’s a chef at Outback Steakhouse or a Coke distributor; they’re learning that people in IT not only help set up a computer, but they solve problems,” she said. “We want our students to actively listen, learn the importance of reading, writing, math and things they’re learning and how it applies to their futures. They can also learn why they need to be responsible and on time, skills that will help them the rest of their lives. We’ll be writing thank-you notes about the impact these people have made to have our students think big and start developing skills now to reach their dreams.” l

Midvale Elementary students learned how to splint an arm and tried it out on a classmate after listening to a career talk about nursing. (Julie Slama/ City Journals)

Pets

What’s your pet thinking? This animal psychic knows

By Peri Kinder |

If you’ve ever wondered if your dog is happy, your lizard is upset or your bird is mad at you, Jennafer Martin could help you find the answer. Martin is a pet psychic with years of experience communicating with animals, getting to the root of what’s bothering your furry, feathery or scaly pet.

By tapping into an animal’s emotions, Martin offers insight into their behaviors, fears and level of contentment. She first realized she could communicate with pets when she received a Teddy Bear Hamster for her 14th birthday.

“For three days, she was happy, playful and delightful, but on the fourth day, I felt she was sad,” Martin said. “She wasn’t sighing heavily, or anything like that, I just felt like she wasn’t happy…Two days later, she had 13 babies. I would think if you’re gestating 13 of anything, you wouldn’t be very happy.”

It was the first time she realized she could pick up on things other people couldn’t. It was easy for her to read the emotions of the animals and share that insight as a way to create better understanding between humans and pets.

Martin had been a tarot reader and energy worker for several years before she decided to become a professional pet psychic in 2013.

“Even if I’m reading for animals, I’m still reading for people, so they understand how interesting their animals are,” she said. “I’ve read for reptiles, rodents, fish and large animals like ostriches and horses.”

Whether it’s decoding a bird’s persistent squawking or helping a rescue dog settle into a new home, Martin said her work bridges the gap between human and animal hearts.

Most animals have the mental capacity of a 2- to 5-year-old and she doesn’t receive fully-formed guidance from the

pets. Instead, she feels their emotions, sees images or has an intuitive sense about what’s going on in the pet’s mind.

While reading for a French Bulldog, Martin said the dog kept sending her an image of something orange and puffy, and the dog didn’t like it. The owners couldn’t think of any blanket or clothing item that would cause her such annoyance until they remembered a Halloween costume from the previous year. They’d dressed her as Nemo, from “Finding Nemo,” made with orange, puffy fabric. Martin had picked up on the dog’s irritation with the costume, which the owners promised never to use again.

Holly Esch regularly reaches out to Martin for help with her six lizards and she believes it’s kept them healthy and happy. After her lizard’s partner died, Esch asked Martin how her lizard was coping with the loss and if he was open to meeting another lizard. When Esch was trying to hatch lizard eggs, she asked Martin to do Reiki energy work to keep them from dying off.

“I ask relationship questions about them because they’re kind of like humans,” Esch said. “They bicker, they fall in love, they have their own little dramas and they have their own little different personalities. [Martin] just knows a lot of things and offers another perspective.”

When a family’s rescue tortoise kept trying to escape, Martin let them know he was looking for a mate. She discovered why an anxious cat had stopped using its litter box and why a puppy wouldn’t use the bathroom outside if he was alone. When Martin’s sister had a cat dying from cancer, Martin let her know when it was time to relieve its suffering.

Martin is often met with skepticism and is sometimes “tested” by pet owners when she’s asked to work with an animal, but she’s fine with that. She said it’s not her job to convince anyone that what

she’s doing is real.

“It’s fine to come with a sense of curiosity or a sense of skepticism,” she said. “At the end of the day, hopefully you know a little bit more about why your pet thinks or feels or behaves the way they do. You don’t have to buy in on what I do, as long as you resonate with the message that I give.”

Animals don’t always see the world the way humans do. Martin hopes her ability to communicate with pets helps owners become more patient and un-

derstanding with “naughty” behavior, especially when the animal is trying to be heard.

“I’d say 90% of the time, they’re not trying to be difficult. They’re just trying to get their needs met,” Martin said. “Sometimes, they’re just a little misguided or misunderstood…If you understand your animal better, then you feel like you can take care of them better, and then everybody’s happy.”

To schedule an appointment with Martin, visit readingsmorebyjennafer.com.

Jennafer Martin is a pet psychic in Salt Lake County who works with a variety of animals, including dogs, cats, birds, horses, fish and reptiles. She’s shown here with Rosey. (Photo courtesy of Martin)

A Paw-sitive Legacy: Humane Society of Utah Marks 65th Anniversary

By Shaun Delliskave | s.delliskave@mycityjournals.com

Sixty-five years after opening its first shelter in a modest West Valley City facility, the Humane Society of Utah marked its journey from humble beginnings to becoming the state’s largest open-admission animal resource center. The nonprofit celebrated its anniversary with a free community birthday party at its Murray location on Saturday, July 12.

“We are throwing a fun-filled all ages welcome birthday party!” the organization stated in a press release prior to the event. “Enjoy activities such as a bounce house, carnival games, face painting, balloon art, and more.”

Founded in 1960, HSU has operated as an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit funded entirely through donations, without government or state support. Its mission has remained consistent for more than six decades: to protect and improve the lives of animals across Utah.

Golden Corral, 665 East 7200 South, Midvale

“This summer, the Humane Society of Utah is thrilled to celebrate 65 years of saving pets and supporting families in Utah,” the release stated. “As we celebrate this special birthday, we reflect on how far we have come, and the generous community support that made this milestone possible.”

HSU opened its first facility in West

Valley City before relocating in 1992 to its current Murray site, the Janice R. Johnson Center for Animals, funded by a request from Utah schoolteacher Janice Johnson. The larger building allowed the organization to expand its services and later add specialized adoption areas, including Kitty City, Bunny Bungalows, Dawgville, Tiny Town, and Critter Country.

“In 1972, HSU opened the first low-cost spay/neuter clinic in the Intermountain West,” the release noted. “This essential milestone helped to prevent overpopulation in the area, and gave countless pets the chance for a healthier, happier life.”

The Murray facility also continued to offer a range of services through its integrated clinic, including low-cost spay/ neuter surgeries, vaccinations, microchipping, wellness exams, and heartworm testing. Specialized programs such as CATNIP, a community cat spay/neuter and trap initiative, and SNIP, a spay/ neuter incentive program for pet owners experiencing financial hardship, were developed to address specific needs.

In 2020, HSU opened a second clinic in St. George to expand access to affordable veterinary care in southern Utah. In 2024, wellness exams were added to its

Murray clinic offerings. “These preventative care services are vital to protecting pet health and wellness,” HSU stated. “They allow pets and families to enjoy longer, healthier years together.”

In 2023 alone, HSU reported placing 5,529 homeless animals into new homes and assisting approximately 1,189 community-owned pets through its retention and diversion programs. The organization emphasized an education-focused adoption process and a policy of no time limits for healthy or treatable pets awaiting adoption.

Staffing included 53 full-time employees and numerous volunteers. Community engagement extended through adoption events, humane education, foster programs, rescue and transfer initiatives, and legislative advocacy efforts aimed at preventing animal cruelty and addressing the root causes of pet homelessness.

“Donations from our caring community have been the backbone of every expansion, every new program, and every life-saving effort over the years,” the release stated. “It is inspiring to see how our community has stepped up to the plate, generously giving love and hope to local pets in their time of need.”

As part of its anniversary message, HSU highlighted plans to modernize its facilities and expand collaboration with other organizations. “Caring for pets does not exist in a vacuum. Protecting vulnerable pets begins with supporting our human neighbors,” the release said.

While reflecting on its past, HSU also

pointed to the future. “We have accomplished so much together in 65 years,” the organization stated. “We cannot wait to see what the next 65 years will bring for pets and families in Utah.”

For more information on the Humane Society of Utah’s programs, adoption services, or volunteer opportunities, visit utahhumane.org.

the Humane Society of Utah in the 1970s. (Photo courtesy of Humane Society of Utah)

The Humane Society of Utah celebrated 65 years of caring for animals. (Photo courtesy of Humane Society of Utah)

After years caring for animals, advocate opens her own Nonprofit spay/neuter clinic

By Tom Haraldsen | t.haraldsen@mycityjournals.com

Temma Martin’s personalized license plate reads “PETLADY.” As it should. For nearly 30 years, she has been the voice for pet protection in Utah, both before and after they’re born. Her latest efforts are part of the new nonprofit she has founded and created, “Operation Pawpulation” in Millcreek.

The clinic focuses on spay/neuter services, coming at a time when the numbers of dogs and cats in animal shelters have been increasing. She has championed adoption for decades, but has turned her efforts into prevention of unplanned litters for dogs and cats. Martin first became involved in this world while she was in college, concerned about animal welfare but not really thinking it would become her career.

“I didn’t start in any other area or direction,” she said. “When I was finishing my senior year of high school in Colorado, I got a little bit involved with animal rights stuff, like protesting research labs and more like actual animal rights than animal welfare. So I was sort of interested then, but when I moved back here, I worked at several businesses. When I worked at Golden Swirl’s corporate office, I saw an ad in the paper for a job posted at the Humane Society of Utah in 1993 for an education director.”

She worked for them for four years but felt she wanted to do more public relations, so after a short stint with the American Heart Association, she became media specialist for Salt Lake County Animal Services.

In that role, Martin appeared on every local TV morning program — news or lifestyle shows — bringing dogs or cats on air who were waiting for adoption from the shelter. She brought on an estimated 5,000 animals over her career, and her name and face became synonymous with pet adoption in the Salt Lake market. It often meant going to the shelter in very early morning hours, waking up a pet to take them to a station, and all four local TV stations had segments with her regularly.

A countywide reduction of force led

to her leaving the post in 2008. She was quickly approached by the Utah Animal Adoption Center, where she worked for one year, then joined Best Friends Animal Society.

Her messages about pet adoption helped. When the No More Homeless Pets coalition started in 1999, Utah shelters were alarmingly still killing almost 40,000 pets a year. But by 2020, with more and more no-kill shelters coming online, that number had fallen to 829.

Good news, with numbers headed in the right direction toward making Utah a no-kill state. Then COVID arrived, and things changed. Today, an average of 2,000 dogs and cats are euthanized in Utah.

“The numbers of animals killed has steadily increased, not just in Utah, but across the country,” she said. “People are watching what feels like a pretty major backsliding of progress, and some of the reasons for that are there’s a shortage of veterinarians. A lot of veterinary clinics are being bought out by corporations and private equity firms, and prices of all veterinary care have risen at a rate much higher than the rate of inflation.”

Two years ago, she left Best Friends to start her own nonprofit using her own money. She bought a storefront in Millcreek that was once a boat repair shop to create a clinic offering spay/neuter services to pet owners at very reduced costs, a service that she says has “gotten outrageously expensive in a lot of places.” She said the universe had something else in mind for her.

“I made some phone calls to clinics in Salt Lake County, and some of them are places I either am or have been a client,” Martin said. “A cat neuter is the lowest. They’re the least expensive and quickest surgery. And so on the low end, I believe it was just less than $300 for a cat, but on the high end, for a large dog spay, one clinic said that it could be more than $2,000. Most people can’t afford that — it’s a mortgage payment, a rent payment. So for a lot of people it’s out of reach. And for some reason, even nationally, a lot of

animal welfare organizations have shifted their focus away from spay/neuter, which is largely why I felt like I needed to go off on my own.”

Shelter Animals Count, a trusted source for animal sheltering data, has reported that 28% of the 2.9 million dogs entering shelters in the U.S. were puppies under 5 months old. That was an increase of more than 31,000 from the year before. More than half of the felines entering shelters were under five months old as well — 1.7 million. Those are signs of unwanted or unplanned litters of young animals given up to shelters.

“We can’t solve this problem after all the pets are born,” she said. “There will always be people who choose to buy pets, but there are so many pets in need outside of shelters. The only way we can get back on track is getting pets spayed or neutered and prevent the downstream that creates animals in need.”

Martin is proud of the 5,000-plus animals she took on TV for adoption, but “we can help a much larger number of animals by preventing them from being born. Coupled with the shortage of veterinarians, we need to refocus on spay/neuter as a normal part of pet ownership.”

(Photo

Operation Pawpulation is open on Thursdays. Call 801-509-8334 to set up an appointment or get more information.

Dr. Emily Kirkpatrick offers her veterinary services to Operation Pawpulation on Thursdays each week.

courtesy of Operation Pawpulation)

Operation Pawpulation offers low cost spay/neuter services to pet owners. (Photo courtesy of Operation Pawpulation)

Your fall guide to dog-friendly activities

By Sienna Chubak | s.chubak@thecityjournals.com

With summer coming to a close, many people are trying to find all the possible ways that they can spend their final warm nights before winter hits its full peak. If you have a dog, or a few of them, you also might be wondering how you can utilize the next couple of months to include your pets in your plans.

That’s why we’ve created a list of some local spots that you can bring your dogs to. Whether you’re looking for your dog to join you on a solo outing, you’re hoping to bring them along with you and some of your friends, or if you’re looking to have them third-wheel one of your dates, here are some great restaurants, parks, and even some bookstores that you’re welcome to bring your best pals to.

Stopping for coffee first? Bjorns Brew is a well-known pet-loving business that has a small front patio for you and your pup to enjoy the morning. While you sip your coffee, the Bjorn’s barista crew has got your dog covered with a small treat or pup cup to enjoy right along with you. So not only can they enjoy your morning coffee with you, but they will also get plenty of smiles and waves from every dog-lover in town. They even have a Pet of the Week highlight, so your pet can get some Instagram likes from their page and a special

gift from them.

If you want to head a little bit up the street, you can then stop by Corner Brew Pub, which is equipped with a dog-friendly patio. Whether you’re looking for a short stop to enjoy a beer or for a nice, relaxing lunch, feel free to bring along your pups.

On your way back to South Salt Lake, take a stop at Fairmont Dog Park. They have a large open space for your dogs to run off-leash. Afterwards, you can lead them around the pond, play some pickleball, or join in at the skate park (although I wouldn’t let your dogs run in there).

For an afternoon drink or late-night dinner spot, Level Crossing Brewing has a large patio that welcomes dogs. Although you can’t take your dog into the bar, the patio doors are often open so you can hear the live music on Sunday nights or open mic night on Wednesdays. They also have board game night on Tuesday, so feel free to bring your crew (with your dogs!) and choose from their board games, and let your pets join in on the fun.

If you’re ready for another early morning stroll, the Jordan River Trail offers tons for you and your doggo to look at. While they have to be leashed most of the time, if you walk, bike, or run up to Jordan Park, they’ve got another large

off-leash area for your dog to get some free run time, while you can cool down from yours.

Finally, if you’re looking for something more relaxed to do and are ready to take your dog on a short drive (or long walk), head over to Lovebound Library or King’s English Bookshop, both bookstores let you and your dog browse the books. That way, you can both get out of the house, and then you can both cozy up later that night while you read your best book find.

King’s English Bookshop in Salt Lake City.

Corner Brew Pub’s dog-friendly patio in Sugar House.

Bjorn’s dog-friendly patio in South Salt Lake.

No more bribing: Mobile Veterinary Options brings the vet to the pet

By Cassie Goff | c.goff@mycityjournals.com

Do you know where the closest veterinarian is to you right now? Or how you’d get your pet there? Sometimes, getting our non-human family members in to see the doctor can seem like a daunting task. That’s where Dr. Kate Swain has Salt Lake County residents covered. Swain is the owner and operator of Mobile Veterinary Options: a mobile veterinary service. Yes, you read that right – a vet van.

After working in two clinics for over 12 years, Dr. Swain noticed how the animals that had bad experiences in the vet’s office wouldn’t come back. When dogs and cats would get panicked on the way into the vet’s office, they’d react based on their fear instincts.

“It’s also a lot of stress on the owners,” said Swain. “It’s stressful when you know taking your pet in isn’t going to go smoothly. It makes people just stop taking their pets in.”

Dr. Swain wanted to provide better options for pet-owners as, just like with us humans, yearly exams are important for animal health.

“We are trying to get ahead of diseases,” Swain said. “If animals can get in once per year, same as with people and our yearly exams, we can catch things early with bloodwork.”

Mobile Veterinary Options travels throughout Salt Lake County to visit dogs, cats and horses outside of an office environment. During an appointment, Dr. Swain can either come into the animal’s environment or walk the animal out to the van.

“Some dogs are protective of their own space; some do better when we come to them. It’s really variable,” she said.

Swain shared how visiting the animal’s environment can help to provide some insight into what problems may exist. For example, one of the top three issues she visits clients for is allergies. Peaking into the animal’s environment who is experiencing allergy symptoms can help her deduce if they’re suffering

from food or environmental allergies.

Together with Veterinary Technician Stacie Moseley, Dr. Swain offers a variety of services for dogs, cats and horses throughout the valley. They can conduct wellness, emergency, and quality of life exams as well as mobile surgeries including dental surgeries, general surgeries and spay and neuter. They’re also equipped and prepared for home hospice and end-of-life care services including qualify of life examples, pain management and euthanasia.

“It’s just the two of us and we love it,” Swain said. “We get to go on beautiful drives. It’s, overall, so much better for my personal wellbeing to be out.”

Moseley grew up in upstate New York and has been in the veterinary field for over 18 years. Her areas of interest include animal behavior and training, feline diseases, surgery and pain management. She is a certified dog trainer, pet sitter and gardener.

“Stacie is one of the best techs I’ve ever worked with,” Swain said. “I don’t know what I’d do if she quit. She’s irreplaceable.”

Dr. Swain studied veterinary medicine

at Glasgow University for five years before returning to Utah to continue her education and career and be close to her family. Her areas of interest include surgery, dentistry, acupuncture and rescue medicine.

Mobile Veterinary Options also offers their four-legged clients options for acupuncture and laser therapy services. Acupuncture benefits include relaxation, endorphin release and response from tight muscles (especially in the backs of horses).

“Laser therapy is an option for animals who can’t have more pain medication,” Swain said. “It’s really easy to do without touching them.”

Mobile Veterinary Options has a class 4 laser that can penetrate to the bone—which can help with things like bone fractures, ear infections, and bladder stones.

Swain mentioned that chronic pain in animals is more common than many pet-owners realize. Chronic arthritis in older animals, as well as soft injury tissue in horses, is a common occurrence

in their day-to-day.

“When they see their dog or cat everyday, they just don’t see that their animal is in pain,” said Swain. “A lot of animals are living with chronic pain.”

Dr. Swain highly recommends for all residents with pets to invest in pet insurance.

“It’s super helpful for people to have pet insurance because we can do more for the animals,” she said.

In addition, Swain thinks we’re still catching up on spay and neutering, even in 2025. She would like to see more education throughout the County on spay and neuter.

Mobile Veterinary Options celebrated their two-year anniversary on Aug. 14. Dr. Swain’s and Moseley’s next big step in their business is to acquire a full body x-ray machine—which costs roughly $80,000.

Besides equipment, Dr. Swain has noticed a huge need for large animal vets in the area. About once per week, she gets a call about a goat, pig or cow and has to decline. She’s also noticing an increasing call volume for chickens.

Mobile Veterinary Options is currently traveling to take appointments throughout Salt Lake County: between West Valley and the Pointe of the Mountain. Routine check-ups and exams can be booked out for about two weeks as Swain and Mosesly plan to leave room in their daily schedules for emergency calls. Find information and news about pet-care through their socials on Facebook and Instagram at @mobileveterinaryoptions.

To request an appointment through Mobile Veterinary Options call: 801-200-3607.

Or visit their website at: www.mobileveterinaryoptions.com.

Dr. Kate Swain is dedicated to your pet’s pain management, and offers “at your home” acupuncture and laser therapy. These services are especially helpful for horses and their back muscles. (Photo courtesy of Mobile Veterinary Options)

This gentle giant (155 lbs.), Tootsie Bear, did amazing for his exam with Dr. Swain! Any guesses on his weight? (Photo courtesy of Mobile Veterinary Options)

Pet Photo Contest!

WINNER

Pet Name: Sam

Description: Sam’s the kind of cute that makes your heart melt—fluffy, soft, and effortlessly photogenic, with a blissful little smile that says he knows exactly how adorable he is. His luxurious coat and regal posture make him the definition of majestic charm.

Human: Submitted by Dani Williams

Pet Name: Nikki

Description: Nikki is a spunky lady. Always following around wherever we go, yowling for attention.

Human: Kelly Dam | Graphic Designer

2ND PLACE

Pet Name: Finn

Description: Finn loves all things snuggles and is as sassy as can be!

Human: Submitted by Mindy Martin Tamburrion

3RD PLACE

Pet Name: Dax a Doo

Description: Dax is our baby boy. We call him our BGB. Big Giant Boy. He’s a snuggle boy and best little brother to Xico.

Human: Submitted by Kristi Dancer

STAFF PET PHOTOS

Pet Name: Zoya

Description: Too smart for her own good, Zoya knows a handful of tricks. Her favorites are fetch and dance – and her least favorite is stay. If she could do anything for a day, it would be chasing squirrels and birds with no idea what she would do if she caught either. Zoya is a 7 year old Weimaraner who loves cuddles and barking at anything.

Human: Cassie Goff | Editorial Staff

Pet Name: Bentley

Description: Now pushing 15 years young, “Crazy Boy” has long been the affectionate nickname for this four-legged whirlwind, rescued from the humane society. Named after Snowflake Bentley, the famous snowflake photographer, he clearly took his name to heart by becoming a full-time snow sprinter and part-time icicle connoisseur. He is a devout enthusiast of both the trail and the beach, never tiring of either. His superpower includes turning complete strangers into lifelong friends in less than 10 seconds. Basically, if joy had a fur coat and four paws, it’s Bentley.

Human: Julie Slama | Writer

Pet Name: Binx Katherine Wallet Crayon People Sink Andreasen

Description: Meet Binx, our very first kitty and the queen of our hearts! With her fluffy coat, tufted ears, and Maine Coon charm, she’s a mix of elegance and playfulness. She’s endlessly curious—especially about water—and never turns down a good cuddle.

Humans: Lindsay | Advertising Specialist and Emmie & Gracie

Pet Name: Luna

Description: Luna is a princess and always sits upright and proper. She loves to talk and is very loud! She is shy with strangers but cuddly with those she knows. She has opinions and will let you know!

Human: Stacey LaMont | Graphic Designer

Pet Name: Cash

Description: Cash is so loving and has a playful nature, often acting as my best friend and companion. Cash thrives on interaction with me but also loves my kids and their families.

Human: Yvette Newton | Marketing Strategist

Bridging classrooms: How art and music unite students across abilities

A growing district initiative brings students with disabilities into general education elementary arts and music classes, fostering empathy, creativity and connection.

By Julie Slama j.slama@mycityjournals.com

WhenJordan Valley fourth-grader

Ava Baird and third-grader Markus Heckman stepped off the school bus at Bella Vista Elementary, their faces lit up with excitement.

They’re part of an inclusive arts program that brings Jordan Valley students with severe and profound disabilities into Beverley Taylor Sorenson arts classes at local Canyons School District elementary schools.

Bella Vista BTS teacher Christy Delaney was prepared for Ava and Markus, with two fourth-grade peer helpers ready to assist—or simply be buddies. The lessons are adaptive, ensuring every student can participate.

“There have been other times where some students will use electric scissors to cut things, so Bella Vista students get to learn too about adaptive tools maybe they’re not exposed to and they love to use them too,” Delaney said.

Earlier in the program, students built robots using recycled materials. On this day, they were painting them.

Markus, joined by Bella Vista fourth-graders Paetyn Mills and Beckham Luthi, chose red, white and blue for their robot.

“Markus suggested those colors,” Beckham said about his nonverbal buddy. “He points at what he wants or shows us with symbols and then we do it together. He has a funny sense of humor.”

Paetyn added, “I like having him here; I’m experiencing art in a different way than I would have.”

Delaney said teamwork and collaboration were part of the lesson.

“We’re working on interpersonal relationships between the students, how they can listen to somebody else’s ideas, and take everyone’s input to make a decision. Sometimes that’s a struggle sometimes in fourth grade,” she said.

How the program began

The partnership began in 2017 through the initiative of Jordan Valley BTS teacher Jonathan Hale, who co-designs and co-teaches the lessons. After a pause during the pandemic, the program was revitalized and expanded.

“The BTS program offered research collaboration with the University of Utah

and helped fund it,” he said. “Our research is learning how to adapt and use art to help kids socialize. It’s important these Jordan Valley students get exposure to their peers, and they do things they typically wouldn’t do at their school.”

Originally piloted at Sprucewood Elementary with select students, the program now is offered to all Jordan Valley students across several elementary schools. Groups participate in art or music classes that match their grade level — first grade at Willow Springs, third and fourth at Bella Vista, fifth at Draper, and music for fifth grade at Midvalley.

“We only take a couple students at a time to each school, but the same kids go to the same school so they’re part of the art or music class for the year,” Hale said.

The results have been powerful.

“At another elementary, Jordan Valley students are engaged in art for 45 minutes. Typically, at our school, we get their attention for only five to 10 minutes,” Hale said. “Here, they all look at students and their eyes light up; we don’t ever see that at our school.”

Hale believes the friendships formed are key.

“They are as happy as can be and at Bella Vista, if it works out, we stay for recess because they love to play together,” he said.

At one school, when asked who wanted to walk their Jordan Valley peers to the bus, students eagerly volunteered.

“As they were walking down together, our kids were elated. They had friends around them; I’ve never seen them that happy,” Hale said.

Adapting for success

With backgrounds in art therapy, special education, art education and fine arts, Hale

works with his colleagues to design lessons that meet students where they are.

“There are ways to help support students if you’re aware of them, and art can provide structures and flexibility,” he said. “If students have a preference of being on the floor, we will meet them where they’re at, but not all the time. We try to help guide behaviors.”

Hale said when the lesson plan allows for sitting on the floor, many general education students join in too.

Program expansion

This year marks the pilot for inclusive BTS music at Midvalley Elementary.

“We’re learning how to develop music in this model as it’s new to this programming,” Hale said.

Despite being new, Midvalley Assistant Principal Amy Sandgren said the music program is already a success.

“Midvalley loves the collaboration with Jordan Valley School and the chance to have all students share their love for music,” she said. “Ms. (Meilina) Moore teaches fun, engaging lessons as students learn about various music genres, clap beats and sing.”

First grade also has been added this year, with three groups visiting Willow Springs Elementary to do spin art, collages, pottery and more.

“We do about everything and adapt it as we can. We intentionally wanted to work with first grade so the kids can make a connection and build friendships. First graders don’t usually have exposure to Jordan Valley students because their development usually focuses on themselves,” Hale said.

Willow Springs BTS art teacher Mindy Van De Graaff appreciates the impact.

“All the art we’re doing is adaptive so that everybody can be successful,” she said. “Many

of the Jordan Valley kids are higher functioning and nonverbal, so they’ll communicate with iPads, which is eye-opening for our kids.”

Positive outcomes for Bella Vista students

Delaney has noticed the impact on her students at Bella Vista.

“Jordan Valley students bring a new perspective,” she said. “Sometimes they want to add something to the art project that Bella Vista students didn’t think of. This is giving them empathy and understanding.”

The adaptive strategies have also benefited English language learners.

“This benefits everybody when you add in supports,” Delaney said. “It would be neat for our students to take a field trip to their school to see their environment and supports — and it gives those students a chance to show and be proud of their school.”

Hale has seen growth in partnership students.

“They’re learning their peers find as much joy out of coming to art and doing projects as they do,” he said. “They’re learning to have patience, to see everyone has different needs, and maybe to help a friend be successful, no matter what their needs are — and some kids can relate. They realize, ‘I need extra time to do something.’ They can see that in their peers so they’re speaking up now for themselves.”

Student growth at Jordan Valley

Back at Jordan Valley, the benefits are equally clear.

“It is an amazing program, because our students at our school usually don’t get to hang out with their peers,” teacher Laura Hoggard said. “This is a way for us to see how they’re acting and progressing. This helps them be ready to transition out of our school to their neighborhood schools.”

She’s seen how it affects student behavior, learning and confidence.

“Marcus is one of my students and I can see the impact from the program at Bella Vista. He behaves a lot better and he’s more focused to learn when he comes back; he’s a role model here,” Hoggard said.

All her students love the chance to display their art.

“We have frames to mount their art. They’re proud of what they do and they love it,” she said.

Principal Stacey Nofsinger recognizes many things about the program.

“I appreciate many things: the willingness of the principal and the teachers welcoming our students and collaborating with us; the change in environment for our students; making friends; building awareness and acceptance of individuals with special needs; understanding that all kids can learn and play,” she said. “It’s an endless list really.” l

Jordan Valley third-grader Markus Heckman paints alongside Bella Vista students Beckham Luthi and Paetyn Mills in an inclusive arts program. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

Hundreds of students face off in friendly book battles

From historical fiction to fantasy, students tackled every genre — and came away with memories, certificates and a deeper love for reading.

By Julie Slama j.slama@mycityjournals.com

Theexcitement was unmistakable as

Eastmont Middle’s Team Peeta finished each other’s sentences and laughed over their favorite reads. Their enthusiasm matched their success: they had just won Canyons School District’s Book Blitz, beating Butler Middle’s We Love Dictionaries and Indian Hills Middle’s All About Books.

Book Blitz challenges middle school teams to read a curated list of books across genres, then compete by answering questions using book titles—and, when possible, authors. A similar competition, Book Blitz Jr., is held for elementary students

The book lists are available during the summer and students are already reading for the 2025-26 competition.

Eastmont eighth-grader Tawny McEntire started early, reading through the list last summer. Her teammates split the remaining titles in the fall.

Eighth-grader Mary Halladay credited their friendship to a love of reading—rang-

ing from historical fiction to fantasy—for their win.

“We’re all best friends and we did it to have fun since we like to read books,” she said. “We work well together, and we all just trust each other enough to go with what other people decide what the answer is.”

Eighth-grader Caraline Herzog added: “We talked things out and listened to each other, that’s important.”

Preparation was key. Tawny created 30 pages of study questions and attended every practice.

“Our team chemistry was a lot better and supportive because we practiced,” she said.

Naming the team was easy, said teammate Millie Rich.

“We were watching the Hunger Games and said as a joke, we all are on Team Peta so that’s what we called ourselves,” she said, pointing to their team shirts with a Studio C parody quote on the back. “We laughed a lot, but we learned too. ‘Fallout’ was a phenomenal book. I didn’t think I would like it because it’s nonfiction, but I learned more than I think a lot of Americans know about our history.”

Midvale Middle School teacher librarian/ media specialist Judy Rembacz sees the impact of Book Blitz.

“It’s exciting when everyone is reading books, sharing what they read with others,” she said. “They love the competition quizzes,

seeing what they know, and it’s good to see how they support one another.”

Mt Jordan Middle teacher librarian Jana Mumford helped with Book Blitz Jr.

“Getting books in kids’ hands is a win and they love the competition aspect,” she said. “I love seeing the younger grades have fun with it. Their enthusiasm feeds right into our programs at the middle school.”

Each middle school brought two teams to the district competition. At the elementary level, 19 schools participated with more than 700 students.

District Library Media Specialist Gretchen Zaitzeff, who organizes the program, praised the teamwork.

“The sportsmanship amongst the teams has been stellar,” she said. “And cheers should go out to the parent volunteers, who along with the school facilitators and coaches, have been working all year with our students to be successful at all the levels.”

Sandy Rotary has supported Book Blitz Jr. for two years.

“Locally, we help our community’s youth and focus on education so Book Blitz fits perfectly,” Sandy Rotary President Brenda Suta said. “We know these kids are the future and education uplifts them to learn and solve things in the world.”

This year, a four-way tie in the early rounds led to a playoff. Peruvian Park, Ridge-

crest and Willow Canyon shared the win, with Alta View as runner-up. All four teams received books and book bags.

Ridgecrest fifth-grader Safron Schneider recalled the tense tiebreaker.

“It was nerve wracking when we got called up there,” she said. “We told each other ‘We got this’ and we joked about one of the boys at our school who wore his lucky socks for us, so we thought about that and were able to focus.”

Safron, who read all 12 books, began last summer.

“’Select’ is about a girl who is a good soccer player, and I also play it, so I could relate a lot. ‘The Last Fifth Grade of Emerson Elementary’ had a lot of fifth-grade experiences I feel a lot of fifth-graders can relate to,” she said.

Aiming to become a writer, Safron values reading.

“Reading always helps me improve my knowledge of words, and I always get lost in a good plot line,” she said.

Granite fifth-grader Brent Fillerup of the “Book Bears” also read all 12 books.

“This was my first time competing and it was really good,” he said. “I wanted to read ‘Cookies and Milk’ as I wasn’t familiar with it and heard it was based on a true story.”

Willow Springs fourth-grader Kate Simons of the “Sugar Readers” was eager to participate.

“I really like books and read every day,” she said. “’A Wolf Called Wonder’ was a fun book. It was from the point of view of a wolf, which I never have thought about before.”

Her classmate, Rebekah Sutton, enjoyed both the books and the friendships.

“I liked ‘Saucy;’ it’s about a pig and I love pigs,” she said. “A lot of the competitions were close, but that’s part of the fun. I’m planning to read all the books this summer.” l

Canyons School District middle school student teams reveal their answers in the final round of Book Blitz, where they answered questions by naming book titles and authors. (Juile Slama/City Journals)

It’sbarely September and social media pages are already flooded with autumn recipes, pumpkin hacks and tips on how to dress for sweater weather. For Utah, sweater weather in September is just dumb because it’s still 90 degrees in the shade. Wear a cute, fall pullover at your own risk.

Instagram influencers suffer from September insanity, bizarrely excited to roam through corn mazes (nature’s escape room), decorate porches with scratchy hay bales and crooked scarecrows, and stage family photo shoots at apple orchards with everyone grumpily dressed in red and black flannel.

In September, you’re legally required to wear a wool scarf when ordering at Starbucks, where each drink has a dash of cinnamon. Pumpkin spice is everywhere, from pancakes to deodorant, popping up out of nowhere like political yard signs and herpes.

These aren’t necessarily bad things. I love me a plaid shirt and fresh-baked apple crisp, but until Monday, Sept. 22, at 12:19 p.m. (MDT), it’s still summer and I will behave accordingly.

Here’s what shouldn’t happen before Sept 22: high school sports, pumpkin patches, hay rides, the NFL. None of those are summer activities. Nada.

Even if the temperature drops to 45 degrees by mid-September (which it won’t), I’ll still wear flip-flops and gym shorts as

Stop Pretending it’s Autumn

my casual work outfit. Well, flip-flops only if I’m going somewhere fancy, like Dollar Tree. I might as well not own shoes during the summer.

After going barefoot since April, my feet have reached the hardened leather stage where I could safely walk across a lava flow. My granddaughter recently poked my heel and asked, “What happened to you?” I tried to explain the development of callouses due to traversing 110-degree asphalt with no shoes, but she’d already turned her attention back to Roblox.

Even Mother Nature betrays me as the Wasatch Mountains start to turn a brilliant red, orange and gold. Sunset gets earlier each night, disappearing a little bit at a time, like when I’m trying to sneak out of a networking event. The air takes on a distinctly “autumn” glow, but that might be arsenic floating over from the Great Salt Lake. Living in Utah is exciting.

Farmers’ markets are still open, but

the options quickly turn from juicy, sweet peaches to…umm…squash? Who eats squash? Raccoons? Hardened criminals? I use pumpkin for cookies, bread and carving, but no one actually EATS pumpkin. That’s like saying someone actually eats rhubarb. I don’t have time for your nonsense.

One good thing about September is that Michaels no longer sells Halloween items (which they started promoting in May) but is now decked out for Christmas.

Believe it or not, I love fall, but only when seasonally appropriate. Summer flies by, so I must savor every sunny moment before Salt Lake sinks into six months of cold,

gray darkness, like Persephone descending to the Underworld.

On the first day of autumn (Sept. 22, not Sept. 1), I’ll drape fall garlands around the kitchen, light apple-scented candles, put on cozy socks (an easy transition from being barefoot) and make a big pot of stew that no one will eat because it has onions.

Within a few weeks, my social media pages will display photos of squirrels gathering nuts, my grandkids bickering at a harvest festival, Tom refusing to eat apple cider donuts and my fire-orange pedicure hidden inside a cute pair of fall boots. But only in appropriate autumnal timing.