May 2022 FREQUENTLY REQUESTED NUMBERS
Mayor’s Message
MAYOR’S OFFICE
Grant Elementary . . . . . . 801-264-7416
“Try a Little Kindness”
mayor@murray.utah.gov 801-264-2600 5025 S. State Street Murray, Utah 84107
Heritage Center (Senior Programming) . . 801-264-2635 Hillcrest Jr. High . . . . . . . 801-264-7442 Horizon Elementary . . . . 801-264-7420 Liberty Elementary . . . . . 801-264-7424 Longview Elementary. . . 801-264-7428 Ken Price Ball Park . . . . . 801-262-8282 Miss Murray Pageant (Leesa Lloyd) . . . . . . . . . . 801-446-9233 McMillan Elementary. . . 801-264-7430 Murray Area Chamber of Commerce.. . . . . . . . . . 801-263-2632 Murray Arts Advisory Board (Lori Edmunds) . . . . . . . . 801-264-2614 Murray Boys & Girls Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . 801-268-1335 Murray City Cemetery . . . 801-264-2637 Murray Community Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . 801-264-7414 Murray High School . . . . 801-264-7460 Murray Museum . . . . . . . 801-264-2589 Murray Parks and Recreation Office . . . . . . . 801-264-2614 Murray Parkway Golf Course . . . . . . . . . . . . 801-262-4653 Murray Park Aquatics Pool . . . . . . . . . 801 290-4190 Mick Riley Golf Course (SL County). . . . . . . . . . . . 801-266-8185 Parkside Elementary . . . . 801-264-7434 Riverview Jr. High . . . . . . 801-264-7446 Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation . . . . . . . . 801-468-2560 Salt Lake County Ice Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . 801-270-7280 The Park Center . . . . . . . . 801-284-4200 Viewmont Elementary . . 801-264-7438
We have been through a lot in the past two years. The masks, the lockdowns, the shots, the protests of shots, the Zoom meetings, the cancelled classes and concerts and activities, etc. It’s been a lot. In addition to the stresses of the global pandemic, we endured a contentious national election and the invasion of a sovereign nation! So many things have happened that shocked us into numbness. Though we have tried to “fight the good fight” and “keep our chins held high” this may have taken a toll on our civility, especially toward each other. Social media has provided a platform for haters to leave anonymous threats, insults, criticisms and tirades. Have you had moments where you were frustrated about something that you wouldn’t have even noticed a few years ago? Have you yelled at your neighbor for being noisy or parking in front of your house? Is that unusual behavior for you? Not everything has been bad. I don’t mean to say that. But I do remember a time when we were all a bit kinder. Back in 1982, I was a teller for Deseret First Credit Union. It was 5:30 pm on a Friday. There were still members in line. I got the last member. It was a lady who emptied a bag full of coins. It looked like there was at least $50.00 in change spread out all over the counter. Remember back then we didn’t have coin counters. We were the coin counters! I was just about ready to say, “it’s kind of late and this is going to take a while”. I wanted to say, “really”??? Something told me to pause, so I did and about 10-15 seconds later this lady put her hands over her eyes and said something I’ll never forget. “I’d rather have my son back”. She started crying. I assured her everything was alright and started counting the coin. As I counted the coins, she recounted her story of her five-year-old son. The coins belonged to him. He had fallen asleep in their orchard and was run over by her husband on the family tractor and passed away. My heart sunk! As I continued to count and do my best to give her some kind of comfort, I’ll always be grateful that I hesitated for a moment and listened. I was a 22-yearold kid whose life changed forever on that spring day of 1982. Here is an example of how an act of kindness and respect changed a life. It comes from Murray Police Chief Craig Burnett. “I remember an incident that happened while another officer and myself were eating lunch at Fashion Place Mall. A young man (in his 30’s and therefore younger than the two of us) approached our table. He called the other officer by name and proceeded
Brett A. Hales -Mayor
to thank him. He said that when he was a teenager and struggling with many issues, he had encountered the officer I was eating with. He explained that the officer had spent time with him and talked about his issues and offered help. The young man said that because of the patience and time this officer took to speak with him, he had started to change his life. He was able to leave a bad set of life choices behind, finish high school and begin a career. He thanked the officer for helping him so long ago and left. After, I asked who the young man was, and the response was ‘I have no idea!’. We don’t always know what kind of an impact kindness and respect can have on people.” Maybe it’s time to take a breather. Literally inhale and exhale thoughtfully. Clear our minds then start to fill it with thoughts, positive thoughts. This has been weighing heavy on my mind recently as evidenced by my posts on social media. I wrote “Kindness begins with you and me” and “Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.” I’m working on being better. I’d love to have some company in that quest. Care to join me?