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December 2020 | Vol. 20 Iss. 12

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MURRAY UTILITY BILLS SKYROCKET AS CONSUMPTION AND WATER RATES INCREASE By Shaun Delliskave | s.delliskave@mycityjournals.com

ynda Brown carefully watches her pennies, especially conserving water and electricity. She doesn’t own a dishwasher, makes sure her lights are turned off, and hasn’t even run her television since February, but she couldn’t believe it when she saw her utility bill jump from $116 per month to $210. “I was shocked,” Brown said, “and they had no reasonable explanation for the huge increase.” Brown is not alone. The Murray Journal conducted an impromptu poll asking residents if they have seen an increase in rate charges over their previous bill. Of the 390 respondents, 86% saw an increase in their statement by over 10%, with 65% seeing an increase of over 25%. “I looked at our usage history, and not much changed as far as I can tell, other than the charges for water usage. We didn’t get a pool or anything, so I’m not sure why the big jump,” Murray resident Sue Wilson said. The reason may be threefold. Because of the pandemic, many Murray residents telecommuted this year, thus placing greater demand on their home utilities. Also, summer 2020 was one of the hottest and driest on record for Murray, increasing power use for air conditioners and water consumption for landscapes. Lastly, Murray City recently implemented a new tiered water rate for billing. There have not been any power rate increases since 2011, so an increased charge for power is strictly due to consumption. “The legislature passed the bill for a tiered water rate system with the intent of encouraging conservation,” Murray

Murray City utility crews patch a road after repairing a water line leak. (Photo courtesy Murray City)

City Chief Communications Officer Jennifer Heaps said. “The city expected that some customers would continue to water their landscape, as usual, resulting in a higher bill, while others would elect to change their watering habits to avoid such an increase.”

The tiered rate system has been in place since 2018. Known as “tiered-pricing,” the law requires customers who use more water to pay higher rates than those who use less. Many believe this tiered pricing structure provides financial incentives for customers to conContinued page 9

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Hard work pays off for Murray girls soccer, reaches state semis By Ryanne Riet | r.riet@mycityjournals.com

urray High’s girls soccer team has had quite the year despite this being a season unlike any other. This year, the girls have accomplished 12 wins out of 15 games. The three loses came during games that resulted in either overtime or a shootout. “It has been a positive and negative experience this season,” said head coach Brady Smith. “The negative side is we have changed all of our processes to follow and adhere to recommendations from the state and local governments.” Processes that have been put in place are wearing masks at all times, except when out on the field playing, using hand sanitizer frequently, taking temperatures at each event, and practicing social distancing at all times. “The positive in all this is I don’t know of a year that soccer has meant more for my players,” said Smith. “They enjoy the team aspect greatly and we have been fortunate to participate this season.” The pandemic has hit sports programs hard this year, players are feeling the pressure of the troubles and unrest that is so heavy everywhere in the world right now. They continue to strive for greatness and give their program everything that they have. Hard work and a winning team spirit have paid off for Murray girls soccer this year since they have made their way to the state tournament. In round one of the state tournament, Murray faced Cottonwood High’s lady Colts, winning the game 8-1. “I think we want all the girls that participate in our program to grow as players and develop into incredible young adults,” Smith said. “The theme of this season has really been to appreciate every opportunity we have to play this incredible game.” In round two of the state tournament, Murray took on Maple Mountain, winning the game 4-1. The quarterfinals saw the Spartans defeat No. 1 seed Viewmont in double overtime 1-0.

Along with all the craziness this year, Junior Sammie Sofonia takes a shot on goal. (Justin Adams/City Journals) Murray girls soccer team has produced not only wins on the field, but, wins in personal growth as well. The team this year is home to Sammie Sofonia, a junior that is leading 5A with 39 goals. “We are excited that we have made a run in state,” Smith said before their quarterfinal game. “They are an extremely talented group that have created great connectivity on and off the field this season.” Murray took on Olympus in the semifinals at Rio Tinto Stadium. The two foes were familiar with one another, with the Titans scoring a pair of tight wins over the Spartans in the regular season. The region rivals went to shootout on Sept. 3, with Olympus outkicking the Spartans 3-1 in penalty kicks. On Oct. 1, the Titans edged Murray 4-3 in the regular season finale. Incidentally, Murray ended Olympus’ season last year in a 2-1 win in the second round of the 5A tournament. The Olympus girls soccer team got its revenge as it advanced to the state championship game defeating Murray High 2-1 at Rio Tinto Stadi- Sophomore forward Brooklyn Smith evades two Olympus defenders. (Justin Adams/City Journals) um on Oct. 20. l

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Murray City Journal

McMillan students recycle plastic bags used for school breakfasts, keeping them out of landfills By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

he USDA has granted free breakfast and lunch for students this school year during the COVID-19 pandemic. At McMillan Elementary, there are about 150 students who claim a plastic bag breakfast, which is then eaten in their classrooms. “The plastic bags are coming from a free breakfast program that we are so grateful to have, but we have to prepackage the breakfasts to help with social distancing efforts,” McMillan Principal Hannah Dolata said. That has meant more plastic bags were thrown away. “It’s just appalling to think that all these bags are going in the garbage,” McMillan Library Specialist Corey Peterson said. “Just because we’re trying to be safe with COVID-19, it doesn’t mean we have to go backwards with the environment.” Peterson, supported by Dolata and sixthgrade teacher Rebecca Elder, started the school’s plastic bag recycling program in November. Each classroom is given a box to allow students to place their bags in after they eat breakfast. Then, once each week, two sixth-grade students, wearing gloves, collect the bags in a custodial garbage bag, pushing it on a cart from room to room.

“The students are excited to see how many they can collect,” Peterson said. “The kids are pretty stoked.” Dolata said that participating in the recycling program and other duties that help to take care of the school, like safety patrol, flag duty, and helping with library book collection, have been “great ways for the kids to stay connected and positive at school even when the school day is so different and has less social interaction than they are used to. I am so grateful to the teachers and staff who have helped to keep a focus on civic duties at school by leading students in these efforts. The McMillan faculty and staff amaze me every day with their positivity and commitment to supporting every child in our school.” Peterson plans to drop off the custodial garbage bags filled with the plastic breakfast bags at the Smith’s in west Murray, who agreed to recycle them. “We need to make sure that we’re being responsible, and our students understand that,” Peterson said about the school’s 500 students. “These [bags] don’t do anything; they don’t disintegrate, they just float in the air or pollute the ocean. We don’t need 3 mil- On a weekly basis, McMillan Elementary sixth-grade students recycle plastic bags that were used for free breakfasts. (Kerri McCullough/McMillan Elementary) lion more bags in our ocean.”l

Murray High’s annual Career Day helps students with future plans By Ryanne Riet | r.riet@mycityjournals.com

ifteen years ago Murray High was the first high school in the county to conduct an in-depth Career Day for their students. “This year is a bit different,” workbased learning coordinator Brady Smith said, “we are doing our Career Day at MHS virtually.” Students start their day by completing a career interest survey. This allows students to see where their interests stand when it comes to their future careers, and to see which professionals they want to learn from during Career Day. Some students know which career fields they are interested in, and some are not quite sure where their skills and interests lie when it comes to choosing a career path. “If it’s anything like when you and I were in school you know that it can be hard to know where to begin,” Smith said. Over the years, many businesses and professionals from different fields have donated their time to come into the high school and speak to the students. Current

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and past professional Murray High School Career Day speakers include: doctors, attorneys, actors, dietitians, firefighters, helicopter pilots, military officers, and even a Murray High alum YouTuber. This year, the students logged on to watch prerecorded videos from professionals talking about their fields. Local businesses in the community such as FiiZ, Chick-fil-A, Jimmy John’s, Little Caesars, and Roxberry have donated items for the student raffle to encourage students to take part in this year’s virtual event. “I’m really psyched that these businesses have donated to reinforce this positive choice by students to participate in this virtual Career Day,” Smith said. Career Day is not limited to just Murray High. Hillcrest Jr. High and Riverview Jr. High are also involved. “The earlier a student gets involved with learning about different careers, the better off they will be when graduation rolls around,” Smith said. l

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December 2020 | Page 5

Murray officials explain vote to scrap nuke project By Shaun Delliskave | s.delliskave@mycityjournals.com

urray City Power’s stake in developing a small modular nuclear reactor ended Oct. 20, as the city council voted on advice of its power manager to opt out of the project. The City Council had considered several resolutions, one of which was to increase investment or pull out completely; the council voted unanimously to terminate its involvement. Murray City Power Manager Blaine Haacke, who serves on the Board of Directors for the Utah Association of Municipal Power Systems (UAMPS) and initially proposed adding the experimental small modular reactor (SMR) to its portfolio, backed away after other utility systems dropped support for the project. “Ultimately, the lack of interest and commitment by the regional utilities was not strong enough, in our opinion, to warrant further involvement,” Haacke said. “The cost of development for a project this size is dependent on the strength of its participants. Only about 25% of the megawatts (mw) for the plant size was committed to by Murray City and other UAMPS members. The subscription size itself was weak, and we didn't want to rely on the promised interest of several larger utilities once the nuclear license is received, which is anticipated to be three years from now.” City Councilor Diane Turner, who opposed the project from the beginning, said she appreciated Haacke’s candor in exploring the pros and cons of the SMR. “I believe Blaine’s decision not to support the SMRs was very wise. He cares for Murray’s future and wants to make the right choices. I think he saw that there were too many red flags and was concerned about the funding and Murray’s investment,” Turner said. The project is in the middle of a four- to five-year licensing process with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. UAMPS spent close to $9 million to get to this point. The licensing process is being cost shared by Nuscale and Fluor (the SMR developers). Murray City’s portion of that $9 million is approximately $333,000. The cost was dependent on an individual municipality's percent of subscription or entitlement in the plant. Opposition to further investment came both from environmentalists and the Utah Taxpayers Association. Environmentalists decried that even though the project was hailed as carbon-free, it still produced radioactive waste. Tax scrutinizers felt that municipal power companies should not be taking the financial risk that is built into this project by essentially acting as venture capital investors, bearing the risk of cost overruns and delays. According to Turner, “The funding never made sense. It seemed like smoke and mirrors; UAMPS was not specific or clear about the budget. It never made sense that a mu-

Page 6 | December 2020

Top: An illustration of the proposed small modular nuclear reactor that Murray was initially partnered in developing. (Photo courtesy of UAMPS) Bottom: Pursuit of adding nuclear energy to Murray City Power’s portfolio has been dropped. (Shaun Delliskave/City Journals)

nicipality should provide funding for a new technology that had not been tried or been on the power grid. “The completion date was not clear and changed. The large, private for-profit power companies were not interested, thought it was too risky. I guess that was my bottom line, it was just too risky, and I don’t believe we should be investing our citizens’ tax dollars in risky, unproven technology.” City Councilor Dale Cox, who was initially supportive of the SMR project, noted that the decision, overall, was based more on independent information. “I feel outside interest groups instilled doubt, through misinformation, to Murray citizens. However, I and fellow council members had the opportunity to attend dozens of presentations over

the last few years and we received the pros and cons from our power officials.” Murray Power must now redirect its sights in securing other power sources for its future. Haacke indicates that for the next decade, the city is well covered. “Murray is well situated for the next 10 years or so for covering our customers’ needs with existing contracts and plants. We have a variety of fuel sources that is the envy of many. Hydro, coal (three different plants), natural gas turbines, landfill methane plants, solar, and the market. This variety can take us through drought, coal supply issues, and natural gas rate spikes.” Should the SMR prove functional for power grids, Murray Power may have the opportunity to subscribe to the plant, but at

different rates than originally promised. For now, Murray Power is exploring other new options on the horizon. “The city has pursued large-scale solar in the past year and has options on the table right now to purchase more large-scale solar from other areas of the state. We have preliminarily begun discussions with a geothermal plant operation in central Utah that seems promising. We have obtained bids for the possibility to install natural gas reciprocating engines onsite. We have begun discussions with another UAMPS member to share the cost of a natural gas plant as a partnership,” Haacke said. “And, lastly, we don't want to shut the door on a resurrection of nuclear or other options if it fits our plan.”l

Murray City Journal

Artistic ambassadors call Murray home By Shaun Delliskave | s.delliskave@mycityjournals.com

t’s quite something when your country calls on you to be an ambassador and head overseas to represent America’s interests. But when you are called to be an “artistic ambassador” (and, yes, there is really such a thing), you had better be talented. For Murray’s Brady and Carol Ann Allred, music is as much a calling as it is a way of life. “We were invited to be a part of a special program sponsored by the US State Department (United States Information Service) to build artists bridges and good relations with various countries around the world,” Brady said. “There were 12 voice/piano duos selected for this honor from the USA. We felt lucky to be assigned to Western Europe and gave recitals and masterclasses throughout Italy, Sweden, Spain, Portugal, and the Azores.” Brady is a professional conductor and just started his 18th year as the artistic director and conductor of the Salt Lake Choral Artists organization—a nonprofit arts group of seven choirs. He also travels around the world to guest conduct, give masterclasses, and adjudicate international music competitions. This year, however, all seven international trips were canceled because of COVID-19. Carol Ann is on the vocal faculty at the University of Utah. She teaches voice students (most recently via Zoom, Skype, or

FaceTime) and regularly solos with various orchestras and choirs. Musical kismet first brought Brady and Carol Ann together at a choral festival in Virginia, with his high school choir visiting from Memphis, Tennessee, and hers from Salem, New Hampshire. When Brady saw a person wearing a BYU shirt, his future alma mater, at a festival dance, that person introduced him to Carol Ann who was there and who also happened to be going to BYU. It was a musical match made in heaven. With that much artistic talent in their DNA, they were bound to pass it along to their daughters. All four have graced Cottonwood High School’s stage, and each has forged their own path with their musical talents. Loren sang “Never Enough” in the movie “The Greatest Showman” and has performed with David Foster and Michael Bublé. Megan played the violin and cello. Brennan and Karin are voice majors at Utah Valley University and Southern Virginia University, respectively. “Our family loves to make music together when we are together, and that doesn’t happen so much anymore, unfortunately,” Brady said. “We have given recitals together (most recently in Vaison-la-Romaine, France), at the Assembly Hall on Temple Square and for

various church and civic groups.” In 2003, the Allreds moved to Murray from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They found a home that met their family’s need to make music, rather than a cacophony of noise. The previous owner built a workshop behind the house, and the Allreds converted that storage area into a music studio/office. “I think it’s wonderful that Murray is so involved in the arts scene,” Brady said. “I wish we had a true concert hall in Murray (like the Libby Gardner Concert Hall) that has amazing acoustics for choral groups, chamber music, and orchestral music. One that also has a great concert organ. That’s my big wish.” Brady and Carol Ann are so in rhythm with one another that they don’t even disagree about what radio station they listen to in the car, although it may not necessarily be music. According to Allred, “We have about the same tastes in music, although Carol Ann listens to much more popular music than I get to. KBYU and KUER/NPR are our stations of choice.” After representing American arts abroad, the Allreds do have one suggestion for their hometown. “I think it would be great if Murray arts would seek to find ways to col-

Brady and Carol Ann Allred. (Photo courtesy Brad Allred)

laborate with other arts organizations in the Salt Lake metro area. Collaboration always brings great results and new friendships.”l

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December 2020 | Page 7

‘The show must go on’—Does it? How? To what extent? By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

fter several high schools along the Wasatch Front were closed for two weeks or brought back on hybrid schedules, theatre teachers are questioning the old adage, “the show must go on” and to what extent. “We take that scenario, ‘the show must go on,’ and change it to ‘one show at a time,’ and ‘one day at a time,’” said theatre teacher Adam Wilkins, who’s school, Cottonwood High, was shut down and students learned remotely two weeks in mid-October. “It’s really, whatever works well for high school theatre departments and their communities.” Wilkins had planned the typical November musical performance of “Joseph,” only with a reduced cast size of 50 students. That now has been pushed back to 7 p.m., Dec. 3-5 and again on Dec. 7. There also will be a noon matinee on Dec. 5. “We put recordings of our choreography on YouTube so our students can do their part and practice,” he said while the school was online and no in-person rehearsals were allowed. “We’re trying to keep the kids safe. So, we adapt to how we can do live theatre safely. We wear masks, wash hands, sanitize, decrease numbers of kids, practice intentionally in small numbers of ensembles, and follow the Salt Lake County health guidelines.” Wilkins said that at Cottonwood, patrons—only 500 of the 3,000 seats will be filled and they’ll sit socially distanced—can expect to see the performers in matching black masks. “We’ll wear masks at performances and rehearsals. That’s nonnegotiable,” he said. That’s not the same criteria at all high schools as each district determines what’s best for its communities. Nearby Murray High School allows actors to be unmasked for the performances. Murray High, which also was shut down, allowed its students to rehearse during the two weeks in early October. Murray High students’ show, “Little Women,” was slated for Nov. 1213 and Nov. 16 as of press deadline. Students voted on the fall musical, citing a smaller cast and simpler set would be more appropriate during the COVID-19 pandemic. Draper’s Corner Canyon High experienced one of the highest COVID-19 outbreaks to date in the state. After weeks of online and hybrid schedules in the midst of their rehearsals, theatre director Phaidra Atkinson and her students are learning adaptability. “There’s no normal day; we’re changing things every day,” she said in late October. “With Shakespeare, we had three weeks of rehearsal, then four weeks where we were shut down. Initially, we weren’t allowed rehearsals while the school was closed, but we were able to get in four more rehearsals during that time, since we are sanctioned under the Utah High School Activities Association.” And with those extra rehearsals, they were able to pull off first-place results at the

Page 8 | December 2020

44th annual Shakespeare Festival, which was held virtually. “We swept everything; it was awesome,” Atkinson said, adding that they had a watch party over Google Meet. “It was the hardest thing we ever have done— to pull it together so fast. We cried a lot when we won.” In December, the theatre students will take part in three senior one-act student-directed plays as well as “Broadway Backwards” charity fundraiser, both which are restricted to family and friends because of health guidelines. With the shutdowns, Corner Canyon also moved back their auditions for their February musical, “Matilda.” Currently, they can only allow 300 family or friends in the auditorium per night for the run instead of the typical 1,300 patrons. “It’s my hope and dream they’ll raise the 25% auditorium capacity to 50% if it’s safe,” she said. “The musical is absolutely worth doing. It’s these students’ joy, their passion and their love. We’ll take a huge hit financially, but students need something to look forward to.” Atkinson said that she is glad she double-cast the musical as already she had 10 students in quarantine in the first 10 days of rehearsal. “We’ve filmed some things and put them online so those at home can learn at home,” she said. “It’s so depressing for them to be at home and miss out. It’s a show that we don’t have the rights to film the entire show or to stream it, but it’s a show that’s right for our students.” Nearby, Bingham High had planned a December screening of their filmed Shakespeare production of “Hamlet,” but in late October, students shifted to online as COVID-19 cases rose at their school and the decision was made to move it to mid-January. “With the school closure it will be impossible for us to get everything shot and edited before Christmas break,” said show director, Jason Purdie. “We are hoping to get everything at least filmed before we leave for the break, but it all depends on how things go with COVID over the next few weeks. Hopefully, no other cast members will get COVID or quarantined and hopefully there won't be any more school closures. The schedule has become extremely tight at this point.” Purdie, himself, was quarantined in late September, but was able to virtually meet with his students along with his co-director, Brittany Anderson. Alta and Brighton high schools reached a peak number of COVID-19 cases in late September and early October, according to Canyons School District’s COVID-19 dashboard, so classes moved online. They returned on a hybrid schedule, but by mid-October, when cases dropped, students returned to full on-campus instruction for those in-person learners.

Corner Canyon’s Shakespeare team, all masked up, swept the competition in their division of the virtual high school Shakespeare competition and three students earned college scholarships. (Melissa Thorne/Corner Canyon High School)

In mid-October, Alta theatre teacher Linze Struiksma was quarantined, along with six of her students, awaiting COVID-19 test results. “I’ve had parents there helping as I Zoom in to be there during the three-hour rehearsals,” she said. “We’re adapting the best we can, given what we’ve gone through with being closed down, being on a hybrid schedule, and now quarantining and doing lesson plans and rehearsals virtually. We literally change what we’re doing every week. It’s teaching me and teaching the kids to be adaptable.” Struiksma, who was able to have her kids compete and take second place in their ensemble performance in the virtual Shakespeare Festival, has been cautious in making theatre plans for the year, trying to adapt to the circumstances. In mid-September, she talked with her seniors. “I didn’t feel comfortable with a full show. I was really nervous. COVID cases were on the rise and we didn’t know what it was going to look like,” Struiksma said. They decided to perform in a showcase featuring groups of up to three students singing or performing a scene together and having two narrators bringing it together in a storyline. A tech student was assigned to each group to help design their set and costumes. “It works well to be able to rehearse in small groups, so there’s limited interaction and if we have to (because of students being in quarantine), we can remove a scene,” she said. “The kids came up with the theme and created it.” The show, “Divine Connections,” examines the relationships humans have—from those with siblings and parents to platonic and romantic relationships. The show was scheduled to be held at the school’s new Performing Arts Center at 7 p.m., Nov. 12-13, with only 25% of the auditorium filled with patrons. “We wear masks at rehearsals, and had planned not to wear them during the second tech week or dress rehearsals when on stage and created a system for them when they were off, but now, we’ll be rethinking that and talking to parents,” Struiksma said. She said that she also is rethinking the

production of “Little Mermaid” for February, with concerns about producing a full musical during COVID-19 and the costs involved with it, when seating is limited. Brighton theatre director Tiffany Davis gives credit to her students for adjusting during the challenging time. “We rehearsed over Google Meet and learned what we could put into the scene, but it’s hard to adjust,” she said. “When we were allowed to continue to rehearse in person, kids came in, we did a symptom and temperature check, we were masked, 6-feet apart and took frequent breaks. When we could do virtual rehearsals on monologues, we did that to eliminate the risk.” On top of working under COVID restrictions, Davis also had other concerns. As Brighton is under construction, she got news that the new auditorium wasn’t going to be ready in time for the show, so Davis moved the Nov. 19-25 production of “Hamlet” to Butler Middle—an hour before fall break, during which she got married. “It was a crazy time, but we rallied through,” she said. “The students were so diligent and worked so hard. Nobody in the production tested positive as of now and we put their personal safety first.” Davis did have one student pull out when rehearsals went virtually, which she respected the immediate decision was shared with her. She also said that technical aspects were impacted as they could only talk virtually, so some parts were delayed. “It’s been hard since I love to see actors grow in their acting, and because of the circumstances, I’m not able to coach them as much as I would. It’s been challenging as some activities rely on groups, but when we break it down, it forces me to be creative and find innovative methods,” Davis said. “The show will go on—if we can continue in a safe climate.” Note: As of press deadline, with the governor’s mandate of no extracurricular activities until Nov. 23, check with the high school for show updates and ticket information. l

Murray City Journal

Continued from front page serve water. Murray City Public Works Director Danny Astill stated, “The legislature saw the need to protect and stretch our water supply through a greater measure of conservation, which is why the tiered system was implemented.” Murray resident and business owner Paul Dodge, who owns several properties throughout the city, questions if this is an appropriate rate structure. “The water tiers are based upon the size of your water line. To be fair, it should be relative to the size of your property. When you get kicked up into the top tier, it’s devastating. Your options to conserve are finite.” Even Murray City is not immune to the change. The cemetery budget in 2019 had to increase by $50,000 for utilities to support the increase in water expenditures due to the metering of previously unmetered water lines and the implementation of the tiered water rate system. According to Heaps, “The city instituted a five-year water rate increase beginning in 2018, which impacts the monthly base rate and the charge for each tier. This increase is effective each March. For example, a three-fourth inch to 1-inch meter (typical for residential homes) base rate went from $10.60 to $11.24. Murray City Code outlines the different base and tiered rates, and the dates of scheduled increases.” If the tiered system has been in place for several years, why are people just now see-

ing it impact their bills? The reason may be the new utility billing system; those on equal payment plans are seeing their bills account for the tiered water rates for the first time. “Yes, especially in October, when the equal payment plans are adjusted based on usage. While being on equal pay is helpful for budgeting expenses, customers still need to be aware of their consumption. If they consume more than their equal pay amount covers, the balance owing will be calculated into the payment amount for the next year, along with the increased average consumption per month,” Heaps said. Within Murray’s boundaries are three water providers: Murray City, Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District, and Salt Lake City Public Utilities. Salt Lake City water users have already seen their water rates change, while Jordan Valley’s changed the same time as Murray’s. There has been no state guidance for implementation besides the legislature passing the bill for tiered water rates. Individual water providers developed their own plans. Murray City contracted with Zions Public Finance in 2018 to complete a water rate analysis and assist in developing the tiers and rates. Further adjustments to Murray residents’ overall utility bills may still happen. Sewer bills, which are not on the tiered system, are based on usage during the winter months. Sewer rates are also on a five-year increase plan, with the most recent change

Murray City utility crews perform water line maintenance near Fashion Place Mall. (Photo courtesy Murray City)

going into effect on Nov. 1. Murray City Code provides the base rate and flow rate charge. “Normally, we wouldn’t expect to see a significant increase in sewer charges unless a customer continues to use outdoor water during the winter months or has experienced a leak,” Heaps said. Murray will re-evaluate their rates in

2022 after its five-year cycle is completed. For now, residents can call City Hall for questions regarding their utility bill. “Customers can always contact utility billing to discuss their individual bill. Our staff members can answer their questions and make recommendations on ways to reduce consumption, resulting in a lower bill,” Heaps said. l

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Murray teen takes part in promising COVID-19 vaccine trial By Shaun Delliskave | s.delliskave@mycityjournals.com

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ope for a COVID-19 vaccine was announced Nov. 9, and one Murray High School student is part of the potential clinical trials. Murray teenager Relena Pattison was a test subject in the pharmaceutical company Pfizer’s vaccine study, which was announced as 90% effective in clinical trials. Clinical trials have generally focused on recruiting adult subjects; however, researchers have opened the study to all ages in a race to provide the critically needed vaccine. Pattison volunteered to take part in the phase 3 clinical trial. Phase 3 is the final trial before seeking approval from the Food and Drug Administration for practical usage. This phase is typically handled in hospitals and doctors’ offices across the county, which is how she got involved. “We originally heard of the study through one of our family friends. At the time, they were only looking for adults,” Pattison said. “After a few months, however, they had opened the study up to 16- and 17-year-olds. My mom received a call informing her she was on the waiting list, and they mentioned they had begun looking for teenagers, so I reached out to some of my friends, and we signed up.” As part of the process, patients are watched closely for side effects, and treatment is stopped if they’re too hard to manage. “I have received the original vaccine and the booster, and I am now only in the blooddraw portion of the trial,” Pattison said. As of the first week of November, there have been over 50.7 million COVID cases, with 1.3 million deaths worldwide since the virus was detected in November of last year. In deaths alone, the United States has reported over 240,000 COVID-related death, and nearly 700 in Utah. “I think the biggest reason that I decided to join the trial was that I wanted to help,” Pattison said. “By wearing masks, washing our hands, and social distancing, we can all do our part to help stop the spread, but I wanted to do even more. Although I can’t help in the labs trying to create an effective vaccine, I still think it’s important to do all I can.” Being part of the process has been rewarding for the math and biology-loving student since she aspires to be an anesthesiologist. Besides participating in the STEM and Health Occupations Students of America clubs, Pattison rounds herself out by being co-captain of Murray High’s color guard team and is an ambassador for the Girl Scouts of America. “It’s been very fun to learn about what exactly they are testing for and the requirements that need to be met to get accurate results,” Pattison said. Like all Murray students, Pattison’s

Pre-COVID, Relena Pattison participated on the Murray High color guard team; now, she is a volunteer in a promising vaccine trial. (Photo courtesy Relena Pattison)

world was rocked back in March when the school district switched to online learning and shut down extracurricular activities. “Besides losing school time and taking AP tests online, I was exposed to COVID back in June,” Pattison said. “Although I didn’t test positive, I and a few others had to self-quarantine for a few weeks, just in case, to keep our loved ones safe. Honestly, it was pretty rough being stuck in my room for 14 days, but it was definitely worth it.” Pattison is not the only student involved in the study; there are some volunteers at Cottonwood and Murray High School in various COVID vaccine studies. Currently, there are 11 different vaccines in phase 3 trials across the globe. As part of Operation Warp Speed, the federal government has promised billions of dollars to pharmaceutical companies to develop a vaccine in an accelerated time frame. The government hopes to manufacture 100 million doses of a COVID -19 vaccine as soon as it is approved. According to Pattison, “I have very few fears about the vaccine itself; I have received the vaccine and had little issues. My concerns are more about people not getting the vaccine. It’s very important to vaccinate to create herd immunity and keep people important to us safe.”l

Murray City Journal

A very Krampus Christmas coming to Murray By Shaun Delliskave | s.delliskave@mycityjournals.com

o, you made the naughty list this year, and you are expecting a skip-over from Santa this Christmas. Don’t worry; you won’t be alone because Krampus, the half-demon, half-goat, will be visiting lucky you. On Dec. 4 and 5, the yuletide terror will call Dead City Haunted House (5425 S. Vine St.) in Murray home. With origins dating back as far as Christmas itself, “Krampus Night,” or “Krampusnacht,” is celebrated the night before “The Feast of St. Nicholas” across most of Central Europe. While Nicholas provides gifts to the good children, the horned, anthropomorphic figure, commonly known as Krampus, dispenses coal and other devious surprises to all the spoiled children. St. Nicholas Day this year falls on Dec. 6. A representative from Dead City, wishing to be identified as “One of the Merry Minions,” describes the Krampus experience: “From entry to exit, the show has completely changed after Krampus and his minions have decked the halls with glimmering lights while wrecking walls with gruesome new frights. Thousands of multi-colored bulbs will guide your way through the sights, smells, and screams of Christmas at Dead City Haunted House this Dec. 4 and 5. This year we also have our ‘Ugly X-Mask’ contest, encouraging everyone to show off their creativity in this crazy time; simply snap a selfie with your festive face covering at one of our stations inside.” According to National Geographic, “Krampus’s name is derived from the German word ‘krampen,’ meaning claw, and is said to be the son of Hel in Norse mythology. The legendary beast also shares characteristics with other scary, demonic creatures in Greek mythology, including satyrs and fauns.” Germany and Austria have Krampus, and other Germanic regions have “Belsnickle” and “Knecht Ruprecht,” black-bearded men who carry switches to beat children. France has “Hans Trapp” and “Père Fouettard.” “Halloween and Christmas have combined in this one-of-a-kind immersive theatrical experience mixed with an awe-inspiring visual display,” Mr. Minion said. “What started with a few old buckets of decorations quickly blew up into something worth noticing after just a single operating night in 2019.” Whether it was a change of pace in December after hearing “Jingle Bells” for the millionth time or Utah’s continual fascination with all thrill rides, the Krampus event did attract national attention. Dead City Haunted House was honored as one of the 2020 Haunters to Watch Win-

MurrayJournal .com

ners for their Krampus Night by HAuNTcon and Haunted Attraction Network, receiving the award in New Orleans this past January. The committee cited: “Many haunts offer a Krampus event, but Dead City Haunted House impressed us with their video creation, narrative tie into their overall theme, social media contest, and overall use of a limited budget.” Krampusnacht has been controversial in Europe, being banned by the Catholic Church and World War II-era fascists. Borrowing traditions of a visit by Saint Nick, Krampus would visit homes, clanking chains together and, if sympathetic, would present the ill-behaved with a twig. In this year of the pandemic, Dead City is taking precautions to help patrons stay safe. “Pandemic safety measures matter for every business, so we are 100% dedicated to providing a safe form of entertainment via celebration,” Mr. Minion said. “Dead City Haunted House proudly displays the ‘Stay Safe to Stay Open’ seal of approval for our safety pledge to patrons and staff. We take all the necessary measures in cleaning surfaces, sanitizing show space, air filtration systems, and actor social distancing backstage. We understand this show may seem too naughty for some this year, so we are making sure the experience can be as nice as possible for those who attend. Additional dates may be added due to popular demand; check online for updates and to purchase tickets.”l

Krampus and his minions will be visiting Dead City Haunted House this Christmas season. (Photo courtesy Dead City)

December 2020 | Page 11

Plans emerge for extensive downtown Murray development By Shaun Delliskave | s.delliskave@mycityjournals.com

bid has been selected and presented to the Redevelopment Agency (RDA) of Murray City to set up an exclusive negotiations agreement to develop the Murray City Center District (MCCD). The RDA, which essentially is the Murray City Council and Mayor, reviewed the MCCD bid committee’s recommendation to select real estate development firm Gerding Edlen’s proposal on Nov. 17. On April 6, the RDA opened a Request for Proposals (RFP) to develop the RDAowned property at 4800 South and State Street, and five proposals were received. Gerdling Edlen’s proposal rated the highest score and was recommended to enter into an agreement and develop the westside State Street property between 4800 South and 5th Avenue. Construction has already begun on the west side of this area where Hanauer Street will be extended southward, and the land for City Hall has been cleared. The city recently presented design guidelines for what it hopes to include in the redevelopment. Before any construction begins, several buildings, some of which are over 100 years old, will need to be demolished. The most recent tenants of these buildings were Wright Costume, Murray Arts Centre, and Vine Street Antiques. Two other buildings, which are not

owned by the RDA, will not be included in the development: the century-old, three-story Harker Building (4842 S. State Street) and the two-story Murray Mercantile Building (4836 S. State Street), built in 1898. The demolition of the historical buildings has brought an outcry from preservationists. Also of controversy were initial design ideas for a skyscraper nearly as tall as the IMC tower to be constructed on the site. Gerdling Edlen’s proposal includes a mix of retail and 273 housing units in two buildings encompassing the entire block. The north building will consist of 15,000 square feet of retail at the corner of 4800 South and State Street that has been designed to accommodate a grocery store. The intersection of 5th Avenue and State will have 11,000 square feet for shops and restaurants. According to the proposal, “We are proposing to build the project in one phase, though the proposed design allows for flexibility to build in phases if market conditions do not favor a single phase. We estimate approximately 11 months to design the project. We would begin the design review process at the end of the schematic design and expect it will take approximately six months. We estimate approximately three months for construction permit review, 22-24 months for construction,

and six months for lease-up.” If all goes as planned, construction will not begin until Spring 2022. A full development and participation agreement will likely take several months to a year to fully negotiate. Public feedback sessions on the proposed designs will take place in early 2021. The proposal intends to make the buildings LEED-certified and includes large solar arrays on the rooftops. The developers will pay Murray City for the land, appraised at $2.56 million or $22 per square foot. Once developed, the project estimates that 71 retail and property management jobs will be created for the site and bring in revenue for the city. “The project is estimated to create annual Sales Tax Revenue of $61,425 from increased

population due to the increase in units and $52,769 from Retail Point-of-Sale revenue, for a total annual projected Sales Tax Revenue of $114,194,” the proposal states. The bid committee included RDA Chair (City Councilor) Brett Hales, RDA Vice-Chair (City Councilor) Dale Cox, RDA Executive Director (Mayor) Blair Camp, RDA Deputy Executive Director Melinda Greenwood, Murray City Planning Division Manager Jared Hall, Public Works Director Danny Astill, City Engineer Trae Stokes, Chief Administrative Officer Doug Hill, and Communications Chief Jennifer Heaps. The proposal is available online at https:// www.murray.utah.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/5284. l

The new Murray City Center District will include 273 housing units, a grocery store, and retail space. (Photo courtesy Murray City)

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Looking eastward at the Murray City Center District, the new multi-million dollar development will border the Murray Mansion and new Murray City Hall. (Photo courtesy Murray City)

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Cottonwood High student works toward dream of becoming a doctor By Heather Lawrence | h.lawrence@mycityjournals.com

ottonwood High senior Will Sintyl has big dreams. When his mom had health problems, Sintyl and his twin sister Kiki came to live with family in Utah. He’s worked hard to get on the honor roll, and the twins have flourished in Cottonwood’s ESL program. His hard work was recognized when Sintyl was recommended for a coveted place at the Congress of Future Medical Leaders at Harvard this past spring. “The Congress was a three-day event, and there were only a few other students from Utah there. To be accepted, you have to be recommended by a teacher. So, it was a surprise to me. I’ve always loved serving people and wanted to be a doctor,” Sintyl said. At the congress, high school students attend workshops and hear “grandmaster” speakers. Speakers include winners of the Nobel Prize and recipients of the National Medal of Science. Students are given advice on what to expect in a program by deans from top medical schools. “After all the workshops and seminars, I felt that I really want to be a cardiologist. And I thought, ‘I can do this,’” Sintyl said. Cottonwood counselor Lorraine Behling is a site coordinator for the Utah State University STARS GEAR UP! program. She used the program to help Sintyl receive funding that covered the cost of the congress. “This was life-changing for me, and my family has been so supportive. Even though the event had to be virtual this year, I loved learning about Harvard. I want to attend there,” Sintyl said. Nancy Veit is a close friend of the Sintyl family and a nurse practitioner. She believes Sintyl not only has the intelligence to become a physician, but he has something more—ambition and drive. “He’s so bright and so quick. Intelligence is one thing, but what will always make the difference is your focus and ability to work. He has that persistence and drive for perfection. If he gets a 90% on a test, he retakes it if he can. They are both smart and courageous kids,” Veit said. Veit marvels at the progress the twins have made, and laughs about their communication efforts when they first moved to the Millcreek area. “They are both wonderful students, but they came to this country not speaking English. Their native language is Haitian Creole, and they speak French and a little Spanish. We were using phone translations the first few months they were here, which was pretty hilarious,” Veit said. Sintyl is preparing for a pharmacy tech program, something his sister-in-law Sharla Sintyl helped him find. He said the support of family in Utah and Haiti has meant a lot to him.

Page 14 | December 2020

Cottonwood senior Will Sintyl holds his certificate from the prestigious Congress of Future Medical Leaders, which he attended this year. (Photo courtesy Will Sintyl)

“I have teachers who really believe in me, and they helped me with this program. And my family is the biggest support. They are pushing me to try new things; they support me in whatever I do,” Sintyl said. Cottonwood’s principal Terri Roylance loves that Sintyl is being recognized for his efforts. “He is an outstanding young man in every way. His twin sister Kiki is equally wonderful. “[Sintyl] is very goal-oriented and wants to go to medical school. I have no doubt that this will happen for him. I’m so proud of him. He represents himself, his family and our school in an exemplary way,” Roylance said. Sintyl hopes he can show people that when you have a dream, no matter how big, with hard work and the right support you can make it happen. “My advice for all the teenagers that are coming up in this generation is that the hardest things in life are the ones that are most worth it in the end,” Sintyl said. “Especially if you are struggling with depression and anxiety, this is part of life. You can face it. You can do anything you want, you can become whatever you want to be. If you can dream it, you can become it.” l

Murray City Journal

DECEMBER 2020

FREQUENTLY REQUESTED NUMBERS Attorney .................................. 801-264-2640 Business Licensing .................. 801-270-2432 Cemetery ................................ 801-264-2637 City Council ............................. 801-264-2603 Finance Department ............... 801-264-2513 FIRE DEPARTMENT Administrative Office .......... 801-264-2781 Non-Emergency Calls ......... 801-840-4000 General Information................ 801-264-2525 Heritage Center (Sr. Center)..... 801-264-2635 Human Resources.................... 801-264-2656 Library .................................... 801-264-2580 Mayor’s Office.......................... 801-264-2600 Municipal Court....................... 801-284-4280 Museum .................................. 801-264-2589 Murray Park Outdoor Pool ....... 801-266-9321 Murray Parkway Golf Course.... 801-262-4653 PARKS AND RECREATION Administrative Office .......... 801-264-2614 Rain-out Information ......... 801-264-2525 Park Center (indoor pool) ........ 801-284-4200 Passports................................. 801-264-2660 POLICE DEPARTMENT Administrative Office .......... 801-264-2673 Animal Control ................... 801-264-2671 Code Enforcement .............. 801-264-2673 Non-Emergency Calls ......... 801-840-4000 POWER DEPARTMENT Administrative Office .......... 801-264-2730 After Hours Emergency....... 801-264-9669 PUBLIC SERVICES Administrative Office .......... 801-270-2440 Building Inspection ............ 801-270-2431 Green Waste Trailers ........... 801-270-2440 Planning and Zoning .......... 801-270-2420 Solid Waste......................... 801-270-2440 Water, Sewer, Streets.......... 801-270-2440 Zoning Enforcement ........... 801-270-2426 UTILITIES After Hours Emergency....... 801-264-9669 Billing Questions ................ 801-264-2626

murray.utah.gov

Mayor’s Message Development Projects in Murray As I talk with Murray residents throughout the city, I am almost always asked about the status of development projects. While 2020 has been a tough year in many ways, Murray has demonstrated its resilience and there have been some positive happenings and developments. In my message published in January of this year, prior to the outbreak of the terrible pandemic, I mentioned a few projects that we were looking forward to as a city. Some have been moving forward while others have not. The new fire headquarters fire station was substantially completed in March, without fanfare due to the pandemic. We look forward to the day that we can invite the public in to tour that outstanding facility. The new city hall project directly east of the fire station was scheduled to start in the spring, but only got underway last month due to delays relating to the relocation of the cell tower on the site. We are looking forward to that facility being open to serve the public in fall of 2022, with new city offices and a new police department. The renovation of the Murray Theater has become a casualty of COVID-19. The $3.6 million in matching funds from Salt Lake County was cut after the TRCC (Tourism, Recreation, Cultural, and Convention) tax money dried up as a result of the pandemic. That project is now on hold indefinitely until another funding source can be identified. On the positive side, the old Firestone site at 900 East and 6600 South has been transformed into an attractive office building. The Shake Shack at 6100 South State has finally opened after being delayed as a result of the pandemic. The new EOS Fitness store at 5600 South 900 East recently opened its doors for business, but unfortunately, a stone-throw away, the 24 Hour Fitness facility has permanently closed. A new AutoZone store is now open next to the EOS Fitness. Also, after being shut down for many weeks, Fashion Place Mall is busy once again and in the midst of what we all hope will be a very successful holiday shopping season.

MAYOR’S OFFICE

D. Blair Camp -Mayor mayor@murray.utah.gov 801-264-2600 5025 S. State Street Murray, Utah 84107

Here are some other developments that I often get asked about. The old Firestone Store at 6100 South State has been demolished, but the have been no plans submitted for a new building on that site. Across the street, the Tom Nox Men’s Shop is open for business in the former Cotton Shop building. Many have mourned the loss of the Taco Bell at that corner, but a site plan has been submitted for a new Taco Bell at 6001 South State at the site of the former Café Trang. Unfortunately, there is not yet a new tenant for the former Shopko location, however the plans for a new mixed use development are moving forward at the old K-Mart site on 900 East, and we hope to see that project begin in early 2021. Also, the Redevelopment Agency of Murray City (RDA) is in negotiations with a developer regarding the RDA owned property at 4800 South State Street. It is exciting to note that we are making progress toward a planned project that will rejuvenate that block in the near future. There are many and various projects going on in Murray. I invite any interested citizens to follow the planning commission agendas to track what is happening in our city. The agendas and attachments for the planning commission can be found at www.murray.utah.gov/163/ Planning-Commission. While many of our businesses continue to do well, many of our small businesses are hurting as a result of the pandemic of 2020. I encourage all of you to support our local businesses, especially small business by shopping and dining local whenever possible. This has been a very challenging year! Even our tradition of Santa visiting the children at City Hall was cancelled this year. But amidst the challenges, I encourage all to stay positive and look towards a brighter future! I wish each of you a very happy and prosperous holiday season!

Stay informed.

murray.utah.gov

MURRAY

Message from the Council Hello Murray residents! Air quality has long been a concern for Salt Lake County residents. As we head into the winter months the cloud of air pollution around us increases substantially reaching unhealthy levels for many people â€“ causing warnings to stay indoors and avoid vehicle travel. Although beautiful and inviting for many year-round sports, the Wasatch Diane Turner Mountains on the east and the Oquirrah District 4 Mountains on the west create a bowl where warm air acts as a lid trapping cold air below and producing our winter inversions. Just as the cold air is trapped, so is the pollution, requiring a storm, which allows it to escape. Every day during an inversion the pollution level doubles. As residents, we have the opportunity to affect these challenges by making smart choices. Carbon dioxide emissions are emitted from many sources including residential, commercial, industrial and transportation sectors. In our homes we can reduce emissions by becoming more energy efficient. Several easy steps include, reducing our thermostats to 68 degrees, changing furnace filters regularly, and replacing light sources with LED. Wood stoves emit small particles that get into your lungs and blood stream and cause a number of health issues, such as heart attacks, asthma and other respiratory problems. Natural gas fireplaces eliminate those health concerns and, therefore, lower emissions. Consider Energy Star appliances like water heaters and furnaces, which will help you conserve and save money while reducing nitrogen oxide emissions that contribute to the small particulate matter in our air. Use of battery powered yard tools also makes a difference. In Utah, vehicle exhaust accounts for up to 50% of our air pollution. Each gallon of fuel used emits about 20 pounds of carbon

dioxide. The unnecessary idling of cars, trucks, and buses increases air pollution wasting both fuel and money. On cold days instead of letting your engine run for several minutes, manufacturers recommend waiting no more than 30 seconds to drive off. The Murray City Council approved an anti-idling ordinance in 2016 restricting idling to no more than 2 minutes, except when stopped for a traffic signal or when the temperature is below 32 degrees or above 90 degrees. Studies show that restarting your vehicle will not wear out the starter. Look for Tier 3 gas for newer vehicles, which contains less sulfur and reduces emissions by up to 80%. Even older vehicles may benefit from an emission savings of up to 12%. In 2017 Utah refineries were given a sales tax exemption to incentivize production of Tier 3 fuel and it is widely available as of the first of this year. Using more energy efficient vehicles like hybrid and plug-in electric models have significant emission benefits. Additionally, Murray City Power is installing electric charging stations in several locations, including the parking lot near the Murray Park Center and the new Fire Station #81 on 4800 South and Box Elder Street. Charging stations will also be installed at the new city center. It starts with us! We can all make a difference! Remember to limit and combine your vehicle trips, carpool, use public transportation, walk, and bike to improve our environment, save money and promote good health. As a reminder, COVID-19 is a public health emergency and Utah continues to suffer from increasing cases of COVID-19, overwhelming hospitals, health care workers and causing loss of life. Please help flatten the upward spiral of the disease, be aware and respectful of those around you by wearing masks, social distancing, and limiting social activities in accordance with the Governorâ€™s Executive Order. References: afdc.energy.gov; ucair.org; utahcleancities.org; energy.gov; Diane Turner Council District 4

CITY COUNCIL Council District 1 Kat Martinez 801-264-2624

kat.martinez@murray.utah.gov Council District 2 Dale M. Cox 801-264-2624

dale.cox@murray.utah.gov Council District 3 Rosalba Dominguez 801-264-2624

rosalba.dominguez@murray.utah.gov Council District 4 Diane Turner 801-264-2624

diane.turner@murray.utah.gov Council District 5 Brett A. Hales 801-264-2624

brett.hales@murray.utah.gov Executive Director Janet M. Lopez Office: 801-264-2622

jlopez@murray.utah.gov

Telephone Agenda Information 801-264-2525

DECEMBER 2020 Murray Senior Recreation Center

Raelyn Webster and Andrea Hamaker, with the help of Bill Webster, are bringing their art to Murray City. Raelyn's favorite medium to use when creating is candy. This festive display can be found at Murray City Hall, outside the City Council Chambers. It was designed last year to highlight the renovation of the Murray Theater. The creation is made of hundreds of Jelly Belly's, tiny dehydrated marshmallows, rock candy crystals, Gummy Bears, Sour Straws, licorice, Tootsie Rolls, Airheads, and ginger clay. Raelyn has been creating her candy windows for about 20 years and does it to bring joy, continue family traditions, and to promote creativity.

SPECIAL EVENTS: Holiday Meal in a Box will be available for pickup on Wednesday, Dec. 16. Registration begins Monday, Nov. 30 and ends at noon on Friday, Dec. 11. The box lunch will include ham, party potatoes, baked beans, roll, and apple crisp. All for $4 per person (limit 3). BOX LUNCHES: $4 Box Lunches for those 55+, Monday through Friday. Please call us at 801-264-2635 between 8 a.m.-4 p.m. the day prior to order. Payment can be made over the phone with your credit/debit card. We need prior notification so the kitchen can adequately prepare your order. The box lunch will be delivered to your car in front of our building (north entrance) between 11:30-12:30. The lunch box options are as follows: Option #1: $4 - sandwich (choice of white or wheat bread and a choice of ham or turkey), bag of chips, pickle, fruit cup, and cookie. If you want a hot sandwich, ask for panini style. Option #2: $2 - for a cup of soup or Option #3: $4 for a bowl of soup (includes saltines, roll, and cookie) Nov 2-6: Ham and Potato; Nov 9-13: Creamy Chicken Noodle; Nov 16-20: Corn Chowder; Nov 23-25: Vegetable Option #4: $4 – hot main entrée (includes fruit cup, chips, roll, cookie) – choice of Chicken Pot Pie, Lasagna, or Meatloaf and Mashed Potatoes CAR BINGO: Due to popular demand, we are extending 55+ Car Bingo every Wednesday through December from 1-2:30 p.m. There will be reserved parking for the first 20 cars; call 801-264-2635 to reserve your spot. Maximum two people per car (should live in the same household). We are providing the bingo cards and prizes (four games will be played). Please bring a marker, pen or pencil to mark your bingo card and a mask to wear while interacting with our staff from your car. When you arrive, check-in with the parking lot attendant and they will direct you to your reserved parking spot. We are only allowing those that have preregistered via telephone to participate. The building is closed to the public, so there is no restroom access and we ask that everyone remain in their cars. Murray City has an ordinance against car engines idling - cars cannot be running while we play bingo so plan accordingly and don’t forget your water and blankets.

VIRTUAL CLASSES Grief Support Class via Zoom. Jody, a Chaplain from Rocky Mountain Hospice, will discuss ways to process grief. The group meets twice a month via Zoom. Please contact Moe at 801-284-4240 if you are interested in participating.

BASKETBALL COURTS

New Aquatics Manager Please welcome Sena Vick, our new Aquatics Manager. Sena joins us with 18 years of aquatic experience, four of which have been here at the Park enter. We are excited to have her as part of our team! We wish Amanda good luck in her new position with the Murray City Finance and Administration Department

MISCELLANEOUS: Our Summer Walking Club to Portland was a success. We want to give you an opportunity to continue walking by offering a Winter Walking to Laughlin. Our goal is to “walk” to Laughlin, Nevada–which is 512 miles from the Center. The cost of the winter program is $5 and starts November 1. You will receive a pedometer and monthly calendars. Calendars are emailed out and printed copies are available in our front vestibule. Prizes await those who make it to Laughlin by the end of March. Call to register.

#10 East 6150 South (one block west of State Street) For information on these and other programs call 801-264-2635

• • • • • •

Personal Training: The virtual personal training program will begin again in January. Watch our webpage in the middle of December for dates and more information. We are working on providing more virtual classes, such as history, painting, and genealogy. Please check our website for updates on class availability and scheduling. We are also working on obtaining iPads that may be checked out and used to access our classes. In addition, Salt Lake County Aging Services has created a “Virtual Senior Center.” These classes are available to all Salt Lake County residents over age 60. Please visit their website: https://slco.org/aging-adult-services/virtual-senior-center/

Capacity 12 (1 individuals per hoop) • Respect staff instruction. • Masks required if physical distancing is difficult to maintain. • Must bring your own basketball or volleyball. • Appropriate clothing and indoor court shoes required. • No food. Water in closed container ONLY. • If you break it or damage it, you will pay for it. • Zero tolerance for misconduct. NOT ALLOWED

Tuesday & Thursday 10, 15

WEIGHT ROOM

November 24, December 1, 3, 8, Session One 8:50am-10:10am

Cost Session: $20 Park Center Annual Members $40 Non Members Max of 12 players per session Location: The Park Center (202 E. Murray Park Avenue)

Weight & Functional Areas • • • • • •

Games with defense (1 V 1, 2 V 2, etc…), half court shots Hanging or grabbing the nets, rim or backboard Dunking or personal training aids. Team practices, private coaching or lessons Spectators or “hanging out”. Inappropriate language including swearing or foul language.

Sanitize (wipe down equipment) before & after use. Wear mask when you cannot physically distance. No congregating or loitering Re-rack your weights. Slamming or dropping weights is not allowed We require shirts and athletic clothing as well as closed toe footwear. No sandals, slippers or flip flops.

RESIDENT ON DISPLAY

THIS OLD MURRAY

December will be showcasing something sweet…

Keep an eye out for Preservation Workshops announcements, coming 2021. The Murray City History Advisory Board will be partnering with local organizations to provide workshops to learn best practices in preserving and restoring historic homes.

Check out a candy landscape in City Hall to celebrate this wintry season in Murray City.

Lori Edmunds: 801-264-2620

If you would like to be a featured Murray artist in 2021, please contact Lori Edmunds, ledmunds@murray.utah.gov

2020 JURIED ART SHOW

FIRST PLACE WINNERS: 3-D: Jim Hohmeister, “Covid-Time Totem” Graphics: Jim Hartley, “Learning at the Speed of Light” Photography: Tiffany Daines, “Puddle Play” Watercolor: John Fackrell, “Honeymoon in Roma #1” Oil: Ryan Bench, “Solitary Combinement”

You can now check out videos of our events over the past year on our YouTube channel: Murray City Cultural Arts

Murray Library

166 East 5300 South • Murray, UT 84107

MOBILE HOTSPOTS NOW AT MURRAY LIBRARY

MURRAY LIBRARY HOLIDAY PROGRAM

The Murray Library has added mobile hotspots to its collection. A hotspot can be checked out and used as an internet connection for your laptop, phone or other wireless devices, and can be used anywhere that has cell service! The library is excited to offer these devices and hopes that it will help connect anyone out there that has limited access to the internet.

Look forward to forthcoming details on the Murray Library Holiday Palooza Program. The program will take place on Saturday, December 19th at 11:15 a.m. and will be presented on social media. Make sure to follow us on Facebook so you can join in on the festivities!

Mobile Hotspots are available now through the Hold Pickup Service to adults that have a Murray Library card in good standing. Please call the Murray Library at 801-264-2580 with questions or further information.

Murray Library Home

Murray Library Calendar

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MurrayJournal .com

December 2020 | Page 19

Incumbent fever strikes Murray this election

tah voters came out in droves in this year’s General Election, mainly favoring incumbents in local races. During the early voting period and on Election Day, there was a continual line of people stretching through and sometimes outside Murray City Hall to vote and a steady stream of cars at the Salt Lake County Clerk’s ballot dropbox. Democrats came out the big winners in all of Murray’s state house races, with no Republicans moving onward to inauguration day. One new face representing Murray this year is Democrat Gay Lynn Bennion. She will take over retiring Representative Marie Poulson’s seat, representing the southeast corner of Murray. Bennion, who defeated Republican Jaren Davis with nearly 57% of the vote, graduated from Brigham Young University. She lists her profession as Education Director of the Women’s State Legislative Council of Utah, a bipartisan think tank. After her victory, Bennion said, “Votes still being counted, but with this clear win, the state is contacting me as the representative-elect for HD46. Thanks to our incredible campaign team, my family, dedicated volunteers, and voters for your confidence in me. I will serve you well.” Eastern Murray will see Representative Carol Spackman Moss (D) return to serve

By Shaun Delliskave | s.delliskave@mycityjournals.com another term; she was first elected in 2000. The former high school teacher defeated Republican Maryann Christensen by over 61% of the vote. Moss posted on social media, “We did it. We worked hard and smart and, as always, stayed positive.” Having one of his most decisive winning margins, Democrat Mark Wheatley, whose district covers northern Murray, defeated Republican Luke Gustafson with nearly 68% of the vote. Wheatley has served in the legislature since 2005. Wheatley noted that this year’s election is a little different. “This is my first election without my mother, who was always my biggest supporter. I always feel her spirit with me, to make sure I treat everyone with respect and love.” Murray City Prosecutor Andrew Stoddard (D) will again represent western Murray. He defeated Republican Kyle Bird with 55% of the vote. Their race was a friendly competition, with each extending well wishes after Election Day. “After making this decision in April, I looked down the road and wondered how it would go. It began with the unexpected death of my oldest son in May, which knocked us down pretty hard, but we as a team got up,” Bird said. “I would like to thank everyone for

their help and support through all of this, as well as congratulate Andrew Stoddard on his well-deserved victory.” Stoddard said, “I want to thank Kyle Bird and John Jackson for running good, clean races. This is how elections should be run.” Democrat and two-term Representative Karen Kwan will continue serving northwest Murray. She received nearly 57% of the vote in her rematch with Republican David Young. In the Utah State Senate, only one Murray race was in play this election, featuring a rematch between current Senator Kathleen Riebe (D) and challenger Brian Zehnder (R). Riebe, who filled out the remainder of departing Senator Brian Shiozawa’s term, will now serve a full six-year term after garnering nearly 57% of the vote. Zehnder conceded by posting on his social media accounts, “Perspective is Everything. We had two ways to win on November 3 for the Utah Senate. We either received more votes, or we drew attention to the need for medical input in our legislature. We won on the latter. Congrats to my opponent, Kathleen Riebe.” For Murray School Board, Glo Merrill and Jaren Cooper both ran unopposed, and each will begin a second term in January.

Miss Murray 2021, Kyleigh Cooper, casts her ballot. Her father, Jaren Cooper, ran unopposed for re-election to the Murray School Board. (Photo courtesy Kyleigh Cooper)

For Granite School District School Board 2, which covers eastern Murray, Clarke Nelson narrowly defeated incumbent Starleen Orullian by 2% of the vote. Updated election results can be found online at electionresults.utah.gov/. l

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December 2020 | Page 21

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William F. Robinson teaching Christmas carols to Murray school children. (Photo courtesy Murray Museum)

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Page 22 | December 2020

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Murray man brought the town together every holiday season

By Shaun Delliskave | s.delliskave@mycityjournals.com

hristmas caroling in Murray is a cherished tradition that owes its influence to William F. Robinson, sometimes called the “Father of Christmas Caroling.” After nearly a half-century of directing choirs and composing music for Murray and Granite School Districts, Robinson established the annual holiday concerts that still take place today. Robinson was made the music supervisor of the Murray City School District in 1907. During the early years of his teaching career, he walked from one end of the district to another, making the rounds to each of the schools to conduct youth choirs and especially teach Christmas hymns. Music piqued Robinson’s interest at an early age while growing up in Derbyshire, England. His father died in a coal mining accident when he was young, and Robinson took up small jobs to help support the family. In the 1880s, his local Methodist church paid him a few shillings to keep the air blowing in the bellows of their pipe organ. While working the organ’s bellows, Robinson began to sing with the choir, and, one day, the conductor stopped the singing to find out what the racket was he was hearing. In a short biography, he wrote, “I was very scared when the tenor singing in front of me said it was ‘Binny’ at the back of the organ. I was brought out to the front of the choir. Of course, I had to cry, for I was only about 11 or 12 years old.” From that day forward, Robinson knew he had a love for singing and it became his life’s profession. When his mother remarried, his family moved to Wyoming, and he taught himself to play the cornet, baritone, and trombone, later leading a band. He joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints there and moved to Utah, where he got his first teaching gig in Mercur. Once in Utah, he trained at the LDS School of Music in Salt Lake City, then went to Lake Forrest College in Chicago. After a slight detour working in the Murray Co-op

store, he returned to his passion and was hired to teach music in the Murray School District; this also allowed him to have a stint singing with the Tabernacle Choir. While he taught everything from orchestras to marching bands, his enthusiasm to spread the holiday spirit made him a beloved community member. He conducted caroling programs at the then junior high, senior high, and three elementary schools in the Murray district with the high school orchestra. Robinson’s concerts were noted for old English melodies, which he brought with him from England only in memory. The Murray Eagle pointed out, “One of his most popular is ‘Merry Christmas,’ which he set to memories in his native England. Although the melody was popular in many English homes, it had never been penned, and today he is known as its composer.” His free Christmas concerts endeared him to many during World War I and the Great Depression. So renowned were his Christmas Eve sing-alongs at Murray City Hall that they were broadcast over the radio. He also sought out new Christmas music to bring to his concerts, and his choir was among the first in Utah to perform “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” when it came out in 1949. He also penned numerous Christmas songs, most notably “Set a Candle in the Window” and “Chime and Carol.” Due to his health, Robinson retired from Murray School District in 1940, only to be called back to work by Granite School District to cover teaching vacancies during World War II. Still, Robinson could always be counted on to conduct a Christmas sing-along in Murray well into his retirement. Robinson passed away in 1960 at the age of 88. Former sing-along participants still gather to remember Robinson and pull out his booklet of hymns to remember the music conductor that brought the holiday spirit to Murray. l

Murray City Journal

Historic Murray in gingerbread By Shaun Delliskave | s.delliskave@mycityjournals.com

gingerbread Wheeler Farmhouse? The Murray Theatre with gumdrop patrons? Glazed icing dripping off the Superette store? The Historic Murray First Foundation is inviting everyone to submit an entry in their online Historic Murray Gingerbread Contest and also learn about tax credits that they can use to renovate their historic building or house. “We are asking that each entry be modeled after an actual building, demolished or still standing, that was built before 1970 in the area that is Murray City’s current boundaries. This could include anything from pioneer-era to mid-century modern buildings,” Foundation representative Kathleen Stanford said. All of this goes toward Historic Murray First’s goal of increasing awareness of preserving historic structures, especially taking advantage of tax credits for those seeking to improve their historic building. According to Stanford, “We want you to know that the State of Utah will pay 20% of any renovation or repair costs for your historic home (in the form of tax credits) if the rehabilitation work protects the historic character of your home, the home is used as a residence, and repairs are pre-approved by the State Historic Preservation Office.” The tax credit comes with a caveat. “Within three years of tax credit approval, the home must be listed in the National Register of Historic Places, individually or as a contributing building within a historic district,” Stanford said. “National Register listing is honorary and does not interfere with a private property owner’s right to alter, manage, maintain, or dispose of the property.” Currently, Murray has three historic districts. The Murray Downtown Historic District is centered around State Street between 4800 South and Vine Street and stretches eastward to Center Street, including several landmark homes. Its companion, the Murray Downtown Residential Historic District, borders the downtown district from Center Street and continues eastward towards Mick Riley Golf Course. The Hillside Historic District includes 284 historic structures in the neighborhood between 5300 South and 5600 South, including 235 East on the westside and Kenwood Drive on the east. Homes in this neighborhood can qualify for the rehabilitation credit. Individual homes outside of these historic districts can also qualify. Buildings listed in the National Register of Historic Places, which, after rehabilitation, are used as a residence(s) qualify. The credit is not available for any property used for commercial purposes, including hotels or bed-and-breakfasts. If the historic B&B is also owner-occupied, this portion of the rehabilitation may qualify. The building does not need to be listed in the National Register at

MurrayJournal .com

Historic homes in Murray’s historic districts can qualify for a tax credit for home rehabilitation repairs. To complement a historic Murray home with gingerbread trim, the Historic Murray First foundation is holding a historic Murray gingerbread competition. (Shaun Delliskave/City Journals)

the beginning of the project. Still, a complete National Register nomination must be submitted when the project is finished. The property must be listed in the National Register within three years of the completed project’s approval. All of the proposed, on-going or completed work must meet the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation and be approved by the State Historic Preservation Office. The rehabilitation credit cannot be used with purchasing a building, new additions, purchasing furnishings or equipment, or landscaping. It can be used to upgrade windows, masonry, furnace, and air conditioning or repairing roofs. “In addition, Murray City imposes no restrictions on historic homeowners,” Stanford said. The Historic Murray First Gingerbread Contest will be held virtually. Entries will be judged and prizes awarded in the following categories: Houses, churches, schools and public/commercial buildings, and also a kid’s division. Contestants will need to take a few pictures of their gingerbread creation, with good lighting and a plain background, and then submit them to historicmurrayfirst@gmail. com with their name, email, and address of the replicated historic building in Murray that To complement a historic Murray home with gingerbread trim, the Historic Murray First foundation is holding inspired them by Dec. 15. Creations will be displayed on the Foun- a historic Murray gingerbread competition. Historic homes in Murray’s historic districts can qualify for a tax credit for home rehabilitation repairs. (Shaun Delliskave/City Journals) dation’s website and Facebook pages.l

December 2020 | Page 23

Cottonwood football closes out COVID season with most wins in a decade By Brian Shaw | b.shaw@mycityjournals.com

losing out the season Oct. 16 in front of only their parents due to a COVID-19 lockdown at Cottonwood High School, the Colts football team may have been a bit nervous starting the game throwing two interceptions, according to Colts head coach Casey Miller. "It was 7-0 at the end of the first quarter," Miller said. "Then they fumbled twice and we were able to capitalize." Yet the Colts weren't losing this game as they might have been in years past. They were actually ahead after a touchdown run from senior Joseph Madrigal. But when you've lost games by 60 or 70 points on a regular basis, you can forgive a team for being shell-shocked. Cottonwood then took over the season finale from Judge Memorial from the second quarter on in a 35-7 romp, notching their fourth winâ€”in a season of many milestones for the rising program. By the time the fourth and final quarter started ticking down, Cottonwood (4-6 overall) was doing to Judge Memorial what other teams had done to the Colts the past three years, Miller added. "We just ran the ball every play and called timeout with about nine minutes left in the game to pull all our seniors," Miller said. Madrigal was the Colts' workhorse, gal-

Page 24 | December 2020

Photo: Cottonwood finishes a successful season. (Photo courtesy Casey Miller)

loping for 129 yards on 32 carries. He also clomped into the end zone three times on the night on short touchdown burstsâ€”all in the first half. Kaelen Gray continued being a big target for Cottonwood. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound freshman receiver snagged a 13-yard pass for a touchdown with 4:23 left in the second quarter from Brock Simpson, giving the Colts a 28-0 lead going into the locker room. Sophomore quarterback Simpson plunged in on a 1-yard run during the third quarter for the Colts to close out the scoring. But the seniors stole the last show, according to the head coach. "We rushed for our highest total the entire season with all five offensive linemen and our tight end being seniors," said Miller, whose Colts got a

huge night from Madrigal. On the defensive side, seniors also had both Colts sacks, as Doug Maughan registered 1.5 and JJ Mitchell 0.5. Mike Miller had several tackles and one interception. The head coach added all played great. Of those seniors, when it came time to take a bow, Isaiah Marichal was the most emotional of them all, taking it all in as he walked off the Colts home field one last time as about 150 in the stands in masks cheered and held up signs. "They deserved a standing ovation. This group had almost given up hope of anything other than [going] 0-10 with a bunch of blowouts before we went independent," Miller explained. In comparison to other Class 5A schools

who have more than 20 seniors on their rosters, the Colts had just 10. Yet most stuck it out for 2020 and were rewarded for their resilience. "Eight of them have been around for it all so they were very proud of what we accomplished this year," he added. And when the game ended and the lights went out for the last time on this historic Covid season, the seniors did something special, according to Miller. "The seniors talked to the team in the end zone after the game," the coach said. "Each of them telling the younger kids to keep it going, not to give upâ€Śtake the next step by working hard in the offseason and taking the program closer to where we want it to be." The turning point this year for Cottonwood in Miller's estimation was the Homecoming Game Sept. 18 against Timpanogos. In that game, the Colts got their second win of the year after a 16-point third quarter broke open a tight first half, giving them a 40-27 win, their second in 2020. "The past four of five years, it's been [an] 0-10 [season] or we luckily got one [win]," Miller said. "Getting that second win and having it be on Homecoming was really something I think the kids embraced as a point where they thought, 'We can actually do this.'" l

Murray City Journal

Senior captains of the Cottonwood High girls soccer team. From left to right: Makayla Montoya, Meg Nelson, Ruby Amis, Maggie Driggs. (Photo courtesy Rachelle Netelbeek)

Cottonwood girls soccer ousted at state tourney after best year since 2014 By Brian Shaw | b.shaw@mycityjournals.com

he last time the Cottonwood High School girls soccer team had more than four wins was six years ago. This year, the Colts rode a rollicking 2-0 start in preseason then earned two big wins in region play over to secure a state tournament berth, at which they drew Murray and lost 8-1 at Murray to end their most successful year since 2014. The season began for Cottonwood (4-

13) in early August. The Colts toughed out a 2-1 win over Provo, then hung on for a 3-2 victory over Grantsville. Region play began soon after that, and even for a veteran-laden team, the Colts still struggled through the majority of August, failing to secure a league win. But Cottonwood was able to rebound on Aug. 29, exploding for five goals in a 5-2 rout of crosstown rival Hillcrest.

After the win over Hillcrest, the Colts had a tough September. They continued to work through various issues like injuries as well as several player absences due to positive COVID-19 cases and didn't win again until Sept. 29 versus Highland, a 2-1 victory. Those two region victories, however, put Cottonwood in seventh place overall. With its strength of schedule, the Colts RPI qualified them for one of the final spots in the

state tournament for the second year in a row, drawing Murray on the road. On the season, the Colts had several who were leading scorers. Megan Nelson had another solid year, scoring five goals. Makayla Montoya had four tallies for Cottonwood, while Alaina Nielson, a newcomer, tacked on three. l

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High school robotics students Zoom in to AMES virtual robotics competition By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

n December, high school teams from across the state will come together online to learn the results of the first virtual robotics contest. The contest, hosted by Academy of Math, Engineering and Science (AMES) in Murray, has been an annual tradition to kickoff the high school FIRST robotics season, that begins in January. This year, the sixth annual contest was moved to the online platform, as the school itself is offering classes virtually this fall. “Kids are deserving, and we want to give them every opportunity so we hope this is a way they can safety learn and compete,” AMES robotics coach Sara Whitbeck said. However, the outlook of the FIRST season is unclear as the FIRST Lego League and FIRST Tech Challenge programs are competing remotely as regions are unable to hold in-person competitions, which usually attract large spectator crowds. In late September, FIRST said it would include extending the high school robotics season, having remote engagement options, having a similar robotics challenge to last year and offering free FIRST home activities as part of its COVID-19 modifications. It also announced that as of then, with ongoing challenges of limited space, tools and robots for teams with remote and hybrid learning and limited opportunities for teams to travel, the season experience would not include in-person game play. However, the organization would re-evaluate their decision in January when this year’s challenge will be announced. Last year’s FIRST robotics competition was cut short at regional qualifiers with the soft closure of schools nationwide because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Utah was able to hold its regional quali-

Journals

The 6th annual preseason robotics competition, hosted by AMES, will be virtual this year instead of in-person as it is shown here in 2019.

fier in early March 2020, a week before Utah schools shut down. However, many teams had planned to travel to Idaho in late March to attend that competition, but that was canceled as was the national tournament. Whitbeck said that a positive addition to this years’ AMES preseason competition is the hope to attract teams outside of the Salt Lake Valley since they wouldn’t have to travel. During the month of November, robotics students learned about the competition rules and had a chance to videotape the components and submit it. One component of the competition that excited Whitbeck was creating a tutorial, which other teams could view to help them learn how to perfect some skill. Part of the philosophy of FIRST is “coopertition,”

meaning competing always, but assisting and enabling others. “We can then use these tutorials as a resource and library, which will help teams in normal years,” she said. “We hope teams will pick their strength or a skill they want to develop, whether it’s the electrical system, recruiting, business aspects and in a way, it will mentor others.” Mentorship is something that is part of the culture of FIRST robotics whether it’s helping younger teams or lending a hand to another high school team. Two years ago, AMES’ 35-member team recently mentored the start-up team at Cottonwood High, as the two schools share the same building, to a successful season, competing side-by-side at nationals. Since then, Cottonwood has moved its robotics lab

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closer to AMES so they’re able to collaborate from ideas to equipment. Even so, AMES students were only doing some of their usual preseason preparations this fall, Whitbeck said, between being online and not knowing what this coming season will look like. “Coach Doug Hendricks dropped off, to the head of the electrical team, equipment to build a board for the program team to use to build and code programs for practice and they’re passing it along student to student, but it’s not in an organized space as usual,” she said. “Usually, we have hundreds of hours easily and students are here two to four times per week and would have been here in the summer working behind the scenes. This year, we’re hoping we’ll be able to compete.”l

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MISSION STATEMENT The Murray Chamber creates synergy among professionals. We facilitate the creation of long lasting business relationships between members that are based on trust, value, and cooperation. We provide tools to connect education, service opportunities and interaction between members.

MEET THE CHAMBER’S NEW PRESIDENT! The Murray Area Chamber of Commerce is happy to introduce our new President/CEO, Skylar Galt. Skylar held a position on the Board of Directors before becoming the President/CEO last August.

Popular Street will remain permanently closed

Downtown update: Murray closes Poplar Street By Shaun Delliskave | s.delliskave@mycityjournals.com

oplar Street has officially closed as crews begin work on extending Hanauer Street. Poplar Street will become parking for the new City Hall and the proposed commercial development planned on its east side. With Hanauer Street not yet completed and Poplar Street closed, drivers will need

to utilize Box Elder Street or State Street to navigate downtown. Construction crews have also fenced off the Murray Mansion. Murray Cultural Arts, which will take over the building, plans to relocate the Murray Museum and offices into the historic building. l

Professionally, Skylar works as a Director of Recruiting for CS Executive Recruiters. He has a 20year background in leadership within the financial services industry. As Managing Director, he was responsible for managing business, identifying talent and recruiting staff to ensure the continued success of the operation. His expertise in developing people, makes him adept at recognizing talent in the Financial Services, Information Technology, Finance and Marketing sectors. We are grateful to Skylar for all the work he has done for the Chamber thus far-and excited for what the future holds! To learn more about the Chamber or to join, visit www.murraychamber.org.

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www.murraychamber.org December 2020 | Page 27

Veteran skiers plan a variety of approaches to an unconventional season By Drew Crawford | d.crawford@mycityjournals.com

Ian Melling from Washington State enjoys the slopes at Alta. (Linnea Lundgren/City Journals)

tah is known for its wintertime wonders, and skiers and snowboarders are anxious to hit the slopes for the first time since resorts closed early in March as a result of the COVID-19 lockdown. Ski and snowboard enthusiasts, however, can expect some changes this season. Many modifications are in place, and resorts have implemented a reservation system and have started enforcing social distancing guidelines. As a result of the changes, some skiers are taking an unconventional approach to the season, planning for a mix of reservation days and backcountry skiing. “It’s kind of what I expect I’ll be doing this season is a mix of both. My strategy is that I’m going to frontload my reservation days because I don’t know how long ski resorts are going to stay open. I’m not saving any days for March, but we’re going to see,” Michael Tzovaras, a veteran skier who moved to Utah last year, explained. Tzovaras, who has an enthusiasm and infectious attitude for the sport, is not too fazed by the actions of others and the chance that they will get in his way on the slopes. He plans to maintain his own distance during his runs and doesn’t plan on hanging out in resort lodges or riding in the gondolas. “I love skiing at resorts on Saturdays and

Page 28 | December 2020

hanging with friends and grabbing a beer, and that whole sort of sense of camaraderie of being at the resort,” he said. “At the same time, I definitely enjoy my days in the backcountry. I love to hike; my wife and I do a lot of hiking; we like the outdoors. Backcountry skiing for me is less about skiing, but it’s more about being outside and finding a little bit of peace and solitude, getting to be out in nature. They’re quite different.” Tzovaras is encouraged to see that so many people want a piece of the action this year, but also recognizes the unique challenges that are posed by others who want their fix out on the slopes. “I think I’m excited that so many people are getting into ski touring. Yesterday, I toured up Alta in the morning because they got snow, and I was excited, and it was an absolute zoo, it was crazy. I got up there a little bit earlier, and by the time I was making my way down the parking lot was completely full as if the resort was open,” Tzovaras said. “I think that there is going to be some challenges with backcountry skiing and everyone getting into it. I know some people are a little nervous with safety and that sort of thing with so many people getting into it,” Tzovaras said, recounting comments made by others on social media groups such as Utah Backcountry

Mike Harp of Sandy skis the backside of Alta. (Linnea Lundgren/City Journals)

Ski.

New Yorker Miles Harris, a best friend of Tzovaras, plans on ditching his expensive city apartment and moving to Utah for the season to take advantage of skiing the Wasatch Front with his friend. “The more I thought of it, it seemed like a no-brainer to give up my lease, and to go live in a place that would not only be cheaper, but in which my social life didn’t have to be in some tiny pod in an apartment. I could ski, I could hike, and I’m grateful to be at a place in life where I could manage that,” Harris said. Harris, who is single, is a recent MBA graduate from Columbia and has been renting Airbnbs across the country on a monthly basis since summer, as his work has changed to being fully remote. “I’ll kind of play it by ear. Michael is one of my best friends and ski buddies. He’s an advanced skier and I often take his lead on what we should do. I’m up for anything. I enjoy both [resort skiing and backcountry skiing]. My guess is that we do a little bit more of resort skiing,” Harris said. Harris currently plans on staying in Utah to ski through December to avoid being tied down in New York City with its restrictive distancing measures during the winter months. He

has heard about potential pushback from locals who are concerned about people from outside the state taking advantage of the ski season and driving up rent and housing prices. “I don’t really understand that,” Harris said. “I go on Airbnb and there’s tons of availability. I imagine that locals aren’t staying in Airbnbs in their own city, so I’m not sure how that’s affecting their own rental prices, or their own home prices.” Agencies around the state are preparing for skiers to change their activities this year, notably venturing into the backcountry. Lance Barton, an experienced skier of 25 years, is encouraged by the material that the Utah Avalanche Center has released and wants to see everybody that skis use it. “In Utah we’re really lucky. The Utah Avalanche Center does a daily avalanche report, and they’re pretty on the ball with just getting the general idea of how dangerous it is and stressing the fact that any random person can’t just hike up the mountain and ski it without recognizing that there is risk involved,” Barton said. The Utah Avalanche Center has already started to issue press releases warning inexperienced skiers of the inherent dangers of backcountry skiing. On Nov. 13 the organization released the

Murray City Journal

Salt Lake County concludes budget process with no tax increase

By Salt Lake County Councilwoman Aimee Winder Newton

ith the final approval of the 2021 Salt Lake County budget drawing near, I wanted to share some of the proactive steps we have taken as your County Council to tighten up spending. In June, because of concerns surrounding revenue impacts from COVID-19, we scoured our budget to find as many cuts as possible – leading to a massive $77 million budget reduction. Because of all the cuts we made in June, and because sales tax revenue did not fall as much as we anticipated, we ultimately had a fairly uneventful budget season. As we strive to be as fiscally prudent as possible, one of our top priorities is maintaining our AAA bond rating. We are one of only 27 counties in the entire nation with this highest-achievable bond rating. Keeping this bond rating results in much lower interest rates on bonds and loans. Here are some key principles I have always prioritized during the budget process, this year included. First and foremost, tax dollars don’t “belong” to the county. The funds are yours. Taxpayers entrust the county, or any government for that matter, with a portion of their hard-earned money because they expect that entity to provide essential services for soci-

ety to function. There is no amount of tax dollars that is too small to be scrutinized. That is why I push back aggressively anytime I hear someone flippantly say, “It’s only x dollars… so we shouldn’t worry about it.” Any expenditure, whether it is $10 or $10 million, should be reviewed, and if it can’t be fully justified to the taxpayers, it should be cut. Second, I believe that all government functions should be viewed in two different categories: “need to have” and “nice to have.” The “need to have” list obviously includes things that are statutorily required of the county to perform, think constitutionally mandated services such as criminal justice and election administration. I also consider public safety to be in the “need to have” category, since keeping our residents safe is a core function of government. However, just because they are essential does not mean they are above scrutiny, because efficiencies can still be found. The “nice to have” list includes quality of life services the county provides, as well as any other program or initiative that can easily be described as a benefit to county residents, but not necessarily considered essential. Libraries and open space some of the

following statement: “With the expected drastic increase of people venturing into backcountry avalanche terrain in the 20/21 winter season, we fear rising potential for individual human involvements, deaths, and even larger, catastrophic avalanche accidents. Critical resources like search and rescue teams, first responders, and emergency medical providers are stretched thin. Please consider this and adjust your backcountry aspirations accordingly: make more conservative decisions and avoid very steep slopes and extreme objectives.” Barton feels that the organization is also increasing its avalanche preparedness training to account for skiers change in activity.

“I know that they’ve been trying to just increase their awareness in general the last couple of years. This year, I kind of get the feeling that they’re making an extra push about it because they get the general idea that more people will be going into the backcountry,” Barton said. While it remains to be seen whether resorts will stay open all season, skiers are taking it all in stride. “I’m still going to get outside and ski every weekend. If I’m going to basically live in my home five days a week and not leave my bedroom, I need to be outside on the weekends to maintain my mental health and sanity,” Harris said. “Utah’s a great place for that.” l

things in this category. The separation of these two categories demonstrates the same principle that every family in our county goes through in their annual budgets. They strive to live within their means and focus on essential family expenditures sometimes at the expense of luxuries. Lastly, I review each aspect of our budget and ask, “Is this the proper role of county government?” I’ve said many times that government can’t and shouldn’t be all things to all people. There are many programs or

services that are better suited to other government entities, nonprofits, or the private sector. Particularly in a tight budget year, it’s important to review each program, service, or expenditure and ask that question again and again. I’m confident that these principles are the essence of good budgeting and fiscal discipline, and I will always advocate for this approach any time government is entrusted with taxpayer dollars. You can rest assured that for 2021, Salt Lake County has a balanced budget with no tax increase. l

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Desert Star presents Nutcracker: Men in tights Desert Star is pleased to present their knee-slapping, holiday cheering Christmas show, NUTCRACKER: MEN IN TIGHTS. This jolly snicker-fest opens November 12th. It’s a hilarious holiday melodrama for the whole family! It’s the holiday season and a small Utah town is in financial ruin. But the town council has come up with a plan to save them from disaster. They’ll put on a show! And what better show than “The Nutcracker?” Hoping to draw big crowds, they sign up a once-famous dancer, Maurice Money, whose career is on the skids. But crabby town member Candy is overlooked for the show, so she sets out to ruin everything. Chaos and hilarity ensue, culminating in the wildest production of “The Nutcracker” you’ve ever seen! Colorful characters include Ersel, a mechanic-turned-arts-director, and Darla Cornacre, a square dancing-fiend. Come get your holiday jolly on as you giggle through the nuttiest Nutcracker show! “Nutcracker: Men in Tights” runs November 12th through January 2, 2021. The evening also includes one of Desert Star’s comical musical olios, following the show. The “Ho! Ho! Holio!” features classic carols and modern Christmas tunes to get you in the holiday mood, all mixed with our signature comedy. Food for this show will be served in separate restaurant-style dining in our dinner theatre and banquet hall that allows for social distancing. Menu items include our delicious

pizza, desserts, drinks, and our new authentic Mexican dishes. Food will be served an hour before the performance. Please call for reservations.

CALENDAR “Nutcracker: Men in Tights” Plays November 12th - January 2, 2021 Check website for show times: www.DesertStarPlayhouse.com Tickets: Adults: $26.95, Children: $15.95 (Children 11 and under) December Tickets: Adults: $30.95, Children: $18.95 (Children 11 and under) 4861 S. State Street, Murray, UT 84107 Call 801.266.2600 for reservations For additional information, visit our website at www.DesertStarPlayhouse.com

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A Dickens of a holiday

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Like Mariah Carey, Christmas seems to bring out the best and the worst in people. You have some folks gathering presents, food, and cash for those down on their luck, and then you have people on video surveillance stuffing jars of sweet pickles down their pants at the grocery store. Christmas is descending like a firebomb on families this year who have been sick, laid off or evicted. Rubbing Mediterranean Sea salt flakes into that wound, Hallmark Christmas movies are back. Hallmark Christmas movies should come with an eye-roll rating. Two eye-rolls means a small-town doctor falls in love with a handsome (yet grumpy) big-city lawyer. Three eyerolls means a sick puppy was healed through a Christmas miracle involving an enchanted snow globe, a Nebraska blizzard and Angela Lansbury. Not my cup of tea. Give me “A Christmas Carol” any day. With his black-and-white characters and punch-you-in-the-face symbolism, fans of Charles Dickens know his stories are never subtle. But you have to love a Christmas story that starts, “Marley was dead, to begin with.” The story is about Ebenezer Scrooge and the Christmas Eve where he’s visited by spirits all night. (If I’m going to be visited by three Christmas spirits, they’d better be white wine, tequila, and Champagne. Not egg nog. That’s the stuff of Christmas demons.) Scrooge’s partner, Jacob Marley, is a spirit that first shows up as a brass doorknocker (like ya do) and visits Scrooge to give him a heads-up that ghosts will be stopping by to

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chat. Marley is awesome. I mean, who doesn’t want to be followed around by a dead business partner who’s wrapped in the ghostly chains of his unkind existence? Scrooge “Bah humbugs” his way through that discussion before he jumps into his distinctly creepy four-poster bed. Soon, the Ghost of Christmas Past floats into the room, with its face shining like LED headlights. It shows the Christmas memories that shaped Scrooge through joy and heartbreak, until his soul bent like a candy cane, starting his transition to the irritable Scrooge he is now. Ebenezer is all, “Cool, cool. Can I go back to bed now?” Then the Ghost of Christmas Present shows up (looking a lot like Jeff Bridges in “The Big Lebowski”) and shows Scrooge what his acquaintances think of him. Sort of like a Victorian version of Twitter. Scrooge sees the people who think he’s a greedy, grumpy old man (everyone) and although Mr. Christmas Present Ghost is a jolly guy, he opens his robe to show Scrooge two emaciated children, representing Ignorance and Want. (Trump tried to deport them last Christmas.) Scrooge is apprehensive as he waits for the final spirit, the Ghost of Christmas Future. This is my favorite part of the story. The somber, black specter appears to Scrooge and makes the hair on my knuckles stand up. I love how the spirit only communicates through pointing, like a passive-aggressive teenager. Scrooge sees his dead body, his headstone, and the callous lack of sympathy from those around him. He wakes up a new man,

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December 2020 | Page 31

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December 2020 | Vol. 20 Iss. 12

FREE

MURRAY UTILITY BILLS SKYROCKET AS CONSUMPTION AND WATER RATES INCREASE By Shaun Delliskave | s.delliskave@mycityjournals.com

Murray City utility crews patch a road after repairing a water line leak. (Photo courtesy Murray City)

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