Becoming a special tradition and now for the third year, we will be hosting a Wreaths Across America Day ceremony this next month.
This is such a moving occasion that the Youth Council has been organizing to honor our veterans during the holidays. If you haven’t attended this event or heard about it, I promise you, it will make you cry. It is an emotional, inspiring event that has become the highlight of my holidays, and I am very much looking forward to the day again this year.
The nationwide Wreaths Across America initiative honors veterans across the country, coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery, as well as more than 3,400 additional locations in all 50 states, at sea and abroad
In Taylorsville, there will be two parts to the Wreaths Across America ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 14. The first part in City Council Chambers will start promptly at 10 a.m. to coincide with the ceremony at Arlington. The program inside at City Hall features speakers, music and a ag ceremony, and all are invited to attend.
The second portion of the ceremony will take place afterward around 11 a.m. It is outdoors at the Taylorsville City Cemetery, where the wreaths will be laid on all 265 veterans' graves there.
In addition to assistance from the Taylorsville Youth Council, the Taylorsville High School JROTC and the local nonpro t Honor365, community members also are invited to help lay the wreaths. Find more information and details on how to sponsor a wreath on our city website, www.taylorsvilleut.gov (click the Our City and Wreaths Across America tabs). You can also nd an ad on Page 3 of this section with a QR code where you can sponsor a wreath.
As of this writing, we needed sponsors for 46 more wreaths so that one can be placed at each veterans’ grave. If there are extras, they will be carried over to next year, meaning we will require even fewer sponsorships for the 2025 ceremony.
The remembrance wreaths are hand-crafted of all-American balsam and hand-tied with a red velvet bow in Columbia Falls, Maine, and then sent by semi-truck to participating locations. The wreaths are $17 each to sponsor and you can purchase as many wreaths as you would like.
Our goal is to place a fresh wreath on every veteran’s grave at the Taylorsville City Cemetery, and with the wreath, to say each veteran’s name so they are never forgotten.
—Mayor Kristie S. Overson
WHAT’S INSIDE – NOVEMBER 2024
Frequently Called Numbers, Page 2
Council Corner, Page 3
TVPD News, Page 6
Heritage Remembrances, Page 7
Environment, Page 8
Seventeen new sculptures have been installed at Centennial Plaza to make up Plaza +ART’s 2024-25 Art Walk. They join two sculptures on permanent display at the plaza, totaling 19 sculptures in all. The sculptures were unveiled at the end of September, when an artists’ reception also was held. At the unveiling, the artists met with those attending and spoke about the inspiration behind each of the art pieces. You can read those stories on the city’s Plaza +ART page at www.taylorsvilleut.gov. Also, see pictures of each of the sculptures on Page 4 of this section and more about the unveiling event on Page 5.
This year’s display is made up of a variety of stunning sculptures. They include: “Dream” by Byron Ramos, “Thundercloud” by Myles Howell, “With Gravity” by Joshua Toone, “Svelte” by Dan Toone, “Expectant Mother” by Ben Hammond, “Get Your Mind Rolling” by Deveren Farley, “Northwest Totem Pole” by Richard Prazen, “Passage” by Ted Schaal, “Enterprise” by Doug Adams, “Complicated Woman” by Jeannine Young, “The Queen” by Jason Millward, “Orientation” and “Together” by Nate Brimhall, “Baseball Daze” by Dan Hill, “Decay” by Deanna Ho man, and “Maple Seed” and “Germination III” by Nathan Johansen.
Completing this year’s gallery are permanent pieces “Guitar” by Farley and “Sophisticated Lady” by Young.
“I hope you will enjoy these beautiful new sculptures as much as I do,” said Mayor Kristie Overson. “They are simply stunning.”
Taylorsville Recreation Center .........................................
Swimming Pool (Memorial Day to Labor Day)
Taylorsville-Bennion Heritage Center
EVENTS NOVEMBER 2024
Nov. 5 – All Day
Election Day. Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.
Nov. 6 & 20 – 6:30 p.m.
City Council Meeting @ City Hall.
Nov. 11 – All Day
Veterans Day (observed). City O ces are closed.
Nov. 12 – 6:30 p.m.
Planning Commission Meeting @ City Hall.
Nov. 21, 22, 23 – 7:30 p.m.
Snoopy! The Musical @ the Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center. Tickets are only $10. Nov. 28 – All Day
Thanksgiving. City O ces are closed Thursday and Friday.
UPCOMING: Dec. 2 – 6:30 p.m.
Tree Lighting Ceremony @ Centennial Plaza. See accompanying ad on this page.
UPCOMING: Dec. 7 – 2 to 4 p.m.
Saturday with Santa @ the Taylorsville-Bennion Heritage Center, 1488 W. 4800 South.
See ad on Page 3 of this section.
UPCOMING: Dec. 14 – 10 a.m.
Wreaths Across America Day @ City Hall and the Taylorsville City Cemetery. This two-part ceremony honoring veterans begins at City Hall, followed by the laying of wreaths around 11 a.m. at the cemetery, 4567 S. Redwood Road.
Find our calendar of events every month on the city’s website, where you can also submit your own events for possible publication. Go to www.taylorsvilleut.gov
Open Hours — Free Admission See the 19 sculptures on display for the 2024-25 Plaza +ART season, in front of City Hall at 2600 W Taylorsville Blvd
“Orientation”
Nate Brimhall “The Queen” Jason Millward
Byron Ramos
“Sophisticated Lady”
Jeannine Young
“Enterprise” Doug Adams
“Get Your Mind Rolling” Deveren Farley
“Thorns, Bees and Rhinos” Nathan Johansen
Myles Howell
Gravity” Joshua Toone
Daniel Toone
Daze” Dan Hill “Decay” Deanna Hoffman
“Guitar”
Deveren Farley
“Complicated Woman” Jeannine Young
“Passage” Ted Schaal
III” Nathan Johansen
Nate Brimhall “Expectant Mother” Ben Hammond “Northwest Totem Pole” Richard Prazen
Taylorsville Art Show Showcases Talent of Local and Area Artists
The 2024 Taylorsville Art Show featured almost 100 entries in four categories, including ne arts, creative arts, needlework and sidewalk chalk art.
The show was sponsored by the Taylorsville Arts Council and Salt Lake County's Art in Public Places, and the artwork was displayed on Oct. 11 and 12 at the Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center. In addition to the ribbons and medals, grand prizes also were awarded in ve categories (below), and a beautiful painting donated and created onsite by Taylorsville artist Kregg Clemons was ra ed o . The winners were:
• Youth Council Award: "After the Rain" by Camille Grimshaw
• Arts Council Award: "Crown Hill Tiles" by Nancy Henderson
• Mayor's Choice: "Motion of the Ocean" by Taylor Holliday
• Salt Lake County's Choice: "We Could All Use a Little Support" by Scott Stanley
• People’s Choice: "Butter ies" by Erin Grimshaw
“A big thank you to the Taylorsville Arts Council and Salt Lake County's Art in Public Places for putting on such a great show,” said Mayor Kristie Overson. “Taylorsville is home to some incredible artists, and their work was both beautiful and brilliant!”
Artists Unveil New Sculptures, Describe Inspiration Behind Them
Each of the 19 sculptures now on display at Centennial Plaza have a story.
Take, for instance, “Germination III” by Nathan Johansen (pictured on Page 1 of this section). "Each germination is a lesson in persistent, patient e ort in nding the way past all hardships to sustaining light,” says the artist in describing the piece. “The intriguing texture on the surface of this sculpture was created from a mixture of actual organic material, decaying leaves, bugs and other objects you might nd underground.
"This material was a xed to the sculpture model and can now be seen in the cast bronze surface, making it an interesting feature for inspection and discovery."
You can read more about Johansen’s sculpture and the inspiration behind the 18 other art pieces on the city’s website, www.taylorsvilleut.gov (click the “Our City” and “Plaza +ART tabs.”
And see all of the new sculptures in person on the plaza, 2600 W. Taylorsville Blvd.
TVPD Victim Advocate Receives Congressional Honor
Check
TVPD Victim Advocate Merari Lopez recently was honored with congressional recognition in a ceremony at the Utah State Capitol. The Hispanic Heritage Congressional Recognition ceremony was hosted by Utah Congressman Burgess Owens’ office, which presented Lopez with a certificate of special congressional recognition for her "outstanding and invaluable service to the community.”
Taylorsville volunteer Elsa Elizondo also was recognized at the Sept. 30 ceremony for her ongoing efforts over years to lead a team of volunteers in picking up trash along Taylorsville freeways and roads. Lopez has led the Police Department’s victim advocate program since TVPD’s inception on July 1, 2021, building it up from startup.
"Merari is truly caring of those she is serving and always goes above and beyond to help anyone in need,“ Chief Cottam said.
EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH
Congratulations to Det. Jensen, TVPD’s latest Employee of the Month! Prior to joining TVPD, Det. Jensen served as an officer with the West Valley City Police Department. He has nearly 20 years of law enforcement experience and holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.
Det. Jensen currently serves as a detective in TVPD’s Directed Enforcement Unit, in addition to being assigned to the Utah Crimes Against Statewide Economy (CASE) unit where he has built partnerships with local retailers to combat organized retail crime. His strategic initiatives, including retail blitz operations, have led to multiple arrests and the recovery of stolen property.
A recent example involved the successful interception of a major theft operation. During the investigation, $5,000 in stolen iPads were recovered, and two suspects were arrested and linked to thefts at nine Target stores across the Wasatch Front. Shortly after, detectives stopped three vehicles connected to a Romanian theft ring selling counterfeit Apple products. Two garbage bags full of fake phones and earbuds, along with $1,300 cash were recovered. Some suspects were agged by the FBI as members of an organized crime group. We are extremely grateful for the hard
work of all the o cers who assisted with this case.
Recently, Det. Jensen also secured the donated use of LiveView Technologies’ (LVT) mobile surveillance cameras, which have been instrumental in preventing crime and identifying suspects within Taylorsville. These cameras have been deployed in retail spaces, parks, neighborhoods, apartment complexes and trailheads. Additionally, he has garnered signi cant community support, including a $5,000 public safety grant from TJX Companies Inc. and other valuable donations from Home Depot. These donations will be used to enhance public safety throughout Taylorsville.
When Det. Jensen is not at work, he enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, baseball, sports and trying new restaurants as a “foodie.” Thank you, Det. Jensen, for your service and dedication to law enforcement and for choosing to be a part of Team Taylorsville.
Taylorsville Bennion Heritage REMEMBRANCES
Early Taylorsville Resident Recalls Simple Life Growing Up
This month’s article highlights the life history of George and Colleen Keil.
Longtime resident George Keil recalls some of his earliest memories, growing up in Taylorsville. He describes his life and impressions as a child up to about age ve, as related in his own words:
“Birth Dec. 23, 1924, in Bennion, Utah, on Redwood Road about 5500 South on the westside of the road. The home was built of harder bricks on the outside and adobe bricks on the inside.
“We moved to the old house at 6092 South when I was about 2 years old. I remember when we moved, there were two cedar trees on the northside of the house that were about 10 feet high. A big boxelder tree was cut down. On the eastside of the house were six Lombardy poplars. A path went from the street to the house.
“There were lilacs and roses along the path. Grand Bringhurst had orchards north of the house where I played. My mother, Florence Bringhurst, was born in that house. We went to church in a two-story building. On the main oor were the chapel, restrooms and two classrooms behind it. The cultural hall was downstairs. The chapel was situated on the north driveway of the old chapel.
“We always had chores to do around the house. We brought wood and coal in for the two stoves in the house. At Christmastime, we had a small tree. We put it up in the living room. We got mostly clothes for Christmas, not too many toys. We played on the roller piano. Eleanor used to read the funny papers to us.”
Later in life, George married Colleen. He married Irene Zimmerman Eakins in a second union.
You can learn more about the Keils, their family and the histories of many other Taylorsville residents at the Taylorsville-Bennion Heritage Center, 1488 W. 4800 South. Drop on by!
Don’t Miss These Library Events
The Taylorsville Library has planned several programs during the month of November. You’ll want to mark your calendar for these events:
TEEN ROBOTS 101 AFTER HOURS — Taylorsville Gives Back — Nov. 1-30. November is a time to be thankful and give back to our community. For Giving Month, complete service challenges using the Goosechase app and earn points for a chance to win a gift basket. Pick up more info at the library.
PICTURE BOOK CHALLENGE — Nov. 1-30. Stop by the library to pick up their challenge for National Picture Book Month. Complete the reading challenge during November and enter a prize drawing.
DISGUISE A TURKEY ACTIVITY — Friday, Nov. 1 to Monday, Nov. 25. Thanksgiving is coming up soon, but a certain someone isn't happy. Pick up a turkey template to disguise. Return your artwork to display in the library by Nov. 25. Pick up your artwork by Dec. 6.
TEENS: ROCK WALL — Thursday, Nov. 7, 7:30 p.m. Meet at the library at 7:15 p.m. Learn the best climbing strategies as you climb the County Parks and Rec's Rock Wall. You must wear closed-toe shoes. Registration required. Space is limited.
TOYS AND GAMES SWAP — Friday, Nov. 15, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Save your items from the land ll by sharing with others. Drop your clean, complete toys, games, and/or puzzles o at the Taylorsville Branch beginning on Monday, Oct. 28. Receive a VIP access ticket when you drop items o for early entry into the Swap on Friday, Nov. 15. VIP access begins at 10:30 a.m. (for those who have donated). Doors open to the public at 11:30 a.m.
SENIOR HEALTH CLASS: Exercise and the Bone-Muscle Connection — Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2 p.m. Learn how the simple act of exercise can build bone and muscle mass all while ghting osteoporosis and Type 2 Diabetes. Presented by Salt Lake County Aging & Adult Services.
VIRTUAL LECTURE | Becoming Baba Yaga: Trickster, Feminist, and Witch of the Woods — Monday, Nov. 18, 7 p.m. Register at: thecountylibrary.org/LectureSeries. Explore Baba Yaga's mysterious world, from Slavic witch to modern monster, as author Kirs Spisak uncovers secrets in these timeless stories.
DISCOVERY FRIDAY | Mazes and Puzzles — Friday, Nov. 22, 4 p.m. Explore patterns and stretch your brain with all sorts of puzzles and mazes, from basic jigsaw puzzles and Sudoku to math games and marble mazes.
TAYLORSVILLE SENIOR CENTER
4743 S. Plymouth View Drive November Activities
DRUMS ALIVE! CLASS: Every Wednesday at 2 p.m.
CHAIR AEROBICS: Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 9 a.m.
YOGA: Every Tuesday at 1 p.m.
BINGO: Every Monday and Wednesday at 1 p.m. and Friday at 10 a.m.
ANNUAL COLLECTION DAY
NOVEMBER UPDATES
Proposed Fee Increase for 2025
WFWRD will be in need of a fee increase as part of the 2025 budget to sustain service levels for its communities. WFWRD’s Board has been reviewing scenarios that include $5.50, $6.50 per month, and incremental increases over two to three years. WFWRD’s team works hard and will continue to work to absorb increased costs through improved e ciencies.
WFWRD has, however, experienced higher costs and has drawn down its fund balance due to costs associated with truck shop maintenance rates, labor rates for its CDL drivers, land ll fees, recycling processing fees and truck purchase prices to replace its aging trucks.
WFWRD’s Board was scheduled to tentatively adopt the tentative 2025 budget on Monday, Oct. 28 at 9 a.m. They will hold a public hearing on Monday, Nov. 18 at 6 p.m. to allow public comment on the tentative 2025 budget. All Board meetings are held at WFWRD’s o ces located at 604 W. 6960 South in Midvale on the main oor of the Salt Lake County Public Works Administration building. Online attendance is also available. Meeting agendas and other information can be found at wasatchfrontwaste.org.
Pam Roberts, General Manager, is available for questions and can be reached by phone, 385-468-6342, or via email at proberts@wasatchfrontwaste.org.
House Bill 107 – Recyling Reporting & Transparency
In response to HB107 requiring political subdivisions to publish information about the collection of recyclable materials, WFWRD is happy to announce “District Statistics” on its website under the “About” tab; then click “Curbside Recycling Tons by Municipality.”
This also easily allows residents to see recycling tonnages for their own communities. One graph through the second quarter totals 9,388 tons districtwide.
District Diversion
As Utah’s population grows and consumer habits evolve, Wasatch Front Waste and Recycling is here to champion a greener future for our community. One way it measures e orts is by diversion rate. What are diversion rates? Simply put, they measure how much waste the community is keeping out of land lls by recycling and composting.
WFWRD is thrilled to share that its goal for 2024 is 18%, and it’s now at an exciting 18.47%! This is a fantastic leap from 17.73% in 2023, and it’s all thanks to your e orts. By continuing to recycle and compost correctly, we can increase diversion rates and decrease contamination rates in e orts to ensure a sustainable future.
Following are the tonnages by program and diversion rate for our community: Curbside Waste: 14,142, Curbside Green: 729, Diamond Tree: 62.1, Recycle: 2,134, Glass: 73, Trees: 2.0, Diversion Rate: 17%
Thank you for your continued support and dedication to making our community a cleaner, greener place!
America Recyles Day
Join WFWRD on Friday, Nov. 15 to celebrate America Recycles Day! The day is focused on education and encouraging individuals on how to be more mindful of what they consume, where and how to properly recycle, and to pledge to recycle more and recycle right in their everyday lives.
TBID Recognized Nationally for ‘Best Water’
As we celebrate Thanksgiving this November, Taylorsville-Bennion Improvement District (TBID) expresses its gratitude for the opportunity to provide safe, reliable and accessible water and sewer services to our community.
We were reminded of this good fortune at the recent American Waterworks Conference, where Taylorsville-Bennion Improvement District was honored to receive two prestigious awards: Best Groundwater and Best Overall Water. TBID would like to extend its appreciation to its dedicated employees for their commitment to delivering the highest quality water possible.
Water conservation is essential for protecting this vital resource for future generations. As you consider your own water conservation strategies, TBID encourages you to adopt the following simple practices:
• Properly shut down your sprinkler system for the season. Ensure the stop and waste valve is closed and free from leaks. A leak as small as 1/32 inch — approximately the size of a pencil lead — can result in a loss of 6,000 gallons per month.
• Adjust the water level in your washing machine to match size of your load.
• When purchasing a new washing machine, compare water savings among Energy Star models, which can save up to 20 gallons of water per load.
• Limit water usage while brushing your teeth By conserving water today, we contribute to a sustainable future for generations to come. Thank you for your continued support in water conservation.
If you have any questions, please contact Taylorsville-Bennion Improvement District by calling 801-968-9081 or visiting www.tbid.org. Follow TBID on Facebook and X.
