October 2026 | Vol. 35 Iss. 10
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Meet your local Psychic Medium By Cassie Goff | c.goff@mycityjournals.com Based on the border between Herriman and Riverton, Stephanie Cowan is a clairvoyant medium and Reiki Healing Practitioner.
C
Stephanie Cowan’s necklace reminds her to stay grounded within her own power and strength. (Photo courtesy Justin Cowan Photography)
alling herself the “Mini Medium” (on account of her height), Stephanie Cowan has been pursuing her life’s purpose to provide guidance to individuals in their journeys to find hope, help and healing. “I’ve lived in Utah for a long time but I came out of the broom closet in 2020,” she said. Cowan remembers knowing she had the ability to see, hear and feel spirit by the age of 7. She didn’t quite grasp her understanding of those gifts until her mom asked, after watching shows like John Edward and Sylvia Browne together, “Why are you not sharing your gifts and helping people with what you’re supposed to do?” She began exploring her ‘gifts’ at the age of 21 but she wasn’t so sure she could pursue mediumship fulltime. Cowan explained her clairvoyance as thoughts that pop into her head that she can identify as not her own; they’re someone else’s thoughts. She can also taste flavors being communicated. “That’s the one I like the least. I absolutely hate it,” Cowan said. In 2020, she was working at Intermountain Healthcare when the pandemic required non-essential workers to stay indoors. Needing to fill her time, she began booking virtual appointments for individual readings.
“I’m a people person so I hated working from home,” Cowan said. She recalls the majority of those appointments being filled with questions about the health of specific family members and what the future looked like. “People want to know they’re supposed to be where they’re supposed to be,” Cowan said. In July 2023, Cowan took “that leap of faith” and quit her job. Filling her days psychic and energy work, she noticed a shift from her clients primarily asking about the future to wanting to hear from their loved ones that had passed on. “I didn’t start this thinking I would be where I am now,” Cowan said. Now managing her own business, Cowan’s main specialty is individual readings. She describes that process as organic as most clients are simply curious to see what comes up. She often uses tarot cards as visual aids during her individual readings. “I don’t want to be given information,” she said. Specialized readings typically begin with Cowan asking what the client would like to focus on the most. One of the most common requests for her clients is to search for what from their past may be holding them back from living their best lives. “All I do is give you guidance,” Cowan said. “This isn’t for everybody and that’s okay. I’m not Continued page 5
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COMMON GROUND
A Vote of Confidence
Common Ground will be a column of rotating viewpoints that highlight specific feelings across the political spectrum, and it will always end with possible ways to come together. For two years, I’ve worried that the president will interfere with, postpone or even cancel the midterm elections, although that’s never happened in the history of our country. But before we go all Y2K on this election and panic-buy underground bunkers, let’s talk about how Utah is handling this situation. Contrary to what cable news would have you believe, the president does not oversee America’s elections. State officials handle that, and Utah has done a phenomenal job. Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson serves as the state’s chief election officer, earning a badge of courage as she stands against an administration demanding our voting rolls. It’s been refreshing to see someone in Utah’s leadership tell the president “No.” While the president continues to bang the “Stolen Election” drum (which is ironic since his administration was in charge during 2020), he says election integrity is a thing of the past. So what is election integrity?
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Common Ground
Has it gone the way of the pterodactyl? Here’s the Election Integrity Checklist. • Eligible voters cast a vote. • Ineligible votes are disregarded. • Ballots are secured. • Votes are accurately counted in a transparent process. This leads to an outcome we have to abide by, even if the results don’t turn out the way we’d like. Election integrity is NOT about making the voting process so cumbersome that it limits how many people can cast a ballot. There are some people who love going to their local polling place, casting a vote and getting their “I Voted” sticker. There are also people who can’t make it to a polling location. Maybe because of work schedules, maybe they’re caring for family members, maybe they’ve lived in an underground bunker since the Y2K scare.
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Bryan Scott | bryan.s@thecityjournals.com
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Travis Barton | travis.b@thecityjournals.com
The point is, Utah’s vote-bymail process has gone swimmingly well. Mail-in voting doesn’t favor any one party; in fact, it gives more people a voice. Isn’t that what we want? I’d rather have an election with massive participation, even if my candidate loses. Isn’t that better than one side that wins because people couldn’t vote? But the federal government is acting like we’re handing out voting ballots willy-nilly, like Oprah giving away pajama sets at Costco. The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act would require voters to show proof of citizenship when voting, which you can’t do with a mail-in ballot. A federal judge blocked the president’s executive order that created a plan to regulate mail-in ballots. Now the administration, the U.S. Postal Service and the U.S. Supreme Court are in a race against time to change the mail-in ballot system. What could possibly go wrong? All of the president’s policies have gone off without a hitch. Right? Republican leaders make it
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sound like elections are being bombarded by illegal votes, but a Utah audit found nearly 100% of voters were U.S. citizens. Out of 2,069,640 voter records reviewed, 27 alleged noncitizen voters were found. That’s 0.0013%, for all you math nerds. Elections don’t belong to the president. They don’t belong to Republicans or Democrats. They don’t belong to cable news, TikTok influencers or the guy on Facebook who shares questionable memes. Elections belong to us: We the People. Election integrity boils down to this: protect the right to vote and ensure ballot security. We don’t want ineligible people to vote, but we also don’t want to make the process impossible for eligible voters. The system has worked for 250 years. Throughout this country’s history, no U.S. election has been postponed or cancelled nationwide. But the president’s interference implies you don’t have to cancel an election if you get to choose the voters.
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Continued from front page everybody’s cup of tea and not everybody wwhas good taste.” While some of her clients are onetime visits, she estimates about 80% of her clientele returns every 3-6 months. Some of which have been with her since 2020. “Utah has surprised me,” Cowan said. “People are evolving, changing; they’re realizing they need to hear these messages.” Over the last six years, she’s noticed one major shift in trends with her individual readings. “Utah is the third highest state for suicide so people wanted to channel those people. The suicide readings are getting less and less.” “I’m a spiritual chiropractor,” Cowan said. “Come when you feel like you need an adjustment.” Cowan has immense gratitude for her husband’s support throughout her journey to success. “We had been together 10 years when he encouraged me to pull my tarot cards out,” Cowan said. “He didn’t know the magnitude of that, at the time.” Beyond her individual readings and Reiki healing services, Cowan often leads presentations, workshops and events. One of her more recent speaking appearances was at the first local paranormal conference - Salt City ParaCon on July 25.
“I can do a whole event with 100 people that doesn’t drain my energy as much as one private reading,” Cowan said. “Energy is so important.” When asked during the event her recommendations for getting started with this work, Cowan said “Get you a set of tarot cards and go practice.” “Never question your intuition,” she added. Cowan’s individual reading rates (virtual or in-person) are $133 for one hour. Her Reiki rates are typically $111 for the first 90 minute session and $88 per hour for subsequent sessions. When asked if she does individual readings for deaf clients or those with blindness, she said “Of course – a soul is a soul.” Cowan also offers group readings (with a $100 deposit) and individual energy cleansing services to cleanse personal space of any negative energy. “I envision myself with a bright light of protection and call upon my guides to protect me,” Cowan said. She was recently asked to provide a group reading on a hit reality television show. Catch her on The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City with new episodes dropping in September. The Mini Medium is based along the Herriman and Riverton border. To learn
Stephanie Cowan provided a hauntingly unforgettable Gallery Reading at Salt City ParaCon. (Photo courtesy Stephanie Cowan)
more about Cowan, check her out on social media through Mini Medium - Psychic Medium & Reiki Practitioner on Facebook and @minimedium75 on Instagram. “I’m so grateful that when my time comes, I feel comfortable leaving behind a legacy,” Cowan said. To ask a question or book an appointment, reach out to her email at: readings@ mini-medium.com
“Just give it a try – schedule the appointment. If you get a little bit of guidance, then I’ve done my job,” Cowan said. “My table isn’t going to levitate.” Cowan will be hosting an all-ages “Til Death Do Us Party” event on Sat. Oct. 24 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Mae’s Gathering Place (67 N. Main St.) in Bountiful. Tickets can be purchased through her website at: www.mini-medium.com. l
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October 2026 | Page 5
The Monster Dash: Riverton’s combination of Halloween fun and fitness
Riverton continues its new event called the Monster Dash, a 5K and Triathlon. Participants can come dressed up and get prizes after they cross the finish line. It is fun for the whole family and is the result of a lot of hard work. By Tyler McFadden t.mcfadden@mycityjournals.com
A
s part of the Halloween season, Riverton City is hosting the Monster Dash on Oct. 5, a Halloween-themed 5k and triathlon. People are encouraged to come dressed up and participate. The event attracts different types of people ready to come out and enjoy some exercise with a side of Halloween spirit. The event starts with something called the Mini Monster Triathlon, which is for kids. Kids are encouraged to come dressed up. “This includes a bike ride, running and a pumpkin roll,” Nate Slack said, Riverton’s public information officer. Those who want to join the Monster Dash can bring their whole families, with the younger ones joining the triathlon. The 5K comes next; participants can register online and begin the run once the triathlon is over. It doesn’t matter whether someone is an experienced runner or not. “We get a good
The starting line. (Photo courtesy Brook Bowen)
mix of people…some people just walk,” Slack said. Just like with the triathlon, costumes are encouraged here, too. The Monster Dash is a family event, and it was planned with that in mind. “[Kids] can have donuts and hot chocolate while their parent finishes the 5K,” Slack said. This makes this event very inclusive to all members of the
family, made even better with the inclusion of treats for the youngsters. Everyone is prompted to come to the event dressed up, and costumes range from all out to more casual. “Some go all out. Some run in inflatable costumes. Some people wear jerseys because people in the front want to move more freely,” Slack said. No matter how
serious a runner someone is, any amount of costume is good for the Monster Dash. Racers will also get prizes. At the end of the race, people will get T-shirts and medals, helping everyone feel accomplished after they finish. To help pay for these prizes, there is a registration fee: $20 for general registration and $25 for late registration. This is only the second year that Riverton has done the Monster Dash. “We are always looking for ways to engage with the public. We saw an opportunity—we don’t have fall races, so we decided to combine a race with Halloween and it worked out,” Slack said. With the event being so new, there is potential for a lot of growth. “People are willing to come one year and bring more people the next year…the kids’ numbers are looking really good,” Slack said. The city is continuing something new, giving the public unique ways to celebrate a popular holiday. There is a great deal of planning, preparation and time put into making these events possible. “We put a lot of care into these events,” Slack said. Making events like these is very important to those who plan them; the work they put into the Monster Dash is what makes it so it can be repeated for years to come. The Monster Dash will begin at 6 p.m., starting with the Mini Monster Triathlon. It is a way for families to combine exercise, spooky fun and family time in the cooler weather. l
Riverton’s Halloween Bash: A favorite of the locals
Riverton is putting on its annual Halloween Bash. This event is very popular with locals, is fun for the whole family and is a good opportunity for local businesses. By Tyler McFadden t.mcfadden@mycityjournals.com
H
alloween is a time of year for cooler weather, games, treats, costumes and celebrations. Riverton City wants to include all of these things in its annual Halloween Bash, happening on Oct. 12. It’s a popular event among the locals that has something to offer for everyone, young and old. The Bash will have the typical activities that are expected with Halloween: pumpkin patches, people in costumes and games. “There will be spooky things for teenagers and more cutesy things for kids,” Nate Slack said, Riverton’s public information officer. For older kids, an event called the “Scare Rodeo” will be happening, too. “It’s a haunted house type deal…members of the youth council dress up to scare people,” Slack said. While younger kids can play games and pick out pumpkins, their teenage siblings can go get scared at the rodeo. With this, the Bash can make sure
Page 6 | October 2026
The pumpkin patch. (Photo courtesy Brook Bowen)
A witch decoration. (Photo courtesy Brook Bowen)
that everyone has something they’ll enjoy. Parents will have lots of opportunities to take pictures of their kids in their costumes. Or if everyone comes dressed up, people can take family photos—the Bash is meant to be a good way to get everyone in a spooky mood. The Halloween Bash is also a chance for local businesses to show their Halloween spirit. This event lets businesses come and set up booths to sell things, dress up and join in on the holiday fun. “It’s a great
opportunity for local businesses,” Slack said. It’s sort of like a Halloween-themed farmer’s market. This night can be seen as more than just a fun holiday celebration. “It’s a community outreach opportunity,” Slack said. Businesses have the chance to thrive here; they can make a good profit while the locals enjoy the things they sell. The Bash is meant to be a thing that everyone can get something out of. The event really hits home with the
locals. “People just naturally enjoy it, the city capitalized on it, and it’s free…we get 3-5,000 people,” Slack said. Because the event is free, it makes it a lot more accessible for people to come enjoy it. Even if someone isn’t buying anything, they can come and enjoy the Halloween mood and participate in games. This is an annual event that the public always loves. In fact, the city feels that they don’t need to make any big changes because people always have a good time. “[The Halloween Bash] is one of these things that works so well that we don’t change anything…it’s always a great turnout,” Slack said. The community not only has fun at these events, but it has shown to be something important. “Halloween is getting bigger and bigger. People like to get out and be in the cooler weather and enjoy candy, caramel apples and hot chocolate,” Slack said. The Halloween Bash gives the community a space to enjoy these things with their whole family, and it has obviously become a staple in the city. The Halloween Bash shows no signs of slowing down any time soon. With its big numbers and business opportunities, Riverton’s big October event will continue to include games, treats, food and fun for the whole family. l
Riverton City Journal
Riverton’s patriotic chalk art festival celebrated local talent
Riverton hosted a patriotic chalk art festival as part of its America 250 celebration. It was led by a passionate team of judges and highlighted a lot of local artists of all ages. By Tyler McFadden t.mcfadden@mycityjournals.com
O
n Aug. 28, Riverton City had a patriotic chalk art festival as part of its weekly “Friday Fun Nights.” Artists of all ages were invited to gather under a pavilion and show off their artistic skills, keeping with a patriotic theme. “This is the first year,” Russell Richards said, a judge at the event. This festival was a continuation of Riverton’s America 250 celebration. With this being the first year the city has done a chalk art festival, the organizers put a lot of passion into making this event possible. “I’ve done so many chalk arts from California to Utah…I felt like Riverton needed one,” Richards said. Richards, along with the other organizers, kept busy interacting with the artists and setting out prizes, all with big smiles and lots of excitement. The event had a panel of judges, and even though it was a competitive event, they wanted to make sure that everyone was celebrated. “We’re making sure that everyone
The Abraham Lincoln drawing by Zack Schiffman. (Tyler McFadden/City Journals)
A piece by Kerstin Schleter. (Tyler McFadden/ City Journals)
leaves here with something…everybody here is talented,” Richards said. This helped everyone involved feel appreciated, while keeping the feeling of friendly competition. There were many different interpretations of the patriotic prompt. Some artists did movie characters, others did animals, while others stuck with more typical patriotic pieces, like fireworks. Each piece represented how the artists chose to go about the prompt and show the public their skills. Several people went all out, dedicating a lot of time to their drawings. A lot of the
pieces took hours and hours. The event officially started at noon, while judging started around 7 p.m., making it an all-day affair. One Zack Schiffman’s drawing of Abraham Lincoln won best in show. It was a very realistic portrait that impressed everyone who saw it. “I did [chalk art] in middle school and high school,” Schiffman said. This is just one example of how this chalk art festival was able to highlight passionate local artists. The event organizers wanted to show just how important this simple event could be. “I want to leave an impression. I wanted
to showcase up and coming artists, there are so many talented people here,” Richards said. One of the goals of this event was to give people a platform to show off their talent, and the organizers worked hard to make sure that was the case. The judges also stressed how impactful this festival could be for younger people. “Younger generations can take the skills they learned here and can be better. It might even be the smallest thing, it’s still carried on,” Richards said. There were a lot of younger artists at the event who were very excited to show off what they could do, which was one of the end goals of the event. The chalk art festival was also part of a larger event; it was just one part of August’s final week of “Friday Fun Nights.” Local businesses and food trucks set up booths to sell things. There were also other activities and live music playing. Because of this, artists at the chalk festival could take breaks, go get food and enjoy the other festivities. Locals who were simply there for the fun could pop by the pavilion and look at the art. The patriotic chalk festival was a fun way to celebrate America 250 and the end of summer. Artists of all ages got the spotlight, the public had an opportunity to enjoy some local art and the organizers got to show off their passion. l
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October 2026 | Page 7
Red Door Escape Room turns STEM into an adventure
Red Door Escape room has become STEM accredited to challenge students to apply concepts and collaborate to find their way out. By Mallory Stamos m.stamos@mycityjournals.com
R
ed Door Escape room opened its doors four years ago and has become an exciting way for people to spend time with friends or family. They have previously been more of a classic escape room, where a party or group are locked in a room where they must find a series of puzzles and clues to be set free. They will continue to do that but also are broadening their scope to include students and educational groups. So if you find yourself as a parent or teacher looking for a different kind of way to practice some of those STEM skills, Red Door Escape Rooms is a great place to go. Red Door has six themes including, “Once upon a time”, a fairytale theme with a castle feel and a sword in the stone, Fair Game, with its carnival-like vibes and Captain Maniacal, working with a mad scientist and his creation. With each theme you enter a red door matching the different themes. You are then transported to begin an immersive, multiroom experience. In each room the participants pick up clues along the way that may be needed for the next stage, creating a thrilling way to use a variety of skills. In
Natalia Rosas is the general manager of Red Door Escape. (Mallory Stamos/City Journals)
Red Door has six themes including, “Once upon a time”, a fairytale theme with a castle feel and a sword in the stone, Fair Game, with its carnival-like vibes and Captain Maniacal, working with a mad scientist and his creation. (Mallory Stamos/City Journals)
addition to STEM, participants are using teamwork, memorization and creativity to work their way through each experience. Red Door has recently become STEM accredited through stem.org, a process that is undergone to prove that a certain amount of STEM knowledge is required for an activity. Natalia Rosas, general manager, describes the experience stating, “It’s a lot of problem solving, being able to work your way through things, figure out teamwork and team building kind of things. A lot of those things go into STEM jobs
in the future, and it’s a way to do it that doesn’t even feel like you’re doing math and science.” With the fall in full swing they are happy to be rolling out their field trip experience. On this unique field trip, groups of students can come play through the rooms utilizing all of the excitement and skills each has to offer. When the on-site portion is done, the classes are sent back to school with a take away project. The take home kit will have ways that students can create their own themes and escape rooms using the same STEM centered concepts. It walks the
students through creating similar complex puzzles from conception through to their execution of the final product. This creates another great way for team building among students and showing how to complete this type of STEM project with a creative flare. For educators looking to find creative ways to inspire young minds in the direction of STEM, consider the Red Door Escape Room as a field trip this year. It is a great way to make several STEM concepts feel like an adventure.l
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Page 8 | October 2026
Riverton City Journal
Former educator and tech enthusiast had the ideal experience and skills to build a comprehensive education app. By Jet Burnham j.burnham@mycityjournals.com
A
s a father of four children who are navigating their education through the lens of dyslexia, ADHD, autism and/or executive function struggles, Eric Price has always looked for ways to make things easier for them. But no matter what he found, his kids still struggled, especially his eighth grade son. “In today’s world, there has to be a better way to support kids who are struggling—not to replace their teachers or their schools, but to give them a little extra support when and where they need it,” Price wrote on a recent social media post. “I started looking for something that could do that for him. I couldn’t find what I was looking for. So I decided to build it.” Price has the unique background and experience which makes him up for the challenge of creating an educational tool. He has 20 years experience as an educator, administrator and coach. He earned an education in technology certificate, an advanced degree in Education Leadership and a Utah Middle Level Association Principal of the Year award. He was also an enthusiastic early adopter of AI in education.
If you can’t find one, build one
As a middle school principal, he provided access to digital tools to help students. He encouraged his teachers to utilize AI technology in their lesson development. But as a parent, he still struggled to help his kids. “It’s tricky to be a parent these days, we always say there’s not a playbook,” Price said. “So it’s like, ‘How can we provide tools to maybe make this a little bit easier and maybe end a few arguments here and there?’” Secondary school has been challenging for his son who is learning through the lens of ADHD and dyslexia. Each of his seven teachers run their classroom a little differently, and they switch between digital and paper assignments which made it difficult for him to keep track of. “I know teachers are trying really hard and they care, but they’re human as well,” Price said. “They only have so much time in the day, and they only have so many abilities to work with kids.” One particularly frustrating day last year, Price pressed his son to tell him what would help him. “He said, ‘I wish there was something that could just help me when I was struggling’ and I said, ‘Well, maybe we could build something like that,’” Price said. Price immediately began developing a solution. “I was really concerned, especially because eighth grade was such a struggle, so it’s like we have to do something going into
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Eric Price’s son uses Class Coach, the app/ website his dad created to help students organize their schoolwork. (Photo courtesy Eric Price)
ninth grade so that we don’t start him off on the wrong foot,” he said. The solution Price developed was Class Coach, a website/app which streamlines a student’s day and keeps everything organized in one place. Features include calendars, reminders, checklists, virtual binders, and study tools--all of which are customizable. “The objective is to provide consistency for an inconsistent education system,” Price said. “Let’s give him something consistent
that he can go to when he’s trying to figure out what he needs to do next.” Class Coach is designed to loop in parents and teachers so they can be on the same page to support the student. Parents can see the daily checklist and receive class summaries. There’s also a feature to help keep the lines of communication open with a regular check-in with the teacher via email. Because of policies limiting cellphones during class time, Price intentionally built Class Coach as a website first, and most of the features work on school Chromebooks. The AI tools have strictly defined parameters to protect students and educational integrity, and ultimately parents can control access. All of Price’s children, ranging from seventh grade to college, are using parts of the app this school year. “Originally it was designed to support kids wherever they’re at,” Price said. “If they need extra support with reading, it’s there. If they don’t, they can use the to-do lists, or the calendars or use the connections to their learning management system.” Price’s seventh grader uses the morning checklist feature. “He does it every day, making it a whole lot easier to get ready for school than the old days of ‘Hey, get ready,’ and he’s like, ‘I don’t know what to do,’ so this makes it a lot easier.” Get more info at classcoach.on-forge. com and on Facebook.l
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October 2026 | Page 9
The internal workings of a teaching internship
Intern is earning top grades from her mentor as she learns to grade her own students. By Jet Burnham j.burnham@mycityjournals.com
S
ophie Fry has only been a school teacher since August and she’s loving it. “Teaching has been so much more rewarding than expected,” she said. “Seeing students grow even in just this short time has really opened my eyes to how grateful I am that I get to be in a position to teach.” Fry is one of 12 lucky BYU McKay School of Education students working as an intern teacher in Jordan District Elementary Schools this year, where they have a three level support system to help them be successful. “It’s a really robust support system for these brand new teachers coming in while they’re actually still in college,” JSD/BYU Internship Liaison Shauna Worthington said. “As an intern, they get a full year of teaching experience before they even graduate, so it’s a really cool opportunity for them.” A facilitator is assigned to each intern to help with classroom management, transitions, communication with parents and to model teaching. The facilitators and liaison also prepare the interns to secure full time
Fifth grade teacher intern, Sophie Fry, has worked to build a welcoming and efficient classroom with help from her facilitator. (Photo courtesy Sophie Fry)
employment once the internship is over. “They’ve made sure that every step is thought through, and that I’m always going to be prepared for what’s coming,” Fry said. Before the school year began, facilitator Bailey Ritchie helped Fry set up her classroom and plan classroom routines and initial lessons. “I’ve been working with Bailey to plan everything and to just think of procedures and rules that will help the classroom flow,” Fry said. “It’s just a lot of preparation that
you don’t think about.” Once the school year began, they worked together to navigate planning, pacing and adapting lessons. “It has been so amazing to have someone with so much experience at my right hand,” Fry said. Ritchie said the new teacher is settling in well. “She is already setting and working on goals to improve her teaching practices,” she said. “Her classroom is a warm, inviting space, and she is working hard to make connections
with her students and families by sending home newsletters and positive notes.” For the first part of the school year, the facilitator works as a team teacher with the intern but they gradually decrease direct support. Fry is grateful that she has been able to ease into the job. “So towards December, I’ll be mostly doing everything by myself,” Fry said. Facilitators are available all year to help the interns, giving extra support during testing weeks, changes in routines and time management challenges. Jordan District schools have both teacher interns and student teachers. Student teaching is an unpaid, short-term position teaching in another teacher’s classroom. An internship is full time work for the whole school year. Interns have their own class and earn a half-salary and full benefits, and the year they work counts toward JSD retirement. Ritchie said the best benefit of intern teaching is gaining an entire year of classroom experience with full time support from a dedicated mentor. Worthington, who was previously a principal in Jordan School District, said she used to hire interns to fill teaching positions in her schools. “I know they’ve been well prepared because they’ve had a lot of really intensive coaching,” Worthington said.l
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Page 10 | October 2026
Riverton City Journal
Students celebrate friendship at Unified Sports Day
For Jordan School District’s Unified Sports Day’s student-athletes, the biggest victory may have been crossing the finish line together. By Julie Slama j.slama@mycityjournals.com
O
n a field filled with cheers, highfives and encouragement, Jordan School District students celebrated something bigger than sports: friendship and belonging. Elementary special education students joined their general education peer partners for a day of running, throwing, jumping, cheering and spending time together. The annual event gave students an opportunity to showcase their abilities while surrounded by classmates who encouraged them every step of the way. After each event, athletes received a silicone bracelet with words such as “unified,” “sportsmanship” and “friendship,” which banded the athletes together. Golden Fields fifth-grader Koralee Catmull prepared for the 50-yard dash, softball throw and long jump. “I’ve been running, jumping and throwing, but I like to throw and catch a football best,” she said. She practices with her peer partners,
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like fifth-grader Hayden Dutson, regularly. “We’ve practiced almost every Friday,” he said. “It’s fun doing this with friends and hanging out.” Harper Sims, another Golden Fields student, said the partnership extends beyond sports. “I like hanging out and helping out,” Harper said. “It’s fun to have friends who have disabilities because everyone’s unique. Koralee loves hugging. We get one every day. She likes to do makeup, so she does mine and I get to help her with class.” At Daybreak Elementary, sixth-grader Austin Lavulo also appreciated having his buddies alongside him as he prepared for the unified sports day. “We practiced soccer, softball throw, the 50-yard dash and the long jump at PE with our buddies and sometimes, we even played Sharks and Minnows,” he said. “It’s fun to do with buddies because we don’t have to do it by ourselves.” Classmate Connor Lange summed up another benefit of the experience. “It’s fun doing it together because we always have someone to talk to and have fun with,” he said. The format changed in recent years from just special education students competing to having a partner taking part beside them, which both athletes and partners as
A Riverton Elementary student was all smiles during his race at Jordan School District’s Unified Sports Day. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
well as educators applaud. Riverton Elementary paraeducator Lexi Jensen said the day wasn’t only about giving students a chance to participate, but also to learn from their partners, who offer encouragement and model techniques. “They have a lot of fun being with
somebody and seeing how it’s done and are encouraged that way,” she said. Mountain Point Elementary paraeducator Camila Jordan said the peer relationships are an important part of the event. “Students practice with their partners so they could encourage one another and help ensure no athlete felt alone,” she said. The support was visible throughout the day. Many peer students made posters featuring the names of special education athletes and came to cheer them on. “They chant their names, and it’s nice to see them being celebrated,” Jordan said. “They care people are cheering for them.” For Daybreak parent Brittney Shillingburg, the event captures what community can look like when everyone has a place. “We love this,” she said about her son’s second year participating. “He’s got a great friend alongside him. I love the real inclusion of this. Seeing kids play, run, throw and even cheer for each other – it’s a great community.” Jordan School District Superintendent Anthony Godfrey said the event reflects a core value of the district. “This is an essential element of who we are as a district,” he said. “We want chances for everyone to excel, to be at their best and feel a part of something. This gives students that opportunity.”l
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Riverton City Journal
Could your home be exposing your child to lead? Children can look healthy while lead poisoning quietly causes harm. By Shaun Delliskave s.delliskave@mycityjournals.com
A
s public health agencies prepare for National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week this fall, Salt Lake County health officials are reminding parents that childhood lead exposure can be difficult to detect and may come from more sources than many families realize. National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week will be observed Oct. 25-31 with the 2026 theme “Keep Kids Safe from Lead.” The annual campaign, coordinated nationally by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, emphasizes learning about potential lead hazards, testing children who may have been exposed and identifying lead sources in homes. The issue has particular relevance in Salt Lake County because of the age of some of its housing stock. According to Gabriel Moreno, partnerships manager with the Salt Lake County Health Department, more than 30% of homes in the county were constructed before the federal
Local weaver teaches a traditional craft on her alpaca farm.
n a small farm in Bluffdale, Jenny Ferguson wanders through her pasture, followed by five alpacas, an assortment of chickens and a couple of goats. Under a shaded pergola, she takes fiber shorn from the alpacas and begins to spin yarn. It’s an age-old craft, turning raw fiber into yarn and fabric that will become a sweater, a hat, a scarf or a blanket, but each is a work of art. Ferguson owns Bewitched by Alpacas, where she teaches people how to weave on handmade looms. She first learned the magic of fiber work at 4 years old, when her great-grandmother taught her how to crochet. “I had chickenpox and she taught me to keep my hands busy,” she said. “Ever since then, I’ve just loved the fiber arts. After I had kids, I learned how to knit. Then I was watching Oprah and she said, ‘If you’re a baker, the world needs you to bake.’ Whatever your passion is, that’s what the world needs you to do.” At the time, she and her husband lived in Saratoga Springs, but when she told him she wanted to own an alpaca farm, they put their house up for sale, purchased the Bluffdale
Riverton Journal.com
exposure risks. Because symptoms alone are not a reliable indicator, health officials encourage parents who believe their children may be at risk to discuss blood lead testing with a health care provider. “A blood test is the only way to know for sure, and right now, too few children in our community are getting tested,” Moreno said. Medicaid covers blood lead testing for enrolled children, and many private insurance plans also cover testing. Salt Lake County offers free testing to qualifying families. Testing is only part of the county’s prevention effort. When lead is detected in a child’s blood, the Salt Lake County Health Department’s Lead Home Visiting Program can help families identify possible sources and determine ways to reduce further exposure. Qualifying households may also receive assistance through the county’s Lead Safe Housing Program to address lead hazards. The goal, health officials emphasize, is to identify risks before they cause further harm. National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week encourages families to learn about lead hazards in their surroundings, consider whether their children should receive a blood lead test and determine whether older homes may contain lead hazards.
Salt Lake County wants families to consider their risk of lead exposure. (Photo courtesy of the CDC)
Salt Lake County residents with questions about testing or lead exposure can call or text the county’s Lead Poisoning Prevention line at 801-382-8877.l
Weaving a life with alpacas and looms
By Peri Kinder peri.k@thecityjournals.com
O
government banned consumer use of leadbased paint in 1978. “Many parents assume they’d know if their child had been exposed to lead,” Moreno said. “In reality, kids can look healthy, active and happy while lead quietly affects their learning, behavior and development.” That concern is consistent with CDC guidance. Most children with lead in their blood do not show obvious immediate symptoms, and a blood test is the best way to determine whether exposure has occurred. The CDC says no safe blood lead level in children has been identified. Even low levels have been associated with developmental delays and difficulties with learning, attention and behavior. Older paint remains a well-known potential source, particularly when it deteriorates into chips or dust. However, exposure can also occur through contaminated soil, some plumbing and water fixtures, certain toys and consumer products, and dust created during renovations. Lead can also enter a home indirectly. People working in occupations involving lead can carry contaminated dust home on clothing, shoes, tools or other items. Moreno said jobs such as construction, auto repair and plumbing may present potential
property, went to California to find alpacas, and Ferguson learned how to spin. Offering her knowledge to anyone interested, Ferguson’s students create woven pieces with alpaca fiber, weaving in grasses, leaves, wool, ribbons, flowers and other textures to make their art unique. Ferguson also hosts spinning groups where people come together to make yarn, share stories and enjoy each other’s company. Brooke Peciukas started spinning with Ferguson about a year ago. After her first class, she was hooked. “It’s fun and relaxing. Now she’s got me spinning,” Peciukas said. “I went down the weaving hole and that sent me down the spinning hole. It’s another hobby to add to my hobby collection. My hobby is collecting fiber hobbies.” While learning to spin and weave takes time, Ferguson said most people find a rhythm in less than an hour. Movements become meditative, muscle memory kicks in and weavers learn to make something that didn’t exist before. “You feel like you’ve walked into a different world,” she said. “It’s similar to a paint night. You’re here for three hours and you sit with your friends or people who have come along, and you make something. For me, being outside with the animals makes me a happy camper.” Alpacas wander through the pergola during classes, allowing students to see the
Bluffdale resident Jenny Ferguson feeds a couple of alpacas and a goat on her farm at Bewitched by Alpacas. (Peri Kinder/City Journals)
Jenny Ferguson uses a spinning wheel to make yarn from alpaca fiber. Bewitched by Alpacas is a place where people can learn fiber arts. (Peri Kinder/City Journals)
animals that gave them the fiber used in their weaving. The animals are shorn in June, removing pounds of fiber that is washed, dried and prepared for spinning. Bewitched by Alpacas opened three years ago and people are finding their way to the shaded pergola in Ferguson’s backyard. The looms are ready to go, with all materials
provided. “The unique thing about this style of weaving is that there’s not a lot of rules,” she said. “If you’ve ever been curious about weaving, you get to come and try it.” For more information, visit Bewitchedbyalpacas.com or follow Ferguson’s TikTok channel @Bewtichedbyalpacas.l
October 2026 | Page 13
The races you can’t afford to skip: Salt Lake County’s 2026 candidates Three new representatives will join the Salt Lake County Council for 2027. By Shaun Delliskave s.delliskave@mycityjournals.com
N
ational and state races may receive most of the political attention this election season, but farther down the November ballot Salt Lake County voters will make decisions about the people who oversee some of the government functions closest to home. Who watches the county’s money? Who administers its elections? Who prosecutes criminal cases? Who oversees the county jail? And who sits on the council that approves the county budget and makes decisions affecting more than a million residents? On Nov. 3, voters will select candidates for four Salt Lake County Council seats as well as county auditor, clerk, district attorney and sheriff. The ballot includes longtime officeholders, former elected officials, attorneys, accountants, law enforcement officers, businesspeople and political newcomers.
County Council A countywide choice
at-large
A:
The largest field is for County Council at-large A, a seat elected by voters throughout Salt Lake County rather than from a particular council district. Republican Kathleen Anderson, Democrat Zach Robinson, Constitution Party candidate Gregory Beglarian, Forward Party candidate Maleah Bliss Caulford and unaffiliated candidate Olghen Ocean Saintelus are competing for the seat. Anderson is a small-business owner who has lived in Salt Lake County for more than three decades. Robinson has worked as a firefighter and paramedic and served two terms on the Sandy City Council. He holds a master’s degree in public administration and currently works at University of Utah Health. Unlike the three district council races, every Salt Lake County voter will have an
The county council will see three members stepping down in 2027: Aimee Winder Newton, Laurie Stringham and Sheldon Stewart.
opportunity to vote in the at-large A contest.
District 1: Northern Salt Lake County
In County Council District 1, Democratic incumbent Jiro Johnson faces Libertarian Casey Poe. No Republican qualified for the general-election contest. District 1 covers a portion of northern Salt Lake County and includes communities in and around Salt Lake City, South Salt Lake and West Valley City. Johnson, who was appointed, is seeking another term on the nine-member County Council, where council members approve the county budget, adopt ordinances and make policy decisions affecting county services.
District 3: Murray, Midvale and central county communities
One of the more locally significant council races is District 3, where voters will choose a successor to Republican Councilmember Aimee Winder Newton. Republican Mike Bird faces Democrat Luke Maynes for the open seat. District 3 encompasses Murray, Taylorsville and Midvale, along with portions of West Jordan and West Valley City, putting the contest before voters across a substantial portion of the central county. Maynes works as a systems analyst and project manager for a technology company, experience that includes examining organizational processes and systems. He also serves as vice chair of a community council in Midvale. Bird has been involved in Republican politics and community activities in the district. Because Winder Newton is not seeking another term, District 3 voters are guaranteed to send a new representative to the County Council.
District 5: Southern Salt Lake County
Aimee Winder Newton is stepping down from District 3 after several terms in office. (Photo courtesy West Jordan City)
Page 14 | October 2026
Another open council seat is being contested in the rapidly growing southern portion of the county. Republican Traci Crockett faces Democrat Sara Cimmers for County Council District 5. The district includes Bluffdale and Riverton and portions of Draper, Herriman, South Jordan and West Jordan. Crockett has previously held elected office, serving two terms on the Bluffdale City
Council. She advanced to the November election after narrowly defeating Chris Null in the June Republican primary, 51% to 49%. Cimmers is a community advocate who has been involved with issues affecting families and children. Like District 3, District 5 will have a new representative following the election.
a primary. Gill prevailed in June with approximately 52% of the vote to Robinson’s 48%. Davis is an attorney who worked as a Salt Lake County deputy district attorney from 2017 to 2021, where his work included felony prosecutions and the creation of the office’s cybercrime prosecution unit. Davis currently works as corporate counsel and director of cybersecurity for Woodbury County Auditor Corporation. He also served as an Army infanFor Salt Lake County auditor, voters try officer and deployed twice to Iraq. countywide will choose between two candidates whose professional backgrounds are Sheriff directly connected to financial oversight. Democratic Sheriff Rosie Rivera faces Republican Chris Harding, the incumbent Republican Shane Manwaring. auditor, faces Democrat Ali Cloward. Rivera has served as sheriff since 2017. Harding was elected in 2022 and is a certi- She began her law enforcement career in 1993 fied public accountant, Certified Internal Audi- and spent more than two decades with the tor and Certified Fraud Examiner. The auditor Unified Police Department before becoming operates independently from other county sheriff. The office oversees Salt Lake County’s offices and conducts audits and investigations jail system and performs other statutory pubinvolving county finances and operations. lic-safety responsibilities. Cloward is a director at a national consultManwaring is a law enforcement officer ing firm and a Certified Internal Auditor. She and military leader with more than two decades earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees of experience. He has served with the Unified in accounting from the University of Utah and Police Department and as a colonel in the Utah works professionally with organizations on Army National Guard, giving voters a contest internal controls, risk and accountability. between two candidates with lengthy careers in public safety.
County Clerk
There is less uncertainty surrounding the race for Salt Lake County clerk, an office elected countywide. Democratic incumbent Lannie Chapman is seeking another term without a Republican challenger.
District Attorney
One of the county’s most closely watched contests could be the race for Salt Lake County district attorney, another office decided by voters throughout the county. Democratic incumbent Sim Gill faces Republican Kent Davis. Gill has occupied the office since 2010 and has worked as a prosecutor for more than three decades. Before reaching the general election, however, he faced a challenge from within his own party. Assistant Utah Attorney General Shawn Robinson defeated Gill at the Democratic convention, but the nomination proceeded to
Important ballot information
The county races will share the Nov. 3 ballot with a number of federal and state contests. Voters can see exactly which candidates and issues will appear on their individual ballot through Utah’s official voter information website, Vote.Utah.gov. The site allows voters to look up their sample ballot, check or update their voter registration, find voting locations and review other election information. Voters can also obtain election information through the Salt Lake County Clerk’s Elections Division at www.saltlakecounty.gov/clerk/elections/. Vote-by-mail will remain available for the 2026 general election. One important change is that mailed ballots must be received by the county clerk by 8 p.m. on Election Day, rather than simply postmarked by the deadline. Utah’s general election will be held Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. l
Riverton City Journal
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The City Journals, a conglomerate of community newspapers, has been bringing your hyperlocal news directly to your mailbox (for free!). That means we are sitting through city council meetings, following school boards and local elections, and covering high school sports, neighborhood issues, new businesses and the people doing interesting things down the street. Hi, I’m Cassie. You’ve likely seen my byline before, or at least flipped through something I’ve reported on. I’m an individual part of the bigger team of writers here who has been bringing you the local news you love. I started at the City Journals in 2015 and, even though an 11-year career may seem like a good chunk of time, it’s nothing in comparison to the rest of our editorial team. Our Salt Lake County Editor, Travis Barton, has been with us for just as long; our Davis editor to the north, Becky Ginos, has been monitoring the pulse of Davis County since the pandemic; and our humorist extraordinaire, Peri Kinder, has been bringing the laughter for decades. For more than 35 years, the City Journals have delivered community newspapers free to readers. Today, our 38 reporters produce roughly 190 to 220 original local stories each month across 15 communities in Salt Lake and Davis counties, each are embedded within the communities we serve. Oh! My colleagues would be upset with me if I didn’t mention the majority of us are award-winning journalists. “It’s amazing how you can turn some handwritten notes into a full, beautiful story,” said our account executive Marc Davis. It’s not unusual for a City Journals reporter to be the only journalist in the room at a local government meeting. That kind of reporting isn’t glamorous, but we think it matters. We want to keep doing that—and do more of it. Like local news organizations everywhere, we’re figuring out how to sustain and expand our reporting as the way people get their news changes. We want to publish more frequently online, spend more time on stories that deserve deeper reporting and continue putting reporters in the rooms where decisions about your community are being made. That takes time and resources. We’re asking readers who find value in the City Journals to consider supporting our work. If one reader in each household contributed even $2 to $5 per month ($24 to $60 per year), it would give us more resources to put directly into local journalism. There’s no paywall attached to this request. We’ll keep delivering the City Journals and reporting the news of our communities. We’re simply asking those who are able—and who believe local reporting is worth having—to help us do more of it. Your support won’t go unnoticed. Because we’re reporters, we think you should know what happens next. As this effort grows, we’ll report back to you about what reader support has allowed us to accomplish. To support your City Journal, visit donate.thecityjournals.com or scan the QR Code on this page. We welcome your direct communication. Please keep talking to us. Tell us what we’re missing. Ask us questions. The relationship between our reporters and the communities they cover is what makes this kind of journalism possible. From the entire City Journals team – With dedication to informing and, most certainly, celebrating our communities, Cassie Goff | c.goff@mycityjournals.com
Riverton City Journal
Photographer Chris Carlson captures images of the Great Salt Lake to remind residents and lawmakers of the area’s importance and beauty. (Photo courtesy of Chris Carlson)
Chris Carlson’s image of Stansbury Bay on the Great Salt Lake is one of hundreds of images he took for his book, “Preserving Greatness.” (Photo courtesy of Chris Carlson)
LDS Earth Stewardship hosts Great Salt Lake photographer
Chris Carlson’s images highlight the lake’s diversity and beauty.
He noticed how quickly the lake was disap- happening, into something tangible,” Carl- inspirational collaborations. pearing, much like his father. son said. “I encourage you, however you “We gather people who care for cre“Just like my dad’s memories and his can, to use your voice to try to make peo- ation,” said Sara Johnson, the chapter’s By Peri Kinder mind were leaving, the memory of this ple aware of it. Write your legislators in chairperson. “It’s for members of The peri.k@thecityjournals.com place is going to leave if someone doesn’t the House and in the Senate, and try to find Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, capture it,” he said. “So that turned from ways to conserve your personal water use.” but we invite all to come.” hris Carlson has a deep connection to a meditative, therapeutic exercise into an The Northern Wasatch chapter of LDS For information about membership the Great Salt Lake. Not only is he a obsession. I spent a lot of time there in the Earth Stewardship is a nonprofit focused on and future events, visit ldsesnortherndescendant of the Garr family, who settled early mornings.” stewardship, environmental education and wasatch.substack.com. l Antelope Island, but he’s dedicated himself Carlson grew to love the Great Salt to photographing the lake’s ever-changing Lake, from the migratory birds to the bison. landscape. He explored all areas of the lake, docuNews about the Great Salt Lake’s menting its beauty, its loss and its capacity demise is everywhere, from the Wall Street for wonder. Journal to the New York Times. According He’d always considered himself a to Grow the Flow Utah, the statistics are landscape photographer, but after witnessdire. The lake is eight feet below the min- ing the wildlife on the lake, he became imum healthy level, 56% of the lakebed is an expert in capturing the perfect animal exposed and it’s not quite 31% full. image. His connection to the animals that Carlson has a different story to tell live there became a gift. about the lake. He addressed the Northern “What I’ve learned, and this is the Wasatch chapter of the LDS Earth Steward- spiritual part for me, is that eye connection ship during an event in August at the Eccles is everything,” he said. “I don’t know what Re-elect Representative Pierucci so she can Wildlife Education Center in Farmington. heaven’s like, but I know it’s not going to continue to fight for you. At the event, Carlson shared images be heaven if we don’t have animals there.” Candice General Mailer 2024.indd 1 he’s taken of the lake over the years. His Carlson hopes that using creativity Mailer 2024.indd 1 Fighting for Family Budgets & Keeping Utah Affordable message is one of hope, stewardship, conto address environmental issues will get Candice9General Candice General Mailer 2024.indd 1 10/29/2024 12:12:36 PM 9 Advocating for Parents, Students, and Teachers in Education servation and beauty. more people earnestly engaged in saving “Sometimes when you’re out there, the lake. He recently organized a Great 9 Championing Transportation & Infrastructure Solutions and you have your camera, Heavenly Salt Lake fashion show, featuring couture Father just serves you the image,” he said. designed by local college students studying “If you want to love the Great Salt Lake, fashion. The goal is to raise $300,000 that go out and spend time with it, because it’s will go directly to conservation efforts. remarkable.” He encourages residents to go out on Carlson published a book of photos the Great Salt Lake, get to know its landhighlighting the lake’s stunning scenery scapes, its birds, its animals and its tenuous and interconnectedness. “Preserving Great- plight. Carlson wants people to visit Anteness” includes more than 200 pictures, doc- lope Island to see the bison and antelope, umenting the natural wonder found in and walk along the south shore at the Great Salt around the Great Salt Lake. Lake State Park and take time to visit the The photos came about as his father Spiral Jetty artwork. was dying from Alzheimer’s. Carlson spent “There are young people in Utah who hours on Antelope Island, searching for are paying attention, who are turning their votecandicepierucci.com | 385.202.3936 solace and peace during that difficult time. love for this place, and grief about what’s
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October 2026 | Page 17
10/29/2024 12:12:36 PM
Gardner Village WitchFest: An inside look behind the cackling hosts When the witches fly at Gardner Village, visitors come from every corner of the United States for a chance to dance, dine and mingle with these bewitching, greenfaced ladies. By Collette Hayes c.hayes@mycityjournals.com
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or many years, WitchFest has cast its spell over Gardner Village. It begins with an unusual mid-September breeze from the east stirring the village with the first hints of the witching season. The crisp air, tinged with the scent of fall and something mysterious, carries a faint cackle of laughter drifting on the wind, hinting that magic is on the move. Swirls of capes and shivers of mischief can be seen and heard as brooms swoop down into the village. Long before WitchFest became the village’s signature celebration, Gardner Village hosted another autumn tradition. The village began hosting the Scarecrow Festival in the early 1990s to benefit the Utah Boys Ranch. The event grew so successful that the village could no longer accommodate it. “In 2000, we knew we would lose the festival because it became too big for our location and available manpower,” village Marketing Director Marcia Johns said. As they went their separate ways, the village generously gave the event’s trademark name and the festival’s core traditional format to the Utah Boys Ranch. Yet one pressing question lingered: What would happen when hundreds of visitors arrived at the village during the UEA weekend, as it was formerly known, anticipating the excitement and enjoyment of the Scarecrow Festival? In the midst of a routine business meeting, only weeks before the Scarecrow Festival was scheduled to occur, village co-owner Joe Long sparked an idea: “Let’s do witches,” he suggested. Then added, “What if we do an event called Witches Night Out? He looked across the table at Marcia and said, “You be in charge.” And with that, WitchFest was officially created. “The first year of Witches Night Out we hired a DJ and played music and gave away $100 gift certificates the night of the event,” Johns said. “The second year, 2001, is the year we decided to add the witch displays. The original creator, freelance designer Becky Hogan, was tasked with creating larger-than-life witches. The first year we displayed 10 witches with some even being motorized.” The village worked with David Breitenbeker of Design Werks, a local firm specializing in special effects and designs, to create the faces. According to Johns, village designer Keri Taylor now makes the witches’ faces from sculpted Styrofoam and also carves the eyes and noses. The basic form of the witches is then created and welded together. After the bodies are assembled, Taylor and her sister, Jami Christiensen, custom-make all the clothes, with an exception this year, when they squeezed a large farm gal who had flown in on her broom from Kansas into a pair of store-bought size 52 overalls. “Most years, the witches get redressed,” Taylor said. “Jami is great at coming up with the main
Page 18 | October 2026
ideas, and then we make and hand-sew the clothing onto the witches.” For years, Lucinda the Gardner Village witch has enchanted promotional media with her charm. She is the creative person behind the live Gardner Village witches often seen strolling and cackling throughout the village. “Lucinda used to be a hostess at Archibald’s,” Johns said. “She just worked at the restaurant as a little job when her kids were at school. Someone at the restaurant called me and told me I needed to hear her “witch cackle.” I ran over to the restaurant, and after a brief audition, I hired her immediately for a live village witch.” Generations of families have enjoyed visiting WitchFest every year. Among the familiar sights and traditions, one witch in the village is set up as a photo-op place. Lucille sits on a park bench with her arm resting across the back of it. Guests mark the growth of their children every year by having them cozy up to her for a photo. Beginning in 2011, Tara Bowcut started photographing her son with the witch when he was just a toddler. She comments on the Gardner Village Facebook page, “This witch is my son’s favorite! We’ve taken a picture with her every year!” Each village store centers around spellbinding witch vignettes and offers all kinds of tricks, treats, potions and pointy Halloween hats for little witches needing a new one. Looking for a new pet? How about a pet bat? Witch Lottie has many caged meat-eating vampire and ghost bats on display. Take advantage of free entry to the Big Splash Competition, where each year witch Pamela Anderson—affectionately named by her creators—shows off her Olympic-worthy diving form as she plunges into the village pond. Practical pest control gardening tips, like how to ‘whomp’ tarantulas with a broom, are always available from witch Turnip, who can be found bustling around tending her garden throughout the festival. These magical happenings are just a small part of what draws an ever-growing crowd to the village each fall. WitchFest has grown in popularity, attracting guests from all over Utah and the US—some even booking flights around the scheduled time of their favorite events. Admission is free to the public, except for a $10 per-car fee on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, which covers the parking lot service hired to ensure the safety and enjoyment of all who visit, as well as common-area maintenance and cleaning crews. A late morning walk through the village in the fall is filled with enchantment. Make sure to stop in for a bowl of Archibald’s butternut squash soup or a slice of their famous seasonal pumpkin pie cake. If a live witch or two happen to pull up a chair at your table, which is quite possible, smile and snap some photos for an album soon to be filled with magical mischief, making your friends green with envy. WitchFest 2026 at Gardner Village takes place from Friday, Sept. 18 to Saturday, Oct. 31. For event schedules and details, visit www.gardnervillage.com/witch-fest.l
Looking for a new pet? How about a pet bat? Witch Lottie has many caged meat-eating vampire and ghost bats on display. (Collette Hayes/City Journals)
In 2001, witch displays were added to the annual event. The original creator, freelance designer Becky Hogan, was tasked with creating larger-than-life witches with some even being suspended in the air and motorized. (Photo courtesy Gardner Village)
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October 2026 | Page 19
‘Ghost Adventures’ celebrities investigate The Great Saltair at ParaCon finale
Salt City ParaCon’s inaugural year draws such a wealth of local participation that the 2027 paranormal conference is already scheduled. By Cassie Goff c.goff@mycityjournals.com
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hat’s up with Utah, man?” asked Aaron Goodwin, “Ghost Adventures” TV personality, actor and producer. “There’s something going on with the land. It’s just weird.” Goodwin and Jay Wasley, his fellow “Ghost Adventures” actor, producer and director, were in town for the first-ever local paranormal conference known as Salt City ParaCon. Salt City ParaCon drew local paranormal enthusiasts together for various paranormal guest speakers, panel discussions, workshops, local vendors and late-night investigations of The Great Saltair. “We love all things spooky and paranormal,” said local haunt actor Kookie The Clown. “The people here are amazing. It’s a great community.” David Sandoval, Salt City ParaCon’s event planner, was inspired by events like Vernal’s PhenomeCon and Pennsylvania’s Pennhurst ParaCon. He wanted to create a space and community in Utah specifically focused on the paranormal, as opposed to other areas of supernatural focus like Big Foot, aliens and skin walkers. “I didn’t know what to expect for the
David Sandoval, Salt City ParaCon’s event organizer, and Aaron Goodwin, “Ghost Adventures” TV personality, prep to investigate The Great Saltair. (Cassie Goff/City Journals)
turnout,” Sandoval said. “Once we got Jay on board, it snowballed. Everybody in the community knows Jay.” As he was planning an event of this scale for the first time, Sandoval took care to pick and format the 45 local vendors into the conference. He wanted to have paranormal investigators included, of course, but he also wanted to bring in skeptics to balance out the vendor floor. “I always like the idea of a conversation,” Sandoval said. “I wanted to have both sides of the argument.” “The mystery of the paranormal has to have definitive answers,” said Zayne Searle from the YouTube show “The Unknown Investigators.”
“We’re pumping up and supporting other women in the community,” said Amber Galer, Curst Beauty wholesale director. (Cassie Goff/City Journals)
Sandoval personally buys into the “residual energy” theories to explain the paranormal world and to understand what we don’t know after death. “Past, present and future are happening all at the same time,” he said. During the daylight hours of the ParaCon weekend, attendees were able to browse local artist booths, snack on food from local artisan trucks (like The Haunted Wagon Philly Cheesesteak and Crazy Chicken), and listen to panel discussions and guest speaker presentations. “We love coming out to build connections with the overlapping community,” said Ollie Odinson, content creator of Slash Lake City. But after the sun went down, they were able to explore The Great Saltair (12408 W. Saltair Drive) in Magna with investigations led by Goodwin and Wasley. (Because as
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Page 20 | October 2026
Sandoval noted, any paranormal conference must “end with a ghost hunt.”) “We asked the ghosts if they came to our booth,” said Amber Galer, Curst Beauty wholesale director. “They said yes.” After the Salt City ParaCon weekend was over, Sandoval shared that some of the vendors reported back to him with some of the biggest sales days in their entire business careers. Sandoval has already made announcements for Salt City ParaCon 2027 with returning appearances from Goodwin and Wasley, and new attendance confirmed by Amy Bruni, Jessica Chobot and Patti Negri. “I don’t want to keep it exclusive to the paranormal,” Sandoval said. “We’re reaching out to other celebrities that don’t believe in ghosts.” (Sean Kanan from “Karate Kid”/”Cobra Kai” has already signed on.) Salt City ParaCon 2026’s local art vendors included Curst Beauty (www.curstbeauty.com), Erica Lackey (on Instagram @ bone.n.ware), Chesley Jewelry (www.chesleyjewelry.com), Haderlie Designs (www. haderliedesigns.com), ideas2ink (www. ideas2ink.net), Haunted Haven LLC (with Northern Utah Paranormal) (on Facebook @Haunted Haven Paraphysical Shop), The Traveling Whisper (on Instagram @the_travelingwhisper), Kookie Creations (on Instagram @kookiezcreationz), and Slash Lake City (on Facebook), Local paranormal services attending ParaCon included: Wasatch Investigative Society for Paranormal Studies (WISPS) (www. advancedparanormal.com), Beehive Skeptics (www.beehiveskeptics.com) and “The Unknown Investigators” (on YouTube). Salt City ParaCon’s artwork and logo were designed by Claudio Bergamin (on Instagram @claudiobergamin.art). Salt City ParaCon 2026 was sponsored by Western Paranormal Society, Fear Factory, Castle of Chaos and Nightmare on 13th. Salt City ParaCon 2027 will begin on April 15, 2027 and run through April 17, 2027 at Asylum 49 in Tooele (140 E. 200 South). To learn more, or to buy tickets, visit their website at: www.saltcityparacon.com. l
Riverton City Journal
Teal Pumpkin Project “I Spy” display from 2025. (Anna Nielsen/City Journals)
Participants painting purple pumpkins at Epilepsy Foundation Utah’s Purple Pumpkin event last October. (Epilepsy Foundation Utah)
Teal, purple and red pumpkins: The color-code of Halloween porch pumpkins explained Painted pumpkins are meant to bring awareness and spark conversation about health and safety topics. By Anna Nielsen a.nielsen@mycityjournals.com
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welve-year-old Charlotte has celiac disease, and her friend and neighbor Liv has a nut allergy. The girls love trick-or-treating together each year, but so many of the treats they bring home on Halloween eve they can’t eat. They tend to relinquish a large portion of their stashes to friends. But, when they spot a house with a teal pumpkin out front, their eyes light up with excitement, because this signals that there may be inclusive options for them there. The Teal Pumpkin Project was started in 2012 by the director of FACET, a Tennessee-based food allergy group, Becky Basalone. Now, Food Allergy Resource and Education promotes the annual activity of offering nonfood items on Halloween across the U.S. and beyond, citing on their website that one in 13 children have food allergies, intolerances and sensitivities, and encouraging participants to paint a pumpkin teal, put out a sign, or “get creative and add some teal lighting.” Teal was chosen for its bright, easy recognizability from afar. In addition to being displayed on porches, some children may carry teal totes/candy baskets to signal that they have a food allergy. Charlotte says the people who participate in the Teal Pumpkin Project make her feel included. “When I was younger, sometimes kids would bring cupcakes or cookies or doughnuts to class for their birthday, and I felt so bad seeing everyone else eat theirs while I had to watch with nothing. I was little enough that sometimes, it was so hard to
Riverton Journal.com
Teal Pumpkin Project sign. (Food Allergy Research and Education website)
resist that I would eat one too because I felt left out. I knew it would make me so sick, but it’s hard to resist when you’re a little kid, and I didn’t want to feel so sad and alone or different,” she said. When fall rolls around, her neighborhood goes all-out with elaborate decorations. Getting in the spirit last year, Charlotte’s family set up an “I Spy”-themed trick-ortreat trading table for their version of the Teal Pumpkin Project. “Everyone was excited to come to our house, it had the neighborhood talking all night. People thought it was so fun and different from what they’d seen before. My friends told me they thought more people should do things like this more often,” she said. “I think pumpkin projects are a good way for people to consider others and show support for each other, and you can get creative,” she said, adding that she looks forward to another fun display this year. 2012 was also the year another pumpkin
project for awareness and consideration began: the Purple Pumpkin Project. Started by Ron Lamontagne in Connecticut for his son with epilepsy, the display of painted purple pumpkins are meant to prompt the question: “Why is your pumpkin purple?” and start a conversation about epilepsy awareness. Purple is the official color of epilepsy awareness, as of 2008 with the founding of Purple Day by a girl with epilepsy named Cassidy Megan. Purple was her favorite color, and lavender as a symbol has an association with things that are hidden or overlooked, such as epilepsy in this case. The Purple Pumpkin Project is now an annual tradition by the Epilepsy Foundation of America and has spread to other countries. The Foundation encourages participants to join their local pumpkin-painting event and tell their individual stories (sharing them on social media, too) when asked “why is your pumpkin purple?” 2012 was a big year for pumpkin projects and also saw the creation of the nonprofit The Pink Pumpkin Project, an effort for breast cancer awareness based out of New York with the motto “Giving Hope to Fighters, One Pumpkin at a Time.” October is also Breast Cancer Awareness Month. In 2018, Mothers Against Drunk Driving designated red pumpkins as a talking point for awareness around Halloween being one of the deadliest DUI holidays, with marketing stating: “Join us by displaying a red pumpkin as a reminder to designate a sober driver this holiday season. Red pumpkins create a conversation as a unique way to encourage the public to talk about these issues and make them think.” Dark blue pumpkins are another symbol of Halloween, one for autism awareness. There is not a clear origin story around an
organization for this effort, but for several years, dark blue buckets have grown in popularity through social media for trick-or-treaters who may be nonverbal or potentially have a sensory-processing disorder, with the hope that the blue bucket will provide recognition for them to be welcomed without proclaiming “trick-or-treat!” Promoters of the blue pumpkin/blue bucket aren’t looking to start a conversation, but simply to help people receive patience, understanding and accommodation. Another more informal piece of pumpkin symbolism comes in the color white. Many within the pregnancy and infant loss community opt to remember their babies who have passed away with a white pumpkin on their porch during Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month in October. Rounding out the rainbow, yellow pumpkins were chosen to represent childhood apraxia of speech (which may also prevent a child from being able to say “trickor-treat) by mother Laura Slatter, who cites the Teal Pumpkin Project as inspiration. l
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Give people grace September 11th marks 15 years since my 57-year-old mom passed away in a car accident. It was the first time I’d ever lost someone that close to me so suddenly, and it was jarring. In the days that followed, I thought often about how precious life is— and how quickly it can change. My parents were driving down to St. George for a water conference that my dad needed to attend. As they traveled on I-15 near Leeds, a terrible storm came upon them. Their car slid off the road and rolled several times. My mom was killed instantly. My dad survived with only a few bumps and bruises, but his heart was broken by the loss. My brother, Mike, and I drove to St. George and reached my dad at the hospital around 4 a.m. Later, after trying to sleep for a few hours, I awoke hoping it had all been a nightmare. Instead, I faced the bitter reality that my mom was gone. We had a funeral to plan and a long road ahead as we helped my dad begin to recover. The first time I went to the grocery store after the funeral, everything felt strangely
Aimee Winder Newton
Salt Lake County Councilmember District 3
normal. People wandered the aisles, chatted with one another and went about their errands. Meanwhile, my life had changed. My grief was heavy. I felt broken and numb, still trying to understand how my mom could be here one day and gone the next. I probably looked fine—just like any other shopper. But I was not fine. I share this with you because there are thousands of Utahns going about their lives with heavy hearts. Just because we can’t see their injuries, trauma or sorrow, doesn’t mean it’s not there. Sometimes when we are dealing with heavy burdens, we may not be our best selves. Do you ever see people who
seem agitated or just generally grouchy? We never really know what they are going through or the struggles that have been heaped upon them. Recently, I learned of a family grieving the death by suicide of a 14-year-old girl. Her loved ones are devastated and searching for answers. Others in our community are coping with life-threatening illnesses or a new cancer diagnosis. Some are experiencing addiction, mental illness, housing insecurity, domestic violence or abuse. Many are caring for an aging parent, worried about a child, struggling financially or simply trying to make it through another day. It is so important for us to give people grace. I am reminded of a quote often attributed to author Ian Maclaren: “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” We rarely know the whole story of the person in front of us — the coworker who snapped at us, the driver who cut us off, the neighbor who hasn’t returned a wave in weeks. Behind an ordinary Tuesday there might be a diagnosis just received, a
marriage falling apart, or a grief that has no expiration date. Fifteen years later, I still miss my mom every day. That loss taught me that kindness costs us nothing, and we never know when it might be exactly what someone needs to keep going. A text to a friend who has gone quiet. A phone call to check on a friend. Patience with the cashier who seems short-tempered, or the driver going too slow. None of us can fix another person’s grief or struggle. But we can meet a stranger’s rough edges with curiosity instead of judgment, and a friend’s silence with a check-in instead of assumption. That is the kind of community I hope we keep building here in Salt Lake County. If you are carrying something heavy right now, please know you are not alone, and there is no shame in asking for help. And if you’re not sure who around you might be struggling, consider assuming that someone is, and treat them accordingly. It is a small shift that can make a real difference.
Parents have a voice in how School LAND Trust dollars help students
School community councils help determine how funding can address each school’s needs. By Julie Slama j.slama@mycityjournals.com
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t one Utah school, the priority might be reading intervention. At another, it could be additional classroom support. A third school might decide educational software is what students need most. Who sets the priorities? In Utah, parents have a voice and a vote through school community councils. For the 2026-27 school year, $134 million in School LAND (Learning and Nurturing Development) Trust funds will be distributed to Utah district and charter schools, benefiting more than 658,000 students at more than 1,000 schools. School allocations are largely based on enrollment. For parents who want a greater voice in their children’s education, serving on a school community council can be one of the most direct ways to make a difference, said Jessie Stuart, assistant director of the School & Institutional Trust Beneficiaries’ Advocacy Office. “I feel like the trust lands story is one of the coolest stories out there,” she said. “These lands are put in trust to generate revenue for public schools.” Utah’s trust lands were established when the state entered the Union. Revenue is generated from trust lands through activities such as oil and gas, mining, solar power, real estate development and other uses. The
Page 22 | October 2026
money is invested, with earnings distributed to beneficiaries. “The beneficiaries of these trust lands are the K through 12 school kids who these teachers are teaching every single day,” Stuart said. When funding is distributed to schools, parent involvement in the local decision-making becomes critical, Stuart said. At Draper Elementary, Principal Scott Jameson starts by explaining the LAND Trust program to council members — parents, employees in addition to himself. “We start with data, identify our highest needs, then we develop goals and come up with an action plan,” he said. “We can put that money toward meeting our highest needs.” Draper’s 2026-27 plan includes goals to increase mathematics and literacy proficiency by 1% to 3%. “The greatest power of this whole thing,” he said, “is all that money is based on what the school needs.” Principal Suzie Williams, of Columbia Elementary in West Jordan, said LAND Trust dollars often support paraprofessionals who provide interventions and classroom assistance. “We typically use it for support staff so we can provide intervention and individualized instruction for students with instructional aides and classroom aides,” she said. “We can provide rotation teachers to give our teachers planning and collaboration time.” Principal Justin Pitcher, of Cottonwood High School in Murray, said last year’s council determined the $265,000 LAND Trust dollars would support instructional coaching, assessment coordination, additional teacher periods
and educational software. “We need parents to be involved in our school community councils, so we can appropriate the funding in ways that will benefit our students with the parent input,” Pitcher said. Parents bring a perspective educators may not always have. “Parents themselves give input and insight to a school which we don’t always see,” Jameson said. “Educators are experts in instruction. They’re experts in working with large groups of kids, but parents help us to hone down to individuals.” Pitcher said SCCs bring together those perspectives. “The power of a council allows us to be able to work through really hard decisions, and come to a consensus,” Pitcher said. That parent voice has a long history in Utah. Utah PTA members began advocating for reform of the trust-land system in the 1980s. “Today, those efforts bring millions of dollars every year to Utah’s schoolchildren,” Utah PTA President Julie Cluff said. “What’s even better is that it’s not just today’s kids who benefit, it’s tomorrow’s kids too.” That’s an important lesson: the LAND Trust fund isn’t simply money to spend. “They are an investment in students and school community councils that give families a voice in determining how that investment can have the greatest local impact,” said Williams, who served on a LAND Trust committee for three years. “Parents do not need to be education experts. They simply need to know their community, care about students and be willing to participate.” l
At Draper Elementary, the school community council has a say and vote in where LAND Trust dollars are spent. (Julie Slama/ City Journals)
Local School LAND Trust distribution 2026-27 Canyons District $6,039,052 Davis District $12,599,737 Granite District $10,227,609 Jordan District $10,473,694 Murray District $1,269,968 Salt Lake District $3,505,362 All Charter Schools $17,295,728 Source: School Children’s Trust Office, Utah State Board of Education. As required by law, estimates are based on October 2025 enrollment data.
Riverton City Journal
W
hat if your worst day became your villain origin story? The day you lost your temper at Walmart. The day you kicked the office water cooler. The day you screamed at your partner in the grocery store and became a viral sensation for all the wrong reasons. What if your greatest shame or embarrassment became your legacy: forever. I’m afraid we’ve judged Disney villains too harshly. What if they were normal people having a tough day? What if their bad decisions defined them for generations? Take Ursula the Sea Witch. She ran a powerful, women-owned business, granting people their heart’s desire. What did she get? Impaled on the bow of a ship and labeled as a fast-talking, predatory loan officer for eternity. Were her tactics questionable? Of course. But she was also an octopus. What about Snow White’s Evil Queen? She bought into the idea that youth is everything and had a questionable relationship with mirrors, but one poison-laced apple and suddenly she’s a witch. Maleficent’s curse on Sleeping Beauty was an overreaction to not being invited to a baby blessing. Cinderella’s stepmother just wanted Cinderella to do some damn chores. Does that make her evil? Cinderella could have at least unloaded the dishwasher instead of dressing up her mice. Maybe these villains were all having a
Riverton Journal.com
Welcome to the Dark Side Peri Kinder Life and Laughter
terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. But understanding why someone acted badly isn’t the same as excusing that behavior. We’ve all been there. We’ve said things we’ve regretted. We’ve hurt people’s feelings. We’ve done stupid things. Hopefully you didn’t try to skin 101 Dalmatians, but really, who hasn’t wanted a coat as soft as a pile of puppies? Who hasn’t gone all Queen of Hearts and yelled, “Off with his head!” during a stressful work meeting? No one? Just me? Was Beauty’s Gaston intentionally terrible? Maybe his father never taught him to respect women and never scolded him for putting his disgusting feet on the table. His public humiliation seemed to push him into “Kill the Beast” mode, but that’s no excuse for his villainous behavior. The way we treat each other matters. How often have we made someone the villain? The driver who honks immediately after the light turns green was obviously raised
by feral wolves. The woman having a meltdown at Starbucks becomes a “Karen” and is publicly shamed on TikTok. The neighbor who disagrees with you politically becomes your nemesis. And now our bad days can be recorded, posted, commented on by strangers and picked apart by internet trolls before we even figure out what happened. Life feels so prickly. We’re walking around like a cactus, trying not to stab someone in the thigh. I don’t think anyone wakes up and thinks, “I’m going to be an incredible jerk today.” Well, except some politicians. Who hasn’t felt rage, hopelessness or fear? Humans act irrationally. Sometimes we’re exhausted, sometimes we’re at wit’s end or sometimes we just can’t hear our co-worker chew his sandwich for one more minute. We are so quick to judge, so fast to condemn. Trolling has become a favorite pastime for many people, and I don’t mean the ones who live under bridges. I’ve often fallen into the role of villain. I’ve posted rage-bait; I’ve gauged a person’s character by the color of their hat or by the number of American flags stuck to their Ford F-150. We need to remember that everyone is carrying a heavy load, even the people we want to push off the castle. I know I’ve been the villain in someone’s story. Haven’t we all?
Peri Kinder is an award-winning columnist and journalist who has written for The City Journals since 2004. She also hosts the Life & Laughter podcast. Peri can be reached at peri.k@thecityjournals.com.
October 2026 | Page 23
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