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SSL Cares Coalition
One Burton launches in South Salt Lake City
One Burton, a newly constructed 180-unit housing development, has opened in South Salt Lake City.
The city took a major step toward its long-envisioned downtown transformation June 11 with the grand opening of One Burton, a high-end, mixed-use development located at the southwest corner of Burton Avenue and Main Street.
The 287,468-square-foot eight-story One Burton building is now offering rental housing to singles and families in this previously underutilized area of the city. Construction of the project took 30 months.
“This is first of many projects that will transform our community, and so we're grateful for the energy, the time, the commitment to using local businesses as they were working on their project,” South Salt Lake Mayor Cherie Wood said at the ribbon cutting.
For several years city leaders have been envisioning a downtown for South Salt Lake City and One Burton is the first step in that dream, she said.
“Thank you so much for caring, thank you so much for showing up and listening to who we are as a community, embracing that and building off of that,” she told the development team. “Thank you for being here today and supporting our little but very big city and thank you for investing in our city's future.”
Members of the project team who spoke echoed Wood’s optimism.
“Today isn't just a ribbon cutting,” said Abstract Development Group partner Jason Algaze. “It's a moment to reflect on what happens when creativity, collaboration and community all come together to create something, hopefully, that is truly lasting.”
“We wanted to create, obviously, a great place to live, to build a space that truly, honestly represents the heart and soul of South Salt Lake,” another partner Daniel Rudofsky added. “We also wanted to bring something new and fresh, just to actually showcase and bring attention to the area. We saw an opportunity at this corner, a place that, honestly, it just felt underappreciated, but just blossomed with potential.”
At the event South Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce President Rick Taggart, who grew up in the city, gave a brief
By Linda Petersen | l.petersen@mycityjournals.com
history of the community from its 1938 incorporation with a population of just 500 to the growing community of more than 26,000 today.
“The growth of South Salt Lake is impressive, and One Burton you are now a part of it,” he concluded. “It's my pleasure on behalf of the South Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce and our member businesses we welcome you to our city on the move.”
One Burton is offering 180 units ranging from 600-square-foot studios to 1,200-square-foot two- bedroom
City and project officials cut the ribbon on One Burton a high-end housing project on the city’s west side. (Linda Petersen/City Journals)
Summer Surge: When Fun Turns into Ankle Injuries
By Ryan Callahan, DO
As temperatures rise, so does outdoor activity—from weekend hikes and pickup basketball games to long days on the pickleball court. But with the thrill of movement comes a sharp uptick in lower extremity injuries, particularly to the ankle and Achilles tendon.
Every summer, emergency rooms and orthopedic clinics report a surge in ankle sprains, fractures, and tendon injuries. The most common culprits? Uneven terrain, sudden pivots, overuse, and inadequate warm-ups. While a minor sprain might only need rest and bracing, more severe injuries can sideline someone for months—or require surgery.
Three of the most common issues to be aware of:
ANKLE SPRAINS
Ankle sprains, often underestimated, can lead to chronic instability if not properly treated. Recurrent sprains may
eventually necessitate lateral ligament reconstruction, a procedure to restore stability to a weakened ankle.
ANKLE FRACTURES
Ankle fractures—whether from a misstep while running or an awkward landing during sports—may require an open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF), where the bones are realigned and stabilized with plates and screws.
ACHILLES TENDON INJURIES
Achilles tendon injuries, particularly ruptures, are also on the rise in active adults. These injuries often occur during explosive movements, like jumping or sprinting. While some partial tears can be treated without surgery, a full rupture often requires Achilles tendon repair to restore function and strength.
Injury prevention is just as critical as treatment. Proper footwear, cross-training, structured warm-ups, and balance exercises can go a long
way in keeping you active and injury-free during the summer.
If you experience persistent pain, swelling, or instability in your ankle or Achilles, don’t “walk it off”—get evaluated by a physician. Timely diagnosis and tailored care can make all the difference between a season on the sidelines and a full recovery.
As you get out and enjoy all the amazing summer activities available here in Utah, be sure to take the proper precautions to protect your function and future.
Ryan Callahan is a board-certified foot and ankle orthopedic surgeon at CommonSpirit Orthopedics & Sports Medicine West Jordan.
Learn more about the services, care providers and missiondriven work of the Holy Cross hospitals and CommonSpirit Health at www.holycrossutah.org.
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SSL residents are invited to shape a stronger city
South Salt Lake is recruiting community members to join the SSL Cares Coalition.
By Peri Kinder peri.k@thecityjournals.com
South Salt Lake is at a turning point where important decisions require thoughtful leadership and community-wide collaboration to move forward. Chelsea Frost said it’s a time when residents, city officials, businesses and organizations must band together to improve the community for everyone within the city’s boundaries.
Frost is the coordinator for the SSL Cares Coalition and is looking for people in the city who want to be part of the work. Promise SSL and the newly formed Communities that Care Key Leader Board are launching an initiative to build safe, connected, nurturing environments for the people who live, learn, work and play in the city.
Residents, business owners and leaders from every sector are invited to align efforts and strengthen the commitment to making SSL a place where everyone can thrive.
“There is a role that everybody can play in this work,” said Promise SSL Deputy Director Edward Lopez. “In this model, getting that community voice is so important, so we can know exactly what the community’s needs and wants are.”
Through a funding grant, Promise SSL hired Frost based on her experience running the program in other communities. She will take what’s been done in the past to realign, refocus and reenergize the work so the city continues to see good outcomes, with additional community involvement and input.
Leaders from nonprofits, volunteer groups, public safety, civic organizations, media, local schools and churches, and par-
ent-led groups were invited to be part of the Communities that Care Key Leader Board. Now, by forming a community coalition, the initiative will super-charge the good work already being done.
“I’m bringing evidence-based methodology that involves a structure that we know works and is effective in bringing about community change,” Frost said. “We can be a lot more targeted in the way we apply interventions to make changes in our community. It’s taking what’s already being done with the Promise program, and putting it on steroids.”
Currently, Promise SSL offers free services and resources for children, youth, adults and families. With a commitment to success, the programs include after-school programs, a teen center, housing navigation
and more.
SSL has set some big goals, including an 85% reduction in juvenile arrests and a 100% Cottonwood High School graduation rate by 2028. Part of that graduation goal includes providing 100% of basic needs for families to support a student’s education.
The SSL Cares Coalition will track trends, improve efforts, expand cooperation and strengthen the city’s vision of nurturing residents from cradle to career.
“By having a dedicated position now in our department, that’s Chelsea’s role, it will support the different committees in moving the work forward,” Lopez said. “Each community is going to have its own assets, its own strengths and weaknesses, so it has to be tailored to that community.”
Frost hopes residents from all walks of
life will participate in the SSL Cares Coalition to ensure all voices are represented and all ideas are heard. To learn more about becoming a founding member of the coalition, visit sslc.gov/492/SSL-Cares-Coalition or email sslcoalition@sslc.gov to get information.
“As soon as they reach out, we’ll get back to them with more details, so we just need to know their interests,” Frost said. “Coalitions are so flexible, they can serve in so many different ways. We can see what is most concerning, what are the biggest pain points. In doing a qualitative assessment, we can hear from members of the community and what their concerns are. That’s how we can decide what to prioritize.” l
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Leaders from nonprofits, volunteer groups, public safety, civic organizations, media, local schools and churches, and parent-led groups were invited to be part of the Communities that Care Key Leader Board in South Salt Lake. (Photo courtesy of SSL)
Fun with a purpose, all the way down in Peru
Murray Rotary, in conjunction with the Bountiful, West Jordan, the Hispano-Latino South Salt Lake and Lima, Peru Rotarians recently completed their annual international service project. This year they visited Peru and provided medical equipment to special needs adults and children.
By Ella Joy Olsen e.olsen@mycityjournals.com
At a time when it seems that we are becoming more insular and focused on our own well-being, Rotary offers a way to connect with community, provide service (both locally and globally) and look beyond the things that threaten to divide us.
You might know of Rotary.
They serve the pancake breakfast for Murray Fun Days on the Fourth of July, they build parks around the city (think Rotary Park at the mouth of Emigration Canyon or the playground at Liberty Park), they sponsor food and clothing drives, Operation Santa, and a variety of scholarships and roadside cleanups. They collaborate with many existing local service organizations, providing money and volunteer hours.
But you might not know that they maintain a strictly nonpolitical stance. Clubs do not endorse candidates or take sides on issues, which allows members from diverse backgrounds to come together with a common goal of service. In fact, their motto is “Service Above Self.”
You also may not know that Rotary has a global presence. They have 1.4 million members and 47,000 active clubs in more than 200 countries. Utah, alone, has 45 active clubs.
Rotary clubs in Utah take pride in serving internationally, not just locally. For example, Murray Rotary, in conjunction with the Bountiful, West Jordan and Hispano-Latino Rotary clubs recently completed a service project in Arequipa, Peru.
“Ninety-five percent of our service is local, but we do have a tradition of once a year, serving somewhere else,” Jerry Summerhays, past Rotarian president, said.
So, each year, the International Service Chair of Murray Rotary reaches out to overseas clubs to identify a sustainable project that aligns with the club’s budget. The International Rotary Club knows the needs of its specific community and can manage implementation of the project.
This year, Murray Rotary facilitated the purchase of $19,000 of essential medical and rehabilitation equipment to a nonprofit in Peru, run by local nuns, that takes care of 35 special needs adults and
A nun in a small town in Peru helps take care of special needs children and adults. Murray Rotary, in conjunction with local and Peruvian Rotary clubs, provided funding for the facility. Sue Thomas, a Murray Rotarian, said, “It was truly an honor to witness the love and care those children receive from the nuns and teachers.” (Courtesy Murray Rotary)
children.
The Utah clubs collected the money and sent it to the Lima Rotary, a 103-yearold Rotary Club, which purchased the equipment and facilitated the project, locally.
Then, in staying true to their club motto, “Fun with a Purpose,” 25 Utah Rotarians traveled to see the impact of their financial support. On the trip, they also enjoyed visiting Lake Titicaca, Cusco, Machu Picchu and Lima.
Additionally, over the past four years, Murray, Bountiful, West Jordan and Hispano-Latino Rotary clubs have completed projects in Columbia, Guatemala, Panama and Mexico.
In Panama, Utah clubs financed a pilot project in six rural towns called RACHEL (Remote Access Community Hotspot for Electronic Learning), which was launched by the Rotary Club of Playa Coronado in Panama City. The RACHEL hotspot contains a terabyte of data. Additional grants allowed them to provide laptops to 18 schools, and now the Panama Ministry of Education, who is implementing the training, is seeking Rotary assistance to expand the system to an additional 50 towns and schools.
In Guatemala, they collaborated with local clubs to support a school for children and adults with Down syndrome. And in Columbia, they helped establish a soy factory to provide soy-based nutritional supplements to low-income communities facing malnutrition challenges, currently serving over 50,000 beneficiaries per day.
Rotary International History
Rotary was founded in Chicago in 1905 by Paul Harris, with the intention of gathering professionals with diverse backgrounds to exchange ideas and form meaningful, lifelong friendships. Harris had fond memories of being raised in a small town, and he wanted to bring the dedication and camaraderie of that setting to his city life in Chicago.
In the early days, meetings moved from one member's home to the next and this rotation is what inspired the group's name: Rotary.
Rotary spread like wildfire, first across the United States and then across
the globe. By 1912, Rotary had gone international with clubs in Canada and Europe, and within two decades there were 20,000 Rotary members in over 200 countries. Very quickly their vision extended to humanitarian service, which is implemented locally and internationally.
Rotary International, has survived two world wars and changing times. One of their first and continuing humanitarian goals is the eradication of polio, worldwide. They also support services to provide clean water, sanitation and hygiene around the world, help grow local economies and protect the global and local environment. l
Murray Rotary, in conjunction with the Bountiful, West Jordan and Hispano-Latino Rotary clubs recently completed a service project in Arequipa, Peru providing medical equipment for a nonprofit hospital which serves special needs adults and children. They also presented a gift bag to each patient. (Courtesy Murray Rotary)
Staff at a Peruvian nonprofit hospital serving special needs adults and children thanked the Murray Rotary project leader, Jeff Higgs, with smiles and a plaque. (Courtesy Murray Rotary)
By Linda Petersen l.petersen@mycityjournals.com
The Historic Scott School Community Center at 3280 S. 540 East is closed for the summer to allow for improvements to its parking lot and walkways and installation of upgraded lighting and improved drainage. Programs normally housed at the former school and adjacent buildings have been moved to other city facilities.
“The parking lot was in pretty bad shape,” Neighborhoods Department Director Sharen Hauri said. “It just deteriorated over the last few years, and the design wasn't correct. They'll have the whole parking lot redone with accessible parking spaces and new sidewalks and new lighting. It's kind of a long time coming because it was just in bad shape.”
The project, which is being funded by a Federal Housing and Urban Development community development block grant of $205,000, is expected to be complete in August. The parking lot project is actually a component of a year-long strategic plan by
Historic Scott School closed for renovations
the city to turn the Scott School campus into a fully functioning comprehensive community center.
There are actually several buildings on the site. What is known as the Redwood Building, where the children’s programs are normally housed, was significantly renovated two years ago. A second, known as the Schoolhouse, was the home of art classes and pantry. Another, considered a cottage, was utilized by Mosaic for educational purposes.
“The goal for the [Scott School] community center’s future is have more art classes and have more things for the community to do there just like outdoor space with exhibits or something like that,” Hauri said.
“We've got a little more time with the architects on that, but we've been trying to define what sorts of things we want to do there.”
In addition to arts programming, Hauri hopes to develop an onsite historic interpretation honoring the legacy of the original Granite High School which was first housed there. She is applying for a Salt Lake County tourism grant to help fund the project.
“We just did the concept designs, and then we can go fundraise based on the cost of that construction and more,” she said. “It's going to be a relatively expensive project.”
The campus was purchased by the city from Granite School District in 2007. It has
been home to several programs over the years. In recent years South Salt Lake Arts Council has provided art classes there, and community partners have hosted a resource pantry on site. City officials hope to be able to grow the arts council and its staff and provide offices and space on the campus for its programs, Hauri said.
“In the last few years, now that the library is built and so on, we realized that this is a really important place of history to us, and we can do something pretty special there,” she said. l
The 25-stall Historic Scott School Community Center parking lot is being rebuilt this summer as part of a strategic plan to improve the entire campus. (Linda Petersen/City Journals)
Movement grows as parents ask to form a new school district
Seeking local control and representation, parents in Millcreek, Holladay and South Salt Lake want to split from Granite School District.
By Peri Kinder c.hayes@mycityjournals.com
Frustrated by what they consider a lack of representation and alarmed by the potential closing of local elementary schools, a group of parents wants to split from Granite School District to form a district that would represent students in Millcreek, Holladay and South Salt Lake.
Millcreek resident Taylor Davis has helped spearhead the effort. His children attend Rosecrest Elementary, which has been targeted for potential closure. Davis likes the idea of a smaller district, similar to the Murray School District, where board members live in the area and parents have more impact on decision-making.
“I started digging in and looking at all the districts in the state and the way things are done,” Davis said. “I came to realize pretty quickly that we have one representative, Julie Jackson. She’s great. I’ve met with her before, but she covers 16 schools, which is more than the entire Murray School District. So when a decision is being made, there’s not a board member who lives in Millcreek or South Salt Lake.”
Parents are asking elected officials from the three cities to conduct a feasibility study to determine if creating a new school district is realistic. They want to know if the district could be self-sustaining, how it would affect taxes and how funding would be redistributed.
During a Millcreek City Council meeting this spring, parents said the new district could cater programs to the direct needs of students on the east side of Granite School District and felt the current district was too big to effectively oversee the nearly 60,000 students enrolled. The proposed new district would include 25 schools and about 15,000 students.
Mayor Jeff Silvestrini said he can’t imagine the three city councils would agree to hold an election for the study by November 2025, as more information, public feedback and data are still being gathered.
Silvestrini recalled the difficult experience of having Millcreek Elementary close in 2022. He said the Title 1 school was loved by the community and provided services for lower-income families, and it was tough to see that school shuttered.
“I, and the rest of our city councilmembers, recognize the value to a neighborhood of a local public school,” Silvestrini said. “As the mayor of this
whole city, I want to know that the people on the west side of our community support this movement as well…The feasibility study would be spending everybody’s tax dollars.”
Granite School District Superintendent Ben Horsley has met with concerned parents and is conscious of the worry that comes with school closure discussions. While the district is doing a boundary study on enrollment and population growth for 10 elementary schools, he said no decision has been made and won’t be made until more information is received and reviewed.
The 10 elementary schools being studied are Cottonwood, Crestview, Driggs, Morningside and Oakwood in Holladay, and Eastwood, Rosecrest, Oakridge, William Penn and Upland Terrace in Millcreek. Some South Salt Lake students also attend Millcreek elementaries.
“One of the reasons I was appointed to be the superintendent was to ensure that we engage with our communities continually and work to enhance those processes to make sure that we’re meeting our community’s needs,” Horsley said. “I take any parent concern seriously, whether it’s regarding a district split or any other questions regarding educational outcomes. I will continue to engage with parents directly, as appropriate, to make sure that we’re meeting their needs.”
Horsley mentioned a 2000 legislative report that studied the cost of splitting school districts. The study showed a cost of $3 million to $45 million (based on 2000 dollars) to split a district, depending on its size and location. That estimate does not include the proportional tax increases in both districts to maintain or enhance services.
If Granite splits, Horsley said the amount of funding the new district would receive would be significantly less. To keep services at the current level would require a revenue increase, because the districts would lose the economies of scale.
“There would be potential pros, in terms of more local representation,” he said. “You would certainly see an increase in board representation in that particular area. But if that’s the concern, why don’t we just fix that problem?”
Davis believes public schools are a tent pole in the community, especially at the elementary level, and he’s witnessed charter, private schools and homeschooling take students out of public education. He said as parents pull kids out of local schools, the students most at-risk are the ones whose families don’t have the resources to pay for private schools.
Cities spend millions of dollars on projects, like skate parks and green space, and Davis thinks allocating $50,000 for a
Facing school closures, a group of parents wants a feasibility study done to see if Millcreek, Holladay and South Salt Lake could support a new school district. (Adobe stock)
feasibility study (shared between the three cities) is a good investment.
“If the feasibility study shows it doesn’t make sense for our area, we’ll crumple it up, throw out the garbage and I’ll have more time with my family, because I won’t have to run this campaign anymore,” Davis said. “If it comes out good for our area and we have the means to run our own district, which would mean a jump in representation…I think that’s a win.” l
Community Court: A pathway to greater accountability
Funded by a Department of Justice grant, the new program helps those experiencing homelessness.
By Linda Petersen l.petersen@mycityjournals.com
ASouthSalt Lake Justice Court pro-
gram is working to address the needs of individuals experiencing homelessness who come through the system. Community Court, which is funded by a $586,000 Department of Justice grant, helps people experiencing homelessness who have substance abuse and mental health issues. The program, started in 2024, employs a judicial case manager and a legal services coordinator and operates biweekly, handling around 40 to 50 hearings.
The need for a customized approach to handling cases of crimes allegedly committed by people experiencing homelessness became apparent after the Pamela Atkinson Resource Center opened in the city in 2019.
“That put more pressure on various South Salt Lake services, including the police department and the court and the fire department,” Administrator Lisa Forrester said. “So being proactive as South Salt Lake is, the South Salt Lake Police Depart-
ment created a new unit called Homeless Resources.”
Under the new program, police officers are given additional training to help them work with vulnerable individuals. The Community Court program is an outgrowth of these efforts, Forrester said.
Implemented last year, the program is specifically designed to help the population experiencing homelessness who are struggling with substance abuse and/or mental health challenges and through those challenges may have committed misdemeanors such as criminal trespass, intoxication, public urination or unlawful camping in South Salt Lake.
After those individuals are charged, they often become overwhelmed and even if they desire to take care of the problem, they don’t show up for their court dates, Forrester said.
“Sometimes they don't come to court because they just don't really care,” she said. “If they're living on the streets, it doesn't matter to them if they're not trying to get jobs, that kind of stuff. Some of them have trauma associated with law enforcement. Some of them just don't have the life skills to figure out how to manage a calendar, to remember when and how to get
there.”
At this point the case manager and a legal services coordinator can step in to help the individual. If they are staying at the Pamela Atkinson Resource Center an employee there, funded by the DOJ grant, establishes relationships with these individuals to help them understand the process of appearing in court, Forrester said.
The coordinator can then meet with the individual to discuss their case and where appropriate refer them to the prosecutor to get the charges dismissed. This can be done through granting a plea in abeyance where the offender agrees to certain conditions such as community service and commits to not having any new charges within a certain time period. If the offender follows through charges can be dismissed within six months.
“It's that individualized planning that comes with accountability,” Forrester said. “You have this court case; you're here for a reason. You broke a law. We need to address that, but the way we're going to address that is to help you get the services you need so that you won't feel like you need to break that law in the future to meet your basic needs.”
Customizing the approach to the needs of the individual is key to the success of the program, she said.
“Everybody's an individual; we can't just send them out the door and say, ‘Go take care of this,’” she said. “No, we're going to help them through that process.”
This benefits not just the person experiencing homelessness but the entire community, Forrester said. “Our whole community, needs to have that accountability piece, because as residents, we feel like we should not have to deal with individuals who are sleeping on our back porch or, whatever it is, right?”
Although it’s early days for the program, which has been funded through 2027, Forrester said police officers and personnel involved in the program have high hopes.
“Hopefully all of these things together will decrease recidivism, so we won't be seeing these people coming back into our court time and time again with the same charge,” she said. “We're trying to give them the resources and the skills so that they don't have to commit those crimes again.”
Along with Community Court, South Salt Lake offers all residents free twice-monthly classes about justice court and the legal system. These classes can be valuable for anyone unfamiliar with the U.S. legal system, Forrester said. More information may be found at www.sslc. gov/493/Community-Court. l
A new program by the South Salt Lake Justice Court aims to help individuals experiencing homelessness and to curtail the infractions a small number of them commit. (Linda Petersen/City Journals)
penthouses. Amenities include Mid-Century Modern décor throughout, three levels of secure parking, a rooftop outdoor dining and gathering space, art gallery room, hot tub, game room, fitness room and a mezzanine level co-working space, along with conference rooms.
A north-facing grand entrance welcomes visitors, and three ground-level retail spaces are incorporated into the design. One space has already been leased to a hair salon, while the largest—intended for a food and beverage tenant—remains available.
To mirror the artwork in the area and in a commitment to the community, Abstract Development Group installed murals featuring seven butterflies by French artist Mantra
on the building’s west side. It also constructed its building configuration around the existing YESCO billboard which faces I-80.
Arch Nexus was the architectural firm for One Burton, which was constructed by Jacobsen Construction.
To celebrate the occasion, Abstract Development Group donated $2,000 to the South Salt Lake Arts Council.
“I personally think this is like the creative zone of Salt Lake—or definitely will be,” Algaze said. “So we wanted to make sure we did something nice and fun, gave some funding for some kids’ after-school programs, supplies for art school.”
Neighborhoods Department Director Sharen Hauri accepted the donation on behalf of the arts council.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony followed. l
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Continued from front page
Abstract Development Group partners Jason Algaze, middle, and Daniel Rudofsky, right, present Neighborhoods Department Director Sharen Hauri, at left, with a $2,000 donation for the South Salt Lake City Arts Council. (Linda Petersen/City Journals)
Cottonwood alum Avery Doezie helps lead SLCC Bruins to a national title
Doezie’s two home runs kept SLCC alive in Games 4, 5 after losing the second game.
By Brian Shaw b.shaw@mycityjournals.com
The path to a title is not always paved smoothly.
For Cottonwood High graduate Avery Doezie and his Salt Lake Community College teammates, it was they who found this out the hard way after winning the first game at the JUCO World Series in Grand Junction, Colorado.
Doezie and the Bruins lost Game 2 11-9 to Lake Land College out of Florida, dropping SLCC into the loser’s bracket. From that point on, the Millcreek resident and his teammates started clicking, and SLCC won Game 3 over Shelton State May 27 to advance to the next day’s action.
Doezie, who had only played sparingly and had last taken the field for the Bruins 10 days ago on May 17, went 1-for-4 at the plate and was walked twice, scoring once in a wild 15-13 win.
Would Doezie and the boys improve the next day in Game 4?
The answer in this double-elimination JUCO World Series was yes. Doezie belted a
game-winning home run in the eighth inning, completing a 10-run comeback that started in the bottom of the first for a 17-16 win over Florence-Darlington out of Tuscaloosa, Alabama May 28. Doezie himself had a day, going 3-for-6 along with the two-run homer.
How could Doezie top that in Game 5, the national semifinal, on May 29?
The Cottonwood Colt then nuked another home run against a familiar foe May 29, the same team that defeated the Bruins, in Lake Land by the score of 12-2 to move on to the national championship game. Doezie again stepped up to the plate and delivered, going 1-for-4 but making that one hit felt around the ballpark in Grand Junction as it cleared the wall in left center.
It was Doezie’s second homer in two days, marking the 6-foot-5, 210-pound sophomore’s third dinger of the year for the Bruins.
In the national championship game, No. 8-seeded SLCC put together a total of five runs in the tops of the sixth, seventh and eighth innings and captured the title 9-6 over Walters State, the No. 1-ranked team in the nation.
It marked a storybook ending for a Bruins team that added several key D1 bouncebacks in the offseason, a squad that also captured the Region 17 championship, the title that gained SLCC entry to this JUCO World Series.
As soon as Copper Hills alum Austin Taylor threw the last out, the Bruins dogpiled in
the middle of the diamond to celebrate one of the most unlikely national titles in school history, SLCC’s first in the sport of baseball.
Doezie played in 29 games for SLCC this season, hitting .283 with three home runs and 26 RBI. At the JUCO World Series though, he played some of his best ball all season as the Bruins’ designated hitter, going 6-for-17 from the plate in Grand Junction.
Over his two year career at SLCC, Doezie averaged .284, appearing in 79 games and
starting 61. The Cottonwood alum hit six home runs and had 44 RBI, hitting eight doubles and stealing six bases for the Bruins.
For his efforts, SLCC head baseball coach David “DG” Nelson was later honored with JUCO Coach of the Year Honors. In addition, former Colts coaches Chris Shelton and Jason Crawford were on the Bruins staff as assistants this past season. l
After a rough start, Cottonwood boys tennis regroups to finish the postseason strong
The Colts qualified three singles players for state and wrapped up the regular season with two victories.
By Brian Shaw
b.shaw@mycityjournals.com
The Cottonwood Colts boys tennis team saved their best games for last.
For most of the first part of the 2024-25 season, the Colts juggled their singles and doubles players around, looking for the right fit.
That led to some difficult tennis from March 20 to April 21. Cottonwood lost 10 meetings in a row. Would the Colts figure things out in time for the postseason?
The answer was yes, as Cottonwood defeated Draper APA 3-2 April 23 behind strong play from senior Jacob Edwards in first singles, 4-6, 6-3 and 6-4 as well as freshman Timothy Hsiao who won his second singles match 6-1 and 6-0. The doubles players didn’t fare as well for the Colts, and yet sophomore Jonah Evans won his third singles match 6-1 and 6-1 to give Cottonwood its first meeting
win in more than a month.
Still seeking that perfect formula, the coaches opted to trot out the freshman Hsiao in first singles against Tooele on Senior Night at Cottonwood April 24. He did not disappoint, winning 6-2, 3-6 and 6-3 en route to the Colts’ second straight meeting victory, by the score of 3-2.
It was the second straight meet-
ing that the Colts won 3-2, and yet it was the first time Cottonwood had won a Region 10 meeting all season. In addition to Hsiao’s victory, Edwards won his second singles showdown 6-1 and 6-2 and Evans yet again captured his third singles match in a slugfest, 5-7, 6-2 and 7-5. The doubles tandems for Cottonwood both fell in straight sets.
How would the Colts respond at the Region 10 Championships?
On May 2, Cottonwood opted to have both of its top singles guys play second singles—something that the coaches can choose to do if they wish.
It was a wise move, as sophomore Jonah Evans won his thirdround match 6-4 and 7-5 against a junior out of Jordan High. But Edwards lost his third-round match in straight sets and so did the doubles pairs, giving the Colts five total points and a fourth-place finish at the region tournament.
Who would represent Cottonwood at the 4A state tournament on May 17?
Hsiao was handed a No. 23 seed and a Round of 32 meeting against a player from Provo. The Cottonwood freshman fell 6-1 and 6-0 at Salt Lake City’s Liberty Park to end his season at 3-10 overall.
In second singles, the Colts decided to gallop on with Edwards. Though he gave it his all, Edwards dropped his Round of 32 match as well, falling 6-1 and 6-3 to a player from Green Canyon [Logan]. The
senior closed out his time at Cottonwood with a 4-9 record in 2024-25.
Evans also lost his match to a player from Uintah 6-1 and 6-3, and wrapped up his 2024-25 season with a 6-5 record, the only Colt to finish with a record above .500.
The Colts did not have any doubles team qualify for this 4A state tournament, and yet to have all three singles players qualify—including a freshman and a sophomore—may bode well for the future for this Cottonwood boys tennis program.
The final verdict as a team was 45 wins and 127 losses in terms of sets, a winning percentage of 26.7.
The Cottonwood boys tennis team for 2024-25 was: Ezekiel Ledesma, Alex Covili, Phoenix Snow, Spencer Thompson, Jacob Edwards, Scotty Luker, Peter Maughan, Tate Myres, Juan Martinez, Bronson Felt, Owen Peters, Noah Cannon, Timothy Hsiao, George Cannon, Charles Woodward, Adonai Ganazoui, Jude Coontz, Jonah Evans, Gavin Lauber, Rico Ruiz, Drew Evans and Asher Mackenzie. The team was coached by Matthew Kahn, assisted by Mark Hsiao and Stran Tassainer. l
Cottonwood alum Avery Doezie (10) helps lead SLCC Bruins back from loser’s bracket at JUCO World Series to a national title. (File photo City Journals)
A tennis player in action. (Photo by Atael Taylor)
ON THE MOVE
Cherie Wood, Mayor 801-464-6757 mayor@sslc.gov
City Offices
Monday - Friday • 8 am to 5 pm 801-483-6000
220 E Morris Ave, SSL, UT 84115
City Offices and Community Centers will be closed on Friday, July 4, and Thursday July 24 in celebration of Independence Day and Pioneer Day.
Public Meetings
For more info: www.sslc.gov Planning Commission
Thu, July 10, 7 p.m. Thu, July 17, 7 p.m.
City Council
Wed, July 9, 7 p.m.
Wed, July 23, 7 p.m.
Starting next month, the South Salt Lake On the Move newsletter will be reduced from seven pages to four.
To receive information about everything happening in the city, please subscribe to our monthly e-newsletter, the SSL Scoop. Visit sslc.gov, or scan the QR code.
Mayor Cherie Wood
Shaping a Water-Wise Community
Water conservation is crucial for Utah residents, particularly in July when water usage peaks. Strategies like replacing old toilets, swapping turfgrass for water-efficient, native plants, and taking shorter showers are important and result in broad community impact. Conserving water allows us to support local water bodies, including streams, rivers, and the Great Salt Lake.
Our city is committed to water conservation. Last year, the City Council enacted a Daytime Outdoor Watering Restrictions Ordinance, prohibiting outdoor watering between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Additionally, we’ve enabled residents to qualify for Utah Water Savers rebates by replacing traditional grass with desert-tolerant plants, drip irrigation, and other “localscape” elements. During the summer, we host the Beautiful Yard Award, emphasizing water conservation, inviting residents to nominate themselves or others for a chance
to win $300 toward garden equipment and plants, as well as priceless bragging rights. This month we’re excited to introduce EyeOnWater, a digital app that integrates with your water utility meter to more efficiently track water usage.
While testing the new EyeOnWater app, I have gained a better understanding of the efficiency that my drip irrigation system offers and have seen the benefits of the other localscape efforts in my own yard. I have found it very rewarding to track my water usage and watch patterns daily, weekly, and monthly. This tool can also help detect potential leaks and inefficiencies. On those days when you run a few extra loads of laundry or the sprinklers in the yard, the app provides clear insights into usage, which can help to make informed decisions about your future use.
By incorporating smart water-saving practices with insights from this new app, we can greatly contribute to conserving water, saving money, and reducing energy use in our area. I encourage you to create an EyeOnWater account today and join the collective effort toward sustainability—these small changes can lead to a significant positive impact on our environment and community.
The Power of Community Kindness in Action in SSL
Last summer, a South Salt Lake resident received a notice from SSL Code Enforcement informing her that the overgrown weeds in her front yard were in violation of City Code. Limited by a fixed income and mobility restrictions, this resident was unable to address the problem herself. Alarmed by the notice and hoping to explain her situation, the resident called the number on the notice, and spoke to our Code Enforcement Secretary, Deidre Rioux.
Through their conversation, Deidre learned that this resident was completely homebound. Deteriorating pipes in her home resulted in significant sediment in her water, which meant that she was unable to drink or bathe with the water in her home. At the point when she spoke with Diedre, she was living off of biweekly deliveries of food and water, and was unable to attend medical appointments for lack of transportation.
The same day, hoping to provide assistance and learn more about her situation, Deidre visited the resident in her home, bringing water jugs and frozen food. She connected the resident with the Promise South Salt Lake Housing Navigator, Rebecca Yund, who has extensive experience with critical home repair programs. Rebecca was able to secure funding to replace the pipes in this resident’s home, giving her clean water for the
first time in years. Additional work with Promise enabled connection to transportation resources to attend medical appointments, Meals on Wheels, a free cell phone, and even connected her with Saint Ann’s church, who now sends a deacon to the home weekly to visit and provide communion.
We wish to thank the SSL Code Enforcement team, whose compassionate approach resulted in significant improvements to the quality of life for one of our long-term residents. Speaking to Deidre about the experience, she said, “Of course we care about enforcing the codes, but at the end of the day, people come first.” We also extend thanks to Promise South Salt Lake, who work tirelessly to ensure that every member of our community has access to the tools needed to be healthy and prosper.
Before speaking with the responding Code Enforcement officer, the neighbors of this resident had no idea of the conditions she was living in. Since learning more, many have stepped up to help clean her yard, and regularly check in to visit and provide companionship. Our community is our greatest asset here in South Salt Lake, and one that must continually be fostered. Whether checking on a neighbor, throwing a block party, or attending a city event, we encourage all community members to take time this month to strengthen their neighborhood.
As part of the City of Kindness initiative in South Salt Lake, we’ve launched an internal program to recognize and celebrate kind acts performed by our own city employees. This program is called Kindness in Action, and calls on staff to nominate their coworkers who go out of their way to spread kindness in our city. Though the scale of this project may be small, our hope is that it will inspire others to cultivate kindness in all areas of their lives.
Our first recognition goes out to Deidre Rioux. As her nominator said, “Deidre is such a kind-hearted person. Several examples that come to mind include hiding little toy animals around City Hall to make people smile, posting inspirational quotes around the building on sticky notes, and handing out mini tic tac boxes to staff, just because ‘they’re so cute.’ She does all of this just to make people smile and feel loved. Her presence makes the workplace much brighter.”
Deidre’s approach to life has affected so many in our community. She is an example of the positive impact one person can have when they approach everyday with kindness, and we hope others will be inspired to follow in her footsteps. To quote Mayor Wood, “Let’s start a ripple of kindness that grows into a tsunami.”
Conserve By Watering the Right Way, Not Everyday
The Utah Division of Water Resources publishes weekly lawn watering guides that help you save money by conserving water, while ensuring you apply the appropriate amount of water to your landscape. Still not sure? Sign up for the Water Check program through Slow the Flow to have a professional analyze your sprinkler irrigation system and provide watering recommendations. The most important thing you should be watering this summer is your trees! Trees need water too, and they help your lawn and landscape retain water by shading the ground. TreeUtah offers a great Tree Guide to help with tree selection, planting, and care tips. To access information and resources, visit sslc.gov and click on the water conservation graphic on the homepage. If conserving water for conservation sake isn’t compelling you, think about the cost savings to your utility bill. Save water, save money!
Studio-de-Verre is a glass studio and gallery located in the heart of the South Salt Lake Creative Industries Zone. Owner and artist Kerry Transtrum has been using heat and gravity for over 35 years to form glass creations for a wide variety of customers. Last month, studio-deVerre welcomed international fused glass artist Narcissus Quagliata. Narcissus is considered one of the most significant glass artists in the world. During his visit to studio-deVerre, Narcissus spent time with Kerry to produce a unique body of work that was commissioned, and hosted a public reception to talk about his artwork, techniques, and new body of work series. Learn more see current artwork at studiodeverre.com.
No one knows your neighborhood like you do. Take a short survey to share your input to help shape how the areas around the Millcreek and Meadowbrook TRAX stations grow — now and into the future. Scan the QR code to learn more, or visit sslc.gov.
Phone Photography Class
JOIN THE ANNUAL 4 OF JULY PARADE TH AND COMMUNITY CELBRATION!
10 AM - 11 AM: PARADE
11 AM - 1 PM: CELEBRATION AT FITTS PARK
VISIT SSLC.GOV OR SCAN THE QR CODE FOR PARADE MAP AND MORE INFORMATION.
Summer Sport Camps
Basketball Camp
July 14-17
Grades 2-7
$10 - Closes July 7
Baseball Camp
August 4-7
Grades 2-4
$10 - Closes July 25
Register online at sslc.gov, or scan the QR code.
Get Involved
South Salt Lake Public Safety Meetings Civilian Review Board
Monday, July 7 at 6:30 pm
Monday, August 4 at 6:30 pm
Visit sslc.gov to learn more about the Civilian Review Board, or apply to be a member.
Neighborhood Watch
Thursday, July 3 at 7:00 pm Neighborhood Watch meets virtually on the first Thursday of every month. Visit sslc.gov for the zoom link or more information. Please call 801-412-3600 with questions.
Community Connect
Wednesday, July 16 at 9:00 am
Join us at Bjorn’s Brew to have a treat and connect with members of the SSLPD and South Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce.
SSLPD Homeless Resource
Officers Create Safe Spaces for All
Our Homeless Resource Officer team specializes in assisting community members experiencing homelessness in our city with compassion and dignity. These dedicated officers attend enhanced crisis intervention training to serve individuals in crisis more effectively, and work closely with community partners including the Huntsman Mental Health Institute, Mobile Crisis Outreach Team (MCOT), and The Road Home-Pamela Atkinson Resource Center to address mental health, behavioral, and housing issues.
To help better serve those experiencing homelessness, our HROs work with the South Salt Lake Justice Court to hold Community Court at the Pamela Atkinson Resource Center (PARC), which aims to divert individuals out of the criminal justice system and prevent the cycle of constant book and release.
Our HRO’s go above and beyond, working with local case managers and transporting individuals to critical appointments such as mental health evaluations, court dates, and the local homeless shelters. This unique approach to community-oriented policing results in positive outcomes and a safer environment for all.
Firework Safety in South Salt Lake
As firework season begins, we encourage all community members to review safety tips around these dangerous explosives. Personal fireworks are a leading cause of home fires, wildfires, and personal injury. The best way to stay safe from fireworks is to not use them, and attend a professional firework display instead. If you do use fireworks, be sure to use them only during approved times and in approved areas. Visit sslc.gov to view an interactive map of where fireworks are allowed in South Salt Lake.
South Salt Lake Teens Bring Home Award from San Francisco Invention Contest
Nine talented teens from the Promise SSL Best Buy Teen Tech Center traveled to San Francisco to participate in Demo Day–an invention contest hosted by Project Invent that aims to foster creativity and inclusion in teenagers through inventions that address health and accessibility needs. Participants work in teams, developing inventions based on needs seen in their own communities.
The Promise South Salt Lake group was split into two teams: the first created a product called Safe Step: a low-cost device designed to help facilities monitor physical accessibility in a simple, efficient way. The second team worked with a community member who lives with seizures to create Biobadge, a wearable device that measures the severity of seizures by tracking the frequency of muscle contractions.
Both teams presented their inventions to a panel of judges, and the creators of Biobadge received the Explorer Award, presented to the team that most embraced exploration and learning through the invention process.
This incredible experience was made possible by the dedicated staff and volunteers who worked with the teams for five months, helping to identify needs, then develop and fine tune the inventions. Their commitment was instrumental in helping these teens bring their visions to life, and provided an experience that will leave a lasting impact in each of their lives. If you are interested in volunteering with the Best Buy Teen Tech Center, or any other Promise South Salt Lake program, please contact Patrick Holman-Hart at pholman@sslc.gov.
Congratulations to the SSL Mayor & City Council Scholarship Recipients!
At the Cottonwood Highschool graduation ceremony, four South Salt Lake teens were awarded with $1,000 scholarships from Mayor Wood and the South Salt Lake City Council to support them on their educational journey. Their applications highlighted their achievements, skills, experiences, and plans for the future. These youth had strong recommendations from their teachers and mentors who have seen the potential in them. We’re excited to see what the future holds for them. Congratulations Oscar, Gaven, G.O., and Steven!
Cottonwood’s Nicole Nelson holds the top ranking on the girls golf team for most of the season
Two Cottonwood girl golfers finished in the top 100 at state, including the junior Nelson who was 36th.
By Brian Shaw b.shaw@mycityjournals.com
Littleby little, Nicole Nelson has been improving, all season long.
The Cottonwood High junior started out her season on the yellow tee at Murray Parkway Golf Course, the Colts’ home links. Along the par-72, 18-hole course, Nelson finished with an 83.
That was good enough for the Cottonwood girls golf coaches to put Nelson on the red tee.
How would she perform, a little further from the hole?
Very well, as a matter of fact, as Nelson shot a 90 on a very difficult and windy Mountain View course.
In her next meet at Stansbury, another tricky 18-hole setup, Nelson did even better—an 83.
This would continue through the rest of the regular season, as Nelson proved she belonged at the top spot on the Cottonwood team.
Whether the course was Oquirrh Hills in Tooele, a place notorious for high winds and difficult roughs, or the hilly and equally tricky The Ridge in Kearns, Nelson was always in the thick of it, helping the Colts finish in the top three in Region 10 and improving her score with every tournament.
There’s no question Nelson’s solid play helped qualify the Colts for the 4A state tournament.
How would Cottonwood’s No. 5-ranked player in all of Region 10 do at state?
In the first round May 7, Nelson had a few nerves to sort out. She double bogeyed the first and fourth holes, and yet remained consistent on most of the front nine at +10. Over the back nine at the scenic Southgate Golf Course in St. George, Nelson double bogeyed 11 and 12 as well as 15, 17 and 18 to finish with a +25 for the day.
On day two, Nelson dealt with even more issues on a hot day surrounded by red rock cliffs and precipitous drops, finishing at +14 after playing the first nine holes.
Nelson, however, had figured out how best to play that back nine on May 8, and only double bogeyed 15 and 16 to finish at +9, good enough for 36th place overall at state. Still and all, Nelson finished ahead of every golfer at three other Region 10 schools.
How would Nelson’s teammates do at state?
Junior Nicky Edwards spent most of the regular season as either the No. 1 or No. 2 golfer—and was supplanted by Lyrik Brenchley, a sophomore, at season’s end.
But, Edwards nearly made the first day cut at state after double bogeying six of her front nine holes on May 7. She hit for par on two holes and birdied No. 14 on the back stretch to finish at +29, missing the cut by just two strokes. The Cottonwood junior finished in 72nd place overall at state.
Further down the list was Sofia Villa. The Cottonwood freshman hit for par on six holes on May 7 at Southgate as she played into the distance along the red rocks. Villa finished at +38, nine strokes behind Edwards.
Two spots down the list at state? Sophomore Indie Hoggan, who would probably tell you that she didn’t start well— not when she was ranked No. 21 in Region 10. Hoggan double bogeyed her first seven holes at the state tournament and yet recovered somewhat to shave off five strokes on the back nine to complete her season at +39.
Senior Christina Pauluzzi parred holes five and six to be at a respectable +20 on the front nine at state, and finished at +48, while junior Annie Woodward was at +60. l
Granite’s Summer Feeding Program begins with a festive kickoff
Children through age 18 can receive a free lunch on weekdays at 15 locations within Granite School District.
By Peri Kinder peri.k@thecityjournals.com
To celebrate the start of the Summer Feeding Program, Granite School District held a launch party on June 10 and invited families to participate in a free summer barbecue with games and prizes.
West Valley City’s Centennial Park (5405 W. 3100 South) was the site for the kickoff, as hundreds of people showed up for hamburgers, hot dogs, baked beans, fruit, chips and more. The summer lunch program provides a free daily meal, Monday through Friday, for kids 18 and under, through Aug. 1.
“Our goal is simple: to make sure no child in our community goes hungry,” said Amy Pham, registered dietitian with Granite District Nutrition Services. “We’re proud of the impact this program has made over the years and look forward to another successful summer.”
Janalee Smith, Granite District Nutrition Services operations manager, said the summer program feeds 1,500 to 2,000 students every day and is designed to ease the burden on families during the summer months. While kids eat free, adults can purchase a lunch for $3.50. All meals must be eaten on site.
The celebration featured vendor booths from community partners, free Super Soakers to the first 60 kids and country
music provided by Z104. Special guests included West Valley Fire officials, Granite Police with K9 Officer Bolt, West Valley Police officers, Girl Scouts of Utah and Wasatch Community Gardens.
“This is a big kickoff and we’re trying to give it a little more pizzazz,” Smith said. “But it’s representative of what we’ve got going throughout the district.”
The lunch program is available at 15 locations throughout the Granite School District. Along with Centennial Park, lunches are provided at Kearns Oquirrh Park (5624 S. 4800 West), Redwood Rec Center (3060 S. Redwood Road), Magna Rec Center (3252 S. 8400 West), Magna Copper Park (8900 W. 2600 South), West View Park (4100 S. 6000 West), Hillsdale Park (3725 S. 3200 West), Valley Regional Park (5100 S. 2700 West), Hunter Park (5905 W. 3500 South), Vista Park (5150 S. 1950 West), Southridge Park (5051 S. 4015 West), Robert Fitts Park (3050 S. 500 East), Lincoln Elementary (450 E. 3700 South), Fremont Elementary (4249 S. Atherton Drive) and Jackling Elementary (3760 S. Atlas Way).
Draper resident Hilary Litton attended the barbecue event with her four children. “I think for any family it helps, especially those at a low income who can’t provide,” she said. “It’s good to get the kids out at a park, or wherever it’s located. I think it’s great for anyone.”
The Granite Summer Feeding Program has been running since 2012, serving more than 1 million meals to children during the summer. No lunches will be served on July 4 or July 24. For more information, including lunch times at each location, visit graniteschools.org/nutritionservices/seamless-summer. l
At the red tee at Southgate Golf Course, Cottonwood junior Nicole Nelson watches her ball float into the desert air at the 4A state championship. (Courtesy Cottonwood girls golf )
Lily, 8, attended the launch party for Granite School District’s Summer Feeding Program. Children under 18 can get a free lunch every weekday at participating locations. (Peri Kinder/City Journals)
By Brian Shaw b.shaw@mycityjournals.com
You can say one thing about the Cottonwood boys volleyball team, those boys never give up.
Not this team.
Coached by Jean Sutterfield, a teacher who was approached by retiring Athletic Director Gregg Southwick to helm the new program before the 2023-24 season, year two of the Colts was much better than the first edition.
“Maybe not the way we would have liked to end the season, but proud of the growth we have seen from the boys this year and excited for what the future will hold,” said Sutterfield.
Cottonwood finished the 2024-25 regular season with a 13-13 record and were 7-5 in Region 10 Class 4A.
Heading into the 4A state tournament, Cottonwood was given a No. 14 seed and
would play No. 19 Logan in the first round.
At home, the Colts played inspired in the first set, winning 25-22. But Logan made life interesting in the second, taking it 23-25.
Would Cottonwood seize control of this match in the third set?
The Colts gave it all they had, but fell, 24-26.
That meant Cottonwood had to take
the fourth set—or their season would be over.
The boys volleyball team was trying to do something that neither the girls basketball team nor the baseball team was able to do: win a first round state playoff game— or series, in the case of baseball—at home.
In the fourth set, the Colts set themselves up for a fifth tiebreaker set by winning 25-16.
What was unique about this Cottonwood team is that they only played one senior in Matthew Engebretsen and he put forth the effort. And, in the tiebreak, he helped lead Cottonwood to a 15-7 win. In all, the Colts won this first round marathon 25-22, 23-25, 24-26, 25-16 and 15-7.
Engebretsen had a team-high 16 kills in the match. Junior Ray Davidson blasted down 13 and sophomores Jacob Moberly and Connor Sandusky had seven each.
That moved the Colts on to the second round at state—at UVU.
Ironically, the Colts would be playing Desert Hills, the same team that eliminated Cottonwood last year in four sets.
The No. 3-seeded Thunder blasted the Colts from the outset, sweeping Cottonwood 18-25, 18-25 and 18-25.
For the Colts, it had to have been tough to lose to the same team two years in a row—but there was still ball left to be played in the consolation round.
Cottonwood turned right back around and defeated Ridgeline in a best-of-three match, 25-23, 19-25 and 25-22 to move on to the consolation semifinals.
Having lost the first set to Pine View 24-26 in a brutal battle, the Colts won the second by the score of 25-22.
Would Cottonwood have anything left in the gas tank to pull out another victory and move on to the consolation champion-
The Colts finally ran out of fuel, having taken several teams to the brink during this 4A state tournament.
They lost by the final score of 11-25 and were officially eliminated from a highly entertaining and thrilling weekend at state by Pine View, 24-26, 25-22 and 11-
For the Colts that were led by Engebretsen with 101 kills and 62 receptions in his final year, the future is indeed bright should the team remain the same in 2025-
The 2024-25 Cottonwood Colts boys volleyball team. (Photo courtesy Jean Sutterfield)
ZAP tax and why it matters to Salt Lake County
For years “coach Daddy Matty,” as he was called, coached a Junior Jazz team at the Taylorsville Rec Center. Though his own sons were on the team, he was able to impact other kids who benefitted from his service as a volunteer coach. These kids learned how to show respect for others, work hard to achieve goals and be good sports—in both wins and losses. Thanks to the Zoo, Arts & Parks (ZAP) program in Salt Lake County, thousands of young people are able to do programs like this.
You may remember voting on the ZAP tax this past November. It is up for renewal every 10 years and overwhelmingly passed with 79% support, making this the most popular tax we’ve seen in Salt Lake County (if there is such a thing). The amount of the tax is 1/10th of 1% sales tax—one penny for every $10 spent.
The sales tax is collected and the funding is awarded through a competitive grant process to nonprofits and is a key funding source for over 230 organizations including Utah Symphony, Utah Opera, Utah Museum of Fine Arts, Hogle Zoo, and Natural History Museum of Utah, as well as community parks and recreation projects, such as trail systems, playgrounds, amphitheaters and public spaces.
These funds are distributed in the following ways: Approximately 16% of the funds support the three zoological entities–Hogle
Aimee Winder Newton
Salt Lake County Councilmember|
District 3
Zoo, Tracy Aviary and Living Planet Aquarium. Culture and arts organizations receive 54% of the funds which includes everything from Ballet West to local community theater. It’s pretty incredible that over 200 arts organizations in every area of the county receive seed money. In exchange some of the heavy hitters must maintain robust K-12 outreach, free-day programs and audited financials.
Parks and Recreation make up 30% of the funding. This helps to fund parks, open space, recreation centers and other programming like Junior Jazz.
The ZAP tax is collected from retail sales throughout the county and has proven to be a unique way for tourism dollars to benefit Salt Lake County residents. We love it when people visit our county—they spend money here, contributing to our sales tax base, but then they
leave and we don’t have to pay to educate their kids or provide other services for them.
The ZAP tax was introduced by the Utah State Legislature in 1996 and has been renewed four times since its initial approval with overwhelming support.
The ZAP distributions have proven to be more than just an investment in culture and the arts. It’s also a powerful driver of our local economy. According to the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, Salt Lake County collected $36.7 million in ZAP revenue in 2023. That funding supported organizations that employ nearly 15,000 people and welcomed over 11
Community Hero: How one man won his neighborhood’s heart
From scooter to superstar. Community hero keeps Sandy streets spotless.
By Julie Slama j.slama@mycityjournals.com
Jim
Peery, a familiar sight on Newcastle Drive in Sandy, spends hours each day on his motorized scooter cleaning up trash, raking leaves and clearing pinecones. Drivers honk, bikers wave and many know him by sight if not by name.
His dedication earned him the title of community hero from Chris Haber.
“Sandy resident Jim Peery is a shining example of community spirit,” Haber wrote. “Despite relying on a mobility scooter, Jim takes it upon himself to clean up the roads and sidewalks.”
Haber continued: “His dedication and selflessness inspire those around him and make Sandy a better place to live.”
Neighbor Monica Petersen agrees: “He keeps the area looking clean and nice. He does a great job.”
Peery, who was previously featured in the Sandy Journal in June 2019, was hesitant to be recognized again.
“I don’t do it for notoriety,” he said. “I'm grateful for the opportunity to serve my community doing this. This is something I can do.”
Community members appreciate his efforts, even creating a “Thank You Jim” banner.
“All the comments were full of gratitude and love,” said Jeni Hancey Larsen, who along with her father, Jeff Hancey, mounted the sign where Peery cleans. “Jim keeps our neighborhood immaculate, but the clean street is secondary to having him around as a neighbor and friend.”
Wearing one of his 28 bright orange shirts, Peery maintains Newcastle Drive from Highland Drive to Flat Iron Park, four hours a day, six days a week. He adjusts his routine with the seasons —bagging leaves in the fall, clearing debris in spring, and working early in summer to beat the heat.
“Last fall, I raked everything and had 97 big piles. I got my wife Karla to help me bag them up,” he said. “That’s the hardest thing for me.”
Using a homemade wooden scooter and tools including a shovel, broom, tongs and a leaf blower, he focuses on clearing debris.
“My number one thing is trash. I pick up all the trash— banana peels, apple cores, paper, trash that blows out of cans, candy wrappers when the kids walk home from Albion (Middle School),” he said. “The second thing, I pick up pinecones and rocks, because these bikes are going 30 miles an hour down the hill. If they hit a rock or a pinecone, they're going to be on their hats.”
He’s grateful for the assistance he gets from Sandy City.
“The Sandy City crew does an excellent job cutting the grass and blowing it and then, they pick up my bags. My objective is so people can have a nice walk, drive, bike, skateboard and they can enjoy themselves,” he said.
Even with the clean sidewalks, sometimes Peery will take a spill.
“I’ll take a curb or turn too tight, but I’m never down for long. Usually within two minutes, I have a bunch of people stopping to help,” he said. “People are really kind. By being out here, I’ve gotten to know so many friends in the community.”
While neighbors and his grandkids occasionally lend a hand, Peery said, “It’s really my thing.”
million visitors to in-person events and services each year.
Few places in the country have a sales tax program like ZAP. It’s a local tax with local control, meaning every penny stays in Salt Lake County and is distributed by local decision-makers with community input.
ZAP is a unique way to collect and distribute funds that enhance quality of life for Salt Lake County. So next time you attend community theater, a Junior Jazz game, or visit the zoo, know that your tax dollars are hard at work and paying off in a big way to make our county a great place to live.
Volunteering for Peery began 20 years ago when he began losing his balance while walking and his position as a computer programmer ceased.
It was after moving to Sandy in 2016, when he was inspired to step up as the city planned to paint fences along Newcastle.
“I thought, ‘Someone should clean that first.’ Then, I thought, ‘I’m someone,’” he said. “I want to help my community. I want to do my part.” l
Sandy resident Jim Peery regularly cleans leaves and debris along Sandy streets to beautify the neighborhoods. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
Map It Out
Remember maps? Old-fashioned, fold-out paper maps the size of a beach towel? My husband wanted to buy one to navigate our road trip through the Sacramento Valley. I stared at him for 47 seconds before stating, “We have Google Maps.”
“It’s not the same thing,” Tom said, sadly. I reminded him I have the orienteering skills of a baby sea turtle running away from the ocean. Handing me a paper map is the equivalent of asking me to decipher ancient Egyptian. Although, to be fair, Google Maps can be equally confusing. Don’t tell me to turn left in 450 feet. That means nothing to me. You might as well say, “Turn left after 850 toothbrushes.”
Unfortunately for him, there were no road maps to be found. So, with phone in hand, I guided us through Chico, Stockton, Napa Valley and Yosemite. I don’t know which direction we drove. North? West? Up? Sideways? Sure.
Road trips should be a great time to catch up on my reading, but Tom doesn’t know how to sit in silence for longer than 1.3 seconds. Even though he hasn’t lived in California for decades, he had a story to share about every city we passed.
“About 15 years ago, there was a serial killer arrested in Yuba City,” he said. “Look it up.”
I put my book down and switched my phone from Google Maps to Wikipedia to learn about the murderer, Juan Corona. But, dear reader, he was arrested in 1971. Just a touch
Peri Kinder Life and Laughter
more than 15 years ago.
Tom can hold a conversation with himself for at least 30 miles. It’s a stream of consciousness speaking that is amazing to behold. Let me give you an example:
“This is a great Glen Campbell song. Jimmy Webb wrote a lot of songs for Glen Campbell. Did I tell you Merrilee Rush was the first musician I saw perform live? Can you find yacht rock on the radio? Where does that driver think he’s going? Move over, scumbag! I’ve never been to Yosemite. I’ve heard it’s hill-arious.”
When I noticed a line of cars on our bumper, I suggested he drive a bit faster, although he insisted he was going the exact speed limit. I told him that was the problem.
Remember when you taught your kids to drive and you kept pushing an imaginary brake pedal on the passenger side of the car because you thought your teenager was going to drive you into a building? Well, I have an imaginary accelerator on my side of the car that I press when Tom’s going the exact speed limit.
But once we hit Yosemite, or any mountain range, my husband turns into Dominic Toretto of “Fast and Furious” fame, Tokyo-drifting off cliffs and taking corners at the speed of sound. I was grabbing the door handle, not sure if I was trying to keep it closed or if I was preparing to jump out if we launched into Yosemite Valley.
On our way through wine country, we stopped at the Napa Valley Welcome Center to get ideas for which wineries to visit and where to get a good Chardonnay. The woman at the counter whipped out a map of the area. Tom’s
eyes widened with glee. He used so many exclamation points, I thought his heart might burst with joy.
“Look!” he said. “She has a paper map! Cartographers really know how to draw the line!”
We did a lot of driving in California, which could be considered relationship bonding or time served, depending on the situation. Tom still swears by paper maps. I’m dedicated to Google. But we always find our way.
