South Salt Lake Journal | May 2024

THE JOURNALS INTRODUCES NEW PROCESS TO ENSURE LOCAL NEWS DELIVERY

TheCity Journals have published newspapers every month for the past 33 years. During which we have mailed a copy of the Journal to nearly everyone in the city. We know from audits that over 70% of the households in the city read the Journal, but that means 30% do not. That is a considerable amount of wasted paper. We also know that some people in the community are

not receiving the Journal, although they want it.

Until now there was no way to address these issues. But now, using this QR code, you can select if you want to receive the Journal.

Because staying informed about local happenings is more important than ever, the Journals is proud to announce an innovative process to guarantee community members receive their local news each month.

Recognizing the vital role of local journalism in fostering community engagement and connection, the Journals has developed an approach to ensure timely and reliable news delivery to every doorstep within our coverage areas.

Using cutting-edge logistics technology and a dedicated team of delivery professionals, we can create enhanced route planning, tracking systems and distribution methods. The Journal aims to overcome challenges that have hindered timely news delivery in the past.

“It is important to keep readers informed about what’s happening in their neighbor-

hoods, schools, businesses and local government,” said Bryan Scott, publisher at The City Journals. “With this new process, we’re not only reaffirming our commitment to high-quality local journalism but also ensuring every member of our community has reliable access.”

We have deep gratitude for the United States Postal Service, whose dedication enables the delivery of more than 200,000 monthly Journals to our readers. This partnership is instrumental in ensuring our local news reaches every household efficiently and consistently. With our new system, readers will still receive their Journal in the mail each month but with more accuracy and control based on our new process.

This underscores the Journals’ unwavering dedication to providing trusted local news and information for our readers. Whether reporting on community events, highlighting local businesses, or investigating important issues affecting our neighborhoods, the Journals remains steadfast in its mission to celebrate and build the community.

The Journals encourages readers to provide feedback on their news delivery experience, allowing for improvement

ATTENTION: USE THIS QR CODE TO MAKE SURE YOU KEEP GETTING THE JOURNAL

and refinement of the process. With this groundbreaking approach, the Journals reaffirms its position as the leading provider of local news, delivering stories that matter to our valued readers.

Residents can now choose if they want to receive the Journal at their home by using the QR Code or by visiting Mail. TheCityJournals.com. We ask all residents to complete this form to continue receiving the Journal each month.

Share this message with others in the city who may not be familiar with the newspaper and want to sign up. l

AMPHITHEATER MURRAY PARK

Benefits of Deep Brain Stimulation

with Dr. Joel MacDonald

Deep brain stimulation is an important surgical treatment option for patients experiencing progressive symptoms from Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s is a progressive neurological disorder with prominent impairment of movement including a disabling combination of tremor, rigidity (stiffness), and bradykinesia (slow movements). As these symptoms worsen, they interfere with daily function and diminish quality of life. Even simple daily tasks like using utensils to eat can be extremely difficult. Many patients notice declining effectiveness of medications over time.

Deep brain stimulation both directly improves these symptoms and allows medication doses to be decreased so that side effects are minimized. The process involves a brief surgical procedure under local anesthetic to implant electrodes within specific targets of the brain. The targets are selected based on the predominant symptoms. The electrodes are then connected to a small implanted stimulator that can then be programmed to improve movement function. Programming is done by a neurologist. Most patients recover from surgery quickly but optimal programming can take some time. This type of surgery has been routinely performed at Holy Cross Hospital - Salt Lake for several decades. For more information about CommonSpirit Health and our Holy Cross hospitals, including information about neurological disorders, please visit www.holycrossutah.org.

As CommonSpirit Health, we make the healing presence of God known in our world by improving the health of the people we serve, especially those who are vulnerable, while we advance social justice for all.

Orthopedic care with compassion at its core.

Our physicians provide the most advanced care and treatment options in orthopedics, including hip and knee replacement, total joint replacement, and sports medicine. We are committed to creating personalized treatment plans and providing extraordinary care to every patient.

Joel D. MacDonald, MD, FAANS Neurosurgery CommonSpirit Health

Granite Park Junior High creativity on display at art show

By Sarah Brown | s.brown@mycityjournals.com

Dozensof families poured into the Granite Education Center April 18 to celebrate their student’s artwork on display as part of the annual Granite District High School Art Exhibition.

The initiative is part of the district’s Visual Arts Program, in which every school participates. Teachers can select up to 50 student pieces for submission.

Students, along with siblings, parents and grandparents, perused the gallery eager to find their art. They conversed about their piece and took photos alongside it.

New to the exhibition this year were student artist statements, an optional component that encouraged deeper conversation.

Julia Bossi, visual art teacher for Granite Park Junior High, collaborated with other teachers to incorporate artist statements, a practice she’s been doing in her classroom for some time. It’s part of her effort to culti-

vate student self-expression through art.

“Art speaks, but the artist statement can add another depth to it that really enhances the viewer experience,” she said.

Bossi encourages her students to consider their idea and why it’s important to them.

She said her goal is to “give students the materials and allow them to work with the material of their choice in a way that is meaningful for them so that it’s their idea and it’s authentic to them.”

Several of Bossi’s students had portraits in the exhibition.

One of those students, Rigoberto Aranda, submitted a portrait titled, “View Different,” using oil pastels and black watercolor paper. His statement read, “My art piece is about how people can look at me differently and they could say different things about me from each person’s point of view.”

SOUTH SALT LAKE TEAM

The South Salt Lake Journal is a monthly publication distributed directly to residents via the USPS as well as locations throughout South Salt Lake.

For information about distribution please email hello@thecityjournals.com or call our offices. Rack locations are also available on our website. The views and opinions expressed in display advertisements do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions held by Loyal Perch Media or the City Journals. This publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the express written consent of the owner. © 2019 Loyal Perch Media, Inc.

Often students would stop and admire their classmate’s work. Many families took their time appreciating all of the art showcased—sculptures, sketches, mixed media, pastels, cardboard cutouts, cards, watercolors, ink, block printing and more.

The district hosts the exhibition as a way to promote arts and recognize students and teachers.

There was a reception for students and their families, and a special QR code was set up to allow visitors to send a note of encouragement to the student artists.

Teachers from each school will also receive a stipend for their classroom, to be used at their discretion.

Noemi Hernandez-Balcazar, fine arts specialist for Granite School District, shared her thoughts on the evolution of the Visual Arts Program over her tenure. She feels the program has been strengthened by guest art-

PUBLISHER Bryan Scott | bryan.s@thecityjournals.com

EDITOR

Travis Barton | travis.b@thecityjournals.com

ADVERTISING EXECUTIVES

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ist specialists, a group of experts that “visit the schools and help the teachers to ensure access to the platforms and elevate teacher learning.”

“The past two years, we have had 100% school participation,” she said, “as teachers are seeing the importance of promoting and celebrating students.”

Reflecting on the exhibition, Bossi said, “I hope visitors leave feeling impressed at the accomplishments of the young artists of Granite School District and inspired to nurture their own creativity.”

Her lesson for students and visitors alike: “Take time to appreciate abstract art and think about how and why the artist chose to depart from a realistic representation of the subject.” l

CIRCULATION

Lydia Rice | lydia.r@thecityjournals.com 385-557-1022

Our mission is to inform and entertain our community while promoting a strong local economy via relevant content presented across a synergetic network of print and digital media. PUBLISHER Designed, Published, & Distributed by

PHONE: 801-254-5974

Granite Park Junior High School student portraits, which teacher Julia Bossi highlights as a special contribution to the exhibit. Bossi said, “The diversity of portraits is cool and speaks to the strengths of this program here at Granite Park Junior High.” (Sarah Brown/City Journals)

Student artwork on display for the Granite School District annual exhibit. (Sarah Brown/City Journals)

Rigoberto Aranda’s “View Different.” (Sarah Brown/City Journals)

Olene Walker Elementary School employee surprised with a party to celebrate 50 years

By Sarah Brown | s.brown@mycityjournals.com

When a 1969 red Camaro pulled up to her house on a Friday afternoon in April, Lillian Winn did not know who was picking her up or where she was going. Her daughter had to tell her it was safe to get in the car.

Minutes later she arrived at Olene Walker Elementary School where she was greeted by current and former colleagues, friends, students and community members popping confetti and cheering. Even the school mascot was there to welcome her.

They were there to surprise and honor Winn for 50 years of service as a dedicated paraprofessional at Olene Walker, and previously at Roosevelt Elementary School, prior to its closing three years ago.

The party evoked a lot of emotion.

Kari Montoya, the principal secretary at Olene Walker Elementary, had been planning the party since Winn’s official 50-year anniversary in September.

“I want to celebrate her all the way in,” she said enthusiastically, while orchestrating attendee positioning in preparation for Winn’s arrival.

When Winn stepped out of the car, everyone had tears in their eyes as they embraced her with hugs.

Inside were balloons, a guest book and photo album with Winn’s individual and staff portraits marking each of her 50 years of employment.

Winn walked down a vinyl red carpet and was seated in a large blue chair on stage. A crown was placed on her head while she was lavished with words of praise for her contributions. Speeches, gifts and a video compilation of statements of gratitude were presented to her.

Winn’s best friend and colleague of 39 years, Nancy Wanner, said, “I’m so glad this celebration is being planned for her because she definitely deserves it.”

Winn was recently recognized as the South Salt Lake 2024 Citizen of the Year.

Commenting on being presented with the award by the mayor, she said, “I had no clue, absolutely shocked. It was really nice, I felt so honored. And I had no idea about this.”

Montoya recognized Winn as a “silent hero.” She said, “Her impact extends beyond the classroom into careers, families and this community.”

Winn has taught three generations of students in some families, a fact she is both embarrassed by and proud of.

As a paraprofessional, she supports students in various classrooms with math and reading.

In the video compilation, several students thanked her for helping them to

learn their vowels and new words.

Karly Chavez, Olene Walker Elementary’s school president, expressed appreciation and acknowledged her presence as a “staple” in their school.

Winn said, without hesitation, that her favorite part of her work was “the kids.”

“When you make a difference, when they come in and they can’t read or they don’t know math and at the end of the year they can do it, that’s my reward,” Winn said.

Nicole McDermott, president of the Granite District School Board, thanked her on behalf of the District for her “commitment to the children.” She said, “that is truly what makes a difference in their lives and in this school.”

Winn’s commitment endures, as she

has no plans to stop anytime soon. She hopes to continue until she is 90. “I’ve loved my job for 51 years,” she said. “Because I’ve done it for so long, I have skills now.”

Wanner said, “I’ve seen what a wonderful job she does with the children in the school. She is such a kind and caring, and loving person, that the kids just can’t help

but love her.”

Sharing her thoughts on the surprise, Winn said, “It’s very humbling.…It takes a lot to make me cry. So, if you see me cry, you know it’s pretty emotional.” l

Lillian Winn steps out of the Camaro with her dog. (Sarah Brown/City Journals)

Community members celebrate Lillian Winn with confetti. (Sarah Brown/City Journals)

Lillian Winn’s first official employee portrait in 1973. (Photo provided by Kari Montoya, courtesy of Blair Photography)

Lillian Winn’s most recent official employee portrait in 2023. (Photo provided by Kari Montoya, courtesy of Bell Photography)

South Salt Lake joins nationwide effort to prevent runoff pollution

By Bailey Chism | b.chism@thecityjournals.com

South Salt Lake is the first city in Utah to join a national effort to keep the city’s storm drains clean.

Salt Lake City has their own local program that allows residents to adopt and clean storm drains, but South Salt Lake is the first to join a nationwide program to keep the storm drains clear of any waste.

Residents have the opportunity to “adopt” a storm drain in the city and work to keep it clean throughout the year. Adopting a storm drain may sound unusual, but it helps in the efforts to avoid flooding as spring runoff begins and helps keep the water that flows to rivers and the Great Salt Lake clean.

“The adopt-a-drain program allows them to not only adopt a drain, keep that drain clean, but understand how the whole system works,” said Spencer Dunn, the public works education and outreach coordinator.

Debris can build up outside these storm drains, and when those get clogged, flooding is a risk for the surrounding area. Rain washes anything that’s on the streets down storm drains and into lakes and rivers. Keeping those areas clean can prevent harmful runoff pollution, such as trash, oil, grease, soap and more.

“Stormwater does not get treated,”

Dunn said. “It goes straight into Mill Creek, Jordan River and into the Great Salt Lake.”

The water that’s flushed or comes out of houses is treated. There are points where treated water can be cleaner than untreated water and it’s important not to put anything down the storm drain that can disrupt the pH levels. That will create algae blooms and disrupt the flow of water, which could lead to stoppage and flooding.

“This program really helps us reach the community at a level that shows them that we have a vested interest in keeping the water clean,” Dunn said. “You know water is life and in all its forms and not only for drinking water but for the fish and the plant growth.”

By letting pollutants down the storm drains and into the water, it can actually choke off things to the point where plants and animals die off.

In the coming weeks, the Stormwater Division of Public Works in South Salt Lake will be reaching out to communities, businesses, schools and more to promote this program and hopefully convince people to adopt a drain.

“It doesn’t mean that we’re not going to continue to clean those inlets but it allows them the opportunity to get involved in a

much more hands-on fashion,” Dunn said.

The program asks those who adopt a storm drain take 15 minutes a month to check and clean their drain. They will also receive a kit to help with that, which will include a 5-gallon bucket, gloves, a vest, a safety sheet and stickers. The safety sheet will have tips on how to safely clean their adopted drain.

The program launched in April and will

be ongoing, so anyone interested in adopting a drain can do it anytime. South Salt Lake has over 1,600 storm drains throughout the city, but not all of them are easily accessible. The city’s goal is to get as much support as they can, but they don’t have a number of how many they’d like to have adopted.

“We care about South Salt Lake, and we know the residents there do too, and I think this will be a fun partnership and we expect it to be very successful,” Dunn said. l

South Salt Lake residents have the opportunity to learn more about the drainage system and how to keep the water clean. (Photo courtesy of Cherie Wood)

Storm drain adopted by a Central Park neighborhood resident. (Photo courtesy of Cherie Wood)

South Salt Lake maintains thousands of trees along streets and in parks, community centers and other city facilities.

The Urban Forestry Department is dedicated to sustaining a safe and healthy urban forest for the city. South Salt Lake is embarking on big plans this year involving trees within the city’s urban forest.

They will begin to implement an Urban Forestry Plan this year. Anthony Biamont, parks project manager, says the theme of the South Salt Lake General Plan 2040 is to “invest in urban forestry as a neighborhood asset” and “develop an urban forestry program and focus efforts in locations with limited tree canopy, commercial and industrial areas and redeveloping areas.”

He says the urban forestry plan will help fulfill their responsibility for protecting water quality, the watershed, air quality for the health of residents and the environment.

“We believe it is our responsibility to leave a legacy of a healthy, beautiful and vibrant city to the next generation,” the general plan stated. “Our decisions today will consider the needs of the future.”

There are three phases to their plan: assessment and management, urban forestry plan, and implementation. Later this spring, they will complete a tree assess-

South Salt Lake reveals urban forestry plan

By Bailey Chism | b.chism@thecityjournals.com

ment and management plan for all of the city’s trees. This phase of the project will include locating and assessing city-owned trees, analyzing tree inventory data and the overall urban tree canopy, and developing a tree management plan.

The assessment will give them information on the species, age, health and condition, and more on the trees in the city.

“We will also get helpful information regarding our entire city’s tree canopy to help us understand the distribution of trees throughout the city and their impact on the environment, economic development, property values, and social factors like physical and mental health and safety,” Biamont said.

After this phase is completed, they will launch a planning process in the fall for the actual urban forestry plan, which is a strategic planning document to establish and guide the city’s urban forestry actions going forward. The urban forestry department is anticipating they’ll be able to get city council approval by summer 2025.

They will be launching the first ever Tree of the Year award this year, in which residents can nominate trees within the city boundaries to win. They can be trees with special history, a unique species of tree that stands out, or even just a giant tree that’s noticed for its size.

“The tree should embody the importance of trees in making South Salt Lake a happy and healthy community,” Biamont said.

The winning tree will be announced

Fiveduring the first Tree Week from May 6-11. Tree Week will include a week-long Plant a Tree for Free giveaway, a tree planting event with Tree Utah, and a Tree Chat with a guest speaker. l

Granite CEO students finish in the top 18 at the 2024 National Pitch Competition

entrepreneurial students in the Granite Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities program finished in the top 18 of the 2024 National Pitch Competition held on April 17. Each student in the program had to craft a compelling 30-second video pitch for the businesses they developed throughout the school year.

More than 400 students from across the country competed at the event, with Ginger Hancey (Ginger’s Holiday House), Ilena Dang (Little Learners), Stuart Jensen (Modern Cornucopia Yard Services), Connor Ehlers (Enclave PC Pros) and Ashli Ahlquist (The Crepe Spot) from the Granite CEO program named as finalists.

The Granite CEO program, at Granite Technical Institute, provides an unconventional approach to education, allowing students to learn by working one-on-one with a business mentor. For info, visit GraniteCEO.com. l

Five students from the Granite CEO program were named as finalists in the 2024 National Pitch Competition. From left, Ginger Hancey, Ilena Dang, Ashli Ahlquist, Stuart Jensen and Connor Ehlers (in back). (Photo courtesy of Granite School District)

Fitts Park in South Salt Lake is home to many types of trees and other plants. South Salt Lake officials want to keep them healthy and growing. (Bailey Chism/City Journals)

South Salt Lake helps host Earth Day cleanup

By Bailey Chism | b.chism@thecityjournals.com

South Salt Lake partnered up with 10 programs and cities to host a cleanup of the Jordan River on Earth Day.

Officials asked residents to join them in biking around the river and removing trash and invasive species from the Jordan River Trail.

“Keeping it clean from trash and invasive weeds enhances the experience for everyone,” said Joseph Dane, public outreach coordinator. “The best defense against trash and weeds is human power—education to prevent littering, and good ole sweat equity to pick up trash and pull weeds.”

Volunteers brought their bikes and rode along the trail to designated cleanup stations, where they had tents set up to safely leave bikes. It’s a 10-mile round trip around the trail to the Tracy Aviary Jordan River Nature Center, where an Earth Day celebration was held after the cleanup. By removing trash, volunteers helped preserve the unique ecosystem and make it safer for both trail users and wildlife.

“Earth Day is important so that we can celebrate, raise awareness, and learn together about how we can care for the planet and its many inhabitants,” said Marissa Beckstrom, the director of the nature center.

The Jordan River features many Utah native species and provides beautiful recreational

opportunities for trail users. The Jordan River Parkway is the longest paved urban trail in the United States, with over 60 miles of following the Jordan River to the Great Salt Lake. The Jordan River Parkway trail meanders past many historical and recreational landmarks that provide both relaxation and activities for those utilizing the Jordan River Parkway.

“It can be a little scary and stressful to know how to get involved in environmental activism and community science,” Beckstrom said. “Our Party for the Planet event is a way to meet neighbors and organizations involved in this cause. Pia Okwai (The Jordan River) is a vital resource for all of us and for the future of The Great Salt Lake, so this is our chance to learn more and invest in a healthier river.”

South Salt Lake is not the only city aware of the harm trash can cause to the environment, so city officials partnered up with several other cities and programs to put together this volunteer event.

“We understand it’s a massive undertaking for the County to maintain every inch of the trail, which is why South Salt Lake, Salt Lake City Public Lands, and West Valley City are joining to host this cleanup along our respective sections of the trail,” Dane said.

The celebration featured a prize drawing and food. The Tracy Aviary invited the Utes

Dancers to perform The Bear Dance, and there was also a yoga class, cloud watching and a writer’s workshop. Tracy Aviary tours were available to see the updates taking place.

The following Tuesday, April 24 the

TRiver Commission held a

river cleanup for Earth Day. Jordan River Commission team provided the canoes, paddles and tools for the cleaning. l

Boys soccer: Cottonwood snaps back into focus to close out regular season

By Brian Shaw | b.shaw@mycityjournals.com

he Cottonwood boys soccer team has been dealing with a variety of lapses that have had an effect on the way they’re attacking in games.

“I think our most recent game against Hillcrest provides the best snapshot to understand our entire season. We gave up two really lousy goals to go down at halftime then completely flipped the momentum going attack after attack the entire second half but just falling short 2-1,” said Cottonwood head coach BryLee Harvest.

“Multiple crossbar hits, shots narrowly going wide, and even one last gasp corner kick where our keeper headed the ball on goal but it got cleared out of the box on what would’ve equalized the teams on the last kick of the game,” said Harvest of his team’s struggles to put the ball in the back of the net.

But, on April 23 at Park City, they figured it out.

Junior James Vaughan, a defender for the Colts, scored the game’s only goal to give Cottonwood a much-needed 1-0 victory on the road, and for Harvest, perhaps a sigh of relief as the yellow school bus wound its way back down Parleys Canyon toward Salt Lake’s city limits.

It’s been a rough season for Cottonwood [3-8, 2-5 Region 10] but this win over Park City certainly made the struggle feel even more worth it.

For one, there is an absolute dogfight at the middle of the standings in Region 10. Hillcrest is 3-3 and the Colts and Park City each have 2-5 records, while Jordan is 2-4. Only so many teams can get into the 4A state tournament that begins in mid-May.

Coach Harvest said he doesn’t want to leave the final

decision in the hands of the UHSAA as to whether or not the Colts make it back to the state tournament; he’d rather put it at the feet of his players.

“We have been competing in every game this season inching ever so closer with each one, but with time running out, we desperately need results to make the playoffs,” said Harvest, who is in his third season running the Colts.

But, with the win over a fourth-place Park City team the Colts are likely to be at least back in the playoff conversation.

At the moment, the Colts are ranked No. 22 in the 4A boys soccer RPI; the UHSAA takes only the top 24 seeds for the state tournament. Cottonwood has three games remaining on their schedule, all in Region 10: at a Stansbury squad that is struggling as bad or worse than Cottonwood [May 1] and home contests against Tooele and Jordan.

The good news is that the Colts already beat Stansbury at home earlier in the season but needed a goal in overtime from junior Kambali Kangeta to accomplish it. On the season Kangeta has been the Colts leading scorer with five goals.

In the final analysis, this is a senior-laden team for Cottonwood. Seniors Rex Hansen and Craig Stephenson have each scored two goals for the Colts, while junior Parker Evans has had two assists as has Stephenson, who is also one of the Colts’ captains.

On the whole, the Colts have 12 seniors returning from a squad that went 6-9 last year but was bounced in the 4A state tournament’s first round by Timpanogos, 0-4.

In coach Harvest’s eyes though, the Colts have plenty of work to do.

“Our mindset is to go (undefeated) to finish this season, it’s winning at all costs,” Harvest said. “I don’t think any of us would’ve predicted we would be in this spot at the beginning of the year, but we are and all we have is each other to get us out of this.” l

Jordan

canoe

Volunteers gathered hundreds of pounds of trash during South Salt Lake and partners’ Earth Day cleanup event. (Photo courtesy of Joseph Dane)

Senior Cohen Hyde battles for the ball. (Travis Barton/City Journals)

ON THE MOVE

Spring 2024 Citywide Curbside Cleanup ..................................... p. 2

Ride

Empower

May is Mental Health Month: Tools to Build Resilience p. 5

Two New Art Classes p. 6

Mayor Cherie Wood

Investing in South Salt Lake: How Your Priorities Align with the FY2025 Budget

Cherie Wood, Mayor 801-464-6757 mayor@sslc.gov

SSL Chamber: 2024 Small Business Conference p. 7 City Offices

Monday - Friday

8 am to 5 pm

801-483-6000

220 East Morris Ave SSL, UT 84115

Animal Service 801-483-6024

Building Permits 801-483-6063

Business Licensing 801-483-6063

Code Enforcement 801-464-6757

Fire Administration 801-483-6043

Justice Court 801-483-6072

Police Admin 801-412-3606

Promise 801-483-6057

Public Works 801-483-6045

Recreation 801-412-3217

Utility Billing 801-483-6074

Emergencies 911

Police/Fire Dispatch 801-840-4000

Every year, drafting our City budget brings us together in a shared mission: to navigate our resources wisely and prioritize the needs that matter most to all of us. Our budget is not just about numbers, and a big part of the process is listening to our City Council, staff, and, most importantly, to you, our residents. In April, we launched a city-wide FlashVote Budget Priorities survey, and nearly 250 of you weighed in, sharing your insights on key community concerns such as sidewalk and trail conditions, street lighting, and the affordability of housing. What made this survey particularly insightful was finding out both what matters to you personally and understanding what you see as the greatest needs for all those in our community.

From the feedback gathered, it is clear that alongside the concerns already mentioned, Public Safety stands out as another top priority. Your feedback called for a more comprehensive approach that goes beyond traditional measures. In line with your responses, the SSLPD is committed to enhancing public safety through a community-based approach. By investing in staffing, training, and equipment, they plan to respond to incidents and proactively engage in problem-solving with the community. Our local oversight empowers us to tailor solutions to our unique needs, ensuring a safer, more connected South Salt Lake. Here are a few key initiatives:

• Enhance Pedestrian Safety: Implement comprehensive upgrades to crosswalks and sidewalks, and introduce innovative measures to reduce traffic violations and speeding, ensuring our streets are safe for everyone.

• Foster Positive Justice Court Outcomes: Create a closer collaboration between our Justice Court, Homeless Resource Officers (HROs), and vital community partners to support those experiencing homelessness and drive more favorable outcomes.

• Innovate Mental Health Response: The SSLPD aims to recruit a Licensed Clinical Social Worker to enhance our response capabilities, working closely with HROs to provide compassionate responsive support.

• Connect with Youth: Strengthen our connection with local youth by fostering trust and a positive public safety presence in schools and afterschool programs, ensuring our youngest residents feel supported and valued.

The South Salt Lake Fire Department’s top commitment is safeguarding our lives and property. Thanks to last year’s budget, the SSLFD increased its capacity to serve by acquiring fire protection equipment and apparatus in anticipation of our future needs. Despite facing a record number of emergency calls in 2023 totaling 7,554, the SSLFD needs our continued support in managing an ever-increasing workload. FY2025 includes adding new specialized training as the SSLFD is taking on higher-rise buildings in our Downtown. They also intend to preserve the wellbeing of our first responders with new gurneys in ambulances, making patient transport safer and preventing injuries.

Keeping our neighborhoods beautiful is another ask we’ve heard from you. From clearing excess garbage and weeds to ensuring snow and ice are promptly removed from walkways, it’s an ongoing job for our Code Enforcement team. To keep up, last year we added one new Code Enforcement Officer, rounding the team out to three – each assigned to a city zone, who knows your specific neighborhood and can be responsive to its needs.

This message touches on just a few highlights from our proposed FY2025 budget, but there’s so much more to explore and understand about our plans for the coming year. It’s valuable to see the alignment between your priorities and those of our city staff and Council—which signals our shared understanding of our community’s needs. Together, our commitment to you is that as we grow, and with your support, we can continue to provide the quality of services and amenities you enjoy, now and in the future.

FY2025 BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING

The Budget Public Hearing is an opportunity to learn more about the budget, ask questions, and share your perspectives. To be held during the month of June, find out more at sslc.gov.

MAY

Public Meetings

For more info: www.sslc.gov

City Council

Wed, May 8, 7 p.m.

Wed, May 22, 7 p.m.

Planning Commission

Thu, May 2, 7 p.m.

Thu, May 16, 7 p.m.

City Council Members

Find out more about who your City Council representative is by visiting sslc.gov.

LeAnne Huff, District 1 lhuff@sslc.gov

Corey Thomas, District 2 cthomas@sslc.gov

Sharla Bynum, District 3 sbynum@sslc.gov

Nick Mitchell, District 4 nmitchell@sslc.gov

Paul Sanchez, District 5 psanchez@sslc.gov

Natalie Pinkney, At-Large npinkney@sslc.gov

Clarissa Williams, At-Large cwilliams@sslc.gov

Spring 2024 Citywide Curbside Cleanup Program, May 6-15

The Citywide cleanup program is available to all South Salt Lake residents receiving city garbage service. Pickup will be provided for approved items that are boxed, bundled, or bagged. Properly prepared items must be placed curbside by 6:30 AM on the scheduled collection day. Hazardous materials such as oil, batteries, paint, tires, and other pollutants will not be collected. Please do not place items over storm drains or block gutters. Visit SSLC.gov to see your scheduled collection day and program guidelines.

National Public Works Week is May 19 - 25, 2024!

National Public Works Week is observed each year during the third week of May. It’s a time to shine a spotlight on our public works professionals who provide essential services that lead to healthier, happier, more vibrant communities. We all enjoy running water, flushing toilets, trash collection, and smooth roads. We can thank Public Works for making that all happen. Next time you see a South Salt Lake Public Works employee out on the road, join us in thanking them for showing up for our community every day. It’s hard work and they deserve some hard thanks!

Be Runoff Ready!

Spring runoff typically lasts from April to July each year. We are at the mercy of weather conditions as snow melts, creeks swell, and flooding risks occur. Be prepared for flooding before it happens. Clear debris from storm drains and stream banks, prep sandbags early, and monitor local weather and streamflow forecasts. Flood waters can contain bacteria, viruses, and parasites that may cause illness. Keep yourself and your family safe by avoiding flood waters. Learn more about flood water contamination at deq.utah.gov, and learn more about flooding preparations at beready.utah.gov.

South Salt Lake City Council Action Report Summary

Full agendas, minutes, handouts,

Public Safety

Ride Right in SSL: Tips for Staying Safe on Your Bike 5 Tips to Prevent Fires at Home

May is Utah Bike Month, and there’s no better time to get outdoors and start pedaling than with warming spring temperatures. Learn all about the Bike Month Challenge and upcoming bike events at move.utah.gov.

In the spirit of safety and community, I encourage everyone, from the youngest riders to the most seasoned cyclists, to join us in making bike safety a top priority. Before you pedal off into the sunset, please consider these essential safety tips:

• Wear a Helmet: Your brain is irreplaceable. Protect it with a CPSC-certified helmet, ensuring it fits well and is free from previous damage.

• Be Visible: Equip your bike with a white headlight, red tail light or reflector, and side reflectors for those early morning or late evening rides. High-visibility clothing can make you stand out at any time of the day.

• Follow the Rules: Obey all traffic laws and ride with the flow, not against it. Remember, South Salt Lake loves its cyclists on the road, not the sidewalk, to ensure everyone’s safety.

• Stay Alert: Make eye contact with drivers at intersections and always be aware of your surroundings to avoid unexpected situations.

We aim to make South Salt Lake a place for cyclists to recreate or get from here to there, but in all cases, let’s remember that safety always comes first. By following these simple guidelines, we can better ensure that our streets are safe for everyone, making our community a model of responsible and enjoyable cycling. Stay Safe!

Message from SSLPD Chief Danielle Croyle

Hey everyone! As the weather warms up and we start spending more time outdoors, it’s a great opportunity to give some attention to fire safety around the house. Here are five tips to keep in mind this spring, that the Fire Department would like to encourage members of the community to follow:

Check Smoke Alarms: Take a few minutes to test all the smoke alarms in your home. Replace batteries if needed, and make sure each alarm is working properly.

Inspect Grill Equipment: Before firing up the grill for outdoor gatherings, inspect it for any signs of damage or wear and tear. Clean the grill and its surrounding area to prevent grease buildup, which can ignite and cause a fire.

Clear Out Dry Brush And Properly Dispose Of Yard Waste: Spring often means yard work and gardening. Keep your property safe by clearing away dry leaves, brush, and other flammable materials from around your house. This helps prevent fires from spreading quickly.

Clean Clothing Dryer Vents: Over time, lint can build up in your dryer vents, creating a fire hazard. Remove lint from the lint trap after each load, and periodically clean out the vent hose and exhaust duct.

Practice Fire Escape Plans: Review your family’s fire escape plan with everyone in the household. Make sure everyone knows the quickest way out of the house in case of fire and designate a meeting spot outside. Practice the plan regularly so it becomes second nature.

Let’s all take a proactive approach to fire safety this spring, as encouraged by our Fire Department, and keep our homes and families protected.

Message from SSLFD Chief Terry Addison

2530 S 500 East 801-412-3217

2797 S 200 East 801-386-4949

3280 S 540 East 801-803-3632

Empower Tomorrow’s Leaders: Host a Teen Tech Intern Today

Our internship program at the Promise Best Buy Teen Tech Center offers a unique opportunity to bridge the gap between aspiring young talent and industry professionals. By hosting an internship for our teens, you’re not only investing in their future, but fostering innovation and diversity in your field. Our teens come equipped with proficiency in digital marketing through the Ignite Digital Marketing course with the Hispanic Heritage Foundation, bringing fresh perspectives and cutting-edge skills to the table.

As a host, you’ll have the chance to mentor and guide these bright minds while benefiting from their enthusiasm and creativity. Join us in shaping the future of digital marketing and empowering the next generation of leaders – it’s a rewarding journey that benefits everyone involved! For more information contact Mickaela Aliifua at maliifua@sslc.gov or 385-377-4891.

Salt Lake County Senior Center

EVENTS FOR MAY 2024

Live Entertainment:

Belly Dancing - Friday, May 10, 10:30 am

Special Meal

Birthday Special: Tuesday, May 7

Mother’s Day Special: Friday, May 10

Memorial Day Special: Friday, May 24

Craft Day with Vicke: Tissue Paper Stained Glass Flower

Thursday, May 9, 10:30 am

Mini Book Club w/Jill: Reader’s Digest Wednesday, May 8, 10:30 am

Vital Aging: Effective Communication

Monthly Wellness Discussion

Wednesday, May 15, 10:30 am

Reice Stein’s Travel Log: The Warm Caribbean Thursday, May 16, 10:30 am

Picnic in the Park

Weds, June 5, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

Fitts Park, 3050 S 500 East

Registration is required for lunch! Please sign up at the front desk in advance.

Mat Yoga on Wednesdays, 2:30 pm

Chair Yoga on Fridays, 1:00 pm

Community Center • 2531 S 400 East 385-468-3340 • Hours: 8:30 am – 4 pm

Navigating Modern Life: Tools and Strategies for Mental Health Resilience

We live in a rapidly changing world that can be complex to navigate. Modern life can have a significant impact on mental health — for better or for worse. The disturbing imagery in the media we are exposed to today can be deeply unsettling. At the same time, our current technology also allows us to mobilize and provide collective support more efficiently in times of natural disasters or injustice.

And ironically, while our devices make us more connected than ever, loneliness is an increasingly serious public health concern. We are now able to have conversations with friends and family on the other side of the world in real-time. However, constant connection also means that we will know if we weren’t invited to a friend’s party down the street. Recent survey data show that more than half of U.S. adults (58%) are lonely

Mental Health America has created a toolkit to help individuals figure out where to start. The toolkit provides free, practical resources for addressing mental health. Go to mhanational.org/may to learn more. If you think you may be experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition and are unsure of where to start, take a free, private mental health test at mhascreening.org to determine the next steps.

It’s important to remember that working on your mental health takes time. Change won’t happen overnight. Instead, by focusing on small changes, you can move through the stressors of modern life and develop long-term strategies to support yourself — and others — on an ongoing basis.

Chill Program takes Promise SSL Youth to the Powder

This winter we partnered with the Chill Foundation to allow five of our Promise SSL youth to experience mountain sports for the first time. Chill’s mission is to inspire young people through board sports and build a more equitable outdoor community. In the context of our partnership, this took the form of six trips to Brighton for snowboarding lessons. Each trip focused on a different core value such as respect, courage, patience, and persistence. Chill provided all instruction, transportation, and equipment at no cost to our youth. We’re so thankful for this ongoing partnership that allows our youth to have new and fun experiences.

Pictures courtesy of Ryan Sueoka

To learn more and register for Community Art Classes, visit SSLArts.org or call 801-483-6018. Create an account at sslc.gov and opt-in to receive our monthly SSL Arts Council E-Newsletter.

ART55+ Creative Arts for Seniors

Instructor Laura Sharp Wilson

Every Wednesday

10:00-11:30 AM

SSL Community Center

2531 S 400 East

FREE!

Art Classes for May

South Salt Lake

Community Center

Promise SSL Co-Op Art Room

2530 S 500 East

Kintsugi Healing Group

Instructor: Michelle Markey Nelson LCSW

Tuesdays: May 7, 14, 21, & 28

Time: 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm

Promise SSL Co-Op Art Room

MORE Colored Pencil Techniques

Instructor: Marelene Teter/Bad Dog Arts

Wednesdays: May 1, 8, 15, & 22

Time: 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm

Promise SSL Co-Op Art Room

Mindful Photo

Instructor: Danielle Waters MTFA

Monday: May 20, 2024

Time: 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm

Promise SSL Co-Op Art Room

Zentangle Club

Instructor: Linda Rios

Monday, May 28

Time: 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm

Promise SSL Co-Op Art Room

Discover these Two New Community Art Classes

Learn more and register at sslarts.org

The Bad Poet Society

Instructor: Cadence Summers

Tuesdays: May 6, 13, 20, and June 3 - No class on Memorial Day

Time: 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm

Historic Scott School - Main Building - 3280 S 540 East

Unlock your inner poet, where perfection is tossed aside and creativity takes the lead. Join the Bad Poets Society at the Historic Scott School and discover the joy of poetic play in a community that cheers us on as we grow!

Plein

Air Sketching with Ink and Watercolor

Instructor: Sue Martin

Plant a Tree for FREE : Sign Up Today!

When’s the best time to plant a tree, when they’re free of course. The City is giving away trees during Tree Week (May 6-11, 2024). Register at sslc. gov to schedule your consult and tree pickup.

The deadline is May 10th.

S S FTBALL FTBALL

WHO: WHEN: WHERE: COST:

Adult men & women, 18 years +

5 players on the field per team with max roster size of 7 per game

Mon or Wed evenings, 6-9 PM Central Park Field

$100 per team; must register as full team

This is a rec league for beginners and players wanting to get active and have fun!

Registration deadline is May 17.

Scan the QR code for details and to register, or visit SSLC gov

Tuesdays: June 4, 11, 18, and 25

Time: 1 pm to 3 pm

Fitts Park - Lion’s Pride Pavilion - 3050 S 500 East

Join Sue Martin for a month of outdoor sketching adventures this June at Fitts Park.. Discover the art of simplifying nature’s complexity into beautiful watercolor studies or frameable paintings, all while enjoying the comfort of a shaded pavilion.

Community & Economic Development

Co-Diagnostics Sets Up Shop in South Salt Lake

South Salt Lake is thrilled to extend a warm welcome to Co-Diagnostics (Co-Dx) at their new location, 3222 S Washington Street, near our Millcreek TRAX Station. Our city, a hub of innovation and community well-being, sees the arrival of Co-Dx as a significant milestone. Specializing in advanced diagnostic testing, Co-Dx has gained recognition for its collaborative efforts with organizations such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and has received considerable support from the National Institutes of Health. Developing diagnostic tools for diseases like HPV and tuberculosis not only boosts our local economy but also promises a significant global health impact. We look forward to the quality jobs and positive community advancements Co-Dx will bring to our area.

Co-Dx employees include those with backgrounds in developing software/ rmware technology, mechanical engineering, and more, and will bring several new high-skilled jobs to South Salt Lake.

To connect with the SSL Chamber, email: tereza@sslchamber.com

Uniting Wheels & Warriors: Sims Motorcycle Monkeys

Sims Motorcycle Monkeys is the latest addition to South Salt Lake and has opened its doors at 50 W Truman Ave in our Downtown Creative Industries Zone. Motorcycle enthusiasts, Sims is your go-to pit stop for all things exotic on two wheels, with a special knack for Harley Davidson repairs and rebuilds. And for those looking to add a little edge to their wardrobe, they’ve got you covered with a collection of hats, stickers, shirts, and hoodies.

Mark your calendars for Saturday, May 11th, and join the pack for the ‘Revved-Up Resilience Fair,’ a high-octane celebration of community. Hosted in partnership with the SSL Chamber, this event will kick off with a ribbon-cutting ceremony that’s sure to set the pace for an unforgettable day. Expect heart-pumping motorcycle performance from our very own SSLPD, local art vendors, and did someone mention free tacos? But you’ve got to join early to get them. Starting at 11 am, join us at Sims, for a chance to mingle and network with fellow community members (and have a lot of fun!).

The South Salt Lake Chamber is partnering with Westminster and several business organizations to host an empowering day at the “Talk About Business: Practical Solutions for Pressing Issues”. This full-day conference dives deep into actionable strategies to navigate the challenges rocking the small business world today. Whether it’s mastering the art of hiring in a tight labor market, adjusting pricing strategies or tapping into Utah’s evolving economic landscape with the inland port development, this event has you covered. Plus, explore ways to raise capital smartly and access invaluable resources designed just for small businesses like yours. With a lineup featuring keynote speeches, panel discussions, and interactive sessions led by local business owners, this is your golden ticket to not just survive but thrive. And don’t miss out on the networking reception – your next great collaboration could be waiting. Learn more and register today on the Chamber website (sslchamber.com), under Signature Events.

Mayor Cherie Wood speaking at the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony with Dwight H. Egan, Chief Executive O cer, Co-Dx.

The Co-Op at SSL offers residents free learning opportunities

By Bailey Chism | b.chism@thecityjournals.com

South Salt Lake is a small city that offers its residents big opportunities.

The Co-Op at South Salt Lake offers adults a place to go to make connections and get the support they need. The Promise South Salt Lake initiative is now a decade old and they help deliver three promises to the community: everyone has the opportunity to attend and graduate college; everyone has a safe, clean neighborhood; and everyone has the opportunity to be healthy and prosper.

“With free membership including access to Wi-Fi, reservable rooms, meeting spaces, and a wide range of equipment available for borrowing, we provide everything you need to succeed,” said Abram Sherrod, community opportunity center supervisor.

The Co-Op focuses on adults transitioning into new learning, jobs, careers or business ventures. It allows them a place to connect with others, work, learn and grow. It opened in 2022 to offer a variety of events and programming, equipment rentals and other resources to help its members become financially powered and advance their careers and businesses.

“When the schools shut down due to Covid-19 we realized that a lot of SSL residents did not have access to resources such as reliable internet,” Sherrod said.

Officials recognized this within the city, so they partnered with Comcast to provide free and reliable internet. They also started a process with community leaders and city staff to re-imagine what a city center could be like.

Officials asked residents what they wanted to see when construction began on the new Granite Library. An overwhelming amount of people asked for the functions of a library—computers, gathering spaces and classes—but with a focus on helping people get back on their feet and into new, better jobs and careers.

South Salt Lake also recognized the need for technology and learning opportunities in teenagers and children, so they created another program for them.

“Although the computer lab is for adults, Promise South Salt Lake has our Best Buy Teen Tech Program within the

When the pandemic hit in 2020, South Salt Lake officials saw the shift in how people learned and worked. Libraries and public facilities shut down, and people had nowhere to go.

South Salt Lake Community Center that offers youth access to technology includ-

Sherrod said. l

The Co-Op at SSL offers adults access to free internet and resources to continue their learning or business ventures. (Bailey Chism/City Journals)

education SECTION

With a little PREP in their step, underrepresented students are college-bound

By Jet Burnham | j.burnham@mycityjournals.com

“Without PREP, I'd be a loser right now,” West Jordan High School graduate Arlen Villalba Guerrero said. “I wouldn't be very far, just the same old boring stuff, getting ready to do a job that I didn't even enjoy.”

Arlen is one of 15 students graduating from high school with an Engineering Drafting and Manufacturing Technology Certificate of Completion from Salt Lake Community College through Jordan School District’s Pre-freshman Engineering Program (Jordan PREP).

Jordan PREP students, many of whom are typically underrepresented in STEM careers, take four years of science, technology, engineering and math summer courses to prepare to earn 30plus general and engineering college credits by the end of high school.

Arlen joined the program his sophomore year and immediately began to explore his options.

“Being in PREP, you get to think so early about how you're gonna get to what you want to do,” he said. “PREP makes you do so much better and shoot for so much more. I know everything I wanna do right now. I know exactly how to get where I wanna be, and I know exactly what I need to do to get where I wanna be.”

Arlen is now on the pathway to become an Air Force fighter jet pilot, with a head start and higher pay grade due to his college credits.

Natalia Solis said the PREP classes she took as a 12 year old helped her discover her interest in drafting and interior design. She is already on her way to earning a college degree, the first person in her family to do so.

First generation college students, those from economically disadvantaged families or underrepresented minority groups make up the majority of the

students in the Jordan PREP program, which recruits interested students from Title 1 designated schools to motivate and prepare them for STEM careers.

Jordan PREP Coordinator Stacy Pierce has been amazed by the students’ dedication to the program despite difficult life circumstances.

“You've got kids that you had no idea the challenges they had at home— and the challenges got far greater—and they're going to make it,” she said. “They're going to graduate from this program regardless of those challenges.”

She said the rigorous academic enrichment courses students take each summer during their middle school years, prepare them academically, socially and mentally for advanced courses in high school and increase their opportunities to attend college.

“Because it's not a camp—it's a rigorous academic program— I think that's been key to making these kids believe that they could do anything and pursue any career,” Pierce said.

She said the math courses have the biggest impact.

“Math is the gatekeeper that keeps kids out of, say, 80% of the higher paying jobs that help these kids break into a different economic level,” she said. “To help them maintain and build that math confidence—I think it's absolutely huge.”

Anna Fotheringham said staying academically active during the summer with PREP courses gave her an advantage.

“You learned a little bit of math before [school started], so when you did math [in school], you already kind of knew what you're doing,” she said. “So I feel like it gave me a step ahead in regular classes, and then also just in life, because we have a lot of college classes

done that kind of set us up to, if we want, pursue the certain career that they have set up for us to go into.”

When she was younger, Anna wanted to work in a nail salon but is now planning to earn a manufacturing degree.

“Doing programs like this made me realize that doing nails is not really going to give me enough money to live on my own, basically,” she said. “It made me realize I can do harder careers.”

Ayden Bascom said many of his friends don’t have a post-graduation plan yet, but that PREP taught him to think ahead.

“In PREP, especially with Stacy [Pierce], she tells you this earlier, to be prepared for life,” he said.

Natalia said the expectations set in PREP classes, especially during her middle school years, helped her set

higher goals.

“It pushed me into showing myself that I can do harder stuff than I had set myself to, because I had set my standards low for myself,” she said. “You can do much more harder things than you think you can.”

Lai Lai Havili almost dropped out of the program but is glad to be graduating high school with college credits he can use as a fallback plan if his dreams of playing in the NFL don’t work out.

Talon Johnson, who has always known he wants to be a chemical engineer, said the PREP program has not only given him a head start that will save him time and money, but the confidence to be successful in college.

“I have this foundation that a lot of other students may not, and I can push

Continued page 18

Jordan PREP Plus students have fun exploring technology. They will graduate high school with 30-plus college credits. (Photo courtesy of Stacy Pierce)

Unique traditions make graduation ceremonies special

By Jet Burnham and Julie Slama

Thousands of students will be graduating at the end of this month and each school will conduct their graduation ceremony with unique traditions, awards, celebrations and themes.

Students will be the main speakers at Providence Hall High School’s graduation ceremony. The student body president, two valedictorians and two other students will share their thoughts and wisdom with their peers.

“We really make it kid focused, so adults don't speak more than three minutes,” Principal Melissa McPhail said. “I feel like if we're waiting ‘til the last day to teach them something, then we have not done our job for four years.”

McPhail said one of the student speakers chosen to speak this year is not a well-known student but will share an impactful message.

“We get these kids who have had a unique journey through high school, and we catch the attention of those kids that weren't the activity type or the academic type,” she said.

Providence Hall’s graduation ceremony is always less than an hour and 40 minutes to ensure the students have time to celebrate with friends, family, and former elementary, middle and high school teachers who attend the ceremony. Of this year’s 155 graduates, 29 have attended Providence Hall since kindergarten.

After the speeches and diplomas, the students will leave the stadium as the ‘song of the year’ plays. McPhail chooses the song that best fits the graduating class. Last year’s song was Bon Jovi’s “It’s My Life” and in 2020, it was R.E.M.’s “It’s the End of the World As We Know It.”

“The kids really want to know all year what their song is going to be, but I wait until the day of graduation,” McPhail said.

Providence Hall’s ceremony will be held at the Zion’s Bank Stadium at nearby Salt Lake Academy, which also has a unique graduation tradition. Following the graduation ceremony, each Salt Lake Academy graduate receives five roses to give as a ‘thank you’ to their parents, teachers, counselors or friends.

“They get to present them to people

Continued from 17

myself to do more, to do better because of this foundation,” he said.

Talon will return to Jordan PREP in June as a tutor for some of the 220 PREP students taking classes this summer.

Many of this year’s program gradu-

who have influenced them along their journey,” school office manager Cheryl DeHeck said.

Gifts are also a part of South Valley School’s open house style graduation. Students and their families will also be treated to refreshments and a slide show highlighting each of this year’s 35 graduates.

Here is the pertinent information. ADA accommodations are available at all locations.

Academy of Math, Engineering and Science — An anticipated 118 students will take part in the school’s commencement exercises, which will feature nine student speakers and two musical numbers. The 90-minute ceremony will begin at 2 p.m., May 23 in Cottonwood High’s auditorium.

Alta High — About 545 seniors are to walk through commencement exercises at 10 a.m., May 29 at the University of Utah’s Huntsman Center with Canyons Board of Education Vice President Amanda Oaks and Board member Holly Neibaur speaking and will be joined by Director of High Schools Tom Sherwood. This year’s theme is “Alta, Let’s Fly!”

American Academy of Innovation — About 60 seniors will take part in their commencement exercises. Graduation will be at 6 p.m., May 29 at Thanksgiving Point’s show barn.

American Preparatory Academy — At APA’s commencement ceremony, 52 students will graduate at 10 a.m., June 1 at the school. The APA Chorum Vita choir will be singing a Latin piece titled "Omnia Sol" by Z. Randall Stroope and "For Good" from the Broadway musical “Wicked.” The valedictorian will be selected in early May. The ceremony is by invitation only.

Beehive Science & Technology Academy — Twenty-three students will listen to their commencement speaker, Sandy City Council Member Marci Houseman at 7 p.m., May 23 at Salt Lake Community College’s Miller Free Enterprise Con-

ates were part of the first cohort of the Jordan PREP program which began the summer of 2018 with 25 seventh graders. It has since served over 300 students.

Nationwide, PREP is only a threeyear program. With grant money, a sponsorship by Merit Medical, and a partnership with Salt Lake Community College,

ference Center’s auditorium. This year’s valedictorian is James Nelson and salutatorian Lliam Delahunty.

Bingham High — Commencement exercises will be held at 5:30 p.m., May 30 in the UCCU Arena at Utah Valley University in Orem. The theme is from author T.S. Eliot, “The end is where we start from.” Speakers will include Jordan School District Superintendent Anthony Godfrey, Jordan Board of Education members Marilyn Richards and Bryce Dunford with Board president Tracy Miller and District Administrator of High Schools Brad Sorensen in attendance.

Brighton High — Canyons School District Assistant Superintendent McKay Robinson is scheduled to speak to 520 students who are expected to graduate at 2 p.m., May 29 at the Maverik Center. Joining him will be Canyons Board of Education President Amber Shill and former Board president Nancy Tingey. This year’s theme is “The future depends on what we do in the present,” by Mahatma Ghandi.

Copper Hills High — May 29, 6 p.m. UCCU Arena at Utah Valley University

“Be your best self”

Corner Canyon High — “Always

Jordan District’s program expanded to a PREP Plus program, continuing through high school to earn a college certificate and set the students up for a promising future.

“It so far exceeded anything I ever dreamed of when I first started the program,” Pierce said. “If they decide not to pursue any more education, they've

One” is the theme for 550 seniors who will graduate at 2 p.m., May 29 at the University of Utah’s Huntsman Center. Canyons School District Director of High Schools Tom Sherwood is scheduled to speak. Joining him is Canyons Board of Education Vice President Amanda Oaks and Board member Holly Neibaur.

Cottonwood High — About 400 seniors will walk through the traditional commencement exercises at 10 a.m., May 24 at the University of Utah’s Huntsman Center.

Cyprus High — May 23, 1 p.m. Maverik Center

Diamond Ridge — About 60 students will graduate at 6:30 p.m., May 28 at Eastmont Middle School’s auditorium. Canyons School District Director of High Schools Tom Sherwood is scheduled to speak. Joining him is Canyons Board of Education Vice President Andrew Edtl, former Board president Nancy Tingey and Board member Karen Pedersen. This year’s theme is by Canadian poet and author Rupi Kaur: “You don’t just wake up to become a butterfly. Growth is a process.”

Entrada — Canyons School District Director of High Schools Tom Sherwood is expected to address 135 soon-to-be graduates at 7 p.m., June 26 at Alta High School. Canyons Board of Education

got a sustainable livelihood, and then they also have the option to continue their education and have the means to pay for it.”

For more information, see prep.jordandistrict.org.

Former Sunrise students who studied at several Salt Lake Valley high schools reunited at their elementary school prior to their 2023 graduation ceremonies. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

President Amber Shill and Vice President Amanda Oaks will be present. The theme is “Winners never quit. We choose to win!”

Granger High — May 24, 7 p.m. Maverik Center

Granite Connection High — An open house will be held 4-7 p.m. on May 22 and 23 at Granite Connection High.

Granite Peaks High — June 5, 6:30 p.m.

Granite Peaks

Granite Transition Services — The graduation ceremony will be 10 a.m. on May 23 in the Granite Connection Auditorium.

Hartvigsen School — May 23, 12:30 p.m.

Hartvigsen gym

Herriman High — May 30, 7:30 p.m.

Herriman High Football Stadium “Here and Now”

Hillcrest High — About 480 seniors will turn the tassel at their 9:30 a.m., May 29 graduation at the Maverik Center. The speaker is Canyons School District Assistant Superintendent McKay Robinson. Joining him will be Canyons Board of Education Vice President Andrew Edtl and member Kris Millerberg. The theme comes from American businessman and writer, Max Depree: “We cannot become what we want by remaining what we are.”

Hunter High — May 24, 2 p.m. Maverik Center

Jordan High — Canyons School Board of Education Vice President Andrew Edtl and Karen Pedersen will address the 430 seniors at the 6:30 p.m., May 29 commencement ceremony at the Maverik Center. For their theme, the seniors selected “And the Beet Goes On,” to tie into their nickname, the Beetdiggers. Canyons School District Assistant Superintendent McKay Robinson will be in attendance.

Jordan Prep Plus — May 3, 10 a.m. Maverik Center

Jordan Valley — Canyons School District Special Education Director Nate Edvalson will talk to five students who will graduate at 3:30 p.m., May 24 at the Hillcrest High School’s fieldhouse gallery. Canyons Board of Education former president Nancy Tingey and Board member Kris Millerberg will join him. The theme is “Adapting to Change.”

Juan Diego Catholic High — The Baccalaureate Mass for 168 students in

the Class of 2024 will be held on May 21 at the Cathedral of the Madeleine Catholic Church. The commencement exercises will take place on May 25 at the school. Both events require a ticket to attend.

Kearns High — May 24, 9 a.m. Maverik Center

Kings Peak High — May 30, 6 p.m.

Hidden Valley Middle Auditorium

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”Eleanor Roosevelt

Life Skills Academy — Eight students will graduate at 12:30 p.m., May 28 at the school. The theme is a quote by author J.R.R. Tolkien; he said: “The greatest adventure is what lies ahead. Each day brings new possibilities for exploration and discovery.” Speaking will be Canyons School District Special Education Director Nate Edvalson and he will be joined by Canyons Board of Education President Amber Schill, former president Nancy Tingey and member Karen Pedersen.

Lone Peak High — May 22, 12:30 p.m.

BYU’s Marriott Center

Mountain Ridge High — May 30, 1 p.m.

UCCU Arena at Utah Valley University

“This is the Time”

Murray High — The graduation cer-

emony will be held at 11 a.m., June 6 at the Lifetime Activities Center on Salt Lake Community College’s Redwood Campus.

Olympus High — May 24, 2 p.m. Huntsman Center

Paradigm High — At 4 p.m., May 30, 55 seniors will graduate at the University of Utah’s Kingsbury Hall. The yet-to-benamed valedictorian will be the student speaker.

Providence Hall — May 24, 10 a.m. Zions Bank Stadium

River’s Edge — “Level Up” is the theme for this year’s commencement, which will be held at 1 p.m., May 31 in the school’s auditorium. Speaking will be Jordan Board of Education President Tracy Miller and Jordan School District administrator Lisa Robinson. Joining them will be Board vice president Darrell Robinson and Board member Lisa Dean.

Riverton High — May 30, 8:30 a.m.

UCCU Arena at Utah Valley University

“Beginnings are usually scary, and endings are usually sad, but it's everything in between that makes it all worth living.” - Bob Marley

Salt Lake Academy — May 30, 10 a.m.

Zions Bank Stadium

Skyline High — May 24, 6 p.m. Huntsman Center

South Valley — May 29, 3 p.m.

South Valley School Cafeteria

“Chart Your Course”

Summit Academy High — May 30, 2 p.m.

Summit Academy High Gymnasium

Taylorsville High — May 23, 6 p.m.

Maverik Center

Valley High — Graduation will be held at 10 a.m., May 29 at Zions Bank Stadium at Real Academy in Herriman. This year’s theme is “The People, The Stories, The Experiences.” Speaking will be Jordan Board of Education President Tracy Miller and Jordan School District Administrator of High Schools Brad Sorensen with Board vice presidents Darrell Robinson and Niki George and Jordan District administrator Becky Gerber in attendance.

Waterford School — At 10 a.m., June 6, the school will honor its Class of 2024 on the campus’ east soccer field. About 70 students are expected to participate in the commencement exercises, which will feature Waterford’s vocal ensemble, the Troubadours, as well as a musical performance by the Lower School students. ADA access is on the southwest side of the field.

West Jordan High — May 29, 2 p.m. UCCU Arena at Utah Valley University

“We didn’t know we were making discoveries, we were just having fun.”A.A. Milne in Winnie the Pooh

Thousands of students and their families will attend graduation ceremonies this month, such as this 2023 Copper Hills High School graduation ceremony (Doug Flagler/Jordan School District)

For Cottonwood baseball, a new region means tougher competition

By Brian Shaw | b.shaw@mycityjournals.com

To get ready for the gauntlet that is Region 10, the Cottonwood High Colts baseball team scheduled some pretty heavy opposition from out of town.

“We’re in a tough region,” said Cottonwood Athletic Director Greg Southwick.

So, the Colts lined up the Bear River [Utah] Bears. And had the fortune of drawing Vauxhall Academy out of Canada as well as Bishop Gorman and Centennial out of Las Vegas, among others.

But, Cottonwood [9-11, 5-7 Region 10] wrapped up the month of March by winning four out of their first six region contests.

Then, they traveled to Las Vegas for the Bishop Gorman Tournament April 2-4 where they were shut out by that team from Canada, 0-8 and lost to Centennial by the final score of 1-26.

At that tourney, Cottonwood turned around and defeated host Bishop Gorman 10-6 after senior Austin Carver struck out six batters he faced and five Colts players hit two RBI apiece in the victory.

The Colts would wrap up the tournament with a 4-7 loss to Redondo Beach (California) that was only decided in the top of the seventh when Cottonwood gave up three runs.

But, this strength of schedule is needed when you consider who the Colts would be facing in Region 10 action.

Having already played and defeated Stansbury and Tooele two out of the three times they played, the Colts had their work cut out for them against Park City in a three-game series.

The Colts got the game one victory playing the way the boys know best—manufacturing runs. Senior Robbie Jensen scattered three hits over seven innings of work and struck out three in a 6-5 win over PC.

Otto Wayman was big at the plate for Cottonwood as the senior was three-for-three with a walk and two RBI, while

Brighton Young slammed in three runs.

Back at Cate Field for game two, Park City busted open a 1-1 tie in the top of the second, scoring seven runs and handing Cottonwood an 11-22 loss, April 10. The Colts tried to mount a rally in the bottom of the fifth, to no avail. Park City added

five more runs in the bottom half of the fifth and sixth innings. Carver struck out five in the loss for a Cottonwood team that got 11 hits but gave up 26.

In game three, the Colts got rocked by Park City by the score of 3-13, April 12. It marked the first time all season that Cottonwood has lost a three-game series to any opponent in Region 10 play.

The Colts run-scoring woes continued at Juan Diego during another three-game series starting April 16. Cottonwood trotted out Jensen, who looked good through three innings of shutout ball in game one.

In turn, the Colts bats heated up as John Pipe and Angel Mavarez-Gonzalez each drove in a run. But Jensen couldn’t hold those Juan Diego bats off in the bottom of the fourth or the fifth as Cottonwood was handed a 2-4 defeat.

In game two of this three-game series, Carver took the mound at home April 17 and scattered nine hits over seven innings of hard work. The problem was that the Colts bats didn’t answer the call and Cottonwood lost in a 4-5 nailbiter.

Back at the friendly confines of Cate Field for game three, the Colts got shelled for 19 hits in a 6-17 loss. Jensen hit three RBI for Cottonwood.

On the season, the 6-foot-3-inch Jensen has been the Colts’ ace. The senior now has a 3-2 record with 31 strikeouts. Carver is clearly Cottonwood’s No. 2 arm with a 2-2 overall record but actually has more strikeouts [37].

The hunt for Cottonwood’s third pitcher seems to be ongoing; three players have each had two or more starts under new head coach Gavin Duckworth.

Jensen leads the way with 16 RBI but two juniors, Ladanian Gutierrez and Isaiah Cosby, have each hit 12 RBI. Seniors John Pipe and Carver have 10 and nine, respectively while juniors Young and Mavarez-Gonzalez, have driven in eight and seven runs. l

Led by senior Ciel Budge, Cottonwood girls golf is in the running

By Brian Shaw | b.shaw@mycityjournals.com

It

should come as no surprise that Cottonwood’s Ciel Budge is sitting atop the Colts leaderboard as the girls’ golf team heads into the Region 10 Championships.

One thing that sets the multisport athlete apart from most kids is her intense competitiveness. When someone tells her that she can’t do something, she does it.

Starting out the season at Cottonwood’s home course of Murray Parkway, the senior Budge’s golf game ebbed and flowed with the Jordan River that runs through the 18 holes—she shot a gross score of 91 which adjusted, rounded out to a 92. It was Budge’s best score since midseason of last year. All told, the Colts finished fourth in the competition with a total team score of 383.

At Oquirrh Hills in Tooele County on a more mountainous and vastly longer course, Budge again topped the Colts with a 109 on links that averaged a 121 score; once adjusted, the senior captain’s overall score at OHGC was just 106.

Along the flatter, shorter course at

Glendale, Budge hit a 98, which on a course with a par of 111 is very good. It put the Colts in a good spot again in fourth place overall in Region 10. But, Budge’s most recent score of 100 once adjusted at Stansbury Park topped all of Cottonwood’s players and ranks her first on the team.

“… And Ciel should be really good for us,” said Cottonwood Athletic Director and girls golf head coach Greg Southwick, completing the short conversation about his senior. “But we’ve got some younger girls we really like, too.”

Coach Southwick might be onto something. The highest score for the Colts, however, goes to sophomore Nicole Nelson who shot an 89 along Murray Parkway. She is ranked second behind Budge, with a 101 average over the four events.

Sitting right behind the sophomore Nelson but still within range of the top two is senior Valery Tomadakis, who shot a season-high score of 100 at the very difficult and often windy Oquirrh Hills course. It puts

her right there with Cottonwood’s top golfers, and she has a season average of 103 thus far.

Sophomore Nicky Edwards has only played in three events for the Colts but shot a season-high 104 at Oquirrh Hills. She’s ranked fourth on Cottonwood’s team with an average adjusted score of 105.

Others who have competed for Cottonwood’s varsity are players like freshman Kya Bridge, who competed at Murray Parkway during the Colts’ home meet and shot a 112 in her only event of the season thus far but is still ranked fifth in the team.

Sophomore Sophia Yates is ranked sixth and has played three events for the Colts. At Glendale, she shot a season-high 109. Freshman Indie Hoggan has competed in three events as well for Cottonwood and carries a season-high of 111 along the river-laden course at Murray Parkway. She stands seventh on the team in terms of rankings.

Rounding out Cottonwood’s top 10 on the season are junior Lindsey Jennings

[season-high 119 at Glendale] in eighth, freshman Sunnie Ivins ninth [129, Murray Parkway] and in 10th spot, freshman Taryn Finlinson who shot a 139 at Stansbury Park in her only event.

The manner in which the team is set up by Southwick gives all the golfers an opportunity to earn the right to compete in any given event. Each Cottonwood golfer must qualify prior to that week’s event by posting a designated target score at Murray Parkway.

Cottonwood was the No. 15 ranked team in 4A and fourth in Region 10 at press time, putting the Colts right in the thick of the standings and in the hunt for state tournament berths altogether.

By the time you read this, the Colts will have competed at the Region 10 Championships. Considering that neither the team nor any individual qualified for the final round of the 4A state championships last year, one never knows what might happen this year. l

Junior Ladanian Gutierrez leads off at first base after his inning-opening single. (City Journals)

Over the last few years, more readers are emailing us about the Life and Laughter columns that run in the Journal. Last month, realizing the topic was more controversial, we decided to ask for reader feedback. Our readers left nearly 200 responses.

Over 60 percent of readers agreed with the article. Here is a small sampling of the comments that we received from our readers.

“I always love Peri Kinder's articles. I am on the same page with her politically. However, the length and tone of her articles make clear they are written for people who already agree with her - not for people on the fence or are looking for information on a topic”

“Peri inspired some thoughts that I hadn't paid much attention to.”

“Peri's bigotry is showing. No one should have to apologize for their sex, race, income status, or sexual orientation, unless of course, according to Peri, you’re a straight white male in Utah. Replace white with black and male with female in her piece and maybe you’ll be able to recognize the vitriol for what it is. Women are entitled to safe, private spaces, and I guarantee that if there were a man pretending to be a woman ogling at Peri in the bathroom, she might feel just a wee bit uncomfortable. As a woman, I’m tired of feminists telling me to “just get over it” and that my feelings don’t matter. Must I once again subjugate my desires in deference to a man who wants things his way? Maybe you should ask the girl in Virginia who was sexually assaulted by a transgender girl in the girls’ bathroom at school. Just because Peri doesn’t mind men in her bathroom doesn’t mean the rest of us aren’t traumatized by it. The Legislature did absolutely the right thing, carefully balancing the rights of transgender people with women’s right to privacy and safe separate spaces.”

“Biological men do not belong in the same restroom as women. I do not want my children to ever be in a bathroom where a man is present. Just because the author has not encountered a “creepy man dressed as Mrs. Doubtfire, accosting women in the re-

Life and Laughter Reader Response

stroom,” does not mean this has not occurred. There are numerous cases where women have been assaulted by so called transgender info inside of women’s restrooms, for example, the case in Louden County VA.”

“I really like a lot of her articles but I am very opposed to pretty much everything she said in this one.”

“I agree with most of the comments about the legislature. However, I do not want transgender (born male) in my women's bathroom. They can use the family bathrooms which are becoming much more available.”

“Responding to "the article" as a whole cannot be done here because many different opinions were expressed on many issues. My only reaction to the overall article is "what happened to laughter"? I have often enjoyed your humor but this article had none! That's sad.”

"I agree that Trans women should not be allowed in the female bathrooms. Why? Because they are not women. There are only two genders. There always have been two genders and that cannot change. It is not dependent on what we think we are or are not. We cannot and should not change the gender given to us by our Creator. I think He knows best.”

“Also, the author makes it sound like not allowing Trans women in a female bathroom is being unloving...love thy neighbor. Since when does disagreeing with someone's lifestyle directly correlate to being unloving? In any relationship we have with others, there are likely times we don't fully agree with someone's opinion or choices. We can still love that person, but not agree with their actions or lifestyle. These days it seems that if you disagree in any way with diversity, equity and inclusion you are labeled a hater. How is it that everyone else is entitled to their opinion but if mine is different in any way, I am wrong. How is that loving? We live in a free country that allows us to have a variety of opinions and express those opinions in a respectful way. But we also have to understand that not everyone is going to agree with each other and that is OK. With the bathroom issue, single stall bathrooms that allow either gender is the best solution in my opinion."

looking for a new job. It's been a rough couple of years for trans people and can seem overwhelming at times. Thanks for reminding me there's allies out there.”

“Peri is so sensible. I appreciate her writing this column.”

"I completely agree. We have a short legislative session and too much time and efforts were made supporting hatred and exclusion, singularity of thought and government being for themselves instead of for the people.

Read the polls: none of this is what the majority of voters are asking for.”

“It is so refreshing to read an opinion driven by common sense and compassion, rather than ignorance and fear. I know people in Utah are more compassionate than those who represent them, based on proposed legislation.”

“Agree 100%. Peri is right. Sometimes it is embarrassing to live in this state with the things the legislature worries about and focuses on, and the bills they pass. There are more important problems to deal with than worrying about which bathrooms people are using, fighting DEI, and what books kids should or shouldn’t be reading. Frankly I think some of these things send the wrong message; I fear the kids are only learning that the adults don’t trust them to make good decisions. Or any decisions at all which will only lead to more problems down the road… an even more intolerant society with no critical thinking skills which is never a good thing.”

“This article is right. I couldn't agree more with all of Peri Kinder's articles. This one is my favorite.

I usually read the Peri Kinder column to get a good chuckle but this one hit the nail right on the head.”

“Thanks for printing this. I'm a trans woman who lives here and this was nice to see. I worked at the airport before, now I'm

“I look forward to Peri Kinder's article every month. This article was especially "spot on". Government needs to be more transparent! Not hidden behind so called "privacy" laws that block access to to the daily calendar of elected officials. I also agree with Peri's stance on public restrooms. Nobody goes into a restroom 'looking for" a transgender. They are there to "do their business" and leave asap! I have noticed that airports, some restaurants, and some of the wonderful theaters (Pioneer Theatre's new Meldrum Theatre and The Eccles) have an open doorway. The stalls allow for individual privacy, but the rooms are open and very visible. This is the first time I have used my scanning code. I felt it was important to express my point of view.”

“Acceptance has been slow over the years, but acceptance of the reality is gaining more support as people learn about their families.”

“I question the comments about guns in schools but clearly agree with the rest.” l

dog, Jedi, runs to the closet where her leash hangs. She spins in circles as I take it off the hook and click it on her collar. She bites the leash and pulls because I’m just not moving fast enough. She is so happy to walk the neighborhood and terrorize small animals.

Usually, these daily walks cheer me up, but recently, I follow behind her like I’m wearing cement shoes on a muddy beach. Does anyone else feel soul-tired?

I’m the weariest I’ve been since my daughters were newborns when sleeping two hours a night left me moving through life in a haze of dirty Pampers and milk-sour T-shirts.

But what’s my excuse now? I’m a deflated balloon, bouncing along the floor without the helium needed to float. I’m too weary to yawn, too sluggish to nap.

I guess I’m not alone because author and computer science professor Cal Newport said we’re in the throes of “The Great Exhaustion.”

It’s not about getting more sleep, it’s not about eating more fiber or fewer Hostess Twinkies, it’s a complete burnout because rest is a sign of weakness.

Taylor Swift recorded a double album while performing in a sold-out global tour

Peri Kinder Life and Laughter

Dead on My Feet

and then flew halfway around the world to catch her boyfriend’s little football game. And here I am, struggling to write a column and make it to my granddaughters’ soccer games.

I sprawl on the couch watching dust accumulate on the end tables, too fatigued to do anything about it. I pray a brisk breeze blows through the house, scattering the dirt back to the floor where it belongs.

I feel a lot of people are in this same engineless boat. It doesn’t help that companies now require employees to return to the office, even though the flexible, at-home schedules have kept thousands of women in the workplace. Even though, for the first time in history, job schedules have helped women feel like work and home are almost manageable.

Our energy is also being drained fast-

er than our bank accounts because we’ve trained ourselves to be 24/7 content creators. We spend a crapload of time making reels about our trip to the Grand Canyon or a TikTok video about how to raise goats and make goat milk ice cream.

But there’s more! Start a tech company during your free time! Renovate your kitchen and use time-lapse videos to share with the world! Become an Instagram influencer by creating beauty masks using pencil shavings! Document all the moments all the time and share on all the platforms!

With nonstop information from streaming shows, music, podcasts, audiobooks and social media going directly into our big noggins, our brains are tired. Every person in your household (and possibly your pets) is processing information at speeds unheard of just a few years ago. There’s probably smoke coming out of our ears.

It’s a firehose of electronic data. Everything is breaking news. Everything is trying to capture our brief attention. Life is one big clickbait link and we doomscroll like we’ve been enchanted by a wizard to sell our souls for just a little more spilled tea.

Are you feeling burnt out? Tell us about it.

Are you feeling fresh, share your secret with us!

The funny thing is, we can turn it off, silence the noise and deactivate the notifications. But our cortisol addiction is out of control. So what do we do?

Jedi has the right idea. Walking outside, breathing fresh air, maybe even chasing a cat up a tree reminds us the small things matter. Quiet rituals are important. “The Great Exhaustion” is a bone-deep weariness but also a reminder we’re not alone as we stumble through life.

Maybe in sharing our weariness, we can find a listening ear, a comforting shoulder or a Hostess Twinkie.

ANNUAL MEMORIAL DAY PROGRAM

to Honor Military Veterans for Their Service to Our Country

Monday, May 27, 2024 at 10:00 a.m.

At Larkin Sunset Gardens Cemetery 1950 East Dimple Dell Road (10600 South), Sandy

FEATURED SPEAKER: Congressman Blake Moore

PROGRAM WILL INCLUDE: Hill Air Force Base, Honor Guard, Utah Firefighters Emerald Society Bagpipes, Patriotic Music by Brian Stucki and the Minuteman Brass Quintet OPEN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC