what was likely the first city council meeting they’ve ever attended, not by their first-nameless teacher – but by that lady whose first name is “Mayor.”
“Meredith (uh, that’s ‘Mrs. Harker’) did a school project with her students to have them design park features they’d like
More than 30 Taylorsville third graders bolted from a city council session last month as soon as their part of the meeting was over. But they did stop briefly to smile on the way out with their teacher, Council Chair Meredith Harker. (Carl Fauver/City Journals)
Recognizing Signs and Symptoms of Stroke from Holy Cross Hospital – Jordan Valley Stroke Team
By Dr. Rebecca Reiser
We know how important it is for patients and their families to find a hospital and a care team that you can trust - especially when emergencies, like stroke, happen. That’s why our team at CommonSpirit Holy Cross Hospital – Jordan Valley is so incredibly proud to be a certified primary stroke center with thrombectomy capability. Recently, our stroke care team was recognized by the American Heart Association and received their Get with the Guidelines Gold Plus Award with Stroke Honor Roll and Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll. This award means our facility met or exceeded the national recommendations for stroke care for our patients and it highlights our hard-working, talented stroke care team for providing excellent patient stroke care! To start, we work closely with our EMS partners to help them recognize patient stroke symptoms while they are out in the field. They are trained to let us know when they are on their way to our hospital so we can be ready for stroke patients before they even arrive. Our team is then able to evaluate each patient quickly and thoroughly to determine the best course of treatment. We have medications to help break up blood clots in the brain and a team of highly
trained vascular neurosurgeons who can remove a blood clot from the brain, also known as a thrombectomy. An important note - Holy Cross Hospital - Jordan Valley is the only hospital on the west side of the valley that has the capability of performing these state-of-the-art thrombectomies!
So, what are the signs and symptoms of stroke that you should be aware of? The easiest way to remember what to look out for is through the acronym, BEFAST:
● Balance changes
● Eye or vision changes
● Facial droop
● Arm weakness
● Speech difficulty
● Time
reduces disability among stroke survivors by 4%! That’s because about 2 million brain cells die every minute during a stroke until blood flow is restored. It is important that if you see someone showing the signs or symptoms of stroke outlined above, call for help immediately.
When you or your loved ones come to Holy Cross Hospital – Jordan Valley for stroke care, you can expect state-of-theart stroke treatment and compassionate, healing care fueled by humankindness. From the teams in the ER to the stroke care teams to the physical, occupational and speech therapists that help care for patients throughout their rehab journey, and to the neurologists that assist in care decisions from the start, you are in good hands at Holy Cross Hospital – Jordan Valley!
At 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.
It is important to recognize the above signs and symptoms because time matters! Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States, but it is the leading cause of long-term disability. Studies show that every 15 minutes saved when a patient is experiencing stroke symptoms,
Learn more about the services, care providers and mission-driven work of the Holy Cross hospitals and CommonSpirit Health at www.holycrossutah.org.
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Dr. Rebecca Reiser Neurologist and Stroke Director CommonSpirit Holy Cross Hospital
grade core curriculum for social studies and I love the changes,” Harker said. “It allowed me to teach my kids more about government, which is my passion. First, we focused on the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. But then I wanted then to study something more relatable, like how their local government determines what goes into their city parks.”
Harker is teaching 45 third graders in two different groups this year. She’s into her eighth year on the Taylorsville City Council; but has been helping to mold the minds of 8- and 9-year-olds a whole lot longer. She says work on the project that led to an April city council meeting actually began before Christmas.
“The first thing I did was invite Taylorsville City Planner Mark McGrath to come talk to the kids,” she explained. “He is such an expert on our city. He told them about what our area was like 100 years ago… 50 years ago… long before we were an actual city. He told them about railroad tracks that came through here decades ago – they loved that.”
After getting the students a little excited about municipal government (and you and I thought that wasn’t possible), Harker divided her students into groups of three, asking each trio to brainstorm a particular amenity they’d like to play on in a park.
“My students were great,” she said. “They shared ideas, discussed them, did some hand drawing of what they were thinking. Then I asked them to describe their ideas in as much detail as possible so we could enter those written descriptions into a computer AI program. When the computer produced drawings of their zip lines and swimming pools, my students were thrilled.”
As Harker described this learning exercise to the packed April 2 city council audience, many of her students exchanged proud glances and side hugs with their parents. Harker’s four fellow council members also smiled and nodded, while undoubtedly wishing they had a larger parks budget to turn the plans into reality.
“I invited Mayor Overson to come visit my class to see the park ideas and to talk with my students,” the council chair continued. “I told my three-student teams they each had one minute to make an oral presentation to the mayor. I guess she liked what she heard, because she quickly started talking about inviting the students to share their presentation at a city council meeting.”
That park in the upper right may be larger than any in Taylorsville – but aren’t third graders supposed to dream big?
nals)
And that’s what led to last month’s packed house.
“I just love the out-of-the-box thinking these students do; their creativity is just incredible,” Overson said. “I wanted these kids to have the full experience – to see how presentations like this are made at city council. The students are so smart. I learned we really need to involve younger minds in our park planning. Some of their ideas are completely doable.”
Luckily for the visiting students and their parents, the AI parks presentation came near the top of the city council agenda. After hearing Mrs. Harker brag about them and receiving their applause, about 90% of the audience slipped out to pose for a few group pictures.
Among them was 9-year-old third grader Sofie Bassett.
“It was my first city council meeting and I thought it was fun to see Mrs. Harker up in front, leading the council,” Sofie said. “She’s a really good teacher and really nice. We have lots of fun activities in class. I liked this
project because my group got to design the swimming pool and hot tub. I was surprised by how good the AI pictures looked.”
Sofie is Stefanie Bassett’s fourth child to have Mrs. Harker for third grade.
“I think it is so great she serves on our city council,” Bassett said. “She is such a great example to Sofie that girls and women can do anything. And having the students design parks – what a great idea. Sofie seemed to learn so much.”
As most city residents already know, Taylorsville Park (4700 S. Redwood Road) is in the midst of a complete makeover now, while the brand-new Summit Park (6200 S. 3200 West) has new pickleball courts, with other amenities coming. It’s unclear whether any of Mrs. Harker’s student ideas can be incorporated into those sites. But city officials seem to agree, the issue will be funding – because the 8and 9-year-olds’ ideas are solid. l
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The Taylorsville Journal is a monthly publication distributed directly to residents via the USPS as well as locations throughout Taylorsville. For information about distribution please email hello@thecityjournals.com or call our offices. Rack locations are also available on our website.
A shelter from the storm: Salt Lake’s new mental health crisis center opens
By Peri Kinder peri.k@thecityjournals.com
Lake County recently opened a crucial lifeline for mental health support—a crisis center built to help people when they need it most. The Kem and Carolyn Gardner Mental Health Crisis Care Center (955 W. 3300 South) is a place where those struggling with mental health issues can find immediate care and safety.
The 80,000-square-foot facility was funded by private donations, state and county funds, and a $5-million donation from the Gardners. It will be open 24/7 for anyone 18 and older facing a mental health emergency.
“I think the importance of this day is that we know where to turn, people know there’s a place where they can go when they have the scourge of our generation, which is mental illness,” Kem Gardner said. “We really were astounded at what is offered here. So all I can do is thank everybody that played a part and tell you that we’re grateful that we played a very small part.”
Instead of taking loved ones to the emergency room for mental health issues, family members have a dedicated place designed to offer real, immediate help. The facility will provide rapid stabilization inpatient treatment, a medication-assisted clinic for individuals with opiate use disorders, intensive outpatient treatment for adults dealing with substance abuse disorders and day treatment for adults who need more support.
Operated by the Huntsman Mental Health Institute, the $60-million facility hosted a ribbon cutting on March 28 to celebrate how the state is addressing its high rate of mental illness.
Local and state officials, business leaders and mental health professionals joined in the celebration including University of Utah President Taylor Randall, Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson, Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson, University of Utah Health CEO Bob Carter and Christena Huntsman Durham and her brother
David Huntsman who serve as co-CEOs for the Huntsman Mental Health Foundation.
“As most of you know, we lost our sister almost 15 years ago to a drug overdose. We know what that’s like to go in the back doors of detox, into intake,” Durham said. “As I travel around the country, our story is not alone. We are going to show here in Utah what the national norm is going to be. We are going to show the country that here in Utah, we can do things differently…You don’t need to suffer silently. You don’t need to be in the dark and in the shadows. We want to bring a light to that and give people hope and dignity.”
The building’s design is intended to help visitors feel safe, with every aspect of the construction being intentional. The center will provide a free law clinic to help overcome legal obstacles that can disrupt families dealing with a mental health crisis. It will also offer primary and dental care. Connections to existing community programs can help patients
receive housing, health care and employment assistance.
Salt Lake County donated land for the facility (located near the Salt Lake County Metro Jail) and appropriated more than $6 million to fund the building. Salt Lake County Councilmember Aimee Winder Newton shared an experience about her young son who was contemplating suicide.
“I needed to get him help. I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t know where to turn…I ended up taking him to an emergency room, but we didn’t get the help we really needed,” Newton said. “I wish we would have had a facility like this and I look forward to moms and dads all over our county being able to know where they can take their sons and daughters if they’re in crisis.”
Newton’s son is now a seventh-grade English teacher and Newton, along with other parents, siblings, children and spouses of people struggling with mental health issues ex-
pressed gratitude for the mental health crisis care center and the hope it brings to those in need of help.
“I know the despair of being a parent, fearful in the middle of the night for a teenager, feeling ill-equipped and unprepared, not knowing where to turn, not knowing what to do,” Henderson said. “I know the anguish of being the child of a parent who is shackled with the chains of addiction and substance abuse. I know the agony it is to be the sibling of a brother who has struggled to stay alive. I know what it’s like to be a family member to people who have both completed and attempted suicide, and I know I’m not alone.
“All of us have felt that. All of us know people who have felt that, and this facility brings hope and peace, and I’m so grateful for the great work that’s been done. We’ve got a lot more to do.”
For more information, visit Healthcare. Utah.Edu. l
State and local leaders and members of the Huntsman family joined Kem Gardner (center) and his wife Carolyn (center right) for a ribbon cutting that opened the county’s new mental health crisis care facility. (Peri Kinder /City Journals)
State and local leaders and members of the Huntsman family joined Kem Gardner (center) and his wife Carolyn (center right) for a ribbon cutting that opened the county’s new mental health crisis care facility. (Peri Kinder /City Journals)
Salt Lake County’s move, designed to add jail beds, will also assist Taylorsville roads in being repaired more quickly.
By Carl Fauver c.fauver@mycityjournals.com
There’s plenty of intrigue, handwringing and finger-pointing related to a controversial new sales tax imposed earlier this year on a 7-2 split vote by the Salt Lake County Council. And guess what: this story has virtually nothing to do with any of that.
Instead, the focus here is on the financial windfall Taylorsville will enjoy from the new tax. Or, more specifically, how the funding infusion should help fill that pothole you dodge every day, a bit quicker.
“Road maintenance funding is always a big issue for us every budget cycle,” Taylorsville City Administrator John Taylor said. “So, we have supported this Salt Lake County tax proposal. Transportation funding is always needed in Taylorsville. This new money is required to be spent on road projects. It will allow us to move up our timeline on curb and gutter, road resur-
facing and other transportation projects.”
Before we get to the new sales tax specifics, we need to step back in time to provide a little context.
• March 2018 – The Utah Legislature authorizes counties to enact sales taxes, but only for “public transit capital expenses and service delivery.”
• March 2024 – State lawmakers amend their measure, providing flexibility to Salt Lake County on how new sales tax funding can be spent.
• November 2024 – Voters narrowly to reject a $507 million bond intended to more thoroughly address Salt Lake County’s jail crisis.
• February 2025 – Reportedly under pressure from state lawmakers to improve their jail situation, seven of nine Salt Lake County Council members vote to establish their new sales tax.
As Salt Lake County consumers, we’ll be hard-pressed to notice the tax.
Beginning July 1, the County will collect 0.2% on purchases – or 1 cent for every $5 spent.
However, even that modest amount is projected to generate $76 million in new revenues, annually.
Two Republican council members voted against the new tax. Taylorsville’s representative, Aimee Winder Newton, was one of three Salt Lake County Council Republicans who reluctantly joined Democrats to approve it.
“This tax gives the county the ability to make 248 jail beds available to improve public safety, which is our number one priority,” Winder Newton explained. “We also know transportation dollars are scarce for our cities. With traffic congestion throughout the valley, and needed road repair, these dollars will help residents get the most bang for their buck. It’s much cheaper to do slurry seals and fix potholes than to neglect roads and have to completely rebuild them later.”
There are plenty of Utah media outlets further explaining exactly how this funding will be divvyed up and spent. In broad strokes, for our purposes: a quarter of it will be spent by Salt Lake County, adding jail beds and justice programs, while another quarter of the revenue will be shared among cities in the county for transportation needs.
That’s where Taylorsville enters the picture – over on the sideline, far away from any controversy.
“They estimate Taylorsville will receive $648,000 annually through this tax,” Taylor said. “Our current annual road improvement budget is about $2.5 to $3 million. So, this new funding will grow that budget by about 20 to 25%. And, again, that’s all we can spend the money on –road projects.”
As you’d expect, Salt Lake City receives the largest portion of the $19 million annually, at an estimated $4.6 million. Utah’s second largest city, West Valley City, will receive just under $2 million each year. West Jordan, Sandy, South Jordan and Murray are all expected to receive more than $1 million annually.
“Just like our residents, we hate tax increases,” Taylor said. “But this one will be well spent. Our road maintenance has fallen behind in recent years because of inflation. Electric vehicle sales also cut into our road repair budget, because it’s funded entirely through the state gas tax. When gas sales go down, our road repair budget shrinks.”
Taylorsville officials report their top road resurfacing priorities entering the 2025 orange cone season include: 2700 West, from 4100 South to 4700 South; 4100 South, from Redwood Road to 2200 West; and 6200 South, from Bangerter Highway to 2700 West.
“We try to resurface all of our Taylorsville roads every seven to 10 years,” Taylor said. “This new tax will allow us to accelerate those timelines while also making other repairs more quickly.”
Many Salt Lake County residents may be upset their vote against a half-billion-dollar bond last fall was followed three months later by a tax increase they weren’t allowed to vote against. But the upside is expected to be 248 additional jail beds – and, hopefully, fewer potholes to dodge during your next drive through Taylorsville. l
Local entrepreneurs hope to cash in on a hands-free home chores future
products are rare because they are win-winwin. Lawn care and snow removal done with these products save money, reduce labor and are more green (environmentally friendly). Products like these are incredibly rare to find.”
By Carl Fauver c.fauver@mycityjournals.com
“Meet
George Jetson… his boy, Elroy… daughter, Judy… Jane, his wife…”
Sure, sure – the original version of the Hanna-Barbera prime time animated sitcom “The Jetsons” only lasted one season on ABC… way back during the Kennedy administration. But come on, you’re hearing that opening theme song in your head right now; or your grandpa is.
We saw George trying to outsmart his boss at Spacely Space Sprockets. We envied his cool home at Skypad Apartments. We even saw George visit Elroy’s Little Dipper School. Oh, and we definitely wanted his space mobile that folded up into a briefcase.
In those 24 futuristic episodes, two things we never did see George do is mow a lawn or shovel a driveway. But two Taylorsville High School graduates say that part of the Jetson world we imagine – mowing and shoveling without lifting a finger – is already upon us.
Eric Behunin graduated from THS in 1994 and is a third-generation landscape professional in his family. Meantime, 2001 THS graduate Joe Fitisemanu recently partnered up with him. Together, they operate SmartYard – with plans to franchise their concept across the country.
“Last year, 80% of all the new lawnmowers sold in Europe were autonomous; and (the United States) is about five years behind them,” Behunin claims. “Our robotic mowers can work well on 95% of all lawns across our country. We believe this is a completely untapped market. Our plan is to open a second SmartYard business in the Dallas area later this year and to franchise stores nationwide.”
While Behunin was born into a landscape design and yard maintenance family, his new minority business partner Fitisemanu just invested in SmartYard last year.
“I met Eric in church and we began discussing his idea,” Fitisemanu said. “These
Fitisemanu is now vice president of sales for SmartYard. They operate out of a multi-business building Behunin has owned for years on 4800 South just off Redwood Road.
“My grandfather used to climb and prune trees on Temple Square, while my dad operated a landscaping business out of our Taylorsville home that once had as many as 50 employees,” Behunin said. “I worked about 10 years for my dad and my brother still runs Behunin Tree. But I wanted to do something a little different.”
After graduating from Taylorsville High and serving a Church mission in England, Behunin earned an apprentice program certification in horticulture from Utah Valley State College (now UVU). In 2013 he founded his first business, Horticultural Group (hortgroup.com).
“Initially, we were strictly a landscape design business and didn’t provide any actual lawncare maintenance,” Behunin said. “Later, we did start to provide the kind of lawn care you see driving around all the time, three or four workers operating all kinds of lawnmowers, edgers and other equipment. But in about 2018 we started finding it very hard to find qualified employees. Two years later the pandemic came along. That’s when I really started to get serious about investigating autonomous mowers.”
Behunin now has about 150 clients along the Wasatch Front. Perhaps the most high-profile of them all is Taylorsville City.
“The city purchased the two mowers we have operating on Centennial Plaza and they work very well,” Mayor Kristie Overson said. “They are very quiet and do their job. We haven’t seen any downside to them. We’ll be starting into our budget season soon and the council may consider purchasing more of the mowers for our parks.”
“Taylorsville City is our first, and so far only, municipality to buy off on this new technology,” Behunin said. “We’re very grateful to them. I know they have talked about our products with leaders from other cities. Our robotic
mowers will save Taylorsville City thousands of dollars in maintenance costs just on Centennial Plaza. I’m sure we’ll be talking with them about purchasing others for their parks.”
The “bigger picture” for Behunin and Fitisemanu, down the road, is focused on franchising their autonomous lawn maintenance concept across the country.
“This is an untapped market; it’s wide open,” Behunin concluded. “These electric, GPS-controlled robotic mowers will be everywhere in a few years. We plan to be on the lead-
ing edge of that change.”
If you are curious about autonomous lawn mowers and snow blowers, there’s all kinds of information online. Reviews are a bit mixed, but seem to be mostly positive. You can also learn more at Behunin and Fitisemanu’s website, gosmartyard.com.
Now, if we could just get Behunin and Fitisemanu to perfect that flying car that folds into a briefcase. l
Joe Fitisemanu and Eric Behunin (L-R) have launched a unique Taylorsville business they believe can be replicated coast-to-coast. (Carl Fauver/City Journals)
Comcast RISE to award millions in small business grants
Getting a small business off the ground, or scaling to the next level, takes more than hustle and passion. It takes resources. A small business grant can be the difference between success and failure, and Comcast is investing in success.
The Comcast RISE program will award comprehensive grant packages to 100 small businesses in Bluffdale, Draper, Herriman, Riverton, Sandy, South Jordan, West Jordan and White City. Through May, Comcast will accept applications from small business owners who are committed to growing their companies, lifting their communities and inspiring the next generation.
“The Comcast RISE program will deliver innovative and impactful resources that will make a lasting impact on small businesses in Utah. Supporting small businesses is crucial for economic development and ensuring that the backbone of our communities can thrive,” said J.D. Keller, senior vice president of Comcast’s Mountain West Region. “Among the many things we all love about Utah is our vibrant small businesses and Comcast’s commitment to supporting them.”
Each grant includes a technology
makeover (with digital services for one year), access to online entrepreneurship courses, coaching sessions, a business assessment and $5,000. Grant recipients will also receive a professionally produced TV commercial and media strategy consultation.
Scott Cuthbertson, president/CEO of the Economic Development Corporation of Utah, said small businesses are the foundation of the state’s economy. More than 90% of companies in Utah are considered small businesses, run by families, friends and neighbors. He said it’s essential that these businesses succeed.
“Comcast is such a valued partner,” Cuthbertson said. “They make critical investments in our infrastructure and we think they’re exemplary about how they invest back into the community, in particular, through this RISE program that provides needed support to our small business owners.”
Andrea Benitez is the fundraising manager at Suazo Business Center, which offers resources for economically disadvantaged businesses. Through education, workshops, and access to capital, the center has helped launch hundreds of small
businesses, generating millions of dollars in revenue.
Benitez’s clients include minority and underserved populations who need direction for creating a business. They might not qualify for a loan or don’t want to go into debt to fund their dreams, so the Comcast RISE program could be a game changer for these struggling entrepreneurs.
“This Comcast grant is just a great opportunity for them to apply and help their business grow,” Benitez said. “We have lots of clients in that part of the valley and we’re going to help them apply for this grant.”
Diana Lopez owns Cakes by Edith, a popular bakery with two locations in the Salt Lake Valley. As a small business owner, she understands the obstacles faced by entrepreneurs and the many hats they have to wear to keep their businesses running.
As Cakes by Edith grows, Lopez hopes to expand to a third location where she can continue to carry on her family’s legacy. She said if she’s awarded the Comcast RISE grant, she’ll use the funds for marketing and equipment.
“There are so many trends in the baking industry and we’re trying to stay current with everything in the baking world,” Lopez said. “This opportunity with Comcast would provide for businesses in the area. For us, honestly, we would love that opportunity.”
The southern end of Salt Lake County has seen significant growth during the last decade and is geared for more expansion. The South Valley Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Salt Lake Community College, offers a 10-week entrepreneurial program to help small business owners find resources for success.
Jay Francis, president/CEO of the South Valley Chamber of Commerce, said small business owners face myriad challenges as they try to get an idea off the ground and that this Comcast RISE program could give them the momentum they need to create something big.
“If a business is fortunate enough to be able to receive one of these grants, I think that’s huge. It’s a real lift and a real boost,” Francis said. “I appreciate Comcast and I think more opportunities need to be afforded to small businesses. This fits in really well with things that we’re focusing on as a Chamber.”
Utah is one of five regions to receive 100 Comcast RISE small business grants this year. Recipients from Salt Lake, Boston, Grand Rapids, Nashville and Seattle will join the 14,000 entrepreneurs nationwide who have been supported through the program since it launched in 2020. For more information, visit www.ComcastRISE.com. l
YOUR SMALL BUSINESS IS SERIOUS BUSINESS
Small business owners in Salt Lake County can turn possibility into progress with help from a Comcast RISE grant. (Photo courtesy of Comcast)
Rai Pattison wins Teacher of the Year for transforming lives with heart
She was selected by Granite School District for her work with special education students.
By Peri Kinder peri.k@thecityjournals.com
Aston (Rai) Pattison, a special education instructor at Kearns Junior High School, was named Granite School District’s 2025 Teacher of the Year. During an assembly at the school on March 17, Pattison was honored by district leaders for her work with special education students.
“We have the privilege of recognizing an educator whose passion, innovation and unwavering belief in her students have created a ripple effect far beyond the walls of her classroom,” Anne Reese said, GSD director of onboarding and instructional coaching. “Ms. Rai is not just a teacher, she is an advocate, a trailblazer and a champion for every student, regardless of ability.”
By creating hands-on learning
experiences based on real-world situations, Pattison helps students navigate their environment in a safe and inspirational way by building their confidence and self-reliance.
Pattison has worked at KJHS for four years and loves the challenge of finding new ways to engage her students through field trips, activities and programs. She started a weekly coffee and hot chocolate cart where her students practice life and job skills while interacting with other teens at the school.
“The Kearns Coffee Cart isn’t just a school project; it’s a movement of inclusion, skill-building, and empowerment,” Reese said. “Through it, she has fostered a culture where all students—no matter their background or ability—are seen, valued and given the dignity of meaningful work and contribution.”
Pattison was surprised to receive the recognition and loved having her students on stage with her to accept the award. Her family and friends also attended to celebrate the honor with her.
“I was just so grateful and happy. I’ve never felt like something is special about what I do compared to
other people,” Pattison said. “I was super grateful and happy that my efforts have been recognized, but also, there are so many amazing teachers out there.”
Her community-based instruction has been called “visionary” by school board officials. Pattison builds partnerships with businesses and local leaders to make the world accessible to her students and takes the kids off-campus to interact in real-life experiences. She said working with special needs students is challenging but she considers herself lucky to teach her classes in a way the kids feel valued and appreciated.
“She believes in her students before the world does, and because of that, they rise to challenges, conquer fears and redefine expectations,” Reese said. “[Her] work is nothing short of extraordinary.”
As part of the award, Pattison received a Hyundai Tuscon she can use for a year. But she said the biggest prize was the opportunity to work with her students and develop the relationship she has with each of them.
She acknowledged the hard work done by educators every day without recognition. Pattison encour-
ages parents to get involved with their child’s education by supporting teachers and building a partnership that helps students reach their full potential.
With or without the award, Pattison plans on showing up every day, doing the hard work and finding new ways to educate her students.
“I’m not doing this for the recognition,” she said. “I’m not doing
it for the money or an award or anything like that. If I was offered a job for way more money to not be with the kids, I would definitely turn it down, because I love these guys. They’re the reason I want to come to work.” l
Special education students at Kearns Junior High surround their teacher Rai Pattison who was named Granite School District’s 2025 Teacher of the Year. (Photo courtesy GSD)
Academy for Math, Engineering & Science
The Academy for Math, Engineering and Science (AMES), opened August 2003, is an early college charter high school with a reputation for academic success. AMES offers a diverse high school student body, opportunities to learn and apply knowledge beyond the typical high school curriculum.
AMES is a stimulating place for curious, motivated and academically inclined students. We offer an exceptional teaching staff, including University of Utah faculty, small classes where individual needs can be met. Courses include accelerated programs in math & science, as well as core classes in language arts, social studies, world languages, and the arts. AMES is hosted by Cottonwood High School and Granite School District which affords students the opportunities for multiple academic elective classes as well as extra-curricular and sports participation.
AMES is looking for students who are searching for better educational opportunities and are willing to work hard at applying themselves to challenges. It is NOT about attracting students with the highest GPAs or test scores. AMES is a public charter school with open enrollment to all students.
As an Early College High School, AMES is committed to providing students with experiences and coursework that will enable them to succeed in rigorous university-level courses. Through a combination of required classes, internships and other academic experiences, AMES students earn college scholarships, concurrent credit, and advanced placement credit. For further information, please check our website: www.ames-slc.org
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MAYOR'S MESSAGE
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
“Spring is nature’s way of saying, ‘Let’s party!’”
That quote by comedian Robin Williams perfectly describes this time of year. With the winter weather now past us and the coming months springing to life in full color, this uplifting season always makes me feel good. Spring planting, gardening and the use of waterwise methods are top of mind again this season, especially as we look to the summer months ahead. Our Taylorsville Green Committee had these thoughts, too, as it hosted free Localscapes classes in March and April, just in time for spring planting. These classes by the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District and Taylorsville Bennion-Improvement District teach how we can save money and water by landscaping our yards in waterwise ways. If you missed the latest classes, look for more to come and nd additional information online at localscapes.com.
Along these lines, we’re also thrilled to partner with Utah Water Ways and Salt Lake County on their new Landscape Transformation program that selected a Taylorsville residence for a free landscaping makeover. The winner, with a planned announcement on April 30, was picked from a whopping 117 applications received from Taylorsville residents.
I’ll be tracking the makeover closely to get some ideas for what I might do at my own home. The program provides the winner with a free professionally designed landscape, as a way of demonstrating waterwise methods and to show what a Utah yard should really look like.
Millcreek, Herriman and Sandy also are participating in the project. But because there was so much interest in Taylorsville, the landscaping makeover will start here rst. I can’t wait to see how a “typical" existing landscape can be transformed from a “blandscape" into a beautiful example yard that is in harmony with Utah’s climate and our own city landscape ordinance.
Water conservation is also one of the reasons we decided as a city to partner again with the Utah Rivers Council’s RainHarvest program. This is the fourth year Taylorsville has participated in this program, subsidizing 100 rain barrels for residents to purchase for their homes. If you missed the subsidy, you can still purchase a rain barrel online while supplies last at a discounted price; go to rainbarrelprogram.org.
We know e orts like these are important to our residents. For example, our recent annual city survey again found that a majority are interested in water conservation and are looking for ways to save water in the future. So, thank you to everyone for helping to conserve water — in large ways and small — and happy spring!
—Mayor Kristie S. Overson
WHAT’S INSIDE – MAY 2025
Frequently Called Numbers, Page 2
Council Corner, Page 3
TVPD News, Page 4
Heritage Remembrances, Page 7
Environment, Page 8
Food, Fun Planned Every Friday Night at Centennial Plaza
The 2025 season of Starry Nights @the Plaza kicks o this month!
It’s the fourth year Taylorsville has rolled out the red carpet to entertainment and fun, as well as delicious bites from the Food Truck League food trucks, with this free summer concert series on Fridays from May to September.
From rock bands to folk music to movies on the plaza and Arts Council performances, there is something for everyone to enjoy. It's all happening at Centennial Plaza, 2600 W. Taylorsville Blvd., through Sept. 26.
The festivities kick o on Friday, May 16, and the food trucks will be there each Friday from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
“Some are bands that are returning; some are new bands that we think you’ll really enjoy,” said Mayor Kristie Overson. “Of course, the Food Truck League food trucks will be there again, too, making it the perfect night out.”
The live music, performances and other activities are all free so bring your friends and family for an evening out together on the plaza. Be sure to take a blanket or lawn chair, too, for seating as well as a light jacket on sometimes chillier evenings.
See the full Starry Nights @the Plaza schedule on Page 5 of this section or online at www. taylorsvilleut.gov. You can also nd details about what’s happening each Friday night, as well as links to performers’ music samples, on the city’s website under the Calendar section.
Taylorsville Recreation Center ......................................... 385-468-1732
Swimming Pool (Memorial Day to Labor Day) 801-967-5006
Taylorsville-Bennion Heritage Center 801-281-0631
UDOT Region 2 801-975-4900
Utah Transit Authority (UTA) 801-743-3882
EVENTS
MAY 2025
May 3 – 10 a.m.
Ride, Roll, & Stroll. Grab your wheels for a morning on the Jordan River Parkway! Hosted by the Taylorsville Parks and Recreation Committee, this is a free get-together. Bring your skates, scooters, bicycles, and meet at the Millrace Park pickleball courts, 1150 W. 5400 South.
May 10 – 9 a.m.
Roundnet Tournament. With the sports organization Utah Roundnet, the Taylorsville Parks and Recreation Committee is hosting this tournament at Millrace Park.
May 16 – 5:30 p.m.
Starry Nights Kicko . The 2025 season of Starry Nights @the Plaza kicks o with the Food Truck League food trucks and free live music. The summer concert series runs every Friday night through Sept. 26.
May 20 – 7 p.m.
Evening of Art. Taylorsville's seventh Plaza +ART: An Evening of Art is happening at the Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center. Hear from master photographer Bry Cox. The event is free and open to the public!
May 26 – All Day Memorial Day. City o ces are closed for the holiday.
Find our calendar of events every month on the city’s website, where you can also submit your own events for possible publication. Go to www.taylorsvilleut.gov
Saturday, June 7th 7:30 PM
Centennial Plaza Stage 2600 W. Taylorsville Blvd. Entry Deadline is Monday, June 2 www.taylorsvilleut.gov
May 3
Ballet West Academy at Thanksgiving Point presents Coppélia Suite
May 3-5
Millenium Dance Complex SLC presents BoomCrew
May 4
Bells of Joyful Sound presents Musical Confetti
May 8-10
Utah Dance Institude presents A Midsummer Night’s Dream
May 9-10
Salt Contemporary Dance presents SALT2 in Concert
May 18
May 12
Cityjazz presents Cityjazz in Concert ft. Cinematic Favorites
Miami Show Productions presents Luis Chataing en Salt Lake City
May 21-22
West Point Ballet presents Coppelia
May 30-31
Serena Webb Dance Theater presents Cinderella
COUNCIL CORNER
By Council Member Curt Cochran
Author and poet Charles Bukowski is credited with saying, “The problem is we look for someone to grow old together while the secret is to nd someone to stay a child with!”
As we approach the spring season, celebrating Easter this past month and looking ahead to the wedding season, the family vacation season, etc., it makes me think of love in general. There are lots of kinds of love. Love for people, family and friends. Love of a favorite show, a band, a song, a place, a sports team or piece of clothing. One of my favorites is the love for Taylorsville City that all of our city leaders and sta exude in all they do for us to make the city the best it can be.
I ran across this article the other day by Ladan Lashkari and thought it was a perfect time to share it. I challenge you to read this and not laugh or cry (at least to yourself) at how observant these young people can be. Enjoy.
“A group of professional people posed this question to a group of 4- to 8-year-olds, 'What does love mean?' The answers they got were broader, deeper and more profound than anyone could have ever imagined!
“'When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So, my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis, too. That's love.' —Rebecca - age 8
What Does Love Mean? Children have the Answers
“'When someone loves you, the way they say your name is di erent. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth.' —Billy - age 4
“'Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other.' —Karl - age 5
“’Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs.' —Chrissy - age 6
“'Love is what makes you smile when you're tired.' —Terri - age 4
“'Love is when my mommy makes co ee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK.' —Danny - age 8
“'Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and just listen.' —Bobby - age 7 (Wow!)
“'If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate.' —Nikka - age 6
(We need a few million more Nikka's on this planet)
“'Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it every day.' —Noelle - age 7
“'During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore.' —Cindy - age 8
“'My mommy loves me more than anybody. You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night.' —Clare - age 6
“'Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford.' —Chris - age 7
“'Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day.' —Mary Ann - age 4
And the nal one: The winner was a 4-year-old child whose next-door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap and just sat there. When his mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, “Nothing, I just helped him cry.” Feel free to share and then go be a child again today!
LEFT TO RIGHT:
Bob Knudsen, Vice Chair (District 5), Curt Cochran, (District 2), Anna Barbieri, (District 3), Meredith Harker, Chair (District 4) and Ernest Burgess (District 1)
TVPD Reads with Students as Part of National Initiative
Check this space each month for news about the Taylorsville Police Department (TVPD) and their valuable service to our community.
Mayor Kristie Overson and TVPD o cers joined local PTA groups this past month to promote Read Across America by serving as guest readers in several elementary schools. We learned that reading the fth-grade goal of 20 minutes a day at 120 words per minute really adds up, with these totals:
• In one day, you’ll read about 2,400 words
• In one week, that’s around 16,800 words
• In one year, you could read over 870,000 words — WOW!
Now, consider this: On average, a police o cer reads and writes at least 15-20 reports per week, totaling more than 15,000 words. And Mayor Overson? We estimate she reads and writes reports numbering in the hundreds of pages each month. So, fth-graders, grab your favorite book and keep on reading — your future self will thank you!
TVPD Assists in Theft-Ring Arrests of 2 Fugitives
TVPD Directed Enforcement detectives, in collaboration with Orem PD and ICE Removal Operations, recently arrested two wanted fugitives connected to an international organized retail theft ring. These individuals are believed to have been involved in the theft of more than $500,000 in merchandise nationwide over the past year. They were also believed to be connected to numerous thefts occurring locally across Davis, Salt Lake and Utah counties. The suspects were ultimately taken into custody in Park City. They rst came to TVPD’s attention after attempting to steal from Ulta in Taylorsville. During the arrest, approximately $15,000 worth of stolen property was recovered.
EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH
Congratulations to O cer Jones, our latest Employee of the Month! O cer Jones joined TVPD approximately nine months ago. Prior to his time with us, he served with the Salt Lake County Sheri ’s O ce and the West Jordan Police Department. His extensive experience includes roles as a correctional o cer, housing deputy, MCIRT deputy, patrol o cer, narcotics/street crimes detective, eld training o cer and crisis intervention ocer. He is currently assigned to our patrol division and brings with him more than 16 years of law enforcement experience.
O cer Jones was nominated for this award by his patrol supervisor, Sgt. Carver, for his “exceptional dedication to TVPD, his patrol shift and the City of Taylorsville.” Sgt. Carver noted that he “brought a wealth of experience from his previous service and has quickly become an asset to the team.”
Among his recent contributions, Officer Jones took the lead on two separate cases, both of which required authoring a residential search warrant. His e orts led to the apprehension of the suspects in each case. Collectively, the investigations resulted in the removal of illegal substances and a rearm from a volatile domestic violence situation involving mental illness.
In another case, Sgt. Carver said, O cer Jones investigated a wave of gra ti incidents that had “a ected the community’s sense of pride.” His diligent investigative work led to the identi cation of the suspect, and his “proactive approach continues to have a signi cant positive impact.”
While investigations of this nature are sometimes turned over to detectives, the caliber of every o cer serving at TVPD often allows for quicker and more e ective outcomes. O cer Jones exempli es this initiative, con dence and professionalism.
When he's not leading investigations or serving our community, O cer Jones enjoys photography, camping and simply spending time outdoors. Thank you, O cer Jones, for your service and dedication!
R E E S
M A Y 1 6
T h e G r o o v e
F R I D A Y , M A Y 2 3 L o n e l y H e a r t s C l u b B a n d
B e a t l e s C o v e r B a n d
F R I D A Y , M A Y 3 0 6 P M - L o v e J u l i e t I n d i e P o p M u s i c
F R I D A Y , J U N E 6
F R I D A Y , J U N E 1 3
F R I D A Y , J U N E 2 0
F R I D A Y , J U L Y 4
D a n c e M u s i c f r o m t h e 6 0 s t h r o u g h t o d a y !
7 P M - C h a s k i s M u s i c & D a n c e o f t h e A n d e s
M u s i c a n d d a n c e f r o m P e r u , B o l i v i a , C h i l e ,
E c u a d o r , A r g e n t i n a a n d L a t i n A m e r i c a
M a r k C h a n e y a n d F r i e n d s
A m i x o f R o c k , J a z z , B l u e s , a n d F u n k
D u s k - M o v i e N i g h t‘ W i l d R o b o t ’
D e N o v o
C l a s s i c R o c k
G r a n d T h e f t A u t o A l t e r n a t i v e R o c k C o v e r s f r o m t h e 9 0 s a n d 2 0 0 0 s
D u s k - M o v i e N i g h t‘ G o o n i e s ’
F R I D A Y , J U N E 2 7 N o F o o d T r u c k s o r E n t e r t a i n m e n V I S I T T A Y L O R S V I L L E D A Y Z Z
S o u t h b o u n d
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F R I D A Y , J U L Y 1 1 J 2 0 9
C h r i s t i a n A C a p e l l a P o p & R o c k 7 : 4 5 P M - J e f f C a r l s e n S o l o S a x o p h o n i s t D u s k - I n t e r a c t i v e M o v i e N i g h t w i t h T h e C o u n t y L i b r a r y ’ s T a y l o r s v i l l e B r a n c h ‘ P i r a t e s o f t h e C a r i b b e a n ’
F R I D A Y , J U L Y 1 8 I r i s a n d t h e W o l f h o u n d s
C l a s s i c a n d M o d e r n R o c k , B l u e s , F u n k & A m e r i c a n a
E R T S E R I E S
F R I D A Y , J U L Y 2 5
F R I D A Y , A U G . 1
6
F R I D A Y , A U G . 8
F R I D A Y , A U G . 2 2
F R I D A Y , A U G . 2 9
F R I D A Y , S E P T . 2 6
D u s k - M o v i e N i g h t‘ I F ’
5 : 3 0 P M -
6 : 3 0 P M - J o h n E l w o o d M o r g a n ( A m e r i c a n a , F o l k )
7 : 3 0 P M - C o d y W a y n e ( F o l k , C o u n t r
, R o c k )
F R I D A Y , A U G . 1 5 M o n k e y F r i d a y
F u n k , S o u l , P o p & R o c k C o v e r s
C o d e B l u e R e v i v a l
R e v i v i n g C l a s s i c R o c k a n d R o l l s i n c e 1 9 8 1
D u s k - M o v i e N i g h t‘ M u f a s a ’
N i c k M a r k o s i a n Q u a r t e t
J a z z a n d B l u e s 6 P M - M i t c h e e ( I n d i e R o c k S i n g e r / S o n g w r i t e r )
5 - 8 P M - C h i l d r e n ' s E n t r e p r e n e u r M a r k e t
6 : 3 0 P M
a r t y B a n d
6 : 3 0 P M - P l a z a + A R T N e w S c u l p t u r e U g
6 : 3 5 P M - K r i s t y B a l l a r d ( C o u n t r y , F o l k a n d P o p )
7 : 1 5 P M - T h e P r o p e r W a y ( A m e r i c a n a )
Thursday, June 26 — 7:30 PM
June 28 — 8:00 PM
June 27 — 7:30
Taylorsville Bennion Heritage REMEMBRANCES
Family of 7 Made Taylorsville Home for Many Years
Our May article highlights the life and histories of the Oakeson family.
Franes Emiol Oakeson was born Oct 16, 1894, and died June 1, 1982. His wife, Martha Lucile Carlson was born Feb. 5, 1963, and died March 31, 1982. They had ve children together, and moved to Taylorsville in 1938 when their second-youngest, Gwen, was 4 years old.
Their children in order of eldest to youngest include:
• Frances Lucile Carlson Oakeson, born Feb. 20, 1924, and died Jan. 2, 2010
• Lucile Oakeson, born Feb. 5, 1926, and died Aug. 22, 1931
• Wendell Ragnvald Oakeson, born Sept. 17, 1928, and died March 25, 1966
• Gwendolyn Oakeson Smith, born Dec. 28, 1934. (She is pictured with her husband, John Smith).
• Leslie Gerard Oakeson, born Aug. 12, 1929
You can learn more about the Oakesons, as well as the histories of other families in Taylorsville, at the Taylorsville-Bennion Heritage Center, 1488 W. 4800 South. Drop on by!
Don’t Miss These Library Events
The Taylorsville Library has planned several programs during the month of May. You’ll want to mark your calendar for these events:
STAR PARTY | In partnership with Salt Lake Astronomical Society — Friday, May 2, 8 to 10 p.m. Come and enjoy views of the moon, planets, stars, nebulae and galaxies through some of Utah's largest telescopes. This is an after-hours event and will be held outside; the library will be closed. The Star Party will begin at dusk (approximately 8 p.m.) and run until 10 p.m. Star parties are weather permitting.
MEDICARE 101 | Understanding Medicare Basics — Monday, May 5, 5:30 p.m. Join us for an informative bilingual session on Medicare basics. / Únase a nosotros para una sesión informativa bilingüe sobre los conceptos básicos de Medicare. Angela Matos, a licensed insurance agent, will provide an informative session on Medicare basics. Learn about your health insurance options: What is Medicare? Which agencies are responsible for Medicare? What are the 4 parts o Medicare? What is the cost and coverage of Part A? What is the cost and coverage of Part B? How and when can you enroll in Medicare?
VIRTUAL ADULT LECTURE | The Revolutionary War: Lexington and Concord — Monday, May 12, 7 p.m. Register at thecountylibrary.org/LectureSeries. The battles of Lexington and Concord in the spring of 1775 marked a pivotal moment in American history. Explore the critical decisions and contingencies that shaped the path to revolution. Presenter is Walter R. Borneman.
SENIOR HEALTH CLASS: LIVING WELL WITH DIABETES — Tuesday, May 20, 2 p.m. Participants will learn evidence-based strategies to live well with type 2 diabetes. For individuals with diabetes or pre-diabetes, this lecture is presented by Salt Lake County Aging & Adult Services.
LIBRARY CLOSURE | MEMORIAL DAY — Monday, May 26, all day.
TAYLORSVILLE SENIOR CENTER
4743 S. Plymouth View Drive
May Activities
The Taylorsville Senior Center has planned a variety of classes every month. Classes are free for those over age 60. Among the activities scheduled this month:
How to Manage Arthritis Webinar: Come and watch this one-hour webinar recorded by Salt Lake Health Educator Paige Corley on Wednesday, May 21, at 10 a.m. The same webinar will run again on Friday, May 23, at 2 p.m.
The Taylorsville Senior Center provides an atmosphere for seniors to increase social opportunities, improve and/or maintain health through good nutrition and exercise, enrich their minds, develop their talents, provide services as volunteers and improve their overall wellbeing. Find the center’s full calendar and Senior Scoop Newsletter online at saltlakecounty.gov.
ANNUAL COLLECTION DAY
MAY UPDATES
The Community: A Key Pillar of Sustainability
In this nal edition of WFWRD’s Sustainability Stool series, WFWRD is focusing on the social aspect of sustainability. Beyond the environmental and economic bene ts of recycling, sustainability also relies on an engaged community. Wasatch Front Waste & Recycling District believes a sustainable future depends on local involvement. By working together, the Taylorsville community can reduce waste, conserve resources and build a more sustainable future.
Education is key. WFWRD works diligently to visit schools to teach kids about recycling and waste reduction, empowering the next generation to make sustainable choices in their lives. WFWRD also participates in community events to share practical recycling tips and address any questions for Taylorsville’s residents, helping us better understand your needs and ensuring a cleaner, greener future for all.
Spring Into Clean: A Recycling Reminder
As spring blooms and gardens ourish, so does WFWRD’s enthusiasm for spring cleaning! While we’re all eager to get things in order, it’s important to remember that proper waste disposal plays a crucial role in keeping our environment clean. With warmer weather encouraging us to tackle our to-do lists, let’s not cut corners when it comes to waste and recycling. The recycling bin is for recyclables only; it should never be used for yard waste or garbage. Here’s what belongs in the recycling bin:
• Cardboard and paperboard
• Paper
• Metal cans (including aluminum and tin)
• Plastic bottles, jugs, jars and containers (such as butter containers, cottage cheese tubs, sour cream tubs, yogurt tubs, etc.)
If an item isn’t on this list, it probably doesn’t belong in the recycling bin. By sticking to the approved items, we help keep WFWRD’s recycling stream clean and e cient.
Thank you for your commitment to keeping Taylorsville’s community clean and green!
Fluoride No Longer Included in Water as of May 7
NOTICE TO TBID CUSTOMERS: Due to the recent passage of House Bill 81 by the Utah State Legislature, Taylorsville-Bennion Improvement District (TBID) will no longer be adding uoride to the water the district provides, e ective May 7.
Please note that this change is not expected to a ect the overall quality of your water. While supplemental uoride will no longer be added, naturally occurring uoride will still be present in the water supplied by TBID.
If you have any questions, please contact Taylorsville-Bennion Improvement District by calling 801-968-9081 or visiting www.tbid.org. Follow TBID on Facebook and X.
MENTAL HEALTH & WELLNESS
A publication covering local mental health and wellness around the Salt Lake Valley
Students lead the charge for mental health awareness at Mountain Creek Middle
By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com
Through the Say Something Squad, Mountain Creek Middle students transform mental health conversations.
At Mountain Creek Middle School, three ninth-grade students are leading a movement to raise awareness about mental health and prevent tragedies such as suicide and violence.
They are part of the Say Something Squad, a national initiative created by the families affected by the Sandy Hook tragedy, which trains students to recognize warning signs in others who may be at risk of hurting themselves or others and to alert trusted adults.
“This is teaching students how to tell people when there's a problem,” said Jada Marrott, who along with Madison Searle and Eliza Wootton, help lead their school chapter.
Since the Sandy Hook tragic school shooting in December 2012, more than 11.6 million people across the country have pledged to protect children from gun violence.
At Mountain Creek, about 40 squad members have committed to “say something” to support their peers and to prevent future tragedies.
“It was two years ago when a student, who was struggling with suicidality, came back from a mental health hospital and asked, ‘Why isn't there more suicide prevention stuff around the school?’” said school therapist Nicole Nelson. “Say Something has a free curriculum and is evidence-based. I like that it stems from family members who felt it in school and are directing it for schools nationwide to prevent any school tragedies from happening.”
The three girls decided to join the squad after attending a school assembly two years ago when a classmate shared his personal struggles.
“When (the classmate) shared his story and how he was feeling, I related so much
that I wanted to join this club and be a part of that experience of how he got better and I wanted to get better too,” Jada said.
Madison said everyone listened intently to the classmate.
“It was touching. I've never seen an assembly where it was so quiet; everyone walked out of that assembly more aware,” she said.
This spring, the Say Something Squad contributed to the school’s mental health week and an assembly where students experienced a simulation showing how the loss of a peer affects an entire community.
“It showed how one person committing suicide can affect so many people; it doesn't have to be your best friend for you to be impacted; it was powerful,” Madison said. “A lot of people feel they are lifting others burdens by ridding them of their life, but it’s not.”
Jada said the Say Something Squad can help in those situations.
“We learned you have to say something to a trusted adult. You could tell someone all day long you love them, that you don't want them to die, because it's going to hurt so many people who love them. They might not think they're loved, but they are. In their brain, they think that person who says they love them is just lying to them. That’s when a professional can help,” she said.
The Say Something Squad has been trained to develop empathy, belonging and social awareness and to help people struggling with mental illness find support. Those trainings are held throughout the year, Nelson said.
“We talk about how to prevent social isolation and look for loneliness, because those are the people who have been shown through data that they might bring a gun to school and might be a school shooter,” she said. “We talk openly in our trainings. I intentionally say, ‘suicide prevention,’ because the word ‘suicide’ is a stigma in Utah; we don't want it to be, so we talk about it open-
ly. The curriculum also talks about anti-bullying, empathy and compassion.”
Besides social isolation, the girls said signs such as sleep deprivation, refusal to eat, absenteeism and speaking negatively about oneself prompt them to reach out to classmates in need.
They’ve learned one of the key lessons of the Say Something Squad — reaching out to trusted adults when they notice signs of someone struggling; whether it’s joking about suicide or withdrawing from friends, speaking up could save a life, Madison said.
Eliza said teachers display posters in their classrooms to let students know they’ve been trained to help. The squad also encourages peers to turn to other trusted adults, such as parents or coaches.
The girls encourage students to use
the SafeUT app — a crisis chat and tip line which connects users with real-time crisis intervention for students, parents, educators and others — or call or text the 988 suicide and crisis hotline number.
“The important thing is to find someone,” Madison said. “In Utah, suicides are higher than it should be, especially our age. March, which is why we just had our mental health week, is the month that has the highest suicide attempts. We learned in our assembly that’s when most people are feeling lonely, sad and depressed.”
Eliza said mental health awareness is critical.
“We need to talk about suicide prevention, so people aren't afraid of it, because if
Mountain Creek Middle School ninth-graders Eliza Wootton, Madison Searle and Jada Marrott, standing by a poster made for Hello Week, are leading the Say Something Squad to raise awareness about mental health and prevent tragedies. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
Building awareness and breaking the stigma around mental health
By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com
Thousands of Utahns suffer in silence, struggling with anxiety, depression, stress or burnout. Societal or self-imposed barriers often stop them from getting help but by shining a light on mental health challenges, more people might be open to taking the first step toward change.
May’s Mental Health Awareness campaign is meant to inspire crucial conversations, break down stigmas and challenge misconceptions. Psychologist Magenta Silberman, Ph.D., works in Young Adult Comprehensive Assessment and Treatment at Huntsman Mental Health Institute (501 Chipeta Way). She said issues like anxiety and depression are more prevalent than people realize.
“Mental diagnoses and psychiatric conditions don’t discriminate,” she said. “Regardless of your age, gender, socioeconomic class, ethnicity, etc., you can be impacted and some are impacted in disproportionate ways. I think there is this misperception that it only happens to a select few but there’s a spectrum of what psychiatric symptoms can look like.”
Signs vary by individual but withdrawing from friends and family, having no interest in favorite activities, changes in sleep patterns, low energy or thoughts about self-harm are all examples of potential mental health illness.
Silberman said social media has changed the perception of mental health. On the plus side, people on social platforms might relate to someone going through depression and decide to get help themselves. On the other hand, sites that promote the
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anyone is struggling, you don't want them to be too scared to talk about it,” she said.
Jada said they want to break the stigma which comes with talking about mental health.
“In the past, if you had a mental illness, you were considered crazy and that's why they didn’t tell anybody. At the assembly, we let them know it’s normal and they're not crazy. They can talk to somebody,” she said.
Madison agrees, pointing to the need to shift people’s perception.
“Suicide ideation and depression aren't talked about enough because people are afraid if they talk about it, suicide rates will go up. But it really is the opposite. If we never talk about it, it just becomes a bigger problem and we’ll never find a cure; we're never going to get better,” she said.
Jada understands what some of her classmates may be experiencing.
“I was severely depressed during seventh grade. I felt like I had no friends. There
idea that mental health is a matter of will can be detrimental and even dangerous.
“This sort of misunderstanding, at times mischaracterizing it as a lack of willpower, can create a lot of stigma,” she said. “If you had type 1 diabetes, that would be a life-changing piece of information. You have to make lifestyle changes and take medication, and you can live a fulfilling life. The same is true for individuals with more serious, persistent mental illness.”
For those worried about family members or friends, don’t hesitate to ask questions about what they are going through. Open discussions, without judgment, can be a powerful tool. Even when we think we know what’s best for a loved one, they might not be ready to ask for help. Being self-aware can also spur us to notice mental health challenges in our own lives. Silberman listed behaviors that shouldn’t be ignored.
“If you feel like you’re not living the life that you want to live…or things aren’t bringing you joy like they used to. You’re feeling on edge and anxious, you are not feeling in control. Thoughts or feelings are interfering with your friends, your job and just living the life you want to live. That's when I would definitely get support.”
Therapeutic modalities include cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, mindfulness-based therapies and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).
Dr. Thomas Rayner is a psychiatrist at NeuroHealth in South Jordan (10437 S. Temple Drive). He’s dedicated to finding the best treatment for his patients and said TMS has
were people around me, but I felt I was isolated in a crowd. I would go home and not want to do anything. I wouldn't eat. I just wanted to sleep. It was rough, because of my panic attacks. I was worried I wasn't good enough; I felt I had to live up to so many expectations of my parents, my family and my friends. I felt I had to be the perfect person for everyone else, and I realized later I just needed to be good enough for myself, because if you're not good enough for yourself, you can't be good enough for anybody else,” she said.
Talking to professionals and knowing she wasn’t alone helped.
“I'm going to have depression and anxiety. I'm going to have panic attacks. But that's OK because it's something I can use to become more empathetic to others. I don't want anybody to go through what I did, so I'm going to try to help everyone the best I can,” Jada said.
The club began the school year by building connections during Hello Week, fostering inclusivity through lunchtime activities, games and pledging to “say some-
been a game changer in the battle against treatment-resistant depression.
“TMS changes brain function in key areas that are implicated in major depressive disorder and other mental health conditions,” Rayner said. “The ability to effectively treat the symptoms of depression without the barriers and side effects of medication is a giant leap forward for the field of psychiatry.”
Everyday practices like eating well, drinking water, exercising, getting enough sleep and interacting with friends can help keep mental health stable. Most people experience sadness, fear or anger, but if those emotions last too long, it could be time to talk to a professional.
For those struggling with day-to-day challenges, like getting out of bed, cleaning the house or going to work, Silberman
thing.”
Then, the squad held an anti-bullying week. The girls said prior to the week, it had been common to see slap fighting, name calling, vaping and other mean things happening at the school.
Madison said they are combating bullying through small acts of kindness such as saying hi or paying a compliment.
“I feel people can be kinder. Simple things can change somebody’s whole entire perspective on their day,” she said.
Looking back on their leadership roles, Eliza said she’s glad Say Something has made an impact at the school.
“Say Something has raised a lot of awareness; people have a better understanding of what mental health is, what a person with anxiety is dealing with, or what is going through the mind of someone dealing with depression. People have become more empathetic in understanding others,” she said. “Something good did come out of something bad.”
Jada remembers when she once masked her feelings and felt alone.
suggested taking small steps. Put away two cups, fold one towel or straighten up one corner of the room. Doing something is better than doing nothing. Creating community can also boost mental health
“We’re social beings at our core and even for those of us that are less social, having access to people gives us new ideas,” Silberman said. “We get out of our shell and rhythm of doing the same thing that we're feeling stuck in. Just leaving the house and getting outside is helpful. Natural social opportunities can be a two-for-one to be outside and have some connection.”
For more information, visit the National Alliance on Mental Illness at NAMI.org. l
“It wasn’t until that spring when we had that assembly about mental illness when I realized I needed help,” she said. “People didn’t know the warning signs and that's why it's important to raise awareness. We need to continue to talk about this.”
With more than 34,000 schools involved nationwide, Madison said students are playing a critical part in saving lives. She said since its inception, more than 700 suicides have been prevented and 18 school shootings have been averted.
Jada said tragedies happen when people who struggle don't know how to cope with it and show up at school.
“It's really a sad thing, but it happens,” she said. “We shouldn't have to grow up with it. It shouldn't be a thing, but it is. It’s our reality. It happens. It’s ours to own, to educate people, to prevent. We’re all part of it and it’s up to all of us to say something.”
Eliza added: “That’s why it’s important to deal with mental health; it might prevent future tragedies. It’s up to all of us to speak up and support each other — because every life matters.”
Since 1949, Mental Health Awareness Month has addressed the challenges of living with a mental illness. This month, people are encouraged to share stories, advocate for change and break the stigma around mental health disorders. (Canva stock)
Music hits a special mental note
By Rebecca Olds | rebecca.o@thecityjournals.com
“Even in the 10 years that we've been open, I have seen such a shift, just in the social climate of our students,” said Sarah Davies, The Piano Place founder. “I love that music is making them slow down, unplug and really tap into what's going on inside of them.”
It wasn’t until later in life that Sarah Davies, founder of The Piano Place, realized how much music could do for not only her mood but for her mental health. It’s something that she now incorporates into her teaching philosophy.
Davies grew up like a lot of us in Utah, taking piano lessons that required practice outside of the actual lesson weekly, which some of us grew to resent rather than love.
After taking piano lessons for several years, she decided to quit lessons in the sixth grade, but never actually quit the piano. She said her mom “would often say, ‘Why do you want to quit piano when you're always playing?’”
“During that time, I actually felt like a shift within myself — I felt like I didn't have a creative outlet,” she said. “And so it was really crazy, because I kept turning to music and even though I wasn't in lessons, my mom said I would just still constantly be playing.”
I feel like a lot of times I would play, depending on my mood,” she continued. “If I was frustrated or feeling antsy about something, I would go and I'd play fast songs, and I'd want to get all my energy out that way, and sometimes I'd be feeling more calm and wanting to be inspired.”
Davies restarted lessons in 10th grade and with more enthusiasm than before. Every Saturday morning at 6 a.m. for the next two years, her mother would drive her 30 minutes to visit her piano teacher and play.
Her journey from that point set her in motion on a path of music where she played professionally at The Roof Restaurant in Salt Lake City on the 10th floor of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building before teaching lessons out of her house.
“As it was a good outlet for me, I don't think I was aware of what power music could play in someone's mental health, until I actually started teaching piano,” she said. “It was with my very own students that I began to see how important it is, especially for kids, to have an outlet to turn to.”
She noticed that music could be a positive influence on her students’ mental health in a world saturated with “social media and different things like that, that kids are going through a lot when it
comes to friends and socially.”
Music, the invaluable and unlikely tool
“Even in the 10 years that we've been open, I have seen such a shift, just in the social climate of our students,” she said. “I love that music is making them slow down, unplug and really tap into what's going on inside of them.”
“They've got to dig deep. They've got to learn to sit in the heart,” she said. “And I just love that music is the venue that they can explore all of those amazing things.”
With technology on the rise, Davies expressed concern about AI in addition to the tech already flooding the world.
“I don't think we want to find out what happens mentally when we don't have the influence of music in our lives, and instead, just turn it over to technology to fill in the gaps,” she said.
Music therapist of 18 years, Camille Savage, has worked with a range of ages from children to adults. She said that the type of music we choose to listen to usually has a lot to do with our emotions and our memory.
Mostly working with those with dementia, Savage said music uses a part of the brain that can stimulate memories and emotional responses from different periods in one’s life.
“Music hits the memory, the parts of the brain where the memory is,” Savage said. “Dementia patients may not be able to form a whole sentence anymore — that's a different part of the brain — but they can sing a whole song with me.”
It works the same for children, she said. For example, a mother singing to a child that makes them feel safe and secure could help the child later in life feel that same emotion when they hear that same song.
Different instruments can be different outlets depending on the needs of the student, Savage said. For instance, drumming can be a form of stress relief or an outlet for aggression, even for deaf students.
She called music “motivating” for people, even students to learn math.
“Music is definitely powerful,” Savage said. “The more that we're able to express in healthy ways, I think the healthier mentally that we can be and using it as a means of expression.”
At The Piano Place, concerts have always been a big part of building positive attributes such as confidence and resiliency.
“As a parent, there is nothing better than seeing your kid accomplish something hard, or stand up on a stage and
be brave,” she said. “Those moments are just absolutely priceless. And so that's one thing at The Piano Place we really emphasize.”
Davies called the ages before 12 years old as the “critical years” when laying the foundation for children to develop musical skills is the most important, with the ideal length of five years.
She said that important time is for more than just building musical talent, it’s to build resiliency and “a refuge that they can turn to and build confidence.”
In 2016, The Piano Place was built on the “core of the mission is to just figure out a way to make music fun enough and engaging enough that kids will want to stick with it.”
“For us, we are trying to help families recognize the importance of investing in a music education,” she said. “We get that it's not easy, we get that it's hard, but it is so valuable for these kids.”
The Piano Place has 12 locations in Utah and is part of a larger parent company, One Music Schools, with 12 more national locations, that employs 320 music teachers.
“Even if somebody doesn't know how to play an instrument, I think it would be important to be able to spend some time in looking over at the things that we listen to, the concerts that we go to, and really be aware of how that all does affect us,” Savage said.
Sarah Davies plays the piano as a form of keeping balance in her own life. (Photo courtesy of The Piano Place)
Live music, especially performing at concerts, can be especially good for building skills like confidence and improving mental health. (Photo courtesy of The Piano Place)
Starry Nights @ the Plaza opens its fourth summer run, May 16
Centennial Plaza outside Taylorsville City Hall will once again be abuzz on Friday evenings this summer with live music, food trucks, outdoor movies and more.
By Carl Fauver c.fauver@mycityjournals.com
Whetheryou’re negotiating an international peace treaty or simply deciding who gets the last slice of pizza, it’s always more comfortable to operate from a position of strength. Down at Taylorsville City Hall, nobody knows that better these days than Jen Andrus.
“I am so glad to be beyond the days of begging for bands,” she said. “That first year was a little tricky.”
Andrus is referring to “that first year” of Starry Nights @ the Plaza in the summer of 2022. The free, weekly, outdoor entertainment series debuted in May of that year. It was the first summer after the $3-million Centennial Plaza was completed. It was also just barely after most of us were finally shedding our COVID, I-don’t-want-to-be-near-anyone anxiety.
Andrus has worked for Taylorsville about eight years now, and has worn two distinct city government hats at least half that long. She’s executive assistant to Mayor Kristie Overson, and also the city’s de facto event planner.
She would be the first to tell you that second gig was much less demanding her first couple of years with the city. Remember, that’s when all the open acreage south of city hall was barren, vacant, desolate.
Then along came Salt Lake County’s $45-million Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center and soon thereafter, Centennial Plaza. That’s when Andrus’ workload grew.
Back in 2022, someone got the great idea to launch Starry Nights @ the Plaza. Trouble is, they told Andrus: “Go do this Jen… and, by the way, you have no budget.”
“That first year, I had to beg bands to come perform at Starry Nights @ the Plaza, for free,” she explained. “All I could tell them was, ‘If you help us out this year, I will remember you in the years to come, when we have a budget.’ Somehow it worked – and we’ve paid our performers every year since.”
Instead of being the little sister in that “last slice of pizza” negotiation, Andrus is now the strongest kid in the family.
“This year we had 58 musical groups, duos and individual artists answer our call to entertain during our 19-evening, Starry Nights @ the Plaza run,” Andrus said. “We have a couple of different acts performing on the same night a few times. All together, we needed 24 of the 58 acts that applied. So this year I could handle a little pushback when acts said, ‘you aren’t paying enough.’ We are really cautious with how we spend city money. If it wasn’t enough for them I just said, ‘Well, maybe in the future we’ll be able to pay a little more.’ I like being in that spot.”
Andrus is savoring that last pizza slice.
For the record, the bands you will see during Starry Nights this year – which runs Friday nights, from May 16 through Sept. 26 – will earn $500. Duos are paid $300, while solo performers get $150. That’s for two hours of music. The entire Starry Nights live music budget this year is $10,550.
“For some of these acts, we are paying about what they normally earn,” Andrus said. “But I’m also aware some of these groups are cutting their rates for us. They seem to consider it a community service and we’re very grateful.”
One change this year to Starry Nights is the start and end times. In years past, food trucks served from 5 to 8 p.m., with live music starting at 6. But organizers found very few people were around to eat by 5 and others were disappointed when the chow wagons rolled out at 8.
At least one couple decided to ‘cut a rug,’ during a Starry Nights @ the Plaza classic rock performance from DeNovo. The group’s lead singer is Taylorsville City Attorney Tracy Cowdell. (taylorsvilleut.gov)
So, this year, the normally 6 to 8 food trucks – serving a wide assortment of culinary items, changing each week – will begin serving meals at 5:30 p.m. and continue curbside appetite curbing until 8:30 p.m.
That’s the only particularly significant change coming during this fourth annual Starry Nights @ the Plaza. Nearly half the musical acts will be making their first appearance at the event. A handful of others are coming back a fourth time.
Among those who have never missed entertaining at Starry Nights is longtime Taylorsville resident Kristy Ballard. She brings her accordion and keyboard to the Centennial Plaza stage each year to share two hours of country and folk music.
Meantime, led by their lead singer – Taylorsville City Attorney, Tracy Cowdell – the classic rock cover band DeNovo is also on that “never missed a year” list.
“The Starry Nights venue is really the best one we play; the stage size and layout is great,” Cowdell said. “It’s just such a fabulous setting, with the grass, the trees, the food trucks. I think what we (DeNovo) like best is, people come to Starry Nights to see US. A lot of places we play, people just stop for a few minutes, then walk by to some other activity. At Starry Nights, we are the draw. When people sit and sing with us, that really makes us excited to perform our best.”
Taylorsville Parks & Recreation Committee volunteers will once again operate the five outdoor movies being offered during the season. Those films consume the next largest bite out of the Starry Nights budget, after the music. The Hollywood folk charge $415 per showing.
“I’m so excited for another year of Starry Nights; I think it will be bigger and better than ever before,” Mayor Kristie Overson said. “This event is really starting to cause a stir. Performers want to come. Our residents are telling more and more people about it. The Food Truck League is always happy to return. Starry Nights @ the Plaza has definitely become one of our most popular city activities. We love to see residents getting out to have fun with us.”
This year’s fourth season of Starry Nights @ the Plaza will include live music on Friday nights outside city hall from mid-May through September. (taylorsvilleut.gov)
Also back again this year will be Night Out Against Crime (Aug. 8) and the Children’s Entrepreneur Market (Sept. 5). Additionally, the city Arts Council will present Taylorsville’s Got Talent, June 7, on the massive Centennial Plaza stage. And, the first night of the annual Westside CultureFest will be held in and outside the Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center, Aug. 15.
“I am very excited about Starry Nights returning; we get over to it every week we can,” Councilman Curt Cochran added. “The entertainment they select is spot on – such a great variety of bands – lots of different types of music. Jen Andrus is doing such a great job organizing it. Our city is almost to the point where we may need to hire an event coordinator. But as long as the work is assigned to Jen, we all know how well she’s
Above: The popular Children’s Entrepreneur Market will again be part of this year’s Starry Nights @ the Plaza. Kids bring their merchandise to sell on Sept. 5. (childrensentrepreneurmarket.com)
going to do it.”
Another City Councilman, Bob Knudsen, says his family incorporates Starry Nights into an annual celebration.
“I have an aunt with a summer birthday who lives in Taylorsville,” Knudsen said. “So, we take my dad’s sister with us to Centennial Plaza on the Friday night closest to her birthday. She has a good time there; then we take her home for cake and ice cream. It’s become a great family activity.”
Several different music genres will be featured this summer during the 19 Friday evenings that constitute the fourth annual Starry Nights @ the Plaza series. (taylorsvilleut.gov)
As always, Starry Nights will skip one Friday evening – the middle night of Taylorsville Dayzz – June 27.
“Centennial Plaza is just such a beautiful space; what a great, open, grassy area to relax,” City Council Chairwoman Meredith Harker added. “I love Starry Nights @ the Plaza just the way it is. The crowds aren’t too big. Parking is easy. It’s just people having fun.” l
A wide variety of food trucks will once again be curbing appetites curbside during this year’s Starry Nights @ the Plaza run, beginning May 16. (taylorsvilleut.gov)
Starry Nights @ the Plaza continues to grow in popularity; but still doesn’t draw so many visitors that it feels overcrowded. (taylorsvilleut.gov)
Right:
It’s not so hard to flip-your-strip, here’s how
Local landscape architect and social media darling Daryl Lindsey gives easy suggestions for flipping-yourstrip or converting your parking strip from lazy lawn into a beautiful pocket-prairie garden.
By Ella Joy Olsen e.olsen@mycityjournals.com
Spring is time when people think more seriously about their yards. Some gaze at their lawn and lament that even with meticulous care and excessive amounts of water, it will never roll forth like a luxurious carpet of green.
That’s because we don’t live in Kentucky. And most lawns in the Salt Lake Valley are Kentucky bluegrass.
Kentucky bluegrass wants to go dormant at about 80 degrees, so Utah’s spring and fall seasons are lovely. But over that temperature (most of the summer) we’re forced to water the lawn more often to cool things off, to fool it into thinking it’s a shoulder season. Bluegrass doesn't want to be in Salt Lake in the summer.
So, if bluegrass doesn’t grow well in in the valley, why is it so ubiquitous?
“Initially, lawns were a symbol of wealth and the American dream of home ownership,” Daryl Lindsey, a local landscape architect, told Doug Fabrizio on a recent episode of KUER’s RadioWest.
“I think it started with modern suburban development in Levittown, Long Island. After World War II, a developer had a group of new houses that needed something quick and green in front. The trend grew from there,” Lindsey continued. “Kentucky bluegrass is inexpensive to install, and developers can roll it out, dust their hands and say, ‘good luck maintaining this.’”
Of course, there’s a place for lawn. It’s great for sports, walking dogs and picnicking. But Utah has a lot of lazy lawn, which is a drain on our water resources and is hard to keep green. There’s an alternative.
Not even five years ago, Lindsey started making videos about her backyard vegetable garden. “Squash and tomatoes became my entire personality,” Lindsey said with a laugh. “You could say I came about gardening and landscaping very organically.”
After her content went viral, she figured she might have found a niche market and started her company Yardfarmer.co. On her wildly popular platforms, she provides gardening and landscaping tips. She also creates personalized landscape plans to help clients switch to native plants and
create drought-tolerant, sustainable yards.
These days, Yardfarmer.co employs a team of eight, including herself and her husband Steven Schmidt. Lindsey was born in Long Island, New York and her husband is from Germany, but the two met at the University of Utah. They moved to Murray in 2016. Start with your park strip
This article will focus on some of Lindsey’s suggestions for park strips because strips are most often “lazy.” Plus, they are inefficient strips of grass. Eight feet is the minimum for conventional sprinklers to water efficiently and not spray onto pavement.
If you’re daunted by the prospect of changing your landscape, it is much easier to tackle a small square footage landscape conversion. Extra benefit: there are many rebates available to help pay for the changes (varying from city to city).
Flipping your strip isn’t just about digging out the grass and replacing it with rock and gravel, either. Weeds love gravel and rocks are hot. The goal is to mimic nature, so think prairie.
You also don’t need to spend a whole season with plastic on your lawn. Depending on the size of your strip, it could be a weekend of work with a big payoff. Steps for planting
1) Check with your city for rebates. You’ll need to qualify for the rebate before the conversion to get money back, so don’t dig before you qualify.
2) Dig out the grass. You’ll need the volume removed to add plants and organic material, so things don’t spill onto the sidewalk.
3) Convert your sprinklers to drip line. There are many YouTube tutorials available for this step.
4) Now for the fun. If the strip requires a path from the street, determine where most visitors and street parkers will
walk. Use pavers to create an obvious and easily accessible path for foot traffic.
5) If there is not already a tree in your strip, search for trees that are available for park strips in your city. Each city typically has a list of several you can purchase directly from the city for cheap, and they will even plant them for you.
6) Select some decorative native grasses. The Salt Lake Valley is a high-elevation desert. Think of your park strip as a pocket-prairie, and drought tolerant grasses love the climate. Typically, most cities want plants under 24-inches tall, which rules out some grasses and makes the decision easier. Lindsey recommends blue gramma and Idaho blue fescue grasses, both decorative and native.
7) Give it a pop of color with a few flowering perennials. Lindsey threw out a few that work nicely in the valley: Wasatch penstemon, silvery lupin, asters and scarlet globe mallows.
8) Choose a low-growing native groundcover for the gaps. Bark mulch is fine to fill in until the groundcover covers the space. But do not use weed mat or fabric. It stops the nutrient transfer of the plants and makes it hard for the mulching plants to take hold. Weeds have shallow roots, so the mat will actually encourage weed growth after a season or two. For groundcover, Lindsey recommends blue mat penstemon, kinnikinnick, or a low-growing Yaak yarrow.
9) Lastly, give it a couple of years to fill in.
Where to buy native plants
While you can find native plants at most nurseries, Lindsey says a nice selection can be found at 42nd Street Greenhouse in Murray, Growing Empire, Twin Pines Nursery and Cache Valley Native
plants (who delivers locally).
“Up to 60% of potable water goes to outdoor irrigation,” Lindsey said. “So, while a strip is a small parcel of a person’s yard, collectively it’s not a small thing. Millions and millions of gallons of water can be saved.”
Social Media Links: www.tiktok.com/@yardfarmer.co www.youtube.com/@yardfarmerco www.instagram.com/yardfarmer.co
Local gardener and landscape architect Daryl Lindsey turned her passion for sustainable, yet beautiful, landscaping into a career after her social media posts went viral. (Photo Jackelin Slack)
Sandstone creates a walkable corridor through a park strip filled with native and drought-tolerant plants. Daryl Lindsey gives tips for flipping-your-strip in informative videos. (Photo Daryl Lindsey)
Native and drought-tolerant plantings are anything but boring. Local landscape architect Daryl Lindsey says, “Use your park strip to create a pocket prairie.” (Photo Daryl Lindsey)
By Carl Fauver c.fauver@mycityjournals.com
Taylorsville City Councilwoman Anna Barbieri wants her neighbors to get to know one another. In fact, the elected official representing the southeast corner of the city wants her constituents to invite neighbors over for a home baked cookie to help get that ball rolling.
“I call it ‘Treat on the Street;’ but I can’t take credit for the original idea,” Barbieri said. “A woman in my District called to ask if she could block off the end of her cul-de-sac to let people safely walk over to her front yard to pick up a cookie and talk about the neighborhood. I’m not sure many streets need to be blocked, but I love the idea. I’ve challenged my community council members to organize their own Treat on the Street activity.”
Corny? Sure. But, on the other hand, just how well do you know your neighbors? And, when’s the last time you ate a home baked cookie from one of them?
A desire for more community connectedness is also what prompted Barbieri, a little more than two years ago, to embrace the idea
of bringing a community council in her City Council District 3 back from the dead. Again, it wasn’t her original idea; but she loved it.
“Long-time, active Taylorsville resident Dean Paynter approached me in late 2022 about resurrecting a community council in my District,” Barbieri said. “Soon thereafter, Dean was named chairman and the council held its first meeting. There were about 15 people there.”
That first gathering was held in February 2023. The group has since moved its meetings into the Taylorsville City Council chamber. They get together at 7 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month.
Another recent change occurred a few months ago when Paynter decided to step down as chair. In fact, all new leadership was elected.
Shazia Chiu is now the District 3 community council chairwoman, with Kathy Clark as vice chair and Jody James, secretary.
While most people who regularly attend community council meetings are “retirement age,” Chiu agreed to take on the chair position while in the midst of raising a young family.
“I have a 7-year-old daughter, a 3-year-old son and another daughter due in July,” Chiu said. “I grew up in Midvale and lived a couple of different places before moving into Taylorsville in August 2020. This is the first place that really felt like home.”
Several community council volunteers put out more than 100 signs each month – mostly at the entrances of neighborhoods throughout
their district – inviting people to attend their next meeting. That’s how Chiu learned about it.
“I had only attended two or three meetings when I mentioned to Dean I’d like to be a little more involved,” Chiu said. “I had no idea he was considering stepping down as chairman. The next thing I knew, they were holding an election and I was the new chair. I am grateful to Anna and Dean for helping me become more active in the council.”
Vice Chair Kathy Clark was a little more familiar with the community council when she was elected on the same night as Chiu.
“I had been attending most of the meetings for a couple of years,” Clark said. “I love working for my community and trying to do whatever I can to better it. We’ve discussed a lot of important issues at our community council meetings and have had a lot of very knowledgeable speakers.”
Elected officials who have met with the District 3 Community Council include: State Senator Wayne Harper, State Representative Jim Dunnigan, County Councilwoman Amy Winder Newton and Taylorsville Mayor Kristie Overson. Other speakers have represented the Taylorsville Police Department, Granite School District, Unified Fire and the Taylorsville Arts Council, among others.
Chiu says community council members also work together to try to address issues like neighborhood beautification and reducing speeding on neighborhood streets.
“I particularly appreciate the community council because it really helps me hear about neighborhood concerns firsthand,” Barbieri concluded. “It can be something as simple as a street light that’s out or overparking in front of a home. When I hear about issues earlier, I can help address them more quickly.”
The next Taylorsville District 3 Community Council meeting will be held in city council chambers Tuesday, May 4, starting at 7 p.m. Among other things at that session, Barbieri is expected to take a headcount of how many members have had neighbors over to sample their homemade cookies.
Finally, a couple of other community councils in Taylorsville city council Districts 1 and 2 are also still alive, but currently searching for new leadership and additional members. City officials say, no matter which Taylorsville Council District you live in, you can contact your city council member to talk with them about starting, or strengthening, a community council in your neighborhood.
Cookie recipes are optional. l
City Councilwoman Anna Barbieri (L) has an active community council in her District 3, led by (L-R) Vice Chair Kathy Clark, Chairwoman Shazia Chiu and Secretary Jody James. (Carl Fauver/City Journals)
New Mental Health Crisis Center opens in Salt Lake County
Nine years ago I was sitting in my family room at 10 p.m. My adult son, who had been struggling with mental health, came upstairs and said, “Mom, I’m done.” He expressed to me his desire to end his life.
I knew he had been struggling and we were on waiting lists to get him into a doctor and therapist, but he was tired of waiting. I panicked – not knowing where to go or what to do. “Do I call 911? Should I take him to an emergency room?” I thought. I couldn’t believe that I didn’t know what to do. I was serving on the county council at the time and thought that if I didn’t know what to do, certainly other people would be feeling the same way.
I took him to the emergency room and we sat for hours, only to be sent home with a list of providers on our insurance. It was so frustrating!
After that I learned about the 24/7 crisis line, now 988, that people can call for help. We utilized that a few other times over the following weeks. Eventually, my son got the help he needed and I appreciate that he allows me to share his story in an effort to help others.
Because of these experiences I was determined to get more involved in our mental health system by serving on the state’s behavioral health crisis response commission. This enabled me to help advocate for a three digit crisis line, and more resources throughout the state. Our county council donated land for a new mental health receiving center and also gave funds for an expansion of the proposed facility. Since counties are the mental health authorities - as designated by the state - it made sense for us to engage on a deeper level.
On March 28, we cut the ribbon on the new Kem and Carolyn Gardner Mental Health Crisis Care Center. This facility, located at 955 W. 3300 South in Salt Lake County, helps
Aimee Winder Newton
Salt Lake County
Councilwoman| District 3
people facing mental health emergencies. This 24/7 facility offers immediate assistance, including crisis intervention and short-term stabilization, all in a caring, safe environment.
By bringing together mental health professionals, social workers, and community partners, it aims to streamline access to services—so individuals can quickly receive assessments, therapy, and connections to longer-term support. The center also helps reduce the strain on hospitals and the justice system by guiding people toward recovery, rather than unnecessary hospitalization or incarceration. Overall, it’s designed to be a welcoming place where anyone in crisis can find immediate help, understanding and hope.
A few weeks before the opening of this center, I took my son with me to tour the facility. It was touching to have him there with me as we talked about how needed this is and how we wished it was around nine years ago. I got emotional thinking about the many family members who won’t have to wonder where to take their struggling loved one if they are having a mental health crisis.
I know our family is not alone. Many of you have reached out to tell me of your family struggles with mental health. It
is so hard! I hope you know we are working hard to combat this. The opening of this new facility is another step in that direction.
I was born with the fashion sense of a platypus: lots of assorted parts coming together but nothing cohesive, nothing you could call style.
It’s not that I haven’t tried to dress nice. I even did some fashion research and read an article that said I should find clothing that fits my personality to feel confident about my wardrobe. My personality is a cross between a hibernating bear and a librarian, so I guess I should wear furry blankets and mustard-colored cardigans? Done.
The article also said to implement different colors and patterns, and not to be afraid to get out of my comfort zone. But my comfort zone is so comfy. Hence the name.
For a long time, my fashion palette consisted only of black; or gray, if the occasion called for levity. Walking through the grocery store, I was often mistaken for a murder of crows, but that might have been because of all the flapping and squawking.
So, I banned black from my closet, except for 13 black blouses because you never know when you’ll attend a My Chemical Romance concert. Then I decided any new clothes I purchased couldn’t be black. Now my closet is filled with a rainbow of dark navy, charcoal, espresso and eggplant for when I’m feeling whimsical.
Kinder Life and Laughter
Out of Style
The article suggested trying different styles. Trendy boxy tops look adorable on the pages of fashion magazines but turned me into SpongeBob. Maybe I should stop wearing striped socks with squeaky black shoes and white laces.
I just don’t know how to look effortlessly stylish although Vogue breaks it down into 79 manageable steps. I stopped reading after the one step suggested I wear one thing that scares me. Crocs are the most frightening thing I could think of. Nope.
Once, I was working at an event and was given a T-shirt to wear. I threw on a pair of shorts and called it good. My coworker showed up in her T-shirt matched with cute capris, colorful espadrilles and a rakish beret. I felt like Gollum standing next to her.
If I have to attend any social event, I get fashion paralysis, completely incapable of choosing an outfit. If the event is really fancy, I’ll spend at least 47 days riddled
with anxiety about what to wear. My husband says, “Go buy something new,” but that makes it even worse because trying on clothes is a torture device invented during the Spanish Inquisition.
First, the options are overwhelming. Second, what if I choose something too dressy? I don’t want to look like a wedding cake if the event calls for shortbread. Third, I want my clothes to feel comfy, which is the complete opposite of style. No wonder fashion models always look so angry.
The one area in fashion that I do shine is footwear because Chuck Taylors can be worn with anything. Barefoot is also an option I employ from May through October. (By Halloween, the soles of my feet are as tough as a Kevlar and as grungy as a music festival’s porta-potty.)
Oscar Wilde, my style guru, said, “Fashion is a form of ugliness so intolerable that we have to alter it every six months.”
If every fashion trend comes back again, I’ll just stick with what I love: clothes that hide salsa stains and are super soft. Anna Wintour would have some disparaging glances to throw my way but it’s better than my platypus fashion that looks like I just crawled out of a swamp.
