Taylorsville Journal | April 2021

April 2021 | Vol. 8 Iss. 04

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TAYLORSVILLE DAYZZ 2021 IS A FULL GO, LIKELY WITHOUT MASKS

By Carl Fauver | c.fauver@mycityjournals.com

T

hat glimmer of light, at the end of our yearlong coronavirus tunnel, is now as bright as the annual Taylorsville Dayzz fireworks displays, which are now, officially, less than three months away. Not only is the annual city celebration back after its 2020 COVID-19 hiatus, but there may also not be a mask in sight.

“After checking with the county and state health departments, we have been authorized to hold Taylorsville Dayzz this year,” 21-year event committee chairman Jim Dunnigan said.

“And, if the numbers continue to trend as they are now—with fewer positive COVID tests and coronavirus hospitalizations— we will be allowed to host it without requiring masks or social distancing. But either way, it’s officially a go.”

Dunnigan shared that good news with several members of his Taylorsville Dayzz Committee, during a mid-March Zoom meeting. Taylorsville City Councilwoman Meredith Harker was among the 18 volunteers on the call.

“We are all so excited, because it’s time to join back together as a community,” Harker said. “We just need this. And what a great way to celebrate 25 years.”

Taylorsville was incorporated in the summer of 1996, 100 years after Utah became a state, and 25 years ago. City officials have declared 2021 the “Taylorsville 25th Birthday Bash” year.

Taylorsville Dayzz volunteers are now scrambling to pull everything together. Normally, the organizing committee may take a month or two off, after the previous festival, but they basically have an entire year to work through details. This year Continued page 5 The Taylorsville Dayzz carnival rides will be back this year, including at least one brand-new one for adults. (Photo courtesy Taylorsville City)

Taylorsville Dayzz y a d h t Bi r

BASH

June 24, 25, 26

www.taylorsvilledayzz.com Jim Dunnigan 801-840-1800 Local Postal Customer ECRWSS Scan Here: Interactive online edition with more photos.

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Mayor Overson visits Taylorsville High for youth council job shadow day

By Carl Fauver | c.fauver@mycityjournals.com

A

few Taylorsville High School students had a double-take morning recently— as their closed-circuit television school announcements came on in their classrooms— when city Mayor Kristie Overson was among the group telling them about club meetings and schedule changes.

“As the student government class I attended was ending, a couple of the students invited me to join them to go do the morning announcements with them,” Overson said.

“They have a great setup with a camera and a teleprompter. It was fun, and I’m sure we surprised a few of the students.”

Overson found her way to the high school, because in this upside-down world the coronavirus has given us, it only made sense that the annual Taylorsville Youth Council job shadow day would have the professional follow the student. Overson was there to shadow Youth Council Mayor Maddie Van Wagenen.

“This is my fourth year on Youth Council, so we decided to change things a little,” Van Wagenen said. “When I was Youth Council recorder last year, I ended up shadowing Mayor Overson at her office. So, when we got paired up again this year, we decided she could come shadow me and speak to our student government class.”

Van Wagenen, who lives in Kearns, is student body historian at THS. She’s also an athlete, having studied karate and taekwondo since age 8. She earned her karate black belt in 2014. And she’s been a member of the Taylorsville golf team for three years as well.

Overson said after visiting the class, she now knows Maddie is one of several strong student leaders at the school.

“There were 15 to 20 students in the class—all elected student leaders—and I watched as they brainstormed plans for their school Spirit Week,” Overson said. “They

Journals

Taylorsville High School student leaders got to fire questions at Mayor Kristie Overson (back center, silver jacket) during one of their recent student government classes. (Courtesy Maddie Van Wagenen)

were taking all of the COVID precautions into consideration. At the end, we talked about the importance of public service. It was great.”

Van Wagenen is one of only a handful of students over the years who have participated in the Taylorsville Youth Council all four of their eligible years. This year she is also one of two youth ambassadors—a position only open to seniors—along with Savannah Medico. That duty normally includes attending several business ribbon-cutting ceremonies.

But, as you’d expect, COVID has taken a bite out of that too.

“I’ve only been to two or three ribbon cuttings this year, which is kind of disappointing,” Maddie said. “[Coronavirus] has changed a lot [in youth council] this year. But we’ve made the best of it.”

Taylorsville City Council Coordinator

and Youth Council Adviser Kris Heineman agrees, the year has been rough for her smaller-than-usual council.

“We normally have 15 to 18 youth council members, but this year we have only 13, and no ninth graders,” Heineman said. “The pandemic was new during our application period, and we didn’t get as many as usual.

Normally, I go to the junior highs to tell student leaders about the council. But last year we couldn’t do that.”

Coronavirus also cancelled the youth council’s annual Day at the Legislature along with the student leadership conference they normally attend each spring at Utah State University. However, the pandemic also prompted the council to begin a new tradition: conducting a holiday season food drive.

“Our council members went around their

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neighborhoods gathering food donations, and it was very successful,” Heineman added.

“We ended up with three pickup trucks filled with donations for the Taylorsville Food Pantry.”

Earlier in the fall, youth council members also volunteered time to clean up a Taylorsville yard.

“We coordinated with our code enforcement department to identify a home that needed a lot of work,” Heineman said. “I don’t even know how many garbage bags we filled, but it was a lot. We will probably find another home and do the same thing this spring.”

Another first for the youth council came soon after Christmas when they were recruited to assist with the distribution of personal protective equipment (PPE) to area schools, fire stations and other locations. The PPE was donated by online marketing giant Amazon and facilitated by Taylorsville City Councilman Dan Armstrong.

As for Maddie, much as she loves Utah, she hopes to be far, far away in a few months.

“My dream school to attend college this fall is George Washington University (in Washington, D.C.) where I plan to study international relations,” she said. “I’m currently taking Intro to International Relations online, through the University of Utah. My goal is to work for the state department and one day be a diplomat. I want to satisfy my wanderlust for the world.”

It's a lofty goal, but Overson believes high achievements are possible for a number of the students she met at Taylorsville High.

“They are top-notch kids who are clearly thinking outside the box,” she said. “It was fun to see our future is in great hands. I hope to see some of these students working in Taylorsville city government in 10 to 20 years.” l

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Continued from front page they have barely three months. Still, they promise none of the familiar favorites will be missing.

Taylorsville Dayzz will run Thursday through Saturday, June 24–26. If you have seen it in previous festivals, you will see it again: three nights of “headliner” entertainment, two nights of fireworks, food and craft booths, a car show, parade, 5K fun run, children’s petting zoo, carnival rides and dozens of local performing acts, on two stages.

The Utah Symphony will headline Thursday night, performing Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture, complete with its traditional cannon fire finale. Neil Diamond tribute artist Jay White is expected to return to the Taylorsville Dayzz main stage Saturday night, although last-minute scheduling issues were still being resolved at press time. The Friday night show remains up in the air, with Beach Boys, Beatles and Bee Gees tribute bands all under consideration.

“There is such a pent-up demand for Taylorsville Dayzz this year, I think ‘reconnection’ is our unofficial theme,” Dunnigan said.

“People want to come out of their basements, enjoy our weather and see that the world is still alive and moving forward. It takes about 2,000 volunteer hours to pull Taylorsville Dayzz off.

Our committee members are excited to do it again, but we will need some help and can always use more volunteers.

If you want to assist as a volunteer, pur-

INDEPENDENT

chase a sponsorship, nominate your performing group for stage time or have any other inquiries, visit www.taylorsvilledayzz.com or call 801-840-1800.

Taylorsville officials budget $60,000 per year for the annual celebration. But Dunnigan says that is just a part of what it costs.

“City funds are reserved strictly for infrastructure costs—things like security and port-a-potty rentals,” he said. “For example, tax dollars are not spent on carnival rides, fireworks displays or headliner concerts. That’s why our sponsors are so important. And it’s also why we could not do it without so many volunteers.”

Back in the thick of it again this year will be members of the Taylorsville Arts Council.

After a year in performance mothballs, council members are also excited Taylorsville Dayzz is returning. Council Co-chair Howard Wilson is one of four members of his group that pulls double-duty, also serving as active members of the Taylorsville Dayzz Committee. “ [Taylorsville Arts Council] members are so excited to see Taylorsville Dayzz coming back,” Wilson said. “It’s a lot of fun and provides some of our members with opportunities to perform. But beyond that, the arts council also receives about $10,000 each year from food and craft booth rentals. It’s critical to us, financially.”

Arts Council volunteer Susan Holman has the task of securing about 40 local performing acts to fill both Taylorsville Dayzz

ASSISTED

stages. For the next couple of months, she will be lining up those groups, while also continuing to accept entries for this year’s Taylorsville Arts Council virtual art show, celebrating the city’s “Silver Jubilee.”

The Taylorsville Arts Council has also firmed up dates for future performances. The council’s youth performers will present “Peter Pan” at Salt Lake Community College’s Alder Amphitheater Aug. 4–6. Meantime, the council’s first performances in the new Performing Arts Center (newly completed, southeast of city hall) will follow in December and January.

The four-woman stage production “Winter Wonderettes” will be performed Dec. 2–4 in the Performing Arts Center small theater, called Studio 54 (as in 5400 South). The Taylorsville Arts Council’s first-ever performance in the brand new, 440-seat main PAC theater will be “Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” Jan. 31 through Feb. 5, 2022.

“We are excited to finally have those dates and shows scheduled,” Wilson said. “But, before that, our arts council members are even more thrilled to do all we can to help make this Taylorsville Dayzz return a success.”

It’s a good thing they are, because Dunnigan admits completing all the organizing details in 10 or 11 weeks, rather than 10 or 11 months, will present some challenges. But after coronavirus forced them to take last year off, he believes they are up to the task.

As for the COVID-19 storm clouds ap-

Dozens of Taylorsville Dayzz food booths will be back in operation to help mark the city’s 25th anniversary this summer. (Photo courtesy Taylorsville City)

parently clearing just in time for the “Taylorsville 25th Birthday Bash,” Harker is not ruling out divine intervention.

“I think it shows God is smiling down on Taylorsville,” she said. “I feel we are the strongest city in the valley. And I am so glad we will kind of be the first city to get back to normal, with a summer celebration.”

Indeed, while countless communities across Utah and the nation are expected to return to a “new normal” over Fourth of July weekend, Taylorsville Dayzz will unfold more than a week before that—with or without the masks most of us are tired of seeing and wearing. l

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April 2021 | Page 5

Taylorsville Boy Scout Troop 117 continues to thrive through challenging times

By Carl Fauver | c.fauver@mycityjournals.com

U

tah members of the Boy Scouts of America are continuing to power through what is likely their most challenging year ever, thanks to their own determination and some resourceful leadership.

A mere 15 months ago, on Jan. 1, 2020, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints officially severed its affiliation with the BSA. Church troops included an estimated 400,000 boys, or roughly 18% of the entire organization.

That announcement sent countless Utah Boy Scouts who wanted to continue with the organization, scrambling to find new troops.

Some church troops secured new sponsorships, but most simply folded.

Then, just about the time Scouts got settled into their new troops—barely 10 weeks later, in mid-March a year ago—along came COVID-19. Camping trips were cancelled, Zoom gatherings replaced face-to-face troop meetings and more Utah Scouts fell by the wayside.

But in the midst of all the challenges, Taylorsville BSA Troop 117 continued marching forward. Previously, a church-sponsored BSA troop, the group had become one of a handful in the state now sponsored by the International Association of Firefighters union (Local 1696). Scoutmaster Steve Plothow led his Scouts through the transition.

“There were probably 30 to 40 Boy Scout troops in Taylorsville before the church stopped sponsoring them; now there are two,” Plothow said. “I have 41 registered scouts in my troop, and about 25 have been actively attending our Zoom meetings. I have boys from West Valley City, Taylorsville and West Jordan. The boys who remain in Scouting now want to be here. I have more quality boys who want to develop and (Boy Scout rank) advance.”

Last summer, members of Troop 117 participated in a four-day “camp” at the historic Taylorsville-Bennion Heritage Center (1488 West 4800 South). The Scouts didn’t sleep in tents overnight but instead showed up each morning, had their temperatures checked, filled out a coronavirus symptoms questionnaire, wore masks and set about earning merit badges.

“We had 33 Scouts earn about 120 merit badges during the week, so it was a big success,” Plothow said at the time. His troop’s resourcefulness in the face of adversity was already being demonstrated.

More recently, earlier this year, Troop 117 members gathered at the Smith’s Food and Drug store at 7000 South Redwood Road for their “2021 Scouting for Food” donation drive.

“My Scouts were at the store from 9 a.m.

Come See What’s Crackin’!

to 2 p.m., handing fliers (explaining the types of food the pantry needed most) to shoppers as they went in and then accepting the donated food as shoppers left,” Plothow said. “One man came out with two full shopping carts— one to take home and one for us. We ended up with about 1,800 pounds of canned food, 700 pounds of dry goods like pasta and cereal and $110 in cash donations.”

In the early afternoon, members of the Utah National Guard arrived at the store to pick up the donations to take to the Utah Food Bank. Undoubtedly some of that food made it back to the Taylorsville Food Pantry, although none of it was specifically earmarked for a particular pantry.

Then, in early March, members of Troop 117 made their way up to the BSA’s Camp Tracy in Mill Creek Canyon for a Klondike Derby, featuring a variety of snow activities.

Next up—as, hopefully, coronavirus complications continue to recede—the troop will visit the Little Sahara Sand Dunes west of Nephi, later this month. That will be followed by a high adventure camp near Moab in June and another camp outside Ashton, Idaho, in August.

In other words, it’s full speed ahead for a Taylorsville troop that’s had more than its share of challenges.

“I haven’t really had any Scouts quit because of COVID, but some have slowed down their participation until things get better,” Plothow said. “I have 12 Scouts now working toward their Eagle.”

Two recent additions to Plothow’s Troop 117 are brothers Helaman and Gideon Warnock. Until The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints withdrew its sponsorship, the Taylorsville brothers were members of a church-sponsored troop, where their father, Phyl Warnock, was Scoutmaster.

“I completed all of the work for my Eagle under my dad in Troop 191,” Helaman said. “But I hadn’t been a Life Scout long enough when our troop was disbanded. So, we moved to Troop 117 so I could complete my time and so Gideon could finish earning his Eagle.”

Two older brothers, Joshua and Matthias, also earned Eagle rank advancements.

Gideon has one more merit badge to finish up before joining his brothers.

“I think [Plothow] does a very, very good job teaching the boys core lessons they need from Scouting,” Gideon said. “The transition was a bit weird when we moved from our other troop. But the new troop has done a great job keeping active despite COVID. We’re still having regular meetings. I like it.”

Gideon is actually taking several years longer to finish up his Eagle than his brother.

Gideon will graduate high school this spring, while Helaman is in eighth grade. The youngest Warnock brother is also a big fan of his new Scoutmaster. “[Plothow] is a really good Scoutmaster, and I plan to remain active in the troop even after earning my Eagle,” Helaman said.

“I want to earn more merit badges and earn Eagle Palms.”

Eagle Scouts can earn bronze, gold and silver palms my earning an additional five, 10 or 15 merit badges beyond the 21 required to become an Eagle Scout.

“Now that COVID numbers are going down, we are just trying to get the boys rejuvenated and back into Scouting,” Plothow said. “Our troop members are well behaved and work hard. Like everyone else, they are tired of the pandemic. We’ve not had a regular, indoor face-to-face troop meeting in more than a year. But they’ve stuck with it.” l

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Taylorsville Boy Scout Troop 117 recently enjoyed one of its most successful food drives ever, at the 7000 South Redwood Road Smith’s Food and Drug. (Steve Plothow)

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Former THS student Lily Smith will enter the world of competitive weightlifting this month

By Carl Fauver | c.fauver@mycityjournals.com

“

She’s the most stubborn person I have ever met—but training Lily is also the highlight of my week.”

That’s how big, brawny, tattooed weightlifting trainer Cory Black describes former Taylorsville High School student Lily Smith, the first person with Down syndrome he’s ever had occasion to work with or get to know well.

So, add this former emergency medical technician and Navy veteran to the long list of people who have been charmed by Smith’s grit and determination (OK, “stubbornness”).

At the top of that “charmed by her” list is her adoptive mother Suzie, who met Lily the day after she was born—and just moments before her first of many surgeries.

“Lily’s biological mother was age 17 from the Ogden area,” Suzie said. “She chose us to adopt her baby from among three or four families that sent her information and pictures. Lily was born with blocked intestines and without an esophagus. After being born at McKay-Dee Hospital, and transported to Primary Children’s Hospital, they invited us up to meet Lily before that first surgery, the day after she was born, in July

1999.”

Lily would remain at Primary for the first 10 weeks of her life before joining her adoptive parents and four, much older step-siblings.

“Since we already had four kids, my husband thought I was crazy to want a fifth—and particularly a child with special needs,” Suzie Smith said. “But in my heart, I just knew one child was missing from our family. I could no longer have kids.”

After the Smiths moved from the east side of the Salt Lake Valley, Lily attended Truman Elementary for two years, Eisenhower Jr. High for three and Taylorsville High School for three more years. Although she could not earn the necessary credits to officially graduate with her 2017 THS class, Lily did don the cap and gown to participate in the ceremony. In Fall 2017, she started at Granite School District’s Post High School, for special needs students, where she will attend for one more year.

While at Taylorsville High, Lily performed in two school musicals and was also a cheerleader.

“I will let Lily try anything, but she has to do it right,” Suzie said. “I told her, ‘You

2021

U T A H

After training since August, Lily Smith will enter her first weightlifting competition this month. (Suzie Smith)

will not be an honorary cheerleader.’ She attended cheerleading practice at 6:30 every morning and learned all the dance steps.”

That routine kept Lily active for several years. But a few years after leaving THS, Suzie says her daughter began to slow her

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pace a bit and gain some weight. That’s when Mom encouraged her daughter to start doing what she had taken up: weight training.

“I had gotten overweight, so in the summer of 2018 I joined a gym and began lifting weights,” Suzie said. “A year later, Lily began going with me. Then, last summer, someone recommended a different gym.”

Since last August, Suzie and Lily have worked out at Black Flag Strength and Fitness (8720 South 700 East, Sandy). Co-owner Ryan Stewart trains Suzie, while business partner Cory Black works with her daughter.

“I had never had much interaction with anyone with Down syndrome until I began working with Lily,” Black said. “She is one of three special needs kids I train. Working with them is the highlight of my week. Lily works extremely hard and is very coachable.”

Suzie says she’s lost 50 pounds since starting to work out. She’s also honored her Scottish heritage by taking up Highland Games competition, involving events like hammer toss, stone throw and caber toss.

Meantime, Black is now preparing Lily for her first weightlifting competition, to be held at his gym, April 10. She will have three lifts in three different events: bench press, squat and dead lift.

“Sometimes he makes me do hard stuff, but he’s awesome,” Lily said of Black. “He makes me feel better about working out. I feel stronger. It makes me feel good about myself.”

Black agrees, his young protégée is stronger than the day she walked into his gym and life—but not just because of how much weight she can lift. “[Lily] carries herself very differently now, much more confident,” Black said. “She now walks into the gym like she owns it.

She’s a tremendous inspiration to everyone.

And working with her has made me more patient and helped my communication skills.”

Between her own workouts three times a week—and daughter Lily’s twice-weekly training—Suzie makes the drive from her Taylorsville home to Black Flag Strength and Fitness five times a week. But she says it’s

worth it to see the growth in her daughter.

“Lily loves to flex [her muscles] and is very proud of what she’s accomplishing.”

Suzie said. “Cory is great and has had a big impact on her. Lily likes him so much, she wore a fake orange beard last year to dress like Cory for Halloween.”

Meanwhile, when she’s not breaking a sweat at the gym, Lily has also overcome her Down syndrome challenges to start a career.

Unfortunately, like so many other things, COVID-19 has put that on hold for now. But her mom says Lily’s job awaits.

“At her Post High School, the husband of one of her instructors works for the USGS (United States Geological Survey) office in West Valley City,” Suzie said. “They hired Lily to scan documents for the agency and discovered she is very good at it. Before coronavirus shut things down, Lily scanned more than 40,000 documents, some dating back into the 1800s. She can’t work now, but as soon as COVID is over, they say they have 10 years’ worth of scanning work waiting for her.”

Lily worked at the USGS office three hours a day, three days a week. And Mom says that’s not her first job.

“She was a bagger at Smiths for six months while in high school and earned enough money to pay for her cheerleading one year,” Suzie added. “And, before that, Lily even worked for several days on a movie.”

For the record, that filmed-in-Utah motion picture, “The Jerk Theory,” was released in 2009, starring Tom Arnold and Josh Henderson. You can watch it on YouTube and see Lily Smith’s name scroll by (as Kate) in the closing credits.

So, don’t think for a moment Lily’s Down syndrome is slowing her down.

Whether appearing in movies, cheering THS athletes, scanning government documents, enduring surgery at age 1 day or squatting with a barbell on her shoulders, the diminutive (5-foot-3-inch) Ms. Smith is keeping busy, in her own, stubborn way. l

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Kearns High School student group gathering donations for area food pantries

By Carl Fauver | c.fauver@mycityjournals.com

A

group of energetic Kearns High School students is now in the midst of raising thousands of dollars to assist the food pantry that operates in their own school, along with five other school-based pantries throughout their community.

KHS sophomore Emily Rojo Mendoza is president of the Evidence2Success Kearns Youth Council, a group of about nine students who are trying to better their community. She has at least two goals: to assist the food pantries and to show adults that kids her age can take on issues and do something about them.

“I think a lot of people believe teenagers either don’t know what they are doing or aren’t committed to getting things done,” Mendoza said. “I think our [coalition] is important because we are making an impact. I got involved because I wanted to be a part of something that would serve people.”

The youth council is now in the midst of trying to raise $12,000 to serve six schoolbased food pantries throughout Kearns. It arrived at that goal after a Taylorsville business owner donated half that amount out of the blue.

“Complete Recovery donated $6,000 to our food pantry drive, and that’s when we decided to try to match that amount in other donations to get the total to $12,000,” Emily

Members of the Evidence2Success Kearns Youth Council include (L-R): Angel Balladares, Antonio Banuelos, Adrian Miranda, Emily Mendoza, Natalie Huerta, Esmeralda Higuera and Alyssa Sainsbury. (Becky Guertler)

said. “We have raised an additional $550 so far (as of March 15), and we’re now putting up signs and reaching out through social media to raise the rest.”

That begs a couple of question then: how did Complete Recovery learn about the fledgling donation drive? And what motivated such a generous initial donation? For those answers you have to track down someone raised in Taylorsville, which now employees

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200 people in the community.

Complete Recovery President and co-founder Aaron Meier attended Bennion Jr. High all three years, followed by one semester at Taylorsville High School. But back then, students in his neighborhood were being bussed to the much-less-crowded Cottonwood High School. So, he completed his high school career there, graduating in 1988.

“I grew up in Kearns and Taylorsville and now own businesses in both communities,” Meier said. “I know there are some challenges. There is a bit of blight in the area.

When you hear about kids making an effort to help other kids, you have to help out. I have a soft spot when it comes to people helping others. I told them I was in and said this would not have to be a one-time donation.”

Technically, Meier explained, Complete Recovery donated $5,000 to the food pantry drive, while a real estate company he operates donated the additional $1,000. Meier learned about the donation drive through the “Nextdoor” phone app. On its website, Nextdoor claims it “connects neighbors to each other and to everything nearby: businesses, services, news updates and more.”

Evidence2Success Kearns Community Coalition Chairwoman Becky Guertler says Nextdoor was one of the first places they posted the notice about the food pantry donation drive. The youth council operates under the coalition’s direction. And both groups were shocked when Meier made his companies’ donation so early in the process.

“There are about 30 members of the Kearns E2S Coalition, and last July I was elected chair,” Guertler said. “The coalition has been around about five years. But we’ve only had the youth council for a year, after receiving additional grant funding through the Utah State University Extension Teen Spheres of Influence Program.”

Since its inception in September 2015, one of the primary goals of the coalition has

been to encourage Kearns-area students to steer clear of alcohol and marijuana. A recent survey reveals, those numbers have gone down slightly, although E-cigarette use is up.

Guertler said her coalition members remain committed to improving those numbers, even as they also take up additional causes such as student hunger and food insecurity.

Like donor Aaron Meier, Guertler’s roots also run deep in Taylorsville and Kearns.

After graduating from Taylorsville High in 1994, her career has now taken her to ChamberWest—which serves both communities— where she is the director of marketing, business development and sales. Her family also built its home in Kearns some 20 years ago.

“We have fabulous neighbors, and I never want to leave,” Guertler said. “From what I have seen, Kearns has kind of an unfair reputation. We are a small town in a big city.

We have some of the best people living here, and I am proud to help with the coalition. I’m also proud of the work our youth council is doing.”

Guertler is also pleased to have connected with Meier and his successful businesses.

Complete Recovery (1065 West Levoy Drive, about 4530 South) is a 24-hour call center employing about 200 people. Meier and his business partner purchased their 43,000-square- foot headquarters building three years ago. Employees serve Amazon and other top companies by coordinating equipment (often cable television hardware) returns and arranging financial debt payments. Complete Recovery employs another 50 people some 3,400 miles southeast of Taylorsville, in Bogotá, Columbia.

Financial donations for the E2S Kearns Youth Council food pantry drive are now being accepted at all America First Credit Union branches. Proceeds will pass through the Granite School District Education Foundation to serve food pantries at: Beehive, David Gourley, South Kearns and West Kearns elementary schools, Kearns Junior High and Kearns High.

“We have been putting posters around Kearns High to solicit donations,” youth council Mendoza said. “Target and other stores have donated gift cards that we are using for weekly prize drawings. The more money people donate, the more chances they get to win a gift card. What I am most proud of is, 100% of the money we raise will go directly to the food pantries.”

E2S Kearns Youth Council members hope to complete their $12,000 donation drive before the end of the school year. Mendoza reports they will then hold periodic meetings through the summer and come up with a new community challenge to take on next.

All from a group of teenagers who know what they are doing and are committed to getting things done. l

Taylorsville City Journal

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April 2021 | Page 11

Holtz’s softball career continues in St. Louis

By Greg James | g.james@mycityjournals.com

A

former Taylorsville resident and former Murray softball star has taken her talents to Webster University.

In her first collegiate at-bat, Sidney Holtz singled home two runners to help the Gorloks to a 5-0 victory over Nebraska Wesleyan. Later that day, she had a game-winning double to center field to drive in the winning run, a 2-1 victory for the doubleheader sweep.

“She is off to a remarkable start,” Gorloks assistant head coach Tyler Holman said.

“I think my experience has been pretty good so far,” Holtz said.

Her game-winning double came on a one-ball, two-strike count with no outs.

The leadoff hitter got on with a single and reached second on a bunted fielding error.

Holtz drilled the pitch off the center field fence to drive in the winning run.

“I was super nervous in my first at-bat, but as it went along, I felt like I had nothing to lose,” she said. “I got more relaxed.

In my walk-off hit, I got two strikes, and I figured I needed to do something about it. I just went all in. I was super excited.”

Holtz is no stranger to the bright moments. In her junior season at Murray, she hit four home runs and drove in 33 runs.

In her junior year (2019), she was

Sidney Holtz is playing collegiate softball for Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo courtesy of Webster Athletics.)

named defensive player of the year and earned first-team All-Region honors as well as honorable mention All-State.

“We expect her to continue to perform

at this level,” Holman said.

She has a .250 batting average at press time. She has started four of the five games at second base. Her four runs batted in leads the team this season. She has also not committed an error in 15 chances.

Webster University is located in St. Louis, Missouri. Holtz is majoring in psychology and plans on becoming a physical therapist.

Holtz is not the only player from Utah on the Gorloks’ roster. Kaylynn Kearney from Corner Canyon and Jaelin Holdaway from Cyprus are both freshmen on this year’s roster. All three played on the same accelerated team.

Webster University competes in the St Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The SLIAC was formally chartered in 1989 and includes nine private schools from Kentucky, Illinois, Iowa and Missouri.

Its members include Spalding University, Westminster (Mo.), Fontbonne, Greenville, Principia, Blackburn, Eureka and Iowa Wesleyan In 2019, the Gorloks finished 1024 which included a three-game winning streak at the end of the year. They play at Blackburn Park in St Louis. Katie Griffith is the Webster head coach. In 2020, they were 6-8 before the pandemic shut down

the season.

Griffith is beginning her third season as the head coach. She is the fifth head coach in the team’s 23-year history. She was a three-year letter winner at the University of Georgia and played in three NCAA tournaments. She later began to pitch in baseball and was the first woman to play in the California Winter League (2017), a tryout league for players hoping to gain professional experience.

“She has taught me that college is different from high school,” Holz said. “I am glad she has experienced it herself.”

The mascot at Webster University has an interesting history.

A Gorlok is a make-believe character designed by Webster students and staff. It has the paws of a cheetah, horns of a buffalo and the face of a St. Bernard dog. The name of the mascot was derived from the combination of that intersection in Webster, Gore and Lockwood. It was chosen in 1984 by a campus committee. After the name was selected a contest was run to find what students thought the creature should look like. Applicants submitted sketches as well as a description. The full-size mascot made its debut in 1988 and was created by costume designers that made “Fredbird” the St Louis Cardinals’ mascot. l

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City of Taylorsville Newsletter 2600 West Taylorsville Boulevard • 801-963-5400

MAYOR'S MESSAGE Dear Friends and Neighbors, It’s a big year this year for us here in Taylorsville. We’re celebrating our 25th birthday!

The anniversary is a significant milestone, to be sure.

Our city got its start a quarter of a century ago, and we’ve seen a great deal of change since then, thanks to Mayor Kristie S. Overson the visionary leadership and contributions of so many in our community.

The City of Taylorsville was incorporated on July 1, 1996, through the grassroots efforts of citizens who developed a vision that would provide greater local control of community planning, economic development and municipal service delivery. It took a leap of faith and a start marked by humble beginnings. For several years, in fact, our city offices were located in a strip mall.

Now, of course, our city is recognized for its beautiful City Hall, where the Municipal Court, Police Department and Council Chambers are all located. Adding to the campus, we will soon see the development of the new Centennial Plaza including walkways, landscaping, public art, an outdoor stage and kitchen, and waterwall signage.

The elegant new Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center next door also will open this year.

The quality of life in Taylorsville is high with many cultural and recreational activities available here, and we value our reputation as a well-maintained residential and business community. A balance of homes, businesses and thriving commercial areas define our bustling suburb right in the heart of the Salt Lake Valley, and we are known as the place where community connects.

To celebrate our wonderful city, we are planning a birthday party marked by festivities throughout the year. From 1996 to 2021, these past 25 years are well worth commemorating. So our Taylorsville Arts Council will kick off the celebration with its Virtual Art Show, marking the city’s Silver Jubilee. In honor of the anniversary, all of the artwork should be representative of Taylorsville City. Find details and the application to submit your artwork at www.taylorsvilleut.gov/ our-city/2021-taylorsville-art-show Next up, our Taylorsville Dayzz Committee plans to do it up big this year with a Birthday Bash to remember. Count on Taylorsville Dayzz in June, complete with fireworks, live music, good food, carnival rides and more!

We are so grateful for our Taylorsville home and for the planning, effort and vision of all those who work to make it the best city in Utah. Truly, there is no place I would rather be.

–Mayor Kristie S. Overson

WHAT’S INSIDE – APRIL 2021 Frequently Called Numbers, Page 2 Council Corner, Page 3 Public Safety, Page 4 Heritage Remembrances, Page 7 Environment, Page 8

www.taylorsvilleut.gov

April 2021

2nd Citywide Survey Brings Positive Results Despite challenges associated with the coronavirus pandemic, residents gave positive marks to the city in a new survey conducted by Y2 Analytics.

It is the second time in two years that a comprehensive, citywide poll has been conducted for Taylorsville in an effort to garner a benchmark and gauge of the health and wellness of the city and its services going forward.

Overall, the latest survey results indicate that Taylorsville residents are happy with the way the city is being run and believe it is headed in the right direction. Most notable is the high approval rating for the job that elected officials and administrators are doing.

“That’s one of the areas that have improved since 2019, which is frankly astounding to see in a year when residents have felt a lot of current areas of their lives in tension (due to the pandemic),” said Kyrene Gibb, vice president of research and municipal services for Y2 Analytics, who presented the findings to the City Council at their March 17 meeting.

The survey was conducted from Nov. 10 to Dec. 7, 2020. In all, 517 residents completed the survey, representing a balanced geographic distribution of responses across the city and a 4.3 percent margin of error.

Fifty-seven percent of residents said the city is headed in the right direction. The city also received an average 77 on a zero-to-100 scale for its quality of life. “This is a very positive rating on residents’ quality of life,” Gibb said, “and compared to neighboring cities in the Salt Lake Valley, this is on the high-end average.”

Residents also indicated that Taylorsville’s central location is a top draw. In fact, almost all comments on what residents like most about living in Taylorsville focused on its good location and easy access to the highway and other parts of the valley.

In addition, 89 percent of respondents said they either approve or strongly approve of the job elected officials are doing. “That is remarkably good,” Gibb said, extending her congratulations. “Your residents are very happy with the job you are doing.”

Residents expressed their most concern about traffic, crime and growth. But even then, they gave first responders and city administrators high marks, indicating that the city is working well to address those issues.

Most residents said the coronavirus has impacted their lives “to a pretty significant extent,” Gibb noted, but they also said the city has done an excellent or good job responding to the pandemic. Two-thirds of residents said the pandemic had litResponses were evenly gathered from tle to no effect on their ability to access each of the city’s five City Council Districts. city services.

The survey further indicated a significant increase among residents of outdoor recreational amenities. “Residents increased the amount of time spent recreating in public parks this year compared to 2019,” said Gibb.

“When other venues were closed (because of the pandemic), they turned to the outdoors, and their satisfaction with city parks and open spaces has gone up slightly as well.”

Mayor Kristie Overson said the sur-

CITY SURVEY CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

PAGE 2

| www.taylorsvilleut.gov

City of Taylorsville Newsletter CITY SURVEY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 vey provides a useful guide for the city. “It is helpful for us to identify what residents are thinking and areas where we might improve,” she said. “Achieving a baseline going forward is especially valuable as we set goals and priorities for the city.”

City Council Member Anna Barbieri pointed out, in particular, the positive comments expressing support for Taylorsville police officers. “I was taken aback,” she said. “In this survey, it was overwhelmingly positive, and people want to see more police officers in the City of Taylorsville.”

Gibb agreed that the input “presents a unique opportunity as you work to bring the Police Department in-house and set priorities and agendas for that department.”

An overview of the survey results can be viewed on the city’s website at www.taylorsvilleut.com

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EVENTS APRIL 2021 April 4 – All day Happy Easter!

April 7 & 21 – 6:30 p.m.

City Council Meeting @ City Hall and online. Watch a live-stream of the meeting on the city’s website, www.taylorsvilleut.gov

April 13 – 7 p.m. & April 27 – 6 p.m.

Planning Commission Meeting @ City Hall.

April 22 – All day Earth Day. (The annual collection/clean-up event has been delayed until June. See below).

April through June 1 The Taylorsville Arts Council is seeking submissions for its virtual Art Show, commemorating Taylorsville’s 25th Anniversary. See Page 5.

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

SAVE THE DATE: Saturday, June 19 – 8 a.m. to noon Annual Earth Day Collection @ Taylorsville High School

June 24 to 26 Taylorsville Dayzz @ Valley Regional Park

Coronavirus Vaccine is Distributed, Restrictions Eased The coronavirus vaccine is expected to be available to everyone in Utah this month. This past month, vaccine eligibility was expanded to Utahns 50 and older, as well as those with type I and type II diabetes, a BMI (body mass index) over 30, or chronic kidney disease.

Previous categories of vaccine recipients have included health care workers, school staff, residents 70 years and older, and then 65 and older, as well as residents with qualifying health conditions. As of midMarch, more than a million doses have been administered in Utah.

"Hopefully, by April the vaccine availability will be open to those that want it under the age of 50 years of age," said Gov. Spencer Cox during a press conference on March 4.

Utah’s statewide mask mandate also will end April 10 under a law passed by the Utah Legislature. However, Gov. Cox clarifies that while the broader mask mandate will be lifted, masks will still be required in schools and for large gatherings.

The new legislation allows local health departments to require face coverings with approval from their county commissions or councils.

As for Salt Lake County , it has moved from a “high” to “moderate” transmission level. Under the moderate level, physical distancing is now recommended, not required (with a few exceptions).

Utah has been operating under a low, moderate and high transmission index since October.

State leaders moved to the new strategy instead of designating the risk of the virus under a color-coded system. The transmission index ties restrictions to local case numbers and testing rates.

"Lessening restrictions does not mean we are out of the woods and they could be tightened later," Gov. Cox said. "Nationally, we are concerned when other states lessen restrictions too early.

We are only as safe as our weakest state, if other states open and case spread occurs, it may have an effect on Utah as COVID is not a respecter of boundaries."

April 2021

2600 West Taylorsville Boulevard • 801-963-5400 |

COUNCIL CORNER

By Council Member Meredith Harker Spring is here, and if you are anything like me, you’ve looked forward to that statement for months.

Spring is a time for rebirth and renewal, and we could all use a little bit of that after the year we just went through.

I recently looked back through all the photos stored on my phone to what was happening a year ago. I was surprised to rediscover all the emotions I felt with the closure of schools, the virus, the earthquake, and other challenges. The memories of what started a year ago all came flooding back. Luckily, the end is in sight!

The coronavirus vaccinations that are being dispersed as quickly as possible are an absolute miracle.

As a teacher, I was one of the first on the list to get both doses of the vaccine. What a blessing to know that I am now fully immune to the COVID-19 virus. I hope our residents are taking advantage of the opportunity to get vaccinated, as well, so that we can all get back to the things we love about life.

I know that we have much to look forward to here in Taylorsville. Already we are making preliminary preparations for Taylorsville Dayzz, a live 5K race, movies at City Hall, shows at our new Performing Arts Center, and other activities and gatherings. The only

PAGE 3

Let’s Get Back to Normal by Getting Vaccinated way all of these events will happen is if people get vaccinated. We are so close.

Gov. Spencer Cox has said that everyone in the state should be eligible to receive the vaccine this month. To date, the vaccines have been distributed by categories, with first doses administered to health care workers, school personnel, and residents 70 years and older.

Those 65 and older soon followed, as well as residents with qualifying medical conditions. Vaccine eligibility was again expanded this past month to residents 50 and older, as well as those with type I and type II diabetes, a BMI (body mass index) over 30, or chronic kidney disease.

The process is smooth as can be. You can even get a drive-through vaccine at the Maverik Center, and now receive a shot at many neighborhood pharmacies. To find a vaccination location near you and schedule an appointment to be vaccinated, go to: https://slco.org/ health/COVID-19/vaccine/ There is also an excellent Q&A there about the vaccines and coronavirus.

As of mid-March, more than a million doses of the vaccine had been administered in Utah, or 158,000 doses weekly. In all, 79% of adults over 70 had been vaccinated, 64% of those ages 65-69 had received at least one dose, and 29% or those ages 50-64 had received at least one dose. Gov. Cox notes, “Getting

LEFT TO RIGHT: Dan Armstrong (District 5), Curt Cochran, Chair (District 2), Meredith Harker (District 4), Anna Barbieri, Vice Chair (District 3), and Ernest Burgess (District 1)

the vaccine not only protects you but everyone else around you.”

As we move forward, I hope we all can look back a little, too, on the lessons learned from this year-long experience. I, for one, will never take hugs, smiles and handshakes for granted ever again. It is our interactions that make up a community. We have helped each other and will continue to do so, as we always do. Once again, Taylorsville has proven that we can make it through anything together.

City Gives Notice of 2021 Municipal Election The City of Taylorsville will hold a municipal general election on Nov. 2 to elect three council members (one each from Council Districts 3, 4 and 5) and a Mayor. All are to serve four-year terms beginning January 2022. If necessary, a municipal primary election will also be held on Aug. 10.

The filing period will run from Tuesday, June 1, through Monday, June 7, during regular business hours (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) at Taylorsville City Hall. Candidates must file a Declaration of Candidacy form in person with the Taylorsville City Recorder at City Hall, 2600 W. Taylorsville Blvd., during the filing period. Declaration of Candidacy forms will be available in the City Recorder’s Office or on the city website at www.taylorsvilleut.gov.

A candidate must have been a Taylorsville resident for at least 12 consecutive months (365 days) immediately prior to the date of the general election, and if running for a council office, must be a resident of the applicable council district. A candidate must also be a registered voter.

A filing fee of $100 must be paid at the time of filing the Declaration of Candidacy.

However, the filing fee will be reduced to $50 for candidates who submit a nomination petition containing 25 signatures of city residents who are at least 18 years old.

For additional information, please visit the city’s website at www.taylorsvilleut.gov or contact Jamie Brooks, City Recorder, at 801-963-2005.

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| www.taylorsvilleut.gov

City of Taylorsville Newsletter New Police Shields are Delivered to City Hall

TVPD Team Focuses on Outreach, Recruitment Monthly updates on the formation of the Taylorsville City Police Department will be provided on this page through July 2021.

In late February, the Project Management Team invited back the original community outreach group – those who assisted in the SWOC (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and challenges) analysis in the fall of last year. The data points collected at that time formed the basis of the strategic plan for the new police department.

The purpose of the reunion was to share the draft plan, gather final thoughts from the outreach group, and ensure the original information captured will assist in sustaining the new force. Happily, all in attendance seemed pleased with the outcomes and desired outcomes going forward.

The strategic plan has since been approved by the City Council and is available to view on the city website.

Over the course of the past month, members of command staff and city officials have continued their recruitment efforts for the new police department. As of this writing, all 10 sergeants have received job offers, respective to their various roles (e.g., Patrol, Street Crimes, K9, etc.).

The job announcement for our 50 sworn police officers was posted in mid-March, with interviews slated to be complete by mid-April. Job offers should be made to those selected by the first part of May. In addition, the office manager and records manager have also been hired and will be transitioning to the new department in May. Remaining support staff will likewise be interviewed in May and hired by mid-June.

Continued efforts are resulting in the procurement or contracting of equipment, forensics, evidence storage, and the further development of policies.

Per our charter and timeline, the Team completed the following March objectives: • Solidified the org-chart (roles, responsibilities, job descriptions, reporting) • Research behavioral health and wellness (resiliency) options for personnel • Recruitment announcements for sergeants and officers • Finalized IT hardware/software needs (equipment, timecards, IA, evaluations) • Created timeline and rotation for vehicle lighting/radio installs, marking, etc.

Taylorsville City Police Chief Brady Cottam and Deputy Chief Todd Gray now have their shields.

The police shields for the new TVPD, which becomes fully operational on July 1, were delivered to City Hall on March 5.

“It was so fun to open the boxes and see the beautiful new shields that will grace our officers’ uniforms,” said Mayor Kristie Overson. “We are excited for our officers and the new department and are looking forward to its launch.”

The design of the new shields incorporates the Taylorsville seal, as well as the symbol of the American eagle, representing TVPD officers’ commitment to both our country and Taylorsville community.

You can read more about the efforts to create the department and view a video providing information to officers seeking to join TVPD on the city’s website at www.taylorsvilleut.gov/ services/tvpd. As Chief Cottam says in the recruitment video, “We are looking for the best of the best.

“This is a unique opportunity to come work at a brand-new department with amazing support,” he said. “We want officers who are willing to work hard to serve a great community that is pro-law enforcement. In turn, we will recognize those efforts and reward officers who go above and beyond what they are hired to do.”

April 2021

2600 West Taylorsville Boulevard • 801-963-5400 |

PAGE 5

Curb Barking by Expanding Your Dog’s World Spring is here and that means we are out enjoying our yards and so are our pets. With extra time in the yard, dogs barking can become a nuisance to you or your neighbor. Dogs are social creatures and want to be with you. Just because you have a large yard does not mean your dog wants to do anything out there alone. Here are a few tips to keep your dog happy and quiet in his/her yard: • Dogs are more likely to bark if they are left alone for long periods of time without opportunities for interaction with you.

• His/her environment is relatively barren, without playmates or toys. Have toys and rotate them to keep things fresh and exiting.

• He/she is a puppy or adolescent (under 3 years old) and does not have other outlets for energy. Get out and play with your dog.

Adolescent dogs need more of everything, this is the time to set them up with good habits for a happy, healthy life.

• He/she is a particularly active type of dog (like the herding or sporting breeds) who needs a “job” to be happy. Find a job for your dog! It could be learning new tricks, fetching you a dropped item or any number of things. Keeping them engaged keeps them quiet.

• He/she is fearful of things happening around him and needs a safe place to retreat to. These dogs should only be outside when you are so that you can watch their body language and you can help them feel safe. If that’s not possible, consider a dog door into your home so your dog has a safe place to retreat to.

Expand your dog’s world and increase his “people time” in the following ways: • Walk your dog daily – it’s good exercise for both of you.

• Teach your dog to fetch a ball or Frisbee and practice with him as often as possible.

• Teach your dog a few commands and/or tricks and practice with them every day for five to 10 minutes.

• Take an obedience class with your dog.

• Provide interesting toys to keep your dog busy when you’re not home.

• If your dog is barking to get your attention, make sure he/she has sufficient time with you on a daily basis (petting, grooming, playing and exercising), so your dog doesn’t resort to misbehaving to get your attention.

• Keep your dog inside when you’re unable to supervise him.

• If you work very long hours, take him to a doggie daycare or have a friend or neighbor walk and/or play with your dog.

• Never give your dog attention while he is barking. Yelling or reprimanding your dog may add to the problem. Ignore him until he/she stops for at least three seconds, then reward with attention or treats.

Find more tips at www.wvcpets.com CELEBRATING TAYLORSVILLE'S SILVER JUBILEE

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PAGE 6

| www.taylorsvilleut.gov

City of Taylorsville Newsletter

YOUTH COUNCIL TOURS MID-VALLEY PERFORMING ARTS CENTER The Youth Council joined city officials this past month in touring the new Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center next to City Hall.

There were oohs and aahs all around as the group glimpsed the new mainstage theater, smaller Studio 5400 theater, dressing rooms, reception area and other amenities.

The Performing Arts Center will open this year, with the exact timing contingent on coronavirus gathering precautions.

Work also continues on the Centennial Plaza space in front of City Hall. The landscaped area will include an outdoor stage, restrooms, public art places and kitchen — tying the Performing Arts Center and city offices together into a cohesive, community-centric space. Crews have been working this past month on the water-wall features at the entry to the plaza from 5400 South to Centennial Way. “It will be a wonderful gathering place, with the Performing Arts Center and City Hall joined with walkways, landscaping and green space,” said Mayor Kristie Overson. “We are very much looking forward to enjoying it for long into the future.”

April 2021

2600 West Taylorsville Boulevard • 801-963-5400 |

Taylorsville Bennion Heritage REMEMBRANCES This month’s article highlights the John Nielsen family, as told by Nielsen, who was born in Utah’s Millcreek area and raised in Taylorsville.

Taylorsville was settled by Mormon pioneers and named after Apostle John Taylor of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. All my friends were LDS and although my parents were Lutheran, they let me go to Primary and Sunday School, and when I was 8 years old, I asked my parents if I could be baptized and they said it was OK. I was baptized on Nov. 26, 1915. Mother and Dad always welcomed the ward teachers into our home and in 1935, they joined the LDS Church and were baptized May 4, 1935.

My father was employed by the Salt Lake Pressed Brick Co., but had the foresight to acquire a farm in Taylorsville. He bought 20 to 30 acres of land with a pioneer adobe home, barn and outbuildings on it. We lived in this home for about 10 years, and more children were born: Melvin, Harold, (twins) Clarence and Clara.

After the twins were born we built a red brick bungalow on the hill at 1175 W. 4800 South, and when it was finished in 1918, the old adobe home was torn down.

Our parents taught us the value of work.

We stacked and hauled wheat and hay, thinned and topped sugar beets and hauled them to the sugar factory. We milked cows and helped Mother churn butter, wash clothes, wash the kitchen floor, and carry in wood for the wood-burning stove. For fun, we went swimming in the canal and during my teen years, I owned a riding horse.

I attended the Plymouth School in Taylorsville, then Granite High School, where I was on the debating team, stock judging team, secretary of the student body in 1926 and Senior Class President in 1927. I graduated in May 1927.

After graduating, I got a job with Home Land Tailoring selling men’s suits and shirts. I was attending the University of Utah when I received a letter from my friend Avon Thomander asking me if I would consider coming to Pittsburg to take a course offered by Westinghouse Electric Corp. Avon’s brother Veron was employed by Westinghouse and he helped me get enrolled.

I arrived in Pittsburgh on the night of Feb. 13, 1920 , and it as bitter cold and foggy, but I was able to follow Avon’s directions and found his dormitory. In the morning, seeing Avon helped my homesickness and I was able to adjust as there was no turning back, being 2,000 miles from home.

In April 1930, Avon and I made a trip out to Salt Lake City, and before leaving to go back East, I became engaged to Louise Carlisle. (I went into debt to buy a diamond ring).

John, as a young child, gathers with his family in front of their adobe home.

PAGE 7

TAYLORSVILLE SENIOR CENTER 4743 S. Plymouth View Drive

Virtual Senior Center is a Hit Salt Lake County, Aging & Adult Services' Virtual Senior Center has been a huge success with our senior community.

The center has been providing a wide variety of programs including crafts, education, exercise, and socialization.

These programs are available through live video conference, live telephone groups, YouTube videos, and self-guided activities that require neither phone nor computer. You can read more about the Virtual Senior Center and view current programs, by accessing the center’s newsletter online or stopping by the Taylorsville Senior Center, 4743 S. Plymouth View Drive, during drive-thru lunch hours (11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday through Friday) to pick up a copy.

Please check out the Taylorsville Senior Center’s website, Facebook page, and sign up for their email blast to receive current updates: www.slco.org/taylorsville-senior-center

Don’t Miss These Library Events The Taylorsville Library has planned several programs during the month of April. You’ll want to mark your calendar for these events: Library Hours — Library Hours are changing back to their regular schedule as of April 12.

• Current Hours: Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed Sunday.

• Hours starting April 12: Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Closed Sunday.

Virtual Adult Lecture | The Life and Times of Madam C.J. Walker Monday, April 12, 7 p.m.

A’Lelia Bundles, who has a 30-year career as an executive and Emmy-award winning producer with ABC News and NBC News, will highlight the life of entrepreneur and philanthropist, Madam C.J. Walker. Bundles is the author of the book, On Her Own Ground: The Life and Times of Madam C.J. Walker, a biography about her great-great-grandmother. The book is the inspiration for Self Made, the fictional Netflix series on Walker's life. Bundles is a graduate of Harvard College and Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism and is a trustee of Columbia University and chair emerita of the National Archives Foundation.

You must register for this event to receive the link to the WebEx Virtual Lecture.

Register here: https://tinyurl.com/rtp47cp8

Virtual Adult Lecture | The Mythology of the Superhero Tuesday, April 27, 7 p.m.

Andrew Bahlmann, associate professor of English at Snow College in Ephraim, Utah, will talk about superheroes as a mythology and how that mythology builds on the mythologies that have come before.

Bahlmann is the author of The Mythology of the Superhero.

You must register for this event to receive the link to the WebEx Virtual Lecture.

Register here: https://tinyurl.com/ym37jzpv

City Nature Challenge

Friday, April 30 to Monday, May 3, Participate Friday, April 30 to Saturday, May 8, Prize Pickup Participate in the City Nature Challenge 2021 to earn an eco-friendly prize from the Taylorsville Library.

Download the iNaturalist app. Find and photograph nature within the Wasatch boundaries: Box Elder, Cache, Davis, Salt Lake, Summit, Utah, Wasatch and Weber counties. Upload your photos to iNaturalist between April 30 and May 3. Come into Taylorsville Library between April 30 and May 8 and show that you submitted a photo to iNaturalist between the upload dates to pick out a prize. For more information about the City Nature Challenge 2021, visit: https://tinyurl.com/4j59uzuh

PAGE 8

| www.taylorsvilleut.gov

City of Taylorsville Newsletter

Wait to Water for Best Landscaping Results Whether it is a teenager waiting for that 16th birthday to be able to get behind the wheel or that special vacation, it is sometimes hard to wait. But waiting is a good practice in the spring when it comes to landscape watering.

By delaying watering your lawn before Mother’s Day, roots will have grown deeper and your lawn will be healthier. This delayed watering benefits the lawn in hotter months when the surface dries out quickly but the roots can access water deeper in the soil.

APRIL WFWRD UPDATES BAGGING RECYCLABLES Please do not place anything in your recycling can that is wrapped in plastic bags. WFWRD is still seeing many situations where residents are placing their recyclable materials in plastic bags. The recycling processing facilities will not accept plastic-bagged materials, and they often send them to the landfill, unopened.

Contact Sustainability Coordinator Ethan Morris, EMorris@wasatchfrontwaste.org or 385-468-6337, if you have specific recycling questions.

ANNUAL EARTH DAY Earth Day is on April 22. Help celebrate our beautiful planet and practice conservation efforts by reducing the use of disposable plastics, recycling your e-waste and buying local produce. More information and suggestions can be found at www.earthday.org.

ILLEGAL DUMPING

Utah Administrative Code R315 requires all waste to be disposed of at a properly designated disposal facility. It is illegal to dispose of any waste at any other location. If residents see any illegal dumping, they should contact the Salt Lake County Health Department at 385-468-4100.

BROKEN/DAMAGED CANS QUESTIONS? Please contact Taylorsville-Bennion Improvement District by calling 801-968-9081 or visiting www.tbid.org.

Page 22 | April 2021

You can also follow the district on Facebook and Twitter.

If your garbage or recycle can is broken or damaged, please call the Wasatch Front Waste & Recycling District office at 385-468-6325. They will come and repair your cans as part of your fees for services. You can also complete an online service order request at https://wasatchfrontwaste.org/ report-a-problem-or-request-service/

Taylorsville City Journal

ch amberWest

Meet Your Next boss at our

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Silly, Jonesi, and Call sit patiently waiting for their owner to take them for a walk, thinking about their recent weight gain and high blood pressure. (Photo courtesy of Kortney Wilcock)

Tails will wag with plenty of active play and exercise uring the month of April, National Canine Fitness Month focuses on keeping our loyal companions happy and healthy.

“Dogs definitely need a lot of exercise and activity,” said Cindy Christensen, an experienced dog trainer and owner of Let’s Train Your Dog. “Activity is where a dog gets its mental health. Any dog can become depressed and destructive, and I think it is one of the biggest things that dogs do not get enough exercise.”

Directing your dog through a timed obstacle course may not be the type of exercise your companion needs. The size and breed of the dog will dictate the type of training it needs.

“Walking your dog is a relatively new thing. In my day we opened the back door and let them run around. Working dogs like a German shepherd or labradoodle are high-energy breeds and they need a lot of exercise.

A Newfoundland is a giant dog but will sleep all day. The breed of the dog is a big factor,” Christensen said.

Active play is one way to incorporate more exercise for your dog. Throw a ball or stick in a safe environment or better yet run or jog alongside it. Others may use their own yoga routine, asking the dog to lay down when you’re in a cobra pose or sit when you’re in a downward-facing dog pose.

The company FitPaws spearheads the month-long awareness to help prevent canine obesity and keep dogs active. Just like their human counterparts too much sitting around and large amounts of treats can cause weight gain, sore joints, difficulty breathing, and a higher risk of other diseases.

Sedentarism, the lack of movement, has

TaylorsvilleJ ournal.com

become a normal lifestyle for many canines and their humans. The opposite of a sedentary lifestyle is movement. Canine Fitness Month encourages dog owners to take a step toward a healthier lifestyle with their four-legged friends.

“Sometimes we wonder why dogs go crazy. I had a depressed pit bull in Magna that jumped through a plate glass window. It had so much energy and needed to expend that energy.

I really believe that people don’t exercise their dogs enough,” Christensen said.

The amount of exercise a dog needs should be a deciding factor in the type of dog you bring into your life and home.

“Do research before you pick a dog. Learn about the mom and dad of the puppies. Are they high energy or do they have other health issues? I believe many of the backyard breeders do not know what they are doing. Do your homework. Don’t pay a fortune for a dog that you don’t know much about,” Christensen said.

Obedience training can begin when a puppy reaches four weeks, but it is never too old to learn.

“I think anyone can teach sit, come, heal, stay. It takes more than that to help the dog become well behaved,” Christensen said.

Types of training methods vary. Christensen recommends teaching the dog respect, others use e-collars or treat recognition.

“A dog really needs a couple of hours a day. A dog needs activity and if you are not willing then you probably should not buy one,” Christensen said.

FitPaws is encouraging dog owners to share successes and tips using #caninefitnessmonth on social media. l

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JOb seeKers INVIteD, Free tO atteND! covid Friendly Job FAir – Following safety protocols for organized events, we will be inviting 100 businesses, who are looking for employees, to meet with students and job seekers. Attend the JoB Fair and gain access to help with resume writing, interview coaching, and more.

There is No CoSt to participate. The JoB Fair will be student focused from 2-4pm and open to the community from 4-6pm.

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By Greg James | g.james@mycityjournals.com

April 2021 | Page 23

Celebrate National Walking Day with a stroll or hike

By Greg James | g.james@mycityjournals.com

S

top talkin’ and start walkin’! Get up, get out and form an exercise plan because National Walking Day is April 7.

“Walking at a nice pace will give you all the exercise you need for your heart and lungs,” said Bill Caughey, personal trainer at Kearns Oquirrh Park Fitness center.

Walking is a great way to improve or maintain your health. Just 30 minutes a day can increase cardiovascular fitness, strengthen bones, reduce excess body fat and boost muscle power and endurance.

Exercise does not need to be vigorous or done for long periods of time to improve your health. A 2007 study by betterhealth. com of inactive women, found that even low levels of exercise, 75 minutes a week, improved fitness levels immensely compared to a non-exercising group.

“Walking forces your heart and lungs to work. I prefer having my clients walk rather than run. The reason is running is high impact and will bother their hips, knees and ankles,” Caughey said.

Walking is low impact, requires minimal equipment and can be done at any time of the day.

“Young folks and older folks can do it.

There is no down side. Start by going around your block once. Listen to your body, if once

around is good it is OK. The next day you might do a little more. In two or three weeks you could easily walk a mile,” Caughey said.

Walking is known as a weight bearing exercise. Its benefits include: reduced risk of heart disease and stroke, improved management of conditions such as hypertension, high cholesterol and diabetes and reduced body fat.

To get the health benefits, try to walk at least 30 minutes as briskly as you can each day. Brisk means you can still talk, but not sing. Moderate activities pose little health risk, but if you have a medical condition speak to your doctor before beginning any exercise program.

Some suggestions to build walking into your daily routine include taking the stairs instead of the elevator, parking far away from the store entrance and walking to your shopping destination, if possible.

“At a certain point you will feel good, the endorphins are being released. A suggestion when you walk, expand your gate (lengthen your stride). It will stretch your hips and joints and the muscles around them,” Caughey said. “Sweating is not a function of how hard you have exercised.”

Walking is a low-cost exercise. Good shoes and loose fitting clothes are important.

Get out and stretch those legs with a good walk around the block. (Greg James/City Journals)

“Shoes are important, watch them closely. If you use them regularly the soles will get crushed. That is natural. Be prepared to get new ones about every six months,” Caughey said.

Walking can be used along with resistance training to increase fitness levels.

Caughey uses it for his personal training experience.

“I am a competitive powerlifter. After a strenuous workout I will walk around the block or on the treadmill. It will flush my body full of blood and carry nutrients all over. It feeds the parts of my body that need

it. Walking is also great after a crappy day at work. Come home and immediately go for a walk. It will settle your mind and allow your body to relax. Then go eat dinner and do your evening chores,” he said.

Personal trainers and physical therapists are available to help you make a plan to improve your health. Caughey can be contacted through kopfc.com for more information. He has earned six certifications including personal training, youth fitness and strength and conditioning. He is a master trainer through the International Sports and Sciences Association. l

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Taylorsville City Journal

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TaylorsvilleJ ournal.com

April 2021 | Page 25

Utah’s poet laureate helps communities celebrate National Poetry Month

U

tah has a thriving literary community, and the state’s poet laureate has worked to let people know about it. Paisley Rekdal, a distinguished professor at the University of Utah, has built a website featuring over 200 Utah writers, and she has helped organize activities for National Poetry Month this April.

Mapping Literary Utah is a website that encourages readers to discover Utah authors and their connections to places in Utah. The site lists novelists, poets, playwrights and nonfiction writers by region so readers can learn more about them and how their work connects to their part of Utah.

“I remember when I was growing up in Seattle and none of the poetry anthologies had something from the Pacific Northwest,” Rekdal said. “I think Utah suffers from the same mental blind spot. There is a very vibrant group of writers in this place.”

Rekdal hopes the Map of Literary Utah helps connect writers, build readership, and show that Utah has a strong literary culture. She also hopes the site will inspire budding writers in the state.

“Seeing it, someone might say, ‘I can do this too, I can also be a novelist or a poet or a playwright,’” Rekdal said.

Rekdal has also worked with others to mark National Poetry Month this April. This will include online poetry readings and regular social media posts featuring poets of all ages.

National Poetry Month will also feature the Utah Poetry Festival, a virtual event this year from April 16-18. People can register on the festival’s website and view events on the Utah Humanities YouTube channel. The event will provide materials for educators, showcase poetry in the pandemic, and more.

Rekdal has published several collections of poetry. She

By Joshua Wood | j.wood@mycityjournals.com

Paisley Rekdal’s works, including the collection “Nightingale,” are idely available. (Joshua Wood/City Journals)

has also written nonfiction, including the book “The Broken Country: On Trauma, a Crime, and the Continuing Legacy of Vietnam.” With her literary versatility, she has long gravitated to poetry.

“I think poetry is private,” Rekdal said. “I like it because it’s quiet, meditative, and slows things down.”

Part of Utah’s literary community is its local bookstores.

Aaron Cance regularly features local authors at his bookstore, The Printed Garden in Sandy, and he maintains a substantial poetry section.

“Poetry enriches lives in a lot of different ways, and I think that poetry enriches not just a reader’s life but also a writer’s life,” Cance said. “Even people who are unpublished, their lives

will be enriched by the act of writing poetry, in the act of trying to find a new way to describe or perceive the world around them. Any kind of writing like that is very satisfying and enriching whether you wind up getting published or not.”

The Printed Garden regularly hosts the 15 Bytes poetry awards each year in November, and Cance hopes to resume the tradition after the pandemic prevented it in 2020.

“I think the best poets are poets who can get you to see the world in ways that you didn’t see it before,” Cance said. “That to me is the primary function of poetry.”

What better source for advice on writing poetry than the state’s poet laureate. Rekdal has a straightforward formula for writers. “You have to read a ton,” she said. “You can judge what is more urgent, see trends in poetry, and see the larger conversation in poetry, what makes a poem work and what makes it less successful.”

Finding subject matter can be different for each writer.

Utah’s poet laureate doesn’t necessarily search for subject matter for her poems. “I think largely the subject matter chooses you; you don’t choose the subject matter,” Rekdal said.

From the recent soaring success of Amanda Gorman, the youngest inaugural poet in U.S. history, to an already steady rise in poetry readership, Rekdal sees Utah’s literary community growing. As for those who might think poetry is beyond them, Rekdal thinks there’s enough variety for everybody.

“There’s so many different types of poems out there,” Rekdal said. “I think it’s sad when people say poetry isn’t for me.

That’s like saying food isn’t for me.” l

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Page 26 | April 2021

Taylorsville City Journal

Community comes together for the Utah Food Bank

P

eople often only think of the Utah Food Bank during the holidays, but food insecurity is a 365-day reality for many people in Utah.

"Five hundred eleven thousand Utahns, which equates to one in six individuals, are at risk of missing a meal today. Even more alarming is that one in five Utah kids are unsure where the next meal is coming," reports the Utah Food Bank website.

"So, this year, the pandemic has done things that rippled through our state," Ginette Bolt, president and CEO of the Utah Food Bank said. "Many people who have come to us for help this year have never had to come before. They were unemployed suddenly in April or May. Perhaps the restaurant or the movie theater or the bar where they worked was closed immediately. They've maybe had money for two or three weeks, and after that, they needed help. So, a huge percentage of people had to find services. So, this year not only was it important for us to be able to serve regular clients, but we had to be able to really fill the gap for those first-time users."

Feed Utah food drive Utahns across the state joined together to collect food on March 20. Early indications show the drive was extraordinarily successful.

"We look to be on track for it to be close to, if not, record-setting poundage from a one-day food drive," Heidi Cannella, communications director of the Utah Food Bank, said.

At one collection point in Salt Lake County, youth removed collected food donations from cars, trucks and trailers.

"Because it is a good cause," said one youth named Cooper, standing in the rain.

The drive was so successful that they ran out of boxes at the collection point, but people kept coming. Staff decided to put the small donations directly into the last of three semitrailers.

"But there's nothing more heartfelt when you have a child look at you and be excited and say, 'I get to have dinner tonight.' That's what this is about. This is what we do," Bolt said, "There is no reason for children in this day and age, in our area in our state, to go hungry. It takes a collaborative effort; we all have to work together."

Associated Foods and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were major supporters of the drive.

"We are Associated Food stores, and we're passionate about food. We're in the food industry, and we love our communities and so anything that we can do to help support and uplift our communities we support. Anything that involves food is where we want to be involved," Ashlee Johnstun, director of customer relations of Associated Food Stores, said.

Johnstun mentioned that all 38 corpo-

TaylorsvilleJ ournal.com

By Bill Hardesty | b.hardesty@mycityjournals.com

rate stores across the state participated along with many of their independent retailers.

They also sponsor food drives within their stores throughout the year.

Another way Associated Foods helps is by pulling dated food before the expiration date. The food either goes to Utah Food Bank or a local pantry.

"You know this is who we are. And especially with the new children and youth program that just launched last year. It's all about having children and youth lead and care for those in need," said Ahmad S. Corbitt, first counselor in the Young Men General Presidency, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Corbitt also said, "We are out here doing this with our neighbors. Of course, there are a lot of members of the church here. They're also Baptists and Catholics and Greek Orthodox, Jews and Muslims. You know, it is a statewide community-wide movement that will help feed everybody, and hunger doesn't respect religion or wherever you live, so we don't either. We are a respecter of everybody."

The journey of the peanut butter jar Cannella explained the journey of a peanut butter jar that is donated. After it is collected from the doorstep of a person who donates, it is brought to a collection point.

Volunteers place the jar in a large box that is loaded into semitrailers.

The boxes are delivered to the Utah Food Bank, where additional volunteers sort the donations. The sorted items are placed into storage.

It is likely that with two weeks or so, that peanut butter jar is taken to a food pantry or used in a mobile food pantry. Days later, that peanut butter jar is opened, and someone along the Wasatch Front is being fed and nourished.

Other Utah Food Bank programs Besides networking with local food pantries, the Utah Food Bank has a variety of targeted programs.

The Kids Café is a program that targets at-risk children. The Utah Food Bank partners with after-school educational sites such a Promise SSL, where children are fed a meal at a site. Last year, this program provided 484,234 meals to children.

The Mobile School Pantry is the newest program. Each month during the school year, a Utah Food Bank truck arrives on school property. Staff and volunteers assist students and their parents in receiving food. Last year, through distribution at 85 school sites, 336,414 individuals, including 195,655 children received food.

The Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) is a federally funded program design to improve the health of seniors living in poverty. The USDA ships nutritious food directly to Utah Food Bank. Last year,

Food donations start to arrive at a collection point on March 20. (Bill Hardesty/City Journals)

When they ran out of boxes, they started to put the food directly into a semitrailer. (Bill Hardesty/City Journals)

36,114 CSFP were delivered to individual residences and senior housing sites or picked up at a local food pantry.

The UFB Food Box Program targets homebound people with disabilities and seniors living in poverty. The boxes are delivered to the client's home. Each box contains about one week's worth of nonperishable food, plus as much fresh food as available.

Last year, 9,550 boxes were delivered.

Mobile pantries are used to deliver food to what are classified as “food deserts” or areas that are underserved by traditional food pantries. The mobile pantries are not just for rural Utah. Many mobile pantries are found within the county, like in Bennion, Hunter, Granger and Millcreek. Last year, 654,934 individuals were served.l

April 2021 | Page 27

Attached: forming secure relationships

By Cassie Goff | c.goff@mycityjournals.com

“I

’m going to use this time to work on myself,” is one of the most common phrases I’ve heard this past year in facing isolation, quarantine, distancing, and other forced desocialization with the pandemic. Various form of that sentiment have included: utilizing time to fully process lingering events or situations; learning how to be content being alone; growing self-worth and self-love, practicing meditative and grounding techniques; and figuring out individual desires and motivations.

In the journey to self-discovery, I tend to recommend figuring out your attachment style.

Learning your own attachment style can help in deconstructing past experiences; realizing certain patterns in your own emotions, reactions, and behavior; fostering relationships; and developing well-being.

Psychology research has identified four main attachment styles: Secure, anxious-(resistant/preoccupied/ambivalent: also known as preoccupied), avoidant-dismissive, and avoidant-fearful (also known as disorganized).

These attachment styles refer to how we socially attach to others. Research for attachment styles originated in developmental psychology as researchers were interested to learn how children formed attachments to their caretakers. With 70 years of research, we have learned attachment styles form relative to

how secure a child feels in having their needs met. This derives from the attentiveness and responsiveness of their caretaker. Attachment styles are theorized to form within the first 18 months of life.

Nowadays, research has drawn connections between the formation of our initial attachment styles and how we attach as adults to others in various relationships and situations (including romantic relationships, friendships, acquaintanceships, and in workplace settings). Attachment styles seem to function as blueprints for intimacy, especially in working through conflict and tough situations with others. Some researchers also believe attachment styles may influence temperament.

For example, children who formed secure attachments to their caretakers cried when separated but sought attention when reunited and became happy when their caretaker attended to them. (Fifty percent of the population.)

Those who formed secure attachment styles as children tend to find it easy to get close to others as adults. They form secure, enduring, and committed relationships in which they find satisfaction. They also tend to have a greater positive self-image.

Anxiously attached children engaged in protest behaviors when separated from their caretaker. (Twenty percent of the population.)

Researchers theorize such protest behaviors as attention-seeking. As adults, those who formed anxious attachment styles are less trusting of others and fear abandonment; resulting in ambivalent and possessive behaviors in relationships. They also tend to have less positive self-image and low self-worth.

Avoidantly-dismissive attached children showed little to no response to caretaker separation. (Twenty-five percent of the population.)

Researchers theorize this behavior as a punishment to the caretaker. Avoidant adults do not allow others to get too close. They tend to be less invested in relationships and are more likely to restrict intimacy or end relationships.

They also tend to be more self-reliant.

Avoidantly-fearful children could not have their needs met in reasonable ways. (Five percent of the population.) There were no predictable patterns for ease after caretaker separation. Disorganized adults tend to be fearful of getting hurt and are distrustful of others. They tend to exhibit mood swings or other unpredictable behaviors in relationships. They also tend to have low confidence.

I’d be amiss if I did not point out how attachment styles are observed and realized through patterns of behavior. Through this process, there are many generalizations. If you know you engaged in protest behaviors

as a child, an anxious attachment style was not necessarily formed. The only person who can know in complete certainty the attachment style you may have formed, is you.

Knowing your attachment style is not the end-all be-all for relationships either. Many adults have worked to change their attachment styles. A person who may have formed an avoidantly-dismissive attachment style as a child can work to form secure attachments in other adult relationships.

In considering your previous and current living environments, families, and other experiences, you may begin to understand your own attachment style(s). Realizing your own attachment style(s) can lead to recognizing patterns in your own behaviors, emotions, needs, and relationship-forming habits. In doing so, there’s an extensive amount of growth that can occur, not only in yourself, but in finding and creating secure and healthy relationships as well.

Research sourced form: Ainsworth, Baldwin, Bartholomew, Bowlby, Cassidy, Davis, Derci, Erikson, Firestone, Jones & Cunnigham, Hazan, Horowitz, Kennedy, Levine, Loveheim, Maxwell, Mickelson, Miller & Rempel, Shaver, Simpson, Sternberg & Grajek. l

Summit Vista Opens Meadow Peak, Full-Service, Onsite Medical Services Facility Summit Vista is opening Meadow Peak, an onsite assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing and rehabilitative care in a new 150,000 sq. ft. facility at 6084 S. Summit Vista Blvd., in Taylorsville Thursday, April 7.

Meadow Peak is the crowning achievement at Summit Vista, Utah’s first life plan community, because it allows residents to receive additional supportive services like assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing that complete the full continuum of care.

Healthcare professionals ensure every need is compassionately met while promoting the dignity of each resident, as well as helping them stay as independent as possible.

“One key to quality care it so provide each resident with their own individualized care plan,” said Mark Erickson, Summit Vista CEO and Executive Director. “That includes nutritious eating, as well as socializing activities and transportation.”

Life enrichment activities play an integral part in our approach and ensure each resident has the opportunity to participate in an personalized life skill or activity every day, if they like. That includes: • Doing tailored activities based on background, retained skills, abilities, and interests to stimulate positive memories; • Creating an enhanced sense of meaning, accomplishment, purpose, belonging, and connection with others; • Observing and addressing moods and well-being; and • Stimulating the senses through familiar objects and activities to help maintain and improve functional skills.

At Summit Vista, good food is also an integral part of our health and well-being.

Page 28 | April 2021

“We offer a gourmet dining experience with bistro-style dining seven days a week, and our residents love it,” said Tim Needles, Executive Director of Meadow Peak. “Together with our in-house dietician, our culinary team prepares delicious and nutritious food to accommodate all diets, food restrictions, and discriminating palates.

“With our Meadow Peak opening, residents will have personal and health-related services available 24 hours a day, with each service designed to assist residents with the various activities of daily living, while helping them maintain their personal lifestyle.”

Meadow Peak provides studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments, along with services for inpatient and outpatient therapy, pharmacy, mail, transportation, religious services, beautician, barber, laundry, housekeeping and more.

The beautifully architectured addition, built by Gardner Company, includes 54 assisted living apartments with 22 studios, which includes 20 one-bedrooms and 12 two-bedrooms; 20 memory care suites; 75 skilled nursing beds; 51 private skilled nursing suites; and 12 semi-private skilled nursing suites.

“Along with Gardner Company, we have partnered with Mission Health Services and CNS for premier healthcare services,” Needles said.

“All higher levels of care offered at Meadow Peak are administered by Mission Healthcare, and additional services are available through CNS and other healthcare partners.”

With Meadow Peak, residents and their families can have peace of mind in knowing each resident’s health needs will be taken care of now, as well as in the future.

“We make it our mission to provide a continuum of coordinated, integrated, and comprehensive health and wellness services that adhere to the Eden Alternative® philosophy of focusing on the care of the human spirit, as well as the human body,” said Erickson.

Called a revolutionary way to retire, Summit Vista is a 105-acre gated campus that provides an active senior living community and offers residents worry-free living, exceptional amenities, and an onsite continuum of care that includes independent living, assisted living, home care, nursing care, memory care and rehabilitation services.

The innovative retirement living community also includes a seemingly endless supply of maintenance-free conveniences, time-saving services, luxurious apartment homes, exclusive health and wellness opportunities, and a vast selection of programs to enhance retirement at every turn.

For more information, visit SummitVista.com.

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April 2021 | Page 29

Open space and family activities contribute to county quality of life

Aimee Winder Newton Salt Lake County Council | District 3

Have a 12oz coffee on us!

The days are starting to get longer and warmer, and that means many county residents are looking for things to do outside this spring. We are lucky to live in the beautiful state of Utah, with countless scenic locations that draw locals and outsiders alike. But residents don’t have to go far to enjoy the bright sunny days and pleasant evenings outside.

Salt Lake County is home to over 70 parks throughout the valley, as well as 25 designated open space areas. From structured activities and events, to reservable outdoor amenities, to simple green space areas to get away from it all, there are plenty of options to enjoy the summer.

You might wonder why the county has such a plethora of outdoor spaces for its residents. The answer is simple: we are committed to creating an environment in which our residents can thrive. More than just an entity charged with providing basic governmental services, Salt Lake County is invested in the well-being of its residents. Healthy, wholesome activities that foster families and friendships is an important part of that success.

We want Salt Lake County to be a great place to live, work, raise a family, and recreate. Outdoor venues for a variety of activities contribute to good mental and physical health, and increase the sense of community

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our residents feel. We work better together as friends, neighbors, and – yes, elected officials - when we have a strong emotional investment in our community. I firmly believe adequate open spaces contribute to this community approach.

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Taylorsville City Journal

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Teaching yoga at Kearns Oquirrh Park Fitness Center means I need to stay certified in CPR and first aid. After completing my recent CPR class, the only thing I know for sure is, “Hi, I’m Peri Kinder and I’m certified in CPR” is not the same as “Hi, I’m Peri Kinder and I can save your life.”

My previous medical training was years of watching M*A*S*H episodes, specifically the one where Father Mulcahy performs a tracheotomy on a wounded soldier by slicing open the man’s throat and sticking a pen down his windpipe. We didn’t learn how to do that.

Theoretically, we learned how to identify serious injuries, how to administer aid and how to use an AED (not to be confused with an IED or an IUD).

We were taught the signs of shock, which include being irritable and restless, and I realized I’ve been in shock for a half-century. If someone is in shock, you should cover them with a blanket. I do that after work. I wrap up in a blanket and tell my family, “Stay away. I’m in shock.”

Another technique we covered was how to make small talk with people who are injured. We’re supposed to put them at ease until emergency personnel show up. But I’m terrible at small talk. Someone could have a bone sticking out of their thigh and I’d say, “So, do you like to eat

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food? Have you always had legs?” Then I’d throw up. And pass out.

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going to hit the pole. She wasn’t a particularly good friend.

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We learned about the signs of a stroke.

The instructor said if you think someone is having a stroke, ask them to smile. But here’s the rub--you should never ask a woman to smile, even if it could save her life. Because if she isn’t having a stroke, she’ll murder you.

Did you know a wound from nuclear radiation is considered a critical burn?

Here’s my idea of a critical burn: “Your hair is so ratty it squeaks when you walk.”

Anaphylaxis (a.k.a. severe allergic reaction) is pretty nasty, too. If you have an epi-pen, I hope you’re conscious enough to use it because needles make me faint.

And don’t you think anaphylaxis sounds like the name of a Jane Austen character?

“Anna Phalaxis was prone to consumption and frailty.”

During the class, I expressed concern that I wouldn’t be able to remember all this info if there was an actual emergency, but the instructors were truly kind. They said, “Don’t overthink it. Let your training kick in.”

So, if you’re in my yoga class and have a medical emergency, I’m trained to get someone else to help. You can thank me later.

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April 2021 | Vol. 8 Iss. 04

FREE

TAYLORSVILLE DAYZZ 2021 IS A FULL GO, LIKELY WITHOUT MASKS

By Carl Fauver | c.fauver@mycityjournals.com

T

hat glimmer of light, at the end of our yearlong coronavirus tunnel, is now as bright as the annual Taylorsville Dayzz fireworks displays, which are now, officially, less than three months away. Not only is the annual city celebration back after its 2020 COVID-19 hiatus, but there may also not be a mask in sight.

“After checking with the county and state health departments, we have been authorized to hold Taylorsville Dayzz this year,” 21-year event committee chairman Jim Dunnigan said.

“And, if the numbers continue to trend as they are now—with fewer positive COVID tests and coronavirus hospitalizations— we will be allowed to host it without requiring masks or social distancing. But either way, it’s officially a go.”

Dunnigan shared that good news with several members of his Taylorsville Dayzz Committee, during a mid-March Zoom meeting. Taylorsville City Councilwoman Meredith Harker was among the 18 volunteers on the call.

“We are all so excited, because it’s time to join back together as a community,” Harker said. “We just need this. And what a great way to celebrate 25 years.”

Taylorsville was incorporated in the summer of 1996, 100 years after Utah became a state, and 25 years ago. City officials have declared 2021 the “Taylorsville 25th Birthday Bash” year.

Taylorsville Dayzz volunteers are now scrambling to pull everything together. Normally, the organizing committee may take a month or two off, after the previous festival, but they basically have an entire year to work through details. This year Continued page 5 The Taylorsville Dayzz carnival rides will be back this year, including at least one brand-new one for adults. (Photo courtesy Taylorsville City)

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