Taylorsville City Journal | June 2020

June 2020 | Vol. 7 Iss. 06

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AMIDST THE CHAOS,

TAYLORSVILLE BUSINESS SECURES $575,000 PPP LOAN

By Carl Fauver | c.fauver@mycityjournals.com

T

he world came falling out from under a new Taylorsville business owner, less than two weeks after she and a partner bought the company she had built from the ground up, as its executive director. Faced with possible financial ruin she never saw coming, Kris Carter turned to the kind of help that many of us instinctively think is more the problem than the solution.

Carter put her faith in banking behemoth JPMorgan Chase. But while we may think of the bank as a “Goliath,” Kris had no idea the pair of bankers who landed in her corner would be so “David-like.”

The result? Carter secured a $575,000 Paycheck Protection Program loan, ensuring none of her 58 Aspire Home Health & Hospice (1020 Atherton Drive) employees would have to be laid off.

“I couldn’t believe two bankers from such a huge operation would care so much,” Carter said, while failing to muffle tears. “I did not expect such a human touch from such a large organization. The loan allowed me to guarantee my employees’ salaries. When I told them we got the loan, they were crying, I was crying. They are like family and are so brave. I did not want to let them down.”

Nearly 60 Taylorsville employees are still receiving their pay, after Aspire Home Health & Hospice secured a $575,000 PPP loan. (Aspire HH&H) Aspire Home Health & Hospice opened its Taylorsville doors in 2010 with Carter as one of the founders. fan out across the Salt Lake Valley, serving patients where have traveling nurses, CNAs (certified nursing assistants), However, she did not have an ownership stake in the they live. doctors and therapists. In addition to our 58 employees, company. Instead, the business was simply one of many, “We provide hospice care in private homes, assist- we also have 30 contracted medical providers.” owned by a larger operation. ed living facilities and nursing homes,” Carter said. “We About 15 months ago, Continued page 5 Aspire has no on-site patients. Instead, its employees

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June 2020 | Page 3

Summit Vista seniors report zero virus cases; facility construction continues on schedule

By Carl Fauver | c.fauver@mycityjournals.com

Summit Vista residents have been making their own protective masks and have avoided any coronavirus cases.

(Courtesy Summit Vista)

D

espite all the devastating coronavirus news we’ve heard regarding nursing homes and senior living facilities, Summit Vista in Taylorsville (3390 West 6200 South) is making its way through the pandemic virtually unscathed.

“As of mid-May we have had no residents test positive for coronavirus, and only one employee [has tested positive],” said Summit Vista Executive Director and CEO Mark Erickson. “And that one employee who tested positive (on April 25) has recovered and did not have to be hospitalized.”

The 200 people who call Summit Vista home (occupying 140 apartments) have enjoyed this health success, despite not being under the same restrictions as many similar senior living communities.

“I know residents at some other facilities have been completely locked down, basically restricted to their apartments at nearly all times,” Erickson added. “We haven’t done

Journals

that. Our residents come down to gather their mail. Our small store has remained open, and we have added items for sale. We were ready to impose more restrictions if a resident tested positive for the virus. But, so far, that has not happened.”

Summit Vista residents are also not required to wear face masks as they walk through common areas, though it is “highly recommended.” Erickson estimates about 70% of his residents are doing so.

Early on in the pandemic lockdown, members of the Summit Vista quilting club got busy, making masks.

“We had about 24 residents make 200 masks in just five days,” Erickson said.

“Each resident had access to a free mask, and a few that were left over were put on sale in the store.”

Prior to the pandemic, Summit Vista residents used to be invited to monthly residents’ meetings to get updated on community

events and activities. Now, Erickson records important information and posts it on YouTube.

“At the beginning, I was recording three of these a week, then it went to two, and now one,” he said. “We also tried doing Zoom meetings early on, but pre-recording them seems to be the most efficient.”

Three large buildings remain under construction with almost no slowdown due to the virus. A third, 130,000-square-foot, 95unit apartment building is scheduled to open in October. Meanwhile, work began on a 150,000-square-foot “continuum care” building last December. And ground was broken on a fourth residential building five months ago.

“The care building will feature 75 skilled nursing beds for long-term and rehabilitation,” Erickson said. “There will also be a rehab gym, restaurants, 20 memory care apartments and another 66 assisted living beds in about 50 apartments. It’s scheduled to open next May.” After closing the swimming pool several weeks ago, center officials have reopened that amenity as well. However, only two residents are allowed in at a time. They can be in the pool for 45 minutes. When they leave, staff take 15 minutes disinfecting hand railings and anything else that was touched before the next pair enters.

As of mid-May, Summit Vista’s Zions Bank branch also reopened with limited hours along with the clubhouse salon, available by appointment.

Family, friends and other non-essential visitors were still being restricted from the site at the end of May, although health, safety and protocol decisions were continuing to be made on a daily basis.

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Summit Vista residents have been making their own protective masks and have avoided any coronavirus cases. (Courtesy Summit Vista)

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About two dozen members of the Summit Vista quilting club recently teamed up to make some 200 protective masks. (Courtesy Summit Vista)

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Finally, Erickson also said sales of Summit Vista apartments have not slumped during the pandemic either.

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Continued from front page

Carter and one of her longest-tenured employees — registered nurse Wendi Snell — began thinking about purchasing Aspire from its multi-faceted parent company.

“We worked on it for about a year and finally closed the deal on March 2,” she said.

That was nine days before the NBA suspended its season, the first domino to fall in an economic collapse that had 36 million Americans filed for unemployment by mid-May. “We weren’t thinking about coronavirus when we closed the deal,” Carter said. “We had been working on [finalizing the purchase] for about a year and just wanted to get it done.”

When word came out the federal government would make PPP loans available, Kris knew she wanted to be a part of it. But, so did millions of other small business owners. And we have all heard the stories about how many of them struck out.

Carter credits her success to the tenacity of JPMorgan Chase’s Phil Beck and Katalin Henderson, her “David-like” bankers.

“It was a crazy four-day period (April 3–6); I had to submit my loan application online three times,” Carter said. “Katalin called me late on that Friday night, another couple of times on Saturday and again on Sunday. They both kept me constantly in the loop. And I know they were helping many other clients at the same time. I never would have got the loan if they hadn’t been so dedicated.”

Katalin Henderson called it a challenging but satisfying weekend.

“I couldn’t control COVID-19, but I could control

Aspire Home Health & Hospice of Taylorsville is still going strong, thanks in part to a $575,000 PPP loan. (Aspire HH&H)

how I worked with my customers,” Henderson said. “Our end goal was to help our clients and work to keep people afloat. Making the call to Kris telling her she had received her loan, I think we were both crying. It was very emotional.”

The $575,000 loan covered Aspire Home Health and Hospice employee salaries through April and May. Through both rounds of the federal PPP loans, JPMorgan Chase officials report their company loaned nearly $380 million to 2,447 applicants, with an average loan size of just under $155,000. Aspire’s loan amount was more than 3 1/2 times that average.

“I think we will survive this crisis,” Carter said. “But without that loan, I’m not sure.”

That’s 58 employees who have a tenacious new boss to thank for the jobs they still have, along with a pair of bankers who chose not to keep “banker’s hours.” l

Aspire Home Health & Hospice employees are on the front lines of the pandemic battle, caring for senior patients across the Salt Lake Valley.

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June 2020 | Page 5

Schools scramble to refund students for classes, sports participation, tours

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

A

s in-person schools were dismissed abruptly under Gov. Gary Herbert’s “soft closure” order in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, many school activities were canceled, from spring sports to academic tours.

High school classes, which require fees such as woodworking and ceramics, now have classrooms of projects left in progress, uncertain when, if and how students will return to complete them.

In the midst of all this, school districts and school administrators are in the process of refunding students’ fees.

At Hillcrest High in Midvale, junior Abby Morrell had been looking forward to going to Washington, D.C. with the vocal ensemble, wind ensemble, and chamber orchestra for a festival.

Her mother, Barbara Morrell, was asked last minute to be one of the 90-student group’s chaperones and just paid her tour fees two days before she got an email on March 12, saying that the trip scheduled for March 2630 was canceled and it was being looked into rescheduling or refunding.

Twelve days later, Barbara emailed the school, inquiring about the $1,250 refund for both herself and her daughter. The next day, Principal Greg Leavitt emailed saying the school’s decision was to reschedule the trip next spring and so all the funds would roll over for that tour. No new tour dates were provided.

The 21 seniors, chaperones of senior students, or those who weren’t planning to commit to the classes were to be refunded unless the fee was paid for out of fundraising. The latter would be donated to the music department.

“The rest of us weren’t given the option of getting a full refund,” Barbara said. “I’d love to get the money back to pay something or be able to use it. Some people may want or need to free up those funds now.”

Hillcrest vocal ensemble and chamber orchestra director RaNae Dalgleish said that the decision was made by administration after talking to parties involved, including WorldStrides that was hosting the festival where the groups would perform, be evaluated and participate in clinics given by notable musicians and professors.

The tour also included vocal ensemble performing the national anthem at a flag-raising ceremony at Fort McHenry, giving a tribute at the Martin Luther King Memorial and singing at a local cathedral. The groups also would go sightseeing in the area.

“It was unprecedented and ultimately, WorldStrides canceled the entire festival, which involved hundreds of tours or more,” Dalgleish said. “We had made the final tour payment days before. Our choices were to use the money on next spring’s tour at the same or a different location, but equivalent-priced tour, or get a refund and lose half the airfare,

Page 6 | June 2020

Seen here in 2018, Cottonwood High School students participated in their music tour in Los Angeles, however this year, the performing arts students weren’t able to travel to San Francisco after schools were put on “soft closure” during the COVID-19 pandemic and now students are awaiting refunds on tour fees. (Amber Tuckness/ Cottonwood High)

because the airline wasn’t given a full refund.”

Dalgleish said that right now, the school will absorb the cost of the seniors, and hope to be reimbursed as new members in the groups pay to go on tour next year.

She also said that while the tour is meant to celebrate and learn about music from other parts of the country, the absence of performing together also has had a powerful, bonding effect.

“The kids are all in and they’ve learned not to take this for granted. They even got together, six feet apart, to sing in the lawn of one of the students as they were missing singing and performing together. I think when we come back, we’ll be stronger and ready to start again,” Dalgleish said.

At Corner Canyon High in Draper, about 80 choir students were to participate in a festival in New York City. As of press deadline, negotiations were still being made with hotels to ensure students receive a full refund. The airlines reimbursed flights in vouchers and the two Broadway shows the group was to attend were reimbursed in full.

The group also planned on seeing Little Italy, Chinatown, 9/11 Memorial and the Brooklyn Bridge.

“Right now, we have $1,100 of the $1,250 or so back and we’re still negotiating the onenight deposit on the hotel,” Principal Darrell Jensen said. “We had a choice to roll over the funds, but we don’t know if we’ll travel next year or even what next year would be like, so we decided to make it a clean break.”

Students who paid for the trip through fundraisers will have their funds be earmarked to the music department, he said.

Jensen said that school officials are looking at all students’ accounts, including class fees, activity or participation fees, and fines, to determine the amount that may be refunded by early June.

Canyons District Chief Financial Officer and Business Administrator Leon Wilcox said that he wasn’t aware of any of the five or six

trips approved for the remaining of the school year that were not in the process of reimbursement.

He also said that Canyons School District does not take out travel insurance, but individuals or schools can do so.

In an April 28 memo, Canyons School District outlined refunds to students, including that trips and tours should be worked with parents and teachers to determine the best method.

The memo continued to state $15 of activity fees to high school seniors should be returned while other students would have their fees reduced the next school year by the same amount. Participation fees for all sports would be refunded, but spirit packs that students already received would not. Dances and banquets that weren’t held should have money returned, while classes, would be up to the discretion of the teacher on materials used to determine any refunds. And if driver’s ed was completed online, money would not be refunded, but rather a time to schedule driving instruction would be determined when restrictions have been lifted.

At Brighton High, Principal Tom Sherwood said his performing arts groups planned to participate in the WorldStrides festival in Anaheim. Fortunately, the 150 students’ fees had been collected in the office, but not paid yet to the festival so he won’t have to be dealing with airlines, hotels and transportation to refund students’ money.

Sherwood said that refund process as well as the collection of student checkedout items, such as textbooks, calculators, uniforms, musical instruments and Chromebooks, will take place in late May. Even Canyons School District’s community education classes were in the process of prorating refunds for students in various afterschool programs and community education courses for approximately 1,080 people, said Jose Rincon, head administrative assistant.

Cottonwood High’s 130 members in choir, band, orchestra and jazz band were ex-

pecting full $750 refunds from their canceled San Francisco tour, that included a WorldStrides festival as well as “Hamilton” tickets and Alcatraz tour tickets that they had just purchased weeks prior to the tour cancellation.

“San Francisco was an early hot spot for the coronavirus, so we were watching what was happening,” said band director Amber Tuckness. “If I canceled our trip, we wouldn’t receive refunds, but when Gov. Herbert made it official, then we could get the refunds.”

However, students who fundraised, including seniors, will not be receiving refunds and instead, the money will be given to the music department, she said.

Murray High Principal Scott Wihongi, who had just returned with the drill team in early March from New York City, said that the only trip that hadn’t happened at his school involved 15 students who were scheduled to go to San Francisco with the AP art history class in late April.

“We’re getting a full refund from the hotel and tours, but we’re working with the airline and travel agency to see if we can get refunds for the flight instead of vouchers,” he said. “This was an opportunity for the students to see different art styles at museums, as a way to enhance what they’re learning.”

He also was working with his staff in the process of refunding student-athletes’ fees, including the canceled tennis and baseball teams’ trip to St. George, and students’ partial class fees if materials weren’t used. School officials also were collecting textbooks, library books, some athletic uniforms, and seniors’ Chromebooks.

“I think the programs and students will be fine heading into next year,” he said.

“Right now, we prioritized and streamlined our teaching to get in the standards. The students got through three-fourths of the meat of everything and it’s how much time students focus on learning that will determine how much we’ll need to reteach and reinforce that material when we return.” l

Taylorsville City Journal

Utah graduates showered with love in special Adopt a Utah Senior project

By Stephanie Yrungaray | s.yrungaray@mycityjournals.com

H

igh school seniors across the Salt Lake valley are sharing a common experience they never anticipated…graduation during a pandemic. Although every school district is handling the end of the year differently, there is no doubt that the class of 2020 is not getting the graduation they dreamed of or deserve.

One Utah mom is trying to soften the blow of unmet expectations through a project called Adopt a Utah Senior and teens across the valley and state are being recognized by strangers in a very special way.

Monica Kennedy from Erda, Utah saw what her senior daughter Paige was experiencing and wanted to make a difference for all high school seniors.

“I was really sad for my own senior,” Kennedy said. “I reached out to family and friends for ideas to get some excitement into this season because I can’t make up for the stuff she’s missed out on.”

Modeling a Facebook group after a similar one in Alaska, Kennedy started the Adopt

a Utah Senior project which has paired over 2,500 seniors with “adoptive” individuals and families. Parents or legal guardians share pictures and information about their high school graduates, and angel adopters offer to recognize the senior with cards and/or gifts.

Once they are paired, the adopter is encouraged to send or deliver something to the grad within two weeks.

Kimmy DelAndrae posted about her daughter Haley who is graduating from Bingham High School. After reading posts from other parents she decided she wanted to adopt another senior.

“I wish I could adopt every one of these kids,” DelAndrae said. “They are missing so much. I want to let them know that one, they are not alone and two, everyone is rooting for them. The whole thing just made my heart so happy.”

Haley helped her mom pick out another senior and together they put together a gift basket for him.

“It was a really fun experience to get one and to give one,” said Haley DelAndrae.

Luke Vickery, a senior at Alta High

DelAndrae)

project. (Photo courtesy of Kourtney Vickery)

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School, was adopted by Shalysa Meier from West Valley City. Meier also adopted two other seniors.

“Anytime I see a good thing it is a no-brainer to be a part of it,” Meier said. “Not only do I feel it impacted seniors on the receiving end, it brightened my spirits on my end. It gave me something to look forward to and a project I could do to spread kindness beyond my social circle.”

“As seniors, it’s a bummer we don’t get to experience the traditions that most people do,” Vickery said. “Everyone is trying to make a difference and [the Adopt a Senior Project] is a really cool way that people are doing something for our class to brighten our

days. It’s really cool.”

Luke’s mom Kourtney, said she can’t believe how generous people have been.

“I love reading the kids’ stories and seeing the things they are involved in,” Kourtney Vickery said. “[The project] is giving people a chance to forget about what’s going on, all of the negative stuff in the world, and focus on other people. It is a bright spot I think.”

Kennedy said she was overwhelmed at how quickly the Facebook group grew.

Along with a team of eight other volunteers, she is spending many hours a day trying to make sure each senior is accounted for and matched to an individual or family.

“There is a lot of work involved,” Kennedy said. “We watch for posts that come in, make sure they have correct information including their high school and make sure they are posted by a parent or legal guardian. We tag them so it is easier for people to find who hasn’t been adopted and answer a lot of questions.”

Kennedy said the stories and pictures that come from the adoptions have been heartwarming.

“I love it when they find a common interest,” Kennedy said. “We will get emails with people who want to find someone who plays a certain sport or went to the high school they went to. We have people adopting from as far away as Alaska and Hawaii.

It isn’t about getting stuff, it’s about cheering up the class of 2020.”

Just like all good things, Adopt a Utah Senior must end. Kennedy said they will take their last senior on May 23 and allow 24 more hours for adoptions to be finalized. The following week they plan to allow gratitude posts.

Kennedy isn’t worried about any of the graduates not being adopted because of all of the generosity she has seen so far.

“Anytime we’ve gone on and said we need angels to take a referred senior we’ve had so much support,” Kennedy said.

She is sad to see the project come to an end.

“There has been so much love and random kindness,” Kennedy said. “It’s been so Bingham senior Haley DelAndrae was adopted and awesome to see smiles on these kids’ faces her family adopted another senior as part of the Adopt A Utah Senior project. (Photo courtesy Kimmie Shalysa Meier gave a personalized gift basket to Alta senior Luke Vickery as part of the Adopt A Utah Senior that have had so much taken away.” l

TaylorsvilleJ ournal.com

June 2020 | Page 7

What’s your legacy?

Volunteers offering community assistance during pandemic

By Carl Fauver | c.fauver@mycityjournals.com

UPD Taylorsville Precinct Officer Danielle Roskelley dons one of the face masks donated to her department by the community. (Courtesy Lynette Wendel)

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www.LarkinCares.com Page 8 | June 2020

I

n a perfect world, Taylorsville Planning Commission member Lynette Wendel would be hosting fundraisers and canvasing door-to-door in her bid for the District 39 House of Representatives seat. But, instead, she is coordinating a small army to try to combat coronavirus.

“The first day or two, after everything was shut down in mid-March, I just felt disheveled, like many people I suppose,” Wendel said. “Then, the first thing I could do, was make five crock pots of chili for people I knew were homebound. But I got to thinking about it, through my Utah House campaign I had list of volunteers, a website and access to voter lists. I decided we needed to try to reach out to people to see what assistance they could use.”

A team of about 40 campaign volunteers began making random phone calls to Taylorsville residents, asking whether they needed assistance or if they had something they could offer to others in need.

“The most pleasant surprise has been there are a lot more people offering to help others than people needing assistance,” Wendel added.

Among those receiving calls was Taylorsville resident Lynette Lehman, 55.

“I normally don’t answer a [call from a phone] number I don’t recognize, but

luckily I did,” Lehman said. “I live with my 81-year-old mother and my daughter. We donated a bunch of food — black beans, peanut butter, soup, chili — along with two packages of adult diapers. I just left it all outside and one of Lynette’s volunteers came to pick it up. I was really impressed with what they are doing.”

Wendel’s band of volunteers also gathered safety materials for the Unified Police Department Taylorsville Precinct.

“We were able to provide police with face masks and gallons of hand sanitizer,” she said.

“Lynette’s group was awesome, and we are very grateful to them,” Precinct Chief Tracy Wyant said. “It’s been obvious during this outbreak, no police department — not New York, not Los Angeles, not any of them — was prepared with enough PPE (personal protective equipment). But thanks to lots of volunteers, we believe we have what we need.”

Wyant said none of his Taylorsville personnel has tested positive for the coronavirus. As of early May, only one officer was positive throughout the entire Unified Police Department.

Wendel and her volunteers have also joined forces with the Taylorsville Vietnamese community to make and distribute thousands of face masks. Lynette’s primary contact in that effort is Vietnamese refugee and Taylorsville Cultural Diversity Committee member Lan Ngu. “Lynette and I are both very socially active, so combining forces was effective,” Ngu said. “I have never sewn in my life, but I can connect with the right people. We had a group of about 30 [members of the Vietnamese community] sewing around the clock. My sister and sister-inlaw were a part of it. They made about 7,000 masks initially.”

Another group of volunteers offered assistance to the hundreds of students displaced when Westbrook Elementary School closed its doors, along with all Granite School District Schools.

“We had a team of volunteers go to Westbrook to pick up learning packets to deliver to kids who did not have access to the internet,” Wendel said. “Early on, it was estimated up to 20% of students had not logged in to study online since the pandemic began. We tried to help those students.”l

Taylorsville City Journal

Abrupt closure leaves Westbrook students, parents, faculty wishing for more

By Kathryn Elizabeth Jones | k.jones@mycityjournals.com

Staff members hold up signs as part of the school song. This song would be sung every month at the student/ writer of the month assembly. (Photo courtesy Jessica Sellers)

Empty of students, the hallway at Westbrook is filled with boxes as teachers prepare to move their classroom to a new school. (Photo courtesy Crista Holt)

F

our years ago, when Crista Holt stepped in as principal of Westbrook Elementary in Taylorsville, she, along with the community, hardly expected a closure until the possibility raised its ugly head in November of 2019.

What Holt knew was excited to be a part of the students’ education. Now, with the COVID-19 virus running its course, she is more than appreciative that her staff is “stepping up.”

“There are a handful of teachers mailing out notecards to the students in their class, along with little surprises like stickers or cer-

TaylorsvilleJ ournal.com

tudents read in the hallway as part of an award activity. “I miss seeing students in the hallway,” Holt said.

(Photo courtesy Westbrook Facebook page)

tificates awarding the students for the hard work they’re doing,” she said.

Sarah Pinnock, a dance specialist at Westbrook and Monroe elementary schools, is part of the stepping up. She has continued with a weekly web dance class where students can continue to shake a leg or an arm if they choose.

“I have lesson plans on my website, and students can send in videos of what they are doing,” she said. Pinnock, or “Miss Sarah” as she’s known, has been teaching dance at schools for three years but said this year, since COVID-19, she’s had to be even more

creative than usual.

“The most important thing is that I make contact,” she said. “It’s hard to know if they’re OK. But we’ve been able to do it. They’re awesome. I’ve told them there’s lots we can’t control, but we can control ourselves. We can be human and happy in all circumstances.”

“I have a deep appreciation for everyone working together to get through this,” Holt said, speaking of the way things have changed since the virus. “I’m usually at the school, and I miss seeing the students every day in the halls, at lunch and outside at recess. I miss the staff, too.

The hardest day was when the Chromebooks went out. You could tell it was hard on the students. Now, when they come [for packets or their sack lunch], they are super happy to see me and talk. They’re ready to come back.”

Holt, who will be the new principal at Douglas T. Orchard Elementary in West Valley City this fall, said she is excited to get acquainted with the students, parents and staff, though she admits that leaving Westbrook behind will be difficult.

“I am amazed at how well our staff interacts, the community support we have received and the positive environment we’ve made for the students,” She said. The positive changes the school has implemented say a lot about the teachers and staff, especially during this time of social distancing, Holt said.

Many have told Holt that they feel “cheated” because of the abrupt closure.

“But we are learning to adapt,” she said.

A community celebration scheduled for the second week in May had to be cancelled.

A Facebook page gathered 400 RSVPs before cancellation occurred in May. Alumni names, memories and old photos were already gracing the page. And everyone was “really excited” about the activities in and out of the school, including dancing.

With the requirement of social distancing, a Wildcat Reverse Parade was scheduled for May 15. Teachers wore school colors, made signs and painted the sidewalk with chalk. There were no treats or candy but plenty of well-wishes and imagined hugs from a distance.

“We Miss Our Wildcats” signage was posted at the end of their short journey in their cars to see and say goodbye to their teachers and their school.

“For many teachers, this is the only place they’ve ever taught,” said Holt. “Some teachers have been here since the year we opened [1985].

It’s a hard way to end. The schooling is hard on parents. Teachers are revamping, but everyone is stepping up. I want to thank everybody. l

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Taylorsville City Journal

City of Taylorsville Newsletter

www.taylorsvilleut.gov

June 2020

2600 West Taylorsville Boulevard • 801-963-5400

MAYOR'S MESSAGE Dear Friends and Neighbors, Among the highlights of my job as Mayor is when we can talk together. It doesn’t matter the subject. One of the things I enjoy most is when I can meet with residents of our community — each of you — and we can chat Mayor Kristie S. Overson about what is going on, what you are concerned about and how we can work together to make our Taylorsville home even better.

Lately, I’ve received an increase in phone calls to the Mayor’s Office. Some have expressed concerns. I suspect others may have been feeling a bit shut in, with the recent Stay Home, Stay Safe restrictions and other precautions aimed at limiting the spread of COVID-19. Regardless the reason, I have definitely seen an uptick in phone calls and I am grateful that our residents know that we are accessible and available and can be called upon to help.

One such phone call this past month was from a Taylorsville resident, Mr. Odell, a very nice man with a Southern accent, who called to let me know there was a sprinkler malfunction near the church.

I asked him if he could be a little more specific because we have so many churches in our area.

He replied that it was near the Baptist Church, and I said, ‘Great. Can you give me a bit more information? Can you give me some street coordinates? Help me understand where this is so we can take care of it.’

We talked some more but he wouldn’t really nail down the street names or location. Eventually, I discovered that while he is indeed a resident of Taylorsville, it was not our Taylorsville where the sprinkler by the church needed attention. Rather, Mr. Odell was calling from Taylorsville … Mississippi! We had a good laugh when we discovered we lived in towns of the same name in states 1,641 miles apart.

The conversation was delightful as we spoke of his Taylorsville town of 1,400 people in Mississippi versus our 60,000-population Taylorsville City in Utah. You might like to know, for instance, that Taylorsville, Mississippi, was established in 1900 and today is made up of 481 homes and farms. Like us, Taylorsville, Mississippi, is home to Taylorsville High School. But its school colors are green and gold and their mascot is the Tartars.

It was fun to make a new Taylorsville friend, and while I certainly can’t help solve any problems in Mississippi, I welcome anyone who gives me a call. You can also stop by City Hall; I have open office hours every Thursday from 2 to 4 p.m.

–Mayor Kristie S. Overson

WHAT’S INSIDE – JUNE 2020 Frequently Called Numbers, Page 2 Council Corner, Page 3 Public Safety, Page 6 Heritage Remembrances, Page 7 Environment, Page 8

TaylorsvilleJ ournal.com

Taylorsville Dayzz One-Night Celebration Is a Go but Only If It’s ‘Green’

The Taylorsville Dayzz Committee has been grappling with whether to hold Taylorsville Dayzz this year. Planning the event, of course, has been complicated by restrictions aimed at limiting the spread of the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19.

As of this deadline, most of Utah was operating under a “yellow” designation, meaning the virus generally posed a “low risk,” although individuals were still encouraged to wear a protective mask and continue to practice social distancing. Public gatherings have been limited to no more than 50 people. (See Page 4 for further details about the coronavirus and the state’s risk levels).

If the state, including Taylorsville, remains in this “yellow phase,” the Taylorsville Dayzz festival will be called off and we will celebrate next year.

But if the state is moved to the “green phase” by June 27, an abbreviated Taylorsville Dayzz will go forward.

The Taylorsville Dayzz 5K will be held as a Virtual Run. See details about it below.

So long as the Taylorsville-area is designated green, the Taylorsville Dayzz festival will be held on the evening of June 27 at Valley Regional Park, 5135 S. 2700 West. It will feature evening activities only, including: • 8 p.m., live music on the main stage, which will be the only stage this year • 9 p.m., Ogden Skydivers • 10 p.m., Fireworks Extravaganza

“If we are still in yellow, we will not be able to celebrate on June 27.”

Please see the Taylorsville Dayzz website, www.taylorsvilledayzz.com, or the city’s website, www.taylorsvilleut.gov, for the latest information.

If the festival does go forward, as the green phase permits, social distancing of 6 feet between households is still required, and the use of face coverings is strongly encouraged. “If you have symptoms or have underlying health conditions, we encourage you to enjoy the fireworks from your home,” Dunnigan said.

The 2020 Taylorsville Dayzz Virtual 5K will be held as a way for the community to come together and support one another virtually. A

“We are closely monitoring COVID guidelines,” said Taylorsville Dayzz Chair Jim Dunnigan.

TAYLORSVILLE DAYZZ CONTINUED ON| PPAGE 5 June 2020 age 11

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City of Taylorsville Newsletter

| www.taylorsvilleut.gov

Movies in the Park Start This Month Come have some fun at Taylorsville Park this summer. Three Movies in the Park nights are planned at the park at 4700 S. Redwood Road. They are: June 20 — Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle July 18 — Live Action Aladdin Aug. 8 — Spiderman Far From Home The movies start at dusk (around 9 p.m.) Also, remember to practice social distancing. We will be taping off areas on the grass where families can sit 6 feet apart.

EVENTS JUNE 2020 June 3 & 17 – 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

June 9 – 7 p.m. & June 23 – 6 p.m.

Planning Commission Meeting @ City Hall.

Through June 15

Selfie Contest. We wanted to hold an event while still complying with gathering limits so we came up with a citywide Selfie Contest. We hope you have fun with it!

See details on Page 5.

June 14 – all day Flag Day.

June 20-27

Taylorsville Dayzz Virtual 5K (Register by June 14).

June 20 – dusk

Movies in the Park @ Taylorsville Park, 4700 S. Redwood Rd. Showing is Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle.

June 22-26 – all day

Sidewalk Art Contest. Create a picture on your front driveway and the Arts Council will drive by and judge it. See accompanying story on this page.

June 27 – tentative

Taylorsville Dayzz @ Valley Regional Park. Abbreviated evening schedule depending on COVID-19 designation. See Page 1 of this section for details.

Page 12 | June 2020

Show Off Your Art Through Several Unique Summer Events Are you looking for a way to express your creativity at this unusual time during which we are unable to gather for traditional events and productions? Well, the Taylorsville Arts Council has something for you!

The Council has planned several unique activities for this summer: June 22-26 — Sidewalk Art Show your talent on your front driveway. Take a picture and email it and your address to the Arts Council (address below). The Arts Council will drive by and judge your masterpiece.

July — Create a “COVID-19 Song” It can be your own music or make up new lyrics to an existing song. Send the Council your performance in an email by July 18 to be judged.

August — Lego Art This is a great opportunity to show off your lego-building technique. Send the Arts Council an e-mail with a picture of your sculpture by Aug. 22 to be judged.

All winners will win a $30 cash award, and there will be three categories of winners: Children Youth Adults

11 and younger 12-18 19 and over

Winners will be announced on the city’s web page and the Arts Council Facebook page. Your art will be posted in the Taylorsville Journal and on the Council’s Facebook page and city’s website.

If you have any questions, please call Susan Holman 801-966-8376 and email all your art to: Susan Holman at holman.bruce@outlook.com Taylorsville City Journal

June 2020

2600 West Taylorsville Boulevard • 801-963-5400 |

COUNCIL CORNER

We Honor This Year’s Youth Council Graduates

In place of this month’s Council Corner, the Taylorsville City Council wanted to use this space to highlight the graduating seniors who have served on the 2019-2020 Youth Council and all their good work. As members of the City Council, we extend our congratulations and sincere thanks. They are incredible youth leaders and have contributed so much to our community. We know they will continue to lead well into the future. This year’s graduating seniors are: Kyndra Burnett has served on the Youth Council for three years. This year, she has enjoyed serving as the Youth Mayor and a Youth Ambassador. She is an excellent student at Taylorsville High School, maintaining a 3.7 GPA for all three years of school while also participating in Cross Country, Track, Concert Choir and the National Honor Society. One proud accomplishment for Kyndra is her qualification this year to run in the cross-country event with her team at state.

When Kyndra isn’t busy with school, running or sewing, she enjoys reading, spending time with friends and family and being outdoors. She already has begun her college career by taking more than 15 credit hours of concurrent enrollment, which has introduced her to what she wants to study in the future. In fall 2020, Kyndra is looking forward to studying elementary education at Weber State University on the Dean's Scholarship, Regents Scholarship and a few others.

Kaylei Powers has studied at Taylorsville High and Granite Technical Institute, where she is graduating as a dental assistant. She has been heavily involved in school activities, such as participating in band and choir. She is also part of the school’s select women's choir, Graces. She has participated in two of Taylorville High’s musicals. She has taken concurrent enrollment classes and intends to go to college in the fall. Following her first semester at college, she plans to serve a mission for her church. Service has always been something Kaylei enjoys. During her freshman year, she served as an advisor for the Peer Leadership team and Hope Squad. She later served the Kearns community in her junior year as Miss Kearns second attendant. As part of the royalty, she helped the community by working at a new food bank, giving away school supplies to kids and serving food at a Night Out Against Crime event. She is also a member of her school’s National Honor Society.

This was her first year on the Taylorsville Youth Council, and she says she loved every second of it.

Katherine Riggs is graduating from Taylorsville High. Katherine is sad that so many end-of-year activities were canceled this year due to COVID-19, but she has many good memories from last year. She was able to go to Prom, travel on the Choir Tour to Seattle and participate in Senior Breakout, all with her best friends who graduated last year. This year was pretty great, too, she says. She was a lead in the fall musical, “The Secret Garden,” and was part of the ensemble in plays during her other years of high school. Katherine has been involved in the choir program for two years, participating in Concert Choir both years, including Graces her junior year and Madrigals this year. Madrigals was her favorite class, as she loves singing and performing to help bring joy to other people. After graduating, Katherine plans to attend college at Utah State University with a Resident Deans Scholarship. She is planning to major in Family and Consumer Sciences and minor in Spanish. She took three concurrent enrollment Spanish classes in high school to get a jumpstart on her Spanish minor. Katherine also worked as a magician’s assistant throughout high school, performing with her dad every Saturday.

Maizie Romney has enjoyed many of her high school experiences. She has participated in a wide variety of activities. Some of her favorites were being on the Yearbook staff, participating in Taylorsville Youth Council and running for the Cross Country team. Maizie enjoyed taking several AP classes and has completed college concurrent enrollment classes. During her senior year, Maizie planned and implemented a food drive at Bennion Elementary for the Taylorsville Food Pantry and spent several Saturdays volunteering there. She will begin her college experience at Salt Lake Community College and plans to study advertising. Maizie hopes to travel the world and volunteer in the Peace Corp. She never wants to own a potted plant.

David Stump is a senior at Murray High School who has lived in Taylorsville for the last 11 years. While attending high school, he joined the Jazz Club (as a trombonist), Symphonic Band, Frisbee Club and Taylorsville Youth Council. The Youth Council was an opportunity where he grew as a leader from activities like the Utah State Youth Council Leadership Conference. Even though Jazz Band was an experience for fun, he found that it was something he had to work hard at to create better results, which then helped the band achieve an “Excellent” score at the high school Jazz Festival for all Utah bands. With Frisbee Club practices, David showed determination to improve his abilities and became president of the club, a position he has held since junior year. He loves photography, drawing, and most of the arts. David will be attending Utah State University in the fall, double majoring in finance and economics. He envisions his career taking him from Wall Street to farming, and eventually politics.

PAGE 3

PAGE 4

City of Taylorsville Newsletter

| www.taylorsvilleut.gov

Most of Utah Moves to ‘Yellow’ Most of Utah, including Taylorsville, moved from “orange,” moderate-risk to a “yellow,” lowrisk designation for COVID-19, this past month. Under the yellow phase, travel has opened up, gatherings are limited to no more than 50 people, and team sports are now allowed.

At a news conference on May 14, Gov. Gary Herbert said Utahns should continue to practice good hygiene, social distancing and the wearing of protective masks to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus. The new designation applies to all areas of the state except Grand, Summit and Wasatch counties, Magna Metro Township, Salt Lake City and West Valley City, which remain in the moderate-risk phase.

The four levels of risk are outlined in the Utah Leads Together 2.0 plan, and range from a red, high-risk category to orange, meaning the novel coronavirus poses a moderate risk for everyone while vulnerable individuals remain at high risk. Those considered vulnerable include individuals 65 years of age or older and who have some underlying health conditions, including respiratory ailments, asthma, obesity or diabetes. The final two levels of risk are yellow, meaning the virus poses low risk for everyone but vulnerable individuals, followed by green signifying a new normal. Varying levels of restriction, such as the wearing of protective masks and social distancing, correspond and have been put in place with each level of risk.

Gov. Herbert said the move to a low-risk level signifies the precautions that have been put in place are working. "I like the trend. I like the numbers. I like what is taking place. It gives me hope and optimism about the future," he said.

Under the less restrictive guidelines, all businesses are open but must take reasonable precautions. Restaurants can provide dine-in service but still must maintain appropriate social distancing and hygiene measures. Schools remained closed through the end of the academic year but can hold driver's education courses.

While team sports are allowed, players involved in the sport must be checked for symptoms and spectators must practice social distancing. “All of us still need to be careful and cautious,” Gov. Herbert said. “This is individual responsibility and common sense combined.”

With the eased restrictions, playgrounds, pickleball courts, pavilions and athletic fields, paths and trails were all reopened this past month, as well as the Millrace Dog Park and Taylorsville Skate Park. Social distancing in these areas is still required. The Taylorsville Recreation Center was expected to open with modified operations on June 1. The target date for reopening the pool is July 1.

See additional information about what the yellow, low-risk phase means at: www.coronavirus.utah.gov

Window Celebration Marks Milestone Birthday Amid Pandemic Eva Risk turned 100 years old and the Golden Living Center in Taylorsville where she lives threw a party outside her window, complete with streamers and balloons, flowers and decorations and, of course, a birthday cake.

Because of COVID-19 restrictions that prevent visits to nursing homes and care facilities, family members and friends were unable to celebrate with her inside. So staff at the center propped up an iPad at Eva's window and situated her next to the glass where loved ones could talk to her via their iPhones and wave and blow kisses to her from outside.

Eva smiled broadly and delighted in seeing her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren — even if it was through her window.

Representing Taylorsville City, Mayor Kristie Overson also paid a visit outside on April 21, wishing Eva the happiest of birthdays and giving her a card and commemorative coin. “We are so grateful to have you here as part of our Taylorsville community,” Mayor Overson said to Eva through her window. “We congratulate you on your 100th birthday and long life and are so pleased to be able to celebrate with you.”

Eva was born April 21, 1920, in a little town in Scotland. She and her husband, John, moved to the United States in May 1953. Her mother and father were Margret and Robert Liddell, and she has two brothers and one sister. She and her husband had four sons and one daughter.

She is a loving mother who always cherished her children and turned into mama bear when she had to be, according to her family.

Eva’s advice to someone young would be enjoy life to the fullest, never do anything to hurt your body, and to love with all your heart.

"Always treat people with respect and treat them nicely," she said. She attributes her long life to her efforts to take care of her body, noting that she never smoked or imbibed.

For her birthday, staff at the Golden Living Center decorated her room and gave her a cake. They delivered to her the flowers and gifts that had been brought from those outside to her in her room.

Center staff also noted that they are in need of more protective masks. Please call the center at 801-966-4286 if you can donate or help.

June 2020

2600 West Taylorsville Boulevard • 801-963-5400 |

Two Taylorsville Educators Receive Top District Awards

TAYLORSVILLE DAYZZ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Virtual Run is like a traditional run but instead of running with a group, it takes place on the day, time and location of your choice. You can walk, jog or run at any time and at any place.

“We just ask that the run be completed during the week of June 20-27,” said Jen Andrus, who plans the race with co-organizer Jared Smith. “At this time, we want to show each other and our community that we are still dedicated to participating in events that are founded in fun and wellness.”

To participate in the Virtual 5K, you must register at www.taylorsvilleut.gov by June 14. The cost is $15 for adults, $10 for kids 12 and under, and $12 for veterans or active military. Participants will receive a T-shirt and medal that will be handed out at City Hall on June 29 from 3 to 6 p.m. or June 30 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

If you would like to run the traditional Taylorsville Dayzz 5K course, the 5K course map can be found at www.taylorsvilleut.gov, along with the registration form and additional details.

Granite Education Foundation recently announced the recipients of their annual Excel Award – the top honor for teachers in Granite School District. Among the 10 awardees (out of nearly 4,000 educators) were two teachers serving schools in Taylorsville City: Ryan Wells, a Spanish teacher at Taylorsville High School, and Carly Donahue, a physical education teacher at Fox Hills Elementary.

Señor Wells, as his students affectionately call him, has reorganized and expanded Taylorsville High School’s Spanish language department over the past several years to provide more meaningful cultural experiences for his students. He works to ensure every student contributes to the class and discovers their language capabilities.

Wells so impressed the Excel Award committee that he was named the 2020 Granite School District Teacher of the Year. He will now be considered for the Utah Teacher of the Year prize, which will be announced in the fall.

Carly Donahue is a physical education teacher who splits her schedule between Fox Hills Elementary and Crestview Elementary in Holladay. She is known among her students and her colleagues for her enthusiasm, cheery attitude, and dedication to helping her students stay active and healthy.

Congratulations to these outstanding educators!

E I F L SE EST T N O C

ille orsv Tayl

City

PAGE 5

Contest runs through June 15

We're holding a selfie contest!

Here's what you need to do: Take your picture at a few or all of the spots shown here.

Email your pictures to: contest@taylorsvilleut.gov Include your name, mailing address and how many in your family or group participated.

We'll send a prize for pictures taken at 5 spots or more.

We may post your pictures on Social Media #TvilleSelfies

TaylorsvilleJ ournal.com

Sponsored by City Council Chair Meredith Harker and the Parks & Rec Committee

June 2020 | Page 15

PAGE 6

City of Taylorsville Newsletter

| www.taylorsvilleut.gov

Police Chief Recognizes Good Work of Officers Taylorsville Precinct Police Chief Tracy Wyant has recognized several officers this year for their outstanding service, courageous actions and dedication to keeping the community safe.

Among those honored at recent City Council meetings are: • Jared Evans — Officer of the Month January 2020 • The Midvale Precinct Street Crimes Unit consisting of Sgt. Jaren Fowler, Det. Corey Levin and Det. Chelsea Winslow — Officers of the Month February 2020 • Gene Van Roosendaal — Officer of the Month March 2020 • Sgt. Brett Miller, Sgt. Jaren Fowler, Lt. Brady Cottam — March 2020 Team Citation Award

SWAT, robbery and property crimes, as well as giving his time as a field training officer.

The Team Citation award for March 2020 was awarded to Sgt. Miller, Sgt. Fowler and Lt. Cottam and the team they worked with when investigating a case of aggravated stalking in violation of a protective order, burglary and kidnapping from February to March. On March 4, officers from the Taylorsville Investigations and Taylorsville and Midvale Street Crimes units, as well as the Utah Department of Public Safety Air Bureau, responded to arrest the suspect.

“We have the best of the best of the best here in Taylorsville,” City Council Chair Meredith Harker said. “We are so blessed and lucky to have these amazing people watching out for us.”

“Officer Jared Evans has continued to show incredible customer service and decency in responding to the needs of Taylorsville residents,” Chief Wyant said during February’s City Council meeting. Chief Wyant went on to share a letter sent by a Taylorsville resident praising Officer Evans in helping her move her car after running over an embankment in which she was unable to continue driving. Officer Evans immediately went out of his way to help her, taking his time to calmly try everything he could to get her driving on the road again.

“Fowler, Levin and Winslow have been invaluable assets to not only the Midvale Precinct but also the Taylorsville Precinct,” Chief Wyant said at April’s City Council meeting. These detectives continuously work with the Taylorsville precinct to help with the city’s cases and bring valuable resources in investigating crimes both in Midvale and Taylorsville, he said. Sgt. Fowler accepted the award on behalf of the Midvale Precinct Street Crimes Unit.

In addition, Officer Van Roosendaal has given 32 years of service to Taylorsville City. He has selflessly sacrificed his time and efforts in patrol,

Retiring Police Lieutenant is a ‘Warrior’ Police Lt. Saul Bailey has retired after 25 years of service, including several years in Taylorsville City. For a quarter century, his selfless service kept the community safe and protected.

His remarkable career is defined by his loyalty, compassion and good humor.

Taylorsville Precinct Police Chief Tracy Wyant said if he could choose one word to describe Lt. Bailey, it would be: “Warrior.”

“I’ve had the opportunity of working with Saul on and off my entire career,” Chief Wyant said during February’s City Council meeting, “and I remember vividly on a number of different occasions on volatile deals, on bad, bad situations, you’d hear Saul’s voice and know you have a warrior coming.

“His dedication, his service, not just to this precinct but to the Unified Police Department, the sheriff 's office, and really law enforcement as a whole is outstanding,” Chief Wyant added. “He is really one of those true fine gentlemen who has a unique skillset.”

In also honoring Lt. Bailey, his colleague Lt. Brady Cottam recalled a carjacking case they worked in which they caught the perpetrators in pursuit. “You never want to be on the bad side of the law and have Saul Bailey chase you,” Lt. Cottam said.

Lt. Bailey thanked the chief and Lt. Cottam for their kinds words and said he will always keep Taylorsville in his heart. “I think it was very fitting that my career ended in service to this city,” he said. “I am extremely grateful for the time I’ve been able to serve with the fine folks this|organization. ” Pagein16 June 2020

Assist First Responders by Ensuring Address Visibility It has become increasingly important for first responders and other service providers to be able to locate addresses quickly and efficiently.

Requirements for properly identifying a building are outlined in city ordinance 2.49.060, “Display of Property Identification Numbers.” When considering how best to display the address on your home or property, consider viewing its placement from the middle of the roadway before permanently affixing numbers. Often the address appears readable while standing next to the structure, but it may become obscured from the roadway due to its orientation.

City ordinance specifies: • Addresses must be a minimum size of 4 inches for residential properties, 6 inches for commercial property.

• Address placement should be made in a conspicuous location and include contrasting characters to enable the reader.

• Avoiding all obstructions, including plants, trees, garbage containers, vehicles and/or points where snow accumulates.

• Multiple locations, including a mailbox, front porch and house, are acceptable. However, your mailbox alone is not sufficient as it generally limits size and visibility due to direction of travel.

Please contact Taylorsville’s Code Enforcement Department if you have any questions, 801-953-2513.

Taylorsville City Journal

June 2020

Taylorsville Bennion Heritage REMEMBRANCES This piece was written by Owen Frame as one of his not so pleasant memories of Taylorsville. It was first published as a Heritage Remembrances article in the March 2017 Taylorsville Journal and seems appropriate to reprint now as the world confronts the COVID-19 pandemic. As written

by Mr. Frame: By the fall of 1918, the flu epidemic was getting worse, and Dave Frame and I (his brother Owen Frame) continued digging graves. When people were gathered around in groups, we all would wear gauze masks over our noses and mouths to prevent spreading the disease.

2600 West Taylorsville Boulevard • 801-963-5400 |

PAGE 7

TAYLORSVILLE SENIOR CENTER 4743 Plymouth View Drive

Senior Center Implements Weekend Lunch Program Until further notice, Taylorsville Senior Center will remain closed during the COVID-19 opening phases; however, the Taylorsville Senior Center meal program will still be available from 11:30 a.m.to 1:30 p.m. in a drive-thru fashion.

For questions or to reserve a meal for the following day, please call the Taylorsville Senior Center by 3 p.m. at 385-468-3370. Also, Taylorville Senior Center recently implemented a weekend lunch program. Please call the center by Thursday each week if you would like to pick up two weekend meals on Friday.

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

Access eBooks, eAudiobooks and Other Library Materials Online We began holding graveside funerals. More and more people were dying, so to speed things up, and to make it easier on the mourners, we would have several extra shovels for the fellows who would help fill in the graves.

As the weather became colder and colder, near zero, we had to dig with pick and shovel through as much as 18 inches of the frozen ground. Cold weather lasted all through the winter. The epidemic affected many people; even whole families were sick in bed at the same time.

Some of the relatives or neighbors had to take the chance of catching the flu and go into their homes to keep the fires going and coal buckets full. In some cases, they prepared food ready for use.

I had been working on the farm with Leonard Mackay, so while he was sick in bed, I did the outside chores. Then when they were all bedfast, I went into the kitchen at least once a day for about three days and washed up their dishes and straightened up the room. I wore a mask while in their house. Thank goodness I didn’t catch the flu that winter and all of the family lived through it.

This was a very cruel disease, and many families were not so lucky.

One of our neighbor ladies died leaving five young children under 12 years old, and there were many, many cases like this during this epidemic.

TaylorsvilleJ ournal.com

The County Library closed, effective March 13 until further notice as a precautionary measure to prevent potential spread of the coronavirus disease. You can still access eBooks, eAudiobooks, eMagazines, and other materials through the Salt Lake County Library website with your library card at www.thecountylibrary.org.

The library is now doing online live programming, including Animal Crossing, Dungeons & Dragons, Trivia Nights, Writing Groups, Book Clubs and Coding Clubs. All require registration. Please check out their calendar for more information: https://events.slcolibrary.org/events Also, look for more passive programming, including Digital Escape Rooms and Scavenger Hunts, Crafternoons, STEM Friday, and more on the library’s Facebook page: www.facebook.com/TheCountyLibrary/ Don't forget about Summer Reading! Check out www.thecountylibrary.org/summer

June 2020 | Page 17

PAGE 8

| www.taylorsvilleut.gov

City of Taylorsville Newsletter

Gain Water Insights with the Consumer Confidence Report The purpose of the Consumer Confidence Report is to provide you with information on the quality of your drinking water. In addition to water quality, the report also gives information on conservation resources, potential contamination sources, and where your water comes from.

Taylorsville-Bennion Improvement District distributes culinary water that meets all federal and state quality requirements. The report can be found on the district website: www.tbid.org/ccr.html or you may contact TBID at 801-968-9081 and a copy will be mailed to your home.

If you have any questions, please contact the Taylorsville-Bennion Improvement District office at 801-968-9081.

JUNE WFWRD UPDATES NO GREEN WASTE IN BLUE RECYCLE CAN Please remember that grass clippings and other organic and yard waste never go in the blue recycle can. If these materials get collected, it will contaminate the entire recycle load in the collection truck. If you have a lot of yard waste, consider a Green Waste can or a home composting program. More information about the Green Waste Program can be found at www.wasatchfrontwaste.org/ green-waste-collection.

AREA CLEANUP

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

You can also follow the district on Facebook and Twitter.

The dates for Taylorsville’s Area Cleanup are June 12 through July 7. During this time, residents can reserve a container to be parked in their driveway. This is a needed change to how the program has operated in the past, and it is necessary due to the COVID-19 pandemic, limited staffing and to protect WFWRD staff from physically handling the waste that often happens with containers being in the streets.

Postcards will still be delivered to each resident with more direction on the changes to the program this year. Residents who reserve containers can invite neighbors to use if they so choose. This is being encouraged since there are not enough containers for every household to reserve one for themselves.

Here are some ideas: Find someone who is willing to host a container on their driveway for 24 hours. That person will need to visit wasatchfrontwaste.org and choose the day that works best (first come, first served) and fill out the form.

There will be a range of days available that will be on the postcards for your area, so you can choose the day that works best for you and your neighbors.

On average, there is one container available for every 10 homes.

In addition to health concerns and decreased staffing, a change to the program also was needed because of past issues, including: 1. Scavengers that take note of the schedule and dumpster diving in our neighborhoods.

2. Contractors or others from neighboring cities who see the dumpsters and utilize them, filling them up before you can use them.

3. Garbage that spills out from full dumpsters or items that are left around the dumpsters. Especially this year with COVID concerns, this is an issue.

Thank you again for your cooperation and understanding.

NEW MOBILE APPLICATION FOR WFWRD CUSTOMERS

TAYLORSVILLE CITY CEMETERY PLOTS AVAILABLE Page 18 | June 2020

WFWRD has launched a free mobile app for its residents. It can be found by searching for “Wasatch Front Waste” on the Apple or Android app stores, and it is available in both English and Spanish.

The app includes a “Recycle Right” lookup tool to find out if a material can be reused, recycled, composted or landfilled. It also provides a scheduling tool for residents to confirm their collection day, and it provides an option for customized reminders for their pick-up days.

Taylorsville City Journal

Grizzlies end season on top, ready for next year

By Greg James | g.james@mycityjournals.com

T

he Utah Grizzlies Hockey season ended abruptly on March 14, as did most sporting events in this country, but before everything was canceled it was an unforgettable year for the team.

“Overall, I am extremely pleased with this season,” Grizzlies head coach and general manager Tim Branham said. “We had an amazing group of young men who did wonderful things on and off the ice. We had a real good chance of making a long playoff run and it’s disappointing that the players don’t get that chance. They really believed in themselves.”

At the time of the season suspension and eventual cancellation, the Grizzlies stood tied for second place in the Mountain Division of the East Coast Hockey League. Their .637 winning percentage was the best in franchise history.

This was the second season of the team’s working agreement with the Colorado Avalanche. Under the agreement the National Hockey League team supplements the Grizzly roster with their contracted players.

Forward Ty Lewis led the team with 25 goals. He scored four goals in one game Dec. 17. The team scored 207 on the season highlighted by a 10-goal game against the Allen Americans in November, the most goals they had scored in a game since 1995 against the Chicago Wolves of the International Hockey League. That night eight different players tallied a goal or an assist. Josh Dickson had a hat trick (three goals).

Forward Tim McGauley led the league with 42 assists and was second in scoring with 62 points overall (assists plus goals).

In December, the team posted nine wins, one loss and two ties. During the December run, the team went from last place to first.

The players assigned to the Grizzlies play at this level to showcase their talent. The abrupt ending to the season could sidetrack many hopeful careers, but Branham is hopeful it doesn’t.

“The end was extremely disappointing.

When you work as hard as the players did all year, giving so much blood, sweat and tears.

It’s hard to see it end without any closure. I think it is too soon to tell how things will affect them, time will tell. I loved this team and hope every one of them is back next season,” Branham said.

On Dec. 12, the Grizzlies acquired goaltender Martin Oueluette from the Atlanta Gladiators. He was awarded ECHL goaltender of the week in his first week with the club.

He stopped 51 of 53 shots against the highest scoring team in the league. In 28 games with the club he allowed only 2.16 goals per game and had a .921 save percentage.

The Grizzlies had qualified for the playoffs if the season had not been canceled. This would have made 12 of the past 13 seasons

Utah Grizzly forward Tim McGauley led the East Coast Hockey League with 42 assists. (Photo courtesy Utah Grizzlies Hockey)

they have made the postseason.

Branham has compiled 249 wins over seven seasons. He is the winningest coach in franchise history. This year a total of 37 players logged time with the team including five goaltenders. Hunter Miska began the year with the team and eventually spent time with the Avalanche in the NHL. As of press deadline, the future of the team and its players is up in the air.

“I am in the dark just like everyone else,” Branham said about beginning the season on time. “I believe everyone is waiting on direction from the NHL, but we are extremely hopeful that we will have hockey in Utah next season and it will start on time. The support that we get from our fans is tremendous. We could not do it without them. The passion that they bring each and every night really energizes the boys.”

The 2020-21 season is scheduled to begin in October, but the league is waiting for direction from local authorities before a final decision is made. l Mason MacDonald held opponents to 2.78 goals per game. (Photo courtesy Utah Grizzlies Hockey)

TaylorsvilleJ ournal.com

June 2020 | Page 19

Stuck at home? Play a game

By Greg James | g.james@mycityjournals.com

As the pandemic hit in March, game stores across the state saw an uptick in sales. (Greg James/City Journals)

C

heckmate!” “Uno!” “Do not pass go!”

Nowadays you are bound to hear those expressions around the tables of many a family cooped up in their homes during the quarantine.

“Right before all of this Covid stuff we absolutely saw an uptick in sales,” said Game Night Games employee Tyler Lashlee. “We have been mostly curbside delivery recently and are not hosting events right now so lately it is hard to say.”

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“My kids learned a lot about birds from playing it,” Kluge said. “We simultaneously had a nest in our backyard that we watched birds hatch from the eggs. It (the game) is hard to find right now. I think it is sold out everywhere.”

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cations.

Ravensburger, a game company, has designed a new concept combining two favorite gamer pastimes. The puzzle is only the first step to the game. After it is assembled you most solve the clues to help you solve the mystery.

“The first one we did we had to figure out how to keep the vampire in his coffin,” Wendy Wood said. “They are not easy and Dominion once the puzzle is together you have to figure A deck building game for two to four out the clues.” players, each player starts with the same deck Dungeons & Dragons “As the DM (Dungeon Master) here at and buys other cards as they can afford them.

As players construct their deck they attempt our store, I have slowed down playing quite a to gain the most victory points before the bit (in the last few weeks), but I have several friends playing through Zoom or (Google) game ends.

It was awarded the best new family Hangouts quite a bit,” Lashlee said.

Made famous by “The Big Bang Thestrategy game by Game Magazine in 2010.

Ticket to Ride ory,” role-playing games like Dungeons & A simple game to play for two to five Dragons have seen exponential growth in people. Players collect train cars and use recent years. Traveling exhibitions like Comthem to claim railway routes. The longer the ic-Con have helped expand their popularity. trains, the more points they can score. The The fantasy role-playing game was degame has a successful board version and on- signed in 1974. Players embark on imaginary line play is an option. adventures within a fantasy setting.

“Trying to beat my friends online is beTraditional games like Monopoly and Wingspan coming my hobby,” Jill James said.

Sorry were also mentioned in the survey. l Produced by Stonemaier Games, this The game has expanded with several game was released in March 2019. It’s a card versions including domestic and foreign lo-

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are typically at their peak from mid-November to late December. In 2020, March through April saw equal search numbers. Board games, best board games and online board games topped the charts in Google searches.

Utah has a higher proportion of queries on the subject than any other state.

“We do lots of puzzles and play lots of games in general,” West Valley resident Brittany Kluge said. “Since coronavirus I’ve been teaching more board games to my kids.

Specifically strategy games.”

What are the most popular games?

“Two-player games and puzzles are the most popular right now,” Lashlee said.

“Ironically, Pandemic is a popular game right now. Online Dungeons & Dragons has also happened a lot. Lots of people play on Zoom calls now.”

Personal connection might be a major reason for gaming popularity.

“I think people are looking for a friend group,” Lashlee said.

In a City Journals’ poll, 40% of those asked said they play games at least twice a week and 70% enjoy strategy games. What did they say are the most popular games they are playing right now? Here are the top five:

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Taylorsville City Journal

Virtual County Library available as reopening takes shape

By Joshua Wood | j.wood@mycityjournals.com

R

esidents of Salt Lake County have gone without a lot of things over the past couple months. Some resources and services previously taken for granted have suddenly been dearly missed. One of those resources is the Salt Lake County Library system. Since midMarch, all 18 full-service physical branches

have been closed. However, many of the library system’s services have been available online, and its staff members have worked to expand virtual offerings while the community stays at home.

“Everything is online right now,” said Sara Neal, marketing and communications

manager for Salt Lake County Library. “Limited staff is going into branches to do some prep work for opening the libraries.”

In the meantime, and for the past several weeks, librarians have worked to make themselves more available online to the community. They started a daily online story time for kids on the library’s Facebook page each morning at 10:30. The library’s focus on children home from school has driven an expansion of online book offerings for kids of all ages.

The County Library has developed programs like its Stay at Home Challenge encouraging people to do things like write a letter to a grandparent they can’t see in person. Kids were also challenged to read a short book in a half hour. “We wanted to help people fill some time and try to take their minds off things,” Neal said.

Online offerings have expanded to include access to more books, magazines and movies. People can even get their library card by applying online.

“Librarians are not at a desk right now, but they are still getting resources available Salt Lake County Library is offering many of its usual programs and events in a digital format during to the community,” Neal said. The virtuCOVID-19 shutdowns. (Photo courtesy of Salt Lake County Library) al Ask a Librarian service offers the kind

TaylorsvilleJ ournal.com

of help that librarians typically offer when physical branches are open. People can ask their librarians online for help with research, writing a resume, or how to apply for unemployment.

That type of online assistance will not go away when physical branches start to reopen.

“We are working on how to serve members of the community who might be high risk,” Neal said.

The County Library has worked with government officials to plan how to reopen safely. “We are working closely with the county and state,” said Cottonwood Heights Communications Manager Timothy Beery.

“We have to take into account our needs and the needs of our neighbors.”

As communities work toward reopening, the County Library has worked on how to keep patrons safe when libraries reopen.

Everything from a safe curbside pickup program to properly cleaning materials as they come in has to be considered.

“How do you monitor a 6-foot distance in a library?” Neal asked. “We are looking at what other urban libraries are doing to find what’s safest for the community.” l

June 2020 | Page 21

THOUGHTFUL GIFTS FOR THOUGHTFUL STUDENTS

by

CASSIE GOFF

Spring is the time for new beginnings… after graduations. During those events, you might overhear stories about someone’s parents buying them a new car for graduation, or someone’s rich relative flying them and their three closest friends to an island for a few weeks. Depending on how many people you know who are graduating, and how high the expectations have been set for you, buying gifts for grads can be expensive. Instead of spending more money, try one of these doit-yourself (DIY) gift ideas.

One of the most common DIY graduation gifts are graduation leis, similar to those Polynesian garlands of flowers, but without the flowers. You’ll need a lot of plastic wrap for this one. Gather the things you wish to include in your lei. This may include snacksized candy bars, gift cards, rolled-up dollar bills, mints, etc. Be very careful as you lay out a long piece of plastic wrap. (Alternatively, you may choose to use smaller pieces of plastic wrap and tie all the pieces together at the end.) Place all your goodies out, side by side, leaving about 2 inches between each item, down one edge of the plastic wrap.

Roll that plastic wrap over to trap the goodies in their new packaging. After you have wrapped all the items thoroughly, tie each of the spaces between goodies together. Alternatively, if you’re talented with origami, you can fold dollar bills and tie them together

to create a beautiful flower-resembling lei.

If you, or your graduating human, really likes being cheesy (like me, I usually go so-cheesy I approach Gouda territory), you can make small graduation caps to put on almost anything you may think of. You’ll need a circular base, something resembling a lid of a jar or a bottlecap, some parchment paper, a button, and some string. Wrap the parchment paper around the circular base and glue or tape it down. Then, glue or tape a square-shaped piece of parchment paper on top of the circular base to create the top of the cap. Glue or tape (hot glue might work best for this part) a button to the middle of the top of the squareshaped parchment paper. Lastly, wrap the string, (which needs to be tied to create a circle, with cut segments of the string draped through the middle, and tied together to create a tassel) over the button.

As mentioned, almost anything can be capped. You might buy a small jar from your

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In a subtle attempt to calm me down, my husband enrolled me in a meditation course. I love meditation, in theory, and had a random practice that included meditating in bed, grocery store lines and during TV commercials, but I didn’t have an actual sitdown meditation practice.

Now I do. Twice a day I sit for 20 minutes and watch the thoughts in my brain battle to the death. According to Instagram, nothing proves to the world how spiritual you are more than sitting for a long time in silence. The longer you sit, the better a person you are. Fact.

So now I’m a super-spiritual Zen person. I make sure I talk about my meditation practice all the time. The more you talk about how you’ve merged with your inner self, the more interested people around you become. They could listen to you talk about your meditation practice for hours.

You also need an expensive meditation cushion. Here’s a conversation I had with my husband, who just couldn’t understand the complexities of meditation.

Husband: Can’t you just sit in a chair?

Me: To be uber-spiritual, I need an $80 meditation cushion so I’m closer to Mother Earth.

Husband: Why don’t you just sit on the floor?

Me: Don’t be crass.

I tried sitting on the ground to meditate.

I was in San Luis Obispo at a conference, and I went to the beach early in the morning.

I listened to the waves, communed with my inner being and radiated calm as I left the

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As I ran up the trail from the beach, I tripped on a rock and fell face-first onto a wooden stair, nearly breaking my nose and spending the rest of the weekend with a bruised and swollen face. If I’d been sitting on a beautiful cushion instead of the ground, my inner being wouldn’t have been pissed off and try to kill me. Fact.

Meditation in nature is supposed to be super-relaxing, but right when I close my eyes I feel an ant crawl across my foot and I have to look to make sure it isn’t a spider because then I have to jump up and scream.

The only reason to meditate outside is so people can see you mediate and understand you’re a super-spiritual person.

I’m teaching my puppy to mediate with me, hoping my calm energy will soothe her.

After 10 minutes of getting her to settle down, I’ll place my hand on her back, syncing our breath and heart rate.

Just as I create an intense connection to her heart chakra, she jumps in my lap to lick my face and ruins everything. She’ll never be as spiritual as me. Fact.

People ask what I do when meditating.

First, I sit quietly on my expensive cushion, noticing the thoughts running across my mind. I spend several minutes trying not to notice the thoughts running across my mind.

I achieve two seconds of stillness before the thoughts start up again.

Soon I become numb from the waist down. The more numb you feel, the more spiritual you are and the more disconnected from those pesky thoughts you become.

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Soon, I can’t feel my toes and my knees are screaming for help. But that just proves to the Universe that I’m dedicated to my meditation practice. Sometimes I fall asleep and jerk awake before I hit the floor.

I expect I’ll achieve enlightenment any day now since I’m so good at meditating. If there’s one thing I excel at it’s doing absolutely nothing. Fact.

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Carpet, tile, hardwood, laminate, ceramic tile, luxury vinyl & window coverings.

FREE Estimate 801-501-9210

Call and ask about Breaker Box Labeling!

12896 S Pony Express #100, Draper

ROOFING

CLEANING SERVICES

All types of electrical work.

Residential and Commercial.

801-272-2700

All types of roofs

$650 OFF any reroof over 2,000 sq. ft.

Royal Pro Cleaning Services

General Cleaning, Deep Cleaning Move In/Move Out & Specialty Cleaning

Call Today 801-618-1868 www.royalproclean.com

$20 OFF FIRST CLEANING!

YARD SERVICES

Affordable Yard Care / Tree Trimming & Removal Flower Beds, Hedges, Railroad Ties, Mulching, Sod, Mowing, Concrete Senior Discounts

Call Dan:

801-518-7365

TELEVISION

TIRED OF THE TELEVISION BILL? Get the television channels you want at little or no cost. I will show you how to get local sports, news, and national channels.

THE CHANNEL MAN 801-963-5874 | docjanders@outlook.com

FLAT ROOF SPECIALISTS

OLYMPUS ROOFING

801.887.7663 SERVING WASATCH FRONT SINCE 1973

HEATING & AIR

COMFORT SOLUTIONS Furnace & A/C Installation

A/C Tune Up only $99 Call Today 801-505-9468 comfortsolutionsutah.com

June 2020 | Page 23

SPRING AIR DUCT CLEANING SPECIALS

AIR DUCT CLEANING CORONAVIRUS CONCERNS?

UV Purifier & Reme Halo Can Reduce Your Risk of Infection!

Ask for Details*

$49

CLEAN OUT SPECIAL Sinus Problems? Allergies? Asthma? Headaches?

Excessive Dust? High Energy Bills? Bad Odors?

If it’s in your ducts, it’s in your lungs.

Air duct cleaning is one of the best ways to fight symptoms of asthma and allergies.

WE CAN SANITIZE YOUR VENTS TO HELP STRENGTHEN YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM

10 VENTS 1 RETURN 1 MAIN

FREE system analysis/inspection.

Call for details. Additional vents priced separately.

We service all areas. Offer expires 6/30/2020.

FREE

DRYER VENT CLEANING Helps Support a Healthy Immune System

WITH ANY COMPLETE AIR DUCT SYSTEM CLEANING. CALL FOR DETAILS. Offer expires 6/30/2020.

50% OFF

HOSPITAL GRADE SANITIZER

Helps with germs & bacteria With purchase of complete ductwork cleaning.

Offer expires 6/30/2020.

We Will Beat Any Price With Superior Quality 100% Guarantee

801-618-4649

SERVICE

theapexcleanair.com