Taylorsville Journal | March 2024

TOP SPEEDSKATERS RACE TO MEDALS, WORLD RECORDS AT UTAH OLYMPIC OVAL

By Tom Haraldsen | t.haraldsen@mycityjournals.com

Since Utah hosted the 2002 Olympic Winter Games, the state’s legacy sports venues have been sites of many international competitions. The Utah Olympic Oval in Kearns was the host site of the ISU World Cup long track speedskating championships on Jan. 26-28, and it welcomed some local residents who are part of the US Speedskating program.

No one enjoyed the home ice more than Jordan Stolz, the 19-year-old phenom who won four gold medals over the threeday event, including setting a new world record in the men’s 1,000 meters. He sailed across the “Fastest Ice on Earth” in a time of 1:05.37, breaking a record that was set four years ago by a German skater on the Kearns surface. Stolz also won the 500 and 1,500 meter men’s events, plus added another first in the second 1,000 meter race held on Sunday.

“I love skating here in front of the home crowd, and this is the best ice surface in the world,” he said following the record-breaking run on Friday. “It’s nice to hear that support for the U.S. team.”

Overall, the Americans won 10 medals on the weekend, including seven gold, and setting another world record in the men’s Team Pursuit. Skaters Casey Dawson, Emery Lehman and Ethan Cepuran reclaimed the world best time they’d lost to Norwegians three weeks earlier.

Erin Jackson and Kimi Goetz, both of whom live in Kearns, were dominant in their races. Jackson, the defending Olympic champion in the women’s 500, took gold on Saturday, with Goetz taking silver. Goetz also took home silver in the women’s 1,000 meters on Friday, then won gold in the second 1,000 meters race on Sunday. The women’s Team Pursuit team of Brittany Bowe, Mia Mangenello and Giorgia Birkeland won bronze on Saturday.

“We had great performances that included personal bests, many seasonal bests and promotion of skaters to the A divisions,” USS coach Ryan Shimabukuro said. He and long-distance coach Gabriel Girard were high-fiving each other in cel-

Continued page 25

Nineteen-year-old U.S. speedskater Jordan Stolz set a new world record in the men’s 1,000 meters at the World Cup speedskating championships held at the Utah Olympic Oval. (Tom Haraldsen/City Journals)

The following is based on real events. The names have been changed to protect identities.

Travis was a mechanic; and a good one at that. Travis’ skills were in demand in the small Utah town where he lived. He picked up small jobs here and there, but mostly, he worked for a local repairs shop spending 40 hours each week with a wrench in hand. One day while Travis was working under an RV, the RV fell on top of him. By the time the RV was raised again, Travis was dead.

Somehow the jacks used to lift the RV disengaged – whether they failed or someone bumped the release lever is unclear. Regardless of how it happened, Travis’ tragic death was a serious blow to his wife and three young kids –emotionally and financially.

Because Travis had died as a result of a work accident, Amanda, his wife, thought his employers’ worker’s compensation insurance would at least help with funeral expenses. To add insult to injury, Amanda learned that her husband’s employer did not carry worker’s compensation coverage, something almost all Utah employers are required to carry by law. Her last resort was to file a claim with the Utah Uninsured Employers’ Fund, a special fund to help injured workers and their families when their employers don’t have worker’s compensation coverage.

To Amanda’s surprise, the Uninsured Employers’ Fund denied her claim saying that based on information from the repair shop, Travis was not an employee but an independent contractor they paid to help out with extra work when they

needed him. Amanda couldn’t believe it. She knew how much time Travis had spent working at the shop and that the shop had not been honest in describing his work. Angry and upset, Amanda called Davis & Sanchez looking for answers – and help.

Following the hearing, Amanda and her children were awarded outstanding medical expenses, funeral expenses, and years of compensation for the loss of his income.

Davis & Sanchez filed a lawsuit against the repair shop and the Uninsured Employers’ Fund for worker’s compensation benefits for Amanda and her kids. At a hearing in front of a Judge at the Utah Labor Commission, testimony and exhibits showed that Travis worked at least forty hours per week for his employer, used the employer's vehicle, used the employer's tools, used the employer's shop, and only did work on jobs that the shop gave him to do. Travis did not own a repair shop, had no business license, and did not take payment from customers, unless it was an on-site job, in which event he turned

the money over to his employer. Travis had no financial interest, other than his hourly wage, in his employer's business.

Following the hearing, Amanda and her children were awarded outstanding medical expenses, funeral expenses, and years of compensation for the loss of his income. The employer appealed the case, but the Judge's original opinion was upheld. The employer was also fined for not carrying worker’s compensation insurance, as required by law.

This situation is all too common. An employer simply calling an employee an "independent contractor" does not make it so. Many factors, such as those mentioned above, must be considered to determine whether or not an employer has substantial control over an employee and his work.

Whether a case involves a death or a smashed finger, Davis & Sanchez believes in helping injured workers get the benefits they deserve. If you or a loved one have questions or concerns about a worker’s compensation case, call the professionals at 801-746-0290 or visit their website at www.justworkcomplaw.com

High-quality, innovative health care with a heavy dose of compassion

With a focus on health care excellence, community service and faith – the doctors, nurses and care teams at Holy Cross Hospital – Jordan Valley and Holy Cross Hospital - Jordan Valley West are committed to compassionate and high-quality care for their neighbors.

It has been nearly a year since CommonSpirit Health took over five Wasatch Front hospitals that now bear the name Holy Cross, a reference to the Sisters of the Holy Cross, who brought Catholic, faith-based health care to the people of Utah nearly 150 years ago. Today, the hospitals are reinvigorating the Sisters’ vision while caring for all with open arms.

“Our care is focused on neighbors helping neighbors, whether they be in West Jordan, West Valley City, or our surrounding communities,” said Christine McSweeney, CEO of Holy Cross Hospital – Jordan Valley and Interim CEO at its sister hospital in West Valley City. “Our care providers live in these communities, and we are committed to playing an active role in improving the health of those around us – inside and outside of our hospital walls.”

Besides innovative health care in services that include orthopedics, bariatric programs, a cancer center, heart care, stroke accreditation and a Trauma III ER, the hospital’s teams are actively involved in helping to make the communities better, from leading food drives at local schools to partnering with the American Heart Association to educate our communities on heart health.

Through its Hello Humankindness program, CommonSpirit is actively promoting the health benefits

of kindness and recognizing employees who go above and beyond the call of their jobs to help those in need.

“We believe that simple acts of kindness have a profound impact on the lives of our patients and communities, in addition to the medical expertise that our doctors and nurses provide,” McSweeney said.

The community-focused work also involves close partnerships with local first responders, including fire departments and EMS agencies, who understand the advanced medical care that CommonSpirit provides at its Holy Cross hospitals when patients need an ambulance.

“They know we have some of the most advanced stroke care in our communities and some of the most advanced heart care,” McSweeney added.

CommonSpirit’s mission includes advancing social justice for all, and last fall, it bestowed eight grants from its Health Equity & Advancement Fund to local nonprofits that are working every day to improve lives in ways that include health screenings for Spanishspeaking neighbors and mental health treatment for children and families.

With a long legacy of service and healing, CommonSpirit is just getting started in extending health care excellence for all Utahns at the Holy Cross hospitals.

“Our vision is a healthier future for all – inspired by faith, driven by innovation, and powered by our humanity,” McSweeney said.

Learn more about the services, care providers and mission-driven work of the Holy Cross hospitals and CommonSpirit Health at www.holycrossutah.org.

SPONSORED CONTENT

Christine McSweeney, CEO

Taylorsville Scouts BSA troops – both boys and girls – continue to grow

By Carl Fauver | c.fauver@mycityjournals.com

It was just a couple of years ago when the Boy Scouts of America here in Utah took a triple gut punch, temporarily threatening the organization’s entire existence across our state. By in large, those punches came at three distinct levels: statewide, nationwide and worldwide.

• In Utah, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ended its more than 100-year affiliation with BSA. This impacted Scouts in many places – but none more than in our state.

• Across the United States, Boy Scouts of America transitioned to Scouts BSA and began to allow girls into the organization. This stirred nationwide controversy, again threatening numbers.

• Worldwide, the COVID-19 pandemic forced Scouts BSA troops to begin meeting remotely. Unable to hike, camp or do other activities together, many Scouts left the program.

But despite all these challenges, a pair of Taylorsville Scouts BSA troops have bounced back and continue to grow.

Troops 1996B and 1996G are both sponsored by St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church (2700 W. Builders Drive, about 5150 South). As you’ve probably already guessed, the “B” and “G” stand for “boys” and “girls.” The 1996 also has significance. That’s the year the boys troop was originally formed – the same year Taylorsville became an incorporated city.

A little more than a year ago in these pages, we introduced you to the newly-created 1996G Troop, under Scoutmaster Karene Svedin. At the time, they received special Scouts BSA approval to form with only four girls. The organization’s standard minimum number to create a troop is five.

The four “founding” Scouts are still active in the Troop, with four newcomers having also joined them. One of the newer girls has since decided it’s not for her. But the troop is still going strong with seven members. They are: Kylee Fox, Diana Godinez, Elizabeth

Jackson, Molly McDonald, Kaitriel Svedin, Atzari Unzueta and Natali Unzueta.

“We started Troop 1996G in August 2022 and remained at four girls for our entire first year,” Svedin said. “Our fifth girl joined us last September. Then we picked up three more. We’re now at seven – and always ready to welcome more.”

Svedin’s eighth grade daughter, Kaitriel, is on pace to be the Troop’s first-ever Eagle Scout. She had a jump on the other girls, starting her Scouts BSA journey in a Las Vegas troop when the family lived in that area.

“Kaitriel and her older brother Caleb (ninth grade) are actually both very close to completing their Eagle Scout rank requirements,” Svedin said. “Caleb completed his Eagle service project last year, while Kaitriel is still deciding what she wants to do. We’ve talked with them about possibly having a joint Eagle Court of Honor. Sometimes they like the idea – and other times, they don’t.”

Caleb is a member of Troop 1996B. Although that troop has been around nearly 30 years, its Scoutmaster has been in place just a year-and-a-half. David Augason took that post at the same time Karene was starting her girls’ troop in August 2022.

“I have two sons in our Troop 1996B now, and two other kids – a son and daughter – in the Cub Scout Pack (4996) that feeds into 1996B and 1996G,” Augason said. “When I became Scoutmaster, we had about 18 active Scouts. But that number has grown to 42. We have five patrols. They meet in separate rooms at St. Matthews Lutheran Church and fill them all, with eight or nine Scouts each. We are so grateful to the Church for sponsoring us and providing meeting space.”

Last summer, Augason took his boys to the pristine Scouts BSA Camp Loll, located just a mile south of Yellowstone National Park, and only four miles north of Grand Teton

National Park. This summer, their weeklong camp will return to Bear Lake.

“We do nine campouts per year,” Augason said. “In January, the boys spent a night in tents in the snow for our Klondike camp. Our next one will be in March or April in the Utah West Desert.”

Svedin’s female Scouts BSA Troop members will also spend a week on the shores of Bear Lake this summer.

“They love overnight camping,” she said. “At the Bear Lake camp last summer, my girls

got to know members of another girls’ troop based in Millcreek. They worked on lots of merit badges together. Our Troop has also camped at Utah Lake, in Big Cottonwood Canyon and outside Mount Pleasant.”

Anyone interested in joining either of these Scouts BSA groups should contact Troop 1996B Scoutmaster David Augason (801-7926916 / david@augason.com) or Troop 1996G Scoutmaster Karene Svedin (801-205-2287 / ksvedin09@gmail.com).l

TAYLORSVILLE TEAM

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

Bryan

Travis

Mieka

Jason Corbridge | jason.c@thecityjournals.com

Ryan Casper | ryan.c@thecityjournals.com

Greg Tanner | greg.t@valuepagesutah.com

Scoutmaster David Augason (squatting in front), boys from Taylorsville’s 1996B Scouts BSA Troop camped and hiked in and around Yellowstone National Park last summer. (Courtesy David Augason)

Archery is one of the many merit badges girls from Taylorsville’s 1996G Scouts BSA Troop worked on during their summer camp at Bear Lake last year. (Courtesy Karene Svedin)

Taylorsville High grad covers 70+ miles, swimming, biking and running

By Carl Fauver | c.fauver@mycityjournals.com

There are athletes like Patrick Mahomes and Steph Curry who earn millions upon millions of dollars every year to compete.

Then there are athletes like Taylorsville High School graduate Greg Radcliffe. They pay their own way… compete for the pure challenge and joy of it… and have to adjust their schedules for, well, life.

“I finished one Ironman race – and plan to enter another,” the Murray resident said. “But I had to sell my racing bike to pay for some truck repairs. So, now I’m saving and shopping for a little better bike.”

By the way, his $2,500 bicycle was about the only piece of Ironman equipment Radcliffe had to pay full price for. The Utah County-based (and world renowned) Fezzari Bicycles company had to custom-build his streamline 2-wheeler to fit his 6’4” frame. For all of his other race equipment – such as a wetsuit and shoes (one pair for pedaling, another for running) – Greg shopped for used items and online sales.

In fact, everything else Radcliffe needed to become a fully-outfitted Ironman racer, combined, cost him less than the race entry fee, which was “about $400.”

Last spring, Radcliffe, 39, competed in the “Intermountain Health Ironman 70.3 North American Championship” in and around St. George. The “70.3” is miles: 1.2 miles in the water… 56 aboard his full-price Fezzari bike… and then a “half marathon” 13.1 miles in his “more affordable” running shoes.

Those in the know call this grueling distance a “half Ironman.” The full Ironman race is double each of these distances.

Greg Radcliffe has always enjoyed exercise and physical activity, going back to before he graduated from Taylorsville High in 2003.

“I was never on any of the high school teams; but my friends and I played pickup basketball games all the time,” he said. “I’ve just always enjoyed being physically active. During the pandemic, I created a gym – with several workout stations – in my garage.”

Being in tune with exercise and athletic endeavors is also central to Radcliffe’s career. Since 2010, he’s worked as a physical therapist assistant for Intermountain Home Care & Hospice.

“I make 30 to 40 home health care visits every week,” Radcliffe said. “More than 90% of the people I work with are in the geriatric population. It’s more than a full-time job. So finding exercise time can be a little tricky. As I was getting closer to the Ironman race, there were times when a physical therapy appointment would cancel, so I would sneak in a quick 45-minute workout. I just had to find training time when I could.”

Again, these are not challenges shared by a Kansas City Chiefs quarterback or a Golden State Warriors 3-point shooter.

Radcliffe admits, despite his lifelong love of physical activity, he had never really given any thought to competing in a 70+ mile Ironman race until just a year and a half before he entered one.

“I had run Spartan races before, which are

basically long-distance, mountain running trails with obstacles,” he said. “Then, in October 2021 my wife and I took our kids to St. George for their fall break. We knew the Ironman was being held that weekend – and it turned out the runners were passing right by the condos where we were staying. My daughter and I walked down to watch for a while… and when I saw the times some of them were getting, I thought ‘I could do that.’ I pretty much decided right at that moment I wanted to try an Ironman race.”

That’s what Radcliffe was thinking when he returned to their condo from the race route. That’s where he first ran the idea past his wife, Tiffany, a 2004 Murray High School graduate.

“He is so stubborn; the minute he mentioned the Ironman race I knew it was going to happen,” Tiffany Radcliffe said. “When Greg puts his mind to something, it gets done.”

If this was a “Rocky” movie, about now is when the training montage would roll. Radcliffe spent the next year-and-a-half doing a combination of researching exercise tips online… rounding up as many equipment discount prices as possible… and working his body as hard as he ever had. The Park Center recreational facility inside Murray Park was central to his effort.

“My biggest fear going into the Ironman was swimming,” Radcliffe said. “I had done lots of running and mountain biking; but I had never really been a strong swimmer. I had never done any open water swimming in a reservoir. I remember swimming laps at the (Park) center at the same time the Murray High School swim teams were working out. They would go flying by in the lane next to me. But I stuck with it, and slowly improved.”

It was just two weeks before his Ironman race when Radcliffe completed his one and only open water training swim.

“I went out to Tooele County to practice swim in the lake at Stansbury Park,” he said. “It was hard to keep track of what direction I was going. I ended up swimming in a bit of a zigzag pattern. But I knew I would have other racers to follow during the Ironman. I felt pretty

prepared.”

Radcliffe remained in that confident frame of mind as his family made their way down to St. George for the race last May. And he still felt good about his prospects when he jumped into his car to go catch the Ironman shuttle bus out to Sand Hollow State Park (and reservoir) near Hurricane.

“I had to leave the condo by 4:30 in the morning, so no one tagged along with me to watch the swim part of the race,” he said. “My daughter and I had dropped my bike off at the reservoir the day before. That morning, I jammed to music to get pumped up. I felt ready to go.”

Radcliffe’s family was able to track his every move through an Ironman app, so they knew when he was safely moving through and out of the water. Tiffany was there when her husband made the next transition from riding to running. And his whole family entourage was at the St. George finish line to cheer him on.

“I was so proud of him,” Greg’s daughter Paisley said. “It looked like he had fun. I think one day I would like to do something like that.”

For the record, Radcliffe swam 1.2 miles in 43:21 minutes… cycled 56 miles in 3:01:06 (“My goal was to be under three hours – so I came close”) …and ran the 13.1-mile half marathon in 2:03:47. Adding in his brief transition times, Radcliffe’s overall race time was 6:02:17.

“I felt great finishing; I was not completely wasted like I thought I might be,” Radcliffe concluded. “I felt it went well. I was happy with my time. Lots of people had given me advice to enjoy it – to be in the moment. That’s what I tried to do. I took it all in. I didn’t have any cramps or blisters. My biggest mishap was dropping my water bottle while riding my bike.

I had to go back to pick it up. But I feel like I prepared well and the race went fine.”

Radcliffe isn’t sure when he might enter his second Ironman. He has to get a new bike, remember (darn broken trucks). But the Taylorsville High graduate does expect to be back in his swimming wetsuit at 7 a.m. on a reservoir shore sometime in the future. l

Taylorsville High School graduate Greg Radcliffe exits Sand Hollow Reservoir near St. George as he completes the first leg of his 70.3-mile Ironman race. (Courtesy Greg Radcliffe)

Murray resident – and Taylorsville High School graduate – Greg Radcliffe pedaled 56 miles during the grueling St. George Ironman race. (Courtesy Greg Radcliffe)

More than 70 miles after he started swimming, biking and running, Taylorsville High School graduate Greg Radcliffe approaches the finish line at the Ironman race in St. George. (Courtesy Greg Radcliffe)

Construction begins on 4700 South Bangerter interchange

By Tom Haraldsen | t.haraldsen@mycityjournals.com

After months of planning and some late summer demolition of two buildings and a church, construction is now underway on the new interchange at Bangerter Highway and 4700 South. The project will expand over two years, with a planned completion date in late 2025.

It began with a two-phase closure of most east-west travel on 4700 South on Feb. 16. That weekend and the next, UDOT crews were driving piles into the ground that will house utility relocations at the intersection. Traffic could still use off-ramps and on-ramps at Bangerter during those two weekends. There will be more interruptions at that intersection until all east-west traffic will be stopped starting in June.

“There will be a full 12-month closure of east-west on 4700 South to keep people safe during the construction,” said UDOT spokesman John Gleason. “The idea is to make Bangerter Highway more of a freeway. It is one of the most traveled roadways on the westside of the valley, with about 60,000 vehicles a day on the road. If we can take out those traffic signals and make them freeway-style interchanges, we hope to get motorists to their destinations faster and safer by eliminating those con-

flict points at stoplights.”

He said similar interchange construction is underway at three other locations on the highway—at 9800 South, 13400 South and at 2700 West. Over the past few years, interchanges from 5400 South to the south end of the valley have been reconstructed to a freeway-type designation.

“We generally try to keep traffic open as long as possible when we’re doing these interchanges,” he said. “We saw an increase in crashes when we were rebuilding the interchange at 11400 South and all lanes remained open, so we looked at what was happening and said we’re never taking chances with the safety of those traveling on the roads. So starting in June, the eastwest at 47th will be stopped for at least a year.”

Gleason said UDOT has done extensive studies on all of the interchanges along Bangerter, rebuilding them over time. The remaining intersections along the roadway up to I-215 will be reconstructed sometime in the future.

Part and parcel with these changes is UDOT’s emphasis on other modes of transportation, including use of mass transit as well as walking and biking trails that are planned for the future.

“Not everyone can or wants to drive,” he said, “so we’re encouraging people to consider alternatives. It’s important that we make smart decisions for the future.”

Drivers should expect delays in the area and can use 4100 South or 5400 South as alternate routes. The Project Team can

be reached via the project hotline 888766-7623 or the project email bangerter@ utah.gov. Visit udot.utah.gov/bangerter4700south for more information. Updates will be posted regularly on progress of the project. l

Construction is underway at the intersection of`4700 South and Bangerter Highway and will close starting in June. (Tom Haraldsen/City Journals)

More than 500 area seniors enjoyed a brighter Valentine’s Day thanks to AARP Utah

By Carl Fauver | c.fauver@mycityjournals.com

For the eleventh year nationally – and the second year here in Utah – AARP joined forces with their charitable affiliate “Wish of a Lifetime” (a registered 501 (c)(3) organization) to distribute Valentine’s Day roses to area retirement living residents.

“Last year, we gave Valentine’s Day roses to seniors at one assisted living center in Utah – and this year we were able to expand it to four,” AARP Utah Communication Director Kristen Tripodi said. “We hope to continue to grow the program throughout the entire state in the years ahead.”

Some 560 red and white roses were gifted to seniors on Feb. 14 at Legacy House and Legacy Village of Taylorsville, along with Legacy House and Legacy Retirement Residence of South Jordan.

“It’s always heartening to witness the happiness delivering roses brings both the volunteers and the recipients as the roses are handed out,” AARP Utah State Director Alan Ormsby said. “Regardless of age, we all need human connection to thrive. But nearly one in four adults aged 65 and above experience social isolation. Delivering roses on Valentine’s Day is just one of the many ways AARP strives to connect with (seniors).”

Legacy House of Taylorsville (6302 S. Gold Medal Drive, about 3500 West) Director Darren Jacobson says the roses were actual-

ly delivered to his facility two days ahead of Valentine’s Day, direct from the nursery. His first challenge was to keep them a secret from nearly 100 curious residents.

“When the roses arrived Monday afternoon, we cut them, put them in water and hid them in our walk-in refrigerator,” Jacobson said. “We succeeded in keeping it a surprise. A team of about eight AARP people came two days later and handed the roses out to our residents in each of their rooms. We’ve not had something like this before. Our seniors were excited. It’s such a nice thing for (AARP and Wish of a Lifetime) to do.”

All four of the retirement living centers AARP visited on Valentine’s Day are operated by Western States Lodging Management and

Development, based in South Jordan. They manage hotels, senior living communities, multi-family housing and conference centers throughout Utah and several other states.

“We have 100 mostly part-time employees here at Legacy House of Taylorsville,” Jacobson continued. “All but four of our 93

studio, 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom units are now filled. We have 25 dedicated memory care units.”

Raised in Bountiful – and a graduate of Viewmont High School and Weber State University – Jacobson has been Legacy House of Taylorsville Director since December 2022.

“I am, by far, the newcomer on our staff,” he said. “Our receptionist has been here 17 years, our food and beverage director 15 years. My eight managers combined have been serving seniors at this center 65 years. We all enjoy working with our residents. And activities like the AARP Valentine’s rose giveaway make it even more fun.”

Turns out, the flowers weren’t the residents’ only Valentine’s Day treat.

“We served a special holiday meal – a choice of salmon or filet mignon,” the director said. “Our staff prepares 21 hot meals a week, making everything from scratch, including our dinner rolls.”

A week after Valentine’s Day, Legacy House of Taylorsville residents were also treated to a 1960s-themed “sock hop” dance.

“We host at least one larger, special activity for our residents every month,” Jacobson said. “On Easter (March 31), we’ll host a big egg hunt for all of their grandkids and great grandkids. When I accepted the job here, an Easter Bunny costume was awaiting me. So that’s what I’ll be wearing. We had about 100 kids at the egg hunt last Easter.”

Learn more about Legacy House of Taylorsville at legacyretire.com or 801-327-8400.

Nationwide, the AARP “Cupid Crew” distributed more than 170,000 roses in its effort to connect with older adults at risk of isolation. For more on the organization’s Utah chapter, visit aarp.org/utah. l

AARP Utah State Director Alan Ormsby and Business Operations Analyst KoShell Burnham-Miller assisted their organization in handing out more than 500 roses, at four Utah assisted living centers, on Valentine’s Day. (AARP Utah)

AARP Utah President Pat Thompson (R) presents a Valentine’s Day rose to one of the residents at Legacy House of Taylorsville. (AARP Utah)

WOMeN’S SECTION

A publication covering local influential women in honor of International Women’s Day

Utah-educated doctor chosen to lead National Institutes of Health

By Mimi Darley Dutton | m.dutton@mycityjournals.com

For the first time, a University of Utah medical school graduate sits at the helm of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Monica Bertagnolli, M.D., was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in November 2023. She is the second woman to serve as NIH Director since its inception in 1887 and the first surgeon in that role.

The NIH is located in Bethesda, Maryland and is comprised of 27 institutes and centers. The organization has a budget of more than $47 billion and serves as the largest public funder of biomedical research in the world.

President Biden stated: “Dr. Bertagnolli has spent her career pioneering scientific discovery and pushing the boundaries of what is possible to improve cancer prevention and treatment for patients and ensuring that patients in every community have access to quality care. Dr. Bertagnolli is a world-class physician-scientist whose vision and leadership will ensure NIH continues to be an engine of innovation to improve the health of the American people.”

Bertagnolli first earned an engineering degree from Princeton University, then she attended and graduated from the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine in 1985. She was interested in immunology but discovered a different passion. “I signed up for surgery as my very first clinical rotation, just because I wanted to get it out of the way. I still vividly remember my first day in an operating room because I immediately knew that’s where I belonged,” she told the ASCO Post.

In more recent years, she served as chair of the Huntsman Cancer Institute’s External Advisory Board. Bertagnolli was previously a professor of surgery at Har-

vard Medical School and chief of the Division of Surgical Oncology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. She has been president of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and leader of the Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology.

Prior to her current role at the NIH, Dr. Bertagnolli was the first female director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI), a role she took in October 2022. NCI is a component of NIH. One month into her time at the NCI, a routine mammogram led to Bertagnolli being diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer. Since then, she has called herself a cancer survivor. “Fortunately, my prognosis is excellent. And this is due to NIH-funded research over the last several decades. And the many women who participated in clinical trials before me,” she said.

Her upbringing on a ranch in rural Wyoming as the daughter of first-generation immigrants has shaped her professional approach by providing an understanding of the medical challenges rural communities experience. An NIH press release said, “Equity is a core value that drives all her efforts, which includes ensuring NIH research is equitable and accessible to all people from all walks of life regardless of income or zip code.”

Huntsman Cancer Institute CEO Mary Beckerle, who has known Bertagnolli almost since her Utah med school days, compares her to the late Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, who also grew up on a ranch: A “bundle of wit, resilience, and can-do spirit,” Beckerle said in Science magazine, December 2023 edition.

Beyond being a cancer surgeon for more than 35 years, her research has

DR. MONICA BERTAGNOLLI is a 1985 graduate of the University of Utah medical school. She served on an advisory board for the Huntsman Cancer Institute and was recently confirmed by the U.S. Senate to lead the National Institutes of Health (NIH) which is made up of 27 institutes and centers for biomedical research.

focused on the genetic mutations that lead to gastrointestinal cancer and how inflammation stimulates cancer growth. In her current role, she hopes to leverage commonalities such as how inflammation causes cancer but is also a component of Alzheimer’s, autoimmune disorders, arthritis, Long COVID and other diseases.

In 2023, she was named one of the 100 Influential Women in Oncology by Onco Daily.

Bertagnolli said in a December 2022 NCI statement, “Having been an oncologist my entire career, it was always—and still is—all about the patients and survivors. It’s one thing to know about cancer as a physician, but it is another to experience it firsthand as a patient as well. To anyone with cancer today: I am truly in this together with you.” l

Photo credit: Chia-Chi Charlie Chang/NIH

‘Look Good, Feel Good’ conference focuses on inclusion for Pacific Islander women

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

The inaugural “Look Good, Feel Good” conference, held in February at Hale Centre Theatre in Sandy, was organized to empower Pacific Islander women in Utah. In partnership with the Creative Pacific Foundation, the Women’s Executive Alliance held the event to celebrate women of the PI community through education and connection.

La Wolfgramm serves as president of the WEA, the women in business arm of the Utah Pacific Islander Chamber of Commerce, that just celebrated its first anniversary. As the owner of Pasifika Kitchen, Wolfgramm wanted to bring women together and provide a fun environment where they could learn about holistic empowerment, covering physical and mental health, hair and fashion.

“We started WEA because we felt that there was nothing out there for PI women,” she said. “I wanted our PI women to see that there’s someone that looks like them, that talks like them and walks like them. It’s a comfort thing to know they can come in, and if they want to, they can start a business.”

The “Look Good, Feel Good” event marked the first time Utah PI experts in food, health, entertainment and fashion joined together in one place to offer support and information.

Guest speakers included Aveda beauty and hair expert Ben Powell, “Project Runway” designer Afa Ah Loo, mental health expert Celia Moleni (owner of Manaaki Mental Health) and wellness expert Alex Millions, RN, (owner of ModeRN Hydraesthetics). The conference ended with a keynote address from Sui Lang L. Panoke, senior vice president of culture at Zions Bank.

In addition to workshops, the event featured a DJ, a 360-degree photo booth, catered food and mocktails.

Analei Samasei’a serves on the WEA board of directors. She wants PI women to understand that they belong in these spaces and that what they contribute to the community has value.

“A lot of our women are caretakers. They stay home with their families, they take care of their aunties or uncles or mothers or fathers. That’s what we inherently do in our culture,” Samasei’a said. “So they’re not always available to go to these types of events, nor do they have accessibility. But now, we have all these experts here in the room. They were all mingling together and asking questions.”

Partnering with Creative Pacific allowed WEA to host the “Look Good, Feel Good” conference with a focus on inclusion while

strengthening bonds between PI women. Creative Pacific is a nonprofit that celebrates cultural diversity.

For information about WEA and the Utah Pacific Islander Chamber of Commerce visit

Upichamber.org. To learn about Creative Pacific, visit CreativePacific.org.

“We had a mental health expert who walked us through some exercises to connect back to ourselves and understand the sensations we were feeling and how

our thoughts determine actions. It was like a good therapy session,” Samasei’a said. “And so it unified everybody in that room. We’ve all shared this experience together, and now we can talk about it to our friends.”

l

“PROJECT RUNWAY” designer Afa Ah Loo talks to Pacific Islander women about fashion at the “Look Good, Feel Good” conference.

City Journals

MORE THAN 70 WOMEN attended the first “Look Good, Feel Good” conference for Pacific Islander women at Hale Centre Theatre in Sandy. The event celebrated women of the PI community.

City Journals

LA WOLFGRAMM is president of the Women’s Executive Alliance, the women in business branch of the Utah Pacific Islander Chamber of Commerce.

City Journals

Salt Lake Community College President Deneece Huftalin leaves behind a legacy of student-centered leadership

By Rachel Aubrey | r.aubrey@mycityjournals.com

For more than 30 years Deneece Huftalin has been a student-focused leader at Salt Lake Community College serving in various capacities within administration. What began in September 2014, when she became president of SLCC, will come to a conclusion in June of this year as Huftalin officially retires. She will have been the longest serving female president within the Utah System of Higher Education.

With the most diverse student body in the state, Huftalin said she always aimed to keep true the SLCC mission “[to] engage and support students in educational pathways leading to successful transfer and meaningful employment.”

To “support students” is something that she spent her career being focused on.

A Salt Lake City native, and a University of Utah graduate, Huftalin spent some time outside of Utah on various higher education campuses including Northwestern University, Stanford University and University of California, Los Angeles. But it was a job at Harper Community College in Palatine, Illinois that helped open her eyes to the community college system.

“I worked in orientation, but they considered their student affairs people faculty, which was a really cool model,” Huftalin said. “I was able to teach a little and serve on the college senate, but also have kind of a staff role.”

That position at Harper, although brief, left an impression. As Huftalin found herself back in Utah, returning so her husband could take a job opportunity, she found herself looking for work again on another college campus.

“There’s something [magical] about campuses,” Huftalin said. “People are thinking, discovering, laughing, having fun and testing waters, and it’s a good place to be.”

As Salt Lake Community College was booming with growth and expansion in the early 1990s, Huftalin realized that her time at Harper’s gave her a bit of competitive edge when it came time to apply for positions at SLCC. She began her tenure as the director of academic and career advising in 1992.

“I always feel fortunate that Harper College gave me a little bit of knowledge and a kind of step into a community college role,” Huftalin said.

That first role led to her eventual “dream job” in the mid-1990s, as the dean

of students. Being involved with students was always where she saw herself.

“I just love being with students,” said Huftalin said.

Over the years, colleagues took notice of that student-centered persona. Alison McFarlane, who became the Vice President of Institutional Advancement in 2012, worked closely with Huftalin, who was the Vice President of Student Services at that time.

“Deneece is the most student-focused leader I could have possibly imaged,” McFarlane said. “You always hear about Deneece being the voice for students.”

Cassidy Behling has been the Administrative Assistant to the President for the last 10 years, and has watched as Huftalin, who often gets pulled in so many different directions, has been able to focus on what truly matters in higher education.

“Her care and concern for her students is always her guiding force,” Behling said.

Huftalin admitted that she worries

about current and future students and how heavy the world is on them, especially when it comes to mental health.

“It takes a lot to break through and come and be courageous and learn and try something new,” Huftalin said.

Despite never seeing herself in the role of president of SLCC, Huftalin said that being in leadership roles has allowed her to model behavior that she has witnessed over the years. Throughout her career, she was able to be a part of women-led communities, allowing for the formation of friendships and connections.

“Younger women are experiencing things differently than I ever have,” Huftalin said. “But I do think there’s some continuity of support…and having lived longer and navigated different things, I can give advice and support or encouragement.”

While in office, Huftalin realized several goals such as, but not limited to, the addition of the Westpointe Workforce Training and Education Center in Salt Lake City and

the Juniper Building in Herriman which has increased geographical access to classes and the Open Education Resources (OER) initiative that allows students access to public domain textbooks for general education courses.

According to McFarlane, who retired in October 2023, one of the many ways that Huftalin has been able to accomplish these goals is because she is a “connector” of people and ideas, fostering collaboration within the college and the surrounding communities.

“When she sees opportunities, she’s very [eager] to give them to other people,” McFarlane said.

Those connections have led to great relationships with students, faculty and staff, and Huftalin said she will miss those the most after retirement.

“…Those relationships are hard to step away from,” Huftalin said. “Because they’ve just meant so much.” l

DENEECE HUFTALIN has been president of Salt Lake Community College since 2014 and when she retires in June, she will have been the longest serving female president within the Utah System of Higher Education (USHE).

Photo courtesy of Salt Lake Community College

MAYOR'S MESSAGE

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

I am so pleased with how our Plaza +ART program has been going. Plaza +ART was created three years ago as a way to bring public art to Centennial Plaza in front of City Hall.

In just this short amount of time, it has brought dozens of sculptures to the plaza, essentially creating a free public, open-air gallery that can be viewed anytime — day or night. The 2023-24 Plaza +ART season includes 18 sculptures by local and area artists that have been installed at the plaza. To date, the program has also brought us three Evening of Art events where artists are on hand to speak about their work, and a few more are planned again this year.

I love these free, public Evening of Art events. I always learn something new, and hearing the passion of the artists about their work is inspiring. You can read more about our latest Evening of Art, held this past month and featuring artists Doug and Dianne Adams, on Page 3 of this section.

I believe this recent focus on art has brought so much to our community. It has enhanced our city with beauty, conveying new ideas and ways of looking at the world. The artists’ contributions have further connected our community.

So, if you haven’t already visited Centennial Plaza to see the sculptures, you’ll de nitely want to do so. And if you have, stop by again. We’ve added two new sculptures in the last couple of months: “Rift” by Ted Schaal, which replaces a piece that was unveiled at the start of our 2023-24 season but was recently sold, and “Guitar” by Deveren Farley. We are thrilled to have this piece now on permanent display at Centennial Plaza after its recent purchase by the city.

You can learn more about the Plaza +ART program on our website, www.taylorsvilleut.gov, and Plaza +ART now has a new Facebook page with lots of information about upcoming events and a “Feature Friday” each week that highlights the artists who currently have sculptures on display. I can’t thank Taylorsville residents Janean and Dan Toone enough for their vision in creating this fabulous program and continuing to run with it.

Truly, the art walk at Centennial Plaza is filled with the imagination, wonder and beauty created by these talented artists. Their artwork is simply amazing, and I am beyond grateful that it is now a de ning part of our Taylorsville home.

—Mayor Kristie S. Overson

WHAT’S INSIDE – MARCH 2024

Frequently Called Numbers, Page 2 Council Corner, Page 3 TVPD News, Page 6

Heritage Remembrances, Page 7

Environment, Page 8

Carriage Square is Newly Renovated

The shopping center, at the corner of Redwood Road and 4100 South, is made up of retail stores, restaurants and other businesses. It is home to more than 40 individual business owners, and in many ways truly does represent the American Dream with those owners coming from at least 10 di erent areas of the world.

Renovation of the center began, as anticipated, last spring following the award of the bid in fall 2022. The work was completed in December, and a Ribbon Cutting event is planned in the coming months to celebrate the nished project.

The renovation has included demolition and repaving of the entire parking lot, the planting of new landscaping throughout, the installation of an irrigation system to support those trees and shrubs, the addition of curbs and gutters for ADA compliance, and the widening of sidewalks and patio areas to support outdoor seating along building fronts.

"Carriage Square is lled with fun shops and restaurants that are locally owned," Mayor Kristie Overson said. "They are a vibrant part of our Taylorsville community, and we are hopeful the renovations will increase foot tra c to their businesses.”

In conjunction with the project, the City of Taylorsville has been featuring several of the Carriage Square shops over the past year in a series of articles called "See What's New." Read the one highlighting Saigon Supermarket on Page 4 of this section and nd all of the articles at www.taylorsvilleut.gov.

Animal

Building Inspection 801-955-2030

Chamber

Fire Department 801-743-7200

Gang

Garbage/Recycle/GreenWaste Pick-up ........................

Granite

Health

Park

Public Works (Salt Lake County) ....................................... 385-468-6101

Dominion Energy

Rocky

Salt

Taylorsville

Taylorsville

Taylorsville

Taylorsville

Taylorsville

Taylorsville Library ............................................................... 801-943-4636

Taylorsville Recreation Center ......................................... 385-468-1732

Swimming

Taylorsville-Bennion

UDOT

Utah

801-967-5006

EVENTS MARCH 2024

March 6 & 20 – 6:30 p.m.

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

March 12 & March 26 – 6:30 p.m.

Planning Commission Meeting @ City Hall.

March 10 – 2 a.m.

Daylight Saving Time begins. Move your clocks ahead one hour.

March 19 – 4 to 6 p.m.

Public Open House @ Taylorsville Library. Give your input on design options for Valley Regional Park. See ad on Page 4 of this section.

March 28 – 7 p.m.

Free Localscapes Class @ City Hall Council Chambers. Sponsored by the Green Committee. See ad on Page 8 of this section.

March 29 & 30 – 7:30 p.m.

A Musical Revue @ the Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center. Presented by the Taylorsville Arts Council, it will feature the music of Broadway’s Stephen Schwartz.

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

COUNCIL CORNER

By Council Member Anna Barbieri

City’s Relationship with Legislature is Critical in Keeping Our Neighborhoods Strong

The 45 days toward the rst of the year are always interesting in Utah, and this year was no exception. Utah legislators met from Jan. 16 to March 1 in the 2024 General Session of the 65th Utah Legislature and took up hundreds of impactful issues.

To learn more about their work and the process itself, the 3A Community Council (whose district I represent on the City Council) invited Taylorsville’s government relations specialist John Hiskey to speak to us. Even though it was a cold and rainy February night, more than 25 people turned out to discuss issues before the Legislature and their potential impact on our neighborhoods.

John represents the city during the legislative session each year and provided an outstanding overview of the bills under consideration. He explained that Taylorsville has four members of the Utah House of Representatives and two members of the Utah Senate who represent portions of the city. He also told us that the city is a political subdivision of the state, which means that the Legislature provides the requirements for the operation of all city programs (public works, police, planning and zoning, building inspection, taxes, etc.) Thus, the relationship between the city and the Legislature is critical.

Topping the list of most important issues before the Legislature this year was housing. There is a cur-

rent shortage of 37,000 housing units in the state and yet there are nearly 190,000 entitled residential lots. An entitled residential lot is a lot that has received all required approvals and is ready for a housing developer to obtain a building permit. For example, West Jordan has 9,000 entitled lots. The problem for the developers is the cost of having to install the public infrastructure, such as roads, curb and gutters, sidewalks, water, sewer, etc., to support the building of residences on those lots.

Along with the Governors First Homes initiative, legislative proposals included developing a funding source from which homebuilders could borrow to be able to construct the needed infrastructure. These funds would come in the form of loans at a favorable interest rate, provided as an incentive for new housing construction.

Over the past few years, legislation also has been considered that would preempt local control of planning and zoning, which I know was surprising to some of those attending our Community Council meeting. Several of those attending were unaware of the extent that cities must make to keep these decisions about zoning at the local level.

We were all in agreement about the important role of local government in making decisions about our neighborhoods rather than having speci c zoning imposed. It is true that government closest to the people works best, as we know our neighborhoods and communities and what they need to keep them strong and ourishing. One size ts all usually doesn’t work.

Those attending raised concerns about the impact of short-term rentals and the purchase of homes by companies in their neighborhoods. They expressed a desire for developing a program to provide assistance for the purchase of existing homes by first-time homebuyers. There was also discussion about the need for alternative transportation opportunities for pedestrians and bicyclists.

I am grateful to members of the Community Council for their valuable contribution in shaping the vision for Taylorsville City and their dedication to our neighborhoods. I also want to thank John for representing our interests so well at the Legislature. It takes all of us, working together, to ensure our community is the best it can be.

Evening Event Features Couple, Their Work and Love of Art

Taylorsville City’s Plaza +ART program welcomed husband-and-wife artists Doug and Dianne Adams for its third Evening of Art, a new city-sponsored event where artists speak about their work and inspiration behind their art pieces.

“The evening was simply lovely,” said Mayor Kristie Overson. “We were so delighted to host the Adamses, and it was truly inspiring to hear them speak and learn more about them.”

Doug is a metal bell sculptor, whose art piece “Torri Gate” is on display at Centennial Plaza, and Dianne is a watercolor and mixed-media artist. They shared stories about their artwork and details on how they go about it. They also generously donated two of their own art pieces that were raffled off to those attending, with proceeds bene tting the Plaza +ART program.

Titled "Fall in Love with Art,” the free, public event was held the day after Valentine’s Day at the Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center. These Evening of Art events are planned as a way for the community to learn about and enjoy art.

The next such event is planned for May 14, featuring artists Chad Poppleton and Maren Arnell. Another Evening of Art also will be held in October, with artists to be announced.

Follow Plaza +ART on its new Facebook page for all the event details.

Register for the 2024

Taylorsville Dayzz 5K and Kids Run! Early bird pricing for the 5K until April 1. Shirt, finishers medal, swag bag and chip timing all included for only $25 (5K)

$15 (Kids Run)

Scan the QR code to register and for more info!

Saturday June 29

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

See what’s new at Carriage Square! We've been highlighting Carriage Square businesses over the past several months in advance of renovations to the shopping center. Be sure to stop by this fun section of Taylorsville, and watch for a Ribbon Cutting event to celebrate the completed project.

Saigon Supermarket, located at 1789 W. Carriage Square, is a family-owned and operated Asian grocery store o ering a wide range of authentic Vietnamese and other Asian products.

Charlie Nguy, owner and manager of Saigon Supermarket, said the number of customers, along with his own experience running the store, has increased exponentially since opening the supermarket several years ago.

Nguy built on his know-how running a restaurant before opening Saigon Supermarket. “At first it was very tough but I’m doing better, now that I have more experience,” Nguy said in regard to running a store for the rst time.

Storefronts like Saigon Supermarket also have attracted more businesses to Carriage Square, he said. The supermarket and other storefronts like Café Thảo Mi have brought in re-

curring customers, to build a core Vietnamese demographic. Nguy explained that the sales of Vietnamese, Cambodian, Laos, Chinese and other Asian foods allow for a diverse demographic of returning customers who shop at the supermarket.

You can visit Saigon Supermarket ever day of the week. It's open Monday-Sunday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Whether you’re shopping for groceries or looking for authentic Asian snacks, Saigon Supermarket is the perfect place to go.

New Businesses Celebrate Grand

Among the new openings in Taylorsville over the past few months were Dirty Dough and Revity Medical. Both celebrated with Ribbon Cutting events and are detailed below:

DIRTY DOUGH — From “Delta Doodle,”“Raspberry Toaster Tart” or “the Muscle” to a traditional chocolate chip, you can now enjoy all your favorite tasty cookies at Dirty Dough in Taylorsville. The new store is located at 5474 S. Redwood Road and celebrated its grand opening with a festive Ribbon Cutting and free cookies.

“What a fun event that was,” said Mayor Kristie Overson. “A lot of people were there, and they had some opportunities for kids to be outside and playing miniature golf, so it was a great time.”

Dirty Dough has almost 50 locations nationally, with 16 stores in Utah. Visit their website, dirtydoughcookies.com, for additional information and store hours.

REVITY MEDICAL — Located at 6087 S. Redwood Road, Revity Medical is a hormone replacement therapy clinic that o ers services for both men and women.

Among such treatments are IV therapy, Genomic Testing, Semaglutide for weight loss and concierge services which include immunity boosting injections, Toradol (anti-in ammatory and pain reliever) and basic primary care.

“Helping clients feel their best and healthiest is our primary objective,” said Revity’s Shannon Kalpako . See their website, revitymedical.com, for more information, to take a hormone test and request an appointment.

Read additional details and more about other new businesses opening in Taylorsville on the city’s website, www.taylorsvilleut.gov.

Dirty

When it Comes to Graffiti, Keep These ‘3 Rs’ in Mind

Check this space each month for news about the Taylorsville Police Department (TVPD) and their valuable service to our community.

Unfortunately, Taylorsville City is not immune to gra ti. In addressing this issue, residents are encouraged to remember the 3 Rs: Report, Remove, Re-Group.

1. Report any gra ti observed in Taylorsville to TVPD.

2. Remove: TVPD partners with the Salt Lake Metro Gang Unit which has, in cooperation with Salt Lake County, developed a program if you need assistance in removing gra ti on your property. You can learn more about the program at updsl.org under the Services and Gra ti Removal tabs.

3. Re-Group: We encourage residents to consider starting a neighborhood watch group and report any suspicious or criminal activity to police. (Pictured are Mayor Overson and members of our wonderful Youth Council after painting over some gra ti in summer 2022).

EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH

Congratulations to O cer Lutz, our latest Taylorsville Police Department Employee of the Month. O cer Lutz joined TVPD upon its formation and has more than 13 years of law enforcement experience, previously working as an o cer with the Salt Lake City Police Department. Additionally, O cer Lutz has more than 20 years of experience in the United States Army.

He currently is assigned to TVPD’s patrol division and joint SWAT team. His experience includes training with SLCPD’s K-9 unit, SWAT team, patrol, eld training o cer and less lethal weapons instructor. He attended Salt Lake Community College, as well as the Art Institute of Salt Lake City.

O cer Lutz was nominated for recognition by Det. Gordon with our Violent Crime’s Division due to his lead role in locating a dangerous fugitive. This fugitive suspect was on the run from Adult Probation and Parole and suspected of endangering a juvenile from Taylorsville. O cer Lutz tracked the fugitive through multiple cities in Salt Lake County but ultimately found he was in Nevada. It was further suspected that the fugitive was trying to coerce individuals to deliver the endangered juvenile to him.

Due to O cer Lutz’s persistent investigation, the suspect’s conspiracy to entice/kidnap the juvenile was interrupted. Instead, the suspect was greeted by several law enforcement o cials in Nevada and extradited to Utah on his outstanding warrants. Det. Gordan stated that if it were not for O cer Lutz’s “quick action and thorough investigation, the involved juvenile could have been enticed by this known fugitive and taken anywhere.”

When O cer Lutz is not serving the citizens of Taylorsville, he spends time oil painting, paddle boarding and coaching little league baseball. Thank you, O cer Lutz, for your service and commitment to Team Taylorsville!

Taylorsville Bennion Heritage REMEMBRANCES

Hazel Paxton Helped Start School Lunch Program in 1930s

Following is the history of Taylorsville resident and pioneer descendent Hazel Pixton Paxton, as told in her words (edited for clarity and space):

I am Hazel Pixton Paxton. My parents are Willard Cooper Pixton and Isabella Carter. Father was an original Utah pioneer — son of Robert Pixton, a soldier in the Mormon Battalion. My mother was so proud that her father, Grandpa Carter, plowed the rst half acre of land in Utah. She would always show me the gold medal he received for that distinction.

I went to school at the 38 District school, later called Plymouth. The property was originally owned by my grandfather, Robert Pixton. Later, to attend the University of Utah, I would ride with other students in a horse-drawn buggy from State Street in Murray and then transfer to a streetcar, which took us to Salt Lake City, and nally transfer again to get to the university.

I married Eugene Paxton, the love of my life, in 1909. I always told Gene that he took my “i” out when my name changed from Pixton to Paxton. We rented an apartment on Redwood Road for a while. My father, Willard, gave us a building lot on 4800 South across from the Plymouth schoolhouse. All of my children were born in my bedroom of that house. We lived there until 1938. When my parents passed away, we moved into the home where I was born.

I became Parent Teacher President of Plymouth School on Oct. 1, 1932. At that time, the district saw need for a lunch program. A lot of children were undernourished because of the Depression. Our school was the rst to try this in Utah. We prepared a hot cup of soup or sometimes cocoa and a cracker at our homes and carried the food in a wagon to the school. Over the next two years, we worked with the government W.P.A. (Work Progress Administration) program, which supplied, butter, dried milk, canned meat and tomatoes.

During the winter of 1935-36, the government paid for use of a nearby kitchen and paid three of us to prepare the meals. We served approximately 300 lunches daily for two more years before the school district assumed responsibility for the program.

Gene and I were both active in the neighborhood and the community. We had four boys in Scouting. Gene and I were proud and concerned, as those same four boys, Lester, Calvin, Willard and Eldon, served our country in wartime — all at the same time.

You can learn more about Hazel Pixton Paxton and the histories of many other Taylorsville residents at the Taylorsville-Bennion Heritage Center, 1488 W. 4800 South. Drop on by!

Don’t Miss These Library Events

The Taylorsville Library has planned several programs during the month of March. You’ll want to mark your calendar for these events:

VIRTUAL LECTURE: The Women of Marathon Swimming — Monday, March 4, 7 p.m. Elaine Howley will discuss the dynamic world of endurance swimming and highlight the remarkable achievements of women in the sport, drawing from her own experience as an accomplished marathon swimmer. Register at thecountylibrary.org/LectureSeries

SELF-IMPROVEMENT BOOK CLUB — Saturday, March 9, 11 a.m. Meet other readers interested in self-improvement and self-discovery in this monthly book club. The March book pick is “The Four Tendencies” by Gretchen Rubin.

PRE-ECLIPSE SOLAR VIEWING EVENT — Saturday, March 23, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Drop by the library to safely view the sun with representatives from the Astronomical Society of the Paci c. Learn about the upcoming solar eclipse on April 8. This program will be outside. Solar eclipse glasses are available while supplies last.

TEEN & TWEEN HOMESCHOOL CODING CLUB: Fiero Coding — Monday, March 25, 1 p.m. Meet other teens and learn how to code using Fiero Code. Come to the library for this monthly unplugged coding activity followed by a self-guided coding adventure. Limited laptops provided during the program.

VIRTUAL LECTURE | TWO YEARS OF JWST: New Discoveries Across the Universe — Tuesday, March 26, 7 p.m. Dr. Lothringer will provide an update on what NASA’s newest and biggest space telescope, JWST, has been observing in its rst two years of operation. Register at thecountylibrary.org/LectureSeries

TAYLORSVILLE SENIOR CENTER

4743 S. Plymouth View Drive March Class Highlights

The Taylorsville Senior Center has planned a variety of classes this month. Among them are: HEAT Program Outreach Event: The HEAT Program can assist with your high utility bills. Get assistance with your HEAT application on Thursday, March 21, from 9 a.m. to noon in the Wood Room. Must have proof of income, retirement bene ts and SSI/SSDI bene t documents ready. Registration is required.

Tai Chi for Arthritis: This eight-week Tai Chi class is designed to help improve balance, exibility and posture. Class will meet Mondays and Thursdays beginning Monday, March 18, at 2 p.m. in the aerobics room. You do not have to have arthritis to participate.

Free UVU Health Screening: Get a free health screening from Utah Valley University nursing residents on March 26 from 10 a.m. to noon in the aerobics room.

Drums Alive: Work out to the rhythm of the beat. Class is every Wednesday at 2 p.m. in the aerobics room. Visit the center’s website at www.slco.org/taylorsville-senior-center for other activities and lunch menu information. The Taylorsville Senior Center is located at 4743 S. Plymouth View Drive and can be contacted by phone at 1-385-468-3370.

ANNUAL COLLECTION DAY

MARCH UPDATES

Know Before You Throw

On Tuesday, Jan. 30, a re occurred in the cargo bed of one of WFWRD’s recycling trucks while on route in an east Millcreek neighborhood.

The district is grateful that the driver was only shaken up and not injured, and for the quick response of the Uni ed Fire Authority (UFA) to extinguish the ames. The damaged truck was towed to the salt-pile area along Wasatch Boulevard to allow the UFA space and time to completely extinguish the re.

Pam Roberts, General Manager and CEO, said, “I am so thankful that our driver was not injured, and I thank the Uni ed Fire Authority and Millcreek teams for acting so quickly dosing the ames and keeping everyone safe. This is an example of why waste and recycling collection is such a dangerous job. The truck got so hot that the CNG Tanks o -gassed as they are designed to do, so the tanks did not explode.”

Inspectors have determined that the cause was not a mechanical or truck malfunction. Rather, it appears that a non-recyclable item was placed in a recycling can. While the item has not yet been identi ed, common causes for res in trucks are batteries, which may spark as the truck compacts the materials. Any type of battery can cause this issue. Other items that have been known to cause res in trucks are empty propane tanks, hot ashes from replaces or barbeques, or chemicals such as household hazardous waste.

As a reminder, everything that is marked “recyclable” is not always recyclable through the blue-can pickup. Although recyclable, batteries must not be placed in your curbside cans. There are locations that accept used batteries, such as Home Depot. Please take the extra time to dispose of them properly.

The action of a resident who thoughtlessly or unknowingly placed the wrong item into their recycling can ultimately caused a dangerous and expensive problem. The initial estimate from the manufacturer for repairs to the truck body is $110,000 to $125,000. A new truck body is roughly $189,000, and for context, a new truck currently sells for approximately $400,000.

Please help prevent this from happening in your neighborhood and nd guides to what is and is not accepted in recycling cans on the WFWRD website: wasatchfrontwaste.org/how-recycle.

Keep Your Drains and Pipes 'FOG' Free with These Tips

Fats, oils and grease, aka FOG, have the potential to cost you money and cause problems in your household drains, as well as the sewer collection system, if not handled properly.

Commonly used cooking oils and grease disposed in sink drains can lead to sewer-line backups in homes and businesses. Sewer main backups may over ow onto streets creating adverse impacts to public health and the environment.

The easiest way to solve the FOG buildup problem is to keep it out of the sewer system. Here are a couple of tips:

• Pour cooled FOG into a can or other container with a tight lid (co ee can, glass jar or plastic container) and dispose of it in the garbage.

• Place baskets/strainers in sink drains to catch food scraps and other solids then empty the drain baskets/strainers into the trash.

If you have any questions, please contact Taylorsville-Bennion Improvement District by calling 801-968-9081 or visiting www.tbid.org. Follow TBID on Facebook and Twitter.

The Taylorsville Green Committee is hosting TWO LOCALSCAPES CLASSES in March & April

Thursday, March 28th

Thursday, April 11th

Both start at 7 pm City Council Chambers 2600 W. Taylorsville Blvd

OBESITY: This study is for adults over 18 and older who have type 2 diabetes, are obese, are overweight, and are at a high risk of heart or blood vessel disease. You must have a BMI greater than 25kg. This study can last one year or two years, depending on which group you get selected for. There are 20 clinic visits and 7 phone calls. To see if you qualify, call 801-542-8190.

HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIA: This study is for adults 18 and older who have hypercholesterolemia, and is 60 weeks long. There are two groups you could get put into for this study. There are 8 visits and one phone call. You must have a history of major ASCVD (Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease) which is a build-up of cholesterol plaque in the arteries. If you have no history of a major ASCVD but are intermediate to high risk for the development of a first major event, you may also be eligible to participate. Compensation may be provided if you qualify.

HYPERTRIGLYCERIDEMIA: Statin-naive or statin-stable subjects - Do you have high TG levels (higher than 3-00)? If you are between the ages of 18 and 79, and are currently on a statin or non-statin lipid-altering therapy of more than 200mg/day. You must be stable for more than 28 days prior to the first TG baseline qualifying measurement visit. You should remain stable thereafter for the duration of the study. This study is 28 weeks long and there are 8 visits and 2 phone calls. You must have a BMI no greater than 50, compensation may be provided if you qualify.

COVID BOOSTER: This study is for adults 50 and older who have been previously vaccinated with COVID-19 mRNA vaccines. You must be medically stable; you must agree to not participate in any other SARS-CoV-2 prevention or treatment trials for the study. You must have previously received 3 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine with the last dose having been given 90 days or longer. This study is 7.5 months long. There are 4 visits and one phone call. Call us today to see if you qualify, compensation may be provided. 3590

Police locate a pair of historic blacksmith anvils missing more than two years

By Carl Fauver | c.fauver@mycityjournals.com

You’ve heard the phrase ‘cold case’ because it’s everywhere from television dramas to podcasts. But you’ve never heard that term applied to a pair of missing antique anvils – until now.

“These anvils were stolen more than two years ago,” former Taylorsville City Councilman Keith Sorensen said. “We thought we’d never see them again. Personally, I figured they were in Canada or Mexico by now.”

Your grandkids may throw around the phrase “OG” – which can stand for either “original gangster” or “old guard.” Sorensen is an OG Taylorsville city councilman.

“I was on the city council for the first six years of Taylorsville’s existence (1996-2003),” he said. “Back then, we all held ‘at-large’ seats. There were no geographic council districts then. I was involved in the city’s original decision to purchase the Taylorsville-Bennion Heritage Center. You could also consider me an original (OG) member of the Taylorsville Historic Preservation Committee.”

Sorensen’s long since moved out of the political realm. But he remains an active member of the Historic Preservation Committee. One of his roles in the group is to oversee the blacksmith shop, just a few yards north of the old white farmhouse.

“Our blacksmith shop building is just a modern shed,” he explained. “But it is filled with historic tools of the trade – a forge, bellows, a hearth, all kinds of odds and ends –from the Taylorsville area. Most of the antique tools, including the two anvils, were donated to the museum by the Deverall family. Their blacksmith shop used to be located where Walgreens is (4700 S Redwood Road).”

Sorensen reports he locked the blacksmith shop up for the winter just before Christmas 2021. When he returned in February 2022, he saw the lock had been damaged and the building broken into.

“We looked through the shop very carefully when we reported the theft to Taylorsville

Police,” Sorensen said. “The only things we discovered missing were the two blacksmith anvils. The smaller one weighs 65 pounds; but the bigger one is 170 pounds. Moving them could not have been easy.”

Police Detective Dan Christensen has been solving crimes in Taylorsville since 2015 – first as a part of the Unified Police Department, and then transitioning to TVPD when it formed nearly three years ago. He was involved in the original search for the anvils two years ago.

“The Historic Preservation Committee had been very thorough about documenting their antiques, recording serial numbers and taking pictures,” Christensen said. “But we just didn’t have any good leads on the missing anvils. Recovering stolen property like that is very difficult. The best thing people can do to protect their own property is what the committee did. File away photos and serial numbers of your belongings.”

It’s safe to say, all hope of ever seeing the missing anvils again was long, long gone. Then everything changed early last month.

“My daughter called on Feb. 1 to tell me several antique anvils had been posted for sale on KSL Classified – and there were photos of them,” Sorensen said. “I pulled it up, and one of them definitely looked like one of ours. The next morning I emailed the city about it and they notified Taylorsville Police.”

That rock solid lead allowed TVPD to perform “same day service.” By that night, Feb. 2 – after more than two years missing –both anvils were safely locked in Sorensen’s garage.

“After we received the tip and found the online listing ourselves, one of my fellow detectives posed as a potential anvil buyer and went to the suspect’s home in Murray,” Christensen said. “He spoke with the suspect who, at one point, actually mentioned the anvil was from our museum. During the conversation, the suspect confessed to having antique equip-

ment from our (Taylorsville-Bennion Heritage Center blacksmith shop) and from Wheeler Farm.”

The smaller missing Taylorsville anvil was still at the suspect’s Murray home. But the larger one had been sold to Utah County residents. So, that same day, TVPD drove down to retrieve that 170-pound anvil and return it to Keith Sorensen and his committee.

Another antique implement (not an anvil) stolen from Wheeler Farm was also recovered by authorities in Tooele County, after people there had purchased it.

Police report the juvenile suspect was fully cooperative and was arranging to pay restitution to the Utah and Tooele County buyers. At press time, authorities had not filed criminal charges or identified any additional suspects.

“I have to pay tribute to our police department,” Sorensen said. “Less than six hours after I emailed the city with the tip about the KSL Classified listing, detectives were calling me – asking me to come to the Murray home to positively identify the small anvil. By then, they also had the (Utah County) address where our larger anvil had gone. By that night, it was also back. All I can say is, I am shocked and awed and very grateful to our police.”

And the OG city councilman added one more bonus – something practically unheard of

in the world of property theft.

“These anvils have actually never looked better,” Sorensen concluded. “During their investigation, our detectives learned the suspect had been using the anvils for blacksmithing. Then, when he decided to sell them, he cleaned and polished them better than I had ever done. They are in great shape. On the open market, they are worth a few, maybe several hundred dollars. But historically, to us, they are priceless. We’re thrilled to have them back.”

During her regular report to the city council the following week, Taylorsville Mayor Kristie Overson shared the story of the anvils’ recovery with her fellow elected officials.

“It’s just such an awesome, feel good, miracle story,” she told them. “I heard a little about (the 1-day investigation and recovery) while it was in progress. And then, of course, I was excited to hear both anvils had been recovered.”

There’s no word yet on when the antique anvils will make their way from Sorensen’s garage back to the Taylorsville-Bennion Heritage Center blacksmith shop. Right now, he says their locks and security are being evaluated and upgraded as needed. l

This pair of antique blacksmith anvils had been missing more than two years when a helpful tip led Taylorsville Police detectives to them at a Murray home. (Keith Sorensen)

New pickleball courts latest amenity designed to boost post-pandemic visitor numbers at Taylorsville Senior Center

If you’ve driven by the Taylorsville Senior Center (4743 South Plymouth View Drive, about 1600 West) in recent months, you’ve seen the biggest change there, even if you didn’t stop the car. You had to… couldn’t miss it… because the newest addition to the venerable center isn’t inside the building. You have to walk across their reconfigured parking lot to get to it.

Or, to get to “them” – four of them – to be more precise.

“I’m so pleased with the four new pickleball courts at the senior center,” Taylorsville Mayor Kristie Overson said. “That is such a great addition to the site. I’m sure once more seniors discover they are there, the courts will be busy.”

The four new Taylorsville Senior Center pickleball courts are among ten the city constructed last year. Four more were built as the first amenity at the planned Tank Park (NW corner of 6200 S. 3200 West). The final two are now getting plenty of use at Vista Park (4900 S. 1950 West).

Taylorsville Senior Center Manager Mike Potter says the new courts haven’t been getting a lot of use yet; but that’s primarily because cold weather arrived just about the time they were being completed last year. He

By Carl Fauver | c.fauver@mycityjournals.com

knows seniors, and others, will start putting them to more use now that Old Man Winter’s grip is loosening.

“The courts are not actually associated with the senior center; they are open to everyone,” Potter said. “Players don’t reserve times; they are first come, first serve. Players need to bring their own equipment. The courts were finished just before the weather turned – so I

haven’t seen many people on them, so far.”

Potter has worked for Salt Lake County 13 years and within its Aging and Adult Services Division the past eight years. He began working at the Taylorsville Senior Center as program coordinator just as the facility was reopening following the COVID-19 shutdown. Less than a year later he was promoted to center manager.

“I had worked at other senior centers before, but (Taylorsville) is where I wanted to work,” Potter said. “I like our seniors here. I like the programs we offer. And our Advisory Committee is extremely helpful. They coordinate many different activities for our seniors.”

Why A Locally Owned, Family Operated Mortuary Really Matters

Larkin Mortuary is the most respected funeral home in the Salt Lake Valley. Its pioneer founder, George William Larkin, arrived in Utah in 1863, having emigrated from Cambridge, England. He started the Larkin tradition of arranging funerals in 1885 and today, with seven generations of history serving Utah families, Larkin Mortuary remains locally family owned and managed.

Our quality reputation is everything to our business and we have established ourselves in the local community as a quali ed and trusted resource. We are not a national franchise and are not controlled by any outside in uences. Larkin can meet any need by providing all varieties of funeral and graveside services, cremation facilities, cemeteries, indoor and outdoor mausoleums, cremation niche and scattering gardens, personalized life memorials and legacy keepsakes.

One of the most important aspects of being locally owned and operated is our rsthand knowledge of the communities we serve. With 139 years of excellence and innovation in providing quality memorial products and compassionate service, Larkin Mortuary provides a full spectrum of end of life services.

Being a quali ed resource to you is our core mission. Larkin’s vertically integrated services provide a premier oral shop, monument, urn and vault manufacturing facilities, and beautiful memorial meeting and luncheon facilities. This full range of services o ers individuals and families the exibility to design a custom memorial tribute for their loved one. Multilingual sta honor and facilitate important traditions of many cultures. Larkin can also assist with legal transactions and documentation for timely and e cient transfers to other countries.

We are community minded and donate either monetarily or with our time to many worthwhile causes in the local area. Being community-minded is who we are. It de nes our character and provides a solid foundation with the people we serve.

Memorial preplanning services are o ered by quali ed and compassionate Larkin counselors who will help determine nal wishes. Advanced funeral arrangements can provide peace of mind knowing that end of life plans are complete and will be carried out exactly as speci ed. Preplanning reduces the details and decisions loved ones must confront during a time of grief.

The family and sta at Larkin Mortuary understand that arranging a funeral or memorial service is a deeply personal experience. Realizing the sacred nature of the profession, Larkin is honored to serve the community by providing genuine care at this sensitive time of life.

Our memorial services are available in any of our beautiful buildings amongst our four locations along the Wasatch Front or in a building of your choice.

For more information, please visit www.larkinmortuary.com or call (801) 363-5781 for an appointment with an experienced funeral director.

Program Coordinator Lindsey Beyeler, Manager Mike Potter and Office Specialist Daisy Figueroa (L-R) keep the Taylorsville Senior Center humming five days a week. (Carl Fauver/City Journals)

Taylorsville Senior Center employee Peter Rackl, along with volunteers Dan Jones and Gary Shelton (LR), heat and serve lunches five days a week. (Carl Fauver/City Journals)

Kelly Sullivan, 80, has been a Taylorsville Senior Center “regular” for 20 years. He’s been the Advisory Committee President seven of those years – since long before COVID-19 arrived.

“Our visitation is back up to about 80% to 85% of what it was before the pandemic,” Sullivan said. “COVID forced many seniors to change their habits. People got better at being at home – being alone. But now new seniors are coming all the time.”

The Taylorsville Senior Center Advisory Committee coordinates several monthly activities, including: a morning biscuits and gravy breakfast… a midday ice cream social… an evening dinner with entertainment… and a bus excursion to Wendover.

“It’s all about giving people things to do so they don’t feel isolated,” Sullivan said “Centers like ours are one of the best places for seniors to go. You can just come over, have some coffee and have someone to talk with so you’re not by yourself.”

Sullivan goes to the Taylorsville Senior Center almost daily – and calls bingo games on three of the days (Monday and Wednesday at 1 p.m., Fridays at 10 a.m.).

Another Advisory Committee member, Virginia Watts, 83, is the primary operator of the senior center thrift store.

Several months after Potter became center manager, Lindsey Beyeler was hired to replace him as program coordinator. She’s been in her post since December 2022.

“I knew Lindsey from when we both worked at the (Salt Lake County) Government Center during the pandemic,” Potter added. “She’s doing a good job with our many programs. She’s always trying new activities. Some are a hit, and some aren’t. I know she’s had two big hits since getting here: our weekly ‘Drums Alive’ class and the monthly book club.”

Potter and Beyeler are the only two fulltime Salt Lake County Employees at the Taylorsville Senior Center. Office Specialist Daisy Figueroa and Kitchen Coordinator Peter Rackl are the only two part timers. Rackl is assisted by kitchen volunteers Dan Jones and Gary Shelton every day.

“I had just moved to Taylorsville a few months before Mike asked me to shift from

working at the (Salt Lake County) Government Center to the Taylorsville Senior Center as program coordinator,” Beyeler said. “The change shortened my commute. But, more important, I had been looking for a change. I wanted to be more directly involved with seniors. I like coming out with new programming.”

Last month, Beyeler coordinated a fiction writing workshop. This month, she will launch a twice-weekly tai chi class, designed to assist seniors with balance and coordination.

Beyeler has also invited guest speakers from the state Home Energy Assistance Target Program to discuss benefits and eligibility guidelines. Intended to assist low-income households with their utility costs, the HEAT Program is operated through the Utah Department of Workforce Services. That presentation is scheduled for March 21from 9 a.m. to noon.

As for the weekly “Drums Alive” class, Beyeler says that involves seniors rhythmically hitting large exercise balls with drum sticks.

A quick glance at the Taylorsville Senior Center monthly calendar shows there are simply too many scheduled activities to all be mentioned in a single article. To learn more, visit slco.org/aging-adult-services. Or call the Taylorsville Senior Center at 385-468-3370.

But Potter, Beyeler and Sullivan all agree, the better bet is to visit the Taylorsville Senior Center to see everything they have to offer for yourself.

For married couples, only one of you has to be at least age 60 for both of you to visit. The Taylorsville Senior Center is open 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. It’s closed on weekends and major holidays.

Hot lunches are served every day, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. The 40 to 50 meals served at the center each day are among the 400,000 prepared annually at Salt Lake County’s central kitchen. Nearly half of those are delivered to seniors at their homes.

Finally, don’t forget, even when the Taylorsville Senior Center is closed, the four shiny new pickleball courts next door are open to anyone. l

Serving Families Since 1885

LARKIN MORTUARY HONORS FAMILY PIONEER HERITAGE

Larkin Mortuary is one of the most respected funeral homes in the Salt Lake Valley. Its pioneer founder, George William Larkin, arrived in Utah in 1863, having emigrated from Cambridge, England. He started the Larkin tradition of arranging funerals in 1885. Today, with seven generations of history serving Utah families, four mortuaries, cremation facilities and two cemeteries, Larkin Mortuary remains locally family owned and managed.

Larkin’s vertically integrated services also provide a premier floral shop, monument, urn and vault manufacturing facilities, along with beautiful memorial meeting and luncheon facilities. Multilingual staff honor and facilitate important traditions of many cultures.

Continued from front page

ebration after the Team Pursuit world record race. He also congratulated Stolz’ coach, Bob Corby, and Goetz’ coach, Mitch Whitmore.

What was particularly impressive about the Kearns events were the crowds. Over 2,000 were in attendance at the Saturday events (Jan. 27), and good-sized crowds were present the other two days as well as at the Four Continents races held the week before.

“Utah loves its speedskating and it supports our winter athletes,” said one official who was working both weekends of events.

“It’s not a surprise that many of these skaters from around the world like coming to compete here. We not only have the fastest ice in the world, but also great support for the sport.”

The speedskating season wrapped up Feb. 1-3 with the World Cup 6 races in Quebec, Canada, followed by the World Single Distances Championships in Calgary Feb. 8-10. Then it’s a short break before these athletes, many of whom live in Utah yearround, begin dryland training for the 2025 season, just one year before the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. l

Larkin

Larkin

As I’ve gotten older (but never wiser), I expected the hot flashes, mood swings and irritability. What I didn’t expect was that my age would turn my hair into a mortal enemy. Each morning, I stare in the mirror and prepare for what feels like a battle to the death.

If the indignity of having my face turn a heat-blasting shade of scarlet at any given moment wasn’t enough, I suddenly developed cowlicks along my hairline, giving my head the appearance of constant swirling, like Van Gogh’s “Starry Night.” My hair suddenly changed directions and refused to be bullied into lying flat.

In fairness, my hair and I have been through some stuff. We endured the spongy, pink curlers mom twisted onto my head every Saturday night. We survived my feathery Farrah Fawcett era, the spiral perms, the lemon bleaching in the summer, the sky-high bangs of the ’80s and a decade of nothing but ponytails when my daughters were little.

Maybe my hair never forgave me because now there is no amount of styling products or heated irons that make my hair manageable. It usually looks like newlywed hawks nested on my head to raise their young.

After another morning struggling to arrange my hair in some semblance of

Letting my hair down

control, I threw my hair straightener down the hall and burst into tears. My husband walked out of his office and asked what was wrong. I pointed at my head and kept bawling.

“I don’t care if your hair looks like a tornado emoji,” he said. “You’re always beautiful to me.”

“I don’t want to be beautiful to you,” I sobbed. “I want to be beautiful to complete strangers.”

He doesn’t get it. Men can be bald or gray or have a comb-over or just a Van Dyke beard and they’ll still be considered handsome, even distinguished. But if a woman can’t style her hair using a tube sock, a bottle of mousse and a barrette, the TikTok police jump out of nowhere and create harsh videos for public shaming.

But it’s not just the random cowlicks that give my scalp the appearance of a tropical storm weather map, it’s the breakage and the sensitive scalp and the way my

hair just refuses to comply. My hair breaks so often, it looks like my stylist started to give me a bowl cut and then got bored after trimming the first layer.

I’ve invested in expensive shampoos and luxury leave-in conditioners with no effect. My hair just twirls insolently from my head. I purchased soft brushes and vitamin supplements and I paid someone good money to rub my scalp for 45 minutes. The pampering hasn’t paid off.

There’s no such thing as “styling” my hair. I have to distract it, wrestle it into place, staple it down and spray it with a light coat of cement. It doesn’t matter.

Within minutes it’s spinning around my face like it drank too many mimosas for breakfast.

Maybe the lack of compliance is the reason many older women end up cutting their hair into cute pixie styles, easy crops or elegant bobs. But my face is too round for a short haircut. I end up looking like a basketball wearing a toupee.

I hope at some point my hair and I can become friends again. Between my mood swings and hot flashes, I don’t have the patience to be irritated at one more thing.