Taylorsville Journal | March 2023

By Carl Fauver | c.fauver@mycityjournals.com

Asof a month ago, the number of guns found at Granite District schools since last fall was 16. That’s nearly as many as there were through the entire 2021-22 school year (17), in about half the time. But until Jan. 26, there had not been any shots fired on a Granite District campus.

In fact, until those 9 mm shots were fired in the northeast parking lot at Taylorsville High School, 14-year veteran Granite District Chief of Staff Ben Horsley reports, there had never been an on-campus shooting involving students in his time with the district.

“Years ago, shots were fired outside the stadium at a Granger High football game,” he said. “However, that investigation determined none of those involved were our students. But the number of guns we are finding on campuses has grown significantly since COVID.”

As for the Taylorsville shooting, THS School Resource Officer Matt Landolfi reports only one handgun was involved, there were no injuries, the alleged shooter now faces several felony charges and the on-going investigation could lead to additional charges for up to five other students.

“All six of those involved are male and were current Taylorsville students in various grades.” Landolfi said. “The shooting occurred in our northeast parking lot near the seminary building. We have grainy footage from a surveillance camera showing the shots being fired. The gun has not been recovered; but we did find bullet casings at the scene. It appears the gunman was firing at someone rather than shooting warning shots into the air.”

Ironically, the Taylorsville High shooting occurred just days after the 2023 Utah State Legislative session opened. Horsley reports in that session Granite District is making a $12 million funding request to enhance security at the district’s eight high schools. At press time, the status of that request was still undetermined.

“One of the things the funding would support is the installation of weapons detection equipment at all of our high schools,” Horsley explained. “These are not metal detectors – but towers similar to what we walk through at some grocery stores. They stand about four feet tall and can identify the density, size and shape of objects that could be weapons. This

allows students to move through more quickly than with metal detectors. But we recognize this equipment could still create choke points as students are arriving in the morning.”

If state funding is secured, Granite District officials say it would also pay for more school resource officers and mental health support for students in crisis.

Long before the Taylorsville High shooting, plans were already in motion to install the weapons detection equipment at Hunter High School as a pilot program. At press time, Horsley believed equipment testing would be underway this month, and the equipment would be operational by the end Continued page 4

With about 2,750 across four grades, Taylorsville High has the second-highest student population in the Granite School District (behind Granger) and is in the top six to eight, statewide. (Granite School District)

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“I think (the weapons detection equipment) would help out here at Taylorsville,” Landolfi added. “But they would also have to enhance security at our other doors. We frequently have students let other students into the building (through a variety of secondary doors). There are not any alarms on them.”

Landolfi became Taylorsville High School’s second SRO at the start of the school year last August. This is the first school year THS has had two officers assigned to the school full time. His counterpart, SRO Andy O’Gwin, began at the school the previous October. As the school’s only SRO for the 2021-22 school year, he describes it as a “baptism by fire.”

“Although I had been a police officer more than 16 years, I had never been in a school setting before,” O’Gwin explained. “It was also the first year the school included ninth graders. Plus, it was the first year back after COVID. We had two new classes entering at once. We have a ton of great kids here. But there are always a few looking to make trouble. As the only resource officer here, I had to call in for back-up about every other week. Just having one class (of freshmen) entering the school this year – and with a second officer here – it has made a big difference.”

O’Gwin and Landolfi have similar backgrounds. Both worked for a time as corrections officers at the Utah State Prison. They also each worked for the Utah Division of Adult Probations & Parole. And they were each among the original Taylorsville Police Department hires as the agency began operations in July 2021.

“The 2021-22 school year was a huge challenge for us at the high school,” Taylorsville Police Chief Brady Cottam said. “With two completely new classes coming in together, I knew we needed a second officer. I didn’t want to burn (SRO O’Gwin) out. I am so grateful the city approved funding for our second school officer. It’s been much better this school year.”

Even more grateful to the city and its police department is fifth-year Taylorsville High School Principal Emme Liddell. She was actually out on leave when the shooting occurred outside her school. As she raced to the school parking lot after hearing about it, Liddell was never more pleased to have a pair of capable SROs on site.

“I am very happy with both of our officers,” Liddell said. “They work well as individuals and as a unit. Because of their personalities, I believe our students have found two police officers they can trust. The students know they are here to keep

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them safe. I am so grateful the city approved funding for our additional officer. Mayor Kristie Overson has been so great to work with. And Brady Cottam has also been amazing.”

As for the possibility of adding weapons detection equipment at THS entry doors, Liddell admits it would be a logistical challenge. Right now, students enter the school each morning through at least five unlocked doors. Additionally, with no alarms on the many other doors, students inside the school can open them to allow others in, undetected.

“I am familiar with the screening equipment going in at Hunter High,” she added. “If it’s going in there, it will likely go in here, at some point. We would have to change how students come and go. But the most important thing to me is our students be safe. If that means metal detectors – and a little slower entry into the school – we’ll make it work.”

Horsley reports the move to a second high school SRO has also been common in recent years.

“Granger High has had two resource officers the longest,” Horsley said. “Hunter High is now into its second school year with two officers. Cyprus, Kearns and Taylorsville High Schools each added a second SRO this school year.”

Horsley also reports the Granite School District operates its own 24-person police department, complete with a chief, sergeants, investigators, dispatchers and officers. One Granite District SRO is assigned full time at each district junior high, including Bennion and Eisenhower in Taylorsville.

Mayor Kristie Overson was among the Taylorsville officials who supported Cottam’s request for a second SRO at

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the high school during the city’s last round of budget talks. She’s glad they were both in place when the Jan. 26 parking lot shooting occurred.

“I was actually in a meeting with Chief Cottam when he first received the call about the shooting,” Overson said. “I saw him and the other officers in the meeting spring into action. I think it was handled very well. We are also grateful for the other agencies that responded. Having two officers at the school when it first happened made me more confident the response would go well.”l

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The THS student who allegedly fired 9 mm shots outside the school on Jan. 26 was standing near this storage container at the north end of the school parking lot. He now faces multiple felonies, while five other students are continuing to be investigated. (Carl Fauver/City Journals)

Taylorsville Police Officers Andy O’Gwin and Matt Landolfi (L-R) are working in tandem at Taylorsville High School this year to help keep students safe. (Carl Fauver/City Journals)

Synergy Family Services continues to grow as it serves area families in need

The list of challenges Kearns High School graduate Mandi Makoni has endured – en route to establishing her successful counseling and personal support business, Synergy Family Services – is enough to overwhelm many people. Born to a young mother… becoming one herself… and launching her business just a year before the 2020 pandemic hit, are just the tip of the iceberg.

Yet somehow, Makoni’s operation continues to grow as she works to help the kinds of challenged people she once was herself.

“I was born in San Diego in 1987 and put into the foster care system, not knowing who my birth parents were,” Makoni explained. “Luckily, I was adopted by very loving parents. But I still struggled through my adolescence, not knowing who my biological parents were. Working through those challenges had a lot to do with where I am now. I enjoy helping other people who face similar challenges.”

Mandi’s adoptive father and mother, Larry and Dixie, moved the family from Southern California to Utah when she was about 8 years old, after Larry retired from the Marine Corps. But challenges followed her.

“I struggled with mental health, not feeling like I belonged anywhere,” Makoni added. “I love my adoptive parents. They ARE my parents. But they are white, while I have Italian and several other ethnicities in my background. Growing up, I didn’t even know what my race was. That also created challenges. I just wanted to better understand who I was and where I fit in.”

Makoni gave birth to the first of her two daughters while she was a Kearns High School sophomore. However, that did

By Carl Fauver | c.fauver@mycityjournals.com

not deter her from graduating from the school in 2005. It was during this time when Makoni’s resolve to try to help others facing similar life challenges took root.

While earning bachelor and master’s degrees through Murray-based Eagle Gate College, Makoni worked through a variety of organizations to provide day treatment services from 2011 through 2018. That led to her opening Synergy Family Services (5255 S. 4015 West Suite 200) in early 2019.

“I worked out of my home for the first year or so and only served two or three people in 2019,” Makoni said. “Then, after that first year, the pandemic hit. That slowed everything down even more. I served 12 clients in 2020.”

Synergy Family Services provides counseling and group home services. Most of the care and treatment is funded through state agencies, including the divisions of Child and Family Services and Services for People with Disabilities.

Liz Belt was Mandi’s first SFS employee and now operates one of the agency’s group homes in West Jordan.

“I hired on with Mandi in February 2021 and have operated this group home since July of that year,” Belt explained. “I have three girls in the home, ages 15 to 22. Synergy works with clients who have autism, behavioral issues and those who are intellectually delayed.”

At press time, Makoni was considering expanding her number of group homes. Since enduring the worst of the pandemic, Synergy Family Services has grown.

“To date, we have served 64 clients since opening four years ago,” she concluded. “That is not a huge number compared to other agencies – and I am okay with that. We pride ourselves in quality over quantity. We are a family here, not just

a business. Once you are a part of Synergy, you are forever.”

For more information about the services SFS provides – including details on how to become a foster parent – visit synergyfamilyut.org. You can also email synergyservicesut@ gmail.com or call 801-856-6081.l

Taylorsville resident advocates for living organ donation

Kristine Fogarty didn’t even hesitate. When she learned her friend and co-worker Carrie Riggs needed a life-saving liver transplant, Fogarty went online to register as a living organ donor. No one in Riggs’ family could donate, but Fogarty’s bloodwork came back as a potential match.

“I told her, if you need someone to match you, I’ll do this because it’s important and it will save your life,” Fogarty said.

After researching living liver donation, Fogarty learned it would involve a six-week recovery where she’d need extensive support. Although the liver is the only organ that can regenerate, there was also a risk that her liver wouldn’t recover and she would need her own liver transplant.

The Taylorsville resident learned she was a match for Riggs in April 2022. What followed was a series of doctor appointments, screenings, MRIs – and fear.

“I was terrified,” Fogarty said, “But I knew when I got that call that I had to do it. I had to face my fear and trust that there was a reason I matched this woman and I needed to save her life.”

The day of the surgery, in October 2022, Fogarty was numb with anxiety. She knew her friend was in the operating room next to hers, waiting for her liver. Fogarty held the anesthesiologist’s hand and asked him to take care of her. He promised he would.

Both women were in ICU recovering that same evening, and within 24 hours Fogarty had walked to Riggs’ room to let her know she was fine.

“I wanted her to know I was okay,” she said. “It was im-

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

portant on both levels. I needed to know she was okay, and I needed her to know I was good. She had some big fears about me doing this for her.”

Fogarty’s living liver donation was one of only 13 transplants done at Intermountain Health during 2022, a year when the facility performed a record-breaking 300 adult transplants, thanks to the generosity of organ donors, their families and a team of transplant caregivers.

The Intermountain Transplant Program performed a

total of 104 liver, 159 kidney, 29 heart, and eight kidney/ pancreas adult transplants last year, the fourth consecutive record-breaking year for the program.

“Living donors are incredible people,” Diane Alonso said, MD, transplant surgeon and former medical director of Intermountain Health’s abdominal transplant program. “They are often undergoing major surgery to give new life to their aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, neighbors – and sometimes to someone they don’t even know. They truly are giving the gift of life and we do our best to be great stewards of that gift.”

The uptick in transplants is due to generous donors, an increase in donor organ availability and advancements in technology and medicine. Liver transplants at Intermountain Health exceed the national average because they are able to match a wider range of donor organs to recipients.

To learn more about organ donation or to register to become an organ donor, go to intermountainhealthcare.org/ donatelife.

Fogarty said although her experience was scary, she’d do it again if she could. She challenges others to look into becoming a living donor to give another person the opportunity to live.

“Do it. Save a life. Get this feeling of purpose in life that you helped be part of a miracle. There are so many people out there waiting,” she said. “Living donors are very rare. There were only 13 living donors for livers last year. There’s more people dying than 13. That’s why that number needs to change.”l

Mandi Makoni started Synergy Family Services in 2019 with the support of her adoptive father, Larry. (Courtesy facebook.com/synergyfamilyservices)

Taylorsville resident Kristine Fogarty (left) donated a portion of her liver to her friend and co-worker Carrie Riggs as part of Intermountain Health’s living organ donation program. (Photo courtesy of Kristine Fogarty)

Taylorsville DLI schools celebrate Chinese New Year

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

Chinese Dual Language Immersion students from Calvin Smith Elementary, Bennion Junior High and Taylorsville High School recognized the Chinese New Year with a celebration featuring student performances, demonstrations and other activities.

This Chinese New Year ushers in the Year of the Rabbit. People born during a rabbit year are said to be kind and skilled at avoiding conflict.

Students and their families were invited to the celebration on Jan. 31 at BJHS, which included a Chinese lion and dragon dance. Activities like calligraphy, tea ceremonies, pingpong, hacky sack, making Chinese opera masks, eating new year dumplings and learning the Chinese zodiac were intended to help families better understand Chinese culture.

The Taylorsville Network Chinese New Year Celebration is an annual event which recognizes the academic progress of students in the Chinese DLI programs. (Photos courtesy of Granite School District) l

The traditional Chinese lion dance features two dancers in an elaborate lion costume. The dance is supposed to bring good luck and fortune.

Chinese Dual Language Immersion students from Taylorsville schools perform a traditional Chinese lion dance to welcome the Year of the Rabbit.

The Chinese dragon dance is performed at many festivals throughout the year. The student holding a rod with a big ball leads the dragon during the dance.

The Chinese dragon dance is performed at many festivals throughout the year. The student holding a rod with a big ball leads the dragon during the dance.

take part in a celebration of Chinese New Year. Students performed dances and other activities during the Chinese New Year celebration on Jan. 31.

While hundreds ring in the Chinese Year of the Rabbit, GSD students participate in dual immersion for over a decade

By Carl Fauver | c.fauver@mycityjournals.com

Last year was the Year of the Tiger–and next year will be the Year of the Dragon. In between, according to the Chinese Zodiac calendar, we are currently early on in the Year of the Rabbit.

While some of us don’t pay a lot of attention to those Ox, Rat, Monkey and Snake year designations, the change was center stage recently at Taylorsville’s Bennion Junior High School (6200 S. 2700 West), thanks to the hundreds of elementary, junior high and high school students throughout the city who participate in the Granite School District’s Chinese dual language immersion program.

“The evening was fantastic and such a great opportunity for the Chinese immersion students to showcase the activities and culture of China,” Taylorsville City Council Chairman Robert Knudsen said. “I saw kids trying the Chinese drums, doing calligra-

phy and offering wonderful dance displays. It was a lot of fun.”

Knudsen, fellow Councilperson Meredith Harker and Mayor Kristie

Overson were among the several hundred people who attended the Year of the Rabbit celebration at the junior

“The auditorium was packed and it was so much fun to see parents and kids coming out to have a good time,” Overson said. “The show in the auditorium was just spectacular. Hearing the kids speaking in their dual immersion tongue was wonderful.”

Some 14 years ago, Granite School District introduced its dual language immersion program at several of its elementary, junior high and high schools. The program now features instruction in Spanish, French and Chinese. Spanish immersion is offered at nine elementary schools. But French and Chinese are taught at only two elementaries each.

Calvin Smith Elementary – just a few blocks east of Bennion Junior High, on 6200 South (2150 West) is one of those.

According to a Granite School District online informational video about dual immersion, the program is introduced to students at a very young age, in first grade, because “research shows the optimal time to learn another language is during the elementary years.” Calvin Smith Elementary students in the program split their days with English and Chinese speaking teachers.

Taylorsville City Councilwoman Harker has been an elementary school teacher since 1999, and at Calvin Smith for 10 years. Her third-grade class is one of those where pupils split their time between her and her Chinese dual immersion teaching partner, Lisa Williams, who was born and raised in China.

Hundreds of Chinese dual language immersion students and their parents gathered at Bennion Junior High to ring in the Year of the Rabbit. (Meredith Harker)

Drum practice was a part of the Chinese New Year celebration at Bennion Junior High. (Robert Knudsen)

“My third graders study math, science and, of course, Chinese with Lisa, while I teach them the other subjects – English, reading, spelling and social studies,” Harker explained. “Then the subjects switch for our fourth and fifth grade classes. All five of our grades, after kindergarten, have two dual immersion classes, and two that are not dual immersion. So, overall, that’s about 250 of our students who are learning Chinese through the program (50 per grade, first through fifth).”

Growing up in China, Williams never planned to become an elementary school teacher – or to move to the United States. But she says, sometimes plans change.

“I lived in China until age 23; but my first husband was from Sandy (Utah),” Williams explained. “He came to my country to study Mandarin Chinese and we met in college. I went to college to study business. But after getting here, I met the parent of a Chinese dual immersion student. That’s when I first learned about the program and decided to become involved. The district allowed me to earn my teaching certificate while I was teaching. I’m in my eleventh year at Calvin Smith. It’s the only place I have ever taught.”

Because students start into the pro-

gram at such a young age, most of them really don’t participate in the decision to get involved. That’s more of a “mom and dad call.”

That proved to be the case for two members of the Taylorsville Youth Council, who are each approaching the end of their 12-year runs through the Chinese dual immersion program. Junior Walker Christopherson is youth council Mayor and the son of former Taylorsville City Councilman Brad Christopherson. Meantime, the youth council’s Vice Chair is senior Maryn Seaman, who’s also Taylorsville High School’s World Languages Sterling Scholar. Just before press time, she advanced to the second round of that prestigious statewide competition.

“I was thrown into the Chinese program by my parents in first grade, because they wanted me to learn another language, so it might open more (career and opportunity) pathways,” Walker said. “I didn’t have a say in it, in the beginning. But I have pretty much liked it ever since. I’ve become great friends with so many of the students in my class. I have a younger sister and brother who are also now in the program.”

Christopherson still has a year of high

school left, while Seaman will set out for Utah State University this fall. She already has definite plans to include her Chinese speaking skills in her future career.

“I am very interested in education,” Seaman said. “I want to either teach English-speaking kids Chinese, as I learned, or I could see myself teaching English to native Chinese-speaking students. I just know I definitely want to use my Chinese. My older brother, Tate, was in the very first Chinese dual immersion class. He graduated from Taylorsville High in 2021 and is now serving a Chinese-speaking (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) mission.”

Walker and Maryn both highly encourage parents to enroll their first graders in the Chinese dual immersion program. They each point out the worst-case scenario is their child may not take to the program – and can always drop out after a year or two. But parents will never know how well their kids could have done in dual immersion if they don’t start it.

Granite School District officials say, while it is not impossible for a student to join the dual immersion program – in

Spanish, French or Chinese – after first grade, that later start is quite unusual. They say the decision is best made while youngsters are attending kindergarten.

As for the big Year of the Rabbit celebration, it was coordinated by Bennion Junior High Instructional Coach Mike Marcrum. His role at the school is to work with teachers to improve their instruction techniques. And just like Maryn and Walker, he encourages parents to let their first graders give dual immersion a chance.

“I have had students who weren’t particularly good at any given subject; but (participating in the dual immersion program) made them feel special – and they became stronger students,” Marcrum said.

“Dual immersion is not perfect for all students. But I’m not opposed to any parents at least allowing their young students to try it, even if it turns out it’s not for them.”

The registration deadline for current kindergarteners to join the dual immersion program has already passed for this year. But if your child has still not started public school, you can learn all about the program at graniteschools.org. l

Taylorsville City Councilwoman Meredith Harker (L) and Mayor Kristie Overson made a new friend during the Chinese New Year celebration at Bennion Junior High. (Courtesy Meredith Harker)

The Bennion Junior High auditorium was packed for the school’s Chinese New Year celebration. (Robert Knudsen)

A full cast of colorful characters entertained hundreds at Bennion Junior High as Chinese dual language immersion students rang in the Year of the Rabbit. (Meredith Harker)

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WHOLives brings water to villages and safety to young girls

Even now, more than 2 billion people around the world do not have access to clean water for drinking, cooking or bathing. But since 2011, a nonprofit in South Jordan has provided nearly 140 water drills to 37 countries, drilling 12,000 wells and bringing clean water to 12 million people.

WHOLives has a business model that is effective and sustainable. Although many donated drills end up broken and unusable, the WHOLives Village Drill concept finds viable drilling sites and families who commit to raising a portion of the cost to purchase the drill.

“We are against the idea of just giving things to people to get them out of poverty,” John Renouard said, WHOLives founder and executive director. “It just builds pride in what they have. It builds responsibility and self-reliance that we know are important when we’re trying to lift people up.”

Teams are trained in the operations, upkeep, repair and maintenance of the drills so the wells can provide clean water for generations. Before having access to water, women and girls spent hours each day walking to water holes where the water is contaminated and unsafe to drink.

Now, with easy access to clean water, girls have the opportunity to pursue education with improved health and families can hold down jobs or create their own business to further economic growth.

“We wanted to do more than just give them water. We want them to try to solve the problem,” Renouard said. “I have immense appreciation for what we’ve done, but I also know it’s only the tip of the iceberg.”

In November 2022, Renouard and his team were installing a well at a rescue center in Kenya when they stumbled upon a terrible situation. He learned December was “cutting season” in

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

the area, when young girls are taken from their homes to undergo female genital mutilation.

Although the practice is illegal, the mutilation happens outside the control of local authorities. Renouard was heartsick and knew he had to do something to help these young girls and bring the perpetrators to justice.

“A few areas in Kenya still practice this horrible tradition of FGM, female genital mutilation,” he said. “They literally sell these children to older men as a fifth wife or 10th wife or 15th wife, although they’re certainly not wives, they’re indentured servants.

“We did something that no one’s ever done before. We went to the police, we went to what we would call child protective services, we went to the magistrates and had conversations with them all. We asked them what they need to fight this. The answers were mind boggling. The number one thing they needed was funds for fuel for their cars so they could go out and investigate and arrest.”

As government officials, they were only allotted a small amount of fuel, not nearly enough to travel to the remote places these mutilations were taking place. WHOLives made a deal to provide money for fuel as long as the police shared their reports with local officials to make sure they were doing the job.

Since the practice was made illegal 10 years ago, only a handful of people have been arrested for FGM. Over the last few months, officials have made more than 40 arrests with 10 people already convicted and sentenced to time in prison.

“This becomes a big deterrent for following through with this awful tradition when there’s a high chance of getting arrested,” he said. “We anticipated we’d rescue about 400 girls. At last count, it was just over 1,700 girls we were able to rescue

When communities invest in the Village Drill, it brings clean water to the area along with opportunities for education and economic growth. The South Jordan nonprofit WHOLives provides equipment, training and support to help foster a sustainable future for generations of families. (Photo courtesy of WHOLives)

through our state houses. So, the number of girls that got cut just plummeted.”

WHOLives coordinated safe houses for the girls at police stations and other locations and will be ready for the next cutting season in August. For more information about WHOLives, visit WHOLives.org.

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BECAUSE NO TWO ARE ALIKE

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

Twenty-nine years is an important milestone for any business. In fact, only 20 percent of all businesses will survive to see their 20th anniversary. At Replenish, we believe our business model of providing top quality landscape materials, at a fair price, together with exceptional customer service, has provided the foundation of our success for these 29 years.

Beautiful gardens, lawns, and landscapes all start with the foundation of quality, nutrient-rich soil. While that is easy to say, it is much more complicated to sort through the numerous companies that all claim to sell the best. Whether you are starting a new flower garden or growing your own fruits and vegetables, Replenish Landscape Garden Products is here to help make your gardening goals a reality.

Replenish (the compost) and Replenish the Earth Products (the company) were created by Connie Cannon in 1994 in the driveway of her home. She wanted to create a compost mulch that would be high in nutrients, low in salts, as well as dark and rich in appearance. After seeking counsel from Peter Lassig, who had been the head landscape architect at Temple Square for over 40 years, she came up with the superior formula and blend for Replenish Compost. Mixing it together in her driveway, she would have her children put the compost in bags and sell it in their neighborhood.

Replenish Landscape Garden

4660 South 200 West, Murray • 801-252-5962

“Whether you are picking up material at our yard, or having us deliver or install material in your yard, the service is always outstanding and to your satisfaction. As our customer, we have your best interest in mind,” said Mike Nitz, the current co-owner.

The Cannons sold the company 10 years later to the current owners, Mike Nitz and Greg Bettinson. After purchasing the company in 2004, Mike and Greg gave it a new name – Replenish Landscape Garden Products – to better describe what the business was all about. They also moved the business from West Valley City to its current location in Murray, at 4600 S. 200 W. Over the past 19 years, they have grown the business by expanding the variety of landscape materials offered and expanding their customer base to cover the entire Wasatch Front.

“There are a number of options when it

J.

comes to landscape materials, but they are not all created equal,” explained Greg. “We believe that in Replenish Compost, we have the finest and most versatile compost available, period! To complement our signature Replenish Compost product, we have made it our focus to develop, or find, the very best soil blends, barks, wood mulches certified playground chips and soilless mixes specifically formulated for growing vegetables and flowers in containers or box gardens. Quality is what we sell.”

Any of Replenish’s products can be picked up at their Murray yard, in either bulk or bag.

They also deliver in bag, bulk, or in the 1-cubic-yard Super Big Bag to homes and businesses from Brigham City to Price. One of the unique services Replenish offers is their “Blower Truck” service. With this truck, they have the ability to install through a hose any of their products (except the rock and sand) directly into gardens, lawns or playgrounds.

Make your garden and yard work a successful, rewarding, and enjoyable experience. Call Replenish Landscape Garden Products at (801) 252-5962 for any question you might have or for a free quote.

Photo: Don Polo Photography

The NBA All-Star events in Salt Lake were the perfect backdrop to celebrate All-Star readers in February. A winter reading event sponsored by the Salt Lake County Library kicked off Jan. 3. Readers who stayed engaged during the program were invited to meet the Jazz Bear and other NBA mascots Feb. 15 at the Viridian Center in West Jordan.

“We’re very fortunate to host the NBA All-Star Game in Salt Lake County and to be able to offer such a unique prize to our readers,” said County Library Program Manager Nyssa Fleig. “We hope offering a once-in-a-lifetime event like this will help create readers for life.”

The party kicked off just after 6 p.m. when the mascots came in, turned up the music and shot off their confetti cannons. All attendees got to enter through a balloon arch and then made their way to a decorated event room. Two big screen TVs showed NBA All-Star footage. Kids could play cornhole, or life-size chess and connect four while they waited to meet mascots.

The event brought out families from all over the valley, like Salt Lake City’s Aimee Broadbent and her 9-year-old son Deklan.

By Heather Lawrence | h.lawrence@mycityjournals.com

“I like to read…just a bit,” Deklan said, with a joking twinkle in his eye.

“He loves it!” Broadbent said.

His favorite books? “I like scary stories.”

The All-Star Winter Reading wasn’t just about reading—it challenged kids to stay engaged during the winter with different activities and report their progress online.

“I did all the activities. I read, I played basketball, and I colored in every activity,” Deklan said.

Broadbent said they’d participated in and attended the event before. But with the All-Star game happening this weekend, there’s some added excitement.

People had their choice of several mascots to meet, greet and get photos with, starting with Owlexander the library’s owl. Unified Police and the Salt Lake County Sheriff brought their mascots—a dog named Sgt. Siren and a horse named Sgt. Lightning.

Three NBA teams sent their mascots: the Miami Heat’s fireball Burnie, Clutch the bear of the Houston Rockets, and Blaze the Trail Cat of the Portland Trail Blazers. And from the NBA G League (minor league basketball), the SLC Stars were rep-

resented by the Jazz Bear’s cousin, Buster Bear.

But for loyal Utahns like the Waltons of Taylorsville who had played Jr. Jazz and seen lots of Jazz games, meeting the Jazz Bear for the first time was the most exciting thing about the night.

“We participate in the library reading events all the time because the girls love to read,” said Melena Walton of her daughters Ella and Lila. “We did the library’s preschool class when they were younger and came to reading time and puppet shows.”

The girls, now 14 and 10, kept busy during the winter with skiing and Jr. Jazz basketball. They stayed engaged with the other winter challenge activities like being creative, getting outdoors and trying new things.

But they definitely made time to read—Ella in the Star Wars novels, and Lila the Half Upon a Time series. Of course they’ve made their way through the Harry Potter and Fablehaven series. And when it comes to how they read, they’re traditionalists.

“I like the feel of a book in my hands, not an e-reader. I like turning pages in a real book, it’s just different,” Lila said, and Ella agreed. l

Melena Walton of Taylorsville and her daughters Ella and Lila met the Jazz Bear for the first time. Ella and Lila didn’t find the reading challenge difficult—they love to read. (Heather Lawrence/ City Journals)s)

The drill team at Kearns High School is called the Chattes, which means cat in French. Their cat-like routine this season was one of their favorites.

“It really was a great season,” drill head coach Charly Northrup said. “The last few years have been rough with many different coaches, so to settle down and have some direction was very good.”

Northrup was an assistant coach three years ago and accepted the position this season as the team's head coach. Season one under a new staff began solidifying the team and giving them direction.

“We performed better than they had over the last few years and placed well at Region. Even if they did not place, the whole experience was better than it had been,” Northrup said. “The discipline and culture changed. I think some had not understood what drill was before and what kind of work it takes.”

Drill in the UHSAA is a sanctioned sport. The high school-age dancers compete in three categories: dance, military and show. Each one demonstrates different skills and abilities.

“We got serious and expected a lot more of the girls. Drill is a dance team that

Chattes had a great season

By Greg James | g.james@mycityjournals.com

practices like athletes. We have to have certain turns and leaps. We have only one varsity team. We perform at halftime and assemblies. The girls come to practice at 5:30 in the morning for sometimes three hours. It takes a lot of dedication. I tell the girls that this is hard,” Northrup said.

Kearns had 16 girls on the team this season. It is a smaller team than some schools. They have had more athletes in years past.

“The demographic of these kids are tough. We have girls that work late hours at jobs and still make it to early morning practices,” Northrup said.

The difficulty sheet for each category scores the number of jumps and turns. The team can score based on their completion of the skills.

“At region, we placed fourth (in dance). It was huge for us. We skyrocketed to that finish. I am sure everyone's favorite routine was the show routine. We were dressed as black cats. The judges commented that they loved the music and energy. That was definitely our best routine,” Northup said.

Kearns placed fifth overall at the Region 2 finals. Roy finished first, Cyprus second, Hunter third, Taylorsville fourth and

Granger sixth.

“The kids at the school talk about how the girls are always together,” Northrup said. “I love these girls. I think they were ready to have a team that is grateful to see the growth. The parents have been so supportive.”

The 2023 team included Alexis Lar-

son, Alyvia Pedersen, Amelia Davidson, Avalon Sisk, Dahnaiye Metzger (captain), Emily England, Hannah ElAsmaay, Jaleah Hayden, Janett Soto, Kamdin Smith, Leah Campos, Linda Mejia Vasquez, Luisa Serna, Marina Gomez, Pilar Diaz Rodriguez, Rebbecca Harlow and Ruby Flores. l

The drill team at Kearns placed fifth at the Region 2 finals. (Photo courtesy of Ammie Harlow)

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

I can’t tell you how much I am looking forward to this summer and all the concerts, movies, food trucks, activities and more all coming to Centennial Plaza! The planning now underway for our next season of Starry Nights @the Plaza, as well as our Plaza +ART program, is the wellspring of this anticipation.

I’ve caught glimpses and hints of what’s coming and am eager to share the details with you. We launched Starry Nights @the Plaza this past summer and our upcoming series promises to be even better. We’ll have something to do every Friday night at our plaza in front of City Hall.

In addition to the Food Truck League food trucks, Friday Starry Nights events will feature live music, outdoor movies or other activities, depending on the night. We’ll post a full schedule of events on our website, www.taylorsvilleut.gov, in the coming weeks.

In the meantime, we are currently accepting applications for bands and other performers for the upcoming series. If you are interested in performing on the Centennial Plaza stage, you can nd details including an application on our website under the “Our City” and then “Starry Nights @the Plaza” tabs. The application deadline is March 31, and we’re hiring 16-plus paid acts!

In addition to the Performer Call, we’ve also put out an Artist Call seeking sculpture artists for next season’s Plaza +ART program. You can now view 14 beautiful sculptures at Centennial Plaza, and we’re hoping to display 18 sculptures over the 2023-24 season. Artist stipends of $500 will be provided to selected artists, whose sculptures will be exhibited at the plaza for the year. The application deadline for artists is also March 31, and details can be found online under “Our City” and then “Plaza +ART.”

We were able to add some funding to both of these programs, thus the call for performers and artists, thanks to a grant from the Utah Department of Cultural & Community Engagement. Our efforts to continue to build on these two programs is also in keeping with our latest citywide survey, in which residents indicated they would like to see more arts, music and food trucks among our community events (See the accompanying story for additional details about this latest survey).

I am delighted about both our Starry Nights @the Plaza series and Plaza +ART program, and hope to see you at Centennial Plaza. Let’s have some fun on Friday nights this summer!

—Mayor Kristie S. Overson

Survey: Quality of Life High in Taylorsville

Citywide

Taylorsville’s quality of life earns high marks in a new citywide survey that also indicates residents are happy with their elected o cials and the way the city is being run.

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

On average, residents gave a score of 73 out of 100 for the city’s quality of life, with consistently high ratings across all council districts. A remarkable 83% also said they approve of the Mayor and City Council.

“Congratulations!” said Kyrene Gibb, vice president of research and municipal services for Y2 Analytics, who presented the ndings to the City Council at their Feb. 15 meeting. “Congress could only hope for such a high approval rating.”

She noted that when it comes to city services, residents are most satis ed with garbage collection, re and emergency services, culinary water delivery, community events, snow removal services, city parks and open spaces, and police services. Police services also received the largest share of residents’ service improvement budget allocation. In addition, almost two-thirds of residents agreed that the Taylorsville Police Department is professional and responsive.

The survey was conducted by Y2 Analytics from Nov. 12 to Dec. 29, 2022. In all, 468 residents completed the survey, representing a balanced geographic distribution of responses across the city and a 4.5 percent margin of error. The data were weighted to re ect the demographics of registered voters in Taylorsville, speci cally in regard to age, gender, home ownership and City Council district.

Gibb noted that this latest survey is consistent with previous surveys by the city. A majority (54%) of residents once again reported that Taylorsville is heading in the right direction, although this year’s result did represent a slight decline over previous years. Still, Gibb said, it is consistent with other municipal surveys her company has conducted this year across the state, seemingly indicative of a general malaise following a few difficult years including the coronavirus pandemic. “I can say this is not isolated to Taylorsville,” she said. “We’re seeing this among multiple clients.”

What residents like most about Taylorsville is its central location. “Almost all residents’ comments on what they like most about living in Taylorsville focus on its central location in the valley and easy access to the highway,” Gibb said. “And most residents are happy with the quality of life, so there are very few dissatis ed residents.”

Mayor Kristie S. Overson

EVENTS MARCH 2023

March 1 & 15 – 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 3 – 7:30 p.m.

The Taylorsville-SLCC Symphony Orchestra performs at Bennion Jr. High, 6055 S. 2700 West. Admission is free, although donations are welcomed.

March 4 – 10 a.m.

Taylorsville Localscapes class @ City Hall. Register at www.taylorsvilleut.gov/services/localscapes

March 12 – 2 a.m.

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

March 14 – 7 p.m. & March 28 – 6 p.m.

Planning Commission Meeting @ City Hall.

March 16 & 17 – 6:30 p.m.

“Into the Woods Jr.” tryouts for performers ages 10 to 18 @ City Hall. (See ad on Page 5)

Find our calendar of events every month on the city’s website, where you can also submit your own events for possible publication. Go to www.taylorsvilleut.gov

Also, a standing event every Thursday, from 2 to 4 p.m., at City Hall is the “Mayor is In.” During this time, Mayor Kristie Overson has open o ce hours to meet with residents about any issue on their minds. Drop by and meet with the Mayor. All are welcome.

CITYWIDE SURVEY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Residents indicated they especially like Taylorsville’s accessibility. They describe the community as one with nice neighbors and safe, friendly and quiet neighborhoods. Moreover, a whopping 87% said they would recommend the city to others as a good place to live, which is slightly higher than last year’s survey. “A majority of residents have positive views of Taylorsville,” Gibb noted. “Generally speaking, residents are happy.”

Residents expressed their most concern about crime, tra c, growth and housing.

Mayor Kristie Overson described this year’s survey as a good evaluation and useful reminder of the importance of focusing on the basics of municipal service, such as street lighting, roads and tra c calming. “It is helpful for us to identify what residents are thinking and areas where we might improve,” she said.

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

March 16-17

Wasatch Theatre Company presents MONOLOGUES FROM A MOVEMENT BY AMANDA CARAWAY

March 18

Salt Lake Symphony presents WELCOME, SPRING!

March 23-26

Wasatch Theatre Company presents THE MELANCHOLY PLAY BY SARAH RUHL

COUNCIL CORNER

By Council Member Curt Cochran

“You can cut all the flowers, but you cannot keep spring from coming.”

I ran across this quote while deciding what to write about this month for our Council Corner, and it stuck with me. The quote was written by the Chilean poet Pablo Neruda who was born in Parral, Chile, in 1904. Neruda died in 1973 but before he passed, he would be recognized as a world-renowned poet, diplomat and politician who won the Nobel Peace Prize for Literature in 1971.

Re ecting on the phrase again, it makes me think of not only spring and the “spring cleaning” that is about to hit the Cochran household both inside and out, but also that, no matter how badly we want a thing to stay the same, some things just can’t remain and need to change and, even more importantly, grow or improve.

Most of us know that Taylorsville has a rich, deep and important history in the Salt Lake Valley. I absolutely encourage you to visit the TaylorsvilleBennion Heritage Center, at 1488 W. 4800 South, when you have the chance. In fact, even better, stop reading right now and jot down a date in your calendar to visit. More information about the museum can be found on the city’s website at www.taylorsvilleut.gov.

Let’s Enjoy the Beauty of ‘New Flowers’ This Spring

When you visit the museum, you will quickly see that Taylorsville is not what it used to be. This is my reference to the “cut owers” in Neruda’s quote. Gone are the blacksmiths, the tack shops, soda fountains and one-room schoolhouses.

The new flowers, which have resulted from not being able to “keep spring from coming,” allude to my reference to spring cleaning. If you are a longtime Taylorsville resident, you’ve especially seen change in the last, oh, say 40 years. I hear family stories fondly remembering when the area south of 5400 South was nothing but farmland, and you could see all the way to the Point of the Mountain.

I could go on, but I think you get the point. It’s extremely important we remember the past — holding it near and dear to our hearts — but also equally important that we leave enough room in our hearts for new people, new businesses, new ideas and new opportunities.

Much of the “new owers” that we quite frankly cannot keep from coming will be people, housing, businesses and transportation. How we change our mindsets as a city, as a community, as neighborhoods and as individuals will help these new, inevitable events occur smoothly.

Lastly, I think back as to what it must have been like for the settlers of the Salt Lake Valley. As new settlers

New Culvert to Create Safe Walking Route for Junior High Students

A new culvert under construction at the corner of 2700 West and Longmeadow Drive will soon make it safer for area students to get to school.

The short area across the canal has no sidewalk on either side of 2700 West but the situation was made worse when a vehicle ran over the chain link fence on the east side, requiring city o cials to set up jersey barriers to protect the slim shoulder. Students were left with two untenable options, either walk along the banks much too close to the canal or step further into the busy road to avoid the barrier.

came in and wanted to make this area their home, I would like to think that those who came before welcomed them, their families, their businesses and their cultures with open arms and genuine interest to learn about them and how they could best incorporate their skills and customs into the community.

Spring is coming. Let’s remember to appreciate the cut owers of the past and enjoy the owers coming.

Many parents told their children to avoid the section altogether, either driving them the four blocks to Bennion Jr. High or requiring them to walk the long way around through the neighborhood, often in the dark in the early morning hours before school.

A concerned parent, Nicole McDermott, who is also a member of the Granite School Board, contacted the city for help. She was worried about the safety of the canal section itself but also noted that it has isolated the neighborhood and created an inconvenience for students as they have had to circumvent that small stretch.

She was joined this past month by another parent, Laura James, and 10 students who gathered at the canal to highlight the problem and thank City Council Member Anna Barbieri for her quick attention to xing it. “We are appreciative of the city for being so responsive and concerned about this area, as well,” McDermott said.

Once aware of the breadth of the problem, the City Council budgeted money to replace the old, corrugated metal pipe channeling the canal under the road with the new culvert. “I’m just so impressed with the work,” Barbieri said. “They’ve started construction, and it’s a major job. But it will be well worth it when it’s done.”

Placement of the culvert will provide extra width across the canal, enabling a sidewalk to be placed on either side of 2700 West. The work is expected to be complete in the next couple of months.

Registration for the 2023 Taylorsville Dayzz 5K and Kids Run is open! Register early for the best price! T-shirt or tank top, finishers medal, swag bag and chip timing all included for only $25 (5K) $15 (Kids Run) Scan the QR code below to register and for more details!

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

TVPD Unveils New Color Scheme for Some Vehicles

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

You may have noticed a new look for our TVPD patrol vehicles. In addition to our white trucks, we've added some in black.

The new paint scheme is due to a shortage of available eet vehicles — something that government entities across the state have been facing. So, to both keep up with needs of filling our fleet vacancies in combination with maintaining fiscal responsibility, TVPD opted to go with the new paint scheme.

Both the white and black vehicles are marked with our TVPD badge and patch, as well as our @TVPDutah online emblem where you can nd our social media channels. We’re on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, and you can also nd information about the department — as well as sign up for emailed updates — via our webpage www. taylorsvilleut.gov/services/tvpd

We’ve received a number of positive comments and compliments since announcing the new color scheme and hope you like it too!

TVPD EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH

Congratulations to O cer Gordon who is our TVPD Employee of the Month. Prior to beginning his career in law enforcement more than eight year ago, O cer Gordon served four years in the United States Army where he was stationed in Fort Riley, Kan., as a M1A1 Tank Crewmember.

In 2010, O cer Gordon served a tour in Iraq. He was hired by TVPD upon its formation in 2021.

Officer Gordon has an extensive law enforcement background, working in both patrol and investigations. He has served as a patrol o cer, motorcycle o cer and instructor, tra c crash investigator, field training officer, crime scene technician, school resource o cer, drone operator, DUI task force member and public order unit o cer.

Officer Gordon has a calm, well-rounded demeanor. This, in combination with his extensive training, makes him an invaluable member of TVPD.

Officer Gordon’s main responsibility with TVPD is working as a patrol o cer. He responds to any type of police call for service that can be imagined. Det. Landol nominated O cer Gordon as our latest employee of the month. He described him as one who is polite and professional. “O cer Gordon provides outstanding service and valuable input while problem-solving and helping citizens overcome the barriers they are working through,” Det. Landol said.

O cer Gordon also serves as one of our drone operators. Sgt. Bennett recently noted that O cer Gordon has assisted in locating more outstanding suspects while utilizing his drone than any other drone operator in TVPD. Recently, O cer Gordon utilized his drone to locate two eeing suspects involved in drug distribution and illegal rearms possession.

In his free time, O cer Gordon enjoys spending time with his family and friends. His hobbies include camping, hiking, shing, kayaking, scuba diving and playing video games. Thank you, O cer Gordon, for your service and dedication to law enforcement and for choosing to be a part of Team Taylorsville.

Learn More About Our City, Access TVPD Reports Online

By Donna Pittman, Public Safety Committee

Did you know that you can access the Taylorsville Police Department’s quarterly reports online? These are the reports that are given to the City Council each operating year, beginning in July.

They show the types and numbers of police incidents occurring in our city and in each City Council district. There are two ways to nd the most recent quarterly reports of o enses and incidents:

First, go to TVPD’s page on the Taylorsville City website at www. taylorsvilleut.gov/services/tvpd. Scroll down to “TVPD Quarterly Reports.” Then, click on the report for the quarter to be viewed and scroll down to the area you want to see.

This information can also be accessed through the Taylorsville Public Safety Committee web page at www.taylorsvilleut.gov/ our-city/committees-volunteers. Scroll down to “Public Safety Committee” and select the TVPD Quarterly Report to be viewed.

The Public Safety Committee meets the rst Thursday of each month at 6 p.m., at the Taylorsville City O ces. All are welcome to attend.

TVPD Celebrates Winners of Holiday Card Contest

It’s still Christmas for the two winners of the Taylorsville Police Department’s holiday card contest. Fifth-grade students Maya and Dayana were recognized this past month for their artwork that claimed top prize among hundreds of drawings.

Each year, TVPD requests help from Taylorsville fifthgraders in designing the department’s official holiday card. And every year, the police department receives hundreds of fantastic drawings from each school. This year was no exception.

You may have seen the samplings of drawings posted to TVPD social media outlets throughout December. Picking the winning drawings as the o cial holiday card is never easy but two drawings stood out as particularly outstanding.

“It was such a wonderful event meeting with this year’s card winners,” said Mayor Kristie Overson. “They

are two outstanding and bright school kids. It was my pleasure to be there with them.”

Maya’s drawing of the “City of Taylorsville” and Dayana’s drawing of “Police Navidad” both captured the holiday spirit and showcased City Hall and the Police Department in a delightful way. City and TVPD leaders, including Mayor Overson and Police Chief Brady Cottam, formally congratulated Maya and Dayana this past month with a lunch outing joined by Detectives Christensen and Andrew.

“We learned about Maya’s interest in softball, traveling and art, along with her dislike of pizza and love of steak and potatoes,” Det. Christensen noted. “Dayana talked to us about her love of art, cooking, soccer, Italian food, her one sister, and two brothers including ‘Thor the Labradoodle.’

“Dayana and Maya also had a lot of words of wisdom to share with us,” he said. “They talked about how we need to have a good balance in our life, taught us calming techniques that we could use to relax after a stressful day, discussed the importance of goal-setting, being grateful, and making sure you have time for family and fun.

“All of us adults looked in amazement as these two future leaders gave some very important life tips,” Det. Christensen added. “Thank you, Dayana and Maya, for the fun lunch outing and especially for the words of wisdom!”

The sents Taylorsville Arts Council pres

SLCC Offers 4 Programs in Support of Career Success

Salt Lake Community College program managers want to get the word out about four valuable resources aimed at helping residents gain a path to better careers or, in turn, greater success in their current jobs, and enable local businesses to grow and ourish.

The rst program is called SLCC Learn & Work. Several short-term, non-credit certi cate programs are available to anyone 18 years and older with a high school diploma or GED. While the enrollment deadline is June 30, accepted candidates have until December 31 to nish their chosen program. SLCC Learn & Work is 100% tuition-free and has no income eligibility requirements. The program offers training in several career areas, including manufacturing, energy, health care, information technology, public safety, transportation and warehouse management. Additional information is available at slcc.edu/allin. Direct questions to Mariah Krizman at 801-957-5367.

Next up is the new SLCC WISE (Workforce Inclusion & Successful Employment) Program for Salt Lake County residents. WISE has a low-income eligibility requirement and is funded through a ve-year grant. Participants can enroll in any SLCC academic and/or training class that the college o ers. Seats are limited, and additional information is available at slcc.edu/careerservices/wise.aspx. Direct questions to Matt Wallace at 801-957-5838 or mwalla68@slcc.edu.

Both Learn & Work and WISE, notes SLCC Workforce Manager Paul Glanton, could be of particular bene t to women re-entering the workforce.

Lastly, SLCC also offers two corporate training programs. Custom Fit is for non-pro t businesses located in Salt Lake County. Through this program, SLCC pays 40% of the cost of any sta development, training and certi cate courses. The training can take place anywhere in Utah. The Frontline Leader Program o ers a series of sta development and training workshops. Workshops are open for individual enrollment, as well as company cohort workshops that can be conducted onsite with 10 or more trainees. Additional information is available slcc.edu/corporate/ funding-resources/custom- t-funding.aspx and slcc.edu/ corporate/workshops/frontline-leader.aspx. Direct questions to 801-957-5299.

“We hope that community members will take advantage of these important resources,” Glanton said. “We want to help businesses and employees to not only meet their goals through education and training but to achieve every desired success.”

PE R F O R M E R C A L L

Taylorsville City is seeking entertainment for our 2023 Starry Nights @the Plaza events. Starry Nights @the Plaza is free and open to the public and coincides with our weekly Friday night food truck events. The City will hire 16+ paid acts for the upcoming summer series.

The events take place at Centennial Plaza, 2600 W. Taylorsville Blvd. , in front of City Hall This unique space serves as a “community living room” for residents to stop in, relax with family and friends, listen to live music or see a performance, and eat from a wide selection of food trucks. Our beautiful plaza holds an amphitheater with a stage, lighted walking paths, sculpture art, and restrooms

Performances will take place on the stage.

For more information and to apply, scan the QR code or head to Taylorsvilleut.gov, under the “our city” tab and “the starry nights @the plaza” tab. Applications must be received by 5 p m on March 31

Scan for more information.

Don’t Miss These Library Events Taylorsville Bennion Heritage REMEMBRANCES

Featuring the Spencer Family: Educators and Civic Leaders

By Susan Yadeskie, Historic Preservation Committee Chair

George Mitton Spencer was only 12 years old when he came to Taylorsville with his mother, Eliza Smith Spencer, who later became the second wife of Joseph Harker. When grown, George married Angeline Bennion, and they had 10 children, four of whom passed away in early childhood.

Education was important to this family. Eliza was one of the rst teachers in the Over Jordan Settlement (Taylorsville). George Mitton taught for a couple of years in Taylorsville and was a teacher to Angeline, his future wife. Of his six children who grew to adulthood, ve were educators. Adelaide taught in the Granite School District for 18 years.

Elizabeth received a four-year scholarship to the University of Utah. She was at the head of her class and taught for seven years, mostly in Taylorsville. Elizabeth left education to give all her time to her husband, Frederick Abbott, who became Mayor of Ogden, and her children. One of her “schoolboys” said of her, “There was no problem student she could not shape and direct.” Hortense, the youngest of the children, was also an early teacher at Granite High School. She passed away at age 45.

In addition to teaching, George M. Spencer was later a prominent farmer in Taylorsville and a member of the Utah Legislature in 1888. George instilled and nurtured in his sons the need to be civically and politically involved in the community.

Mahonri, George’s second son, was a teacher and later an administrator in Salt Lake City and Taylorsville. At his passing, he was the vice president of the First National Bank of Murray. He had been appointed deputy collector in 1914, then income tax inspector, and nally the agent in charge of the Salt Lake City o ce. One task at that time was to determine whether ladies’ corsets should be taxed. He determined a cost of more than $5 should be taxed. But this decision, as you might imagine, brought much discussion and it was nally decided that corsets were a necessity and should not be taxed!

Raymond, the youngest son, was a state surveyor and a chicken farmer. In 1924, he helped organize the rst Salt Lake Rambouillet Sheep Club. He also helped start the Salt Lake County Poultrymen Association, of which he was secretary/treasurer. He taught young and old how to t chicken and sheep for shows. These activities led to the organization of the Salt Lake County Fair in 1937.

Finally, Albert, George’s oldest son, was also a prominent educator, and his sisters all wrote of his in uence on their becoming teachers. He was active in politics, as well, but died of typhoid pneumonia prior to seeking election as a state legislator. He was 32, leaving a wife and two children.

The George Mitton Spencer descendants of today continue to follow his example of hard work and community involvement, by volunteering, working to further the development of youth and actively participating in their communities. You can learn more about this family and many others in Taylorsville by visiting the museum, 1488 W. 4800 South.

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

DR. SEUSS TRUFFULA TREES CONTEST

Monday, Feb. 27, to Saturday, March 4

How many Tru ula trees are in the jar? Guess correctly and you might win an Altitude Trampoline Park gift card.

IN-N-OUT COVER TO COVER READING PROGRAM

March 6 to April 15

Participate in a reading program. Read ve books and earn a free hamburger. For ages 4-12.

VIRTUAL LECTURE | NELLIE BLY: THE FULL PICTURE — Fearless, Feminist, Fallible

Monday, March 6, 7 p.m.

You must register for this event to receive the link to the WebEx Virtual Lecture. Register at: thecountylibrary.org/LectureSeries

Who was Nellie Bly? Author Kate Braithwaite will give the highlights and the lowlights of this remarkable American woman.

TEEN MAR10 PARTY

Thursday, March 9, 4:30 p.m.

Celebrate Mar10 Day early by playing a variety of Nintendo Switch video games.

THE REEL FOLK: THE MUSIC OF IRELAND

Monday, March 13, 6:30 p.m.

Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with the musical group, The Reel Folk. Learn about folk instruments, di erent Irish tunes, and listen to traditional Irish music.

VIRTUAL LECTURE | “THE COLORADO CANNIBAL” — The Curious Historical Case of Alferd Packer

Tuesday, March 21, 7 p.m.

You must register for this event to receive the link to the WebEx Virtual Lecture. Register at: thecountylibrary.org/LectureSeries

Dr. Erin Baxter provides a 21st century take on Alferd Packer, analyzing historical information, new archaeological data and experimental archaeology to tell and retell the story of the Colorado Cannibal.

READY RACE PARTY

Friday, March 24, 11 a.m.

Drop in at the library to make LEGO cars and race them on a racetrack.

MARCH UPDATES

Landscape Maintenance

Now is the perfect time of year to trim your trees! Salt Lake County Ordinance 14.12.050, and other municipal codes, require that trees and landscaping that overhang the street pavement need to be trimmed to a minimum height of 13 ½ feet above the street pavement. Following these guidelines will help WFWRD trucks navigate through your neighborhood and empty your cans without potential damage to your trees and the trucks.

Bagging Recyclables

Wasatch Front Waste & Recycling District is still seeing recyclable materials in plastic and garbage bags in the blue recycling can. The recycling processing facilities do not accept plastic-bagged materials, and the recycling could end up in the land ll. Please do not place anything in your blue recycle can that is wrapped in plastic bags. Contact Sustainability Coordinator, McKenna Tupa’i (385-468-6337 or mtupai@wasatchfrontwaste.org) if you have speci c recycling questions.

Subscription Green Waste Program

The Weekly Green Waste Collection Program will resume beginning Thursday, March 16 for Taylorsville residents. Taylorsville currently has 1,414 out of the 10,477 districtwide subscribers.

Residents can sign up and help divert green waste from the landfill. Green waste is processed into mulch that can then be purchased for use from the Salt Lake Valley and Trans-Jordan land lls. There is a onetime startup fee of $70 to pay for the can and at $126 per year, a green waste can is less expensive than an additional black garbage can at $234 per year. For more information on this program, head to the “Services & Requests” tab on the district’s website (www.wasatchfrontwaste.org) and hit “Additional Subscription Services” to nd the “Green Waste Sign Up” link.

Cut Through the ‘FOG’ and Clear Your Drains

Fats, Oils and Grease (FOG) have the potential to cost you money if not handled properly. Problems can develop in your household drains and the district sewer collection system due to the improper disposal of FOG.

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.

Tell your family, friends and neighbors about problems associated with grease in the sewer system and how to keep it out. The solution starts in your home with your actions.

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.

Abandoned pets are rapidly becoming a large crisis in our post-pandemic world

By Carl Fauver | c.fauver@mycityjournals.com

Aswe continue to see fewer and fewer facemasks – and the coronavirus pandemic becomes more of a fleeting memory –big changes are occurring at the West ValleyTaylorsville Animal Services Shelter (4522 W. 3500 South). In a nutshell, shelter Director Melanie Bennett says, there’s no room at the inn.

“During the pandemic, we couldn’t keep dogs and cats in the shelter,” Bennett said. “We were looking all over the place to find animals to adopt out. People were stuck at home and they all seemed to want a pet. But that’s all changed – at our shelter and across the country. We are full of dogs and cats.”

Bennett reports her shelter has room for about 200 cats and 100 dogs. It has been running so full, they can no longer allow people to simply drop off unwanted pets anymore.

“We are only handling stray pickups now,” she explained. “Part of the problem is, many people can’t afford to keep their animals anymore. During the pandemic, some people tried to start breeding pets for an additional income. Now many of them are just letting those animals go. It’s a growing problem.”

West Valley City’s population is about 140,000, while Taylorsville is a little less than half that, at 60,000. That creates a large population and geographical area for Bennett and her staff of 20 to handle. Besides rounding up strays, they spend a lot of time coordinating pet adoption events. You can learn more about these at the shelter’s official government webpage wvc-ut.gov/17/Animal-Services or on their social media page facebook.com/WVCAnimalServices.

Another big change that’s come about since the pandemic arrived is the removal

of the shelter’s controversial euthanasia gas chamber. As one of only a very few animal gas chambers remaining in Utah, the device drew frequent community protests. On one occasion, animal advocates filled the Taylorsville City Council chambers to address the issue.

Ironically, after all that debate, a natural disaster settled the West Valley-Taylorsville Animal Services Shelter gas chamber issue once and for all. Bennett reports it was not the COVID-19 pandemic – but something else that struck a week after the coronavirus shutdown.

On March 18, 2020 a 5.7 magnitude earthquake struck in Magna and rattled all of northern Utah. Bennett says that was the “last straw” for her facility’s controversial device.

“The earthquake shook the gas chamber quite a bit and we were afraid it had been damaged,” she explained. “We also could not find anyone in the state who could repair or recertify it. We quietly turned it in for recycling last year. We really hadn’t used it for a long time – except for raccoons, on rare occasion. Now the room the gas chamber was in has been converted to a much larger surgery room for our spays and neuters.”

Since the fall of 2021, the animal shelter has contracted with veterinarian Dr. Amy Anderson to conduct spays and neuters three days each week. She conducts 45 to 50 procedures weekly. Bennett reports some of those are being done through their Community Cat Program.

“We have volunteers who humanely trap feral cats in different areas,” Bennett explained. “They bring the cats to us… our veterinarian neuters them… and they are re-

turned to where they were found. This allows us to deal with stray cats humanely, while also maintaining our no-kill policy.”

According to their website, the Trap/ Neuter/Return Program is designed to keep stray cats at the shelter no longer than 48 hours. During that brief visit, they are vaccinated, given health assessments and “fixed.”

This program is managed by the shelter’s community capture coordinator. And that’s not the only unusual job title you will find on Bennett’s staff.

“Our animal care and enrichment manager oversees the work of our shelter technicians,” she said. “Those are the people who take care of our animals while they are here. We also have a new hope coordinator, who’s in charge of adoption events and various volunteer programs.”

Bennett’s director post is one of 22 animal shelter employee positions. At press time, three of those jobs were unfilled. Other shelter jobs include a field supervisor, officers and dispatchers.

Now that the West Valley-Taylorsville Animal Services Shelter is constantly filled with dogs and cats, Bennett says donations are more welcome than ever. She reports area residents have always been very good to the shelter.

“Our citizens are amazing with their donations,” she concluded. “They bring us pet food, blankets, towels and animal treats. Last summer when it was so hot our air conditioning went out. We posted something about it online, and within two days we had 40 fans, donated by residents. We’re still trying to figure out where to store all the fans for our next heat emergency. Our donors have been

wonderful.”

Each quarter, Bennett prepares a report about the animal shelter to present before the Taylorsville City Council.

“The animal shelter is running very well,” Mayor Kristie Overson said. “Melanie is very competent and does a good job running the center. She has great relationships with her staff and the public. They are meeting the needs of our residents.”

The West Valley-Taylorsville Animal Services Shelter is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. Their main phone number is 801-965-5800, while the after hours and weekend emergency number is 801-840-4000. l

Veterinarian Dr. Amy Anderson (in blue) now has a much larger operating room to conduct spays and neuters after a little reorganizing at the West Valley-Taylorsville Animal Services Shelter. Sharel Reffitt and Shannon Sas (back) offer assistance. (Courtesy Melanie Bennett)

Officer Cesar Anaya works to control one of the more exotic species the West Valley-Taylorsville Animal Services Shelter has handled recently. (Courtesy Melanie Bennett)

This colorful wall is in the West Valley-Taylorsville Animal Services Shelter’s back “meet-and-greet yard,” where perspective pet adopters are introduced to the animals. Here, Shelter Technician Helena Perez is trying to help this lab find a home. (Courtesy Melanie Bennett)

Local poet and activist sits vigil with the Great Salt Lake

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

Local activist, poet and storyteller Nan Seymour, is bearing witness to the Great Salt Lake. From Jan. 18 through March 4, corresponding with the Utah State Legislative session, Seymour and her writing community held a vigil for the largest saltwater lake in the Western Hemisphere.

In a small camper on Antelope Island, Seymour and other nature lovers lived by the lake, recording breathtaking sunsets, the heartbreaking loss of more than 400 aquatic diving birds, the majesty of bison roaming the island and the beauty of a lake fighting to survive.

“I’m not a scientist, not an expert, but someone who’s loved birds for a long time,” Seymour said. “I wasn’t aware of the genuine state of peril and now it’s accurate to call this an active collapse of the ecosystem…I was late to pay attention but when it caught my attention, it caught my full attention. The lake is the heart of this bioregion and hemispherically essential.”

This is the second year Seymour has held vigil at the Great Salt Lake. In 2022, she felt it was necessary to be physically present with the lake and respect it as a sentient ancestor, neighbor and even a mother. She said it helps to hold the lake in a relational way, not just thinking of it as a water resource.

Scientists think there still might be time to save the lake and its ecosystem but it will take a concerted effort from legislators, farmers, homeowners and stakeholders to ensure the lake’s survival.

At 4,189 feet, the Great Salt Lake is at its lowest point in recorded history. Lawmakers had the opportunity to adopt a resolution, setting a goal of raising the lake to 4,198 feet, but

it seems the resolution will fail.

“We have to change our ways and it’s not comfortable,” Seymour said. “We will have to think in ways we haven’t thought before and take levels of responsibility we haven’t been willing to take. We have to live within our means with water. Just like if someone you love is dying, you move in a different way.”

The Great Salt Lake is a migratory stop for 10 million birds and is a center of life in the region. As the lake’s level continues to drop, due to drought and human interference like water diversion and outdated water policies, essential aspects of the ecosystem will continue to die off.

Microbialites, essentially living rocks, live in the shallow water of the lake and metabolize life, creating a home for brine flies and brine shrimp that feeds the birds. As microbialites are exposed due to receding water, they die.

Increased salinity in the lake is killing keystone species. Toxic dust in the dried lakebed is dangerous to humans, birds and animals living near the area. Seymour will continue calling attention to the perilous situation and asked that others raise their voices by talking to their representatives, writing op-eds and walking along the lake shore to keep the conversation going.

“Speak up, even when it feels hopeless and helpless,” she said. “It’s always against the odds, always against the powers that be. The people who make it happen are instigators, just ordinary, broken-hearted people who persist. They are outside the realm of power and influence. They are just people with hearts that keep showing up. That’s how change happens.”

Bison, on Antelope Island in the Great Salt Lake, are just one species that depends on the lake’s ecosystem. Local poet Nan Seymour held vigil for the lake for 47 days by living on the island to draw awareness to the lake’s perilous situation. (Photo courtesy of Nan Seymour)

Women’s Day with Mary Kay

By Holly Curby | hello@hollycurby.com

This year’s International Women’s Day theme, Embrace Equity, challenges women and allies in using their sphere of influence to create a fair and equal world. Such equity is important for social, economic, cultural and political advancement of women.

The first fight for women’s rights is said to date back to 1908, where 15,000 women took to the streets in New York City to protest for better pay, shorter working hours, as well as the right to vote. The following year, the Socialist Party of America declared the last Sunday in February the first National Women’s Day in honor of the strike. In 1910, in the midst of an international conference, it was proposed and unanimously voted among more than 100 in attendance from 17 different countries to officially create International Women’s Day around the world. In 1914, the globally recognized holiday marked March 8 as the official day to celebrate women going forward.

Since then we have seen strides made in efforts of women’s equality, including the first woman referee of a big game in February, first woman attorney general for Israel, first woman director of Major League operations for the New York Mets major league baseball team, and the first woman Vice President of the United States. We are also seeing more and more Fortune 500 companies that are run by female leaders such as General Motors, The Hershey Company, Nasdaq, Inc., and Mary Kay.

Mary Kay is a company that has embraced both equality and equity for women while providing jobs for hundreds of women right here in Utah. In honor of the 100year anniversary of women gaining the right to vote in America, Mary Kay was recently named as one of the USA Today’s women of

the century, an honor recognizing those who have significantly impacted their community and their country. For more than 50 years, Mary Kay Incorporated has empowered women while changing the world of business. After experiencing inequality in the workplace herself, Mary Kay Ash knew she had to make a change not only for herself, but for all women. In 1963, Mary Kay Ash launched her business and disrupted the idea of business as usual, turning the male dominated workplace on its head in the process of change champion and groundbreaking businesswomen. Mary Kay Ash dedicated her life to empowering women and putting them in control of their own futures, and as result implemented a mission to enrich the lives of women and their families around the world.

Local Independent Sales Director Christy Flater has put herself in the driver’s seat of one of the best in class car incentive programs by earning the use of nine Mary Kay career cars. All of this is done through her hard work, applying the skills taught and the valuable resources and education offered

by Mary Kay. “I’ve been enriched by my independent business with Mary Kay. I am blessed to be offered the opportunity to travel with the most positive people, engage in a daily growth environment, and coach women to work with their divine strengths, recognize their positive influence within their homes and their communities,” Flater said. “Our culture is the foundation of Mary Kay, and it is only as strong as the next generation that upholds it.”

According to Flater, Mary Kay created a culture in the salesforce to share ideas and build each other up. It is a place where Flater said, “I can fail forward to success, while having cheerleaders tell me I can do it, all while they lead by example.” That is exactly the goal of this year’s International Women’s Day as www.internationalwomensday.com claims that “together we can work collectively to impact positive change.”

International Women’s Day invites you to show the world your embrace by striking a self-hug pose to show solidarity. Share your #EmbraceEquity image across social media using #IWD2023 #EmbraceEquity.

Want to learn more about the culture, mission and benefits Mary Kay offers? Check out Holly’s Highlights podcast season two episode five. Join us as Flater, our special guest, shares with us about the impact of Mary Kay in her life, her goal in helping serve and encourage other women, and how we can get involved with such supportive endeavors such as the Mary Kay Ash Foundation. Holly’s Highlights podcast is available at www.hollycurby.com and wherever you listen to podcasts including Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Pandora and even “Alexa, play Holly’s Highlights podcast season two episode five.” l

Women from Risen Life gather for a women’s retreat to encourage and build one another up. (Photo courtesy Addie Knudsen)

Audits hold government accountable

One of my core principles as an elected official is to provide transparency to the public so that you can help hold government accountable. I am a big fan of auditing our departments and programs as a vital part of that process. The Salt Lake County Council has been working closely with County Auditor Chris Harding to ensure accountability and appropriate use of your tax dollars.

The Salt Lake County Auditor plays a crucial role in ensuring transparency, accountability, and integrity in the county government. As an independent office, the auditor is responsible for conducting impartial and objective audits that provide the public with a clear understanding of the county's operations.

The auditor's primary objective is to protect taxpayer dollars from fraud, waste, and abuse by reviewing the county's internal controls, records, systems and procedures. The auditor's office evaluates the county's compliance with laws and regulations, assesses the accuracy and completeness of financial information, and identifies areas for improvement in the county's financial management practices. The auditor's office also provides recommendations to the county council and county administration to help improve the county's operations.

One of the ways the auditor's office provides transparency to the public is by publishing regular audit reports that summarize its findings and recommendations. These reports are accessible to the public and provide an in-depth analysis of the county's operations. You can find these reports at www.slco.org/auditor. The auditor's office also works closely with the county council to provide regular briefings on its audit findings and recommendations. You can find recent reports on the justice court, solid waste management, and animal services among many more.

The county council has supported the auditor's office by voting to support HB358, county auditor amendments (strengthening our independence), providing funding for additional auditor positions, and working closely with the auditor's office to ensure that its recommendations are implement-

ed.

Recently, the auditor presented findings that some of our county policies are outdated and should be modified to meet the current practices of county operations. This collaborative approach is beneficial to make sure we have an efficient delivery of services.

I believe one of the most important

roles for an elected official is acting as a steward of your tax dollars. Residents entrust us to judiciously use funds to perform essential functions for the community, and as such residents expect that every dollar spent by the government will be carefully scrutinized. Auditing helps us ensure that the county's operations are managed effectively and efficiently. l

Aimee Winder Newton Salt Lake County Councilwoman| District 3

Know Your Lemons highlights 12 symptoms of breast cancer to help educate

Women have been taught to check for lumps when screening for breast cancer, but what most people don’t know is there are 12 symptoms that could be an indicator of breast cancer.

Utah resident Corrine Ellsworth-Beaumont, MFA, Ph.D., has made it her mission to educate women and girls to help them be informed when it comes to breast health. She created the nonprofit Know Your Lemons to help save lives and educate women around the world.

“People don’t know how to have the conversation,” she said. “We don’t talk about breasts and no one’s really challenged that. As we’re implementing the program in schools, we talk about every part of the body except breasts and there’s this implicit message that there’s nothing to know.”

Ellsworth-Beaumont said everyone should graduate from high school knowing the 12 signs of breast cancer that include skin sores, orange-peel skin, a sunken nipple or a dimple in the breast.

When a close friend died from breast cancer, Ellsworth-Beaumont was working as a professor in a business school in London. After her friend’s death, she left her job and put all her efforts into the Know Your Lemons nonprofit. She was stunned at the lack of

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@davisjournal.com

information about breast health, even in the medical community.

Her goal is to educate women in a way to help them get familiar with their own breasts. That includes understanding breast anatomy like milk ducts and lymph nodes and what a cancerous lump feels like. It’s often hard, like a lemon seed, and doesn’t move.

“We don’t talk about breast anatomy or how breasts change during menstrual cycles,” Ellsworth-Beaumont said. “When we’re told to self-exam and feel for a lump, we’re given no information about anatomy, we don’t understand about breast cycles, you don’t know what that lump feels like.”

She worries misinformation about breast screening will discourage women from scheduling mammograms and doing self-exams. Social media propagates the myth that mammograms are dangerous when the screening actually saves lives. Unfortunately, Utah has one of the lowest screen rates in the country, ranked 50 out of 52 (including Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico).

The Know Your Lemons main image details the 12 signs of breast cancer, displayed on lemons. She wants to get the poster and postcards in as many doctors’ offices,

schools and women’s health centers as possible.

Because the image is universally understood across languages and cultures, Ellsworth-Beaumont has partnered with health care systems around the world to bring the

information to nearly 60 countries. She often has to explain that talking about breast health is not the same as sex education, or that high school girls are not too young for the information.

“Breasts are not sexual organs. Breasts

Taylorsville has a youth football program wanting to grow

Youth football in Taylorsville participates in the Ute Conference. Warrior teams advanced to championship games in two divisions last season and the league hopes to grow and give more kids the opportunity to play.

“We have six teams for kids to play on,” Taylorsville team communication manager Sharmaine Kawaauhau said. “We have had to combine my son's team with another age group because we have not had enough players.”

Ute Conference is the largest youth football league in the country. Currently, they boast 41 individual districts, including Taylorsville. Each district fields teams in six age groups, from age 7 to high school freshmen.

Teams in Taylorsville have seen a decline in the number of players in recent years.

“The economics of the city have made things difficult. A lot of people cannot afford the extracurricular activities for their kids,” Kawaauhau said. “Football is not a cheap sport to play.”

This season the cost for each player could be over $300.

“The cost of equipment and stuff keeps going up. We have payment plans and we as a league have looked into fundraisers and have contacted hundreds of businesses looking for sponsorship,” she said. “We are reaching out

By Greg James | g.james@mycityjournals.com

to the Taylorsville businesses. Even if they picked up half a fee, that would help. It is a huge thing for families especially if they have more than one player.”

The league is taking early sign-ups and begins practice and play at the end of July.

The Mity Mite team last year played in the Badger Bowl championship game and lost to East 24-13. They defeated Northridge 2614 in the tournament quarterfinals. The Gridiron team traveled to Mesquite, Nevada and participated in a postseason tournament.

The league has also helped bridge the gap to the high school team. The relationship has grown to be important for the league and the high school team.

League players are invited to participate in training sessions with the high school players and coaches during the preseason, and older kids train with the team and participate in off-season conditioning and weight training. The school has also implemented a Friday Night Lights program for the younger players. The kids are invited to participate in pregame warmups, team dinners, and even do the run out for the home high school games. Any player from Ute Conference that wears their uniform to the high school game gets in free.

“There are many talented football players in Taylorsville. We have seen that many are

leaving the area and going to another school,” Kawaauhau said. “In our district, we have kids that have never played a single down. Our coaches learn how to work with these kids.”

Coaches receive training from the high school team and Ute Conference. They are trained in safety as well as game logistics. This season the league has implemented CPR training and emergency plans.

“We want these kids to be role models,” Kawaauhau said. “All of the coaches and board members are volunteers. We do it because we want what is best for these kids of Taylorsville. Our actions and decisions as adults can shape our youth. We need to believe in them until they start believing in themselves.” l

Taylorsville’s Ute Conference Mity Mite team advanced to the Badger Bowl championship game last season. (Photo courtesy of Sharmaine Kawaauhau)

This life-saving image, created by Utah resident and Know Your Lemons founder/CEO Corrine Ellsworth-Beaumont, has educated women around the world and saved countless lives from breast cancer. (Photo courtesy of Know Your Lemons)

reproduce nothing but we have linked those two things so concretely that people don’t think breast health is different from sexual health,” she said.

She’s heard numerous stories from women who saw the lemon images and recognized their own breast cancer symptoms. Young women, especially, have a hard time convincing their doctors to screen for cancer, thinking they’re not old enough for breast cancer. The image empowers women to be their own advocates and not back down.

The Know Your Lemons app is a breast health and period tracker but unlike other period tracking apps, this one doesn’t collect data. The app was funded by donations and grants and was named the best

women’s health app in the world from The Webby Awards. For more information, visit KnowYourLemons.org.

The foundation is also raising money to fund a $300,000 mammogram machine in the Bahamas by raffling a trip to the Bahamas. Visit the website for more information.

“It’s humbling to know I can help someone change their story,” said Ellsworth-Beaumont. “I don’t think it sinks most of the time, but once in a while I get a moment where I pause and reflect on what’s happening and that keeps me going. So many women have reached out saying the poster or the app helped them recognize the symptoms.”l

138 Years of TRUST

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 six generations of history serving Utah families, Larkin Mortuary remains locally owned and family managed

Our quality reputation is everything to our business and we have established ourselves in the local community as a qualified and trusted resource. We are not a national franchise and are not controlled by any outside influences. Larkin can meet any need by providing traditional 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 firsthand knowledge of the communities we serve. With 138 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 qualified resource to you is our core mission. Larkin’s vertically integrated services provide a premier floral shop, monument, urn and vault manufacturing facilities, and beautiful memorial meeting and luncheon facilities. These full range of services offer individuals and families the flexibility to design a custom memorial tribute for their loved one. Multilingual staff honor and facilitate important traditions of many cultures. Larkin can also assist with legal transactions and documentation for timely and efficient transfers to other countries.

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

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

The family and staff 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 visit www.larkinmortuary.com or call (801) 363-5781 for an appointment with an experienced funeral director.

“When you’re depressed you’re always fighting to live… to survive the next day. NeuroStar made such a difference… all of a sudden I felt empowered, I felt strong, I felt like I wasn’t a victim anymore.” ~DEBBIE

When I was a kid, I worried about four things: my Halloween candy being stolen by siblings, missing a spelling word on a test, accidentally eating mayonnaise and nuclear war. In that order.

While those four things were the main cause of concern, I also worried about rainy days because stupid boys would throw earthworms down my shirt. I worried about wearing dresses to school because stupid boys would look up my skirt.

I worried about running out of books to read because I couldn’t imagine that apocalyptic scenario. I worried about earthquakes because we were constantly told The Big One would happen when we least suspected.

I guess I worried a lot, but I’m pretty sure our state legislators at the time didn’t give a rat’s behind about my mental health. In fact, children in the 1970s weren’t really considered people until they had a job and started paying taxes.

But now, our illustrious leaders say they are really concerned about the mental health of Utah’s youth, but only in select situations. There is talk to ban social media for kids under 16 because of the harmful impact it has on their mental wellness.

However, representatives don’t seem

A Mental Health Day

Peri Kinder Life and Laughter

society. Even though teens with access to these treatments have demonstrated better mental health.

This is a “problem” our leaders don’t have to “solve” because, hear me out, it isn’t a “problem.”

On a related note, I found it interesting Utah will still permit cisgender female teens to get breast implants. Because Utah.

Do you know what else affects a child’s mental health? The fear they’ll be shot at school. The fear that climate change will eliminate elephants and polar bears. The fear their overworked teachers will quit because public money has been siphoned off to private and home schools.

I won’t clump all our elected officials into this bunch of wackadoodles because there are many people working to help trans youth, create sensible gun laws and reduce the load of our poor public school teachers who get beat up each year during the legislative session.

milla introduced a bill that would legalize psilocybin in Utah under strict controls. Because this is Utah, this mushroom therapy bill will probably go down in hallucinogenic flames, but hopefully it gets the conversation started.

Another way to help our youth develop better mental health? Stop passing harmful bills. Start passing bills that help our children and grandchildren deal with the everyday pressures of living in this world that feels like it’s gone bananas.

I agree social media causes great harm to our teens through cyberbullying, shaming and creating a comparison mindset. But there are additional issues we could tackle to help our children sleep better at night.

concerned about the mental health of transgender youth since our state leaders banned gender-affirming care for minors. Even though suicide rates skyrocket for trans youth who often feel stigmatized in

I vote that each educator be given a 10-day trip to Hawaii, paid for by the record-breaking state liquor sales. Of which they’ve heartily contributed, I’m sure.

Speaking of addressing mental health, Senate Minority Leader Luz Esca -

I never had to worry about cyberbullying as a kid, although actual physical bullying was definitely a thing. I worried about being pushed off the monkey bars onto the hard concrete. I worried about kids laughing at my homemade polyester pantsuits.

What I worry about now is how to create an inclusive and safe environment for our youth. I also still worry about accidentally eating mayonnaise, and nuclear war. In that order. l