May 2021 | Vol. 8 Iss. 05
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TAYLORSVILLE RESTAURANT OWNER FINALLY BACK WITH HIS WIFE, YOUNG SON By Carl Fauver | c.fauver@mycityjournals.com
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Taylorsville restaurateur Winsten Asif was recently reunited with his wife and son, after nearly seven years apart. (Carl Fauver/City Journals)
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t’s a long way from Karachi, Pakistan, to Taylorsville, more than a third of the way around the earth, in fact (7,900 miles). But still, it shouldn’t take more than 6 1/2 years to bridge that gap. Unfortunately, however, that’s how long it took Taylorsville restaurant owner Winsten Asif, 31, to reunite with his wife, Sitara, 25, and son Katzar, 8. Bureaucratic red tape kept the small family 11 time zones apart, until they finally received some assistance from a pair of Utah elected officials. State Sen. and Taylorsville Economic and Community Development Director Wayne Harper pitched in locally, while U.S. Sen. Mitt Romney’s office did the same, back in Washington, D.C. Finally, on March 22, three weeks after their 10th wedding anniversary, Asif greeted his wife and son at the Salt Lake City International Airport, at the end of their 28-hour, three-stop flight. “It was so emotional to finally see them and hug them again,” he said. “We were married on March 3, 2011, and Katzar was born on December 29, 2012. I left for America before he was 2 years old (August 11, 2014). They were supposed to be able to follow me a few months later. But it ended up being nearly seven years.” Without wanting to go into much detail, Asif admitted religious persecution was one of the primary reasons why he was eager to get his family safely out of his home country. More than 200 million Pakistanis (more than 90%) are Muslim. But Winsten and Sitara were each born and raised members of The
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Across the entire country, they were among only about 4,000 members of the faith. “My parents converted to the LDS faith, but there were very few of us in Pakistan,” Asif said. “We are too small to have wards and stakes over there. And we were not able to marry in a temple. My wife and I are now talking about having a temple marriage here for Christmas.” After working in a Pakistani restaurant cooking pizza, Asif knew he wanted to own an eatery here. He learned how to cook Greek cuisine after arriving in the United States and opened his Greek House restaurant (2654 West 4700 South) last summer. Taylorsville Mayor Kristie Overson attended the Aug. 26 ribbon cutting. “It is just such a heartwarming story (Asif reuniting with his wife and son),” Overson said. “I am so glad [Wayne Harper] was able to get involved and help in some small way. I think it shows how much Taylorsville cares about our businesses. Personal relationships with are business community members are everything. I’m just so pleased with the happy ending to their story.” Asif is now working to assist his siblings in their effort to immigrate to the United States. He has no relatives from his side of the family in Utah now. However, his wife’s grandmother, mother, uncle and aunt are now in the state. Soon after arriving, young Katzar had to receive his immunization shots in order to enroll at his new West Valley EleContinued page 5
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SLCC preps for future earthquake By Hannah LaFond | h.lafond@mycityjournals.com
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ince March 2020, when the Salt Lake area experienced a 5.7 magnitude earthquake, many have taken earthquake preparedness more seriously. According to Emergency Manager Lisa Schwartz, this is the case at Salt Lake Community College. On April 15, students and faculty at SLCC participated in Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drills, a yearly earthquake drill with over 25 million participants from schools, businesses, organizations and households. Many other local schools participated, including Arcadia Elementary, John C. Fremont Elementary and Olympus Junior High. During the event, participants are asked to “Drop, Cover, and Hold On,” meaning they need to drop to the ground, cover their head and necks with their arms, seek shelter under something sturdy and stay under that shelter until the drill is over. In the event of an actual earthquake, you’d stay under shelter until the shaking stops. The drill helps students and faculty learn how to behave if an earthquake did come, and it allows the Campus Emergency Response Team to practice their procedures. This is especially important because the team can find any flaws in their system before there is an actual emergency. For example, on April 15, a comms test operated during the drill at SLCC found that some of the radios weren’t working correctly. Thanks to the test, they were able to issue new radios so they won’t have the same problems in the future. But, for the most part, the drill went smoothly. Mark Brown, the Building Marshal at SLCC’s airport campus, said of the event, that “All of the Airport Faculty and Staff Participated. All participants took the drill seriously, were cooperative and compliant with safety measures.”
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Students on SLCC campus in the rain. (Photo courtesy SLCC)
Earthquake preparedness is especially important in Utah because of the number of faults, particularly along the Wasatch Front. Because of this, there’s likely to be a big earthquake in the future. Schwartz said she’d seen an overall rededication to earthquake preparedness since the March 2020 quake. She said she’s particularly noticed this shift in leadership and their eagerness to get back to in-person training as soon as it’s safe with COVID-19 precautions. Schwartz also said she’d seen the commitment to safety increase more generally. “I think many in Utah, particularly in Salt Lake and Davis County, have been affected by the earthquake enough to realize what preparedness should really look like given that a much larger quake is expected at any time,” she said. This past year has been particularly challenging for SLCC’s Emergency Team.
Not only have they had their regular training to worry about, but they’ve also encountered a building fire at their main campus, a windstorm, the March earthquake. On top of these events, they’ve been orchestrating COVID-19 safety precautions. “As busy as we are with one type of incident, it has not allowed us to neglect the others,” Schwartz said. “We train as emergency managers for all hazards, but not many of us foresaw that we would face a few at the same time or in close proximity. I am optimistic, however, in our ability to perform well, as I have seen the incredible capabilities of our team here at SLCC as we have persevered, and I would have no doubt in the capability of my colleagues as they do the same.” The goal of events like the Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drills is to allow participants to mentally and physically prepare themselves for an emergency. As the emergency
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manager, Schwartz is responsible for preparing SLCC students and faculty for an array of possible emergencies. One of her goals is to provide proper training without causing too much anxiety around a potential crisis. “We try to balance the need for awareness with the risk of anxiety,” Schwartz said. “It is important to note that if we do not allow ourselves to think about how we would respond in frightening situations, we are depriving our body and mind of the opportunity to prepare itself. Having thought about and physically acting out how we would respond allows the body to prepare for action physiologically as well as letting our minds go there as well but within a safe environment, so to speak. If we do not allow ourselves to think about the ‘what ifs,’ then we are certain to find ourselves in a situation where we at the minimum shut down and freeze up or at best, delay our response.” l
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Continued from front page mentary School. “I like it here,” the 8-year-old said. “The school is like the one I was in at home.” For now, Katzar said he most enjoys drawing in school. But he also hopes to someday join the United States military. His mother, meantime, has now joined her husband working at the Greek House. But Sitara is also considering taking some college courses. When asked whether they plan to have more children in Utah, Winsten said “Yes, I want 4 or 5.” After a pause and a sideways glance, Sitara said “maybe two more.” Regardless of what number they land on,
both say they are thrilled to finally have their lives rejoined in Utah. And, for his part, Harper is also happy for them. “After talking to Asif and learning about the situation with his wife and son, I reached out to both [Sen. Mike Lee’s and Romney’s] offices,” Harper said. “Romney’s office really took the ball and ran with it. Then just recently, I stopped in to pick up some food at the restaurant, and Winsten jumped up to say ‘I want you to meet my wife and son.’ He had such a big smile, and I am so happy for them.” “When I first left Pakistan, people told me it would be a quick process to get my wife and son over here,” Asif said. “Of course, that was not true. But I am happy we are together now. I know this is a good land of opportunity, but you have to work for it.” l
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May 2021 | Page 5
Local mountain bike team builds the trails it needs to train By Greg James | g.james@mycityjournals.com
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ountain biking team riders usually don’t spend time digging and shoveling dirt. But they do if they want trails to train on. The West Granite Composite Mountain Biking Team has permission to build trails around Lodestone Park, 6252 W. 6200 South, to help them become better at their sport. May 1 is their big day. “It is our dig-day,” composite head coach Rochelle Bartschi said. “The big open area to the west of the tennis courts will become a trail system. We approached the county and presented a plan.” Lodestone Park has been the site the team uses to practice its skills training. They can practice turning, braking and small sprints. “Those are great beginner skills, but they are even better when you can practice on a trail system,” Bartschi said. There will be a loop on the inside of the paved trails around the park. On the hill, there will be three trails: a beginner with three switchbacks, a steeper trail with tight switchbacks, and then another with rocks for obstacles. “We can practice on these trails and other teams can come. We see it as an opportunity for kids with bikes to get out and learn before they get on a mountain,” Bartschi said. The Utah High School Mountain Bike League is committed to providing trail maintenance, teaching etiquette, and protecting natural resources. By participating in this project they earn more team opportunities. “The kids learn how to maintain trails so then they
“It will make the community better,” Bartschi said. “These trails will help make the open area just a little bit better.” The idea came about in summer 2020. In February, they presented the plan to Salt Lake County and it was approved in March. The invitation to help is extended to all of those that want to show up. Registration for the team opened on April 1. It is open to all junior high and high school students. The West Granite team includes all students that feed into Kearns, Hunter, Granger and Cyprus high schools including junior high students. It is open to girls and boys and all skill levels. Last season the team had 17 registered riders and they have already passed that milestone including more girls than were on the team all last year. “We have a large group from Cyprus this year and we are always hoping for more. We will train even the less experienced. Some of our coaches are beginners, too. I think we have 22 coaches that want to help out. With COVID last season it was hard. We were the only league in the country that completed a season,” Bartschi said. “Every single kid improved their time last season.” The West Granite team won a service award last year. “Yes, I am super pleased with how well they improved in racing and at practice, but they also stepped up and set themselves apart from the other teams. They cheered for even the last finishers and always stayed to help clean up after races. They are amazing kids,” Bartschi said. The team can be reached on Instagram @wgcmtb or on their website www.wgcmtb.org/. l
The West Granite Composite Mountain Biking team trains at Lodestone Park. They have permission to add practice trails in the surrounding area that will help them improve. (Photo courtesy of West Granite Composite)
will be more respectful to trails and our environment. There will be other teams and coaches there to help us on May 1 and we have some equipment coming to help us out,” Bartschi said. Lots of shovels, rakes and manual labor will mark out the nearly two miles of trails at the park.
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Veteran attorney Christopher Bown named new Taylorsville judge By Carl Fauver | c.fauver@mycityjournals.com
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s Taylorsville rapidly approaches its 25th anniversary as an incorporated city (July 1), the community has still had only one Justice Court judge, ever. But after a nearly nine-month search, a second one has finally been found. And the newcomer has every hope and intention of remaining the city’s judge for the next 25 years. “I am excited to start this new chapter of my life,” said new Justice Court judge Christopher Bown. “[Becoming a judge] has been my goal for many years. It’s a job I think you can do until you hit mandatory retirement age. I am 48 now, so if my math is right, I would be here for the [Taylorsville City] 50th anniversary (in 2046), at age 73.” In other words, Bown is excited about his new post, and has no plans to use it as a stepping stone to anything else. Bown was unanimously approved for the $150,000 per year job by the Taylorsville City Council during its April 7 meeting. “I have read through your [application] material, and it is very clean,” Councilman Ernest Burgess said after the vote. “You are very attentive to your people. I know the mayor has taken her time [in reaching her recommendation], and we are excited to welcome you aboard.” “We are really excited to welcome him to Taylorsville,” Council Vice Chair Anna Barbieri added. “He will be a great addition.” Bown replaces the Honorable Michael Wei Kwan in the Taylorsville court, following his unexpected death last July. Kwan, 58, died at home of natural causes. His passing was not coronavirus-related. Kwan had been the city’s justice court judge since 1998. “I never thought I would have to appoint a judge, and the responsibility weighed heavily on me,” Mayor Kristie Overson said. “It was a big decision. I took full advantage of the 30 days I had to make the choice, methodically going through all of the [applicants’] materials. I am absolutely confident I chose the most qualified person.” The mayor cited Bown’s 17,000 hours of courtroom experience—for both the prosecution and defense—as a key factor in her decision. Overson was also impressed by how well known the new judge already is within the city’s court system. “He has everything we need,” she said. Most recently, Bown has been a partner in Stowell, Crayk and Bown PLLC, the law firm contracted to provide court-appointed legal council to Taylorsville Justice Court defendants who are unable to retain their own attorney. Douglas Stowell has filled the appointed council role primarily. However, Bown has filled in a few times, arguing cases before the man he’s now replacing on the bench. “I did appear before Judge Kwan several times, and I learned some things from him,”
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New judge Christopher Bown is flanked by his wife, Taylorsville Mayor Kristie Overson and four members of the city council. (Taylorsville City)
Bown said. “One thing I always enjoyed with him was his ability to mentor young attorneys who appeared before him. He wanted to help them succeed. Judge Kwan also really cared about the [defendants] who appeared before him. He really listened to them.” Since being named the new judge, Bown has been divesting himself of his partnership in Stowell, Crayk and Bown. His first day as Taylorsville Justice Court Judge was May 1. After some required training, he expects to begin hearing his first cases the week of May 24. “Whether people are happy after appearing in my court is not my priority or goal,” Bown said. “But I want them to feel they’ve been listened to. One of my top priorities is to make sure they feel they have been heard.” One of Bown’s advantages during the hiring process was his ability to clearly understand defendants before him, in two different languages. “I served a [Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints] mission in Bogota, Columbia, from 1992 to ‘94,” he said. “That’s where I learned to speak Spanish fluently. I was there when Pablo Escobar was taken out.” The infamous drug lord Escobar was shot and killed by Colombian police on December 2, 1993 in Medellin, 250 miles northwest of Bogota. His drug empire made him one of the richest men in to world, with an estimated worth of $30 billion.
Bown was barely two years out of high school when Escobar’s death made international headlines. The 1991 Hillcrest High School graduate said, “There’s been some talk about a (30th high school) reunion this summer, but nothing is official yet.” After returning from Columbia, Bown earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from BYU in 1996, finishing in just three years. From there it was on to the University of Utah Law School. Despite attending the two NCAA athletic rivals, the new judge says his loyalties were never split. “I grew up a University of Utah fan and remained loyal during my BYU days,” he said. “I attended BYU because they gave me a full-ride Presidential Scholarship. I wore blue to their games, except when they played Utah. Then I wore red and took a lot of grief from my friends.” Before starting law school, Bown married his wife, Nicole, on February 12, 1998. The couple have three children. Daughter Alexandria is a finance major at Southern Utah University. Son Will is a junior at Riverton High School, where he is a member of the Silverwolves’ soccer team. And son James, 11, is a North Star Academy fifth grader who also plays soccer. When not wearing his black robe, the judge says you are likely to find him and his family outdoors.
New Taylorsville judge Christopher Bown is scheduled to begin hearing cases later this month. (Taylorsville City)
“We love to hike, and we boat at Lake Powell whenever we can,” he said. “We just enjoy being outside.” Bown had four different interviews before finally being chosen Taylorsville Judicial Court Judge. He said the process began in January. But now, if the new judge remains in the post for the 25-plus years he anticipates, he’ll never have to interview for another job again. Instead of being judged by potential employers on the other side of a desk, Bown will instead be the one doing the judging. l
May 2021 | Page 7
What’s your legacy?
State Sen. Mayne shows city elected officials the new $4.1 billion SLC airport By Carl Fauver | c.fauver@mycityjournals.com
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aylorsville Mayor Kristie Overson and members of the city council only thought they were touring the biggest and most expensive construction project they would see up close and personal this spring, when they walked through the new $39 million MidValley Performing Arts Center in late March. Little did they know, just two weeks later they would visit something a hundred times more expensive—and more than 10 times larger (so far, and still growing)—courtesy of Utah State Sen. Karen Mayne. As a member of the Airport Advisory Board, Mayne arranged for the elected officials in her senate district to tour the new $4.1 billion Salt Lake City International Airport. “I am senator over (at least parts of) Taylorsville, West Valley City and Kearns, so, I wanted to make sure elected officials from those cities got to see the new airport,” Mayne said. “Utah is booming, and this is a crown jewel for us to continue to fulfill our financial destiny.” About 15 elected officials from the cities of West Valley and Taylorsville, along with the metro township of Kearns, spent more than two hours at the spacious new airport, April 12. Joining Overson from the Taylorsville City Council were Dan Armstrong, Anna Barbieri, Ernest Burgess, Meredith Harker and a couple of their spouses. “It was my first time out to the new airport, and it was absolutely amazing,” Harker said. “It’s so big, modern and beautiful. The views of the Wasatch mountains through the huge windows are breathtaking. And it was built with no local or state taxpayer dollars. Just incredible.” Indeed, if you speak to anyone affiliated with the new airport, that is the first fact they are anxious to share. Some federal funding has gone into the new Salt Lake City International Airport but nothing directly from Salt Lake or Utah tax revenues. Mayne also touted that impressive fact to state lawmakers during this year’s session in her Senate Joint Resolution 10.
“S.J.R 10 - Commemorating the New Salt Lake City Airport” reads, in part: • WHEREAS, the new…airport is the first new hub airport built in the United States in the 21st Century; and • WHEREAS, no local tax dollars are being spent… • NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah commemorates the opening of the first phases… Mayne is the only state lawmaker serving on the 11-member Airport Advisory Board. She was originally appointed to a four-year term in January 2017 and just renewed in the post earlier this year. “I thought my legislative experience and my work promoting Utah business made me a good candidate [for the board],” she said. “For one thing, I wanted to look out for the interests of Utah workers. They’ve had as many as 1,700 workers a day on site. I wanted to make sure as many local employees and local businesses as possible were being hired.” The west ends of Concourses A and B opened last fall. Between the two, they are nearly a million square feet. Now that airport traffic has shifted to those new concourses, the old terminal has been completely demolished and work is continuing on the east ends of the concourses, where the old terminals used to stand. City Councilman Dan Armstrong was one of the Taylorsville elected officials who also took is wife on the airport tour. “She really liked it, and now she can’t wait until we go somewhere and actually use the airport,” Armstrong said. “It’s pretty grandiose. Such a beautiful building and laid out in a very efficient manner. I have been in a lot of airports, and this one compares with the nicest I have seen. It’s very open and spacious.” That’s a primary reason why talk of replacing the old airport began as early as the 1990s, because more space was desperately needed. “The original airport was built to accom-
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Artwork in this main corridor at the new Salt Lake City International Airport has earned it the name, “The Canyon.” (Meredith Harker)
Taylorsville City Journal
Taylorsville State Sen. Karen Mayne (R) recently hosted several of the city’s elected officials on a tour of the new Salt Lake City International Airport. Joining the senator to see the $4.1 billion project were (L-R): Councilman Ernest Burgess, Council Vice Chair Anna Barbieri, Mayor Kristie Overson, Councilman Dan Armstrong and past Council Chair Meredith Harker. (Photo courtesy Meredith Harker)
modate 10 million passengers per year, but we had far exceeded that,” airport spokeswoman Nancy Volmer said. “Before the pandemic hit, we had 27 million passengers through the airport in 2019. In fact, before March 2020, the airport had 70 consecutive months with growth in passenger numbers. The new airport is being built to accommodate 34 million passengers per year.”
The new terminal also features 50-foot, floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the Wasatch mountains. “When we originally surveyed people about what they wanted in the new airport, many said they wanted the beauty of Utah to come through,” Volmer said. “So, designers included the large windows and other prominent artistic features. One main corridor is
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called ‘The Canyon’ because that’s what it looks like.” A new 5-story, 3,600-stall parking garage has also now opened at the Salt Lake City International Airport. And traffic patterns have been shifted going in and out of the airport as well. “We advise anyone coming out to download the official ‘SLC International Airport’
app for maps, flight schedules and airport updates,” Volmer said. “It will help you find information regarding gates, restaurants and restrooms. We also suggest people arrive at the airport two hours early. It’s much bigger now and takes longer to get around.” Airport officials are proud of a couple of other things. Their literature brags, travelers are never more than 50 yards away from a restroom. Also, they are requiring restaurant operators to not charge any more for their meals at the airport than they do at their other Utah restaurants. “I think it’s great they are requiring restaurants to charge their same ‘street’ prices,” Councilwoman Harker added. “No more price gouging.” It will now be more than three years until more construction is completed at the airport. By then, airport officials expect pre-coronavirus traveler numbers to be back, making the need for additional space that much more acute. The airport master plan even includes space for a third concourse, although that is believed to be many years down the road. The Salt Lake City International Airport is the 23rd busiest in North America and the 85th busiest worldwide. More than 340 flights depart the airport daily to 95 nonstop destinations. The First Phase construction now completed features 67 travel gates, 49 elevators, 29 escalators, 18 moving walkways and 7 miles of baggage system conveyor belts. l
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May 2021 | Page 9
Past and current elected officials tour the new Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center By Carl Fauver | c.fauver@mycityjournals.com
W 2021 EVENING S ERIES Amphitheater Parking: 495 East 5300 South Ticket Info: 801-264-2614 or www.murray.utah.gov June 4 ................................. Les Miserables, Movie Sing-Along June 5 ................................................... Murray Concert Band June 17-19, 21-23 ........................ Disney's The Little Mermaid June 26 ...................................................... Murray Symphony
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June 2 ............................................. Magic Show, Paul Brewer June 9 ........................................... Scales & Tails Animal Show June 16 ................................................................ Mad Science June 23 .......................................... DJ Juggling & Magic Show June 30 ......................................... Woody & Jessie, Characters
CHILDREN MATINEE SERIES * Thursday at 2 p.m. in Murray Park Pavilion #5, FREE
June 3 - Just Jumpin' .............................................. Jump Rope June 10 - Spiderman ...................................... Karate & Photos June 17 - Ballet Folklorico ................................... Las Americas June 24 - Ballet Center Utah, Inc .......................... Ballet Dance
FAMILY NIGHT S ERI ES Bring the Whole Family Young and Old! The 2nd Monday of every month at 7 p.m., FREE Murray Senior Recreation Center (#10 E 6150 S – 1/2 block west of State) June 14 – Pick'ee Out the Stingers .................. Bluegrass Music
STOP IN FOR STORIES * Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday at 11 a.m. in Murray Park White Gazebo, FREE Murray City Library sponsored Storytelling * Location may change This program has received funding support from residents of Salt Lake County, SL County Zoo, Arts and Parks (ZAP), Utah Division of Arts and Museums, and Museums & National Endowment for the Arts.
Page 10 | May 2021
hat began with a cold, winter announcement in December 2016 is now finally ready to become reality, in the summertime warmth 4 1/2 years later. Taylorsville City and Salt Lake County each had different mayors when the partnership was originally announced for the construction of the $39 million, 70,000-squarefoot Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center. After then-Mayors Ben McAdams and Larry Johnson made the joint announcement, more than two years were spent designing the state-of-the-art facility. Another cold, outdoor ceremony followed—five days before Christmas 2018— when ground was formally broken on the new facility. Since then, lots of equipment, hardhats and dust. COVID-19 delays pushed the planned December 2020 opening of the arts center back half a year. But now that its unveiling is finally imminent, various select groups are getting an early peek at it. A Salt Lake County contingent recently led Taylorsville elected officials, past and present, on a tour of the virtually-completed Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center. Mayor Kristie Overson wanted it to be an all-inclusive celebration. “I invited every current and former Taylorsville mayor and city council member to join the tour, because they all played a role, in some way or another, leading to this project being completed,” she said. “This will be such a wonderful addition to our community. I wanted them all to have the chance to see it.” Among the attendees were three original city council members: Jim Dunnigan, Janice Auger (Rasmussen) and Keith Sorensen. They were elected back in the fall of 1995— from a massive pool of 68 city council candidates—months before the city officially incorporated, July 1, 1996. “I was so pleased Mayor Overson invited all of us on the tour—and she was very thorough,” Auger said. “When I didn’t promptly respond to the initial invite, she followed up two or three days later with a personal phone call to make sure I had received it. I thought that was so nice.” In those early days, when the Taylorsville offices were in a strip mall next to the former Reams store on 4700 South, Auger and Dunnigan led the group that found and purchased the site where city hall, and now the arts center, are located. “Janice and I negotiated the price: $4 million for 20 acres,” Dunnigan said. But, Auger adds, there was more to it than simply writing a check. “[The city] had saved enough money, so we were able to make the purchase without financing it,” she said. “But before the Namba family would sell, we also had to agree to let their grandmother live out her days on
Current and former Taylorsville elected officials enjoyed a recent tour of the new Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center. (Taylorsville City)
the property. I knew the family personally, so that helped. They had run a produce farm and greenhouse here, where I had bought plants over the years. The grandma did remain on the property and continued to tend her personal garden, into her 90s.” Auger also recalled, city hall was not the first structure Taylorsville officials had constructed on the property. Instead, it was what is now Unified Fire Authority Station 118, directly west of city hall. Over the years, the city council has been approached by groups seeking to develop the property south of city hall where the arts center is now, and west of it, where the new Centennial Plaza is being created. But nothing appealed enough to elected officials until they successfully lobbied Salt Lake County to locate their planned facility there. Former City Councilman Brad Christopherson also attended the performing arts center tour. He’s among those who’s pleased the city waited for the right opportunity. “It’s an absolutely beautiful facility, not the same size but certainly the same quality as the (Salt Lake County-operated George S. and Dolores Dore) Eccles Theater, downtown,” he said. “I’ve been driving by to keep an eye on the construction. I could not be more thrilled. What a wonderful addition to the city.” The Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center features one 400-seat theater, a 200-seat “studio” theater, plenty of rehearsal and dressing room space and something called the Centennial Room. “One entire wall [in the Centennial Room] is mirrors, so practicing performers can see themselves,” current City Council Vice Chair Anna Barbieri said. “The room can also be used as a big conference room or to host a large dinner. I really love how versatile the entire building is. It will be huge for commerce.” At press time, Salt Lake County officials had not yet announced the date for the ceremonial ribbon cutting, although city officials all believe it will be sometime later in May. It’s also not yet clear what will be the first production staged in either of the new the-
aters. However, Taylorsville Arts Council members do know when their groups will first put the Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center to use. “The four-woman stage production ‘Winter Wonderettes’ will be performed Dec. 2–4 in the arts center small theater, called Studio 5400,” Arts Council Co-chair Howard Wilson said. “Then, the Taylorsville Arts Council’s first-ever performance in the large theater will be ‘Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,’ Jan. 31 through Feb. 5, 2022.” Current City Councilman Ernest Burgess also attended the tour and said he can’t wait. “I am just so impressed with how [the designers] have thought of everything,” he said. “Of course, the theaters are wonderful, but so are the practice rooms. The orchestra pit can be lowered several feet or remain up to enlarge the stage. The lighting and acoustics are great. It is just going to be a beautiful asset.” Original city councilman and now Utah House Rep. Jim Dunnigan also mentioned two other things that please him. “I love that the county will operate its box office full time, so people can buy tickets for events at any county facility inside the new arts center,” he said. “And the other thing I am excited about, I am 6-foot-5 and often don’t have enough leg room. So, I sat in one of the main theater seats to check it. My knees did not hit the seat in front of me! That was really nice.” Taylorsville officials had hoped their Centennial Plaza, west of the new arts center, would also be completed for the new facility’s ribbon cutting. But now they say it will likely be the end of the summer before their $750,000 outdoor amphitheater and landscaping will be completed. By then, presumably, members of the general public will have had their own opportunity to peek inside the new Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center and perhaps even to have attended a performance. l
Taylorsville City Journal
Is Granite School District raising my taxes?
NO
Here’s why your tax notice looks that way:
• When voters approved the 2017 Granite Bond, the tal levy when bond payments began to decrease. • •
but your tax rate as charged by Granite will stay the same.
THERE IS NO NET TAX INCREASE TO YOU Visit gsdfuture.org for updates on current building projects TaylorsvilleJ ournal.com
May 2021 | Page 11
WE OUR Arcadia Elementary
BRIGGS, CAROLYN BUNK, KRISTIN R BURROWS, ROBERT L DANIELSON, MICHELLE DAVIS, MCCALL A DEE, JILL GODFREY, KATHY A HAYNES, MATTHEW D HUMPHERYS, CHANTEL S HUNSAKER, RONDA S HURST, KIRA M JOHNSON, CARYN D JONES, STACY LEACH, W. GLENN MACLEOD, DARIN MARTINEZ, SAMANTHA N MORSE, MATTHEW PARAS, IVETTE PARK, NIKI L POTTER, ELIZABETH S PRETTYMAN, SHELLY ROSE, BETHANI T SAWYER, AMY SPENCER, REBEKAH TURNER, LORIE WALTON, FELICIA L WILLIAMS, KAITE
Bacchus Elementary
ANDERSON, KATRINA BATES, ARIANNA G BROWN, SHERRIE CROCKETT, CHRISTINE M FARBER, ALANA R FREDLEY, TARA L HOGAN, KATHLEEN E JAMESON, ALEXANDRA J KYNASTON, MAMIE D LEISTIKO, RICHARD J MYLER, ALEASA K NIELSON, AMBER I OLAYA, EMILY A PACE, EMILY PATON-BRUNO, AHNA M PIENEZZA, WHITNI M SCOTT, CAMILLA SMITH, JOHN SPENCER, DARLA WARWOOD, LORI A WESEMANN, JULIE A
Page 12 | May 2021
Beehive Elementary
AMATANGELO, MARIANNE L BARTON, JANIS D BRITO, KAYLI A BURNINGHAM-BERRIOS, REBECCA BURNS, CAREN DIMOND, ADREE L ERICKSON, JESSE W FLORES GONZALEZ, CARMEN A HARDMAN, DEVIN M HEYREND, PHILIP HURZELER, MARSHA JAMESON, CHRISTINA A JONES, CORY D KINGSFORD, MARILEE A LEARY, DONILYN L MARSHALL, ERIKA M MERRILL, SONG Y MEYER, SHAWNA E MOORE, KATHLEEN PEARCE, SHANNA ROBERTS, JULIE STOCKDALE, ANNA C THOMAS, CAITLIN WEBB, ANNETTE
Bennion Elementary
ANDERSON, CAROL J ANDERSON, VICKI S ANDREW, LYNNETTE BAXTER, SUE BEECHER, LAUREL B BELL, TRACY BITNER, ERIN E BRYAN, MARIA A DEARDORFF, BROOKE DUTSON, ERICA FIELDS, ARMANI E GEORGE, MARY K GOLLINGER, BRANDI M HARGROVE, GEROLYNN HARWICK, JENNIFER M HUNT, ALAN JACOBS, ANGELA L JOLLEY, YAMIRA LINFORD, LORI LUKE, CHELSEA M MILLER, PAULA K OLSEN, RYAN G ORPHANAKIS, STEPHANIE PETTEY, TERRI T ROPER, AMY M RUBALCAVA, OLIVIA
SPAIN, BRANDI R WATERS, RICHARD L WHITE, CHEYENNE J WILLIAMS, BREANNE WILLIAMS, KAITE
Diamond Ridge Elementary ABRAHAM, CLARK D ALBERTSON, JAN BELTZ, VERONICA I BOUD, MEGAN CHAMBERS, MELANIE A CLAPSADL, HUNTER DAHLBERG, ADAM A ELLS, DARCIE FRAZIER, YOLANDA E GAVIN, ANGELA M GEBHARDT, CHRISTIANNA J GUYON, ELISABETH L HANSEN, CINDI H HARBAUGH, STEPHANIE HICKMAN, MEGHAN HODSDON, CHERYL A JONES, AUBREY LARSEN, MICHELLE P LAZERAS, ROSELLE E LIND, KIRSTIE N MINEER, DANELLE NAANES, KIMBERLY S NELSON, KAILIE ORTON, SPENCER S PETERSEN, KATHERINE SLOAN, DANIELLE G SONDAZ, CLAIRE E STONE, SARAH L SZYKULA, LAUREN A TELFORD, KARA E VOLPE, MARIAH D WALTERS, AMY L WESKE, CHERI WORKMAN, JULIE
Fox Hills Elementary
CRAVEN, MARCIA M GLAD, ANNALISA H JENNINGS, ELISA LONGHURST, BYRON L WRIGHT, TAMERA YATES, ANN M ARCHIBALD, ALICIA A BROOKS, NOLENE CLARK, KATIE L
COOK, JANET M DAVENPORT, KRISTINE C DAVIES, LYNDA C DONAHUE, CARLY K EVANS, RAELYN C GIFFORD, DIANNE HATCH, HEIDI N HERRERA, NICOLE S HIGLEY, MELANIE MILLER, ABBY MILLER, MARGARET MORALES, JULIA E MURRAY, LESLIE D PAYNE, DIANA R PEOPLES, TIFFANY PETERSEN, LORELEI A PLOTT, KRYSTAL RAINALDI, DEMI L SELLERS, JESSICA L SILIVA, CARA G SMITH, NATHAN G STENQUIST, NICOLE SUDBURY, KATHERINE VALENZUELA, JULIA WALKER, TONI WEST, REBECCA L YOUNG, KATE A ZIMMERMAN, LAURA A
STRADER, LEZLIE K SUYEMATSU, ASHLEY K SWANTON, TOMMASINA D TELFORD, RACHELLE VOSS, MARLA WOOLLEY, JAIME L
STAPLEY, REBECCA STEFFENSEN, SAVANNAH K WILLDEN, NICHOLE M WILLIAMS, JENNIFER E WINERITER-POST, KELSEY WOODBURY, AARON
Robert Frost Elementary
Plymouth Elementary
Fremont Elementary
BAESLER, JACOB D BANKS, LAURIE J ELLIS, TRENT D ESCHLER, ANNA L ESTRELLA, WENDY FENTON, ELISA B FICKLIN, RILEY R GRIFFITH, MARY JANE GUERNSEY, BETTINA J HARRIS, STEPHANIE J HOLMES, MEGAN L HUGIE, JENNIFER L ISOME, JOHANNA K JENKINS, PAUL N JOHNSON, JENNIFER N KELLEY, HALEY D MALDONADO, AMY MARSDEN, TAMERA L MILLER, LINDSLEY M MILLS, GARY S ROPER, MARGO SIMPSON, SARAH A SKEETE, JEANNA M SMITH, ALISON J
BABCOCK, ALAN R BAIRD, VICTORIA S BARTEN, APRIL T BIESINGER, JANALYN DARBY, CHRISTINA M EAZARSKY, HEIDI GRAUL, MEGAN E GREGORY, CAMILLE B JONES, KACI J KIESIG-NEWKIRK, KIRA LAMBOURNE, COLENE S MILLER, REBECCA MILLER, YVONNE B MILLIGAN, KAREN J MINSON, LISA MOORE, JEROD A NELSON, BRIANNE N OLSON, BROOKE M PETERSEN, JOAN PREVO, SUZETTE W SMITH, MEGAN J STANTON, NIGEL STEARMAN, LUCILLE
BATSON, DANIELLE R BENNION, CIARA K BUTTARS, SARA S CHRISTENSEN, KATI J CRAIG, CHALESE FEIL, SARA R FISHER, CINDY M GARDNER, ALLYSON GELAS, DEBRA L LEW, JEANNIE LOVETT, ELIZABETH MORFITT, KATHERINE E MORRISON, EMILY B MORTENSEN, AMBER S NIEDERMAN, ELIZABETH A OLCOTT, CHRISTINE C QUANSTROM, JESSICA A REESE, KAMRON H ROSS, AMY B
David Gourley Elementary
ANDERSEN, NICOLE BAGLEY, HOLLY M BALDRIDGE, SHAWNA BANKS, ASHLEIGH BARNHURST, SANDI BATEMAN, CINDY BECKWITH, MICKAELA D BENNETT, AMY L BROOKS, BRITNI A COLEMAN-HOUGHTON, HARPER DAVENPORT, TYLER DONALDSON, BRITTANY S ELLIS, JESSICA E ELLSWORTH, JENNIFER L ERB, TEMAIRE L FIRTH, ASHLEY FOWLER, REGI N GRIMM, CHARMAINE GUADIANA, GABRIEL HAGER, BRUCE G HALL, KYLIE S HILL, KIM M JONES, JOYCE W JORGENSEN, ALLAN D MARSH, BROOKE Z OSBORN, NANETTE C PARR, DEBORAH A RADMAN, TASHA RICH, ABIGAIL A TURNLEY, DONNA JEAN VAN ETTEN, ALEXIS B WILLIAMS, VALORIE S WIMBERLY, BRIAN J WINCHESTER, SARAH R
Rolling Meadows Elementary ANDERSON, ROBYN S BROWN, ASHLEY A BURBIDGE, SHAUNI M CANZONETTI, ANDREA R CHART, LEE DAVIS, CAROL DEVRIES, SHANAN GLOVER, TAYLOR A LANDAVERDE, RAYDEAN A
Taylorsville City Journal
LORTON, JENNIFER M MCCUISTION, PHOEBE K MCKEE, LINDSAY MENDOZA, JADE MOTZKUS, JENNIFER PEARCE, KATIE A PROBST, MALINDA S RANDALL, OREN STEVENS, KENDALL N STONE, KIMBERLEY O TURNER, JESSICA L VAN OTTEN, KAILEY WILLDEN, AMBER N WINDER, ELIZABETH WING, CONNIE C WORTHINGTON, BETHENY YATES MADRIGAL, ERIN I
Calvin Smith Elementary
AMIRKHANIAN, MARINA S ANDERTON, KATIE L BESLER, KENZEE BONTEMPO, KATIE BRYANT, LISA L CRETSINGER, KIMBERLY CROCKETT, LEE ANN DENOS, KATHRYN A GILLETTE, KARLI S GONG, TAO BONNY GRIFFIN, MEI DAI HARKER, MEREDITH JOHNSON, PAMELA L KOROUS, HOLLY A LAI, SHENGXI MARCRUM, MICHAEL D MOORE, TARA S NESBITT, NINALYNN PAN, QI MAGGIE PEREA DEAN, KIMBERLY POND, LORI D PRYOR, DEBORAH SHARIFF, DILSHAD STARK, EMILY STEINER, ANGELA O TANNER, MARGARET A TIBBITTS, KAREN A VANGORDER, DEBRA N VANROOSENDAAL, KATHERINE WILSON, EMILY J WU, CHENSAI
South Kearns Elementary BERMUDEZ, SELENA M BERNDT, BRENDA M BERNDT, ELIZABETH T BORCIK, MILES BROUGH, JOEY K DAVIDSON, ASHLEY A DOWNARD, MEGAN Y DUTTON, RICHARD FLANAGAN, JILL E GORDON, MIKELLE A GUTIERREZ, HEIDI P HANSEN, EMMA R HEUGLY, RACHEL J HEWITT, KRISTINE L HOANG, INA L JAMES, ZACHARY J JOHANSEN, SARINDA JOHNSON, JANEEN R LUCAS, KARA M MAHMOOD, SAQIBA
TaylorsvilleJ ournal.com
MCMAKIN, ELIZABETH J MEREDITH, ALEXIS R MILLETT, JENNIFER MORRELL, ELIZABETH G MURDOCK, TARA L PAGE, SUZANNE P PRINCE, BERLYN A SCHLAPPI, KONAE SHAW, KATHLEEN B WILSON, SARAH E
Taylorsville Elementary BECK, NICOLE R BLAU, AUBREE BREADY, KALYNNE P BSEISO, MARCI K BURNETT, BRUCE E CLYDE, ELISSA M DRANEY, MICHELLE C FLITTON, HOLLY L FORBYN, MARY-JANE FORD, ABIGAIL K HASLAM, NATHAN M HILDER, DANIEL K HOFELING, STEPHANIE HUERTA, CHRISTINA L HYLAND, KRISTINE JAMES, MISTY M MAEZ, SAVANNAH K MEREDITH, BENJAMIN RUSTAD, KERRI SMITH, JARED B SPARKS, JILL H WRIGHT, HEIDI YORK, SHAUNA M
Truman Elementary
ANDERSON, KIRSTEN AUSTIN, STEFFANY R COBBLEY, ANGELA EBORN, KATHLEEN T FROST, CHERI L FULLMER, DIONISIA GEARY, MICHELLE HAFFORD, ANAMARIE LANGFORD, TASHA N LORTON, JENNIFER M MARRELLI, TORREY ORTON, TAYLOR N PEHRSON, RACHEL RICHMOND, MELISSA R RUZZI, JANEL SMITH, NATHAN SORENSEN, KATHRYN L TAPIA, LONEE TAYLOR, BROOKE R VAN HOOSE, SPENCER R
Vista Elementary
BAILEY, JENI L BLACK, MORGAN L CALDORA, SARAH L COHEN-POPE, SCOUT E DAVIS, MADISON D DEMELO, ANGELA DIAZ PINEDA, FRANCISCO A DUTSON, ENOCH T ECHOLS, BREANNA L FLORES, KIRSTEN C FOLSOM, JULIE GOCKEN II, GERALD A JAMESON, ANGIELINE S
JENSEN, LAUREN P JOHNSON, BROOKLYNN LASTRE, WILENYS A LOPEZ, BETSY MAGNIN, AMY M MANGUM, LINDA MAYCOCK, NICOLE T MENDEZ, JOSE MILLER, JESSICA MILLER, REBECCA NASCIMENTO CROWTHER, CAROLINE NAY, KATHY OTTOSEN, KELLIE L PALOMINO VENTURA, GLENDA A REGNIER, TRACY L REYES, DAISY THOMAS, STEVEN J VALLBONA CASTILLO, ALEXIS L WENGER, ANDIE WILSON, DANIELLE WRIGHT, EMILY R
West Kearns Elementary
ANDERSON, JESSICA L BRANDON, ANGELA C BUTLER, ERIN J BYBEE, TAYLOR H CAMPBELL, REBECCA S CAMPOS JR, TITO M CAMPOS, KELCIE D CEBALLOS, HEIDI CRAIG, CHALESE DUKE, KATHRYN H DUMAS, JAMIE FERGUSON, CALLAH C FORD, SHANTELLE GOFF, JENNIFER J GREEN, KATHY A HEBERTSON, SHAUNNA V HOJNACKI, ANN M LAGUAN, ELIZABETH M LAWRENCE, AMY L LYDAY, SUMMER F MENA ARELLANO, ALEJANDRA MOSS, SARAH L MUIR-BLANKENSHIP, PAMELA T NELSON, KELLY M NUTTALL, TRACI L O’BRIEN, ERIN K OLIVAS, BRIANA A PEERCY, KRISTIN POWELL, MCKINLEY A ROBERTS, DONNA RODRIGUEZ, YOLANDA E SANTANA, CELESTE G SNOW, ASHLEE A TUCKER, HEATHER L TURPIN, ALISHA C WATTS, KELSI R
Western Hills Elementary BLACK, JUDY BOUCHER, BRITTNEY A BYLAND, SANA CASE, JAMES C DAVIS, MADISON HABEL, EDNA R HAMBLIN, ALISSA M HENNEFER, MINDI JOHNSON, JENNIFER D JOHNSON, JESSICA A
LABRA, PAULINA LITSTER, TARA LORTZ, LETISHIA MAYREN, STACY NELSON, KAILIE OTTLEY-BLACK, SARAH ROSSI, DEBRA E SMEDLEY, BREANNE H WILLARDSON, COLLEEN WORKMAN, JULIE R
Hartvigsen School
ANDERSON, KAREN ANDRADE, JULIA M ANDREWS, JONI B BECK, AARON F BROCKBANK, MARISSA BURT, ALLYSON CLARK, JEREMY R DEETER, ROCHELLE L FRAZEE, JENNIFER M HONSVICK, JEFFREY M IMHOFF, MARY A JENSEN, JODY KAMMERMAN, AARON S KIISEL, JANINE LARSEN, JOUSHUA J LEWIS, COURTNEE L MILLSAP, SAMANTHA L MORTENSEN STOUT, VANESSA S POOLE, ATHENA L TORRICELLI, EMILY G WARD, JENNIFER L WENDEL BENNETT, ALISON WESTENSKOW, KIMBERLY A
Bennion Jr. High
ADAMS-MCCOOL, ERINN AFOA, WHITNEY S BARNEY, KATHERINE M BAXTER, STEPHANIE BELMORE, MICHELE BLACK, ANNE R BRADLEY, DENORRIS C CAMPBELL, ROBERT P CASTRO, J. ALEXANDER CROOKSTON, ALAN T DAVIS, TRACY M DECORA, TAMI J FADENRECHT, ADAM T FLEMING, MICAH FRANKLIN, ANITA M GIBSON, JOSHUA A GORDON, NATHAN L GRAY, ASHLEY A GRIFFENHAGEN, GARY J HAMILTON, STEPHANIE HARE, PHILLIP R HEALEY, DIANE M JOHNSON, LISA G MCCALL, ELLE J MOSER, KATHLEEN I NIELSEN, SUZANNE NORMAN, JANIECE C PEARSON, KERRY E PETERS, GREG PETERSON, CASSANDRA M PHILLIPS, SUEANN H POFFENBERGER, LACHELL PORTER, PATRICK PROVARD, PEGGY A QIN, WEI
RAMSEY, JOSHUA C REED, CHRISTI REID, TIFFANY RICKS, ANN M ROGERS, SHANE M RUNOLFSON, SHAINA E SALTAS, JAMES T SASIVAREVIC, NERMIN SORENSEN, CAMILLA E THETFORD, DEVIN S THOMPSON, CATHARINA WILLES, DEBRA J WINTER, REBECCA WOOD, CASSIDY J
Granite Park Jr. High
ALLEN, HEATHER L ALMOND, CAITLIN M ANDERSON, EMILY BALL, REBECCA L BALLASH, LISA BERG, JANET D BESLER, HENRY N BOSSI, JULIA P BOWERS, ALISON BROWN, PAUL C CARLSON, ANDREA CONGER, LYNN M COOK, ASHLEY R COSMAN, JENNIFER B COVIELLO, MEGAN L CURRAN, JEFFREY R DAVIS, AMANDA J DEAN-PERRY, VERONICA J DELGADO, BRITTANY J DUNFORD, CINDI G DUTSON, ANDREW V FARLEY, ANTHONY J GAITAN CRESPO, DAYRA GARLICK, REBECCA L GEORGE, HAILEY S GRAYBILL, KERI J GUY, CRYSTAL L HANSON, CHRISTOPHER S HARD, HANNA HIGHT, KRISTINA L JENKINS, DANIEL K JOHNSON, CARLEE J JONES, CURTIS KENDELL, NATHAN KNUTSON, KYLE O LIND, HEIDEMARIE K LOW, SAORI MADSEN, JUSTIN N MARSHALL, SUSAN N MCKENNA, BRIAN A MELVILLE, BRADLEY J MILES, LINDSAY M NASH-HANDLER, KARTIA C PETTIT, WILLIAM A PHILLIPS, SYDNEY A PICA, CHRISTY C SEIDENSPINNER, TARYN L STEWART, WHITNEY M THACKERAY, MILTON THOMPSON, TERRENCE D TRACY, JILL N TRUONG, HOANG T VAMVAKIAS, JEFFREY J VREEKEN, LORI L WALRATH, BROOKE O WELLS, AMBER M
Eisenhower Jr. High
ALBA, ALEX H ANDERSON, CHRISTINA L ANDREWS, DEBORAH L BURGON-HILL, AMY S CHAMBERS, KEVIN CHRISTENSEN, ANISSA B CHRISTENSEN, NATHAN M CRAIG, BERNARD S DAWE, WHITNEY DEWYZE, ROBERT J EDWARDS, MASON FIACK, DENISE D FONGUH, ELVIS F GARCIA, AMANDA M GARCIA, MELODIE GERBER, TERESA GREGORY, ELIZABETH GREGSON, RACHEL R HARMON, TIFFANY M HEAD, DAVID HEATON, TROY D HOLLINS, JAYNELL N INGRAM, MARCIA P JAMIESON, WILLA J KESLER, JENNIFER N KESNER-STEINBERG, DEBORAH A KUEHN, KELSEY R LAYTON, ZACHARY J LEE, CHRISTOPHER D MACKAY, EMILY MARDEN, CHRISTOPHER S MAUER, LAURA B MCGUIRE, MARY JANE MOTT, LOREN MOULTON, KELLY R NELSON, TRAVIS J NUNEZ GUTIERREZ, RUBEN A PARKS, MEKINZEY M PALMER, ANDREA PEDERSEN, RICK H PERSCHON, ADRIANA L RICHES, JULI A RICHMOND, KAYLA M RITTER, JENNIFER J ROACH, MICHAEL D ROH, EMILY L SLADE, SCOTT STEVENSON, APRIL STEVENSON, BRYAN C THOMAS, LARAE D THOMPSON, KENYA V TOMMER, RYAN M VALDEZ, MICHAEL WHITE, WENDY O WINN, KEVIN J
Kearns Jr. High
ADESON, JONAH BARTHOLOMEW, RACHEL R BLATTMAN, TONI BROWN, JAMIE S CISNEROS, FERNANDO DEWEY, PAUL A DUPAIX, DEBBIE EVENSEN, AARON M GOWANS, KAYLENE R GRAHAM, TAYLOR C HALL, SEAN P HEALTON, ANDREA HODGE, TASHA R KREIN, KATHERINE I
May 2021 | Page 13
LARAMIE, LEAH A LOWER, BEAU R MAY, ANYA MCDONALD, KRISTINE W MILLS, AMBER R NIGBUR, RYAN L ORAM, TAMI D PEERY, KRISTEN PEVZNER, YEVGENY QUINN, KAREN REX, JESSICA A REYNOLDS, CORIANNE REYNOLDS, VALERIE W SALISBURY, TROY D SCHONE, JESSICA M SMITH, ZACHARY A SNELL, BROOKE STURDEVANT, EMMA J WAYMENT, KELLY E WOODS, CARLOTTA
Valley Jr. High
BAKER, JANELLE BALLENTINE, JACOB P BAYARDO, YANIRA J BERG, JEFFREY M BIELICKI, BRYAN C BISHOP, LESLIE P BOEVE, BENJAMIN F BROWN, LORI A CHRISTENSEN, HEIDI C COATES, PEGGY S CROASMUN, JERRY GARDNER, CYNTHIA A GOBLE, MARY E HARMES, GORDON E HENRY, TERESA R HILL, HEIDI HOOVER, DEMARIE M KAELIN, ROBERT D KENDALL, KASON J MARZ, NATALIE F MCINTYRE, ANDREW J MOSES, JANALEE R MUIR, JEREMY P MYERS, SUSIE PANKOW, TYSON J PAPPAS, JOSHUA RAMOS, IRMA E RICH, DANIEL ROGERS, SARAH SHELTON, ELIZABETH B SPENCER, JOSHUA R STEVENSON, JESSICA L WILCOX, JARED B WILKINSON, ALFRED WISER, RYANNE WOODS, KENNETH YAZZIE, ROSE M
Kearns High School
ACRA, WALT C ALEXANDER, JOHN A ANGELL, MEGAN B ANGELL, NICHOLAS K ARNESEN, TAMRA J ASHTON, DAVID L BALLARD, DAVIS BARNETT, RONALD C BARNUM, BRIAN D BEAN, ROGER
Page 14 | May 2021
BINGHAM, KYLER R BITSUIE, OTIS C BOWMAN, SAIGE BURGESS, JARED E BUSATH, ANDREW BYBEE, ANN CARROLL, RENAE M CLOPTEN, JAMI COSBY, DANIEL P CRAMER, MICHAEL CROWFORD, RILEY M CULLIMORE, KORTNEY L DAVIS, EDWARD M DIAZ, JONATAN R DICKSON, DENNIS A DIGERNESS, JAMIE N DUNCAN, JULIE J DURAN, AIMEE DYE, CHARLES EAMES, MEGHAN FALCON, WILFREDO C FARRIMOND, VICTORIA A FEATHERSTONE, SARAH I FONUA, UINALU FRASER, MITCHELL J GAMVROULAS, ELPITHA F GENOVES, ADELA GLASMANN, THOMAS O GOOD, BRYAN W GREIDER, CHARLES R HALL, BENJAMIN D HANCOCK, JON HANSEN, TYLER D HARICH, CHRYSTINA M HERNANDEZ CULAS, JOHN D HORNE, CHRISTOPHER R HOUSEL, DARREN J HOWARD, SABRINA SHAY A HURD, AMANDA JACOBSON, CHERI JONES, EMILY A KEENE, KIMBERLY R KIMBELL, AUSTIN J KOCH, BRIAN H KONCAR, MELISSA J LAUSII, LAFLORA LE FEVRE, MICHELE LEWIS, JAMES LINDHOLM, MELISA MARTIN, CHAD A MATEAKI, KELENI L MEHTA, SEEMA MEIKEL, ANTONIO MOHLER, AUSTIN J MOLLERUP, CARRIE MOON, MICHELLE MORROW, MISTY MORTENSEN, KRISTIN L MUELLER, ANNA L MUIR, JILL F NELSON, NATALIE M OSTBERG, K. R PACKER, BRIAN D PADILLA, LIZBETH PARKS, PRECINDIA A POLL, MARK T PRITCHARD, JOSEPH J REYNOLDS, VALERIE RICKARDS, MATT ROACH, BRENDA H ROBISON, JENNASEE S
RODGERS, THOMAS SAYLOR, KAREN L SCHERBEL, HANNAH M SCOTT, KATHRYN E STANLEY, DEREK P STEELE, CONSTANZA STEINACKER, RYNE T TAFT-JOHNSON, ALLISON L TAYLOR, BENJAMIN R VAUGHN, TERESA WALKER, ANDREW D WALTON, AARON A WILLIAMS, EMILY WILLIAMS, HENRY WINGER, CARI T YARRINGTON, TARYN S ZIELINSKI, CHAD C
Taylorsville High School
AHMED, KRISTIN M ALLRED, QUINN H BEACHAM, VICKY H BERG, DAVID BESSESEN, ANNA L BORROWMAN, RACHEL H BURNETT, THOMAS C BUTLER, CRISTINA L BUTTERFIELD, RACHEL M CALL, KATHERINE E CHINN, JAMIE L CHRISTENSEN, ANGELA CHRISTENSEN, HENRY T CLAWSON, RICHARD C CORBALEY, GREGORY D CURTIS, GEORGE S DOMINGO OLLER, HECTOR DU RANDT, MICHELLE DUKE, JEFF J EBERLY, ROBERT EHLER, PAIGE W ELKINS, REBECCA S EVANS, GRETEL FARNES, CHAD FLOCH, ALEX J FREE, CRAIG C GARAIX, CHRISTEL M GARNER, CAMERON E GLOVER, KATHY GRAZIANO, BERNIE J GROVEAU, JOHN A GUO, HUA HERRIN, ANGELA HILTON, JENNIFER C HORTON, SHERRI S HUNTER, PAMELA HYMAS, JACE W JENSEN, WILLIAM G JONES, DEBORAH JONES, KAMMIE B JONES, TRACI L LABRUM, MELVIN N LAVELY, NICOLE K MACKAY, GUY R MANION, SHAUNA M MARSHALL, ABIGAIL C MCDONALD, SPENCE G MCLELLAND, FERN M MCLERAN, ANDREW R MCNIVEN, SHAWN D MENZEL, DIRK W MEREDITH, ARIELLE C
NATE, CHARLES F NATTER, DANIELLE T NAYLOR, KRISTINE M NEGLEY, LEVI H OKADA, TERESA S PALOMINO, JENNIFER B PAULK, MELODY S PAXTON, NATALIE M POUHA, SARA M ROCKWELL, CAROL ANNE SMITH, CYNTHIA E STRATTON, DAVID E TARRANT, LEAH THOMAS, KAITLYN C TIMPSON, ERIC TWITCHELL, MACKENZIE E VANGESEN, MICHELLE L WARD, MARY A WELLS, RODNY K WELLS, RYAN J WHETTEN, QUAELII R WINN, BRYAN M WOLF, STEVEN A WOODALL, TREVOR R WOOLLEY, STEVE R WOUDEN, TORI B WYNDER, STEPHANIE WYNESS, LORRAINE YOUNG, KIMBERLIE
Cottonwood High School
AFFOLTER, MATTHEW D ALLRED, ELIZABETH P ARGYLE, SIERRA AUSTIN, EVE M BAKER, JASON A BALLING, KAYLA BAO, ZHU BATTISTA, TARA BERBERT, REBECCA L BOLLAND, BRIDGET BRINTON, JOSEPH P BYNUM, SHARLA A CALTON, AMANDA CARLSON, WHITNEY A CARROLL, DANIEL W CHESTER, MICHELLE COLEMAN, GREG S CRAWLEY, CAMILLE CUEVAS DA SILVA, EDNA Z D’ACQUISTO, KRISTEN T DAMRON, AUDRYN DAVIES, CHRISTIAN DEL CASTILLO HERNAND, LUZ DRAPER, JOHN EPPERSON, DWIGHT J ERNEY, LAURIE A FULLER, GLEN R GAGLIARDI-CAMPOS, ANGELA GATES, VIVIAN GOFFE, OLIVIA M GREGOIRE, MINDY HARDY, HEATHER A HARRIS, JESSICA K HERBON, TERILEE S HESS, KATHLEEN M HIMMELBERGER-MORGAN, MICHAELA HIRSCHI, JANAE D HULET, MARY E KAHN, MATTHEW F
KINGDON, KEVIN KIRKHAM, MICHAEL T LANSDOWNE, LAUREN F MAESER, E.STANFORD MALMROSE, DONOVAN H MARTINEZ-ROSS, CAROLYN A MAUGHAN, JR, DOUGLAS R MCDONALD, CATHERINE A MCLAUGHLIN, SCOTT T MERKLEY, LAUREN E MERRILL, ASHLEY MERRILL, CHARLES L MORGAN, LAURA L NELSON, KAMI J NICOLL, KEVIN OLSEN, TERESA L PARADIS, ANN PEREZ-ALVAREZ, YURI RESCHKE, MEGAN RICHES, JENNIFER RICHEY, ELIZABETH Y RICKS, DEBORAH ROBINSON, MICHAEL L SMITH, ANTONIA A SORACCO, TERESA SOUTHWICK, GREGG J SPENCER, JAMI D STEED, TRAVIS W STODDARD, RACHEL D SULLIVAN, CECIL SUTTERFIELD, JEAN E SWENSEN, STEPHANIE TAYLOR, LYNN C THOMAS, AMY THOMAS, MARY E TIDWELL, JASON D TONGE, LISA A TUCKNESS, AMBER V VALES, II, R. FRANK VUONG, LE WHITLOCK, JOSHUA P WILKINS, ADAM WONNACOTT, NATALIE W WOOD, CHRISTOPHER T WORKMAN, DARRIN J ZAHARIAS, BENJAMIN D
Taylorsville City Journal
City of Taylorsville Newsletter 2600 West Taylorsville Boulevard • 801-963-5400
MAYOR'S MESSAGE Dear Friends and Neighbors, Hopefully, you’ve heard our exciting news: Google Fiber is coming to Taylorsville! An agreement with the broadband provider was unanimously approved by the City Council this past month. At City Hall, we’ve been working Mayor Kristie S. Overson diligently to bring Google Fiber to Taylorsville because we know that cutting-edge technology is essential to our community. It’s especially important that we as a city plan for a high-tech future and offer a digital bridge. We know this is important to our residents, too. In working to bring Google Fiber aboard we recognize that families need more options for fast, reliable broadband; Taylorville’s business community desires to maintain a competitive edge; students need uninterrupted access to information; residents must be able to stream on all platforms in their homes, and everyone needs bandwidth at a competitive price. With the non-exclusive license agreement, Taylorsville is the first city on the west side of the Salt Lake Valley to bring Google Fiber to our residents and businesses. It will mean reliable internet service at lightning-fast speeds. For example, residents will be able to download 25 songs in one second. Or download a full, high-definition movie in just 36 seconds. In its coverage of our announcement, KSL News reports that residents and businesses will have “access to some of the fastest internet speeds available (since) fiber internet is much faster than its cable internet alternative.” It truly is a game-changer. With Google Fiber, we’ll be more connected than ever. Our central location right in the heart of the Salt Lake Valley already offers the perfect place for business — and our neighborhoods are close and thriving. Now in the coming months, Google Fiber will be expanding its network to bring its reliable, high-speed internet service to our city, and with it, even greater connectivity. The process uses fiber optic cables that are placed in the city’s utility right of way. On public streets, in the right-of-way, a narrow cut is made and the fiber is placed there. Then the fiber is run to the house once residents sign up for service. Micro-trenching is utilized to speed up construction and reduce disruption. As work gets under way, we’ll have more information, including what you need to do to receive installation and service. In the meantime, please join me in welcoming Google Fiber to Taylorsville! –Mayor Kristie S. Overson
WHAT’S INSIDE – MAY 2021 Frequently Called Numbers, Page 2 Council Corner, Page 3 TVPD Update, Page 6 Heritage Remembrances, Page 7 Environment, Page 8
www.taylorsvilleut.gov
May 2021
City Celebrates 25th Anniversary with the New Performing Arts Center The June 1 opening of the new Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center next to City Hall provides the perfect gift for the city’s 25th birthday. As the city marks its milestone anniversary this year, it will also celebrate the Arts Center’s completion with a Ribbon Cutting planned for the end of this month. Construction of the Arts Center began in January 2019 but it has been many years in the making. Indeed, it was only through careful planning and the foresight of many individuals that it became reality, noted Mayor Kristie Overson during a tour of the center with city leaders, both past and present, on March 30. “I’m a little bit teary because we have founders here,” Mayor Overson said at the start of the tour, recognizing those in attendance. “You had the vision of something great on this property. It’s not just one administrator or one mayor or one council member — and of course Salt Lake County. It took everyone, so I thank you.” In addition to Mayor Overson, those touring the center included former Mayors Janice Auger Rasmussen and Larry Johnson and former City Council Members Keith Sorensen, Brad Christopherson and Dama Barbour, as well as former Council Member and current state Rep. Jim Dunnigan. Rounding out the group were current Council Chair Curt Cochran and Vice Chair Anna Barbieri, and Council Member Ernest Burgess. They were joined by Salt Lake County officials Matt Castillo, Holly Yocom, Melinda Cavallaro, Jeff Gwilliam and Cami Munk.
ARTS CENTER CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
PAGE 2
| www.taylorsvilleut.gov
City of Taylorsville Newsletter Declaration of Candidacy Period Runs Through June 7
Police Department
801-840-4000
Interested in running for office? If so, declare your candidacy for Council Districts 3, 4, 5 or mayor anytime from June 1 to 7, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. (An election for District 1 and District 2 will be held in 2023). To run for office, you must: • Be a registered voter • Be at least 18 years of age • Be a United States citizen • Have lived in Taylorsville for 12 consecutive months prior to the election date (Aug. 10, 2021) • Live within the boundary of the district you wish to represent (if running to be a member of City Council) • Be mentally competent
Dominion Energy
800 -323 -5517
For more information, contact City Recorder Jamie Brooks at 801-955-2006 or by email: jbrooks@taylorsvilleut.gov
More Than 2 Million Vaccines Administered in Utah Taylorsville Code Enforcement
EVENTS MAY & JUNE 2021 May 5 & 19 – 6:30 p.m. City Council Meeting @ City Hall and online. Watch a live-stream of the meeting on the city’s website, www.taylorsvilleut.gov
May 11 – 7 p.m. & May 25 – 6 p.m. Planning Commission Meeting @ City Hall.
May 31 – All day Memorial Day. City Offices are closed.
May through June 1 The Taylorsville Arts Council is seeking submissions for its virtual Art Show, commemorating Taylorsville’s 25th Anniversary. See Page 6.
June 19 – 8 a.m. to noon Annual Earth Day Collection @ Taylorsville High School. See Page 8.
June 19 – 7 p.m. A Night of Rock — Movies in the Park and live music @ Taylorsville City Hall west lawn. See Page 6.
June 24, 25 & 26 Taylorsville Dayzz @ Valley Regional Park. See Pages 4 and 5 of this section for a full schedule of events. 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
Utah has delivered more than 2 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine and is working to continue that momentum by increasing vaccine accessibility in more hard-to-reach areas and populations across Utah. State epidemiologist Dr. Angela Dunn, who has taken a position as executive director of the Salt Lake County Health Department where she will start this summer, said people who are still feeling hesitant about getting the vaccine should talk to their medical providers or reach out to vaccinated family and friends to make sure they are getting the best information available about the vaccine. "This is the way we're going to end the pandemic," she said at a news conference on April 22. As of mid-April, half of all adults in the United States had received at least one dose of the vaccine, and nearly 52% of all eligible people in Utah had received at least one dose.
May 2021
COUNCIL CORNER
2600 West Taylorsville Boulevard • 801-963-5400 |
PAGE 3
There’s So Much We Can Do to Keep Our City in Tip-Top Shape
By Council Member Anna Barbieri After a crazy, upside-down 2020, what a welcome site it is to see our beautiful city come to life again. Spring has sprung and summer is on its way. Taylorsville Dayzz is on the calendar and we’re excited for the opening of the new Performing Arts Center in the front yard of Taylorsville City Hall. Our team of city officials and employees are hard at work and determined to create the finest city for families, the community and our commercial partners. As always, there is still plenty of work to do, and I hope we can all pitch in to help maintain our beautiful community. Mark your calendar for Saturday June 19 as a day of clean up. Bring your household hazardous waste, discarded glass and paint, electronic waste (yep, those old computers and TVs stuffed in closets that shouldn’t go in the landfill) and gently used items for the thrift center to Taylorsville High School between 8 a.m. to noon, and we’ll cart it all away for you. This is a great opportunity to teach our kiddos the importance of organizing and cleaning up to maintain property values, happy neighbors and safe neighborhoods. Also, Wasatch Front Waste & Recycling District (the same awesome organization that picks up our weekly garbage through rain, sleet and snow) will deliver a dumpster to your driveway. Simply go to their site,
https://wasatchfrontwaste.org, and reserve a date. Let your neighbors know and they can help you fill it up. Voila’, the next day, WFWRD picks up the filled container and you put your feet up knowing all that stuff you didn’t know what to do with is gone. Out of your life. I love this service. Speaking of projects, Taylorsville has many opportunities to serve. Taylorsville Dayzz is looking for volunteers to help with the parade, car show, petting zoo, carnival and concerts. What a great chance to meet wonderful friends in our community and help celebrate Taylorsville City’s 25th birthday. If outdoor activities are your thing, our parks, dog park, baseball and soccer fields could use a little TLC. With the help of Council Member Meredith Harker and the Parks and Recreation Committee, funding has been secured for much needed updates. We’re looking for help in planting water-wise foliage, trees and spreading sustainable ground cover. It’s one of the hidden gems of Taylorsville and if you haven’t visited this park, you really should plan your next kiteflying excursion or run through this beautiful oasis away from traffic and commotion. Feeling like you just need to get out and explore your neighborhood and surrounding areas? Take a garbage bag with you and exercise bending your knees and stretching your arms by collecting some of the
LEFT TO RIGHT: Dan Armstrong (District 5), Curt Cochran, Chair (District 2), Meredith Harker (District 4), Anna Barbieri, Vice Chair (District 3), and Ernest Burgess (District 1)
papers and grocery bags that escaped trash bins and collected in bushes and trees during the winter and windstorms. If we all pitch in a little, our city improves a lot. After all, Mom said, “Many hands make light work,” and I might add, they keep our taxes low and ensure they’re spent on much-needed infrastructure and enduring projects benefiting us all. If you or your group want to participate in any of these or other projects, give your City Council member a call or drop us a note and we’ll find just a project perfect for you.
ARTS CENTER CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center Celebrates Grand Opening on June 1
The Arts Center is a county-owned facility operated by its Arts & Culture Division, the owner-operator of Abravanel Hall, Capitol Theatre, Eccles Theater, and the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center. Taylorsville City partnered with Salt Lake County in making a financial contribution toward the venue and providing the land through a long-term ground lease. Salt Lake County's Arts & Culture Division will manage the facility and handle all event booking through ArtTix. In complement, the Arts Center and City Hall are situated on Centennial Plaza, which is now under construction and will feature a community space with walkways, beautiful landscaping and public art, a kitchen, stage, restrooms, green space and arbors, and waterwall signage. But long before the planning of the plaza and Arts Center began — and before City Hall built in 2002 was even an idea — the
site was a small family farm where vegetables were grown and the Namba family lived. “I remember their greenhouse and the berries they grew,” said Mayor Auger Rasmussen, who served as Taylorsville’s second mayor from 1998 to 2006. “There was a little house here and Mrs. Namba continued to tend a garden into her 90s.” Mayor Auger Rasmussen recalled how a friend would play in the fields that existed where Centennial Plaza will soon be. “The space already has such a legacy,” she said. See a photo gallery of the site and its history on the city’s website at www.taylorsvilleut.gov
The long-awaited Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center opens to the public on June 1. To celebrate the new venue, Salt Lake County Arts & Culture will host a series of public Open Houses on June 1, 3 and 5. Activities will include self-guided tours, short performances, and other events to be announced on the Arts & Culture website, saltlakecountyarts.org. “We can’t wait to welcome the public to this gorgeous new venue,” said Jessica Liebrecht, Arts & Culture’s Venue Manager for the Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center. “In addition to performances and other events, Mid-Valley will serve as an important community arts space with two stunning public art pieces and an art gallery in the lobby.” For information about the MidValley Performing Arts Center and volunteer opportunities, visit the Arts & Culture website listed above.
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City of Taylorsville Newsletter
| www.taylorsvilleut.gov
4-11 pm Carnival Bonus Night ($10 rides for $10) 7 pm
Utah Symphony 1812 Overture with Cannons nons s
7 am
5K Fun Run
9 am
Parade
11 am
Entertainment, Food & Craft Booths, Carnival, Pony Rides, Petting Zoo
Noon
Car Show
7:30 pm
Celine Dion & Neil Diamond tribute
8:30 pm
Skydivers
10 pm
Fireworks Extravaganza!!
11 pm
Carnival Closes
9:30 pm Movie TBD 4-11 4- pm Carnival Rides 6 pm
Taylorsville Orchestra
7:30 pm Elvis & Johnny Cash 10 pm
Expanded Fireworks!!
Don't miss the 5K Race at 7 am and Kids Fun Run at 7:45 am on Saturday, June 26. Register and find the route maps and other info at
www.taylorsvilledayzz.com
Jim Dunnigan 801-840-1800
May 2021
2600 West Taylorsville Boulevard • 801-963-5400 |
June 24, 25, 26 7:30 p m Joh nny C ash & Elvis – FREE!
phony, m y S h a t U ns! 7:00 pm ith Canno w e r u t r e BD 1812 Ov he Park T t in ie v o M 9:30 pm -
7:30 pm Celine Dion & Neil Diamond tribute – FREE!
We need help with parking, stage, etc. Go to Taylorsvilledayzz.com and click on the volunteer link, or call Jim Dunnigan at 801-840-1800
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City of Taylorsville Newsletter
| www.taylorsvilleut.gov
TVPD Formal Swearing-in Ceremony Set for June 21
ROCK
Monthly updates on the formation of the Taylorsville City Police Department will be provided through July 2021. We are now entering the “homestretch” and pleased to report that our roster is full — to include patrol officers, detectives and office personnel. There will be various hire dates of some personnel depending upon their specific role, but all will be hired by June 14 and begin their orientation and training. The formal swearing-in ceremony for the officers will be on June 21. Except for a couple of remaining objectives that city administration will continue to address (e.g., permanent storage facility), all others have been completed in accordance with the original charter and timeline. For a complete listing, please visit the city website at: www.taylorsvilleut.gov/services/tvpd/new-department-timeline Specifically in the month of April, the following objectives were completed: • Interview/selection and background checks of remaining sergeant, officer, and support staff personnel • Selection of resiliency program (behavioral health and wellness) • Outfitting of personnel (vendor catalog for uniforms/equipment) • Formalize configuration/construction needs of office space at City Hall
Sponsored by the Parks & Rec Committee
At this point, the Transition Team has formally transferred all remaining action-items to the new Command Staff. This includes interface with VECC (dispatch), mobile radio programing, on-boarding and training of personnel, and the branding of vehicles. We express gratitude to all who have shared insights, engaged in the process, and worked diligently during the past year to bring about this transfer of responsibility. We also share our appreciation to the UPD administrative staff and officers who have served with dedication and professionalism for so many years and during this period of transition.
New Judge Christopher Bown Starts Work This Month
1996 ~ 2021
SILVER JUBILEE
Celebrate local artists. View the coming display of Taylorsville-themed artwork at City Hall!
Utah attorney Christopher Bown is expected to start this month as Taylorsville’s new justice court judge. He was appointed by Mayor Kristie Overson with ratification by the City Council on April 7. “Mr. Bown stands out among his peers, and I believe that he will represent our city well as jurist on the bench,” Mayor Overson said. “He is reliable, exercises good judgment and is comfortable interacting with a diverse group of people. I have every confidence in him and his abilities, and know that he will provide exemplary service to our community and compassionate advocacy for the rule of law.” Judge Bown, who has worked as both a prosecutor and defense attorney, has an estimated 17,500 hours in the courtroom, appearing before judges and juries. A partner for the law firm Stowell, Crayk and Bown, he has served as defense counsel both in private practice and as a public defender, as well as a prosecutor for the Salt Lake District Attorney’s Office. “I understand where both prosecutors and defense attorneys are coming from and the tools they have to make decisions and do what they do,” Judge Bown said. “Understanding that, I think I can get to the heart of the matter quicker.” Judge Bown said his first steps will be getting to know the court staff, learning the processes and procedures that are in place and assessing if any improvements are needed. He also anticipates that the effects of the coronavirus pandemic will pose an immediate challenge, requiring integrations of what has been learned from putting video appearances in place and minimizing delays for defendants. He was selected from a pool of nearly 30 applicants for the position to replace the Honorable Michael Kwan, who passed away last summer.
May 2021
Taylorsville Bennion Heritage REMEMBRANCES This month’s article highlights the Thomas Dimond, E. Castle, and LeRoy Wirthlin family home.
2600 West Taylorsville Boulevard • 801-963-5400 |
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TAYLORSVILLE SENIOR CENTER 4743 S. Plymouth View Drive
Senior Center Reopens with Virtual Programming You may have heard the good news! Salt Lake County Senior Centers have reopened as of April 19. However, a majority of programming is still being done through the Virtual Senior Center as staff navigates Health Department safety regulations. Over the next few months, the Taylorsville Senior Center, 4743 S. Plymouth View Drive, will slowly transition to having in-person activities. Pre-registration is required for all in-person activities and a mask will be required to enter the building. Starting April 19, drive-thru lunches will be served from 10:15 to 11 a.m. In-person dining will start at 11:30 a.m. and you may pre-register by calling 385-468-3370. You can access the latest news and receive updates on newly added programs by accessing the center’s newsletter online. Check their website, Facebook page, and sign up for their email blast to receive current updates: www.slco.org/taylorsville-senior-center
Don’t Miss These Library Events The Taylorsville Library has planned several programs during the month of May. You’ll want to mark your calendar for these events: This old lovely home was located on Redwood Road at 5959 South and has had three-plus owners during its lifetime. It was first owned by Thomas Dimond (1866-1946), who was the first bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Bennion Ward. During 1898, Mr. Dimond purchased 20 acres of fine land on what is known as Redwood Road, east of the Taylorsville Post Office. He built a two-story pressed brick residence, which contained 13 rooms, besides the basement, and had all the modern improvements (hot and cold running water, etc.). It was one of the prettiest homes in Salt Lake County. Mr. Dimond married two women with the last name of Bennion. (Nora was first and Laura, second). He was the director of a bank and West Side Water. He founded Dimond Coal and Feed on 4800 South. Both he and his two wives are buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery. Then, a family with the last name of Castle lived in the home for a time. Lastly, in 1950, the 20 acres of the old Dimond farm was purchased by Dr. LeRoy W. Wirthlin. Although he had a successful medical practice, he and his family also operated their new farm along Redwood Road. The family raised chickens, ducks, rabbits, a milk cow and a white-faced steer. Dr. Wirthlin was described as a common man but skilled surgeon. A new interstate belt route was proposed in 1955 as part of the Interstate Highway System that later became known as the Interstate-215 belt route. The Utah Department of Transportation began holding hearings about the construction of the proposed pathways in 1958. Dr. Wirthlin became the leader of the Bennion Community opposition. He continued to advocate for different routes of the interstate until his death in 1971. The I-215 belt route eventually won out, and the Wirthlin home was purchased by Fieldstone Homes and demolished in 1997.
TaylorsvilleJ ournal.com
Library Hours: Monday-Thursday 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Friday-Saturday 10 a.m.6 p.m.; Closed Sunday. Also closed: Monday, May 31 for Memorial Day I Spy Window | Birds Monday, May 3–Saturday, May 8 Find the hummingbirds in the library’s I Spy Window this week and earn a small prize. Virtual Adult Lecture | The 1001 Arabian Nights: Talking Fish, Drug-filled Polo Sticks, & Serious Matters Tuesday, May 4, 7 p.m. You must register for this event to receive the link to the WebEx Virtual Lecture. Register here: https://tinyurl.com/vu9udvsb Kevin Blankinship, assistant professor of Arabic at Brigham Young University, will present a fun, informative talk that addresses the 1,001 Nights as a popular folktale in the medieval Islamic world. A favorite but somewhat distorted window on the Middle East in modern Western culture. In addition to academic journals, his writing has appeared in The Atlantic, The Los Angeles Review of Books, The Times Literary Supplement, and more. Connect with him on Twitter @AmericanMaghreb. Virtual Adult Lecture | "I Am an American": The Long Reach of Japanese WWII Incarceration Monday, May 17, 7 p.m. You must register for this event to receive the link to the WebEx Virtual Lecture. Register here: https://tinyurl.com/xa2w832c Dr. Meredith Oda will put the Japanese American WWII incarceration into the long history of Asian Americans, before and after the war. Oda is associate professor of History at the University of Nevada, Reno. Her first book, The Gateway to the Pacific: Japanese Americans and the Remaking of San Francisco (Chicago, 2018), was a transpacific urban history of San Francisco. She is currently working on a book on Japanese American resettlement from WWII incarceration camps from 1942 until the 1952 Walter-McCarran Immigration and2021 Nationality Act.21 | Page May
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City of Taylorsville Newsletter
| www.taylorsvilleut.gov
Drinking Water is More Than H20 8AM TO NOON @TAYLORSVILLE HIGH
NORTHWEST PARKING LOT For Taylorsville Residents only PLEASE DO NOT BRING: TIRES AND MATTRESSES COMMERCIAL DISPOSAL FREON IN APPLIANCES AMMUNITION MEDICAL WASTE LARGE APPLIANCES
You can take motor oil to some auto parts stores or Oil Change Stations. Just verify that they are a recycling center for oil.
WE WILL BE ACCEPTING: HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE GLASS AND PAINT ELECTRONIC WASTE DOCUMENT SHREDDING
PRESCRIPTION MEDICINE BULK WASTE GREEN-YARD WASTE RECYCLING DONATIONS OF GOOD QUALITY
Have you ever wondered why at times, water can have a differing odor, taste or appearance? These aesthetic characteristics usually do not pose a public health threat but may be noticed. One of the odors that can occur in drinking water is a chlorinous or “swimming pool” odor. Regulated chlorine in drinking water is not harmful, but some people are more sensitive to the taste and smell of chlorine than others. Chlorine is essential to protect public health and is therefore added to drinking water at the final stage of treatment. This is done to kill any harmful germs that may be present. The Taylorsville-Bennion Improvement District keeps chlorine levels as low as possible while still keeping its supplies safe. Chlorine concentrations can vary throughout the day and throughout the seasons. The taste of chlorine can be reduced in water by filling a container, covering it and allowing the water to stand in the fridge until needed. You might also consider using a home treatment device such as a water filter. Generally, these are not necessary, but some customers like to use them.
Please call 801-955-2013 or 801-955-2053 or email eburgess@taylorsvilleut.gov or mmt200541@yahoo.com for more information.
QUESTIONS? Please contact Taylorsville-Bennion Improvement District by calling 801-968-9081 or visiting www.tbid.org. You can also follow the district on Facebook and Twitter.
MAY WFWRD UPDATES IDEAS FOR CAN PLACEMENT ON WINDY DAYS When the wind is blowing, you may want to turn your can facing sideways to the street. This will help ensure that lightweight items, like plastic bags and loose paper, do not fly out and litter your neighborhood. We ask that you not place the can with the lid hinge toward the street. That makes it harder for collection trucks to successfully empty your can.
REMOTE RECYCLING EDUCATION FOR SCHOOLS So far, in 2021, WFWRD’s Sustainability Team has provided education to 31 classes at 13 different elementary schools throughout the district remotely. The team still has availabilities to conduct more remote classes. If you are a teacher, or know of a teacher, who is interested in this opportunity, please contact Sustainability Coordinator Ethan Morris,at EMorris@ wasatchfrontwaste.org or 385-468-6337.
RECYCLING As the recycling industry stabilizes, many organizations are creating new and innovative ways to recycle the materials we use daily. From paper to plastic to cardboard, Wasatch Front Waste & Recycling District is working hard to find new opportunities to accept more materials and make sure they are being recycled in the most environmentally friendly way possible. Make sure to take the time to familiarize yourself with items that are currently recyclable by using WFWRD’s new recycling guides, found on their Facebook page and website. By reducing contamination, the district can continue to keep costs low for residents. Remember, when in doubt, throw it out! Page 22 | May 2021
Taylorsville City Journal
Cougars play baseball games at Smith’s Ballpark By Greg James | g.james@mycityjournals.com
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he baseball team at Kearns High School got a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The Cougars took on the West Jordan Jaguars at Smith’s ballpark, the home of the Salt Lake Bees, the AAA affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels. “I think the kids really enjoyed playing there,” Cougars head baseball coach Dave Ballard said. The double-header was made possible by the school administration. The teams had scheduled three games in two days, but because of the weather, the last game had to be postponed and moved to another venue. Kearns came out on the wrong end of both games. It lost the first game 9-4, and then after a short break, lost the second 9-6. “We would have much rather been on the winning end,” Ballard said. In the opening game, the Cougars managed nine hits. Junior Aviry Kelly threw five innings and allowed seven earned runs. He managed three strikeouts but was credited with the loss. CJ Mumford had two shutout innings in relief. Kolby Jones and Raul Zapata each had two hits. Junior Isaac Luckhart had two runs batted in and stole a base. The Cougars rallied in the bottom of the seventh, scoring two runs but fell short.
Hangin’ over the railing just the like the big leagues as the Cougars faced West Jordan in a double-header. (Greg James/City Journals)
The nightcap started slowly, both teams dealt with a strong wind blowing in from left field. West Jordan jumped out to a 5-0 lead before Kearns scored four in the third inning to cut into the deficit. Junior Kolby Jones pitched five solid innings, allowing 10 hits and only one earned run. He struck out seven and did not allow a walk. Senior Jacob Wood pitched the final two innings. He struck out four batters.
Mumford had three hits, including a double, to lead the Cougars. At press deadline, Kearns stands at 5-7 and is ranked 19th in the most recent ratings performance index. The Utah High School Activities Association is scheduled to begin its state tournament on May 15. The tournament is set up slightly different this year. The first round is the best-of-three series. The winners ad-
vance to the second-round super regional to face the top eight teams who advanced with byes. The super region winners will advance into a double-elimination tournament to determine the state champion. The state tournament finals are scheduled for May 28 and 29 at Utah Valley University. Kearns has never won a state baseball championship. l
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May 2021 | Page 23
Credit union wants to help students learn FUNDamental financial skills By Heather Lawrence | h.lawrence@mycityjournals.com
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he Utah Board of Education requires high school students to take a financial literacy class to “gain the information and skills to implement a life-long plan for financial success.” To help with that requirement, America First Credit Union has developed a free curriculum for teachers. “FUNDamentals is a new program that we’re really excited about. We’re trying to get the word out to school districts and get the content into teachers’ hands,” said Nicole Vipers. Vipers works at AFCU’s corporate office in Ogden and travels to the Salt Lake Valley to work with school districts as needed. She said the program is a winwin-win for students, teachers and the credit union. “As an organization, we benefit from individuals who are financially literate. We believe that process starts very young. We’ve created a curriculum that’s aligned with the state’s requirements, but it’s also very flexible,” Vipers said. FUNDamentals curriculum has two full lesson plans for grades K-five and eight full lesson plans for grades six-12. There are 48 additional content packs or mini lessons. AFCU reports that as of March, 54 educators were using the program. The lessons are designed to be flexible. The modules don’t have to be done in a certain order and can be adapted as needed for grade level and time. Financial literacy itself is a bridge between math and ELA, so Vipers said the program was designed to be used “cross-curriculum” by teachers in those core classes. “We’ve tailored it to the state financial literacy requirements, but also aligned it with the common core requirements for math and ELA. We hope it’s used by teachers for multiple subjects,” Vipers said. To see the FUNDamentals program in action, visit www.americafirst.com/ fundamentals and watch one of the several animated videos on topics from checking accounts to student loans and budgeting basics. Teachers who want to use the curriculum can register at www.education. americafirst.com to request a log in. The credit union says it will approve requests within 48 hours. “April is financial literacy month, and we want teachers to log on, use the curriculum and give us feedback. To encourage that, we ran a promotion where teachers could log in and use the content, then send us a picture of them in their classrooms. “All teachers who did that and filled
Page 24 | May 2021
New curriculum called FUNDamentals was designed by America First and is complimentary for educators across Utah. (America First Credit Union)
out the ‘nomination form’ were entered into a random drawing for $500. We’ll announce the 10 winners on May 5,” Vipers said. Vipers hopes to get the word out to educators all over the state. “It’s a great resource and it’s designed to fit teachers’ needs. There’s so much content. There are videos, handouts, presentations and certificates teachers can print when students pass off a certain skill.” Teachers can also use the sign in page to request a virtual or in-person visit from an AFCU employee to speak to students. “We can send a loan officer, branch manager or credit counselor. Topics are based on teachers’ needs, whether that’s budgeting, loans or building savings. And it’s all free,” Vipers said. Nominations for one of the $500 classroom grants are available on the America First Credit Union website. The content is available to public, private and charter schools. Vipers said they also want to make the program available to parents who homeschool. “These are critical life skills,” Vipers said. “With this program we’re expanding our commitment to elevating financial literacy and making it easily accessible to educators and students.” l
FUNDamentals curriculum meets the Utah Board of Education requirements, but aims to make learning fun with dozens of videos, lessons and real-life scenarios. (America First Credit Union)
To promote April as Financial Literacy Month, AFCU is holding a random drawing for teachers who use FUNDamentals during April. Winners receive a $500 classroom grant, and the curriculum is free. (America First Credit Union)
Taylorsville City Journal
Utah youth rugby opens chapter in Kearns By Greg James | g.james@mycityjournals.com
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here are over 2,000 youth rugby players in the state for Utah. The Taylorsville/ Kearns area has just started its own chapter to help add to that number. Kearns had its own team from 2006 to 2013, but the program was dissolved until recently. In 2017 it was reorganized and Kearns High school began a boys and girls team. “Over the past few years we have thought we needed a youth program,” Kearns rugby president Danny James said. “We have a lot of support, and we are going to make it work. We have one of the highest numbers of enrolment and most of them have never played before, both boys and girls.” The new youth league is for players ages 5–18. The skill level varies but most have none or very little experience. At press deadline, there were 38 enrolled across four age groups, under six, under eight, under 12. “The school district was very supportive, and we handed out nearly 4,700 fliers at 10 different schools,” James said. “I think people call me every day. I found lots of people that have never heard of rugby.” Rugby is the second-most popular sport in the world behind soccer. In fact, in Europe, Australia and South Africa many teams
The Kearns High School boys team has not won a game this season, but the team made up mostly of freshman and sophomores is improving each game. (Photo courtesy of Kearns Rugby.)
play in 80,000-seat stadiums, and the players reach folklore status like many NFL players do in the United States. Utah has its own professional rugby team, the Warriors. They began to play in 2018; their home stadium is Zions Bank Stadium in Herriman. “Rugby is around to stay,” James said.
“I think there are 16 different teams in the United States, and it is on ESPN and TV every week. The Warriors have an academy team. I think it is the sleeping giant of sport.” The Kearns teams will scrimmage and practice at Lodestone Park. Their games are scheduled to begin on May 22. The Utah
Youth Rugby Association will host Saturday events “I saw a flier when I was in high school, and some of my friends encouraged me to play,” James said. “I had a chance to play after high school at the University of Utah. I was keen on the sport. I had some great experiences. At this point in my life, I have wanted to give back to all of these kids.” Rugby players fit into several size and body types. “Some parents say they want to let their kids play, but they don’t want them to get hurt,” James said. “Some of the better teams are the smaller guys. The fast and fit players do really well. We need players of all sizes and skills.” The Cougars high school boys team is made up of mostly ninth and 10th graders. At press time, they had not recorded their first victory. They fell just short against Copper Hills 37-33. “We are improving each week, and the girls got their first win last week,” James said. “It is really exciting.” The Kearns little league will start April 19 (after press deadline) and Lodestone Park. They will be combined with players from Copper Hills. l
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May 2021 | Page 25
How different cities around the valley are approaching summer events By Justin Adams | justin.a@thecityjournals.com
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or many Utah residents, big summer events like fairs, festivals and concert series are a summer staple. So it was a big disappointment to have all those events canceled last summer due to COVID-19. Now with cases declining and vaccinations widely available, cities around the Salt Lake valley are figuring out the best way to bring these popular events back. “We’re actually just getting it nailed down right now,” said Keaton Asay, a special events coordinator for Sandy City, speaking about the city’s Fourth of July celebration. “In the past it’s our biggest event, with 35,000 to 40,000 people. We had to think about how we could scale it back.” According to Asay, the event will include events like the 5k race, a Spikeball tournament and a food truck night. However, they’ll be going without a parade as well as stages for live music. The fireworks show will also be coordinated in such a way as to prevent lots of people gathering in one area. Part of the difficulty of organizing big citywide events during a pandemic is that organizers have no way of knowing what state or county restrictions might be in place months down the road. With limited time to prepare, Asay said it made more sense for Sandy to plan conservatively, rather than to risk having to make major adjustments at the last minute. Organizers for South Jordan’s SoJo Summerfest faced a similar dilemma. As one of the first big events of the summer season (usually taking place in early June) the city usually starts planning in the thick of winter. “At that time, case counts were pretty high. I wish we had a crystal ball at that time,” said Janell Payne, a recreation director for South Jordan. Unsure of what the next few months would look like,
Many Utahns are eager for a return to fun summer events, such as Butlerville Days in Cottonwood Heights, pictured here. (Justin Adams/City Journals)
they made the call to delay the event from the beginning of summer to the end of summer (Sept. 13-18). “I know mask mandates have been lifted for the state. Things are going well now, and hopefully they’ll be even better,” Payne said. Like Sandy, South Jordan will be adapting its event to whatever circumstances in September may necessitate. One possibility is shifting the event from its regular venue at South Jordan City Park to the Equestrian Park, which has fewer entry and exit points, allowing the city to better control attendance. For its more limited events held in the past year, the city has begun using an online ticketing and reservation system to help manage crowd sizes and other logistics. That will likely
be used again for SoJo Summerfest and possibly for future events as well. “The benefits of knowing how many people to plan on is very helpful. If people are open to that, we’ll definitely continue that,” Payne said. In Taylorsville, city leaders are betting on improving conditions with a full steam ahead approach. “After checking with the county and state health departments, we have been authorized to hold Taylorsville Dayzz this year,” event committee chairman Jim Dunnigan said. “And, if the numbers continue to trend as they are now—with fewer positive COVID tests and coronavirus hospitalizations—we will be allowed to host it without requiring masks or social distancing. But either way, it’s officially a go.” Taylorsville Dayzz (June 24-26) is expected to include all the features of a “normal year” including vendors, parades, a car show and live entertainment. Likewise, Midvale City’s Harvest Days festival is aiming to include its regular attractions, albeit with some precautions. “Safety requirements include signage reminding people to keep within their own groups, eat only at designated areas, and have multiple handwashing/sanitizing stations,” communications officer Laura Magness said during a Midvale City Council meeting in March. They’ll also be limiting the number of vendor tents so that they can be adequately spaced apart from one another. Residents can stay updated on various city-hosted events this summer by following their respective cities on social media. l
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Taylorsville City Journal
Psych 101: Minding the mind By Cassie Goff | c.goff@mycityjouranls.com
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hroughout this series, I’ve written at length about the importance of mental health, well-being, and self-care. Self-care is becoming increasingly more popular in the form of mediation. It’s as if everyone I talk to either already has an established ritual or are working to figure out their preferred technique. The history of meditation is rooted in Buddhism. Eastern Buddhist monks structure their lives around meditation and have done so for centuries. It is believed meditation forms can help achieve an ideal state of mind. Traditionally, meditation forms are based on the two principles of creating awareness and attention to the present moment and nonjudgmentally accepting emotional states. Meditation began making its way through popular culture as mental health and well-being benefits began to be documented and spotlighted by famous names. Through historical and modern discourse, meditation and mindfulness go hand in hand and are often used interchangeably. A mindful individual is thought to be oriented in the present, sensitive to changes in context, and aware of multiple perspectives. By the 2000s, mindfulness and meditation practices were commonly utilized in mental health settings. Mindfulness training involves deliberately staying in and being aware of the present moment. Ideally, this provides an opportunity to acknowledge and accept difficult physical and emotional sensations. In thousands of formalized studies (and even more informal), meditation has proven to be effective in helping to reduce anxiety levels, alleviate depressive symptoms, decrease bodily pain, reduce reactivity, reduce high blood
pressure, cultivate less psychological distress, and increase brain functioning. On a lesser scale, meditation is effective for increasing neuroplasticity, developing emotional intelligence, improving sustained attention and working memory, improving sleep, increasing overall health, and most importantly, reducing stress levels. Various forms of mindfulness practices and techniques exist. There is no right way to go about meditation. (There are more traditional forms, for sure, but those don’t always work for everyone.) However, a foundational aspect to most meditative techniques is breath. Mindfulness is all about quieting the mind and being present in the moment, so focusing on breathing is one of the best ways to spark such a mindset. Some will focus on the bodily experience of breathing; focusing in on how your
BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
chest rises and falls with every breathe. Some will focus on deep breathing; timing with various patterns such as a counting to four with a deep breath in, holding for two at the top of the breath, and breathing out for four. From there, any number of meditation practices can be utilized. Some will focus more on the bodily experience, asking for attention on the muscles; as you contract and release every muscle in your body, moving from head to toe, or from toe to head. Some will ask for attention on thought processing, as you focus on quieting the mind, stopping the pesky and unwanted thoughts, to cut out all but one. Some will ask you to focus on what you’re perceiving with each of the five senses. Some will lead you through a guided exercise, asking you to imagine different perceptions or visualizations. As with any form of self-care, the key is finding what works best for you and your own well-being. I know some people who take a 10-minute pause in their work day to focus on their breathing. I know some people who breathe intuitively for a few moments in between Zoom meetings. I know some people who go to yoga (sometimes even with goats). I know some people who go on weekend meditation retreats. I firmly believe taking time to yourself, even if it’s a few moments or an entire weekend, to close your eyes, breathe, and calm the mind, is extremely important for well-being and mental health. So if you haven’t given meditation a try yet, the present moment is a good time to start. Research from Albert, Baer, Cahn, Chambers, Closimo, Chu, Davis, Diez, Feinstein, Gallant, Garland, Hayes, Helena, Hollis-Walker, Hoffman, Jose, Kramer, Malinowski, Moore, Miyake, Polich, Teper, Wang, and Weg. l
Replenish Landscape Garden
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Business Spotlights are a service offered to our advertisers to help them inform our readers about their businesses. For information on scheduling a Spotlight, please call us at 801-254-5974 or email us at ryan.c@thecityjournals.com
Twenty-seven 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 27 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.
TaylorsvilleJ ournal.com
“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 15 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 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-cu-
bic-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.
May 2021 | Page 27
Comprehensive soccer training taught virtually by pros By Catherine Garrett | c.garrett@mycityjournals.com
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ormer Utah Royals professional soccer player Alex Kimball will again headline a six-week virtual training course that begins June 14 for young female soccer players, ages 12 to 17. A sneak peek of the first week is being offered for free to give those interested a glimpse of the program. “This course has brought girls from across the country and has provided great insight into many aspects of the game that are often missed when competing at a high level as a teenage female athlete,” Utah-based Sport Ready founder Robin Cecil, a physical therapist of 25 years, said. “They are learning from phenomenal professional athletes and specialists how to listen to their bodies, how their own training must be individualized, how their self-talk really matters, and how to increase their confidence both on and off the field.” The first run of this program this spring brought several positive responses including from a soccer player named Teya who said, “This course is like nothing I have ever done before. It teaches me what I’ve got to do off the field and it will help me more in the long run.” Former professional soccer player Colette Jepson Smith along with former BYU player Elise Flake will also be featured in the training along other sports professionals, in-
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Former BYU soccer player Elise Flake will be featured in a virtual six-week training program of world-class instruction for female soccer players, ages 12 to 17, that begins June 14. (Photo courtesy BYU)
cluding RSL nutritionist Michelle Meinking and mental strength coach Kelsey Ruff. Additionally, sports endocrinologist Nic-
Former Utah Royals soccer player Alex Kimball will headline a virtual six-week training program of worldclass instruction for female soccer players, ages 12 to 17, that begins June 14. (Photo courtesy Robin Cecil)
ki Keay will help participants learn to identify symptoms of imbalance training and how to balance their training behaviors, which will improve performance capacity. “This training program provides female youth athletes with the strategies necessary to help them meet their sport demands in today’s competitive youth sports structure along with the tools to monitor their readiness to compete,” Cecil said. “We educate and help you train yourself in ways that you’ve never probably learned before,” Kimball said. “I wish I knew then
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Page 28 | May 2021
Former Utah Royals player Colette Jepson Smith will be featured in a virtual six-week training program of world-class instruction for female soccer players, ages 12 to 17, that begins June 14. (Photo courtesy Robin Cecil)
what I know now.” Cecil compares high-level athletes to a sports car. “Both burst with speed and agility. Both have the drive to perform by covering the distance in the fastest and most efficient way possible. To compete, a car and driver need to be ready. Preparation and training are paramount. Before the race, all systems are checked and a racing strategy is in place. Knowing when to step on the gas and when to step on the brake is paramount to staying on the track. It is the same with young athletes. Blindly going the distance without the right preparation and training, a plan, and not taking care of issues as they arise leaves athletes facing a long and dangerous race to the finish.” Kimball will provide “Alex’s Daily Touch” along with hosting live question-and-answer sessions with NWSL, WSL, National and NCAA D1 female soccer players. The training will take about 30 minutes per day, four to five days a week, depending on the individual schedule of each participant. The cost of the online training is $199. Enrollment can be secured and more information can be found at: s p o r t r e a d y a c a d e m y. c o m / p / u l t i mate-virtual-soccer-training-for-female-athletes-with-alex-kimball. Individual athletes who subscribe at Sport Ready Academy will receive a 10% discount on the course. Teams that are interested in signing up can reach out at info@rusportready.com for special pricing. Plans are also in place to expand this type of training to other sports, as well as expanding the number of soccer professionals featured in this program.l
Taylorsville City Journal
Residents encouraged to conserve water as drought persists By Joshua Wood | j.wood@mycityjournals.com
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Below-average snowpack and dry soil will impact reservoir levels. (Joshua Wood/City Journals)
Editor’s note: this is the second in a four- residents, but precipitation for the month was part series looking at the state’s drought con- just 73% of normal. This further exacerbated an ditions. already disappointing water year. As the state’s lower than normal snowpack he entire state of Utah is experiencing melts this spring, much of the runoff needed in drought, and 90% of the state is seeing streams and reservoirs will not make it there. extreme drought. While the state’s snowpack Prolonged drought conditions have left Utah’s received a boost from wetter conditions in soils thirsty. Soil moisture was at just 40% of February and March than it saw in early win- saturation at the end of March. That was down ter, water totals for the year are below nor- 6% from the same time last year and was near mal. That means there will be less runoff than the minimum levels seen since sensors were innormal, lower reservoir levels, and the need stalled to take the measurements over a decade for residents to conserve water. ago. “Utah’s statewide snow water equivalent “Soil moisture levels in the state have (SWE) peaked at 12.6 inches on March 27, started to wet up due to the melting snow but which was 81% of normal and about 10 days are still extremely dry compared with previous early,” stated Jordan Clayton, data collection years,” Clayton said. “Forecasters have had to officer with the Utah Snow Survey and US reduce the anticipated gains from melting snow Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resourc- to account for the likelihood that a significant es Conservation Service. “Unfortunately, our portion of this year’s snowmelt runoff will soak SWE didn’t last at 12.6 inches for more than a into headwater soils and not make it to downday, and recent warm temperatures have caused stream reservoirs.” the statewide SWE value to plummet.” Utah’s reservoir storage in early April was Utah entered the current water year need- down 14% from the previous year. Below-noring a snowpack well above average to com- mal snowpack and dry soil will likely keep pensate for persistent dry conditions. Another those levels lower this year. below average year sparked Gov. Spencer J. In his drought executive order, Cox made Cox to issue an executive order on March 17 recommendations for residents to conserve declaring a state of emergency due to drought water. These included reducing indoor water conditions. waste, fixing irrigation inefficiencies, convert“We’ve been monitoring drought condi- ing unnecessary turf areas to waterwise landtions carefully and had hoped to see significant scapes, and considering purchasing water-savimprovement from winter storms,” Cox said. ing devices like smart-timer controllers or “Unfortunately, we have not received enough low-flow toilets. Even taking shorter showers snow to offset the dry conditions. I ask Utahns can help make a difference. to evaluate their water use and find ways to Other suggestions issued by the governor’s save not only because of current drought con- office included fixing water leaks, only running ditions but also because we live in one of the full loads of laundry or dishes, and turning off driest states in the nation.” the tap while brushing teeth, shaving, soaping While the entire state has seen drought up, doing dishes or rinsing vegetables. Further conditions persist, the severity has varied with- recommendations and water-saving tips can be in the state. By early April, SWE for major wa- found at SlowTheFlow.org. tersheds in the northeastern Uinta Mountains Residents can anticipate a summer of savand southeastern Utah stood at around 90% of ing water, lower reservoir levels, and potential normal, while southwestern Utah was at just economic damage resulting from drought con50% or normal. The majority of the state’s ba- ditions. sins stood at around 70% of normal. “This winter ranks 34th of the 41 years for March may have seemed stormy to area which we have collected statewide SWE values at our SNOTEL sites,” Clayton said. l
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Taylorsville City Journal
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Moms are good for all kinds of things; homemade cookies, clean underwear, and guilt, just to name a few. Although each mom is different, we often feel we’re doing everything wrong when it comes to raising children. Do we back off, step in, offer advice, stay silent, help them succeed, let them fail? We’re never sure and we’re usually winging it, just doing the best we can. It reminds me of when my brother knocked the wind out of himself by being stupid. Mom thought he was choking and performed the Heimlich. He couldn’t breathe for two hours. She did the best she could with the information she had. I love mom but she wasn’t perfect. Thank heavens. She cheated at Skip-Bo, had no patience with stupidity, and hated animals with a passion. When she got remarried and moved to a ranch in North Carolina, we found it a unique and hilarious karma. Her emails to me often started with, “Well, I kicked the rooster again today.” Mom might have loathed poultry, but when the wind snapped her beautiful globe willow tree in half, she mourned it like a family member. Every spring, mom’s garden would bloom with color. She loved ladybugs and butterflies. She’d also hand my daughters a saltshaker and tell them to feed the snails. (They didn’t realize their role in her evil ex-
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doubted she loved us. She wasn’t just a mama bear; she was a mama velociraptor when it came to defending her kids. Mom once told me her children were her inspiration. An inspiration to move across the country. As a final joke, mom requested each of her children to speak at her funeral. I considered digging up the Beowulf puppets and delivering her eulogy via Grendel, the monstrous creature doomed to wander the earth. She would have loved it. Mom worked as a teacher’s aide at an elementary school before she died. (I don’t think the two are connected, but it was an elementary school.) At the funeral, her coworkers told me what a great woman she was. I already knew that. We often put the dead on a pedestal (which is dangerous because they can roll off and fall on people). But mom wouldn’t want to be remembered as being a perfect person who never messed up, got angry, felt alone, burned dinner, swore, failed, tried again, and again, and again. If you’re a mom on Mother’s Day this year, that’s the message for you. You were never meant to get everything right. You don’t need to achieve perfection. It isn’t even possible. Just embrace your wonderful messiness. My mom was better than perfect. She was human.
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FREE
TAYLORSVILLE RESTAURANT OWNER FINALLY BACK WITH HIS WIFE, YOUNG SON By Carl Fauver | c.fauver@mycityjournals.com
I
Taylorsville restaurateur Winsten Asif was recently reunited with his wife and son, after nearly seven years apart. (Carl Fauver/City Journals)
Local Postal Customer ECRWSS Scan Here: Interactive online edition with more photos.
t’s a long way from Karachi, Pakistan, to Taylorsville, more than a third of the way around the earth, in fact (7,900 miles). But still, it shouldn’t take more than 6 1/2 years to bridge that gap. Unfortunately, however, that’s how long it took Taylorsville restaurant owner Winsten Asif, 31, to reunite with his wife, Sitara, 25, and son Katzar, 8. Bureaucratic red tape kept the small family 11 time zones apart, until they finally received some assistance from a pair of Utah elected officials. State Sen. and Taylorsville Economic and Community Development Director Wayne Harper pitched in locally, while U.S. Sen. Mitt Romney’s office did the same, back in Washington, D.C. Finally, on March 22, three weeks after their 10th wedding anniversary, Asif greeted his wife and son at the Salt Lake City International Airport, at the end of their 28-hour, three-stop flight. “It was so emotional to finally see them and hug them again,” he said. “We were married on March 3, 2011, and Katzar was born on December 29, 2012. I left for America before he was 2 years old (August 11, 2014). They were supposed to be able to follow me a few months later. But it ended up being nearly seven years.” Without wanting to go into much detail, Asif admitted religious persecution was one of the primary reasons why he was eager to get his family safely out of his home country. More than 200 million Pakistanis (more than 90%) are Muslim. But Winsten and Sitara were each born and raised members of The
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Across the entire country, they were among only about 4,000 members of the faith. “My parents converted to the LDS faith, but there were very few of us in Pakistan,” Asif said. “We are too small to have wards and stakes over there. And we were not able to marry in a temple. My wife and I are now talking about having a temple marriage here for Christmas.” After working in a Pakistani restaurant cooking pizza, Asif knew he wanted to own an eatery here. He learned how to cook Greek cuisine after arriving in the United States and opened his Greek House restaurant (2654 West 4700 South) last summer. Taylorsville Mayor Kristie Overson attended the Aug. 26 ribbon cutting. “It is just such a heartwarming story (Asif reuniting with his wife and son),” Overson said. “I am so glad [Wayne Harper] was able to get involved and help in some small way. I think it shows how much Taylorsville cares about our businesses. Personal relationships with are business community members are everything. I’m just so pleased with the happy ending to their story.” Asif is now working to assist his siblings in their effort to immigrate to the United States. He has no relatives from his side of the family in Utah now. However, his wife’s grandmother, mother, uncle and aunt are now in the state. Soon after arriving, young Katzar had to receive his immunization shots in order to enroll at his new West Valley Ele Continued page 5
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