Taylorsville Journal | October 2021 by The City Journals

October 2021 | Vol. 8 Iss. 10

FREE MORE THAN 1,100 VOLUNTEERS HELP TO MAKE 9/11 NATIONAL DAY OF SERVICE A HUGE SUCCESS IN KEARNS By Carl Fauver | c.fauver@mycityjournals.com

s our country marked the 20th anniversary of one of its worst days ever last month, many of us simply watched the 9/11 observance coverage on television. But that was not the case in Kearns—at least not for everyone. Instead, an estimated 1,100 volunteers of all ages participated in a wide variety of community improvement projects as part of the National Day of Service. “We were so happy with the turnout, because we honestly did not know what to expect,” said event Co-chair Becky Guertler. “Even though there was some heavy rain at times, people all seemed to have smiles on their faces. It was a really good thing for Kearns residents.” The other Kearns 9/11 National Day of Service Co-chair, Anthony Loubet, concurred. “I have noticed for some time now a desire amongst people to get engaged in community activities,” he said. “This was a grass roots, interfaith activity that was so much easier for residents to join in. And people get invested in projects like this—things they care about. They have a pride of ownership. This was a great opportunity.” The idea of creating a 9/11 National Day of Service is credited to a pair of New Yorkers who formed a nonprofit group to coordinate activities there, just months after the terrorist attacks on that fall day in 2001. Now, a generation later, it’s estimated about 30 million people—nearly 10% of our entire United States population—donate part of their time to helping others on Sept. 11. Even as rain fell on the top, volunteer painters continued to spruce up the undersides of picnic pavilions at Mountain Man Park during the 9/11 Continued page 14 National Day of Service observance in Kearns. (Lynette Wendel)

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Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center puts Taylorsville on the map

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Granite School District bus app generating positive response By Heather Lawrence | h.lawrence@mycityjournals.com oughly 7,800 students in Granite School District ride the school bus on a daily basis. An app called Here Comes the Bus was launched by the district’s transportation department in January. It lets parents know when the bus is close both for pickup and drop off. “The app shows the location of a student’s bus in real time. This helps provide parents with arrival times for both home and school routes. You can also get a notification on your phone when the bus is near,” said Ben Horsley of GSD. The app is available for download on Apple’s The App Store and Google Play. After downloading, users are asked to sign up and put in the school district’s code, 29318. Users create a password and then add students using their last name and student ID. GSD’s transportation director and licensed bus driver David Gatti said the response to the app has been positive. “Parents who have downloaded the app have said it has been very helpful in determining the status of the bus, whether or not their child had missed the bus, and other messages that the department needs to communicate to parents,” Gatti said. Gatti said the app has many benefits and isn’t just a convenience. He noted that about 1,300 special needs students use the school bus daily, some of whom need constant care. Gatti also said many buses use a group stop, not a specific residence. When there is bad weather, parents pick up kids from these stops. This will limit the amount of time a parent or child needs to wait in bad weather. “[The app] is a free way for parents to be more in-the-know about when their child’s bus is arriving. There are many things beyond a bus driver’s control that may affect the bus’s timeliness. HCTB allows parents to set alerts that tell them when their child’s bus

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is a certain number of minutes from the stop. “In inclement weather, [using HCTB means] parents and students are exposed to adverse conditions for shorter periods of time. Furthermore, a parent can determine whether their student missed the bus or whether it is just running a bit late,” Gatti said. GSD notes that the process of creating an account, choosing the district code 29318, and entering a student’s last name and ID number limit privacy concerns with HCTB. Parents and students who use the app become a “partner” in the transportation process. “HCTB allows them to be privy to information at the click of a button on their smart device. This information was previously only accessible through a call to our office,” Gatti said. Parents are encouraged to reach out with any questions or concerns about using the app, bus schedules or whether their child is eligible for transportation services. For specific bus schedules, call your child’s school. For eligibility, go to the GSD transportation website to enter your address. Elementary students who live 1.5 miles or more from the school are eligible; for junior high and high school students it’s 2 miles. Email questions about the app to buses@graniteschools.org or call 385-646-4280 for general education and 385-646-4298 for special education. The app has proved to be a good tool to limit frustration and anger at the bus driver when the bus is off schedule. When they can see that it’s late, parents and students aren’t stuck somewhere waiting, wondering if they missed it. “[Bus] drivers are grateful that parents and students are less upset if the bus is late, as they can stay home until the bus is eminently at their stop,” Gatti said. l

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A flyer explaining the Here Comes the Bus app for Granite School District students and families. (GSD)

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COVID-19 By Allison Gray-Rainer Taylorsville resident Allison Gray-Rainer (77) was a medical professional in Houston, Texas before her retirement. She moved to Utah in April 2021 where she lives at Summit Vista near her daughter and grandchild. She dabbles in poetry, performs with the glee club and is having the time of her life.

COVID-19 By Allison Gray-Rainer

COVID, COVID go away Do not come another day. You have made us crazy mad With all your rules a-changing sad. I can not even go a-swimming in a pool ‘Cause the virus has multi-personalities, you fool, Which mimics so many other diseases Now we all have to get shots this season. And that’s no fun to get an arm dart, So have a heart . . . Do not stay, just go depart And stop ruining our holidays!

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Young Taylorsville team learning on the go By Greg James | g.james@mycityjournals.com

The Warriors’ junior quarterback is in his second season playing the position and learning something new each day. (Greg James/City Journals)

ecoming a quarterback at a large high school comes with pressure and expectations. Junior standout Jordan Karle is in that position at Taylorsville High School with a young team that is growing and learning. “He has only played quarterback for two years,” Karle’s father Corey said as he was cheering on the sideline. “Let’s go, he would not play the position for me in little league, but he came to us last year and said he was going to give it a try.” Playing the position has not been without its difficulties. He is completing about 48 percent of his passes and has five interceptions, but as a junior quarterback, evaluators see potential. “Last year was his first year,” Warriors head football coach Chris Rosales said. “He played in a few varsity games, He took it upon himself to go to some quarterback camps this summer. He has done great. It is his second year, and he is still building into that leadership role and is learning something every day.” Karle attend the Galu Tagovailoa camp hosted by Rasing Champions and received high marks for his efforts. The Warriors have several younger players that have had to step into important team roles this year. Transfer senior Benji Manuha has led the team in tackles. He forced a fumble early in the game against Granger that led to an offensive touchdown. “I love me team and the friends I have made here,” Manuha said. “Football is fun, and I love to be aggressive and hit someone.” “[Manuha] has been doing a great job and has stepped into the defensive leader role,” Rosales said. Junior Manu Faleao has been a two-way standout playing offense and defense for the team. “We are a super young team,” Rosales said. “We have kids coming from an 80-yard

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Junior Ryken Mullins plays both defense and offense for the Warriors this season. (Greg James/ City Journals)

little field to Friday night lights. It is a different atmosphere, a different environment. To me, the kids have adapted great. They need to get into that flow and gain that experience. I can’t teach effort, and they are giving all they have.” The Warriors have adopted a new program to connect to the little league program. It is called Friday Night Lights, where the Ute Conference players have been invited to participate with the varsity team in a gameday experience. They lead the team on the field, eat with the team pregame and spend time on the sidelines. “We started that this year, and it bridges the gap with the young kids,” Rosales said. “The coaches nominate the players that deserve it. It has been a huge success.” Taylorsville has started the season without a victory, 0-6, but Rosales said they have headed in the right direction. “The scoreboard does not show what the community expects from us, but we are doing big things and the kids are being awesome about it,” he said. Taylorsville competes in Region 2. The Warriors are scheduled to finish the season at home against Hunter on Oct. 1 and at Roy High School on Oct. 13. The state tournament is set to begin on Oct. 22. l

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Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center puts Taylorsville on the conference and convention map By Carl Fauver | c.fauver@mycityjournals.com

ove over Salt Palace Convention Center. Make room, Mountain America Exposition Center. There’s a new player in the Salt Lake Valley conference and convention arena, courtesy of the new $40 million Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center. Last month, a group you’ve never heard of made Taylorsville history in a way you’ve never thought about. The Utah Chapter of the American Planning Association hosted its annual two-day fall conference inside the MVPAC, becoming not only the first professional conference in the new center but actually the first sizeable convention ever in the city’s 25-year history. APAUT is a nonprofit group of professionals, planning officials and citizen planners who serve Utah communities. Its website (apautah.org) claims “membership is also represented by academics, students and

Mayor Kristie Overson offered opening remarks at the first-ever professional conference held inside the MVPAC. (Carl Fauver/City Journals)

retired professionals.” Taylorsville City Planner Mark McGrath is APAUT’s historian. “I was [APAUT’s] newsletter editor for about 10 years, but I’m new as chapter historian,” McGrath said. “Like many other groups, we are trying to get back to normal, piecing things together after COVID. We have about 500 Utah members, with about 75% of them being professional practicing planners. This is our first face-to-face chapter conference in two years.” APAUT Executive Director Judi Pickell was first to suggest her organization make use of the new arts center. “I saw the news coverage of the [MVPAC] construction and then looked it up on the county website,” she said. “We wanted a place large enough for breakout rooms and centrally located [in the Salt Lake Valley]. We also wanted the site to be architecturally interesting.” Pickell reports, APAUT paid a “nonprofit rate” of about $4,500 to Salt Lake County, for the rooms and equipment they required, along with staffing and cleaning fees. “We have about 350 people registered for the conference, and this location seems to be just about right for that many,” Pickell said. With the larger of the two MVPAC theaters seating 440 people, that’s the functional capacity for conferences at the site. It’s a far cry from the capacity at the Salt Palace, Sandy’s expo center or the Maverik Center in West Valley City. But, for more modest-sized convention (300 to 450 attendees), the new Taylorsville location appears to be a good fit. Taylorsville Mayor Kristie Overson welcomed APAUT attendees to its two-day event. “Yours is the first conference of this size we have hosted on the Taylorsville Centennial Plaza campus,” she said. “We consider it serendipitous this first conference is for Utah’s American Planning Association. That’s because we, as a city, have

Attendees at the APAUT conference inside the Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center were among the first to see the new lettering on the walls that now welcome visitors to the city hall campus. (Carl Fauver/City Journals)

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City Planner Mark McGrath, APAUT Executive Director Judi Pickell, Taylorsville Planning Commission member Lynette Wendel and Mayor Kristie Overson (L-R) were all in attendance for the opening of the first-ever professional conference at the new Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center. (Carl Fauver/City Journals)

long shared APA Utah’s vision. Like you, we know how important future development and re-development are to our community.” Overson also told attendees about several community improvement projects now underway in Taylorsville, including the following: • New five-building, 647-unit West Point apartment complex scheduled for construction on the southwest corner of Ban-

gerter Highway and 5400 South. • Midvalley Connector Bus Rapid Transit line, which will feature 15 bus stations and 1.4 miles of dedicated transit lanes along 4500/4700 South. • Redesign of the Carriage Square shopping center to improve and update buildings, sidewalks and parking—using Community Development Block Grant funding—on

About 350 people attended the two-day APAUT conference in Taylorsville. (Carl Fauver/City Journals)

Taylorsville City Journal

the southwest corner of Redwood Road and 4100 South. • 70,000-square-foot Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints temple—now under construction on 4700 South, just west of the belt route—which will be seen by 100,000 I-215 drivers each day. “There are many more projects underway in Taylorsville, but these are a few of the highlights,” Overson said, as she concluded her welcoming remarks. “Whether serving as a professional planner, planning official or city planner, each of you is doing vital work. You are creating places where people want to be.” Following Overson, Method Studio Senior Project Manager Todd Kelsey told conference attendees more about the performing arts center. Method Studio designed the structure, with input from city and county officials. It was a project near and dear to his heart. “I’m a Taylorsville native,” he said. “I rode my bike on this property when I was a kid.” Among the Taylorsville City Planning Commission members attending the two-day conference was Lynette Wendel. “[The conference] was a great opportunity to share ideas,” Wendel said. “There was a lot of conversation about what Utah will look like in our new climate, what our transportation and housing needs will be and how we can improve economic sustainability. It was also nice to see so many women involved in the conference, because planning and local government has been a male-dominated space.” The APAUT conference marked the first time the arts center has drawn a large crowd during regular business hours. That meant the event would be the first significant test of whether the 210 parking stalls north of the MVPAC would be adequate. Overson was pleased to see they were. “Parking was good, exactly what we expected,” she said. “As we were planning the [MVPAC], we knew we had to have enough spaces available to hold events during city business hours. We were delighted to see it

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all work. We can still conduct business as usual [inside Taylorsville City Hall] while a convention like this is going on.” From day one, some five years ago, as the arts center plans were first being discussed, those involved had promised the Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center would do more than house plays and musicals. Taylorsville City and Salt Lake County officials have always intended for the facility to be kept bustling, to both maximize its financial value and to establish the MVPAC as a key gathering spot for local residents. “[This APAUT conference] does open CJ the door to a world of opportunities [inside the MVPAC],” McGrath said. “It’s not just a performing arts facility. It is a perfect location for conventions like this, particularly when combined with Centennial Plaza. With food trucks serving meals outside—and lots of open space for people to eat and relax—I’m sure the arts center will draw many more conferences in the future.” Speaking of Centennial Plaza, city officials plan to hold their ribbon cutting ceremony Oct. 15 for the new green space, sidewalks, picnic benches and $750,000 outdoor amphitheater. Event details are available at taylorsvilleut.gov. l

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The first-ever professional conference inside the MVPAC drew hundreds of people from across the state. (Carl Fauver/City Journals)

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Taylorsville firefighter Wade Russell recently helped with disaster relief in Florida and Louisiana By Carl Fauver | c.fauver@mycityjournals.com

s our nation marked the 20th anniversary of 9/11 last month, the solemn date had particular significance for dozens of Utah-based emergency responders who travelled to New York’s “Ground Zero” in the days after that tragic terrorist attack. One of those who made the trek was a brand-new firefighter, barely four years out of Kearns

Utah Urban Search & Rescue Task Force 1 logo. (uttf1.org)

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High School. Now, a generation later, Wade Russell remains a firefighter and still responds to America’s disasters on a regular basis. “My Dad was a firefighter for 37 years, from 1969 to 2006,” Russell said. “But even up through high school (graduating from KHS in 1997), that was not something I thought about doing.” A summer spent working on a wildland firefighting team changed Wade’s mind. And in September 1999 he hired with the Salt Lake County Fire Department, since rebranded Unified Fire Authority. “My Dad never really told me firefighting stories or tried to convince me to become a fireman,” Russell said. “But all our family friends were firefighters and their families. I liked them. I liked the lifestyle. I like the odd [work] schedule. So, I joined.” Russell is now a battalion chief, with seven different UFA stations under his command in Taylorsville, Kearns, Magna and Midvale. He works out of UFA Station 118, next door to Taylorsville City Hall. Back when he first became a firefighter, Russell was also able to join his father workon what was then PM the fledgling Utah Task 1ing10/6/2014 2:38:03

Force 1 (UT-TF1) Urban Search and Rescue Team. This was just two years before the 9/11/2001 hijackings. In fact, Russell says those attacks resulted in UT-TF1’s first-ever deployment. “My Dad and I were both sent to Ground Zero and worked together there,” Russell said. “A total of 62 members of our Utah Task Force 1 team went to New York.” Twenty years later, UT-TF1 duties continue to take Russell to all corners of the country. This summer, it was a pair of long trips east. “Our task force itself was not deployed this summer; their last deployment was to a wildfire in Medford, Oregon, last summer,” he said. “But I am now a member of an Urban Search and Rescue Incident Support Team, which is made up of members from several states. As part of that team, I was deployed to Florida in July and Louisiana in September.” You’ll recall, it was about 1:30 a.m. EDT on the morning of June 24, when a 12-story beachfront condominium in the Miami suburb of Surfside partially collapsed, killing 98 people. Unlike fires or hurricanes, it came completely without warning, like 9/11.

Unified Fire Battalion Chief Wade Russell has been with the agency 22 years, working mostly out of Taylorsville and Kearns stations. (unifiedfire.org)

“I and one other person from Utah were sent to Miami on July first,” Russell said. “I

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Utah Task Force 1 members Wade Russell and Mike Ulibarri (L-R) were dispatched to the building collapse disaster in Florida last summer. (Courtesy Wade Russell)

worked 12-hour shifts, noon to midnight, for 17 straight days. It was the same number of days I was at Ground Zero (20 years earlier). Those are my longest deployments ever.” Russell works as an incident safety officer on the IST, meaning other safety officers report to him. “We were pretty lucky in Miami,” he said. “There were no serious injuries among the search and rescue responders. We had a lot of heat exhaustion, some lacerations—a couple of people needed stitches—but no major problems.” While search and rescue personnel normally sleep in motels or occasionally tents, when necessary, Russell says the accommodations in Florida were unique. “We got lucky, because a cruise ship was being refurbished at that time; so, we

spent our nights on the ship,” he said. “It was about 7 miles from the collapsed tower. But, with traffic, it took 45 minutes to get back and forth.” After returning to Utah from Miami, it was barely six weeks before Russell was back out with his incident support team, this time going to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the day after Hurricane Ida made landfall. “At first, I didn’t think I would be going to Louisiana, because it was not my turn [in the deployment rotation[,” he said. “But [Ida] was such a large hurricane, covering such a wide geographical area, they needed more people.” Because of all the flooding and power outages, the closest Russell’s commercial plane could land to the IST command post in Baton Rouge was Houston. From there, he

drove 270 miles. As was the case in Florida, health and safety incidents for task force team members responding to Hurricane Ida were minimal. “Again, our only real issues in Louisiana were heat exhaustion cases,” Russell said. “One of my biggest jobs was to make sure everyone had enough water and was maintaining hydration.” Russell was in Louisiana one week, returning to Utah on Labor Day. While most of us would run from collapsing buildings and hurricanes, Russell finds fulfillment in going toward them. “I like it, because I like the unknown,” he said. “It is neat to help people who really need you and to see their appreciation. I plan to stay with the [UT-TF1] team for years to come.” With 16- and 13-year-old sons still at home, Russell calls his wife the “unsung hero” in his family. “She is so supportive of me going [on task force deployments], but then she is stuck with the extra work at home,” he said. “My boys have not ever expressed an interest in one day becoming firefighters, but who knows.” After all, when Wade Russell was their age, with his father a veteran firefighter, he had no idea those were the footsteps he’d follow, from Ground Zero to Florida to Louisiana and many other points across the country. On its website (uttf1.org), UT-TF1 reports, “Urban Search and Rescue Utah Task Force 1 is one of 28 Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Urban Search & Rescue Task Forces in the United States. UT-TF1 currently has approximately 210 members, of which 186 are Unified Fire and Salt Lake City Fire Employees. The Task Force manages $6.3 million in specialized vehicles and equipment.” l

SERVING THE COMMUNITY » Father of three boys » Accountant » Understands small businesses » Actively serving community

“

I will work for you. I desire to have our city government run efficiently, transparently, and be accountable to its citizens. I want to make sure that our budgets are fiscally sound and that we work to maintain low taxes. Working together, we can work to keep our city beautiful, have safe neighborhoods, and we can work to protect the quality of life in Taylorsville. —Bob Knudsen

“

Paid for by Friends of Bob Knudsen

801-505-8471

Utah Task Force 1 members Mike Ulibarri, Battalion Chief Wade Russell, Captain Keith Bevan, Battalion Chief Embret Fossum and Captain Keith Plagemann (L-R) were all deployed to Louisiana in response to Hurricane Ida. (Courtesy Wade Russell)

TaylorsvilleJ ournal.com

robert.knudsen.campaign @gmail.com votebobknudsen.com October 2021 | Page 13

Continued from front page This was the first time the day was observed in such an organized and extensive way in Kearns. Community activist Lynette Wendel was involved in brainstorming ideas for several different service activities that would engage residents. “The volunteers were incredible, and the turnout far exceeded our expectations,” Wendell said. “We were all ready for just a good old dose of kindness I think.” The day of service included several activities at many different Kearns locations. For starters, members of the Tongan West Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints did extensive yard cleanup at 31 Kearns homes. Stake leaders told organizers they had about 400 volunteers attend their “thank you” lunch that afternoon. Meanwhile, other volunteers also weeded, mowed and spruced up an additional 20 homes. Elsewhere, outside Hope Unlimited Church (4115 West 5290 South), about 80 volunteers worked to clean up an area that will now become a community garden. The church operates one of the Kearns food pantries. Organizers say the cleared area will allow them to grow fresh vegetables to distribute through the pantry. And speaking of food pantries, another 9/11 National Day of Service activity took place outside Harmons Grocery (4872 West 6200 South). That’s where some 4,000 pounds of food were donated to all of the community food pantries. Organizers say some donors brought food from home to the drive, while many others simply loaded a second cart while shopping, in order to contribute. Popular Mountain Man Park (4925 South 5200 West) was also buzzing with activity that day, as volunteers got some cleanup work done. Despite heavy rain at times, they were even able to paint the undersides of five open-air picnic pavilions in the park. “The rain didn’t really cause problems for painters, but it did make kind of a mess of the chalk art,” Loubet said. “We had the chalk available to kids, to keep them busy while their parents worked and painted in the park. They drew American flags, teddy bears and other pictures with positive messages. One said ‘you are stronger than you know.’ The rain didn’t do them any good, but the kids had fun.” The community’s remaining activities for the 9/11 National Day of Service observance were held, comfortably dry, inside the Kearns Library (4375 West 5345 South). That’s where some volunteers assembled “birthday kits” while others wrote thank-you cards and letters to emergency first responders, veterans and active military personnel. “We had about 450 of our volunteers come through the library,” Guertler said. “They made up 377 birthday kits, which included cake mix, frosting, candles, table clothes, napkins, utensils, party decorations

Page 14 | October 2021

and toys. Those will be given out at our food pantries. Parents will have everything in one bag to throw their child a birthday party.” As for the thank you cards, Guertler says about 600 of them were made. “Some people wrote notes in already printed cards, while others started with blank sheets of paper and used their imagination,” she said. Several elected officials made appearances throughout the day, including Kearns Metro Township Mayor Kelly Bush, Utah District 38 House Rep. Ashlee Matthews and District 5 State Sen. Karen Mayne. Organizers estimate about 200 of their 1,100 volunteers were Kearns High School students, with nearly half of those being members of the Cougars’ football team. “This day was such a big success; I’m sure we will do it again next year,” Guertler said. “In fact, now some people are talking about a similar day sometime in the spring, so we could have two community volunteer service days each year.” l

Despite occasionally heavy rainfall, volunteers in Kearns kept busy in a variety of ways during the community’s observance of the 9/11 National Day of Service. (Lynette Wendel)

Donated cake mix, frosting, candles and party decorations were combined into “birthday kits” for kids, during the 9/11 National Day of Service in Kearns. (Lynette Wendel) Some 4,000 pounds of food was donated to Kearns area food pantries in just a couple of hours during the community’s observance of the 9/11 National Day of Service. (Lynette Wendel)

More than 1,100 children and adults donated time in Kearns during the community’s observance of the 9/11 National Day of Service. (Lynette Wendel)

Taylorsville City Journal

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

MAYOR'S MESSAGE

www.taylorsvilleut.gov

October 2021

Enjoy Centennial Plaza, Opening this Month

Dear Friends and Neighbors, We are so pleased that the Shop Local program is returning for another year. Last year, we launched the program in conjunction with ChamberWest, and it was such a success that we wanted to try it again this year. With the program, residents receive two $15 certifiMayor Kristie S. Overson cates to spend at participating businesses in Taylorsville. This year’s program runs Sept. 15 to Nov. 12, or until funds run out. So spend your Shop Local bucks. It's a great way to support our local businesses, and who doesn't love free bucks that they can spend in Taylorsville! A list of participating businesses, and details about the program from ChamberWest, can be found at www.chamberwest.com. You can also find information there if you are a business and would like to participate in the Shop Local program. As many as 100 businesses are expected to participate this year, and postcards were mailed to 20,500 households in Taylorsville in mid-September. The cards were printed in several different languages, including English, Spanish, Chinese and Vietnamese. ChamberWest also will be posting a thermometer to let residents know how much of the funds have been spent. The Shop Local program is being funded through a $180,000 grant from the city. Like last year, any unused funds will be returned to the city. In addition to Chamberwest, Localfluence is a program partner and is posting the amazing deals that businesses are offering as part of the program on its website, www.localfluence.com (Enter your zip code to see local offers). Pointing to the program’s success, we received many positive comments from residents last fall, such as: • We used both of our bucks in fun family memories getting treats we normally don’t get at local businesses. • We got a haul from Great Harvest with ours! • PEOPLE!!! USE THE FREE MONEY!! Support local. • Thanks so much! We enjoyed our sandwiches. • Very cool idea, and thanks for sending them. • THANKS T-Ville, what a great gift! We hope residents enjoy the Shop Local program again this year and that everyone will support our local businesses year-round. Happy shopping and have fun spending your bucks. I know I will. First stop, Leatherby’s! –Mayor Kristie S. Overson

WHAT’S INSIDE – OCTOBER 2021 Frequently Called Numbers, Page 2 Council Corner, Page 3 Business, Page 5 Heritage Remembrances, Page 7 Environment, Page 8

After about a year of construction, Centennial Plaza officially opens this month. Featuring a beautifully landscaped area of trees, shrubs, flowers and greenery, the plaza was built as a gathering space connecting City Hall and the new Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center. “We are overjoyed with how it turned out,” said Mayor Kristie Overson. “It will be a wonderful gathering place, with the Performing Arts Center and City Hall joined with walkways, landscaping and green space. We are very much looking forward to enjoying it at planned events and in quiet leisure.” A Ribbon Cutting was set for Oct. 15 to mark its grand opening. As part of the event, the city also planned to unveil several new public art pieces, launching its Plaza +ART program in which local artists and their work will be featured at the plaza on an ongoing basis. With the Plaza +ART program, some of the sculptures on display at the plaza will be changed each year. Constructed by Hogan Construction, the plaza includes water-wise landscaping, a kitchen, stage, restrooms, green space and arbors, and waterwall signage, in addition to the places for public art. “The campus is particularly lovely at night with the lighted buildings and walkways,” Mayor Overson said. Among the main goals for the 19.6 acres is the creation of a beautiful, functional and versatile space that is conducive to community gatherings and celebrations. Programming will include movies in the park, farmer’s markets, arts festivals, food festivals and outdoor performing arts. View a photo gallery of the plaza on Page 6 of this section.

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| www.taylorsvilleut.gov

City of Taylorsville Newsletter Ballots Arrive this Month for Municipal Election

Police Department

801-840-4000

Dominion Energy

800 -323 -5517

Watch your mailbox for a ballot after Oct. 12 and be sure to mail it back no later than the day before the election. You can also drop off your ballot at any of 25 drive-up ballot boxes throughout Salt Lake County (including the one at Taylorsville City Hall). Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 2. In addition, there are 22 Vote Centers where you can vote in person. The only Vote Center in Taylorsville for this election is at — you guessed it — Taylorsville City Hall. It will be open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day and ballot drop boxes are open 24/7 until 8 p.m. that day. This year, voters will cast ballots for Mayor and Council Members representing Council Districts 3, 4 and 5. All are to serve four-year terms beginning January 2022, except for District 3, which is a two-year term because of the mid-term vacancy. Find more election information on the city’s website at: www.taylorsvilleut.gov/government/elections

Peter Pan Jr. Performed at Performing Arts Center Taylorsville Code Enforcement

EVENTS OCTOBER 2021 Oct. 6 & 20 – 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

Oct. 11 – All day Columbus Day. City Hall is closed in observance, | reopening on Tuesday, Oct. 12.

Oct. 12 – 7 p.m. & Oct. 26 – 6 p.m. Planning Commission Meeting @ City Hall.

Oct. 20 – 7:30 p.m. Taylorsville-SLCC Symphony Orchestra performs “Morning, Night and Unfinished Work” @ Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center.

Oct. 31 – All Day Halloween. Have a safe and happy day. Watch out for trick-or-treaters.

Find our calendar of events every month on the city’s website, where you can also submit your own events for possible publication. Go to www.taylorsvilleut.gov Also, a standing event every Thursday, from 2 to 4 p.m., at City Hall is the “Mayor is In.” During this time, Mayor Kristie Overson has open office hours to meet with residents about any issue on their minds. Drop by and meet with the Mayor. All are welcome.

The Taylorsville Arts Council’s performance of Peter Pan Jr. was a hit. The production marked the council’s first performance at the Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center, and each of the three shows were sold out. “The production was absolutely delightful,” Mayor Kristie Overson said at the Sept. 15 City Council meeting, where Macie Muller who played Peter Pan performed as part of the opening ceremonies. After a couple of starts and stops due to COVID, including cancellation last year because of the pandemic, the show went on this summer — playing Aug. 25-27. And audiences were eager to gather again for live theater; each night was standing room only with overflow in the Arts Center’s lobby. “We are so lucky to have many talented people in Taylorsville, who graciously share their time and gifts with our community,” Mayor Overson said. “With the Taylorsville Arts Council, you can always count a fabulous show!”

October 2021

2600 West Taylorsville Boulevard • 801-963-5400 |

COUNCIL CORNER By Council Member Anna Barbieri I remember getting ready for work on Sept. 11, 2001, while my daughters — 18 months and 3 years at the time — splashed in the tub next to me. I heard the television newscaster announce that a plane had crashed into one of the buildings of the World Trade Center. I stepped around the corner to see the screen and watched as the second plane crashed into Tower 2. I remember the pink top I was wearing, how the sun was coming through the window and lit up the wood cabinet of the TV stand, the sounds of my girls giggling and splashing water as I watched in horror knowing our world would never be the same. But my most vivid memory of the bombing of the Twin Towers was the aftermath of hundreds if not thousands of people searching for their friends and family members lost in the rubble. They stapled pictures to walls in areas around what was once two magnificent buildings that touched the skyline and within moments turned into a pile of concrete, glass and metal. Americans lined up at blood banks around the country willing to donate to what would surely be an extraordinary need for blood for all those injured. Tragically, very little blood was needed. The senseless terrorist attacks in New York City, the Pentagon and onboard United Flight 93 ended the lives of 2,977 innocent people. Four hundred and twelve of those who perished that fateful day were first responders and emergency workers.

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In Remembrance of 9/11, We Turn to Service and Hope My sister took her kids to Manhattan as soon as flights became available, hoping that they would never forget what had happened to one of our great cities and all those who died just because they lived in the United States of America. Now in their 30s, they haven’t forgotten. For a brief moment Americans put their differences aside and came together in love, support and unity determined to protect our precious country, our freedoms and this great land of liberty. Twenty years and so many national and international conflicts later, we’ve experienced a division in America not seen since the Civil War. It’s impossible to count the numerous excuses for our failure to maintain that brief period in time 20 years ago when we collectively bore the burdens of those who died on 9/11 and those whom they left behind. I took the opportunity on the National Day of Service and Remembrance this past month to track down many of the groups honoring those who perished in the attacks on 9/11 by providing acts of service around our community. In just a few groups, there were more than 1,500 neighbors in Taylorsville and Kearns who spent their Saturday weeding yards of neighbors in need, cleaning and painting the fences of Millrace Park and creating a community garden near the Kearns Library. I stood in awe at the tables stacked with 400 birthday kits filled with cakes mixes, frosting, decorations and cards for those unable to afford the simplest of life’s celebrations. I

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)

was especially touched by the 500-plus handwritten cards to veterans and first responders, thanking them for their service. While the young men of the Kearns football team will not remember the tragedy of the 9/11 attacks in 2001, I think they’ll remember Sept. 11, 2021, when they stood in the pouring rain and pulled weeds out of cement cracks for residents tearful with gratitude. How grateful I am that I live in a place where we still come together to mourn, celebrate and serve on behalf of our little corner of the world where community matters.

APA Utah Holds Fall Conference in Taylorsville The Utah chapter of the American Planning Association held its fall conference in Taylorsville this past month. It was the first conference of its size to be hosted by Taylorsville City, with more than 300 people attending. Most of the presentations and workshops took place at the Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center, next door to City Hall on the new Centennial Plaza campus. Mayor Kristie Overson gave welcoming remarks on the conference’s opening day, noting that the city has long shared APA Utah's vision of creating great communities for all.

“Yours is the first conference of this size that we have hosted on the Taylorsville Centennial Plaza campus,” she said. “And we consider it serendipitous that this first conference is for Utah’s American Planning Association. Like you, we know how important future development and re-development are to our community.” The theme of the two-day conference was “Better Together: Creating, Belonging and Community,” and presentations addressed topics such as climate change, transportation and housing. Taylorville City Planner Mark McGrath said the conference was a success. Planners not only came away with greater knowledge from the conference itself but learned more about projects in Taylorsville, he said. During her speech, Mayor Overson highlighted several of those projects, including Centennial Plaza, the Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center, the West Point development mixed-use housing project that is replacing the Kmart Property at 5400 South and Bangerter Highway, the coming Midvalley Connector Bus Rapid Transit line, the planned redevelopment of Carriage Square, and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Taylorsville Utah Temple.

“There are many more projects under way in Taylorsville but these are a few of the highlights. I hope that you will take some time to explore and see what we’ve been up to,” she told conference-goers. McGrath said he was told attendance of around 325 people set a record for the conference and that organizers would like to return to Centennial Plaza again, possibly meeting on a rotation schedule that would bring them back every three or four years. APA Utah is a non-profit organization of professional planners, planning officials and citizen planners. It is made up of 500 APA members statewide.

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City of Taylorsville Newsletter

| www.taylorsvilleut.gov

Meet Our Civilian Staff and ‘Team Taylorsville’ Get to know the new TVPD. Check this space each month for articles highlighting the units and employees that make up the Taylorsville City Police Department. TVPD consists of several different units that make up its in-house organizational structure. The most recognizable unit is patrol. While patrol makes up the bulk of any police department, TVPD has several other support units, which include violent crimes, special victims, domestic violence, mental health, property crimes, directed enforcement, street crimes, training, traffic, and K9. However, one support unit that is not mentioned above is our civilian staff. Our TVPD civilian staff consists of a seven-member team. Their roles include office m a n a g e r, r e c o r d s m a n a g e r, evidence manager, two office specialists, court liaison, and victim advocate. None of our civilian staff would be considered “rookies”; they have outstanding award-winning résumés. Several of our civilian staff members have served Taylorsville for about 37 years. Combined, all seven have more than 105 years of experience working in law enforcement. They come from various agencies including Unified Police Department, Salt Lake City, West Valley City and West Jordan police departments. When not working hard at TVPD, these members can be found spending time with their families, watching baseball, participating in various competitions, cooking, dancing, sewing, attending concerts and camping As officers, we know that without a great civilian staff to support us in our responsibilities we would be at a loss. When you call or come into TVPD, it’s one of these members who first assist you. Anyone who has worked in a field where they have “support staff ” recognizes how trivial that term is. Our civilian staff members are truly essential personnel.

We also greatly appreciate all Taylorsville employees. Since becoming our own TVPD, we recognize several Taylorsville employees have taken on extra responsibilities. We are proud to join Mayor Kristie Overson in stating TVPD is part of “Team Taylorsville!”

TVPD OFFICER OF THE MONTH: OFFICER LANDOLFI Officer Matthew Landolfi was recently awarded Officer of the Month. Officer Landolfi has 15 years of law enforcement experience, which includes working at the Utah Department of Corrections, Adult Probation and Parole, West Valley PD and TVPD. He is an exceptional leader who goes above the call of duty. While working with AP&P, he helped start a task force that reduced recidivism. Today, this program continues to have an 80 percent success rate. He has served as a field training officer, property crimes detective, and public order team member. He has received awards that include field training officer of the year, the distinguished service medal, unit citation award related to his service in the public order unit, officer of the month, and has received several letters of accommodations from supervisors and citizens. Officer Landolfi was recently provided a letter of recognition outlining his outstanding investigative and report-writing ability. This was reflected as he investigated a serious crime related to domestic violence. Officer Landolfi’s direct supervisor couldn’t agree more and outlined his overall work ethic and leadership abilities in nominating him for Officer of the Month. Officer Landolfi’s hobbies include fixing dirt bikes and restoring automobiles, and he especially enjoys spending time with his family and kids. We are proud to have Officer Landolfi as part of “Team Taylorsville!”

‘Utah’s Finest’ Baseball Team Honors First Responders

While on foot patrol at Vista Park this past month, TVPD Officer Anthony Jacketta and Sgt. Amanda Marriott got a nice surprise. They met a group of young baseball players, who with their coaches, form a team known as Utah’s Finest. The team plays in the name of first responders. So at every practice and game when the players gather for a team cheer, they yell “First Responders” in reply to “Who are we playing for?" Not only did Officer Jacketta and Sgt. Marriott learn about the team but they were also given a baseball for the police department signed by all the players. "This made our day!" Officer Jacketta said. The baseball and picture of the officers with the team are displayed in the TVPD office lobby.

TVPD Outlines Safety Measures to Protect Your Car from Theft At around 2:40 a.m. on Aug. 3, one of our TVPD Patrol Officers discovered an individual cutting a catalytic converter off a car during a neighborhood patrol. Car parts being stolen for cash has been a recurring problem nationwide. For instance, in a three-week crackdown in June, police recovered 87 stolen catalytic converters in Torrance, Calif. To protect your car and property and prevent theft, we offer these suggestions: • Be on the lookout for individuals looming around or under vehicles. • Park your car in a garage, in a well-lit area, or in an area where there is a lot of traffic. • Consider installing security motion lights or cameras that will capture good snapshots of people’s faces and license plates as they come onto or pass by your property. • If you see a suspicious person looming around your neighborhood, you can always contact police. Please also visit www.nhtsa.gov/road-safety/vehicle-theft-prevention for more information and tips regarding vehicle theft prevention.

October 2021

2600 West Taylorsville Boulevard • 801-963-5400 |

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Businesses Celebrate New Openings, Renovations Several new businesses marked grand openings and new office renovations with ribbon-cutting celebrations over the past few months. They include: GRANITE CREDIT UNION — Granite Credit Union has remodeled its Taylorsville location at 3109 W. 4700 South and celebrated with a Ribbon Cutting on Aug. 20. The renovation was completed as a way to bring credit union members and the Taylorsville community a new and better experience for financial services, said Tammy Aganikian, Granite Credit Union’s Marketing Connections Specialist. City officials and representatives from ChamberWest joined the credit union in the celebratory event. “The renovations are beautiful and have brought such an inviting atmosphere to the Taylorsville location,” said Mayor Kristie Overson. The Granite Credit Union at 4700 South has provided products and services to the Taylorsville and West Valley communities for more than 30 years, and in Salt Lake County, the credit union has been serving the financial needs of residents since 1935.

SPHERION SOLUTIONS — Spherion’s newly remodeled office at 5677 Redwood Road, Suite 17 in Taylorsville creates an inviting, user-friendly environment for both prospective employees and employers. The business celebrated its new space with a ribbon cutting on June 17. In addition to its redesigned office space and launch of its professional services division, the company rolled out a new logo that Spherion Utah owner Ron Zarbock

sported on bright orange pants. Zarbock noted that Taylorsville is among the fastest growing of Spherion’s 200 franchise centers across the country. Spherion provides flexible staffing, temps to hire, direct-hire placement and workforce management solutions. The company is located in 29 states and puts more than 75,000 employees to work each year.

SYNERGY FAMILY SERVICES — Synergy Family Services has opened in Taylorsville. Located at 5255 S. 4015 West, the new center provides foster care and family support services, such as day support, family and individual training, host home support and peer support. Business owners, employees and families celebrated the center’s grand opening with a carnival and Ribbon

Cutting on May 17 that was attended by city officials and ChamberWest representatives. “We welcome Synergy Family Services and are so happy to have you here in Taylorsville,” said Mayor Overson. “You are engaging in such important work and we greatly appreciate your care and compassion for others and all you are doing for our community.” Synergy Family Services (SFS) was founded by Mandi Makoni, along with Tina Fakahafua, who were both single mothers and saw a need to help connect resources to individuals and families. THE LOCAL GREEK — The Local Greek restaurant is now open at Legacy Plaza in Taylorsville. They use fresh ingredients, traditional flavors and authentic combinations in all their dishes. Locally owned by Geoffrey and Mia Patmides, the restaurant is located at 1764 W. 5400 South. They celebrated their grand opening with city officials and representatives from ChamberWest at a Ribbon Cutting on Aug. 10. “We will be serving fast casual-style during the day and traditional meze (small plates) and family-style in the evening,” said Geoffrey Patmides. “Please also enjoy our fresh Greek traditional pastries and desserts daily.” The Local Greek is open Tuesday and Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Thursday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. (Closed Sunday and Monday). Visit their website thelocalgreek.com for more information and menus.

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

The City of Taylorsville and ChamberWest have renewed the Shop Local program for a second year. The program, in which residents receive two $15 certificates to spend at participating businesses in Taylorsville, runs from Sept. 15 to Nov. 12, or until funds run out. See more info at:

www.taylorsvilleut.gov

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| www.taylorsvilleut.gov

City of Taylorsville Newsletter

Centennial Plaza Grand Opening — October 15, 2021

October 2021

Taylorsville Bennion Heritage REMEMBRANCES This month’s Journal article is about our kitchen icebox at the Taylorsville-Bennion Heritage Center. The illustrations closely depict the icebox that is located in the Heritage Center’s kitchen. Illustration B, in particular, is very similar to the museum’s icebox. An icebox (also called a cold closet) is a compact non-mechanical refrigerator which was a common early-20th century kitchen appliance before the development of safely powered refrigeration devices. Before the development of electric refrigerators, iceboxes were referred to by the public as “refrigerators.” Only after the invention of the modern-day electric refrigerator did early non-electric refrigerators become known as iceboxes. The term icebox and refrigerator were used interchangeably in advertising as long ago as 1848. Iceboxes were meant for personal means, but not for mass manufacturing. There’s not a lot of room in the bottom drawer to feed a family of 11, for instance. However, the families grew most of what they needed right there on the farm. Iceboxes were nice for leftovers — if there were any! The more traditional icebox dates to the mid-19th century, as ice houses were made to be available to everyday folks. By the early 1930s, mechanical ice machines gradually began to rise over the ice harvesting, thanks to its ability to produce clean sanitary ice independently and year-round. Visit the museum at 1488 W. 4800 South to see the icebox in the kitchen, or view our virtual tour of the kitchen on the city’s website at www.taylorsvilleut.gov/our-city/museum/virtual-tour

2600 West Taylorsville Boulevard • 801-963-5400 |

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TAYLORSVILLE SENIOR CENTER 4743 S. Plymouth View Drive

Grab Lunch, Visit with Friends at the Senior Center The Taylorsville Senior Center, 4743 S. Plymouth View Drive, offers lunch daily from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Just get a ticket at the front desk, and view the menu, as well as a program schedule, online at www.slco.org/ taylorsville-senior-center Remember becoming a member is free and it allows you access to the Taylorsville Senior Center and all the other county Senior Centers. Come in and see Daisy to fill out an intake form to get an access card.

Don’t Miss These Library Events The Taylorsville Library has planned several programs during the month of October. You’ll want to mark your calendar for these events: Senior Book Club at the Taylorsville Senior Center Monday, Oct. 11, 11 a.m. Join us for a lively discussion of a variety of fiction and nonfiction books. Newcomers welcome! The book club will be led by a librarian from the Taylorsville Library. This month, we will discuss books we've read and enjoyed over the last year. The Senior Book Club will meet at the Taylorsville Senior Center, 4743 S. Plymouth View Drive. Virtual Adult Lecture | Ray Harryhausen: Myth in Motion Tuesday, Oct. 12, 7 p.m. Professor Dan Curley will discuss special-effects master Ray Harryhausen, renowned for Dynamation, and his brand of stop-motion animation, which he used to bring fantastic creatures to life. Virtual Adult Lecture | Tone, Timbre, and Terror: The Role of Music in Scary Films Monday, Oct. 25, 7 p.m. From Hitchcock's "Psycho" to the "Jaws" theme, music has played a paramount role in the genre of horror. Dr. Gil Harel will discuss the ingredients that make music so effective at conveying horror. Register for the lectures at: thecountylibrary.org/LectureSeries Spotify Did you know The County Library has its own Spotify account? Follow the library for playlists that explore its collection and tie-in with programming. thecountylibrary.org/Spotify

Get emails from the city

eNotifications During World War I, many women were employed as icemen (or “ice girls,” as they were called).

TaylorsvilleJ ournal.com

October 2021 | Page 21

ANNUAL COLLECTION DAY | www.taylorsvilleut.gov

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City of Taylorsville Newsletter TBID News: Election Update and Ways to Pay Your Bill

OCTOBER UPDATES FALL LEAF COLLECTION The annual Fall Leaf Collection Program will begin on Oct. 15 and last through Nov. 30. During this time Taylorsville residents can pick up leaf bags at: • Taylorsville City Hall: 2600 W. Taylorsville Blvd. • Taylorsville Library: 4870 S. 2700 West Leaf bags can be dropped off at: • Valley Ball Complex: 5100 S. 2700 West • Vista Park 2055 W. 5000 South

WFWRD leaf bags are limited to 10 bags per household, and available while supplies last. Residents can also use and drop off their own purchased leaf bags or lawn bags, as long as they only contain leaves. To maintain worker health and safety, during the continued COVID-19 pandemic, WFWRD will utilize additional equipment to assist with leaf bag disposal from residents. This will include additional protective gear for employees and the use of heavy equipment to reduce employees physically handling bags at the leaf bag drop-off sites.

VOUCHERS Did you know that WFWRD provides landfill vouchers to residents? These vouchers give Taylorsville residents up to $15 off one load of acceptable materials at the Salt Lake Valley Landfill. You can obtain these vouchers if you have the ability to haul your own truck or trailer loads to the landfill. The vouchers can be obtained at Taylorsville City Hall, on the second floor.

The 2021 election for the Taylorsville-Bennion Improvement District has been canceled. Each District Officer candidate, including any eligible write-in candidates under Section 20A-9-601, in each division of the District is unopposed. Also, consider these convenient ways to pay your bill: ONLINE Utilize TBID’s online bill payment option that saves you time and money. If you have an internet connection and an email address, you can pay your bill online. To make a payment or sign up, go to www.tbid.org and select Pay Bill Online and Sign Up. DROP BOX Place your non-cash payment in the conveniently located parking lot drop box. Drop off payments at 1800 W. 4700 South; just follow the sign. BY MAIL Mail check or money order to Taylorsville-Bennion Improvement District, P.O. Box 18579, 1800 W. 4700 South, Taylorsville, UT 841188579. A return envelope is provided with your bill. Just add the stamp, include your payment and drop it in the mail. BY PHONE Call 801-968-9081 with your credit or debit card or bank information to speak with a Customer Service Representative. IN PERSON Visit TBID at 1800 W. 4700 South from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday to make your payment. If you have any questions, please contact Taylorsville-Bennion Improvement District by calling 801-968-9081 or visiting www.tbid.org. Follow TBID on Facebook and Twitter.

R E C Y C L I N G

CAN PLACEMENTS Please remember to keep your garbage/recycle/green cans at least 3 feet away from each other and from other objects, such as cars, trees or mailboxes. This space is needed for the automated collection arms on trucks to safely grab and empty the cans. Page 22 | October 2021

Taylorsville City Journal

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TaylorsvilleJ ournal.com

October 2021 | Page 23

Granite Education Foundation helps reduce food insecurity with Day of Service By Bill Hardesty | b.hardesty@mycityjournals.com

n memory of Sept. 11, 2001, the Granite Education Foundation (GEF) partnered with various organizations to sponsor a day of service by putting together various student food kits on the 20th anniversary of the date. “We have about 400 or so volunteers

who are coming in working for an hour, and they’re so fun. They’re enthusiastic. They try to work so fast, to get these kits filled,” Kim Oborn, program coordinator of Food Programs, said. “This happens all the time, not just on

the 20th anniversary of 9/11 because this warehouse is full of food and volunteers to help kids who are facing food insecurity in our state,” Gov. Spencer Cox said. “And, as you see, we have dozens and dozens of volunteers right now. Some who have already been here and more will be coming throughout the day. This type of effort has been replicated all across the state and all across the nation as we come together in a day of service.”

Food kits

Volunteers come together to fill student food kits at the Granite Education Foundation Day of Service. (Bill Hardesty/City Journals)

Page 24 | October 2021

The GEF provides three types of food kits to students in the Granite School District. A student weekend kit provides one child three or four meals. Each bag has equally prepared microwavable meals, snacks and drinks. “The great thing about this option is that they are lightweight. They are easily distributed,” Oborn said. “People like them for the convenience. We give a lot during the long breaks like winter break or spring break.” Another type is the dinner kit. They feed a family of four for one meal. These kits respect different food choices since not everyone eats SpaghettiOs. “These kits take on an international focus,” Oborn said. “For example, we have chicken curry with mango or rice and beans with tomatoes and chili powder.”

The third kit is a snack kit. These stay at school. They are used if a child is hungry or maybe they need a little extra food. They are popular with high school students. They come by the pantry to get a kit if they are staying for practice or after school. GEF set a goal to put together 7,000 student weekend kits, 5,000 dinner kits and 3,600 snack kits. “On average, we’re sending out 3,200 student weekend kits a month. So, you know that 7,000 may not last too long,” Oborn said. “Saturday was a huge success! At our donation and distribution center event, a to-

Gov. Spencer Cox and First Lady Abby Cox join other volunteers putting together student food kits at the Granite Education Foundation’s Day of Service. (Bill Hardesty/City Journals)

Taylorsville City Journal

tal of 13,086 food kits were completed (about 4,700 student weekend kits, 4,000 dinner kits, and 4,300 snack kits),” Justin Anderson, chief marketing officer, said. “But while that makes it appear that we didn’t quite meet our goal but when you factor in all of the events that were happening at other locations throughout the day, we far exceeded our goal.”

Food insecurity

Granite School District is the second-largest district in the state, with more than 64,000 students. However, 54% of those students or about 35,000 students live at or below the poverty level. In addition, 70% of Utah refugees live within the district boundaries. This means that three and one-fourth out of every five students are food insecure. The USDA defines food insecurity as the “lack of consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy lifestyle.” Or, stated more simply, you do not know where your next meal is coming from. Numerous studies show how food insecurity results in multiple health, development, social and academic effects. According to the official journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics (Pediatrics), “Compared to rates had they not been food insecure, children in food-insecure household had rates of lifetime asthma diagnosis and depressive symptoms that were 19.1% and 27.9% higher, rates of forgone medical care that were 179.8% higher, and rates of emergency department use that were 25.9% higher. “

Volunteers come together to fill student food kits at the Granite Education Foundation Day of Service. (Bill Hardesty/City Journals)

In addition, the Feeding America website states, “Sadly, hunger may impact a child’s school performance. Research demonstrates that children from families who are not sure where their next meal may come from are more likely to have lower math scores and repeat a grade, among other challenges.”

Governor’s remarks

Besides thanking the volunteers, Gov. Cox talked about his 9/11 experience. He and his family had just moved to the “scary big city,” and 9/11 occurred on the second day of his new job. Cox talked about walking down streets. Strangers would stop and ask if he was doing OK. “If a stranger stops you now, you probably get nervous,” Cox said. Cox went on to say that many people had the same experience. Feeling hopeless, many

Gov. Spencer Cox thanks the volunteers who put together student food kits at the Granite Education Foundation’s Day of Service. (Bill Hardesty/City Journals)

of them stood in long lines to give blood. “No one cared if you were a Republican or a Democrat. No one cared if you had a red shirt or blue shirt on,” Cox said. “That stuff didn’t matter then, and it shouldn’t matter now. Unfortunately, it does.…We need to recommit ourselves to be better. So that we get off Facebook and stop calling each other names, but we will actually work together on common issues.”

When asked why there is division today, First Lady Abby Cox said, “I think, instead of connecting like this, serving one another, we are connecting on Facebook groups and trying to hate each other. And we’re not in places like this where we’re serving one another. Where we’re connecting through our differences and not using our differences to hurt one another.” l

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Page 26 | October 2021

Taylorsville City Journal

Millions more in Uncle Sam virus relief cash prompts city officials to sponsor another ‘Shop Local’ campaign By Carl Fauver | c.fauver@mycityjournals.com

s we approach the end of this 25th anniversary year of Taylorsville City’s 1996 incorporation, the city council has voted unanimously to once again work with ChamberWest to provide all households with a kind of departing (the year) gift. If Oprah were here, she’d say, “You get $30 and you get $30 and you get $30” to the more than 20,000 households that make up Taylorsville. “The Shop Local program was so successful last year—and ChamberWest ran it so well—we thought it only made sense to do it again,” Mayor Kristie Overson said. “It was such a benefit to our citizens, and we got such an overwhelming positive response from residents. We’re excited to do it again.” ChamberWest President and CEO Barbara Riddle said every Taylorsville household should have already received his or her Shop Local coupons in the mail. “The mailers will go out by the end of this week,” Riddle reported to Taylorsville

Penny Ann Florence, for whom the restaurant chain is named, is excited to see Taylorsville’s “Shop Local” coupon program coming around again this fall. (Carl Fauver/City Journals)

City Council members during their Sept. 15 meeting. “They were printed in four different languages. The program is identical to the one we did last year. Each mailer has two $15 coupons Taylorsville City provides that can be spent the federal funding while at any of our par- ChamberWest operates the ticipating busi- “Shop Local” program. (chamberwest.com) nesses.” At the time of her report two weeks ago, only 44 businesses had signed up, compared to the 67 participants ChamberWest had a year ago. But Riddle was expecting to see many more businesses sign on after our print deadline. “All of last year’s participating businesses reported having a good experience and we are hoping to get 100 participants this time around,” she said. “We purposely picked this lull time of year—after back-to-school shopping, but before Christmas—to try to give our businesses the biggest boost.” Program details and the most current Shop Local participant list is at chamberwest. com/shoplocal/taylorsville/residents. Business categories involved in the program (as listed on the website) include Automotive/ Car Care, Creative Services, Entertainment, Retail/Shopping, Restaurants/Eating Establishments and Self-Care. “Last year’s Shop Local program was very meaningful to us, because it happened right after we opened,” said Nothing Bundt Cakes (5338 South Redwood Road) Owner Lincoln Fillmore. “We are very excited to be in Taylorsville and glad to see this program coming back. [Because of the pandemic] there haven’t been as many community events for us to become involved in. So, this is great.” The local Nothing Bundt Cakes is celebrating its first anniversary with a Community Appreciation Week, Oct. 11 to 16. Details are available at nothingbundtcakes.com/bakery/

Penny Ann’s Cafe is among the dozens of Taylorsville businesses participating in the second go-round of the city’s “Shop Local” coupon program. (Carl Fauver/City Journals)

TaylorsvilleJ ournal.com

UT/taylorsville. The store employs 20 people. “Last year’s Shop Local program boosted our sales by 5% to 10%,” Fillmore said. Just west of Nothing Bundt Cakes in that same retail complex (NW corner of Redwood Road and 5400 South) is another of the eating establishments excited about the return of the Shop Local program, Penny Ann’s Cafe (pennyannscafe.com). Store namesake Penny Ann Florence said, “We are always pretty busy and the coupons were great.” Like last year, the two $15 Shop Local coupons do not require residents to spend any additional “matching” money. However, Riddle reports it was very rare for people to simply use their coupons last year, without spending a little more to boost the local economy and sales tax revenues. “Some people spent barely more than the coupons, but others spent a hundred dollars or more,” she said. “We also do not ask merchants to discount anything. They receive the full $15 for every coupon spent in their business.” Taylorsville City Council members approved a bit more for the Shop Local program this time around, $180,000 compared to $150,000 a year ago. The funds are part of the $4.4 million the city received through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, approved by Congress and signed into law by President Biden last March. City officials anticipate receiving another $4.4 million federal allotment next summer. Taylorsville Chief Financial Officer Scott Harrington says all $8.8 million must be spent by Dec. 31, 2023. Any unspent funds must be returned to Uncle Sam. “This is different from the CARES Act funding we received,” Harrington said. “We have more time to spend it and restrictions on how we spend it are not as tight.” The entire American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 is costing federal taxpayers $1.9 trillion, making it one of the largest economic rescue plans in U.S. history. “We have not yet identified any specific projects [for the rest of the $8.8 million],” Harrington said. “We are looking at water and sewer infrastructure, housing development and expansion of broadband (high-speed internet). There’s also been talk of upgrading parks, possibly constructing pickleball courts or improving the skatepark. This time around we have a lot more planning time to determine spending priorities.” You can bet if round two of the Spend Local coupon program is as successful this fall as round one was last year, the Taylorsville City Council and ChamberWest will give serious consideration to a third round next year, with possibly more to follow. l

Nothing Bundt Cakes Manager Jessica Ramirez and Owner Lincoln Fillmore (L-R) say last year’s “Shop Local” coupon program gave them a big boost, and they are glad the city is doing it again this fall. (Carl Fauver/City Journals)

Tville Nutrition is among the many Taylorsville restaurants and other businesses participating in the city’s “Shop Local” coupon program this fall. (Carl Fauver/City Journals)

ChamberWest has just unveiled a new logo. (chamberwest.com)

October 2021 | Page 27