WESTSIDE CULTUREFEST DRAWS THOUSANDS OF ART LOVERS, MUSIC FANS AND CAR ENTHUSIASTS
By Carl Fauver | c.fauver@mycityjournals.com
The Utah Arts Alliance and Salt Lake County Arts & Culture division recently took over the Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center next to Taylorsville City Hall for a twonight celebration. The organizations hosted their second annual Westside CultureFest – a free gathering that featured a wide variety of activities for art lovers of all ages.
The Aug. 9 and 10 event included art, entertainment, cultural performances and a wide variety of food from several different food trucks.
Lakota Nation indigenous hip-hop music artist Stella Standingbear – a former Taylorsville High School student – was the featured performer on night one of the event. Then, the second night included a lowrider custom car exhibit.
“Arts & Culture is proud to partner with Utah Arts Alliance to present the Westside CultureFest at Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center,” Matt Castillo said, division director for Salt Lake County Arts & Culture. “The festival is a cultural fusion of Westside artists and performers celebrating their rich heritage through contemporary art forms and performances.”
The festival featured many different performances, an artist marketplace, food trucks, art activities for kids and interactive art for older guests. Organizers say the relatively new event provides “a fun, exciting opportunity to strengthen community bonds
and bridge diverse cultures by showcasing emerging, historically underserved artists to a wide audience.”
“Our mission is to unleash the arts’ transformative power in our community,” Utah Arts Alliance Executive Director Derek Dyer said. “The Westside CultureFest reflects our vision of a world where the arts flourish and inspire meaningful community connections. Our attendance at the first annual event, a year ago, was about 2,000 people. This year, the numbers are still coming in, but I think it was probably double that.”
And, Dyer adds, there wasn’t a seat to be had when Standingbear took the arts center main stage Friday night.
“I was there – and it looked like standing room only to me,” he said. “Stella was awesome – really amazing – she did such a good job. Afterward, she signed autographs and posed for pictures for two hours during a meet-and-greet. I’m not sure how long ago she attended Taylorsville High; but she told me she’s been performing for about 10 years now.”
Standingbear is a rapidly rising musical performer who enjoyed two historic wins at the 2023 Indigenous Hip-Hop Awards: Best Female Hip-Hop Artist and Music Video of the Year. Her fans say “Stella’s unique blend of melodic alt-rap has captured the hearts of listeners worldwide. Her catalog is a rich tapContinued page 4
SCULPTURE UNVEILING
A card trick magician at the second annual Westside CultureFest chose to hide his identity under a festive mask. (Carl Fauver/City Journals)
Recognizing Signs and Symptoms of Stroke from Holy Cross Hospital – Jordan Valley Stroke Team
By Dr. Rebecca Reiser
We know how important it is for patients and their families to find a hospital and a care team that you can trust - especially when emergencies, like stroke, happen. That’s why our team at CommonSpirit Holy Cross Hospital – Jordan Valley is so incredibly proud to be a certified primary stroke center with thrombectomy capability. Recently, our stroke care team was recognized by the American Heart Association and received their Get with the Guidelines Gold Plus Award with Stroke Honor Roll and Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll. This award means our facility met or exceeded the national recommendations for stroke care for our patients and it highlights our hard-working, talented stroke care team for providing excellent patient stroke care! To start, we work closely with our EMS partners to help them recognize patient stroke symptoms while they are out in the field. They are trained to let us know when they are on their way to our hospital so we can be ready for stroke patients before they even arrive. Our team is then able to evaluate each patient quickly and thoroughly to determine the best course of treatment. We have medications to help break up blood clots in the brain and a team of highly
trained vascular neurosurgeons who can remove a blood clot from the brain, also known as a thrombectomy. An important note - Holy Cross Hospital - Jordan Valley is the only hospital on the west side of the valley that has the capability of performing these state-of-the-art thrombectomies!
So, what are the signs and symptoms of stroke that you should be aware of? The easiest way to remember what to look out for is through the acronym, BEFAST:
● Balance changes
● Eye or vision changes
● Facial droop
● Arm weakness
● Speech difficulty
● Time
reduces disability among stroke survivors by 4%! That’s because about 2 million brain cells die every minute during a stroke until blood flow is restored. It is important that if you see someone showing the signs or symptoms of stroke outlined above, call for help immediately.
When you or your loved ones come to Holy Cross Hospital – Jordan Valley for stroke care, you can expect state-of-theart stroke treatment and compassionate, healing care fueled by humankindness. From the teams in the ER to the stroke care teams to the physical, occupational and speech therapists that help care for patients throughout their rehab journey, and to the neurologists that assist in care decisions from the start, you are in good hands at Holy Cross Hospital – Jordan Valley!
At CommonSpirit Health, we make the healing presence of God known in our world by improving the health of the people we serve, especially those who are vulnerable, while we advance social justice for all.
It is important to recognize the above signs and symptoms because time matters!
Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States, but it is the leading cause of long-term disability. Studies show that every 15 minutes saved when a patient is experiencing stroke symptoms,
Care with a mother’s touch.
Birthing Center
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Learn more about the services, care providers and mission-driven work of the Holy Cross hospitals and CommonSpirit Health at www.holycrossutah.org.
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Dr. Rebecca Reiser Neurologist and Stroke Director CommonSpirit Holy Cross Hospital
estry offering a versatile array of musical experiences.”
Standingbear’s debut single, “Home Runs,” became a TikTok sensation and reached No. 1 on a prestigious indigenous music countdown hosted by SiriusXM. Standingbear has shared the stage with many respected artists like Kirko Bangz, Montana of 300, Futuristic, KYLE and Bizzy Bone. She has also been featured in Teen Vogue, solidifying her presence in mainstream media.
The Utah Arts Alliance was established in 2003 to boost all different types of artistic endeavors. The nonprofit’s Marketing and Communication Manager is Quinn Winter.
“Westside CultureFest was created a year ago to provide better access and exposure for artistic endeavors on the west side of the Salt Lake Valley,” she said. “This is part
of our core value to uplift all artists. We did not specifically require CultureFest artists to be from the westside – but we did prioritize them during the selection process. We also focused our event advertising on westside communities like Taylorsville, West Jordan and West Valley City.”
The Utah Arts Alliance also operates radio station KUAA 99.9 FM, which is described on its website as “a low-powered FM community radio station, broadcasting at 99.9 FM and streaming around the world. We pride ourselves on specializing in musical, cultural, linguistic and artistic diversity.”
As the Westside CultureFest continues to grow, the Utah Arts Alliance and Salt Lake County Arts & Culture are already promising a third annual, returning to the Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center next summer. l
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MISSION STATEMENT
Performers from a group called Cirque du Salt Lake were part of the second annual Westside CultureFest. (Carl Fauver/City Journals)
An arts and crafts room at the Westside CultureFest gave kids the chance to create something special to take home. (Carl Fauver/City Journals)
A wide variety of colorful paintings were on sale inside and outside the Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center during the annual Westside CultureFest. (Carl Fauver/City Journals)
Customized cars and motorcycles filled a large part of the Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center parking lot during the second annual Westside CultureFest. (Carl Fauver/City Journals)
Many different types of art were celebrated during two nights of fun, at the second annual Westside CultureFest. (Carl Fauver/City Journals)
A lowrider custom car exhibit drew many spectators to this year’s annual Westside CultureFest. (Carl Fauver/City Journals)
Arts and crafts of all kinds were on sale during the Westside CultureFest. (Carl Fauver/City Journals)
Lakota Nation hip-hop performing artist Stella Standingbear was a headline entertainer during the Westside CultureFest. (Courtesy Stella Standingbear)
Kearns residents celebrate community spirit during Hometown Days
By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com
The Kearns community had a lot to celebrate at this year’s Hometown Days celebration. In May, the metro township officially became a city after the Utah Legislature passed House Bill 35 at the beginning of 2024.
More than 37,000 people live in K-Town, home of the Utah Olympic Oval (an indoor speed skating oval that will be used in the 2034 Winter Olympic Games) and the Kearns Oquirrh Park Fitness Center.
As part of the Kearns celebration, the Fire Water and Ice festival was held at KOPFC for its 22nd year. The event featured swimming, live music, food trucks, vendors, games, inflatables and a fireworks display.
“Fire Water and Ice is more than an event; it is an opportunity to celebrate the communities we serve,” Kevin Schmidt said, KOPFC executive director, “and for friends, neighbors and families to come together and enjoy the activities our staff so diligently put together for them. We are grateful for the years we have had to host this event and for those who supported the celebration this year.”
Kearns Hometown Days featured a game night at the Kearns Library and Oquirrh Hills Elementary School on Aug. 2, with the parade and FWI festival on Aug. 3. The FWI event was recently recognized as one of Utah’s Outstanding Special Events by the Utah Recreation and Parks Association.
The Kearns Improvement District participated in the parade and festival, inviting the winners of its art contest to be part of the event. KID General Manager Greg Anderson said, “We want [residents] to know that we truly do care as we strive to provide them with life’s most essential services of safe, clean and reliable water and sanitary sewer services.” l
Attendees at the Fire Water & Ice Festival at Kearns Oquirrh Park Fitness Center enjoyed swimming in the facility’s pools, food trucks, live music, games, inflatables and fireworks. (Photo courtesy KOPFC)
Kearns High School cheerleaders cheer for the crowd as they celebrate K-Town during the parade. (Peri Kinder/City Journals)
The Kearns Oquirrh Park Fitness Center’s mascot, Chomper the Shark, meets with kids during the Fire Water & Ice Festival on Aug. 3. (Photo courtesy KOPFC)
By Carl Fauver | c.fauver@mycityjournals.com
Apairof Kearns High School seniors have plenty of stories to share with their classmates as this new school year begins, thanks to more than $5,000 in donations raised by the “other kind” of seniors – those over age 65.
Last fall in these pages, we told you about a unique kind of “scholarship” being established by the KHS class of 1973. As that group was putting together details for their 50th class reunion, they decided to gather donations to fund a humanitarian trip for a pair of current students.
Former KHS cheerleader Jack Lucas chaired the Kearns High Alumni Scholarship Committee.
“The whole idea behind our scholarship was to help the recipients understand the importance of perpetuating service and doing good in the community,” Lucas said. “Years ago, I discovered a Salt Lake-based, nonprofit organization called Eagle Condor Humanitarian which operates volunteer service trips. So, we coordinated through them and then began raising funds.”
Through a series of activities associated with their class of 1973 reunion, the committee raised $5,250. That was “almost” enough money to send two students on the trip.
“We also required each scholarship recipient to come up with $250 of their own money,” Lucas added. “We wanted them to have some skin in the game, also.”
After accepting written scholarship applications and conducting a series of online interviews with the finalists, the KHS Alumni Scholarship Committee selected classmates Kaila Wolf and Kez Zimmerman to join an Eagle Condor Humanitarian group bound for several days of work in Peru –
of any grade,” Lucas concluded. “It was just a coincidence they both went to girls who were coming to the end of their junior year – and still have one more year of high school ahead of them.”
Zimmerman and Wolf were two of 10 volunteers on the trip. The group was evenly divided, five males and five females. All were from Utah, ranging in age from 15 to 20.
Neither of the girls had ever been outside the United States prior to boarding their plane bound first for Atlanta, then directly south about 2,100 miles to Peru.
“I had to scramble around to get my passport after being selected for the trip,” Wolf said. “We only had one orientation meeting before leaving to discuss what to pack. Then we exchanged a bunch of emails and took off.”
A Kearns High cheerleader and track and field athlete, Wolf had one advantage going into the trip.
“I was enrolled in the Spanish dual emersion language program starting in kindergarten up through ninth grade,” she said. “I am fluent in Spanish and was excited to speak down there.”
Zimmerman is an active member of the Kearns High School National Honor Society. She says the trip gave her a completely new outlook on life here in the United States.
followed by a visit to the renowned “Lost City of the Incas,” Machu Picchu.
“The scholarships were available to Kearns High students
“The experience in Peru made me think a lot bigger,” Zimmerman said. “In Utah, it seems like we think about our jobs or school; we get caught up so much in unnecessary drama. The people we were serving down there have so little – yet they enjoy their lives. It really made me think about my priorities.”
The group did their volunteer work in Piura, Peru –
After completing their
volunteer labor,
Kearns High School travelers visited Machu Picchu. Kez Zimmerman is on the far left, while Kaila Wolf is fourth in from the right, holding an apple. (Photo courtesy Kaila Wolf)
not far from the country’s South Pacific Ocean seacoast.
“We dug trenches for a new water system our first day and then helped lay water pipe the second day,” Wolf said. “After that, we did repair work at an elementary school: painting a building, putting up new fences and doors, reroofing a play area – things like that. Many of the students’ parents were also helping.”
“It was so wonderful to work with the locals to provide them with something so crucial,” Zimmerman said. “It was remarkable to see how excited they were to get access to water, something we so often take for granted. When we finally got the pipes installed and water flowed from the spigots, there was a huge celebration. Children started splashing… while adults ran their hands through the water in delight and relief. One local woman made me and Kaila beautiful jewelry as a thank you gift.”
After completing their volunteer work, the Eagle Condor Humanitarian group donated toothpaste, toothbrushes and other personal and school supplies to the children. Zimmerman and Wolf both said connecting with the kids was one of their trip’s biggest highlights.
With their work completed, the group boarded another plane heading further south to Lima. From there, they made their way to the smaller community of Cusco and eventually to Machu Picchu.
“When I was first selected for the trip scholarship, I had no idea we would be going to Machu Picchu,” Zimmerman said. “That has
been a bucket list item for me for many years. Learning about the history of the area was very interesting.”
“There were so many llamas just wandering around everywhere while we were riding the bus to Machu Picchu,” Wolf added. “It was just so beautiful; it felt like it was not real life.”
All totaled, the classmates were out of the United States 10 days, from June 27 to July 7. They both describe those 10 days as “life changing.” Shortly after her return, Zimmerman wrote a thank you letter to the Kearns Alumni Scholarship Committee.
“The feelings I felt while on the trip are some I am not sure I will ever feel in exactly the same way again,” her letter read, in part. “It was so incredible to be able to get so close to locals and to my fellow youth (volunteers). I already miss those emotions. I cannot thank the alumni enough.”
Zimmerman hopes to attend Weber State University a year from now, possibly on “a softball or academic scholarship.” She wants to be a zoologist one day, while continuing to do humanitarian work, particularly with the homeless.
Wolf hopes to attend the University of Utah next year. She plans to earn a chemistry degree before moving on to dental school.
Both Kearns High seniors say their first-ever trip outside the United States – made possible by those “other seniors” – has changed their perspective of and appreciation for our country. l
Kearns High School senior Kez Zimmerman (front) spent several days doing volunteer work in Peru this summer, digging water line trenches and repairing a school. (Photo courtesy Kez Zimmerman)
Taylorsville bagpipers, drummers and dancers visit France to perform during the 80th anniversary of D-Day
FatherTime is rapidly winning the war
Nazi Germany never could. The few still surviving veterans of the Allied Forces’ invasion of Normandy, France on June 6, 1944 are all now in their late 90s or more than a century old. That’s why most observers believe this summer’s large event commemorating the 80th anniversary of D-Day is likely the last of its kind: with a significant number of the actual veterans who participated in the daring attack on hand to be honored.
Among the thousands of people who participated in this summer’s Normandy invasion commemoration were more than 100 Utahns associated with a musical performing group that actually predates D-Day.
The Taylorsville-based Utah Pipe Band was established in 1937 by Robert Barclay, who was born in Scotland and migrated to America after joining The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Barclay’s grandson, John Barclay, 69, manages the bagpiping, drumming and Highland dancing troupe now.
“My grandfather met missionaries in Scotland as a teen and joined the Church,” Barclay explained. “He was shot twice and lost a portion of his lung during World War I. Just a few years after that, he was one of the millions of immigrants who arrived in the United States through Ellis Island.”
Landing in America in 1922, Robert Barclay quickly made his way to Utah. Although his war injuries made it impossible for him to play a wind instrument such as a bagpipe, John Barclay says his grandfather was excited to create the Utah Pipe Band.
“Many of my family members have performed in the band over the years,” he added. “At this point, I have a brother, two children and two grandchildren involved in the group.”
As luck would have it, John Barclay lives next door to Taylorsville Mayor Kristie Overson, who enjoys her neighbors and their music.
“I am really proud of the Utah Pipe Band,” Overson said. “I have known them for many years. I am so thrilled the Barclay roots are here in Taylorsville. I have loved hearing them play their bagpipes for a long time.”
The Utah Pipe Band travelled to Hawaii in December 2021 to perform during the 80th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. It was during that trip when organizers of the D-Day commemoration first began to talk with the Taylorsville group about making their way to France this summer.
“Our entourage in Normandy had 119 people, including 30 pipers, 23 drummers and four dancers,” Barclay said. “The others were friends and family of group members. Ten of them were part of my extended family.”
By Carl Fauver | c.fauver@mycityjournals.com
After arriving in Paris (not quite two months ahead of the Olympic athletes), the Utahns completely filled two buses for the 3 hour drive to Normandy. From there, Barclay says a whirlwind of performances kept the Utah Pipe Band busy for several days. The visit culminated with the band marching and performing in a parade in Sainte-Mère-Église – the first French town liberated by the Allied Forces 80 years ago.
“There was just so much activity while we were there; it was completely frantic,” Barclay concluded. “I was so proud of our group members. They played so well. We had veterans rising out of their wheelchairs to march in place. Everyone was bawling. This was about the most amazing thing I have ever done.”
Since returning from France, the Utah Pipe Band has continued to perform across the state, including appearances in the Taylorsville Dayzz Parade and the Days of 47 Parade in downtown Salt Lake City. They are also contemplating a return to Paris in less than a year.
“Before we left the D-Day anniversary events, organizers were already asking us to return for the 80th anniversary of V-E Day,” Barclay said. “We’re considering it, but those are expensive trips. The cost for 119 of us to go this summer was about $300,000. We did some fundraising, but it was mostly out of our pockets. So, we’ll have to think about it a lit-
tle bit.”
As he approaches age 70, Barclay is also in the process of handing off management of the Utah Pipe Band to a relative. At the risk of some confusion, John Barclay says the next person to coordinate group activities will be Jon Barclay – this one without an “H” in his name.
“Jon is my cousin Scott’s son,” Barclay said. “He’s already taken over some of the management duties. I know he will do a great job.”
“John is just a monument in the band –with them 60 years or so,” Jon Barclay said. “I’m happy to help him out with anything he needs.”
Jon Barclay’s family is quite active in the Utah Pipe Band. He and his son Evan play pipes, younger son Grant is a base drummer and a third son, Dean, operates the group’s flying drone, making videos of their performances.
“My Dad was a pipe player back in the 1980s; but I just started playing five years ago,” Jon Barclay said. “Evan and I took bagpipe lessons together. Playing is in our family heritage and we didn’t want to let it die on the vine. It took us about a year to get up to speed.”
Jon and Evan were scheduled to make their debut with the Utah Pipe Band at Taylorsville High School in March 2020.
“It was going to be a St. Patrick’s Day
concert – scheduled for the very day everything went into lockdown due to COVID-19,” he said. “We ended up playing a few funerals in 2020. But we didn’t really get active with the entire band until the Pearl Harbor Day commemoration in Honolulu in December 2021.”
Utah Pipe Band members live all across our state, from St. George to Ogden. To see the group’s performance schedule – or to get information on learning to play bagpipes yourself – visit utahpipeband.org. l
Utah Pipe Band members met British D-Day Veterans at Sword Beach. Here, pipe player John Barclay presents a commemorative coin to his new friend. (Photo courtesy John Barclay)
Utah Pipe Band drummer Grant Barclay pauses while playing on Utah Beach to watch a vintage military plane fly over. (Photo courtesy Jon Barclay)
Utah Pipe Band members took a short break while in France to gather in front of this Sainte-Mère-Église church. (Photo courtesy Jon Barclay)
Utah’s new NHL hockey team will train at Olympic Oval
By Tom Haraldsen | t.haraldsen@mycityjournals.com
While the Utah Hockey Club waits for a permanent training facility to be built at the Southtowne Center location in Sandy, the newest National Hockey League team will train at the Utah Olympic Oval in Kearns this season. It has meant a summer of construction at the Oval, with the NHL team spending several million dollars to remodel the southeast corner of the building and adding changes that will help with preparations for the 2034 Winter Olympics as well.
“The Utah Hockey Club approached us about using the facility as a practice facility going into their inaugural season here,” said Todd Porter, general manager at the Utah Olympic Oval. “So they are building medical space, a weight room area in the corner that will include a locker room, both hot and cold tubs, equipment room, film room, and coaches and athlete lounge. They are also adding some coaches’ offices on the second floor, and then an observation deck above the southeast corner.”
Porter said the changes are extensive, adding that the upgrade of the facility is part of looking into the future for the Oval both before and after the Olympic games.
“Because of our Olympic planning, we had already planned on building out some of these corners for VIP areas for the Olympics,” he said. “So this kind of fit into what we were looking to do, but also satisfying a need that club needed now. We’re hoping that we can use this as a template or a base to build off of when we’re trying to figure out how we’re going to incorporate all of our seating for spectators and VIPs for the Olympics.”
He said NHL players won’t actually be in the Oval until camp starts sometime in September. Utah’s 2024 preseason schedule begins on Sept. 22 versus the St. Louis Blues in Des Moines, Iowa before the team hosts the Los Angeles Kings in its first-ever home game on Sept. 23 at the Delta Center. They will also face the Colorado Avalanche in another preseason game
on Oct. 5 at the Maverik Center in West Valley because the Delta Center has a previous commitment booked (a UFC event).
The ice surface itself has already seen some improvements, with a new chiller system and refrigeration areas upgraded.
“The really nice thing is, we have transformed one of our hockey sheets into an NHL sheet, which is important going forward for an Olympics and most international competitions,” Porter said. “We did transfer one of our sheets to an NHL size which is a bit smaller, 15 feet narrower than an Olympic size sheet.”
He said the hockey club will likely train in the mornings and early afternoons, which is not a busy time for the Oval, so public programs and kids programs shouldn’t be affected.
“During the season, they’re playing their games at the Delta Center, so most of their practices will be at the facility when it’s available,” Porter said. “Out here, as a side note, you may get the occasional visiting team that needs practice ice too. So you never know who might
show up at the Oval. Thinking you’re going to have the Chicago Blackhawks or the Edmonton Oilers show up at the Oval, and then you have these superstars that are kind of just hanging out and working by side with not only our Olympic team, but also the public that we have in the building. That’s wild.”
Regarding plans for the 2034 Olympic Games, Porter said a lot of planning is already underway for other parts of the Oval.
“It’s not too early. I mean, it is 10 years
away, and we do have a great facility here already. We host World Cup speed skating and other world class events every year. We’re still the fastest ice on earth with 10 or 11 world records. We know we’re going to add other things, like larger electronic boards, but we’ll see how technology evolves over the next few years. By the time the Games come, we’ll have the most state of the art facility for the Olympics.” l
Construction equipment on the south side of the Oval is being used to build a new locker room, medical space and offices for the NHL club. (Tom Haraldsen/City Journals)
The ice sheet at the Utah Olympic Oval has been reconfigured to NHL size so the Utah Hockey Club can use it as a training facility. (Tom Haraldsen/City Journals)
Though covered for now, the new observation deck at the Oval can be seen as part of the changes being made at the facility by the Utah Hockey Club. (Tom Haraldsen/City Journals)
City of Taylorsville Newsletter
MAYOR'S MESSAGE
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
On Sept. 17, 1787, the delegates of the Constitutional Convention met for the last time to sign the document they created in Philadelphia. That document was, of course, our country’s beloved Constitution, and this day is now known as Constitution Day, or Citizenship Day.
This pivotal event marked the creation of the foundational principles and very structure of American government, in addition to guarantees of our essential liberties. In recognition, Constitution Day marks the signing and adoption of our United States Constitution and acknowledges those who have become U.S. citizens since then. It serves as a reminder of the essence of democracy and rule of law that underpin our nation.
To celebrate Constitution Day, schools, government institutions and civic organizations often hold educational events to highlight the signi cance of the Constitution and promote understanding of its contents. These celebrations may include discussions on the rights written in the Bill of Rights, the separation of powers and the ongoing importance of civic engagement. By re ecting on the Constitution's enduring impact, Constitution Day fosters a greater appreciation for the framework that supports American democracy and encourages citizens to engage actively in the democratic process.
This year, we are also recognizing this day in Taylorsville in a special way. It is my great pleasure to announce that we are adding the name Constitution Boulevard to 2700 West. With this effort, Constitution Boulevard by name will now extend from West Valley City through Taylorsville, giving continuity to the entire stretch of the road and its descriptor through both cities.
The addition of “Constitution Boulevard” to this important road will draw additional focus to prominent areas of our city located near 2700 West including Taylorsville City Hall, the Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center, the Taylorsville Utah Temple and, of course, Valley Regional Park where our annual Taylorsville Dayzz takes place every summer.
A naming committee was put together for this purpose, according to city ordinance, and we plan to formalize the additional name by proclamation during our regular City Council meeting on Sept. 18, which happens to come the day after Constitution Day. You’ll also be able to take a peek at the new Constitution Blvd. street signs that we’ll have on hand at the meeting before they are installed.
It is difficult to put into words how grateful I am for the enduring relevance of the U.S. Constitution in shaping our nation’s values and principles. Sept. 17 is such an important day, and now we have even more reason to celebrate in Taylorsville. Happy Constitution Day!
—Mayor Kristie S. Overson
WHAT’S INSIDE – SEPTEMBER 2024
Frequently Called Numbers, Page 2
Council Corner, Page 3
TVPD News, Page 4
Heritage Remembrances, Page 7
Environment, Page 8
Station Area Plan Defines Long-Term Vision Near BRT Stations
Asweeping proposal with a decades-long vision, taking into account land use, housing availability and a ordability, population growth, transportation connectivity and other issues will help de ne future planning for the city.
Called the Taylorsville Expressway Station Area Master Plan, the proposal is required by state statute for areas near planned transit stations. Specifically, the law requires that all local governments in Utah with transit stations on a fixed guideway adopt a station area plan that addresses, among other things, housing, environmental practices, access to opportunity and connectivity.
The law applies to three coming stations in Taylorsville along the planned Mid-Valley Express Bus Rapid Transit line. They are the 1300 West Station, West Atherton Station and River Boat Road Station. The station area plan was required for an area within 1/4 mile of each applicable station platform.
The Taylorsville study areas are each located on 4700 South, near 1300 West, 1100 West and 825 West. The three required areas in Taylorsville are adjacent and overlap each other and, therefore, were combined into one comprehensive study area (see accompanying map).
Taylorsville's plan was completed by a team of consultants, including architecture and design rms KGRW and BCT Design Group, real estate consulting by RCLO, tra c planning by The Tra c Group, and engineering and infrastructure analysis by Great Basin Engineering. Their objectives were to:
1. Increase the availability and a ordability of housing
2. Promote sustainable environmental practices (water conservation, air quality, etc.)
3. Enhance access to opportunity (jobs, shopping, education, etc.)
4. Increase transportation choices and connectivity
City planners emphasized that the plan is aspirational in nature, rather than focused on active implementation. For example, the proposal's main emphasis is land use so that as properties turn over, future development will dovetail with the de ned station area plan. Planners further
STATION AREA CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
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Gang Tip Line
801-955-2030
801-977-8755
801-743-7200
385-468-9768
Garbage/Recycle/GreenWaste Pick-up ........................ 385-468-6325
(Wasatch Front Waste & Recycling)
Granite School District
Health Department
385-646-5000
385-468-4100
Highway Conditions (from cell phone) 511
Park Reservations ................................................................. 385-468-7275
Public Works (Salt Lake County) ....................................... 385-468-6101
Dominion Energy 800-323-5517
Rocky Mountain Power 888-221-7070
Salt Lake County Recycling/Land ll 801-974-6920
Taylorsville Bennion Improvement District................. 801-968-9081
Taylorsville Food Pantry ..................................................... 801-815-0003
Taylorsville Senior Center 385-468-3370
Taylorsville Code Enforcement
801-955-2013
Taylorsville Justice Court 801-963-0268
Taylorsville Library ............................................................... 801-943-4636
Taylorsville Recreation Center ......................................... 385-468-1732
Swimming Pool (Memorial Day to Labor Day) 801-967-5006
Taylorsville-Bennion Heritage Center 801-281-0631
UDOT Region 2 801-975-4900
Utah Transit Authority (UTA) 801-743-3882
EVENTS
SEPTEMBER 2024
Every Friday night through Sept. 27
Starry Nights @ the Plaza. The food trucks arrive at 5 p.m. and most music starts at 7. See www.taylorsvilleut.gov for the full schedule. Don’t miss the season’s last night on Sept. 27!
Every Tuesday through Sept. 24
Taylorsville Farmers Market @ Centennial Plaza, 2600 W. Taylorsville Blvd., from 5 to 9 p.m.
Sept. 2 – all day Labor Day. City O ces are closed in observance.
Sept. 4 and 18 – 6:30 p.m. City Council Meeting @ City Hall.
Sept. 10 and 24 – 6:30 p.m.
Planning Commission Meeting @ City Hall.
Sept. 11 – all day
9/11 National Day of Service. Please consider extending an act of service or kindness to others in remembrance of those we lost.
Sept. 13 and 14 @ 7:30 p.m.
A Movie Musical Revue @ Centennial Plaza. Presented by the Taylorsville Arts Council, it’s a free performance.
Sept. 21 – 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Fall Festival @ the Taylorsville-Bennion Heritage Center. Sponsored by the Historic Preservation Committee. Enjoy free music, games and more.
Sept. 28 – 8 to 11 a.m.
Pancake Breakfast @ Fire Station 118, 5317 S. 2700 West, outside on the plaza. Hosted by the Uni ed Fire Authority, it’s free!
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
September 7-15
Lyrical Opera Theater presents Carmen
September 7
Utah Arts Alliance presents Devotion Wrestling
September 13-14
Shift Dance Company presents Becoming
September 27
Tiranube Entertainment presents La Pelota de Letras - Andrés López September 15 Kaladharaa Dance presents Ganga to Kaveri: An Ode to Rivers
September 28
Siva Pasefika presents Origins
COUNCIL CORNER
By Council Member Curt Cochran
Large or Small, Cities of Varied Sizes Share Common Issues
Every city in the United States has its pros and cons. Each has its own strengths and opportunities. However, it dawned on me that many cities may have similar issues regardless of their size but may be at di erent ends of the spectrum.
At the same time, cities may have the same issue in a general sense but di erent issues within the main topic. Below are some of the top issues (according to a consensus of mayors), facing cities of varied sizes in the U.S.
Housing: While larger cities are faced with large apartment complexes with hundreds of units, high density housing trends, excessive cost of home ownership and lack of affordable housing, smaller communities face the reality of supply and demand. When demand is high and supply is low, prices are driven up. We have seen this in Utah for the last 10 years or more. Utah is a highly desired place to live but the supply of housing is drastically below the demand thus making homeownership not possible for many.
Size Large Medium Small Rural
Population 1.5m + 200k-500k 50k-250k under 50k
Examples New York Colorado Springs, Colo. Bozeman, Mont. Westlake, Fla.
Los Angeles Santa Clara, Calif. Santa Fe, N.M. Vineyard, Utah
Chicago Omaha, Neb. Taylorsville, Utah Telluride, Colo.
Environmental e ects Economic Development Housing Public Health
Congestion Public Safety Jobs Economic Development
Housing Budgets Losing young population Housing
Crime Infrastructure Infrastructure Childcare
Fiscal di culties Housing Healthcare Transportation
The issues that I have placed in bold and italics are common issues that most cities face to one extreme or the other, or cities may face these as challenges and opportunities at di erent periods in their city life span.
Congestion, Tra c, & Transportation: Large and medium cities can both face crowded roads, tra c slowdowns at high peak times, and high demands on public transportation. Small and rural cities are on the other side of the spectrum with little to no public transportation to assist and must be more reliant on personal vehicles.
Economic Development/Jobs: Small communities face the challenge of attracting new or larger businesses. However, the logistics of pro tability may be harder to achieve due to high shipping cost of materials and nished goods. This then also means that quality jobs paying a standard rate may be harder to come by for those who want to remain in that type a rural community. And those jobs that do pay a good wage are highly sought after. The same problem can exist for larger cities. Once a city is built out and has no more room to expand its business base, it forces businesses
stressed that the city has no plans to acquire property and only desires to comply with the planning law enacted by the Legislature. City leaders also welcomed the opportunity for study and recognized the signi cant bene t that long-term planning for the area will bring.
It is a bold vision that includes recommendations for building orientations, architecture and height, streetscape designs, integration of bicycles and pedestrians within transportation planning, the creation of a unique sense of place, and mixed land uses including residential for-rent and for-sale units.
Visit the city’s website, www.taylorsvilleut.gov, to view the presentations of the proposal from the consultants and city sta , as well as a live-stream recording of the meeting.
A primary feature of the plan is a large linear parkway that runs east to west throughout the study area south of 4700 South that will connect most residential areas directly to the Jordan River Parkway and the regional trails network. Numerous other open spaces are featured in the plan including neighborhood parks and larger open spaces that attempt to preserve existing trees and other open space features. It is also estimated that full implementation of the plan will result in a net increase of approximately 4,000 housing units to the study area.
Anticipated implementation is expected to be very long term and fully dependent on the will of private property owners within the area. Completion of the new Bus Rapid Transit system in Taylorsville is expected be complete in fall 2026.
to search for various locations that may be too far to reasonably commute.
Budgets/Fiscal difficulties: Every city wants to be scally responsible with taxpayers’ money, and I have always appreciated Taylorsville’s mentality and policies that re ect a desire to be a “pay as we go city.” In other words, we desire to nd the money, pursue state and federal grants as much as possible and have funds in our accounts before we tackle a major project within the city. Not all cities do that. I have always said, “Anything can be done with time and money, but neither is unlimited.”
In summary, I believe cities of all sizes can learn from each other and adapt a solution for a general concern to what works for each individual community.
STATION AREA CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
LEFT TO RIGHT:
Bob Knudsen, (District 5), Curt Cochran, Chair (District 2), Anna Barbieri, (District 3), Meredith Harker, Vice Chair (District 4) and Ernest Burgess (District 1)
Slow Down to Hit More Green Lights When Traveling
Check this space each month for news about the Taylorsville Police Department (TVPD) and their valuable service to our community.
Want to hit more green lights? Well, slow the ow. Tra c signals along the busiest roadways in Taylorsville are coordinated through UDOT’s Traffic Signal Operations Center. The tra c lights are synced up to maximize the ow of tra c, which changes depending on the time of day.
The best way to hit greens is to slow the ow and obey the speed limit rather than racing from red light to red light. When tra c backs up, stay out of the intersection, be patient and wait your turn. Creeping forward past the stop bar and into the crosswalk moves you past the set detection zones for tra c signals. With that in mind, be sure to stop behind the stop line bar and let the detection zone pick you up. This is better for you and better for any pedestrians trying to cross a busy roadway. Blocking the intersection is likely to make your fellow drivers on the roadway annoyed, put you at risk of being hit by another vehicle, and may even land you with a hefty ne. So, drive safely and remember, slower is often faster!
EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH
Congratulations to Lt. Fowler, our latest TVPD Employee of the Month (EOTM). With a distinguished career spanning more than 21 years in law enforcement, Lt. Fowler has served with dedication within the San Jose, Calif., Saratoga Springs, Utah, Uni ed Police and Taylorsville Police departments. In total, he has worked as an o cer and supervisor within Taylorsville City for more than 15 years.
His comprehensive experience includes serving as a patrol officer, traffic enforcement (motors) o cer, property crimes detective, street crimes detective, patrol sergeant, street crimes detective sergeant and lieutenant. Additionally, Lt. Fowler earned his bachelor’s degree in Chinese from Brigham Young University.
Lt. Fowler was selected as our latest EOTM by Chief Cottam due to his “outstanding service and dedication in overseeing multiple assignments within TVPD.” The most recent example of this was his e ective organization of the public safety aspect of Taylorsville Dayzz 2024, an event that draws tens of thousands of citizens. This event involves coordinating personnel from multiple agencies to manage tra c control, proactive enforcement, security, parade participation and community outreach.
Lt. Fowler has earned the respect of his co-workers, who describe him as someone who “leads by example,” “implements innovative strategies and training programs,” “exhibits a high standard of professionalism” and “fosters a collaborative and supportive environment.” Chief Cottam states that Lt. Fowler “exempli es the highest standards of professionalism and integrity, and his commitment and contributions to TVPD and the community we serve have been exemplary.”
When Lt. Fowler is not juggling these numerous responsibilities, he enjoys running, mountain biking, San Francisco Giants baseball, shing and spending time with his family. Congrats, Lt. Fowler, and thank you for all you do for Team Taylorsville!
A Fall Festival
10 a.m. to 1 p.m. aturday, 0
Saturda , Sept. 21
Taylorsville-Bennion Heritage Center 1488 W. 4800 South
Pumpkin-decorating and pie-eating contests, children's activities, entertainment by Crossfire Band and the Days of ‘47 Royalty, community booths, quilt show and drawing, free Taylorsville history book
FREE EVENT A BOUNTY OF AUTUMN FUN! REE OF
Public Safety Committee Hosts 2024 Night Out Against Crime
More than 200 residents gathered for the Taylorsville Public Safety Committee’s Night Out Against Crime this year, and the event featured more information booths than ever before.
Zero Fatalities, Utah Department of Corrections, Utah Division of Consumer Protection, Taylorsville’s Community Advisory Board, Intermountain Health and Texas Roadhouse were just a few of the community partners participating at the event.
Of course, attendees could also meet with Taylorsville’s own police o cers and re ghters, who also hosted activities that were both informational and fun.
“It was a very successful evening,” Mayor Kristie Overson said at a recent City Council meeting, “and I want to say thank you to Taylorsville’s Public Safety Committee, our Youth Council and all the volunteers who made this possible. It was a fantastic event.”
Among the many activities, the night featured the FBI’s rescue vehicle tour, police and re truck tours, the TVPD K-9 demo, UHP seatbelt safety demo, and a bike rodeo, put on by the Youth Council for little ones to ride a course on their bicycles.
“We also enjoyed some good food from the food trucks and a live band as part of Taylorsville City’s regular Starry Nights event,” Mayor Overson said. “We can’t wait for next year!”
Business is Thriving in Taylorsville with Several New Openings
Among the new businesses opening in Taylorsville over the past few months were Rely Home Loans, Kenpo Karate, the Car Injury Clinic, Crossroads Bar & Grill and Hong Kong Express. They celebrated with Ribbon Cutting events and are detailed below:
1. RELY HOME LOANS — Headed by company President Manfret O. Roesner and his wife, Senior Vice President of Operations Khamphay Roesner, Rely Home Loans strives to help its clients purchase homes. Their new o ce is located at 6575 S. Redwood Road.
The company aims to build generational wealth through homeownership, according to its mission. Since becoming a lender in 2011, Manfret and his team have originated more than 1,000 mortgage loans. Khamphay began her career 15 years ago as a mortgage loan o cer and is now a full-time “mortgage mentor.”
Rely Home Loans is open Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Find out more online at relyhomeloans.com.
2. KENPO KARATE — The new studio has opened at 4900 S. Redwood Road and is helmed by Master Tony Martinez Sr., a 10th degree black belt.
In addition to Kenpo Karate, the studio o ers Jiu Jitsu classes to adults and children ages 4 and up, but Kenpo is its specialty. Martinez has made a career of learning and perfecting Ed Parker’s American Kenpo, and today he is one of the highest Kenpo practitioners in the world.
Visit Kenpo Karate’s website, tonymartinezsr.com, for more information, including its hours of operation under the “Schedule” tab.
3. CAR INJURY CLINIC — The Car Injury Clinic o ers comprehensive care and personalized treatment for victims of car accidents. They are open at 2997 W. 4700 South.
The business provides the services of experienced chiropractors and specialized physical, occupational and massage therapists, as well as a holistic approach to address pain, injury and overall well-being after an accident.
Its founder, Nena Knudsen, was inspired to create a comprehensive clinic o ering specialized care after a car accident left her with long-term injuries. She wanted to make the journey to recovery easier for others. Find out more on their website, carinjuryclinics.com.
4. CROSSROADS BAR & GRILL — This relaxed sports bar serves beer, cocktails and casual American bites with great viewing of all your favorite games and events on their wall of at-screen TVs. There’s also a pool table to play and outdoor seating.
Find Crossroads Bar & Grill at 5592 S. Redwood Road in The Crossroads of Taylorsville shopping center. For the foodies, there are plenty of crowd-pleasers on the menu, including sh and chips, wings, burgers and pizzas. See the full menu on their website, crossroadsbarandgrill.com, where you can also nd a calendar of upcoming events.
They are open from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m., seven days a week.
5. HONG KONG EXPRESS — At Hong Kong Express, you can try some of everything. The Chinese restaurant, now open in Taylorsville at 5486 S. 1900 West, o ers 24 di erent delectable dishes each priced at a uniform rate and served bu et style.
Mix and match your plate, choosing from lo mein, fried rice, mapo tofu, fried shrimp, gyoza and much more. It’s all priced by weight at $6.99 a pound, a price strategy designed to allow customers exible eating based on preferences and appetite.
You can reserve a table or order delivery service online, at hongkongexpresstut.com, or simply stop by to dine in.
Read additional details and more about other new businesses opening in Taylorsville on the city’s website, www.taylorsvilleut.gov.
Taylorsville Bennion Heritage REMEMBRANCES
Join Us for Autumn Fun at Second Fall Festival This Month
Last September, we held our rst Fall Festival, and yes, another one is on the way! Let’s meet again this month on Saturday, Sept. 21, at the Taylorsville-Bennion Heritage Center, 1488 W. 4800 South, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
This year, we will have the wonderful assistance of the Parks and Recreation Committee and the Taylorsville City Youth Council. Both groups have helped us for many years with various events.
Enjoy games, a pumpkin pie-eating contest, committee booths and photo opportunity areas. You must also come to see our baby goats. This year’s quilt show will feature holiday quilts. There will be a drawing at the end of the event for a quilt that will be tied that day by our guests. The pumpkin decorating contest was so much fun last year, so we will do it again. The pumpkins are grown at the museum just for you!
Last year, we had a free cookbook with old Taylorsville favorite recipes. This year, we will have a FREE History of Taylorville book. Don Frame, a former Taylorsville Historian and Preservation committee member, who passed away in 2017, researched and compiled this history. It has been edited and revised for you. Don’s aunt Emma Jane Webster was the Taylorsville historian before Don. Come to the museum to hear a recording of her telling of teaching in the rst schoolhouse in our community in 1905.
Our entertainment for the Fall Festival will be the Days of ‘47 Royalty. We are delighted to have them at the Fall Festival for a second time. Je and John of Cross re, a Taylorsville favorite singing duo, will sing as well.
We can’t wait to see you there!
Here’s the schedule of activities:
10 a.m. Opening Ceremony with Mayor Kristie Overson
10:30 a.m. Days of ‘47 Royalty entertainment
11 a.m. Cross re, country/folk singers
Pumpkin pie-eating contest, 12 years and older
1st judging for pumpkin-decorating contest: prize
11:30 a.m. Cross re, country/folk singers
Pumpkin pie-eating contest, 12 years and older
Line dancing
12 p.m. Days of ‘47 Royalty entertainment
12:30 p.m. Cross re, country/folk singers
Drawing for Quilt, awarded by Days of ‘47 Royalty
2nd judging for pumpkin-decorating contest: prize
12:45 p.m. Candy corn in a jar guess, prize awarded
Don’t
Miss These Library Events
The Taylorsville Library has planned several programs during the month of September. You’ll want to mark your calendar for these events:
MUSIC & MOVEMENT — Tuesdays in September at 10:30 a.m. Can you "head, shoulders, knees and toes" with the best? Music, movement and fun for little ones and their grown-ups. Starting Tuesday, Sept. 3.
PRESCHOOL STORYTIME — Wednesdays in September at 10:30 a.m. Storytime for preschoolers and their caring adult(s) with talking, singing, reading, writing and play. Starting Wednesday, Sept. 4.
TODDLER PLAYTIME — Fridays in September at 10:30 a.m. Open Playtime and social interaction for toddlers and their caring adults(s). Toys, tunnels, and more! Starts Friday, Sept. 6.
TEEN AFTER HOURS GAME NIGHT — Friday, Sept. 6, 6:30 to 9 p.m. After hours gaming party with The Game Machine. Register at the Info Desk. Registration begins Aug. 12.
HOMESCHOOL "WHO WAS" BOOK CLUB — Monday, Sept. 9, 1 p.m. Learn about people and places with books from the "Who Was" series. The group will talk about the book, learn cool facts and do other fun activities. September book is “Who Was Jules Verne?”
SENIOR HEALTH CLASS: STAY STRONG, SAFE, AND INDEPENDENT — Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2-3 p.m. Falls can be a life-changer for older adults. Learn simple strength and balance exercises you can do at home to stay strong, safe and independent. Presented by Salt Lake County Adult & Aging Services.
VIRTUAL ADULT LECTURE | Herculaneum & Pompeii: Still Emerging into the Light — Tuesday, Sept. 10, 7 p.m. Register at: thecountylibrary.org/LectureSeries. The eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D. is one of history’s most famous natural disasters. Learn about the rich cultural evidence found in the volcanic matrix and the recent developments.
TABLETOP GAME DAY — Saturday, Sept. 14, 1-4 p.m. Enjoy an afternoon of tabletop games! Play your favorites or explore new games provided by High Gear Hobby.
VIRTUAL ADULT LECTURE | Decoding Taylor Swift: Unveiling the Layers of Her Lyrics and Music — Monday, Sept. 23, 7 p.m. Discover the evolution of Taylor Swift's songwriting and lyrical style. Explore the megastar’s use of imagery, allusion and rhyme to create lyrics that resonate with audiences all over the globe.
A NIGHT OF DISNEY MUSIC WITH THE UTAH COUNTY FLUTE CHOIR — Monday, Sept. 30, 7 p.m. Celebrate the music of Disney with a free performance for all ages.
TAYLORSVILLE SENIOR CENTER
4743 S. Plymouth View Drive
September Activities
FALL PREVENTION BINGO –Wednesday, Sept. 18, at 10 a.m. September is Fall Prevention Month so join us for a special Bingo. There will be prizes and information on Fall Prevention provided by Salt Lake County Health Promotions.
COMPUTER CLASS – Must call ahead to pre-register; phone 385-468-3370. Monday and Wednesdays, 9 to 11 a.m. Sign up for a 30-minute time slot. Free to seniors over age 60.
ANNUAL COLLECTION DAY
SEPTEMBER UPDATES
Fall Leaf Pickup
As the temperatures cool down and we head into fall, WFWRD will begin their seasonal fall leaf pickup service. Starting Oct.16, residents can pick up leaf bags at designated locations. WFWRD does not collect leaf bags from your curb.
• Full leaf bags can be taken to area parks and placed in the district’s trailers.
• Other yard or waste bags can be used for your leaves. Please do not dump garbage, yard waste or other items at the leaf-bag collection sites.
• Leaves are not accepted in blue recycling cans.
• You are welcome to take leaf bags from any site for your own compost.
Sustainable School Options
Did you know? If each student in the United States used one less pencil in a school year, we could save more than 265 mature trees.
With schools back in session, we're all investing in new supplies. Following are some tips for saving money and protecting the environment while restocking your student's supplies.
• Take inventory: Start by checking what items you have from last year that can be used again this year.
• Choose sustainable options: Consider eco-friendly and sustainable choices, such as recycled mechanical pencils, recycled paper notebooks, reusable water bottles, lunch boxes, silicon sandwich bags and other sustainably produced, reusable items for daily use.
By following these tips, you can save money and conserve valuable resources. Small changes can lead to signi cant results!
Recycling Plastics
Recycling plastics can be confusing, but WFWRD has a guide that will help you become a recycling pro!
PET (#1) and HDPE (#2): Containers of this resin type are widely accepted and include beverage, condiment and detergent bottles, food tubs, milk jugs and similar containers. Small to medium containers labeled #1 or #2 are generally recyclable.
PP (#5): This includes yogurt and cottage cheese containers, pill bottles and some food-grade jars. Note: It must match the shape of the items listed in the guide that you can nd at wasatchfrontwaste.org. If an item does match those shapes, it likely isn't accepted in single-stream recycling.
OTHER PLASTICS: Generally, these are not accepted in single-stream recycling. Use WFWRD’s "Recycle Right" tool at wasatchfrontwaste.org/how-recycle for speci c recycling options and to con rm what items are accepted.
Is that Lawn Really Worth It?
After a long hot summer, you may ask, “Is all this lawn really worth it?” Consider the frustration of irrigation systems not working, weeds that grow no matter how hot it is and weekends sacri ced to maintain that unappreciative lawn.
There is a better way to have a beautiful yard while saving time and water! A professional team of horticulturists, landscape designers, maintenance pros and irrigation experts are here to help. Together, they make up Localscapes, a free resource promoting a moderate approach to waterwise landscaping that is appropriate for Utah. Visit localscapes.com for more information.
If you have any questions, please contact Taylorsville-Bennion Improvement District by calling 801-968-9081 or visiting www.tbid.org. Follow TBID on Facebook and Twitter.
The stores are gone, but the signs remain for several westside businesses
By Tom Haraldsen | t.haraldsen@mycityjournals.com
Whena business closes its doors, its memories sometimes live on for many years. And apparently in a few locations on the westside of the Salt Lake Valley, so does its signage.
Case in point: these signs from three businesses that have closed and, in two cases, seen their buildings razed.
Motorists driving along Bangerter Highway near 4700 South in West Valley can see the sign for Riverton Music still standing proudly in the area between the old highway and the newer road that’s been added as a part of the UDOT changes at that intersection. That interchange is being rebuilt with an overpass for Bangerter that will run underneath 4700 South. The project is expected to be finished next summer.
UDOT officials seemed unclear about when and how that sign would be taken down, but seemed confident it would be removed before the new interchange is completed.
Riverton Music closed its doors at that location in January 2002. The building housed a couple of other businesses briefly before it was torn down last year.
The K-Mart in Taylorsville, located west of Bangerter at 5400 South, closed in January 2011, part of a nationwide closure of all its stores. The building sat unoccupied for over 12 years and was eventually razed in March of last year to make room for a new mixeduse project called Volta. The coming development will feature 647 residential units,
swimming pools, a clubhouse, retail space and other amenities. The K-Mart sign has continued to stand at the site.
Further west on 5400 South, a store called Andi’s Market occupied a space in the Kearns Center west of 4000 West. The store operated for about five years but was closed last December. The space has remained unoccupied, but the market’s sign remains on the corner of 4000 W. 5400 South.
A check through sign ordinances in and around the Salt Lake Valley show they don’t prescribe any specific penalty or requirement for businesses to remove signs once they’ve closed. For one thing, in all three of these cases, the signs weren’t attached to the storefronts, meaning they may have sat on properties of private owners and not the store owners or operators. So the signs remain until there’s a need to take them down.
No earth-shattering news here, just something kind of quirky. The clique in businesses used to be that “if you hang out your sign, the public will flock to your doors.” Well the customers may have stopped flocking, even though your sign remains. l
Preplan for Peace of Mind
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Signs for now-closed businesses like K-Mart, Riverton Music and Andi’s Market still stand on the westside of the valley. (Tom Haraldsen/City Journals)
Kearns football looking to hit stride under new head coach
By Tom Haraldsen | t.haraldsen@mycityjournals.com
The first time new Kearns High head football coach John Rowbotham and his wife Laura visited the school last spring was proof enough. After spending two hours walking the hallways, visiting with students, teachers and coaches, he was convinced.
“I hadn’t applied yet for the opening, but just wanted to see the school,” he said. “The coaches had great insights about the community. We walked out, got in the car and I said to my wife, ‘This is where I want to be.’”
Now he is. Coach Row, as he is called, took the helm for the Cougars this year. He said there’s a feeling in the school, literally a tangible feeling of school pride. “We met so many kids that day that were just happy and alive. The community here is behind the school. I’m so very, very thankful to be here.”
What he wants to bring to the Cougars is the kind of experience he has had as an athlete, starting back when he played at Skyline High under legendary coach Roger Dupaix. But that came after a few years of flag football and following his first contact experience as an eighth grader, which wasn’t memorable.
“I got my butt kicked,” he said with a smile. “I remember getting beat up every week, and I honestly wanted to quit. I was
tall and skinny and had no strength to speak of. But my dad had always offered to train me at his company, ‘Bigger Faster Stronger.’ He got me going with some weight training–it was really hard. By ninth grade, I was bigger and stronger, and I began to fall in love with the physicality of the game.”
Following his high school career, Row played at Dixie Jr. College, then at the University of Utah, and then at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington, where he met his wife Laura. At every school, he “learned a ton about teaching and coaching.”
While at the U., he also assisted for one year at Olympus High under head coach Mike Miller, a graduate of Kearns High School.
“What really drew me to football was the teamwork,” he said. “I’d never been involved with a sport where you had to depend on the guys around you to be successful. I love the challenge of bringing people together and getting on the same page. It’s a life lesson that these young men are finding here in the school, that they are part of something that’s bigger than just themselves.”
Laura coaches on his staff and is a teacher at KHS. She’s been working with him as a coach for four or five years, bringing her background in strength and conditioning.
“We share a passion for helping kids.
It would be weird to do this without her,” he said.
Coach Row and the Cougars have their work cut out for them this year. The team is very young, with only one starter (senior receiver and safety Austin Bell) back from last season. The Cougs also face a grueling preseason schedule before region play starts on Sept. 20 at Taylorsville.
“Some kids who haven’t played before or who’ve been off for a couple of years are coming back to play,” he said. “I think we forget with high school sports that it’s not just about winning games but learning life lessons you’ll use later on. The kids are so coachable and absorbing what we’re teaching them very quickly.”
On opening night Aug. 16, Kearns traveled to Brigham City to play Box Elder and
lost 52-7. On Aug. 23, the team dropped its home opener to Woods Cross. But the coach said he sees growth in each game. “We found a couple of things that we can fix going forward, and the number one thing is that they didn’t quit. There was no question about effort–it was about techniques and just inexperience. Those things we can improve on.”
The Cougars want to win, but for Row, that’s not the biggest thing for football, or any prep sport.
“To me, it’s about building relationships with these young men. So many kids I’ve coached through the years–I still have that relationship with them. We have a lot of athleticism and now it’s just the learning curve. In both of our first two games, the growth from the first quarter to the last quarter was amazing. We’re going to build on that here.” l
Kearns High head football coach talks to Austin Bell on the sidelines during a recent game. Bell is the only returning starter for the young Cougars this year.
UTA breaks ground for Midvalley Express bus service
By Tom Haraldsen | t.haraldsen@mycityjournals.com
Within the next two years, a fleet of 10 all-electric buses will help connect westside communities to Intermountain Medical Center in Murray and Salt Lake Community College
At a ceremony on Aug. 28, the Utah Transit Authority began construction of the Midvalley Express, to be known as MVX. The seven-mile bus route will connect West Valley City, Taylorsville and Murray with dedicated service along routes that have signal prioritization. Those routes will also connect with Frontrunner and TRAX routes to add frequency and accessibility for passengers.
Andrew Gruber, executive director of the Wasatch Front Regional Council, which focuses heavily on transportation issues, said, “If people want to take the bus or the train, we should make that easy for them. They can take Front Runner or TRAX, then connect to the MVX.” He said the use of electric buses with separate lanes and coordination with signals will make travel faster and more efficient.
Construction activities have already begun, with canal bridge construction on 4700 South near Redwood Road completed earlier this year, and utility work along 4700 South continuing this month. More work in the MVX routes will take place over the next two years, with the plan to have the system fully operational by
Fall 2026.
“We love our rail system. It works very efficiently, it moves a lot of people when we need it,” said Carlton Christensen, chairman of the UTA
Board of Directors. “Bus rapid transit has the ability to do similar kinds of movement at a much reduced cost. It will be a lot less expensive to build which allows us to build more transit
options within our entire system.” MVX is scheduled to be zero fare for its first five years thanks to a federal grant. l
HOW DO YOU SAVE A LIFE?
It is not uncommon that individuals witness a choking, a drug overdose, heart attack or some other life-threatening issue.
How many of us know what to do in this kind of situation? Apparently, it doesn’t take a lot of training to help out in many types of emergencies. We reached out to Brenda Hatch with Heart Song Rescue Training to find out more about this important topic.
Brenda recently received recognition from the American Red Cross as an “Outstanding Training Provider” and has achieved the status of “Premier Provider”. This was for training more than 2000 people in the last 12 months!
CITY JOURNALS: Hello Brenda and thank you for talking to us. I understand you took the instructor courses through the Red Cross and have been teaching for five years now. Why did you decide to become a CPR Instructor?
BRENDA: Well, that’s a great question. I did not grow up wanting to be a CPR and First Aid Instructor. I’d been a nurse for about 15 years when I had an accident. One night while I was recovering, I walked into my son’s room and found him lying on his bed, blue and lifeless. I knew I was looking at cardiac arrest. I’d seen it and worked through it at work many times but I’ll never forget how different this felt. I provided care for about 8 minutes while we waited for the EMTs. When they arrived, they started a Naloxone IV on him. Naloxone, also referred to as Narcan, is the drug that is used to reverse a drug overdose. My son responded promptly, which confirmed my suspicion that the situation was drug related.
After this incident, I shifted focus and decided to become an advocate for First Aid and CPR. This is my way of battling the opioid epidemic. Back to my son: He’s fine. He is a pleasant and productive man with a wife and 4 children. Because of these events, I have become thankful for the accident that crashed my career. It put me home the night that he overdosed, and in a
position to save his life. I guess, sometimes bad things happen so worse things don’t.
CITY JOURNAL: In your expert opinion, who needs to know CPR and First Aid?
BRENDA: Well, when you recognize the fact that every living, breathing human is at risk for becoming the victim of a life threatening emergency at any given moment, this is something we ALL need to know. People often deceive themselves into thinking that their family and friends are young, healthy people and this will not happen in their world. The truth is, injuries and illnesses can occur anywhere and anytime.
I had a conversation once with a grocery store employee. He noticed my “American Red Cross Instructor” badge and I asked if he was trained in CPR and First Aid. He wasn’t and was worried about having someone slip and fall at the store. Let’s look at the store for a second: The customer that might slip and fall is certainly something to be concerned about since this presents the possibility of serious head injuries and fractures among other things. The baker works with extremely hot and slippery surfaces. The butcher works with very sharp tools such as knives and bone saws. In the deli, you will also find hot surfaces and sharp objects. Any mishap here could throw multiple people into a life-threatening situation.
I, personally, would never want to be in a situation where I stand idly by watching a person die and not know how to help. I would like to believe that everybody feels the same way.
CITY JOURNAL: What have you found to be some of the major reasons people hold back from training up?
BRENDA: Time and money are big hang ups. However, CPR and First Aid training is not terribly expensive or time consuming. We need to consider the worth of a life. The cost of our training is
around $80 and will take about 5-6 hours every 2 years. People often think that they should get some training but put it off for “the time being” because it’s just not in the budget or doesn’t work into their schedule. They rationalize that they will do it later. Then, suddenly, it’s too late and they are experiencing the loss of a loved one due to drowning, an accidental injury or an undiagnosed medical condition.
Physical limitation is also often used as an excuse. They think they can’t get down on the ground because of bad knees, or perhaps they have a bad shoulder or a back injury. For whatever reason, some individuals feel like they just couldn’t physically help. People fail to realize that there is more to do at the scene of a life-threatening emergency than to actually participate in giving CPR or providing First Aid. Someone will need to call 911 while others may get an AED or bandages, handle crowd or traffic control, ensure that the scene is safe, or be the look out for the EMTs. There are a lot of roles that a person who is not capable of providing care can assume in order to promote a favorable outcome. We teach these things in our classes too. Even if I had 2 broken arms, I’d find a way to be helpful. Abraham Lincoln said it like this: “Next to creating a life, the finest thing a man can do is save one.”
If you would like to find out more about CPR and Emergency Rescue Training, you can reach out to the Utah Red Cross or contact Brenda directly at 801-935-5004 or by scanning the link to her website below.
A FUTURE REFINANCE Buy to Refi! SAVE BIG ON
Award winning USU student’s volunteer research may one day lead to healthier trees in Taylorsville parks
By Carl Fauver | c.fauver@mycityjournals.com
might think someone who raised six sons and spent more than three decades serving in the United States Army would be ready to relax a little – perhaps sip lemonade under an oversized shade tree.
But Taylorsville resident Merrill LeBaron would rather study that tree, examine it closely and help devise strategies for helping more trees to get that way – tall and healthy.
“When I retired from the military, I had to decide what I was going to do when I grow up,” LeBaron quips. “I have always enjoyed the outdoors, and when I first joined the Army, I did a lot of work with maps as I visited several countries in Europe. I developed an even deeper love of nature. So, now I am two years away from earning a horticulture degree with minors in landscape architecture and residential landscape design and construction.”
In other words, LeBaron’s lawn chair and lemonade glass are gathering dust.
LeBaron grew up in south central Utah, graduating from Richfield High in 1985. His military career ran from 1988 to 2019 and included two tours of Afghanistan. His family has called Taylorsville home since 2017.
“Our sons are ages 19 to 32 now, so they are pretty independent,” LeBaron said. “Two have already served in the Marine Corps and Navy. If another joins the Air Force, my family will have all the military branches covered.”
LeBaron is earning his horticulture degree through the Utah State University Salt Lake Valley campus, which is also located in Taylorsville, near 900 W. 4500 South. And it’s his work toward that degree that’s led him to a number of different Taylorsville parks to conduct voluntary tree research.
“I needed to complete a research project for my degree, so I decided to perform a tree inventory at several different Taylorsville parks,” he explained. “I plan to present my findings to the city council. Essentially, I want to talk with them about what types of trees are most likely to do well in our climate and what are the best ways to care for those trees to improve their chances.”
When LeBaron approached the city to discuss his plans and goals, he was referred to Taylorsville Community Outreach Coordinator Jay Ziolkowski.
“Merrill is very pleasant, engaging and excited about his research,” Ziolkowski said. “He wants to discuss his findings about the status of our park trees in a presentation to the city council. This is a win-win for everyone. It helps Merrill complete the work he needs to do for his degree, while also offering the city some ideas about caring for our trees. In the past, we have always been reactive: build a park, plant a tree, hope it survives. If it doesn’t, replace it. Hopefully Merrill’s research will allow
us to be more proactive – to pick the best tree species to start with and then to care for them more effectively.”
At press time, LeBaron’s presentation to the Taylorsville City Council had not yet been scheduled.
Already the research LeBaron has completed has earned him an honor. He was recently named “Citizen Forester of the Year” by the Utah Community Forest Council. He was nominated for the award by Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands Urban & Community Forestry Program Manager Scott Zeidler.
“The award was a surprise, completely out of the blue,” LeBaron said. “I didn’t go into this project for an award. I am also not trying to sell my services to Taylorsville City. Eventually I want to get into paid consulting work with landscape architects. But for this project, I was interested in studying park trees around here because this is where my family recreates.”
LeBaron says he’s able to evaluate about 16 trees per hour and has already studied thousands of trees. It’s unclear how many of them, if any, he’s sipped lemonade under. l
Taylorsville resident Merrill LeBaron was named Utah Citizen Forester of the Year for the research he’s completed, evaluating the health of trees at several local parks. (Photo courtesy Utah Department of Natural Resources)
Remembering state senator and west side advocate Karen Mayne
The last time this reporter spoke to Karen Mayne, the former Utah State Senate Minority Leader who passed away on Aug. 15, we were sitting at a Panda Express in West Valley City. We spoke about her plans to possibly do away with legal notices in Utah newspapers, an effort to save municipalities money for publishing ads that few if anybody read. I told her I disagreed, and that such notices were not only important for the populace, but a much-needed revenue source for the financially-suffering print industry.
We talked calmly and civilly, not just because we were friends, but because that’s the way Mayne always spoke—with empathy and understanding even to those she disagreed with. It was what made her such a successful political leader, educator, and advocate for the west side of the Salt Lake Valley for decades.
Mayne lost her two-plus year battle with brain cancer at the age of 78. She was diagnosed in January 2022 after she’d visited her doctor for a broken shoulder. A year later, she resigned from a Senate seat she’d held for 15 years, with legislators paying a tribute and giving her a standing ovation one month later when she returned to the chamber one last time.
She never planned on being in politics, though she was always by the side of her late husband, Sen. Ed Mayne, who died of cancer in 2007. She took his place in the Senate, and was
By Tom Haraldsen | t.haraldsen@mycityjournals.com
a staunch supporter of labor unions and progressive causes. Between Ed and Karen, they represented west side residents for almost 30 years. She fought hard for improvements on the west side. If you’ve enjoyed the widened roadway on 5600 West where it crosses railroad tracks near 4700 South, you can thank Karen Mayne.
A 2021 video produced by the Utah Senate shows how she and Ed managed their home life while raising two children, and her job as a para-educator, and a member of the American Federation of Teachers union.
“Every Sunday night, we would sit down at the table,” Karen Mayne said. “OK, you’re going to speak here, I’m going to go here, take the kids here.’ So we worked together, and he always told me, ‘You’re a better politician. You should really run.’ I said, ‘No, it’s not my time.’” But that changed when Ed received his terminal diagnosis. He encouraged her to run for his seat, and continued his legacy of fighting for blue collar workers and workplace safety.
“Karen was a friend and mentor to me during my eight years in the Utah Senate,” Republican Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “She was a genuinely compassionate woman who cared deeply about others, faithfully served her constituents and our state, and was one of the best people I’ve ever known.”
“Sen. Karen Mayne was a good friend,”
Stuart Adams, a Layton Republican, and Democrat Senate Minority Leader Luz Escamilla of Salt Lake City, they said Utah “lost an extraordinary stateswoman and one of our dearest friends. Sen. Karen Mayne was a trailblazer and exceptional leader who showed us how working together, despite political differences, can strengthen our state. Throughout her 15 years as a senator, she has passionately and successfully advocated for impactful improvements for our state. She was one of the most effective legislators and consistently passed the most bills during sessions.”
Republican State Sen. Wayne Harper said.
“She was a tenacious champion for the west side of Salt Lake County and a great advocate for and partner with me on transportation improvements. Her support for her constituents and dedication to workers was unparalleled and respected. I enjoyed serving with her as we tackled key west side and Utah issues. She will be missed.”
She worked to secure money for Salt Lake Community College and to fund technical scholarships. Her support for students at Hunter High, like that of Ed Mayne, was recognized by the school’s football stadium named after them.
In a joint statement from Senate President
In her obituary, her family wrote: “Karen’s passing is a significant loss to the community she served so faithfully. Her contributions to Utah will be remembered with deep gratitude. More than a public servant, Karen was a compassionate leader whose work will continue to inspire future generations.
“Beyond her professional achievements, Karen was a devoted wife and mother, finding her greatest joy in her family—her late husband Ed, son Paul (Jana), daughter Jamie (Trever), and her six grandchildren: Jackson, Maddy, Eli, Kennedy, Dylan and Amelia. Her love for them was unwavering, and she cherished every moment spent together.”
Funeral services for Karen Mayne were held in the Hunter High School auditorium on Aug. 31. l
Utah Sen. Karen Mayne. (Photo courtesy of the Utah Legislature)
Budgeting
should be considered an art form. It’s part theater (acting like you can afford groceries), part digital interpretation (online shopping for best prices), part graffiti (throwing mustard at the wall when you receive a surprise doctor’s bill) and all illusion (where did the money go?).
My paycheck stretches like it’s on a taffy-pulling machine, folding over and over itself, almost to the point of transparency. When did the basic costs of living become a luxury?
While grocery shopping, my husband can’t stop comparing prices from 60 years ago. “When I was a young boy,” he said. “I could buy a loaf of bread for a nickel.”
“Were you Oliver Twist?” I asked. He ignored me and walked down the dairy aisle, ranting about the cost of eggs.
At the check stand, several items rang up for more than what was labeled on the shelf. I asked the unenthused cashier, “Did you raise prices while I was in line?”
He shrugged and continued packaging my groceries, smashing bananas, eggs and bread with my magnum of wine. Just kidding. You can’t buy wine at grocery stores in Utah.
Driving to work becomes a nail-biting thriller as I gauge how much gas is left and if it will last until the end of the month. I was filling up my car the other day and the
gas pump showed the person before me had purchased $5 worth of gas. I hope that 1.6 gallons is enough to get him to the bank he needs to rob.
Even my chai tea latte from Starbucks has incrementally increased from $4 to nearly $6. That’s bonkers. I don’t mind paying a bit more so employees make a livable wage, but last year, Starbucks’ net revenue was $30 billion.
Then I learned the new Starbucks CEO was given a $75 million stock award, a $1.6 million salary and a $10 million signing bonus. The only signing bonus I ever received was when I got a free pen for starting a savings account when I was 8.
Corporate profits have hit all-time highs. And those rising prices are never going to drop because then how can the Starbucks CEO afford $1,500 sneakers for his Pomeranian without squeezing the life out of consumers?
My husband said, “Then don’t go to
Starbucks.”
“Shut up,” I replied.
Housing costs are outrageous. Going to dinner and a movie requires a home equity line of credit. Tax increases nickel-and-dime us to death. Did you know Utah is one of only a few states that tax social security benefits? Thanks, Utah Legislators!
It’s not like I want to purchase Prada paper clips or Balenciaga bookmarks. I don’t need a Rolls-Royce or a personal library, complete with a rolling ladder and a fireplace. (Okay. I actually need that). I just want to afford a night out, maybe a weekend getaway or an annual massage without sell-
ing blood plasma.
My grandparents grew up during the Depression. Decades later, they still saved drawers full of tin foil and rubber bands in case we ever needed a defense against mind control or had to make emergency bouncy balls. Maybe I can learn from their frugal behaviors.
So, we tighten our belts, pinch pennies, clip coupons and say, “We’re right on budget this month.” The moment those words leave our lips, the garbage disposal explodes, the fence blows over or the basement floods. Budgeting might not be an art form, but it’s definitely a comedy.
