As the saying goes, change is the only constant. That’s what Draper City experienced in the past year, particularly in personnel. Mayor Troy Walker addressed those changes and touched on an array of topics including property values and property tax increases, demographics and accomplishments in his annual State of the City speech.
The biggest personnel change happened when David Dobbins departed after working for Draper for 19 years. “When you have a city manager leave a city, it’s a big deal. With
our form of government, the city manager executes the duties as CEO and runs the city. If you have a good one, you won’t notice. If you have a bad one, you’re going to notice,” Walker said.
The city promoted from within making former City Attorney Mike Barker Draper’s new City Manager. “Mike has been with us 10 years. Mike to me was the natural fit. He’s been in the trenches all along so there was no bringing him up to speed,” Walker said. Bret Millburn also left creating an Assistant City
Canyons School District’s chess tournament puts middle schoolers in check
Indian Hills Middle repeat as middle school chess tournament champs, coaches say all players learn more than the game.
By Julie Slama j.slama@mycityjournals.com
For 17 years, Union Middle School safety advocate Ginger Gines is a dedicated coach, guiding students through the highs and lows of intramurals.
“I love the kids,” she said. “I love to coach them. I want them to all feel like they're important, even if they don’t win. The skills they learn—like communication and teamwork—are invaluable.”
She adds: “It’s not just about my team winning. I want all the students to succeed, even those from other schools. I cheer for everyone.”
Gines was one of 10 coaches at Canyons School District’s middle school chess tournament where the top eight chess players from each of the middle schools sat at tables playing opponents of equal skill levels.
“Even though chess is an individual sport, the intramurals program helps students who may not have access to traditional team sports,” she said. “They still develop camaraderie, learn from each other, and grow together. It’s an amazing environment to be a part of.”
Gines, also a coach for cross country, basketball and soccer, believes students are gaining far more than they expect through intramurals.
“Chess helps with concentration, determination and sportsmanship,” she explained. “Students learn how to interact with others, even those who aren’t on their team. It’s about improving every time.”
After hours of playing one snowy January Saturday morning, Indian Hills emerged as the back-to-back champions of the intramural chess tournament, narrowly defeating Albion Middle School by one point. Midvale Middle School took third.
In between rounds, students bonded, some supporting their teammates and making friends.
Indian Hills eighth-grader Sam Broadbent played a game of chess against Midvale Middle eighth-grader Elijah Woolley in the bleachers.
“I like chess; I like to challenge myself,” said Sam, who was a board winner last year and again, this year. “It's like a
puzzle. You have to figure out how to trap the other person or untrap yourself.”
Elijah enjoys the calmer pace of chess compared to other sports.
“It’s just more relaxing than something like football,” he said. “It’s not as physically intense, but it’s still competitive and fun.”
Both boys also ran cross country in the fall. March will bring three-on-three intramural basketball tournaments and soccer will be played in May.
Coaching with Gines is eighth-grade math teacher Ily Murdock.
“I love seeing how chess provides a level playing field for multilingual students, even those who speak limited English,” Murdock said. “It transcends language barriers, and the kids are respectful, focused and engaged in the game. They come to my classroom after school, eager to set up their chess boards, and when they’re done, they clean up. I like how we’re building positive relationships in my classroom outside of math.”
Murdock sees the cognitive benefits of chess.
“Playing chess strengthens their logic skills. They're noticing patterns. There are building resiliency and it’s a game which appeals to boys and girls, those who may not be interested in traditional sports,” she said.
Many Union players who had finished their rounds were playing more relaxed games.
“It’s nice they’re playing in between rounds. They’re playing a low stakes game of Spot. It calms them down. They’re all playing together; it's helping with vocabulary and they’re having fun. I suggested they wear nerdy hats to remind them chess is a game and to have fun today.”
Draper Park eighth-grade math teacher Shannen Moore learned to play at her elementary after-school program in California though she never competed. Now she’s coaching her own team.
“We practice once per week for an hour for 10 weeks,” she said. “We focus on the rules of the tournament and getting comfortable with things like using timers. It’s a great way for students to develop their strategic thinking, handle wins and losses, and use their minds to succeed, instead of relying on physical skills. They also get a chance to play against people they don’t know, which is a valuable experience.”
Jessica Pike, Midvale Middle’s eighth-grade science teacher, stepped up to be coach for the 20 students who were eager to join the school’s chess program.
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“I love watching the kids grow their skills, figure out how to win and gain social skills,” she said. “The club members have become good friends and often bring their chess boards to school to play when they can. Chess is a great way to spend time together after school.”
District intramurals coordinator Taylor Hansen said the chess program expanded last year, increasing from six to eight students per school.
“Intramurals are participation based, not competition based,” he said. “It naturally becomes competition based, but we wanted to have more people participate. It’s giving them opportunity to learn, to play, to connect and to have fun.”
Individual board winners:
Board 1 – Wade Woodbury, Albion
Board 2 – Sam Chen, Draper Park
Board 3 – Yuun Kim, Midvale
Board 4 – Oliver Seal, Indian Hills
Board 5 – Samuel Humphrey, Indian Hills
Board 6 – Charlie Griggs, Albion
Board 7 – James Gardner, Indian Hills and William Baxter, Midvale
Canyons School District middle school students ponder their next moves during the districtwide intramural chess tournament. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
After serving on Planning Commission, Traci Gundersen hired as City Attorney
Because city officials knew of her from her time serving on Draper’s Planning Commission, they offered her the role of City Attorney.
By Mimi Darley Dutton m.dutton@mycityjournals.com
Inthe midst of a diverse legal career, Traci Gundersen has “come home” to Draper as the new City Attorney. She fills the vacancy created when former City Attorney Mike Barker was named City Manager. Though her residence is no longer in Draper, Gundersen lived here previously and served on the City’s Planning Commission.
“I lived here for 11 years, I know several planning commissioners, city councilmembers, neighbors and friends. It just felt like coming back home,” she said.
Gundersen grew up in Kaysville and “worked at Lagoon like every teenager in Davis County.” She graduated from BYU where she studied Political Science and English. A legal profession appealed to her because it’s a civilized means of resolving disputes. “I like the fact that we live with respect for the rule of law and it’s a way people can resolve disputes with one another. You don’t have to get violent,” she said. Gundersen went to law school at Pepperdine and spent eight years in Indiana working in civil litigation before returning to Utah.
Gundersen identified a favorite scenario that is rarely but sometimes achieved in law, one of creativity and compromise. “Sometimes you can come up with creative solutions that are win-wins. It doesn’t always have to be you win and you lose,” she said.
Because she had an interest in government, Gundersen’s first job when she returned to Utah was working in the Attorney General’s office. She prosecuted real estate fraud in the Commercial Enforcement Division. Her clients were state agencies, specifically the Division of Real Estate. “There was lots of fraud leading up to the 2008 economic downturn, especially in loans. I would take licenses away from people who committed fraud. That was great education in real estate in general,” she said.
Her work in the A.G.’s office led to Gundersen being named Director for Utah’s Divi-
sion of Consumer Protection, reporting to the governor. “Managing a state agency and managing people was totally new to me,” she said. That division regulates many things including health spas, charities, professional fundraisers, for-profit universities, debt consolidators, etc. “That was a fantastic experience for me,” she said.
Gundersen is the mother of identical twin boys, now age 13, who were born premature. Because they needed special therapies to grow and thrive, Gundersen took a break from working to stay home with them. “I really enjoyed that time of my life and setting aside the career for a little bit to take care of my children,” she said.
She lived in Draper at the time and decided to volunteer to serve the city in some capacity using the small amount of free time she had.
“I was appointed by Mayor (Troy) Walker to the Planning Commission. Because I had real estate experience and had been with the A.G.’s office, they thought I had a good understanding of the legal aspects of land use and how you make those decisions on zoning, licenses, permits, etc.,” Gundersen said.
Gundersen feels her time on the Planning Commission really taught her about Draper. “I feel like I know this city now,” she said.
She recalls the fun aspect of serving in that capacity was knowing where the new restaurants, subdivisions and businesses would be located. She found her legal background to be very helpful in that volunteer role. “The law really informs you. Sometimes you have a decision that meets all the criteria but the neighbors don’t like it. But if they meet the legal criteria, they can do it. It’s neat to go through that analysis to make those decisions,” she said.
When Gundersen returned to her legal career, she took a job as in-house counsel for Homie, a Utah-based alternative model for real estate. “That gave me a good sense for concerns you have for a corporation,” she said. The company began to struggle and Gundersen was among several laid off. Most recently, she
“Being
worked as in-house-counsel for 4Life in Sandy, a vitamin and nutritional supplement company. “I ran the compliance department and did a lot of contract reviews. I was working there happily when Mayor Walker and Mike Barker approached me. They knew me, my work, and how I thought as a lawyer. I was very flattered,” she said.
At his State of the City speech, Walker introduced Gundersen. Walker is a practicing attorney himself who serves as part-time mayor of Draper. “She’s a very competent lawyer with outstanding legal skills. She had to take a little bit of a pay cut to work for us but we’re very glad she did,” he said. “It was a haircut, but I think it was worth it to land in a place that felt like home to me,” Gundersen said.
Gundersen joins Assistant City Attorney Spencer DuShane. “That’s a pretty small legal shop,” she said. Her work happens primarily at City Hall. She’ll help manage various contracts the city has and advise the mayor, the city council and the city manager. According to Gundersen, the city contracts out prosecution services to a firm and is “the funding source for when
someone in Draper needs a public defender.” She said it’s common for the city to hire outside legal counsel, depending on the matter, because specialized lawsuits can require that.
Gundersen said the most common lawsuit she’s seen the city involved in is car accidents where someone involved files a suit saying the road wasn’t marked correctly, a manhole cover came off, or they ran into a concrete barrier. “Where we are liable, we handle that. Where we aren’t, we make sure we don’t pay out on things we’re not responsible for because that’s not being responsible to the citizens of Draper. Maintaining that public trust is important.”
“What I have really liked about the city administration is their perspective and attitude is ‘we’re here to serve the people and make this a good place to live’ and they’re doing things toward that goal. There’s a sense of community they’re trying to build and maintain,” Gundersen said.
“I like that as a priority. We want Draper to be a good place to live for our citizens.” l
in law gives you exposure to really smart people and it makes you smarter. It’s always lifted me up in terms of my own thought process…having access to some really brilliant thinkers…that’s my favorite thing,” Draper’s new City Attorney Traci Gundersen said about her legal career. (Photo courtesy Traci Gundersen)
Smedley was hired to replace retiring City Recorder Laura Oscarson.
By Mimi Darley Dutton m.dutton@mycityjournals.com
Draper’s
new City Recorder Nicole Smedley is a history buff. “All I do in my free time is listen to history podcasts. I love history and having oversight of historical city records including old leather-bound handwritten minute books, original articles of incorporation, old maps and plats of how things used to be, newspaper clippings and historical photos, and making sure those types of things are preserved for the city,” Smedley said.
Fittingly, her chosen career has historical significance. Often called Town Clerk in old England, it was usually a scholar who could read and write. According to the International Institute of Municipal Clerks, “The Municipal Clerk is the oldest of public servants in local government, along with the tax collector. The profession traces back to Biblical times…The early keepers of archives were often called Remembrancers and, before writing came into use, their memory served as public record.”
Smedley hasn’t had a chance to look into antique documents which may or may not exist at City Hall. Draper is a young city, incorporated in 1978. But Smedley is aware of Draper Historical Society’s Research Library and Mu-
seum just down the road and she hopes to visit it once she’s gotten a handle on her new job.
Smedley started her municipal career in 2008 as a Justice Court Clerk in Weber County. There, the city council used the court as their chambers. “As I was working in Justice Court, I remember seeing the City Recorder setting up for a city council meeting and I thought that’s what I wanted to do,” she said. In 2011, she became Deputy City Recorder for North Ogden.
In 2014, Smedley was hired as Assistant City Recorder for Salt Lake City. “That’s when my career really took off along with my love for transparency, historical records and election administration,” Smedley said. Her main emphasis in that role was records management, including overseeing about 15,000 GRAMA (Government Records Access Management Act) requests. She also taught city employees best practices for records management and adherence to Utah’s state code under GRAMA. In 2015, she implemented the first ever vote by mail when the state transitioned to that process. “We ended up having the highest voter turnout to date in that election,” she said.
Smedley was promoted to Acting City Recorder, then came 2020 and Covid. She took a hiatus to pursue something else. “After making it to the top of my career field, I had an opportunity to work with adaptive sports at the University of Utah. It was one of the most rewarding two years of my life, but then I real-
ized my true passion and purpose was municipal government,” Smedley said. She returned to a municipal job in June 2024 in the greater Salt Lake area. Then came an offer from Draper City.
Smedley replaces Laura Oscarson who is retiring. “Laura is so meticulous and has done a great job,” Smedley said. She sees her most important role as maintaining accuracy and transparency of public records including council meeting minutes, ordinances, resolutions, public notices and public meeting agendas. Two aspects new to Smedley in Draper’s City Recorder job include overseeing passport processing as well as burials and plot purchases for the cemetery. She’s excited about both. “Passports are surprisingly fun. I love interacting with people who are so excited to travel.” Smedley hopes to dive into the history of the city’s cemetery once she’s more settled in her new job.
Smedley is assisted by three staff members including Deputy City Recorder Ashley Johnson, Office Clerk and Passport Acceptance Agent Erika Pena and Passport Coordinator Liz Downer.
It’s a municipal election year in Draper, so Smedley’s experience will come in handy. Positions up for election include mayor, two four-year terms on the council, and the two years remaining in Cal Roberts’ term after he resigned to go to the legislature. Marsha Vaw-
drey was chosen by the council to temporarily fill that role.
“It’s important for us to ensure that voters know that a fair and secure voting process is of upmost priority to election officials,” Smedley said. l
Draper’s new City Recorder Nicole Smedley is a Certified Municipal Clerk (CMC) who loves history. She said this is her “dream job in a great community.” (Photo courtesy Nicole Smedley)
Manager vacancy filled by another promotion from within. “Kellie Challburg has been working with us for 10 years. She’s grown and developed. She was the perfect fit,” Walker said. Barker’s change to City Manager left the City Attorney post open. Traci Gundersen was hired from the private sector as his replacement. Laura Oscarson is retiring and Nicole Smedley will replace her as City Recorder.
“We’ve had quite a turn in our city government in just this last year, but it’s been smooth and we’re in good shape as far as city leadership goes,” Walker said.
Change also happened within the city council when Cal Roberts resigned after being elected to Utah’s House of Representatives. Following state statutes, the city notified the public they were accepting applications. Approximately 50 people applied including recently retired councilmember Marsha Vawdrey. “The council picked Marsha because she’s been there before and done it before. There’s no learning curve with Marsha and she has hit the ground running,” the mayor said.
Walker wonders if Draper’s part-time mayor may need to change to full-time at some point. “We have a six-member form of government, five councilmembers and one mayor. Our form is the most common in Utah. There are a few cities with a strong mayor, meaning their mayor is full time. It’s a more complex and expensive form of government. Are we ready for one of those at this point? Some days I feel like I’m full time. We have so much going on because we’re getting to be a bigger city,” Walker said.
Draper demographics show a population of 55,400 with around 30% under age 18 and 8% ages 65-plus. The median income is $103,000. “That’s high. If you were going to define us, you’d probably use the term affluent,” Walker said.
Fifty percent of residents have a Bachelor’s, graduate or professional degree and the city is home to more than 2,500 licensed business. Forty four percent are dog owners and 21% own cats. “We have three dog parks in Draper. We like dogs, too,” the mayor said.
The city has a total of 315 employees, 270 full-time and 45 part-time or seasonal. That includes Draper’s Fire and Police department employees. Statistic from 2023 show the fire de-
partment had 4,154 calls for service and police had 36,013 calls.
The price of Draper homes continues to increase. “Property values have never gone down in the last 15 years and they’re not going to. Raw ground undeveloped is valued at about $1.2 million an acre. It’s difficult when the ground is that much money to talk about affordable housing. I couldn’t buy the house I live in today. That’s the reality we’re in here in Utah because people want to live here,” Walker said.
Data from Redfin shows Draper was second only to Park City in fastest growing home sales prices, though there was a substantial difference between the two. Park City showed a 108% increase with Draper at 37%.
Walker touted the settlement with Geneva Rock, after years of legal disputes between the two entities, as one of the biggest accomplishments. “Over time as we litigated, we worked out an excellent settlement. We preserved the entire face of Steep Mountain,” he said.
The Gold Star Memorial honoring families who’ve lost a loved one in combat or active duty was installed at Draper Park. “I think it’s Washington, D.C. quality,” Walker said.
A tax increase, the first since 2007, was deemed necessary because of declining sales tax revenue. Draper still has the second lowest property tax rate in Salt Lake County. The additional $1.6 million annually will go toward public safety which Walker said equates to about $380 per year on his tax bill. “It’s a good value. As we go forward, public safety is not going to get cheaper. We’re committed as a council that our public safety will not be skimped on,” he said.
Infrastructure is the second most-expensive thing the city does behind public safety. Six million was spent in 2024 to maintain or improve 438 lane miles of roads, 129 miles of storm drain pipe and 85 miles of water lines.
Other changes included a rate increase for a segment of residents who get their water from the city rather than WaterPro. “It’s not a revenue stream for us, but water rates went up this year. If you’re on Draper water, it’s going to be incrementally increasing due to rebuilding and keeping the system open,” he said. More change came with a proposed school district split affecting those who live on the Alpine side (the city spans two counties). The Alpine School District
is the biggest in the state and northern cities have decided to form their own. “This split is… moving along nicely. We’re part of it because we have kids in the area,” Walker said.
With the devastating Los Angeles fires on everyone’s minds, the mayor said much has been done to mitigate and prevent fires, not only clearing underbrush in wildland urban interface areas and banning fireworks in much of the city, but also by closing a dirt road to vehicle traffic in Corner Canyon. “Every fire we’ve had in our canyon has been firework caused,” he said.
Walker currently serves as president of Utah’s League of Cities and Towns. “In the past, legislators put the fault for the housing crisis on cities because we didn’t approve density…but we’re on better terms with this legislature. I have three adult kids that still live with me. They’re saving money but there’s nothing to buy. We’re working hand in hand as governments and the state legislature, coming up with density because I think ownership is key, otherwise our kids aren’t going to get ahead,” Walker said.
He feels Draper has as many apartments
for rent as are needed and he’d rather see more townhomes and condominiums for purchase.
Many of the questions the mayor fielded after his address had to do with development of The Point, the state-owned land where the prison once stood which falls within Draper city limits.
“The whole 690 acres is going to be a 20-25 year buildout, but Phase One is going to be quick with residential units too. The key thing to remember is The Point is a state project. The state never needs Draper’s land use authority and they don’t come looking for it. It’s our future, it’s where the growth is going to be. We’re hammering out a contract for public safety and services we do as a city,” Walker said.
Walker finished his speech saying, “It’s a great city. There’s no other place I’d rather live. I’m grateful to be the mayor and a citizen in this community.” l
Draper Mayor Troy Walker delivered his annual State of the City speech in January. He spoke about the personnel changes the city experienced in the last year, including the departure of longtime City Manager David Dobbins who has since been hired as a consultant on several occasions. (Photo courtesy Draper City)
Draper’s K9 Daavo, dressed in uniform, gains many social media fans
By Mimi Darley Dutton m.dutton@mycityjournals.com
DraperPolice Department’s K9 Daavo and his handler, Officer Ricks, recently had their official city photos taken.
“After they finished, Officer Ricks thought getting a photo of Daavo wearing his uniform would be fun for him to share with friends. Our communications staff shot video of him getting Daavo ready for the picture and shared it on the City’s social media. The Instagram post as of publicattion has 335,935 views, 420,000 likes and 375 comments. It has steadily increased since it was posted on Jan. 29,” said Linda Peterson, Draper’s communications director.
Daavo is a Belgian Malinois, born in Belgium and brought to the United States in 2018 to work for the Herriman Police Department. He is certified as dual-purpose for both patrol and narcotics detection. In 2020, Officer Ricks became Daavo’s handler and the two immediately bonded, both excelling in their patrol work and at K9 competitions. Daavo has won awards in both local and national competitions
including a first place in narcotics detection in 2022. Daavo joined the Draper Police Department in August 2024 serving as a narcotics detection K9.
“He has been an outstanding partner in getting drugs off the street in his short time in Draper,” Officer Ricks said.
According to Officer Ricks, Daavo enjoys going on walks, napping and chasing his favorite ball when he's taking a break from work. l
‘Lamb of God’ coming March 21, 22
Draper Philharmonic & Choral Society presents a theatrical version of Rob Gardner’s oratorio, “Lamb of God” this month on the stage of Corner Canyon High School.
By Katherine Weinstein k.weinstein@mycityjournals.com
ostumed soloists performed in Draper Philharmonic & Choral Society’s production of “Lamb of God” last year. The sacred musical work by Rob Gardner, depicting the last days of Jesus Christ, will be presented this year March 21 and 22. Composed in 2010, “Lamb of God” has been performed all over the world. The oratorio has become an annual event for Draper Philharmonic & Choral Society which
presents a unique take on it. Founder and director Sherri Jensen said, “What we bring to the stage is something truly extraordinary. Our full theatrical production transforms this beloved work into a visually stunning and deeply immersive experience.” She explained that their production involves costumes, set pieces, projections and props which help to bring the story to life. Soloists clad in period costumes perform with members of the Choral Society and the full Philharmonic orchestra. “If you’ve only heard ‘Lamb of God,’ you haven’t truly seen it the way we present it,” Jensen added. “Lamb of God” will be presented at Corner Canyon High School located at 12943 S. 700 East in Draper. The link to purchase tickets, which range from $12 to $30, may be found at www.draperphilharmonic.org/lamb-of-god. (Photo courtesy of Draper Philharmonic & Choral Society)l
(Photo courtesy Draper City)
Summit Academy’s literacy night inspires students to read, write and imagine.
By Julie Slama j.slama@mycityjournals.com
First-grader Carter Higgins tried to squeeze onto his mother’s lap as she read aloud, but his younger siblings—ages 5 and 3—had already claimed the spot. Once they scrambled off, Carter nestled in to listen to “When Daddy Had the Chicken Pox.”
The family was seated on a gray plaid blanket in front of a teepee in a school multipurpose room. Carter snacked on popcorn from a brown paper lunch bag, having already attended his first storytelling session of the evening when he listened to teachers read stories in the school library.
“He told me his favorite day is library day because the librarian always reads,” his mother, Laurel, said. “I hope he develops a love for learning. We make books a priority in our house. We drive to school early so we can read in the car before the school day starts. Every week, we visit the library and check out a huge stack of 40 or 50 books that we devour.”
This was Summit Academy’s annual literacy night, a tradition the school has held since 2004.
The event’s goal remains the same year after year.
“We want to get everyone excited about reading,” said Jacque York, literacy event chair. “This year, we organized a monthlong celebration, starting with bingo, where kids could mark off boxes after reading picture books, chapter books, or completing other literacy activities.”
Popular booths, such as the ones for making bookmarks or swapping books, remained favorites.
“When I asked my nephew what he liked most about literacy night, he said, ‘food.’ So, we have popcorn and got more when we ran out,” York said. “The kids love listening to stories while snacking.”
Throughout the years, various authors have participated in the event, including Mark and Caralyn Buehner, known for the “Snowmen at Night” series, and Kristyn Crow, author of “Zombelina.”
This year, students gathered around author Rebecca Avati, asking questions, signing up for a free book, and receiving a character sketch guide.
“If you create a fun, interesting character, you can imagine all kinds of adventures for them,” she told the students, introducing them to Roald Dahl’s “The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me.”
The story follows a boy who teams up with a giraffe, pelican, and monkey to run a window-cleaning business.
“If you had a giraffe, a pelican, and a monkey as friends, what would you do?”
Avati asked. “When you invent a character, they help you create a story.”
Avati, who also shares her “Magic of the Woods” series, encouraged students to write.
“Writing is crucial for their future,” she said. “It’s essential for college and for expressing themselves, building confidence and connecting with others.”
In addition to her two books, Avati has contributed to two anthologies and is set to release the third book in her four-part series in spring 2026. She is also working on a spin-off series.
Her passion for writing is rooted in her first career as a teacher. In fact, it was through an assignment that she began to write.
“When I was teaching fourth grade, I assigned my students a fictional story with a plot, following a story arc with rising action, climax, and resolution. Some students struggled, so I said, ‘We’re going to do this together,’ and I started writing. That helped them, and soon many of them loved it. After typing it up, we laminated it and we were sharing our stories when COVID hit,” she said.
Even with the school shutdown in March 2020 with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Avati kept writing.
“I found out I love writing, and it has snowballed since. I’m still teaching and still writing,” she said. “Right now, I direct academic interventions and provide math support in sixth grades. I’m a math teacher who likes writing.”
When she started writing, Avati faced the challenge of a blank page.
“I didn’t have ideas until I start writing. I helped my students learn how to write what comes to their minds, and then once they’re writing, ideas come. I teach students about a story structure because it helps them to think more about what could happen and that helps their imagination. I also tell them good writing involves editing and rewriting. It’s never perfect at first, but with time and effort, they shape their ideas into something amazing,” she said.
In six months, she can complete a book.
“I write when I have time, like when I’m at the grocery line at Walmart waiting for my pickup order, I’m typing on my phone,” said the mother of four. “Being part of a writer’s critique group has helped a lot. It’s important not to be afraid of feedback and critiques.”
Avati hopes to teach a writing class next year at Summit Academy.
“I love sharing my stories with students and hope to inspire them to read and write,” she said. “I’m so glad to see so many parents here tonight, supporting their
kids and encouraging them to read. In our world full of fast entertainment, it’s vital for children to develop a love for reading and writing.” l
First-grader Carter Higgins listens to his mother, Laurel, read a story during Summit Academy’s literacy night. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
JD swim completes first year under new head coach
By Catherine Garrett c.garrett@mycityjournals.com
(Left) Juan Diego Catholic High School’s Piper Fennell placed second in the 100 butterfly and 100 breaststroke at the 3A state swimming championships Feb. 7-8 at Brigham Young University. The junior won the Region 13 in the 100 fly event in late
January and was a second back from Parowan’s Sydni Lauer at state. In the 100 breast, Fennell came in just behind Judge’s Amelia Conner. (Photo courtesy Mickelle Marston) (Right) Also competing for the Soaring Eagle girls squad that finished eighth at state were junior Abigail Tenzer, senior Carmen Montoya, senior Lauren Foy and sophomore Sarah Leng who were part of
the fifth-place 200 freestyle relay team and the sixth-place 200 medley relay lineup. For the JDCHS boys team – who were also top 10 with a ninth place finish – sophomore Colin Farr came in fifth in the 500 free and freshman Nicholas Hategan was fifth in the 100 backstroke. Junior John Dzieciolowski, sophomore Chad Starks and sophomore Agustin Ciulupa joined Farr and Hategan on
the sixth-place 200 medley relay team and the seventh-place 200 free relay squad. “I love the way this year’s team came together,” said new head coach Chad Starks. “Change is hard for kids and they have embraced it and trusted the process.” (Photo courtesy Chad Starks) l
Draper teen musicians and singers to compete in the Utah PTA Battle of the Bands
Two bands and two solo vocalists from Corner Canyon High School will compete in the next round of the Battle of the Bands, sponsored by Utah PTA, on March 15 in Springville.
By Katherine Weinstein k.weinstein@mycityjournals.com
Two bands and two solo vocalists from Corner Canyon High School are preparing to rock Springville this month at the South Multi-Region Battle of the Bands sponsored by the Utah PTA. The competition will be held at the Summit Center in Springville on March 15.
“The interesting thing about Corner Canyon is that our program was so large, we get to send two in each category,” Battle of the Bands coordinator Jenny Mather explained. “It’s a testament to the kids in this area and how much talent there is in this community.”
The first round of Battle of the Bands was held last Jan. 24 in the Corner Canyon auditorium.
Despite the cold outside, the competing bands and solo vocalists soon warmed up the audience. The kids cheered wildly and crowd-surfed as their peers performed covers and original songs in a variety of musical styles.
“The school audience is the funnest,” Clark Weiler, trombonist for the band Moon Juice, said. “My sister plays the keys in Leather & Lace. It was so fun to see her up there!”
Moon Juice, a jazz-pop band, took first place in the competition which was judged by a team of music professionals. Leather & Lace, a country-pop band won second place. In the open mic category, Sierra Johnson took first place and Jacey Yeomans was awarded second place. All will advance to the next round of competition in Springville.
Battle of the Bands is a statewide contest sponsored annually by the Utah PTA Students Leadership Commission. At the Multi-Region competition, three musical groups from each region of the state will be chosen to proceed to the final round at the Grand Theatre in Salt Lake City on April 19. All of the musical acts are judged on their technical proficiency, musicality, performance, creativity and audience appeal.
Moon Juice won first place and audience favorite at the Battle of the Bands in 2023. The band’s lineup has changed a bit since then and is currently comprised of Caden Mather on trumpet, Clark Weiler on trombone, Chaz Neymann on keyboards, Colter Barney on lead guitar, Jaxon Luttrell on lead vocals and guitar, Nolan Reinbold on drums and Crew Smith on bass.
All are students at Corner Canyon except for Smith who attends Pleasant Grove High School.
The band members are excited for the next round of competition in Springville. Neymann commented that he feels the band has evolved. “We have more experience in writing songs,” he said. “I’ve learned more about performance skills and musicality.”
Luttrell moved from keyboards to lead vocals this year. “I was so scared,” he said. “But it was so fun. I learned so much and my self-confidence has grown so much because of the band.”
The members of Leather & Lace also spoke of the rewarding experience of getting outside of their comfort zones. “I’ve always wanted to do a band,” Monet Oaks said. “We recruited and it became this big thing. It’s been a lot of stress, but a lot of fun.”
Monet plays the fiddle in the band while her sister, Coco, is on lead vocals. Tanna Barney plays lead guitar, Bekka Morris is on bass, Jane Weiler is on keyboards and Andrew Washenko plays drums. Two of the members learned to play new instruments to be in the band. Jane Weiler played the bassoon before taking on keyboards and Morris is also new to the bass. “I’d never touched a bass in my life. It’s crazy!” she said.
All of the musicians spoke of the friendships they have made being in a band. “I really like hanging out and sharing our musical interests with each other,” Morris said.
Johnson, who won first place in the open mic competition, is looking forward to the second round in Springville. “I’m really excited to be with such talented peo-
ple and to do what I love,” she said. “This is my first time competing.”
Yeomans, who accompanied herself on guitar at the open mic, echoed the sentiment. “I’m so excited! It’s a new thing,” she said.
The South Multi-Region Battle of the Bands will take place at the Summit Center, 165 S. 700 East, in Springville at 6 p.m. on March 15. For more information, visit www.utahpta.org/bob. l
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Moon Juice performed their unique brand of jazz-pop at the first round of Battle of the Bands held at Corner Canyon High School last January. (Photo courtesy of Jenny Mather)
Corner Canyon students’ donation to Utah Foster Care has a far-reaching impact
She attended the assembly at Corner Canyon when the total amount of money raised was announced. "One of the students came up and said that she was in foster care," MacKay said. "It was profound to see the whole school community come together embracing foster care. She expressed how much that meant to her."
By Katherine Weinstein k.weinstein@mycityjournals.com
LastDecember, students at Corner Canyon High School raised over $270,000 for Utah Foster Care, thanks in part to a generous matching gift from auto enthusiast and YouTuber Supercar Ron. The funds are already making a difference in the lives of foster families across the state. At the same time, raising the money held important lessons for the students.
Nikki MacKay, CEO of Utah Foster Care, said that the financial impact of the donation was tremendous. Moreover, she saw a consequence of the fundraiser that went beyond the money itself. "It was just amazing watching how the student body officers and the students embraced what Utah Foster Care is all about," she said. "They came to understand how important it is for kids to have a safe place to land and to keep siblings together. Everyone in the community can be part of the solution."
Senior student body officer Ryan Richards said that the fundraiser had important lessons to impart. "I loved our charity event," he said. "It was about understanding that everyone is going through things. There are kids at our school who are foster kids. It's important to be kind to everyone because you don't know what they might be going through."
MacKay’s son graduated from Corner Canyon in 2022 and her daughter currently attends. “I have seen the amazing things these students have done for charities,” she said. MacKay approached Supercar Ron, who is deeply involved in the Draper community, to do a matching contribution. “He, of course, jumped on that,” she said. “All of the hard work by the students would be matched.”
The Corner Canyon students raised the funds in a variety of ways. Some examples included holding donation challenges, performing odd jobs in the community and putting together a pop-up thrift store in the
school commons with donated items. The student body officers and faculty advisors offered incentives to the students such as forgiving tardies and extending lunch periods for a few designated school days to reach certain fundraising thresholds.
a free educational symposium for foster parents with talks and workshops given by authors and researchers. A recent program topic was brain development in teens.
Suffering from Depression, Anxiety, or OCD?
Utah Foster Care is using the money to support a wide variety of programs and activities to aid and uplift children and families. Rob and Kim Gerlach have firsthand knowledge of the types of support available to foster families. The Gerlachs have been foster parents for 17 years and Rob served on the board of Utah Foster Care for six years.
“We’ve had 20 to 25 kids in our home and we adopted eight of them,” Kim Gerlach said. “Utah Foster Care does recruiting, training and support of foster families.” She noted that while the Utah Division of Child and Family Services places children with families, Utah Foster Care helps out in many other essential ways.
Prospective foster parents undertake an initial 35 hours of training through Utah Foster Care and do 16 hours of ongoing training annually. Rob Gerlach emphasized that this training is not about parenting basics. “This is trauma-informed training,” he said. “The focus is on the behavior of kids living with trauma and neglect. You learn how to build trust and interact with them in healthy ways. It’s not a matter of just bringing them into your house and loving them. These trainings are absolutely invaluable.”
Rob Gerlach explained that the nonprofit is constantly recruiting foster families and expanding its services. “Part of what they’ve added is post-placement counseling,” he said. “One of the hardest parts of fostering children is having them in your home, loving them like your own child and then they leave. But it’s also one of the rewards.”
Every year, Utah Foster Care sponsors
In addition, “There are many events throughout the year for families to gather, share experiences and understand that they’re not alone,” Rob Gerlach said. Some examples of these events include summer camps, trips to Cowabunga Bay Water Park and mini-vacation getaways.
MacKay spoke of the importance of creating opportunities for families to “come together, focus on connection and healing.” One popular summer activity for foster children is to learn storytelling through video production. “It’s really impactful for the kids. It teaches them skills and gives them a place to belong,” she said. “It’s a group of kids they can connect with.”
Rob Gerlach also mentioned Utah Foster Care’s Wishing Well Fund which can help foster families afford extras like sports activities, prom expenses and even holiday gifts.
Utah Foster Care was started in 1999 by a directive from the state legislature lead by the governor. It has a state contract that is renewed every five years. “It helps families to just focus on the kids,” Rob Gerlach said.
“It’s such a well-run organization filled with such good people,” he added. “With most social service programs there is high turnover and burnout. Utah Foster Care has none of those.”
“In most other states, there isn’t that support for foster families, keeping them healthy,” Kim Gerlach said.
“We’re unique in the nation,” Rob Gerlach said. “In most of the states around us, all of this is handled by the government. And it’s overwhelming. We are really lucky, really blessed to have this.” l
Faculty and students at Corner Canyon High School celebrated the amount raised for Utah Foster Care at the charity assembly in December 2024. (Photo courtesy Corner Canyon High School)
Corner Canyon girls swimmers co-region champs
From last to first – Corner Canyon girls swimmers take share of Region 2 title this year
By Catherine Garrett c.garrett@mycityjournals.com
The Corner Canyon High girls swimming team tied for the Region 2 championship with Mountain Ridge Feb. 1 at the South Davis Recreation Center. The meet began with a first-place showing for the Chargers’ girls 200 medley relay squad of Berkeley Hansen, Callie Flamm, Halle Walker and Kat Armendariz.
“That started the meet with the right energy,” said head coach Sheridyn Cook.
To wrap up the title in the final event of the meet, Corner Canyon’s girls 400 freestyle relay lineup needed to take second to win region outright or third to tie. “Our girls were fifth going into the third leg,” Cook said. “Halle and Berkeley closed the game and came back to take third in the race.”
In between, Hansen won two individual races, taking first in the 50 free and then coming from behind in the 100 free to out-touch the Sentinels’ Tatum Meadow by a “fingertip.” For the boys third-place team, senior Sam Lloyd won the 100 butterfly, also having a “come-from-behind-fingertip” finish over Bingham’s Caleb Sorensen.
“We had a great meet,” said Cook. “We don’t care if the girls had to split the title. Con-
sidering they were last place last year at region and made the comeback this year to share in first place, is a huge success.”
Also earning All-Region honors at the meet were Jacob Hamblin (second, 200 free relay; third, 400 free relay; fourth, 500 free), Tate Johnson (second, 200 medley relay; second, 50 free; third, 100 free; third, 400 free
Awards for excellence given out to Utah Black Entrepreneurs in Mardi Gras-themed ball
"Laissez les bons temps rouler" which means, let the good times roll at the third annual Black Excellence in Business Awards.
By Jolene Croasmun j.croasmun@mycityjournals.com
MardiGras might be in New Orleans, but its style was evident locally in February as the Millcreek Common hosted the third annual Black Excellence in Business Awards.
“This is our annual fundraiser that we started in 2022,” said Dr. Sidni Shorter, president and CEO of the Utah Black Chamber of Commerce.
Several awards in multiple categories were given out including the 2025 Black Business of the Year award which went to Parfé' Diem Pudding Parfaits.
The Black Excellence in Business Awards recognizes the talents and contributions of Utah Black businesses and the corporate partners. The event featured award winners sharing stories of their work and impact on the community.
“Every nominee and winner represents
the strength and resilience of our community. Together, we are driving change and making a difference,” Shorter said.
After the awards, they celebrated with catering from the Taste of Louisiana and a brass band from the state as well.
“We do our annual business of the year awards and we also award corporate partners,” said Shorter, who is originally from Louisiana. “This is about economics and we are doing a great job of having great collaborative efforts that move the economic needle, so we recognize not just our small businesses but our corporate partners as well.” l
“This was an awesome meet to witness,” Cook said. “The whole team contributed to the success. We had over 70% best times. We now are looking forward to state [after press deadline] having jumped from 13 girl events last year to 23 and the boys will have around the same as last year, at 20.” l
William Petersen (third, 400 free relay), Nora Walker (fifth, 200 IM; fifth, 100 breast) and Callie Flamm (sixth, 100 breast).
The Corner Canyon High swimming coaches pose with the Region 2 trophy after the Chargers girls team won a share of the title with Mountain Ridge Feb. 1. (Photo courtesy Sheridyn Cook)
The Corner Canyon High girls swimming team had four first-place finishes, led by Berkeley Hansen’s two individual finishes – while she also swam legs on the winning relays – to split the Region 2 title Feb. 1. (Photo courtesy Sheridyn Cook)
Dr. Sidni Shorter, president and CEO of the Black Chamber of Commerce sparkling and ready for the awards ceremony. (John Strater Brown)
women’s SECTION
A publication covering local influential women in honor of International Women’s Day
Kelly Bush leads Kearns through cityhood and community growth
By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com
From an Army air base during WWII to one of Salt Lake County’s newest cities, Kearns has a history of pride, diversity and community. Kearns Mayor Kelly Bush has led the charge in getting respect and recognition for the nearly 38,000 residents who call Kearns home.
It’s no easy task to build a government entity from scratch, but that’s exactly what Bush has done over the last few years, taking Kearns from a metro township in 2015 to a city in May 2024. She served in several leadership roles in the community before being appointed mayor in 2018.
“We were coming out of a time when nobody had voices. A lot of these communities had been neglected,” Bush said. “Our roads were run down, we had poor lighting. People were pretty frustrated that a lot of things were not happening. They didn’t feel like they had a voice.”
The elected officials in Kearns, and other unincorporated areas in Salt Lake County, believed they would be the voice for their residents to County officials. It was only after the first meeting with the County that leaders in those areas learned they were supposed to create their own legislative bodies.
“Honestly, I think at the time that not one person in the County expected this, for any of us to come as far as we had,” she said. “We were never set up to succeed and, to be honest, I never thought we would…We were relentless fighters and dreamers and knew what these communities wanted and what we needed. We were going to succeed and we built a government from the ground up.”
For years, cities surrounding Kearns had slowly eroded the area’s tax base. West Valley City, West Jordan and Taylorsville had cherry-picked commercial areas to incorporate, leaving Kearns with more than 37,000 residents and a limited tax base.
Discussions were held about being absorbed into one of the surrounding cities, but no city wanted to take on the additional expense of nearly 38,000 residents. Bush and her team had to make it work. By applying for federal monies and grants, Bush was able to secure millions of dollars for improvements in the city, including a recent road project that overhauled 6200 South.
“I would hope the one thing that I’ve done that would make the most difference is giving these people a voice,” she said. “They can get mad or they can love it but they should expect honesty from whoever represents them.”
Bush grew up in Millcreek, graduating from Skyline High School. She moved to Kearns after she got married to raise her family. She rejects the perception that Kearns is a dangerous city, saying it’s no more dangerous than any other city in the Salt Lake Valley.
She feels privileged to represent such a diverse community that includes Somalian, Vietnamese, Hispanic and Latino cultures, and many others.
“My kids had so many different types of experiences,” she said. “They experienced all the different cultures their friends had and there were so many different cultures. They got to go to different parties. They got to go to different churches. They got to go over and eat the different foods and they were always invited to all these super cool celebrations. It was so much fun because we made so many different types of friends.
That was not something I experienced on the east side.”
Kearns City Councilmember Crystal Butterfield has worked with Bush since 2020. Butterfield credits the mayor with getting the Oquirrh Shadows Unified Fire Authority Fire Station No. 107 reopened, improving roads and lighting conditions, staying on top of legislation that affects Kearns and keeping the city afloat through numerous grant opportunities.
“She has been instrumental in getting the things that we need and working behind the scenes with a lot of stuff I don’t even see,” Butterfield said. “She has been instrumental in making sure that we get grants and funding so we have extra resources. I’m just amazed at how many grants she can pull in.”
Bush is not running for re-election
this year but hopes to be hired as the Kearns city manager in 2026. She is proud to represent a diverse community with a small-town feel and to dedicate her time to connecting to residents who feel like family to her.
When the locally-owned La Placita Market burned down in January, the Kearns community rallied to support one of their own. Bush said that’s just the way things are done in the city.
“Our community will celebrate with each other and mourn with each other,” she said. “They stick together. They are there for each other no matter what and you better never mess with them. They are K-Town all the way.”
Mayor Bush will not run for reelection but hopes to work as the Kearns city manager in 2026
Kelly Bush spends time with firefighters from the United Fire Authority. As the mayor of Kearns, Bush worked to reopen the Oquirrh Shadows Fire Station #107 on 5600 West. (Photo courtesy of Kelly Bush)
Alta high senior conquers 50-miler, proving ‘you can do hard things’
By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com
Eighteen-year-old Ruby Lewis inspires others while proving to herself there are no limits.
In late January, 18-year-old Ruby Lewis embarked on a 50-mile race through the snow-dusted La Sal Mountains, taking in stunning views of Arches National Park and running past ancient dinosaur tracks embedded in red rock.
After a grueling journey, Lewis crossed the finish line of the Arches Ultra in 11:35:46, securing third place in the under-20 age group. She was the youngest runner of 73 competitors.
“I was running the whole day,” Lewis said. “It was hard being out there and realizing, I still had miles to go. I was running by myself for a good chunk of it, so I had to find motivation to keep running. My goal was to get under 12 hours and be able to finish. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to do it – and once I did, it changed my perspective on what I can do. It’s an amazing feeling knowing I accomplished it.”
The Alta High varsity cross country and track runner said she found motivation from her dad, a seasoned long-distance runner who supported her at four aid stations along the way.
Additionally, she found inspiration in a bracelet she wore throughout the race. The bracelet, made with teammates, carried the message “PTW,” which stands for “Prove Them Wrong.”
“We created the PTW club to remind ourselves we’re capable of doing hard things, and to prove to anyone who doubts us—even ourselves sometimes—wrong. It’s a way to unite and support each other, whether we’re running or facing challenges in life,” Lewis explained.
The PTW group operates informally, with members often joining each other for runs or supporting one another’s workouts on Strava.
“We love making comments on each other’s runs, offering encouragement and helping each other stay positive,” she said. “It’s all about creating a supportive and unified community. We want to spread positivity and make a difference.”
Ruby drew from this motivation during her 50-mile race.
Starting the race at 6:30 a.m. in 19-degree weather, she wore a headlamp and carried a backpack filled with snacks, salts and energy bars. The temperature eventually climbed to the mid-40s before dipping again. As the race wore on and the field of runners began to thin out, there were times when she wanted to stop and walk, but she pushed herself forward, knowing her teammates were cheering her on from afar.
“Sometimes you can be your worst
enemy. So, if you can get past your own self-doubt, then you can do a lot more,” she said. “You have to trust yourself and believe you can accomplish hard things. I think it showed to my teammates that, they, too, can achieve what they set their minds to—not just in running, but in life.”
Lewis began preparing for the race after the Alta High Hawks finished in the top 20 at the state cross country meet. She followed a rigorous training schedule, created with the help of her father.
“Dedication is key. I put in long training runs. Training three months for one race seems like a lot, but if I hadn’t done that, I wouldn’t have been able to finish. It taught me you need to put in the effort for the outcome and in the end, it’s worth it,” she said.
Additionally, she gradually built up her long distance racing endurance, completing a half-marathon in October 2023 and running a 50K in January 2024, where she finished fifth in the under-20 age group.
The distance runner also is captain of Alta High’s 120-member mountain biking club.
“Mountain biking is a hard sport, too. You need to put in the work. So again, you need to prove to yourself you have the strength to do it,” she said.
In addition to her athletic accomplishments, Lewis is actively involved in her community. As a member of the National Honor Society, she and her teammates have volunteered with programs such as Sub for Santa and helped prepare meals for The Road Home shelter.
“We’re all about working hard and showing kindness,” she said. “My dream job is to become an international social worker. I want to help as many people as I can.”
A senior with a 4.0 GPA, Lewis is considering Southern Utah University for her college education, and she still has shortand long-term athletic goals.
This spring, before graduation, she wants to shave off a few seconds on both her 800-meter and mile track times. Looking ahead, she may run the Arches Ultra again before racing the Wasatch 100.
“My experiences have taught me challenges are worth facing, and I want others to feel that same sense of achievement and pride in themselves,” she said. “My dad inspired me to pursue longer distance races. They’re tough, but having that feeling of accomplishment when they’re over, makes it worth the hard work.”
Alta High’s 18-year-old Ruby Lewis smiles before proving to herself that she could race the Arches Ultra 50-miler in January. (Photo courtesy of Ruby Lewis)
Alta High mountain bike club captain Ruby Lewis, with her PTW bracelet on her wrist, races at region. (Photo courtesy of Ruby Lewis)
Artist and heart attack survivor helps raise awareness of heart disease in women
By Jolene Croasmun | j.croasmun@mycityjournals.com
Go Red for Women Day was kicked off at Intermountain Medical Center with cardiologists bringing awareness to women’s No. 1 killer which is heart disease and an unveiling of the artwork from a female heart attack survivor.
February was heart health month and the first Friday of the month was Go Red for Women Day. Intermountain Health held an event and unveiled a heart attack survivor’s artwork to raise awareness about heart disease in women which claims the lives of more women annually than all cancers combined.
Dr. Amanda Donohue, a cardiologist with Intermountain Health said, “We partnered with the American Heart Association to get the word out about Go Red for Women Day. Our main goal is to create awareness around the cardiovascular risk that all women face. One in three women will pass away from a cardiovascular complication this year.”
Donohue talked about modifiable risk factors like diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Go Red for Women Day is being used to “shed some light on the lesser known ones like autoimmune disorders, chronic kidney disease, gestational disorders of pregnancy and long-term use of hormone replacement therapy,” Donohue said.
“We want to empower women to take charge of their cardiovascular health. It is important at any age and any stage in life,” added Donohue.
Kimberleigh Collins-Peynaud is an artist and heart attack survivor and her artwork was on display at Intermountain Medical Center. She found comfort and healing through painting after her heart attack and hopes it will help others.
“I had a heart attack in November of 2023. A widowmaker heart attack and that means the left interior descending artery was 90% blocked,” Collins-Peynaud said. “The American Heart Association says that only 12% of widowmaker heart attack survivors survive outside of the hospital.”
Collins-Peynaud was 44, in good health and exercised regularly when she had her heart attack. Her family did have some history of heart disease. “When you feel healthy and relatively young and haven’t been warned of any risks, it just comes out of nowhere. I was walking around with a blocked artery and didn’t even know it.”
“I woke up on Saturday morning, went up for breakfast and my left arm started hurting to the bone and felt like there was pain radiating out of it. I tried to massage it like it was a cramp but that did nothing. That’s when I started thinking, ‘oh this is unfamiliar, this is weird’ and I told my husband I needed
Heart attack survivor Kimberleigh Collins-Peynaud holds a stent that is similar to the one that was placed in her artery after her heart attack. (Jolene Croasmun/City Journals)
to go lay down on the bed and as soon as I
This painting is a combination of the images of Kimberleigh Collins-Peynaud’s blocked arteries and her image in her mind of her heart attack. It is titled “My Widowmaker.” (Jolene Croasmun/City Journals)
did that my whole back felt exactly like the left arm,” Collins-Peynaud said.
“The final symptom felt like someone standing on my sternum and that lasted about 15 minutes and I Googled the symptoms, and I thought there is no way that I am having a heart attack and it appeared on my screen that those are typical symptoms of a heart attack. But I decided that if it happens again I will call the doctor,” Collins-Peynaud added.
Collins-Peynaud tried yoga but things
“Still Healing” is one of three paintings in a series that artist Kimberleigh
has
Journals)
did not improve and by 5 p.m. that day she decided to go to Instacare. “They took an EKG and immediately sent me to the hospital by ambulance," Collins-Peynaud said. “I was scared.”
For Collins-Peynaud art helped her heal. “I used art to get better. I needed a way to process the shock of what happened to deal with death and why I was lucky to survive.”
Speaking about her gouache painting called “Why,” Collins-Peynaud explained, “The 12% for example is just a number but I needed to see what that looks like. What does 12% of the population surviving look like?” Only 12% of widowmaker heart attack victims survive.
“There is one drawing which is a pencil drawing of the three symptoms. First my left arm, then my whole back, then the pain on my sternum. I felt that would be very helpful to add to the series because it is a way to connect to other women and people to show that here are three images of what it felt like. So if you feel like this you’ll know to go act faster than I did. Or if a friend or family member says, ‘I have this pain, and I don’t understand it’ hopefully it will get someone to react and say, ‘I saw this image, you should go get this checked out,’” Collins-Peynaud said.
“My symptoms are typical of men’s symptoms. We are all different and they can vary. The more the public can see how different it can be the better it is,” said Collins-Peynaud.
“I created the series called ‘Heartwork’
and the prints are for sale through my website, www.heartwork-art.weebly.com. I will donate a portion of the proceeds to the foundation for the beginning of this women’s heart center,” Collins-Peynaud said. “I have been working with the team here at Intermountain to help get out the word of women’s heart health.”
Dr. Kent Meredith, a cardiologist with Intermountain Health spoke at the event. “We have learned that when women have a heart attack it is often completely different. It is very common in women to experience a totally different set of symptoms.”
“It is not a pain or pressure but it’s more like burning or discomfort. Some female patients will say, ‘I don’t feel well or I feel weak, tired or have an upset stomach.’ I have heard that 1,000 times in my 25 years of cardiology,” Meredith said and added that many patients think they have stomach flu.
“We consider any symptom between the nose and navel as being a potential heart attack symptom especially in women," Meredith added. “We encourage you to learn and share with the women in your life.”
Collins-Peynaud’s life was saved by the cardiologists at Intermountain Medical Center and she had a stent placed in her arteries. She now makes the most of each day. “Do something that makes you feel good for yourself. Do something useful,” Collins-Peynaud said. She hopes that her artwork will help others recognize the symptoms of a heart attack and possibly save a life.
Collins-Peynaud painted after her heart attack that
helped her process and understand the changes going on inside of her body. (Jolene Croasmun/City
Charger cheer takes a silver at nationals
The Corner Canyon High cheerleaders’ Game Day Team won a silver medal at the UCA National High School Cheerleading Championships in Orlando, Flor, Feb. 7-10. “This is the first time we have ever medaled in Game Day,” said head coach Whitney Lunt. “The highest we have ever placed before was sixth so the silver medal [out of 57 teams] was awesome.” In the Large Varsity Division, the Chargers placed seventh. (Pictured: Back row: Reagan Alleman, Claire Sexton, Maren Orten, Sophie Wilson, Elisha Wong, Payton Reese and Kate Nelson; Middle row: Kyndall Hadfield, Ryan Germer, Shaye Mason, Mylie Matthews, Berkley Peay, Paisley Draper and Sophie Kennedy; Front row: Brinklee Tebbs, Sophie Seely, Ava Johnson, Cambreigh Dykman, Bridgette Marsh and Nikelle Nielsen. (Photo courtesy Whitney Lunt)
JD wrestling performs well at divisionals
Juan Diego Catholic High School wrestlers Caden Kerrigan and Mario Perez both finished fifth at the Division B meet Jan. 29 at Juab High School, qualifying for the 3A state championships [held after press deadline]. Kerrigan wrestled in the 190-pound weight division and Perez was in the 138-pound category. The Soaring Eagle girls wrestling squad was fourth at the Division A meet Jan. 29 at South Summit High School. Lana Chan (100-pound division), Natalie Cardenas (120) and Avie Hernandez (235) were second in their respective categories while Tiffany Nguyen was third at 125 and Aliana Villareal-Flores was fourth at 145. (Photos courtesy Zac Petereit)
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CCHS girls wrestlers first at divisionals, boys second
The Corner Canyon High girls wrestling team won the Division B meet Jan. 29.
By Catherine Garrett c.garrett@mycityjournals.com
The Corner Canyon High girls wrestling team won the Division B meet Jan. 29 at Corner Canyon High School with 235.5 points – to Davis High’s 219.5 – behind four first-place showings.
Defending state champion Clarion Fager, wrestling at 170 pounds, Olivia Byington (130 pounds), Meleana Fager (140) and Makayla Walden (190) each won their respective division. The boys were second in the Division B tournament Jan. 29 at CCHS, to Westlake, with Leimana Fager (at 215 pounds) and Kaydon Williams (at 285) – both who are seeking three-peats at state – winning their divisions along with Kacen Jones (106) and Tanner Telford (120).
Other placers at Divisionals for the girls squad were Piper Eller (second, 100-pound division), Maia’ana Fiaui (sec-
“They all wrestled awesome with every girl wrestling to her seed or better,” said girls coach John Fager. “We qualified 14 girls for state and have one alternate out of our 15 girls. We had eight in the finals and four champions.”
“I thought the boys wrestled tough at Divisionals,” said boys coach Jeff Eure. “We are looking forward to the state tournament [after press deadline].”
Also placing for the boys at Divisionals were Gage Brady (second, 190-pound division), Parker Garcia (second, 132), Karl Ledbetter (second, 157), Payden Woolsey (second, 150), Hudson York (second, 113), Liam Ellen (third, 150), Lincoln Eure (third, 165), Logan Garner (third, 175), Nathan Holladay (fourth, 285), Deken Knowles (fourth, 165), Blake Mauch (fourth, 106) and Matt Wells (fourth, 175). l
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The Corner Canyon High girls wrestling team took first at the Division B meet Jan. 29 the Chargers hosted. (Photo courtesy John Fager)
We often talk about infamous warriors like Harriet Tubman, Susan B. Anthony, Amelia Earhart, and justice OG Ruth Bader Ginsburg, but so many women have left their mark on this world without acclaim, awards or national days.
Trump’s executive order mandates a pause on federal events promoting diversity, including Black History Month, Women’s History Month, Pride Month and Holocaust Remembrance Day. But I’m not a federal employee and refuse to follow his directive. Happy Women’s History Month!
Throughout the ages, women are described as the gentler sex, the homemakers and the caretakers. And, yes, women are given those roles. But women are also fierce queens, savage muses, legendary goddesses and wild forces of nature.
We often talk about infamous warriors like Harriet Tubman, Susan B. Anthony and Supreme Court Justice (and original-gangster) Ruth Bader Ginsburg, but so many women have left their mark on this world without acclaim, awards or national days.
Women like Mrs. Strange who made storytime at the Murray Library a magical experience. Her rendition of “The Three Billy Goats Gruff” was an Oscar-worthy perfor-
Peri Kinder Life and Laughter
A Woman’s Work
mance. When the biggest billy goat knocked the mean, ugly troll off the bridge, we all cheered in triumph.
Or women like Frankie Whipple, my long-suffering, patient, eternally-frustrated piano teacher. She listened to my musical scales, arpeggios and recital pieces without visibly wincing. Usually. The only annoyance she displayed was when I didn’t do my music theory lesson for five years straight.
Mrs. Lambert taught my second grade class at Viewmont Elementary. Under her guidance, I went from reading to show off to reading for pleasure. She taught me poetry, art and a life-lesson about friendship. Plus, she wore hip,‘70s polyester pantsuits that looked amazing.
Grandma Brickey was a fearless powerhouse. She loved her grandkids without judgement and let us eat all her chocolate raisin cake. Widowed for decades, she had many boyfriends but refused to give up her independence. She was a dancing queen, a
vivacious flirt and a woman who lived life on her own terms.
When I was 12-years-old, a neighbor lady trusted me to watch her children all summer. Thanks to her, I quickly learned I was a terrible babysitter and should probably never have children.
Women like Ms. Pettis, my ninth-grade English teacher at Riverview Junior High, taught me that even when I thought my life was over, I was valuable to her. She showed up at my home every week to make sure I stayed on top of my assignments and she encouraged my writing. She is a hero.
My Aunt Judy created a safe place for 8-year-old me when I ran away from home because Mom was censoring the books I read. She didn’t think “Jaws” was an acceptable summer read for a third-grader but Aunt Judy let me stay the night until I calmed down. Then I read “Jaws” in secret.
Renee Smith was my dance instructor for eight years. She taught me tap, jazz and ballet, and encouraged me to try out for “The Nutcracker”. But because I wasn’t actually coordinated, I never landed a part. She always believed I would. At least she said she did.
Mom was an unrivaled teacher, encouraging me to read (except “Jaws”), write poetry, make music, dance, ride bikes, play basketball and try new things. It wasn’t her
fault I didn’t see her value until I became a mom.
My daughters, my granddaughters, my sisters, my nieces, my cousins, my aunts, my grandmothers, my friends, my colleagues, my teachers: all these women have made me what I am today. Yes, it’s their fault.
Even when the president (and Google) removes Women’s History Month from the calendar, women will do what we’ve always done: help other women to be powerful, to find their voice, to live their passion, to stand up for what’s right, to lead and to shine brighter than ever. Don’t mistake our gentle demeanor for passivity.
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