Special Section: Education
SheTech, botany, helping a student with leukemia
Contemporary Christian trio harmonizes faith and family with uplifting music
By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com
With powerful vocals, heartfelt lyrics, and a sisterly bond, Hinge Point aims to inspire listeners and redefine worship for a new generation.
Three sisters are making waves in the contemporary Christian music scene with their soul-based harmonies and profound lyrics. Adding an authentic sound to modern worship. the trio known as Hinge Point is capturing hearts with their music.
Kalli Clare (20), Kassidy Laine (20) and Kandy Jayne (18) grew up in Millcreek and loved singing together. During the COVID pandemic, they started writing their own songs and posting videos on a YouTube channel that has more than 14,000 subscribers and 2.1 million views.
“We felt like it was something that would help us to spread light in the world when people needed some light and things to help them feel happy in a dark time,” Kandy said. “So we decided to start filming and posting videos and it just took off.”
One of the biggest surprises for the young women has been seeing how their talents have come together to make something exciting and new. They’ve had several opportunities arise, including a performance at the Salt Lake City Tabernacle on Temple Square in December, and they know they’re being guided by a higher power on their journey.
The trio has come a long way from when they first performed songs and dances for their family. Their sound has matured, they’ve improved their harmonic skills and they’re learning to play instruments to add to their music.
They are three of six siblings and Kassidy recently got married, which has changed the dynamic of the group a bit. Hinge Point doesn’t promote or focus on any particular religion, the women just want to sing songs of worship anyone can relate to.
“We do practice our own religion but with Hinge Point we try to keep it nondenominational Christian,” Kalli said. “We have been able to reach so many people. Just being a disciple of Christ and singing for other disciples of Christ has helped us reach a lot of people.”
Along with learning to write songs, harmonize and pick up
Thank You
to our Community Sponsors for supporting City Journals
guitar skills, Hinge Point also learned how to make and edit music videos and get involved with social media marketing. None of the young women had opened a social media account before Hinge Point started to gain followers.
The sisters said during every concert they perform, someone tells them they needed the message, the hope or
additional support.
“Our strength is that we try to be prayerful and try to let this be guided by God,” Kassidy said. “And it works. God is using it, and He’s helping us to be places that maybe we wouldn’t
Continued page 18
Kandy, Kassidy and Kalli make up Hinge Point, a contemporary Christian group dedicated to sharing their love of Jesus through music. (Photo courtesy of Hinge Point)
What to know about visiting the E.R.
By Dr. Alex Drake
At CommonSpirit Health, our vision is a healthier future for all – inspired by faith, driven by innovation, and powered by our humanity. This extends to all the care we provide our patients, whether it be in our doctor’s offices, our clinics, or our hospitals.
We want your visit to our care sites to be as comfortable as possible, and we know that visiting the Emergency Department (ER) is difficult for any patient and their loved ones. I would like to share some information about what to expect in the ER, so that you can be as prepared as possible.
Our emergency caregivers are here for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year to serve our community. We accept all patients – regardless of insurance status or ability to pay. A typical visit to the ER can take two-to-three hours, but please know that in the ER we must evaluate and treat our patients based on severity of their condition. This might mean longer wait times in the lobby or even after being placed in an exam room. However, this also means that if you’re having a life-threatening emergency, you will have the undivided attention of our doctors and nurses.
If you have mild-to-moderate symptoms – such as fever below 103 degrees without a rash, flu-like symptoms without shortness of breath, or sprains and strains – you may wish to consider calling your primary care provider or visiting an urgent care center, as these options may be faster and are often less expensive.
Symptoms or health issues that require immediate medical attention may include the following:
• Chest pain
• Sudden weakness or trouble talking
• Difficulty breathing
• Spinal injuries
• Severe head injury
• Major broken bones
• Major burns
• Sudden change in vision
• Heavy bleeding
• Large open wounds
You should never drive yourself to an ER if you are having severe chest pain, severe bleeding, if you feel like you might faint, or if your vision is impaired. When in doubt, please call 911 — what matters most is that you get to the emergency room quickly and safely. If you arrive by
ambulance, you will be triaged and we will determine the level of care required.
All emergency physicians at CommonSpirit Holy Cross Hospitals are board certified in Emergency Medicine and have trained for many years to help you in your emergency. The doctors also have specially trained midlevel providers who can also help. Your provider may order tests like X-rays, CT Scans, Ultrasounds, bloodwork, urinalysis, an electrocardiogram (EKG), or others, depending on your health problem.
After receiving test results, the doctor will discuss the findings and diagnosis with you. If needed, they will advise admission to the hospital. If your condition does not need admission, they will give you written instructions about treatment to be followed at home. This may include prescriptions, tips for home care, and any referrals needed for following up with either a primary care or specialized doctor.
While we hope for the health and safety of those in our community, know that we are here if you need us. Our excellent doctors and nurses at CommonSpirit Holy Cross Hospitals are ready to provide high-quality, compassionate, and timely care.
As 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.
When you need emergency care fast, the closest emergency room is a smart thing to know. You never know the level of care you’ll need when an emergency happens and choosing the right ER can make all the difference. And a hospital ER comes with the confidence of additional services right on-site.
Find emergency care close to you at mountain.commonspirit.org.
SPONSORED CONTENT
By Dr. Alex Drake Emergency Physician CommonSpirit Holy Cross Hospital Jordan Valley West
Around the world in one take: New cutting-edge filmmaking technology comes to SLCC
The virtual production stage replaces old green screen technology.
By Jesse M. Gonzalez j.gonzalez@mycityjournals.com
Toget the most accurate depiction of a scene, many filmmakers travel miles away to film on location. However, with new technology, creators can create settings from anywhere in the world without moving. With the cutting-edge virtual production stage, Salt Lake City Community College filmmakers, aspiring and professional, can do that, changing the shape of film making.
A 31-foot-wide by 18-foot-high wall composed of LED panels, the Taylor Virtual Production Stage offers an immersive experience for filmmakers and viewers without the use of a green screen.
“The project started two years ago and we proposed that we embrace this new technology that is essentially replacing green screen technology,” said SLCC documentary professor Tyler Smith. “That process is very cumbersome because you have to—there's nothing to really interact with. The actor has to really imagine what's happening.
“So this new technology is a massive screen that replaces that green screen and you put the image on while you're doing the production and so now the actors have a real environment to interact with and then they also have a layer of luminance that's reflecting on them and so the actual environment like with the color and intensity reflects back onto the actor and so it feels real and it looks real,” Smith said.
The virtual production stage is now the newest of three stages at Salt Lake Community College’s School of Arts, Communication & Media (SACM).
“We've had our main sound stage; we now have three sound stages as a community
college. One is a television broadcast television stage, the other one is an actual film stage where we shoot movies and build sets, and then the other, the third one that we just gained access to,” said Channing Lowe, an associate professor of film production who has been teaching at SLCC for nearly two decades.
“The school had some excess funding that they were trying to find a project, I guess a worthy project, to put money into. We've been seeing virtual production happening for some time….We didn't know how to do it necessarily, but we knew that it was kind of a—it was basically a growing industry where there weren’t enough professionals to kind of fill the need for that, because a lot of movies are now during virtual production,”
Lowe said.
With popular movies and television shows like “Black Panther” and “The Mandalorian” using virtual production stages, it inspires SLCC film students to adapt to a growing technology that can offer photorealistic environments where filmmakers can shoot their scenes and build set extensions in front of it, making it look like those in front of the camera are in a totally different physical or geographical location.
“The Unreal Engine is what we used. It's a video game engine that's gotten to the point where they can make it look fairly photorealistic by creating these 3D environments that project on the wall, and then you'll put the camera in front of the wall and the software will know where the camera is,” Lowe said. “It was just over $1 million to basically renovate the stage and purchase the materials for the LED wall.”
“It took about two years to plan,” said Smith, who, along with some of his students, has been using the wall for his documentary class, shooting interviews using several different background environments.
Since the fall semester, classes for the Taylor Virtual Production Stage have been filling up immediately with students eager to work on their projects using the wall.
“There's one short film that they built an actual space module thing where people are sitting inside and they shot drone footage to go on the LED wall. From the perspective of the camera inside the space module, it looks like they're actually flying. It looked really, really nice,” Lowe said.
Getting acquainted with the new stateof-the-art technology did not come without some external aid, as virtual production stage experts such as Jake Dickey from Redman Movies & Stories have come in to assist SLCC faculty and students.
“[Jake Dickey’s] been great in helping us, advising us on how to get the wall set
up and also teaching those specific classes,” Lowe said. “Right now, there is a need and demand for people who know that technology, and right now, there's not very many people that know that technology very well.”
With the Taylor Virtual Production Stage, there are many new plans and goals for Salt Lake City Community College, setting a new and exciting chapter for the film and media department.
“Our goal with the school is to get students trained to where they can get jobs on virtual productions, so they can be technicians in that field. The other goal is to get more classes, and we're working with Jake Dickey to basically develop more classes for teaching virtual production,” Lowe said. “I'm still learning a lot on it. I feel like I've just kind of scratched the surface.”l
The Millcreek Journal is a monthly publication distributed directly to residents via the USPS as well as locations throughout Millcreek. For information about distribution please email hello@thecityjournals.com or call our offices. Rack locations are also available on our website.
The views and opinions expressed in display advertisements do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions held by Loyal Perch Media or the City Journals. This publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the express written consent of the owner. © 2019 Loyal Perch Media, Inc.
Bryan Scott | bryan.s@thecityjournals.com
EDITOR
Travis Barton | travis.b@thecityjournals.com
Mieka Sawatzki | mieka.s@thecityjournals.com
Lindsay Andreasen | lindsay.a@thecityjournals.com
Jason Corbridge | jason.c@thecityjournals.com
Ryan Casper | ryan.c@thecityjournals.com
Marc Davis | marc.d@thecityjournals.com
Lydia Rice | lydia.r@thecityjournals.com 385-557-1022 Rack
UT 84070
PHONE: 801-254-5974
MILLCREEK TEAM
Professionals and aspiring filmmaking students get instructed on how to operate the virtual production stage. (Photo courtesy of Salt Lake City Community College)
KSL Greenhouse Show — offering help for gardeners since 1982
The show guides home gardeners in when and what to plant and ways to keep their yards looking green and healthy.
By Tom Haraldsen t.haraldsen@mycityjournals.com
Homegardening has become increasingly popular in the United States in recent years. Since the COVID pandemic, statistics show 18.3 million new gardeners were created, with most of them millennials–and 42% of gardeners spent more time in their yards during the pandemic than in the years before. It’s estimated that 55% of Americans now engage in gardening activities, and American adults spend $48 billion a year on lawn and gardening equipment.
So if that’s your passion, the KSL Greenhouse Show each Saturday morning from 8 to 11 a.m. is a must. Since 1982, the show on 102.7 FM, 1160 AM, or online at kslnewsradio.com/listen has offered tips and advice for maintaining a beautiful yard and planting the trees, flowers and vegetables of your desire.
Long-time KSL Newsradio personality
Maria Shilaos and USU Extension Associate Professor of Horticulture Taun Beddes take questions, answer text messages and offer helpful information each week. And they offer caution to planters who sometimes mistake unusually warm late winter weather patterns as starting lines for playing in the dirt.
“Even though temperatures are where we might be able to plant cool weather veggies, other things work into this that you need to know, such as long-term forecasts,” Beddes said during a recent show. “We need
to make as sure as we can that temperatures aren’t going to drop to the mid 20s. And be aware of soil temperatures. Even when soil thaws, it can still be around 35 degrees, so it could be wise to give it another week or two to see if things warm up even more.”
Shilaos, a Millcreek resisdent, has been hosting the show since 2019, and filled in for former host Tim Hughes many years before that. She marvels at Taun’s wealth of knowledge.
“He has a master’s degree in plant science. It seems like no matter what questions listeners give us, he knows the answers and explains things in very layman terms,” she said, with Beddes adding that as a young student, “Instead of dating, I read gardening encyclopedias.” It shows.
In early March during our interview, many questions concerned when and what to plant. Beddes said there’s a guide which Utah State University has put together specifically about vegetables.
“The planting guide is divided into four groups–A, B, C and D, with A being the most cold hard crops and D being the most tender,” he said. “The dates vary, and there isn’t one ‘set’ date for anything because weather has to come into consideration, but it’s a great guide. With some crops, like radishes, you can plant almost every day from March 1 to April 15 for a continuous harvest. That gives you a four to six week window when these cold season crops can be planted. Planting is not just knowing when to plant, but how to prepare for cold and heat.”
“I’ve learned so much from working with Taun,” Shilaos said. “He has taught me about pruning. Trees were never my thing— I’m into fruits and vegetables which is a love
I got from my grandmother. I still notice that if things get too technical, my brain goes ‘la, la, la, la…’ It’s fun doing this show, and it takes me out of the news which I work on five days a week. Any day that has sunshine is a day to be out in your yard!”
“I try to always give the correct answer in the gentlest way possible,” Beddes said with a smile. “I have a tendency to be a bit too direct sometimes with listeners.” Shilaos said that’s when she likes making fun of him.
“I love being outdoors,” she said. “I kind of make my yard an extended room from my home. I also love growing food–there’s nothing like a homegrown tomato. I think the
biggest thing is mental health—I’ve saved a ton of money on therapists by being able to go out and get my hands dirty. Fresh air and vitamin D from the sun—you can’t beat it. And doing the Greenhouse Show gives me a break and allows me to talk about something I really enjoy.”
Got a question? Call Maria and Taun during the show at 801-575-8255 or text them at 57500. You can also see them when they do a remote broadcast in Bountiful on Saturday, June 21 from Bountiful City Park. They will be helping the Bountiful Food Pantry with a school pantry pack project, as well as assisting home gardeners. l
Millcreek Community Theater to perform ‘Steel Magnolias’ April 3-5
The play explores the strengths of female friendships that even in the darkest of times, hope and laughter can be found.
By Jolene Croasmun j.croasmun@mycityjournals.com
“Steel Magnolias” is coming to Millcreek in April. Not the Sally Field, Dolly Parton, Julia Roberts movie from 1989, but the play that movie was based on.
Written by Robert Harling, “Steel Magnolias” is a heartwarming dramatic comedy. It is based on the true story of Harling’s sister who passed away from diabetes at a young age. It implies in the play’s title that these Southern women are beautiful flowers that are as tough as steel.
Traci Nelson is the artistic director at Millcreek Community Theater and will be
directing this spring’s production of “Steel Magnolias.” This is Millcreek Community Theater’s second play this season and will be performed at the Millcreek City Hall building.
“Steel Magnolias” is a comedy about a group of southern women that find strength in their female bonds as they deal with loss, grief and family with hope and resilience in the local beauty parlor. “It is about a community coming together in this safe space where no men really come. A bunch of friends that come together and help each other through life,” Nelson said.
The performances will be held at Millcreek City Hall on the sixth floor on April 3-5 at 7 p.m. with a matinee on April 5 at 2 p.m. The cost is 12 dollars per person.
The summer show by the Millcreek Community Theatre will be “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” at Canyon Rim Park. Auditions are the last week of May. l
KSL Newsradio’s Maria Shilaos and USU associate professor Taun Beddes host the KSL Greenhouse Show each Saturday morning. (Tom Haraldsen/City Journals)
Millcreek Community Theatre is performing “Steel Magnolias” at the Millcreek Commons. (Jolene Croasmun/City Journals)
A resurgence in vinyl record albums for 2025
Vinyl albums, CDs, Cassettes and music merchandise were part of the Vinyl Revival held last month at the Public Market at Millcreek Common.
By Jolene Croasmun j.croasmun@mycityjournals.com
Vinyl albums were once thought of as a relic of the past but in the last 18 years,
there has been a remarkable interest in hearing music on a turntable. Hipsters, collectors and mainstream consumers are showing an interest in vinyl as a way to share a love of music.
The Carpenters, Tina Turner, Bad Company, The Who and Donny and Marie were just some of the many classic albums that were available for purchase last month during the Vinyl Revival at Millcreek Common. Jackson Gray, who works for Millcreek Common said, “We are focusing on mostly
old records but got some CDs to sell too. There have been a lot more people for this event.”
Band tees and other music memorabilia were also being sold at the event.
Sponsor KRCL provided CDs and old cassette tapes for a dollar each.
Many of the old albums display unique and intriguing artwork. One vendor, By Vinyl, framed several classic album covers like Led Zeppelin IV, Led Zeppelin’s first album and Bob Dylan’s Highway 61 Revisited
which were hung at the event but not for sale.
One of the reasons for this resurgence is the nostalgia associated with old record albums.
Finding limited edition albums has also made them a worthwhile investment. Many record collectors swear by the audio quality of a vinyl record over today’s sound noting the sound from a needle playing the tunes from a spinning record brings back memories. l
Records and album covers hung on the wall in the Public Market at Millcreek Common during the Vinyl Revival event. (Jolene Croasmun/City Journals)
Framed album cover of Led Zeppelin IV at the Vinyl Revival hung in the By Vinyl booth at Millcreek Common. (Jolene Croasmun/City Journals)
Music merchandise for sale at the Vinyl Revival from @bleacher_Kreatures. (Jolene Croasmun/City Journals)
Tie dye Tees and more with rock band themes from Nox Tie Dye. (Jolene Croasmun/City Journals)
Some of the classic albums for sale at the Vinyl Revival. (Jolene Croasmun/ City Journals)
Women finding ways to be accepted working in water, in various nontraditional roles
While the water industry has traditionally been a male-dominated field, a rising tide of women is gradually changing the water sector in Utah, yet challenges remain.
By Jolene Croasmun j.croasmun@mycityjournals.com
Water is a hot topic these days in Utah.
The water industry still remains a male-dominated field but in Utah, the number of women working in the water sector is rising.
The percentage of women working in drinking and waste water is 29% based on Women in the Workplace 2022 done by Mckenzie & Company with the leanin.org group.
At the end of February in St. George, Utah, the annual Rural Water Utah Association Conference was held.
As in many industries where women are not commonly found, women at times experience credibility issues and have their level of expertise questioned. Getting talked over in meetings or being mistaken as the janitor or admin when they are not, were some of the issues brought up by women at the conference.
Emilie Duersch was the chairhead for The Women in Water event at this year’s conference. “Spotlighting women in the water industry and wastewater industry is really important. A few years ago, I don’t feel like there were many women in the industry at all. But I do feel like we have seen an increase in women.”
“We have had a few water operators that are women and wastewater operators too and that has never happened before. We see women in leadership roles on the state level in the Division of Drinking Water and Division of Water Quality,” Duersch said.
Duersch added women like attending the event and are able to share tips and tricks on how they balance worklife in an industry dominated by men. “They come out of the event and feel validated,” Duersch said.
Heather Jennings, director for Huma Environmental spoke at the Women in Water event during the conference. “The women here in Utah are very committed. Originally only 10 to 15 women came to the event and now we are getting rooms full. It’s a place where women can discuss, collaborate, commiserate and more forward. We are always looking for diversity of thought. We have had the same tools and the same issues for years so now let’s bring
in a whole group with a different viewpoint and you have so much opportunity for growth,” Jennings said about the water industry.
“Women collaborate differently, women have different views and different ideas and once we bring those together, I really think we have solutions. That is what we are really aiming for,” Jennings said.
Jennings started out as a chemical engineer and then got her civil engineering license. “I liked water and that is why I was involved in the civil. I wanted a water connection,” Jennings said.
A diverse group of women work in water like Emily Kagan, who was a mixed martial artist that fought in the Ultimate Fighting Championship and the Invicta Fighting Championship.
Kagan is now the operations and technical coordinator with the Washington County Conservancy District. “I help promote the safety culture and collaborate for emergency management.” Kagan has worked there for over three years.
“One thing that attracted me to the Washington County Conservancy district is the amount of women in leadership roles,” Kagen said.
Janell Braithwaite is a management technician for the Rural Water Association
of Utah. Braitwaite said, “We all have multiple assignments at the conference. I am doing the water taste test. We have systems bringing their water in from all over the state. We’ll do taste testing with judges to find the best tasting water in Utah.”
“Two weeks ago a system from Utah that won at our conference last year, actually won in Washington D. C. Bear River is the best tasting water in the nation! It is really quite an honor to do that,” Braithwaite said.
Yoppify was a vendor at the conference. “There are so many frontline workers. They are the ones who are out there fixing the pipelines hanging up door hangers. Our business is to do community engagement where we can send out texts and email notifications to residents,” said Megan Jenkins of Yoppify.
Kelsey Johnson is the conference coordinator. “So this is an annual conference where attendees can get valuable training and collaborate with other water systems and waste water systems and solve different issues,” Johnson said. “It is very productive to have these professionals all together where they get a lot of things accomplished and a lot of ideas come to fruition.” l
Skyline FBLA members take home high honors at the state competition
The business club at Skyline has demonstrated exponential growth over the past few years.
By Peri Kinder peri.k@thecityjournals.com
Anhkhoa Le came for the free pizza but stayed for the community.
He joined Skyline High School’s Future Business Leaders of America program as a freshman four years ago and now serves as the club’s president.
He and members of the Skyline FBLA program spent three days of intense competition at the state FBLA conference. Of the 75 teams that competed for Skyline, 30 placed high enough to compete in California at the national FBLA competition.
“It was definitely exhausting for a lot of people, but it paid off in the end,” Anhkhoa said. “This is the most amount of teams Skyline has ever had that qualified for the national event and placed so highly.”
Skyline received several first-place awards during the state event. Jonathan Chen won for Agribusiness; Anhkhoa, Kyle Linnhan and Daniel Luo took the top spot in Banking amd Financial Systems; Jonah Fearnley and Ivy Zhao topped the Data Analysis category; Kaitlyn Cao, Sophia Cheng and Zibo Wang earned first for
Hospitality and Event Management; Melanie Wang won Introduction to Business Communication; Sreeram Patcha took first for Introduction to Financial Math; Daniel won Introduction to Parliamentary Procedure; Mindy Phan topped the Public Speaking category; Monika Cinbis took first for Supply Chain Management and Anhkhoa won Who’s Who in FBLA.
Anhkhoa (17) first joined FBLA because they offered free pizza during the meetings. He stuck around after finding like-minded people who pushed him to go outside his comfort zone and try new things.
“It got me involved and super interested in the club,” he said. “It was a third space for me because in life there’s school and home or work, but FBLA let me stay and find my community.”
Anhkoa served as the president of the state chapter this year. After he graduates this spring, he plans to attend a four-year university where he can study economic policy.
Sophia (17) serves as vice president for Skyline’s FBLA chapter and also serves as a state officer. She said the club has experienced significant growth over the last few years with previous members starting their own businesses or working with companies like Apple and Meta.
“FBLA is a community and we have a really great community,” Sophia said. “Everyone’s super supportive and it’s super fun to go to competitions together. It definitely gives you a lot of skills you wouldn’t get otherwise. It gives you a lot of confidence in communication and public speaking skills and I think that appeals a lot to students.”
During the state conference, Skyline FBLA members were elected to serve as two of eight statewide officials for the upcoming year. Jonathan Chen and Zibo Wang are both aspiring leaders who are excited to serve the thousands of FBLA students in the state.
“FBLA is an experience all high
school students have to try,” Jonathan said. “To me, FBLA has brought me leadership, networking skills and opportunities for success that have shaped me into the character I am today.”
The Skyline FBLA teams will compete at the FBLA National Leadership Conference in Anaheim, Calif., June 29-July 2. For more information, visit FLBA.org or UtahFLBA.org.
“Every year, with Skyline FBLA, we get bigger and we do better,” Anhkhoa said. “I think we’ve reached the cap and then the next year it proves me wrong and we somehow grow even bigger and do even better.” l
Skyline High School had 75 teams compete at the FBLA State Conference in March. Thirty of those teams placed high enough to attend the national competition in California this summer. (Photo courtesy of SHS)
Students of all abilities play together on Skyline’s unified basketball team
Utah’s unified basketball program has grown to more than 200 teams who compete for a state title.
By Julie Slama j.slama@mycityjournals.com
Skyline High senior Eli Cottam likes to shoot threes. He’s not afraid to launch it even over the opposing team’s defense. “If I do, it helps us win the game,” he said. “I learned to play when I was eight. My dad taught me. He’s here cheering for me and watching me play and do my moves.” As a member of the school’s unified basketball team, he plays alongside students with and without intellectual disabilities. “I like playing with our team because they are nice and we share the ball. They encourage me.” Cottam and his team recently participated in a multi-team tournament at Murray High, one of several held throughout the Salt Lake Valley, providing more opportunities for teams to compete. Supported by Special Olympics Utah and the Utah High School Activities Association, the program has experienced impressive growth and now features over 200 co-ed unified basketball teams in high schools across Utah. The state unified championship is set to take place in late March. l
Highland’s unified basketball team brings the kindness
Utah’s unified basketball program has grown to more than 200 teams who compete for a state title
By Julie Slama j.slama@mycityjournals.com
Highland High junior Mostafa Saedi may pass the ball when he’s open and encourage a teammate to shoot. As a member of the school’s unified basketball team, he plays alongside students with and without intellectual disabilities. “I like to help special education students learn skills, like how to shoot and dribble,” he said. “It’s about kindness and giving them opportunity.” Saedi and his team recently participated in a multi-team tournament at Murray High, one of several held throughout the Salt Lake Valley, providing more opportunities for teams to compete. Supported by Special Olympics Utah and the Utah High School Activities Association, the program has experienced impressive growth and now features over 200 co-ed unified basketball teams in high schools across Utah. The state unified championship is set to take place in late March. l
Highland brings up the ball against Jordan High at a unified basketball tournament held at Murray High. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
Skyline High senior Eli Cottam swished his three-pointer despite Tooele’s defense in a unified basketball tournament played at Murray High. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
Honoring community champions in Millcreek
Remarkable individuals were recognized for making a lasting impact in the community.
By Peri Kinder peri.k@thecityjournals.com
Behind every successful community is an army of individuals working to bring positive change. These quiet heroes go about their day building connections, offering a helping hand and making gestures that leave a ripple of kindness in their wake.
During the Millcreek City Council’s meeting on Feb. 24, a few of these leaders and advocates were recognized with the 2025 Community Champions Award. Mayor Jeff Silvestrini and each city council member selected honorees who have made a significant impact in Millcreek.
Silvia Catten, District 1 councilmember, honored Kathy Clark, former Skyline High principal and current board member on the Utah International Charter School Board of Trustees.
“As a long-time Millcreek resident, former teacher and esteemed principal, Kathy has shaped the lives of countless students in our city and beyond,” Catten said. “Kathy’s passion for education has propelled her into new volunteer roles. Her leadership has been invaluable to those she serves.”
Rabbi Samuel Spector has led the community at Congregation Kol Ami since 2018. He was selected by District 2 Councilmember Thom DeSirant as a 2025 Community Champion. DeSirant said as a leader of the state’s largest Jewish congregation, Spector shows up for the people in his care.
“[It’s] a community that builds on inclusivity, learning and faith but his influence extends even beyond the synagogue,” DeSirant said. “He’s an advocate, a bridge builder between different faiths and communities, and someone who really believes in lifting other people up…His leadership is not just about guiding the congregation, but rather fostering understanding, creating a sense of belonging and community, and working towards positive change.”
Cheri Jackson, District 3 Councilmember, honored a couple who have made Millcreek their home for more than 55 years. Garth and Kay Lynn Wakefield both had the privilege of singing in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and performing in several community theater shows.
The couple continues to share their love for music by performing each Thursday at the Millcreek Senior Center. They have three children, 12 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
“They have lived an extraordinary life together, consistently surrounded by music and love,” Jackson said. “Whether in
Millcreek or anywhere they have lived and served around the world, they are a shining example of goodness and neighborliness, and I’m grateful for their positive influence in our community.”
Dan Lofgren, founder and CEO of Cowboy Partners was selected as a community champion by Bev Uipi, District 4 Councilmember. Lofgren’s community involvement includes serving with the Utah Refugee Connection, Granite District School Board and Envision Utah.
“He’s a pioneer and innovator in the development of mixed-use communities and mission-driven affordable housing,” Uipi said. “Dan is a pillar of the community and has committed his life to the service of others.”
Silvestrini announced the final community champion, presented posthumously to Jed Jensen, a beloved Zamboni driver and car enthusiast. Jensen passed away in December, following complications from a traffic accident. His wife Sheri Jensen and daughter Shelby Mitchell accepted the award on his behalf.
“He was always such a warm and friendly guy. He was very gregarious and had tons of friends,” Silvestrini said. “He added so much to the character of our city. He gave so much to make our city the great place that it is. I’m pleased to honor him.”
For a video recording of the award presentation, visit Millcreekut.gov. l
(Clockwise from top left) Garth and Kay Lynn Wakefield, Rabbi Samuel Spector, Jed Jensen, Dan Lofgren and Kathy Clark were named Millcreek’s 2025 Community Champions. (Photos courtesy of Millcreek and the Jensen family)
Skyline lacrosse teams start the new season
Both the Skyline boys’ and girls’ lacrosse teams picked up early season wins against non-league foes.
By Tom Haraldsen t.haraldsen@mycityjournals.com
Lacrosseseason has begun for the Skyline Eagles. The boys team kicked off 2025 with a 12-6 victory over Riverton on March 7.
Senior Julian Hodges led Skyline with four goals, with senior Andrew Mathis and sophomores Luke Derum and Duncan Monahan each adding two scores. Senior goalkeeper Noah Panoke had 14 saves for Skyline.
The Eagles return several other players from last year’s team which finished 7-10 overall. In addition to Panoke, seniors Aj Moffat, Dillion Thompson, San Broussart and Julian Hodgeson are back, along with Monahan who saw lots of action last year. Firstyear coach Kolton Anderson is optimistic about the season, which continued with preseason matches against Juan Diego Catholic, Viewmont, Wasatch and Box Elder before Region 6 play begins on March 26 at East. Skyline finished sixth in Region 6 last year with a league record of 3-5.
The Lady Eagles also have a new first-year coach in Zoe Totland. Skyline started the year with a 13-9 win over Bingham on March 3. Senior Sammy McMaster and sophomore Ella Engelen both scored six goals for the Eagles. Engelsen was voted Player of the Game.
On March 5, Skyline moved to 2-0 with a 14-13 win at Herriman. McMaster had five goals, Engelen three and both senior Kayler Gearson and sophomore Jane Rich scored twice.
Last year, the Eagles were 10-7 overall, 2-6 in region play. Skyline is set to play Uintah, Pleasant Grove, Riverton and Wasatch prior to league play that started March 26 at East. l
Sammy McMaster returns for the Skyline girls lacrosse team. (File photo City Journals)
EDUCATION SECTION
SheTech Day sparks creativity and curiosity into next-gen tech leaders
By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com
Ninth-grader Julia Ashby, of Riverview Junior High in Murray, wanted to explore AI and ChatGPT while Hadley Miller, a Draper Park Middle School student, was looking into college chemical engineering programs. Callyn Mortensen, a ninth grader at Sunset Ridge Middle School in West Jordan, was discovering more about coding and freshman Chelsea Baker, from Brighton High in Cottonwood Heights, was investigating various technology-related careers at the event.
These students were among the 3,000 girls from ninth to 12th grade who attended SheTech Explorer Day, an event designed to introduce girls to the world of technology in a fun, engaging atmosphere. During the event, they had the opportunity to meet STEM role models and discover a wide array of opportunities in the field.
Throughout the morning, girls from high schools across the state participated in more than 40 workshops focused on topics such as programming, engineering, aerospace, robotics, product invention, entrepreneurship, biomedicine, digital marketing, web design and gaming.
In addition, they had the chance to experience the interactive TechZone, where local STEM companies and educational institutions provided opportunities to learn about internships, programs and industry experiences.
The day wrapped up with a collaborative small group exercise in which the girls worked together to brainstorm, innovate and pitch solutions in a TechChallenge, all while being guided by industry mentors.
Students learned about the event through fliers posted at schools, emails from counselors or by hearing from teachers in various classes ranging from interior design to computer science to manufacturing technology.
Hailey Derr, a ninth grader at Cottonwood High in Murray, wanted to explore
biomedical engineering careers, so she visited her career center and discovered the event was a good opportunity. She’s already planning to take medical terminology and medical math next year.
Reagan Fairchild, a ninth grader from Sunset Ridge, was learning “how they keep patients safe during surgery and other cool things in the medical field” as she explored the TechZone.
Sydney Birk from Draper Park Middle School had just finished astronaut training.
“I was clicking a button to spawn an object and grab it or flick it to a target; if I hit the target, it gave a score,” she said. “It was fun. I want to be an astronaut and this is better than online simulations.”
Rylee Blackwell from Hidden Valley Middle School in Bluffdale was trying out Alexa glasses.
“I like how you can hear music and nobody else can,” she said. “I was in my own little world while there’s so many people here. It was relaxing.”
Retired electrical engineer Shari Mann demonstrated how to use the Alexa glasses with built-in microphones, offering a hands-free experience.
“I'm really passionate about inspiring girls to go into engineering,” she said. “I like how excited the girls are to try on the Alexa glasses and not just learn how they work, but understand it.”
Mann’s father encouraged her to pursue engineering back when there were “just a handful of females studying engineering” at the University of Texas in the late 1980s. She has since programmed microchips and holds patents in the field.
“I always say, engineers invent the world, and we need all different kinds of people represented in inventing this world; it’s a great career and it’s been fun,” Mann said.
Sydney Birk from Draper Park Middle School took part of virtual reality astronaut training during SheTech Explorer Day. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
During SheTech Explorer Day, ninth-graders Julia Ashby, Lexie Nelson and Aubrey Clayton of Riverview Junior High in Murray experimented with InstaSnow. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
From seed to sale: Entrada’s botany program offers hands-on learning
By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com
Every year, just around Mother’s Day, Entrada High School hosts a plant sale, offering a wide variety of plants “dirt cheap.”
Patrons can find packs of Roma, cheery, and large tomatoes, as well as sweet and hot peppers, often selling for just a few dollars. There are also herbs like basil, parsley, oregano, rosemary, and others, along with geraniums and coleus.
These plants, and others sold at the event, provide valuable hands-on training for adult students working toward their high school diploma or GED, while also earning science and elective credits. The proceeds from the sale are reinvested into the program, buying supplies for the next year.
The botany-greenhouse program has been running this way since teacher Anita Leimbach and community education facilitator Cheri Prince took it over in 2014 after the previous instructor retired. While Prince now helps coordinate the sale, David Dau joined as the new instructor four years ago.
“These students learn how to be responsible,” Leimbach said. “One student could screw up hundreds of plants in 20 minutes if they don’t listen to directions. The sale from last year gives us the money to buy the soil and the pots for this year. So, they're all trading on last year's good students.”
In early March, the class was transplanting coleus into larger pots. Three teenage boys worked side by side.
Senior Sajjad Alsarifee, who hopes to grow a lawn in his yard, explained transplanting is important. His friend, junior Mohamed Hameed, said it helps the roots spread out.
Junior Khalid Khudair explained: “The roots are too smashed in together; when they germinate, you have to make sure they have space to live in. Being compact isn’t good.”
The boys came to Entrada for different reasons, none of which involved becoming botanists.
“I came because I wanted to get my credits finished faster and I can test out of classes,” Hameed said. “I’m getting science credit and it’s hands-on, which makes it more fun than some other classes. I like that we give back to the community when they buy the plants. It provides students more opportunities.”
Khudair, who had missed 1.5 months of class while on a vacation, was catching up on credits, while Alsarifee admitted he had skipped class his sophomore year.
“I always had something better
to do, like walk around,” he said. “I’ve made up a lot of credits here.”
Leimbach said her students come from a variety of backgrounds, including those who speak English as a second language, as well as students who are homeless or autistic.
“This is a rewarding class for many of our students. We’ve had students who excel in this who don't academically because it's hands-on; that's the difference. Everybody can do it, and some of these are smart kids. It just does my heart good to see these kids who have struggled to do so well. It’s the beauty of this program. They see progress and get to see projects completed. They come and see the plants remembering they may have transplanted them or made cuttings and now they’re in bloom,” she said, adding, “Some of them never even knew where a tomato came from.”
Typically, about 15 students attend the class twice a week for two hours. The course lasts about a month and counts toward the 24 credits Entrada students need for graduation. Currently, most of the 800 Entrada students are between the ages of 17 and 20.
“We have at least one botany class every session. Dave often will do it in the summer. Then come January, we offer two classes till May, which is more than we’ve had in the past. They always fill up,” she said.
Junior Jade Shafer-Pedersen has taken the class five times.
“I love this class,” she said. “It just gives me an outlet for creativity and it’s a personal connection between me and the plants. It just gives me a sense of peace in my school day, it's a nice safe space. I’m proud of these little guys for growing. I've learned so much from this class. I've only really grown house plants before and now, I’ll probably play with plants for the rest of my life. Anita and Dave are good teachers. They let us do our thing and then help us when we need it.”
When Shafer-Pedersen came to Entrada, she had “zero credits.”
“I never went to high school before. When the whole COVID virus happened, everyone went home from school, and I never went back. I never stepped foot in high school,” she said. “I never thought I would come back until I tried Entrada. I love it here. It’s so different.”
After finishing transplanting, Shafer-Pedersen and the others asked if they should remove the growth from the geraniums, deposit old soil and move the bags of new soil into the greenhouse.
“That's another thing I like,” Leimbach said. “They say, ‘Should I do this? They know what needs to be done and take that initiative. They care about the plants and the program.”
The program has blossomed over the years. It’s no longer just rows of plants in the greenhouse. In a portable classroom under lights, 4,000 plants are growing. By the time the sale comes around, there will be 2,400 tomatoes,
3,400 squash and cucumbers, and 2,000 peppers, in addition to geraniums, coleus, and house plants.
“When Dave was hired, he brought it to another level. He built the grow stations, and they germinate better there than the greenhouse because we could keep them a steady temperature. Then we bring them all over to the greenhouse. He’s also done hydroponics in the winter in the classroom, so the students are learning about that. Every year we learn to make it easier, so students can have a lot of success, and we get better results. He’s taken it to a more scientific level where I come from a gardener perspective,” she said.
Dau not only helps with the 10,000plus plants at Entrada, he has set up a 3,000-plant sale at nearby Jordan Valley, a school for students that have severe multiple disabilities including autism, cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, seizure disorders, communication impairments, genetic disorders and syndromes, deaf–blindness and, for students who are extremely medically fragile.
He also runs a business from home, selling about 1,500 plants.
“Once we set the expectations for the class, everyone realizes the relevancy. They learn how to set up the greenhouse, how to plant with healthy soil, how to water correctly, how to work as a team. Anita helps them understand the importance of the plants and the process; I’m the mad scientist,” said Dau,
Junior Jade Shafer-Pedersen said working in Entrada’s greenhouse gives her an outlet for creativity and connection with the plants. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
Entrada students Mohamed Hameed, Khalid Khudair and Sajjad Alsarifee water the plants after transplanting them. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
who has taken Utah State University’s master gardening class three times as “there’s always something new to learn.”
The former school principal said students get dirty in the self-sustaining program.
“They’re learning how to propagate plants, transplant them into pots, grow lettuce and kale in hydroponics using a water-based nutrient solution rather than soil, they’re learning that a controlled atmosphere and soil temperature has helped growth, so they’re learning the science behind it,” he said. “They’re understanding plants and what they need.”
He explained students gain confidence by realizing they can grow plants without killing them, that asking logical questions will get them answers, and that giving plants attention is key to their success.
“Growing plants is part art and part science. For many, this is outside their comfort zone so they’re learning to work in teams as they learn new skills and vocabulary, to take direction and work with others, to be resilient and to appreciate a job well done,” he said.
Working with some of his immigrant students has led Entrada to grow plants native to their homelands.
“Some of them are really excited they can grow plants in their apartments that are important to the foods of their culture,” Dau said.
This has also expanded the variety of produce grown. The program typically grows 36 varieties of tomatoes, six varieties of hot and sweet peppers, six annual herbs, six perennial herbs, and four types of basil.
Through the plant sale, Dau said the community doesn’t just come for “cheap plants.”
“It’s building a community for students. We aren’t a traditional high school where you rally around a sports game or a performing arts performance. We’re providing goodwill for the community and they’re providing support for our students.”
Continued from front page
Jenny Curtis, Jordan School District’s work-based learning assistant, said the opportunity is incredible for girls.
“It’s cool, just to see all of these industries here, providing support and information and bringing all of these wonderful, mostly ladies, in tech,” she said. “It’s an amazing opportunity for girls to see what's happening in the field.”
Eileen Kasteler, Brighton High’s workbased learning facilitator, has brought students to the event for years and appreciates the event’s accessibility.
“It’s astonishing that a professional event of this caliber is free to girls year after
Making Lucas smile
By Jet Burnham | j.burnham@mycityjournals.com
Antelope Canyon Elementary third-grader Lucas Ellis has been dealing with leukemia since 2023, with treatments, hospitalizations and medications, but one of the hardest things about the experience for the happy and social kid has been missing school.
“He has always been a very social kid— he thrives in having those interactions with his friends,” his mom, Marcela Ellis said. “When he first was diagnosed, we did a lot of online classes, which were helpful, but we could see that his emotional well-being wasn't being taken care of as well as we wanted it to be.”
When Lucas’ illness relapsed in January, his teacher Megan Dotson stepped into action to create ways for Lucas to remain connected to her, his classmates and the classroom.
She made T-shirts with Lucas’ signature smile and blue glasses which all her students and those in Lucas’ two siblings’ classes, as well as staff members and parents wear each Friday (which Dotson calls Lucas Friday.)
Through a foundation called Monkey in My Chair, Dotson arranged for a lovable stuffed monkey to sit in Lucas’ seat when he is not able to come to class. Students tote the monkey with them to the library, lunch and PE class, and send Lucas pictures of his adventures to help him feel included.
“We love getting the pictures of George the Monkey playing in the parachutes, or going to recess or at lunch—he loves it,” Ellis said. “What he considers the fun, the ‘not school stuff,’ he doesn't get to be part of that, so getting the pictures of the monkey and the letters describing all those things— he loves it.”
Dotson said the monkey sitting in his chair has helped students not forget about Lucas.
“Putting him in our room, it honestly feels whole again,” she said.
Students also stay in communication with Lucas by sending notes to him through a class mailbox. Dotson said she always emphasizes kindness and inclusion in her class-
year,” she said. “I like how the student ambassadors greet new girls, making it personal and welcoming.”
Gretel Diederich, a junior at Alta High in Sandy, completed her first year on the SheTech student board.
“I like the program and wanted to keep it going, so I thought the best way was to be an ambassador and support it,” she said. “I like exploring the booths and love talking to all the people to learn about all the programs I don’t know about. I also really love the girls. I made friends two years ago, and I still talk to them when I see them here. It says a lot about the SheTech community and the people.”
room but the last few months have given her students opportunities to put those values into practice.
“I've watched the empathy in each of these little kids grow by a million and a half,” Dotson said. “They just talk about it all the time, how excited they are for Lucas Friday, or how they're going to grab an extra this or whatever at home to put in his mailbox, or things like that. And just watching them care for someone else has been really, really cool, and then come up with ideas of how we're going to, or what we're going to say, or what they'd like to do to show him love. I encourage that a lot in this room, but I have watched it grow tremendously in the last little bit.”
Dotson comes to Lucas’ home to work with him regularly. She also visits him when he is in the hospital. Lucas said all the support from his teacher and classmates feels “awesome.”
Ellis said the support has been incredible.
“It makes him feel like people are there,
She was joined by her sister, freshman Leslie, who appreciated the event's schedule of workshops, and Alta High junior Audrey Semler, who was enjoying engaging with industry experts and participants.
“I love the energy here; everyone is having fun and it’s easy to talk to everyone,” she said. “I learned about different organizations for internships and college programs and scholarships.”
even if he can't see them and if he can't hang out with them, people are there for him,” she said. “It's made a huge impact on his well-being emotionally. We noticed that when he is in a good mood or in a good emotional state, he recovers from the chemo or the procedures a lot quicker than when he's sad or feeling a little bit depressed.”
She said it was such a relief when Dotson took the initiative to arrange the zoom calls and the plan for keeping Lucas up with his classwork.
“That was a huge burden that she lifted,” she said. “As a family, we were worrying about all these other things that we had to do—his medication, finding a donor—all of it—and to not have to worry about that was just incredible.”
At the end of February, Lucas received a school-wide superhero’s farewell as he left school to prepare for a bone marrow transplant, which will keep him out of school for at least a year.
Kaitlin White, a freshman from Brighton, was eager to explore the booths at the TechZone, where girls could try several interactive activities as well as sample a new Coca-Cola flavor to checking out a Cybertruck. They could even test angular momentum.
“I find STEM stuff interesting, and I want to learn what I can do in the future in a tech career,” she said. “I also want to be a sci fi author so this definitely helps with that.”
Near the area where robotic cars were being driven, Riverview Junior High ninthgrade students Lexie Nelson and Aubrey Clayton were experimenting with InstaSnow.
“There's so many more careers than I thought there would be here; it’s awesome,” Clayton said. Nelson added: “It’s all fun; I love the women empowerment.”
Megan Dotson leads her student Lucas Ellis through a hero’s farewell given by his classmates as he leaves school to prepare for a bone marrow transplant. (Kraig Williams/JSD)
Granite School District 2025 Boundary Study
Scan to learn more about Population Analysis Studies:
Learn more at: www.graniteschools.org/planning/
During the February 5, 2025 Granite School District Board of Education meeting, the board approved an elementary boundary and closure study for “Area 5.”
Area 5 includes the following elementary schools, listed in alphabetical order: Cottonwood, Crestview, Driggs, Eastwood, Morningside, Oakridge, Oakwood, Penn, Rosecrest, and Upland Terrace. However, boundary or feeder pattern adjustments to secondary schools could occur as a result of elementary changes.
Two open house meetings about this study were held in March. Recordings are available on the Granite School District website.
Questions to Ask When Considering an Independent School
What are the school’s mission and values?
Understanding the school’s core mission and values is necessary to understanding the community your child will join. It’s best to look for one aligned with your family’s values. At Rowland Hall, we believe education has the power to give students agency and purpose while connecting them to their community.
What is the school’s curriculum?
Independent schools aren’t bound to set curriculums like public schools are. A school’s curriculum should prioritize academic excellence while incorporating global perspectives, innovation, and creativity. It should also focus on nurturing a child’s social and emotional well-being. Rowland Hall’s curriculum prioritizes student centered learning, inquiry-based approaches, and experiential education.
What is the school’s average class size?
Smaller class sizes equate to more personal attention from teachers. With more attention from a teacher, students see improvements in academic performance, self-esteem, and social skills. Rowland Hall features a student-to-teacher ratio of 9: 1 and an average class size of 15. Does the school provide nancial aid or scholarships?
Cost can vary widely per school and it’s important for families to consider the long-term value of the education schools provide. Rowland Hall o ers nancial aid and scholarships to families from all backgrounds. We believe that quality education should be available to all.
How is the school’s college placement?
Top independent schools successfully match students with premier universities, thanks to the excellence of their college counselors. However, while many families are interested in top colleges, the best schools will emphasize matching each student with the right- t institution. At Rowland Hall, 100% of graduates are admitted to college, with 67% admitted to highly selective institutions. In addition, 75% of students receive college scholarships.
Are you ready to explore Rowland Hall?
We look forward to connecting with you. Please contact us at admission@rowlandhall.org
Population analysis studies are conducted every year in areas where student population numbers have changed significantly. The study process is almost a full calendar year with many opportunities for community input before a decision is made to adjust school boundaries or close schools.
No final decisions about any boundary changes or school closures in this area will be made until December 2025.
Looking for a fresh start?
DISCOVER THE DIFFERENCE
Each child deserves to be known and nurtured. At Rowland Hall, students are valued for who they are as individuals. Through meaningful relationships with passionate teachers, students feel heard, valued, and empowered to make a difference in the world.
Local helps bridge the artistic gap with Four Lemons—Art within Reach
New art market hopes to make original art accessible to everyone.
By Collette Hayes c.hayes@mycityjournals.com
Forover one hundred years, Pike Place Market has been known by many as the “Soul of Seattle” because of its vibrant art scene. Inspired by the Seattle-based market, in 1994, talented art curator Nanette Amis brought a little piece of the famous marketplace to Salt Lake City.
Amis’ Utah Art Market has popped up in various locations throughout Utah for over 30 years, including in her home and in her backyard. Finally, in October 2024, Amis realized the dream of offering her large, devoted clientele a full-time brick-and-mortar shop. The Four Lemons – Art within Reach is now home to the artwork of over one hundred thirty local and international artists and crafters.
Amis told the Journal she has no plans to throw fish over the counter as they used to do at the well-known seaside market in Seattle, but she definitely plans to provide art that resonates deeply with each customer and at prices accessible to most.
“I’m trying to reach out to the people that love original art and don’t think they can afford it,” Amis said. “A single mom came into the store a few weeks ago and fell in love with an original painting. Financially, it was simply out of her reach. The mission of Four Lemons is to make art accessible to everyone. I told her if you can pay toward it each month, I’ll hang on to the piece for you. I want to do everything I can to help people have an original piece of art in their home. It brings me so much happiness.”
The expansive 7,000-square-foot space showcases pottery, jewelry, woodworking, original paintings and prints, homemade jelly, woodcuts, fiber and wool arts, inviting all to explore pieces starting around $6 and with selections ascending to over $1,000.
Several well-known artists display their pieces at Four Lemons. Clint Whiting’s impressionistic realism art has received numerous awards and also “best of show” at events in New York City, New Jersey, Naples, Milan and Rome.
Oil and acrylic painter Tricia Cook’s simple, clean lines and balanced colors, shapes, and textures bring out the beauty in her simplistic artistic scenes and are easily incorporated into a home setting.
Sarah Winegar’s nod to the Byzantine period is evident in many of her inspirational pieces. Her relief woodcut prints of the Last Supper bring human figures together, flowing in unity, each with his own story to tell. The unseen feelings of the individuals are portrayed in the fine, detailed cuts in the wood.
Primarily, a botanical and landscape artist, Rachel Nelson has a large following of devoted collectors. She strives for an overall painting composition that combines the detailed light and color techniques of realism and the loose brush strokes of impressionism.
Amis began collecting African art about 10 years ago. She wanted to promote emerging artists from developing countries as a humanitarian effort. She ordered handmade baskets from a family in Ghana. Also, she decided to contact Muramuzi John Bosco, a Ugandan contemporary artist based in Kampala in eastern Africa. Amis ordered 15 pieces of his art for the store. He shipped them from Africa. Amis framed and sold half of them.
In January, Amis and her husband visited friends who were living in Nairobi, her first experience visiting Africa.
“When I was in Nairobi, we went out for dinner one night at the restaurant where Muramuzi displays his art,” Amis said. “I had no idea Muramuzi would be there. He only comes to Nairobi twice a year, and I only visit Nairobi once in a lifetime. What an unbelievable coincidence!”
Muramuzi shared in a conversation at dinner that the proceeds from the art sales at Four Lemons has been used to build a Christian school for the children in his community. Now, every piece of his art that is sold, helps a student for one year.
How to become a Four Lemon’s art vendor
Amis shares on her website that if you’d like to join the Four Lemons family, you are encouraged to apply for the Utah Art Market first. If your products are well-received by Utah Art Market customers, an invitation will be extended to showcase your work at Four Lemons.
Finding an art style to become a collector
During a recent appearance on Studio 5 KSL, Amis encouraged viewers to explore, discover, and find their own art style as a collector. She presented some simple ways to begin.
1. 1. Discover what you like by following artists on social media, visiting galleries and paying attention to what draws you in to a piece of art.
2. 2. Identify a preference of style such as traditional, impressionistic, abstract or realism.
3. 3. Find inspiration for identifying a style and beginning an art collection in things you enjoy doing and personal interests.
4. 4. Reflect on colors you are drawn to.
5. 5. You don’t have to pick just one style. It works to mix and match styles, create themed collections or gallery walls.
“We offer many different services at Four Lemons,” Amis said. “We have people
at our store who can help you hang gallery walls if you feel intimidated by creating a gallery or themed collection.”
A place for community to gather and make connections
Art is a powerful catalyst that brings people together, creating meaningful connections. It weaves the shared stories of communities, igniting reflection and encouraging dialogue. In the future, Amis envisions Four Lemons as a gathering place for small communities, including book clubs, art events, and various gatherings. The Utah Art Market will be held four times a year at the store, and art education classes will be offered monthly by Four Lemon artists.
“I love the idea of looking toward this becoming a place of community where people can gather to meet, connect and find common ground,” Amis said. “I think little groups of community could gather at Four Lemons to share interests. I am an inclusive person and I love nothing more than for people to meet artists and artists to meet collectors and artists to meet each other creating a space of community.”
The importance of collecting art
According to Amis, an original piece of art is timeless and something to be kept forever. She suggests not many material things bought in a lifetime last and are special enough to be handed down from generation to generation. Art can be hung on a wall, set out on a table to be enjoyed, or given to someone else to enjoy their entire life, which Amis feels is the true beauty of art.
“When I was newly married, I couldn’t afford to buy original art. One Christmas,
my brother David gave me a still-life painting that he had bought at Dolores Chase Gallery in downtown Salt Lake. The painting was of four lemons on a windowsill created by Rebecca Wagstaff. It was the first piece of original art I had owned. I was really taken aback by his giving me such a treasured gift. Knowing I now owned a piece of original art felt so important. Because this painting holds such sentimental value, I decided to name my store Four Lemons.”
For now, the painting of the four little lemons sitting on the windowsill can be found on the counter right next to the cash register. It extends a warm welcome to each patron who enters the store. Many years from now, when the store lights have dimmed, and the door whispers closed for the last time, the small four lemon painting will move on, finding a cherished place in the home of one of Nanette’s children to love across the generations to come with a piece of art.
Location
4850 South Highland Drive, Holladay, Utah
Hours
Tuesday - Saturday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Contact (385) 228-9434
fourlemonsart@gmail.com
To learn more about the Utah Art Market and how to become a vendor, visit www. utahartmarket.com. l
The Four Lemons – Art within Reach is now home to the artwork of over one hundred thirty local and international artists. (Photo courtesy Nanette Amis)
be. But it turned out perfect because there was someone who needed to hear it.”
Their youth and energy resonate with listeners as they entertain audiences with upbeat music and positive messages. Rooted in faith and country music, Hinge Point has seen interest in their music grow as it’s been streamed all over the world.
“We’re musicians that are spreading light through music,” Kalli said. “I think that together we do make a difference. No matter what specific religion you’re from, we’re trying to spread light.”
The sisters hope to have opportunities this year to bring their music to youth groups from any Christian religion through devotionals, concerts or firesides. Email hingepointmusic@gmail.com to book the group. Follow the group on Instagram or Facebook @hingepointmusic.
“Listening to music during those hard, long COVID days just brought us so much peace,” Kalli said. “So I think as a whole group, we would want everyone to know that if you’re having a hard day or a hard week or a hard year, just start listening to good, happy music with good messages, and it invites this good, warm feeling into your life. It can change your whole life and the whole atmosphere of your life.” l
4/2/25
4/3/25
4/10/25
The newspeak and doublethink we endure each day can be a bit overwhelming, but I’ve found a way to get through the endless cycle of breaking news: denial.
Russia is our ally. Canadians are the enemy. Tariffs will make us richer but we’re cutting staff at national parks. Measles is back. Gaza is the new Riviera. The economy is crashing and it’s tax season when I pay thousands of dollars to the government so it can purchase Tesla Cybertrucks to send to Jupiter.
The newspeak and doublethink we endure each day can be a bit overwhelming, but I’ve found a way to get through the endless cycle of breaking news: denial.
Denial is a beautiful, hazy way to spend your day. Instead of crying through a CNBC report, denial allows you to drift on a cloud of puff pastry surrounded by cherry trifle and savory scones.
This specific form of denial is “The Great British Bake Off” and it saved me during March when I was knee-deep in tissues, cough syrup and tariff wars. There’s only so much idiocy one can endure while healing from pneumonia.
Unlike American reality shows that foster cruelty and conflict, GBBO features a dozen creative bakers who just want to make
Let them eat cake
the best Victoria sponge cake or sticky toffee pudding. The contestants are kind, positive and willing to offer a helping hand.
I love British television because everyone looks real. There are no plastic surgery junkies or steroid-addicted chefs, just regular people doing something they love. When the judges, Paul Hollywood and Dame Prue Leith, make a criticism, it’s done with a British accent so it doesn’t sound so awful.
When Prue tuts and says, “This bake is a disaster,” she could easily be tucking a blanket around your shoulders and handing you a steaming cup of Earl Grey.
Instead of watching Elon Musk wield a chainsaw, I tune into GBBO which is filmed on the grounds of an English manor. Bunnies and squirrels scamper through grassy meadows like a Disney movie. There’s even a fanbase dedicated to identifying the different bird songs heard during the show.
The pastel-colored set, with its matching counters, ovens and fridges, distracts me from personnel cuts at federal agencies including
the CDC and FAA. GBBO hosts Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding wander through the competition, amusing bakers with their British humor and offering pep talks to stressed cooks.
Each episode has a specific theme. There’s bread week or pastry week or biscuit week, and each chef creates a signature bake, completes a technical challenge and makes a jaw-dropping showstopper. It’s a heartwarming alternative to the 24/7 chaos of the Trump administration.
Who knew there were so many British bakery items? But I have to admit, there are things they make I would never eat, including black pudding and chorizo buns topped with mustard custard. Nope.
Instead of worrying about the breakdown of our country’s system of checks and balances, I worry about whether my favorite
baker can create a pie crust that doesn’t have a soggy bottom. The judges hate soggy bottoms. I’ve also learned to worry about fallen focaccia, overcooked tarts and croissant dough that’s not properly laminated. Even the mistakes feel cozy.
I’m impressed at how quickly chefs can whip up a batch of pistachio macarons, ginger tarts or spanakopita (a spinach and feta pie my husband would NEVER eat) with minimal tears or tantrums. It’s a reminder things can get done without fits of temper, vengeance or manipulation.
Denial is not a permanent solution but it’s a tool when messages from Big Brother and the Ministry of Truth get to be a bit much. Just turn on the TV and float away in a delicate orange buttercream or raspberry whipped cream. It’s some sweet positivity in a decidedly bitter time.
