September 2016 | Vol. 16 Iss. 09
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Murray Journal
Alumna Hits Century Mark By Travis Barton | travis@mycityjournals.com The Murray City Journal is a monthly publication distributed directly to residents via the USPS as well as locations throughout Murray. For information about distribution please email circulation@mycityjournals.com or call our offices. Rack locations are also available on our website. For subscriptions please contact: circulation@mycityjournals.com 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.
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Pictures of Melba Shaw Mash when she was younger. –Travis Barton
M
urray High’s first graduating class was in 1917. Melba Shaw Mash was born the year before. Mash, one of Murray High’s oldest living alumni, turned 100 in 2016. As her alma mater prepares to celebrate its centennial, Mash commemorates her own. “I think Murray is the best place in the whole world,” Mash said. Mash was invited to ride as one of the grand marshals for the July 4 parade. She was unfortunately not able to participate due to an injury she suffered falling a few months prior to the event. Mash had three kids who then grew to six grandkids and eight great-grandkids. “The more you have the less you get,” Mash said with a laugh. Mash graduated from high school in 1934, before Murray High had officially taken its name. “They used to have wood floors,” Mash recalled. Mash said the school was small enough that she was familiar with everyone. “We knew everyone from ninth to 12th grade,” Mash, who played saxophone in the school band, said. In 1934 the graduating class was
Melba Shaw Mash sits on her couch recounting how she misses gardening. Mash recently turned 100 and is one of Murray High’s oldest living alumni. –Travis Barton
somewhere around 85. The 2016 class had over 500. Saying the area has grown would be an understatement. Mash, who has always lived in Murray, has witnessed the growth over multiple decades. “[The school] is still around but it’s all different, all new,” Mash said. Simple transportation was different for Mash traveling to and from school. During that time the school was located where Hillcrest Junior High is now. “We didn’t have buses so I had to walk from 6400 South with my saxophone and books to the high school,” Mash said. Mash said their family swimming pool was the ditch across from their house, built by her father who also served as Murray’s mayor for two years. They used to have a fruit orchard next to their home that provided her family’s income for some time. It came in handy during wartime years when there was a military camp in Kearns and all their fruit would be purchased by the army. Mash would even spend her honeymoon near Murray. She and her husband headed up into the hills and camped. “Times are different, it was much harder during that time,” Mash said.
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Her husband went to work for the Murray School District as groundskeeper while she went to work in the school’s lunch program. Mash said it was much easier on her back than pulling lettuce out of crates as she did while farming. “For three years it felt like I was bent over all day long,” Mash said. Mash said she worked hard for so many years. She would work out in the fields picking tomatoes with her husband and brother-in-law while also cooking three meals every day for the family. “I can’t cook anymore so now my kids bring me stuff to eat,” Mash said. Before her recent injury, Mash would often head down to the Heritage Center to participate in various activities like bingo. She said she would wake up every morning with the same thought, “Gosh, I’m still here. Get your butt out of bed and move.” As one of Murray High’s oldest alumni, Mash turning 100 has been difficult since she has to have somebody come help her with the house whereas before she would do everything. Mash said she loved to garden and unfortunately can’t do it anymore. “Look how your life changes, and I hate it,” Mash said with a laugh. l
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LOCAL LIFE
Page 4 | September 2016
Murray Journal
Pokémon Go Descends on Murray Park By Travis Barton | travis@mycityjournals.com
More than 1,000 Pokémon Go users invaded Murray Park on July 24 to gather and play the popular game together. –Travis Barton
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s Pokémon Go continues to sweep the globe, it officially conquered Murray Park. Pokémon Go players flooded Murray Park on July 24 pioneering the new game that has dominated conversations for weeks. What started as a Facebook invite event turned into the park’s second most popular day of the year. “It’s really cool to be able to see this,” Jaxyn Henderson, who was selling Pokémon T-shirts at the event, said. More than 1,000 people came to hang out with their friends, meet new people, and most importantly, catch Pokémon. Pokémon Go is an augmented reality game where you can catch Pokémon characters using a phone’s GPS. Characters and the “pokeballs” used to catch them are found everywhere from playgrounds and churches to parks and hospitals requiring users to physically move around to catch them. The game was released on July 6 by Niantic, Inc., swiftly becoming one of the most downloaded apps of all time. Within three weeks of its arrival, an event of 1,000 people was already taking place at Murray Park because of it. “People have been waiting for a game like this for a long time, specifically a Pokémon-themed one,” Dan Johnson, a graphic designer, said. Johnson, his brother Patrick, and Meghan Bradham were at the event selling decals after having so much success at a similar event at Sugar House Park. Dan said it’s cool being a part of something so big. “Everybody’s been playing this in their basement for the last 25 to 30 years not telling anyone they play Pokémon, now everybody is,” Dan said. With the extravaganza in Murray Park happening the same
Ben Segee and Amy Wyman catch Pokémon with their phones as they play the ultra-popular augmented reality game, Pokémon Go. –Travis Barton
To commemorate the Pokémon Go event at Murray Park, participants dressed up as characters from the popular show and game. –Travis Barton
weekend as the famous Comic Convention in San Diego, Patrick said it was appropriate having a large fandom congregate to the park. A fandom, he added, that both his mother and 5-year-old son are involved in. “It’s all inclusive, there are not a lot of fandoms that bring everybody—everybody is out doing it and we’re all out here together,” said Patrick.. “It’s cool. It’s not just nerds playing, there are like, preppy kids as well,” Greg Leskins said at the event sporting his Pikachu shirt. The game has brought a social component with it not normally associated with a digital game. Bradham, a preschool teacher, said the three of them aren’t very social people but playing the game has changed that. “It’s crazy how many people you meet, especially for us because we’re not like super social people…and suddenly you’re talking [to people and] making friends,” Bradham said. Samantha Lemon, who was selling T-shirts with Henderson, said it’s interesting psychologically how it brings people together. “It brings people outside…I talk to random people because we’re both playing it. It’s a cool sense of community that you have going on,” Lemon said. Amy Wyman and Ben Segee moved to Murray two years ago from Maine and said the game has helped them meet new people and get to know their area better. “We didn’t even know there was a park here and we live like two blocks away,” Wyman said. “Not only is there a park here, but it’s a nice park.” Segee said the game naturally creates a connection between you and complete strangers by being in the same place playing the same game.
“It’s a game that’s encouraging you to go out, exercise, explore the world and be a bit social in a relatively safe way,” Segee said. The physical aspect has had an effect on users as well. “It’s five minutes or you realize you’ve been wandering around for three hours, you’ve put 10 miles behind you and I got to get a new belt now,” said Patrick, an office administrator and graphic designer. All around the table where Patrick was selling Pokémon decals were hundreds of people individually participating in a parkwide event. Attendees dressed up as characters from the Pokémon television show, climbed on top of a park monument holding up a team banner and even one police officer drove through the park playing the Pokémon theme song over the loudspeaker. Police officers, who were at the park watching over the event, said it was the biggest event they’d seen at the park besides the Independence Day celebrations. While around the world reports have filtered in bringing public concern about the game, Murray Police Officers said they had only received calls regarding suspicious vehicles parked while its occupant searched for a Pokémon or people breaking park curfews at places such as Wheeler Farm. “When the sun goes down, go inside and count your Pokémon, just to be safe,” Dan said. “Technology is a power, [we] still got to be careful with it.” With its unprecedented global popularity, can the game maintain its grip on the worldwide consciousness or fade away taking its place with the Harlem Shake and Flappy Bird as temporary phenomena? l
This is Silver
Silver is one of many cats and kittens the Murray City Animal Shelter has available for adoption. Adoption prices range from $30 to $65 and that includes their spay or neuter, up to date vaccinations and a microchip. If you’ve been looking for the perfect cat to add to your family, visit the Murray City Animal Shelter during business hours.
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M urrayJournal.com
September 2016 | Page 5
Murray Hospital Heart Challenge Encourages Life Changes By Travis Barton | travis@mycityjournals.com
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or 100 days, eight families worked at making their lifestyles heart friendly. And for the medical staff at Intermountain Heart Institute, they hope these families continue doing so for as long as their hearts continue beating. The Utah families recently competed in the 2016 My Heart Challenge: Family Edition. The challenge sees the families participate in a 100-day program strengthening their hearts by improving their lifestyles with the winning family earning a year’s pass to Boondocks Food & Fun. “It’s definitely been a lifestyle change for us,” Taylor Pitcher, 33, said of the challenge. Taylor, along with his wife Shasta, 30, and four kids Kylee, 9, Avery, 8, Makelle, 5, and Corbin, 2, won the grand prize at an awards luncheon on Aug. 5. Started in 2012 by the Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute, the My Heart Challenge has seen firefighters, moms and educators participate in the competition. Dr. Kirk Knowlton, the institute’s director of cardiovascular research, said he hopes this year’s edition will be the most influential. “The habits we learn in the home, taught by the mother and father, in many ways are what’s going to carry forward in their lives,” Knowlton said. Gil Rodriguez, Murray City Fire Chief,
Eight families commemorate the end of the 100-day My Heart Challenge at an awards luncheon at Intermountain Medical Center in Murray. –Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute
participated in the event two years ago. He said this is perfect for families. “That’s the greatest thing in the world because you’ve already got your built-in support system,” Rodriguez said. Pitcher said doing it with the family was the best part. “Hearing my daughters talk about what they’re going to eat and that they need more fruits and vegetables on [their] plate and seeing that change with your kids is awesome,” Pitcher said. The families went through health assessments
at the beginning and end of the 100 days to measure improvement. Points were accumulated through a combination of health outcomes such as exercising, lowering cholesterol levels, eating fruits and vegetables and raising awareness about heart health through a community event. One family, for example, put on a Zumba class. Pitcher, who battles high blood pressure, said for his family, cutting down on screen time and portion sizes proved most effective. Around 40 to 50 families applied for participation. Pitcher’s son, Corbin, has a
congenital heart condition inspiring the family to apply. “Learning how to live a healthy lifestyle was important…so as he gets older he can learn healthy ways to keep his heart healthy,” Pitcher said. The eight families chosen also received coaching and counseling from exercise specialists, dietitians and heart experts throughout the challenge. Altogether, the parents of the eight families lost 189 pounds, decreased cholesterol by 13.4 percent and slimmed their waist circumference 4.7 percent. The families, as a whole, exercised 26,937 minutes and had 2,310 servings of fruits and vegetables. “No matter the level of success that you have to this point, you now have the tools that you need both to succeed as a family in the long run and ultimately that’s the most important thing,” Knowlton told the families at the awards luncheon. Though his family will enjoy their time at Boondocks, Pitcher said there were bigger principles to take away from the experience. “It’s a good feeling to win, but honestly the bigger thing to take away is the lifestyle changes we’ve been able to make,” Pitcher said. l
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LOCAL LIFE
Page 6 | September 2016
Murray Journal
Thirty by 30
“Ghostblasters: We Ain’t Afraid of No Jokes!”
By Alisha Soeken | alisha.s@mycityjournals.com
April Norton proudly displays her many metals. –Patricia Donohue
D
esert Star Playhouse, the theater that’s built a reputation for producing laugh out loud, family-friendly musical comedies, continues its 2016 season with a comedic take on the supernatural, “Ghostblasters: We Ain’t Afraid of No Jokes!” The show opens Thursday, August 25th. Dr. Stanley Bonkers is busy putting together a new exhibit of priceless artifacts at the city museum, but his colleague, Dr. Polly P. Pratt is busy trying to catch his eye! When Dr. Bonkers gets possessed by the evil sorcerer Drool, there’s only one group she can call on for help, Ghostblasters! Supervised by their inventive leader, code name A-1, the Ghostblasters have added the clairvoyant I-15 to their ranks; but will she be accepted by her fellows? On the other side of town, Ghostblaster 401K is sent to investigate strange disturbances in journalist Fanny Berrett’s apartment (aside from all his failed
attempts at getting her to go out with him!) And with the increase of supernatural activity, can the Ghostblasters save the day without divine intervention? Find out in our hilarious new show! Directed by Scott Holman, Ghostblasters runs from August 25 to November 5, 2016. The evening also includes another of Desert Star’s signature musical olios following the show. The Monster Rock ‘n Roll-io will feature some new and classic rock music favorites with a dash of Halloween fun, and always hilarious Desert Star twist! Desert Star audiences can enjoy gourmet pizza, fresh wraps, burgers, scrumptious desserts, and other finger foods as well as a full selection of soft drinks and smoothies while they watch the show. Food is available from an á la carte menu and is served right at your table.
CALENDAR: “Ghostblasters: We Ain’t Afraid of No Jokes!” Plays August 25 - November 5, 2016 Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at 7pm Saturday at 2:30pm, 6pm and 8:30pm And some Saturday lunch matinées at 11:30am, and Friday late shows at 9:30pm
Tickets: Adults: $22.95, Children: $12.95 (Children 11 and under) 4861 S. State Street, Murray, UT 84107
801.266.2600
Call for reservations For additional information, visit our website at www.DesertStarPlayhouse.com
I
ndiana Jones looked for the cup which promised it and Doctor Who was healed by an elixir that gave it. Mankind and moviegoers have long searched in vain for it—the fountain of youth. But when April Norton faced turning 30, instead of grasping for myths and elixirs, she got to work. “Turning 30 was scary to me because I felt like I hadn’t accomplished enough,” Norton said. Norton turned that fear into determination and a good plan, making a list of 30 goals to achieve by her 30th birthday. “I decided that I could change the way I felt if I set some goals to do things I wanted to accomplish. Then maybe turning 30 wouldn’t be so bad,” Norton said. And accomplish she did. Norton’s goals ranged from running 30 races, going to a ballet, talking to a stranger, learning to paint, surf, play an instrument, design a quilt and say no. “I came up with some big goals like losing weight and running a half marathon. But I also chose goals that were just fun, random ones I wanted to try. My family really loved my goal of cooking new recipes,” Norton said. There is something transforming about taking control. Putting the force of life’s direction in your hands. Norton experienced that thrill. “My favorite goal was completing the Pixie Dust Challenge in Disneyland. It was difficult to run three races but I completed over 50 miles in three days plus I improved my time by a half an hour. I felt so amazing when I crossed that final finish line. I kept thinking, ‘Wow I did this,’” Norton said. There would be no apprehension in aging if it washed away in a fountain of youth. But without that option Norton learned, challenged and ran her fear into the shadows. Despite that triumph, it wasn’t always easy. “In each goal I found things that were challenging. Goals take a lot of time and dedication and I learned to be flexible because
sometimes they don’t always turn out how you thought they would,” Norton said. Yet as a wife, daughter and mother Norton’s struggles inspired. “My wife inspires me everyday to accomplish my own personal goals with her dedication to what she wants to achieve,” Tony Norton said. “It has been amazing watching April accomplish her goals. She has inspired me to do some of them along side of her,” Patricia Donohue said of her daughter. Though Norton’s apprehension of aging isn’t unique, her mechanism of coping is. And unlike the fountain-of-youth trends of surgery or injections, her benefits proved authentic. “Achieving my goals felt great. I found that each thing I checked off my list added more confidence in myself. I was more focused on achieving my goals then turning 30,” Norton said. And that was the power of Norton’s plan—work was her elixir. “Doing this project was fun. Turning 30 wasn’t as bad as I thought. But let’s see how I feel about 40,” Norton said. l
Patricia Donohue, Julie Houtz, April and Tessa Norton show a handmade quilt. – Jolene Houtz
LOCAL LIFE
M urrayJournal.com
September 2016 | Page 7
Stop in for Stories By Alisha Soeken | alisha.s@mycityjournals.com
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or over 105 years the Murray Library has opened its doors. Creating space for learning and community. It also shelves thousands of what Stephen King called “portable magic.” “What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid squares of paper unfolds world after world after world, worlds that sing to you comfort and quiet or excite you. Books help us understand who we are and how we are to behave. They show us what community and friendship mean,” Anne Lamott, an American novelist, said of books. Murray City understood the importance of Lamott’s statement and in 1911, with donations from Andrew Carnegie, became one of the few municipalities in Utah to have their own library. Teresa Mcleod has been a part of that great history. For that past seven years she reads books to children in a program called, Stop in for Stories. This free program is held at the Murray City library and includes reading books, singing songs, doing action rhymes and crafts with children ages two to seven. They come with excitement and their families enjoying 30 minutes of reading and education. “I love the kids. I love interacting with them, seeing their expressions and seeing how involved they become in a good story,” Mcleod said. Two of those children are seven-year-old Jack and 5-year-old Lilly Miller. During the summer their mother Adrianne brings them to the library every week.
Teresa Mcleod reads to eager children at the Murray Library. –Alisha Soeken
“Reading to kids is very important. It helps them recognize words and develop early literacy skills.”
TM
“I love the crafts that they do after the story,” Jack said. And Lilly agrees. “I like that when we come to story time my kids are learning and listening. They love doing the songs and games and getting to interact with the librarian,” Adrianne said. “There are many little ways to enlarge your child’s world. Love of books is the best of all.” Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis said. Mcleod not only agrees with that statement but is a part of its implementation. “Reading to kids is very important. It helps them recognize words and develop early literacy skills. Even learning how to open a book that’s not upside down or backwards is important,” Mcleod said. Lily and Jack will learn those skills and benefit like hundreds of other children from Mcleod and from Stop in for Stories. But more importantly they learn that in a world of turbulence a library helps to anchor, serve and make better its community adhering to the words of T.S Eliot. “The very existence of libraries affords the best evidence that we may yet have hope for the future of man.” So tomorrow when the Murray Library doors open yet another day in its 105-year existence, take note from a man just slightly its senior. “The only thing that you absolutely have to know is the location of the library,” Albert Einstein said. l
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GOVERNMENT
Page 8 | September 2016
Your Text isn’t Worth It!
No Change in Geographic Requirement for Planning Commissioners By Tyler Warren | tyler.w@mycityjournals.com
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Murray Journal
n August 2, the Murray City Council shot down a proposal that would alter a section of the code mandating a geographical requirement for members of the planning commission. Currently, there is a requirement for a commissioner from each of Murray’s five districts, with two atlarge positions. The proposal would have changed the language of that section of the code from a requirement to a consideration. Planning commissioners are recommended by the Mayor for approved by the City Council. It is not an elected position with a constituency. Therefore, the planning commission did not see a reason to tie their commissioners to each of the districts. Executive Director of the Redevelopment Agency Tim Tingey, who represented the planning commission in the August 2 meeting, cited a section of the code that states the intent for diversity in the Mayor’s recommendations to the council. The requirement of an additional geographical requirement was seen as redundant. “The [commissioners] have to look at the broad community, and so the geographic representation, in my opinion, does not really play into that. They’re not to look differently at the area they live in versus another area and [it’s a concern of ours that] the geographic requirement promotes that.” But the council thought there were merits to the requirement in this regard. “I feel it’s important, even though they don’t represent the constituents, they
still come from that area. You have different ideas from different areas,” said Councilman Brett Hall. Councilman Jim Brass, who was absent for the August 2 vote, spoke up in a preliminary meeting on July 19. He said that the planning commission provides a good opportunity for residents to learn how their city functions. “I don’t want to limit our citizens,” Brass said. “I’m here because I got involved in the planning commission.” The planning commission also pointed out the fact that Murray’s districts do not necessarily guarantee a balanced representation of commissioners. In a planning commission meeting on June 16, Commissioner Phil Markham said that even though the city is currently following the letter of the law, a large part of Murray still lacks adequate representation. It has been tough to find replacements when positions fall vacant. Commissioners serve [three-year] terms, but after that it can take months to find a qualified applicant. It took four months to appoint a commissioner to district two. [Another district has remained vacant for four months]. The rigidness of the code also forced one commissioner to give up her spot when she moved to another part of town. But the City Council remained unconvinced. Councilwoman Diane Turner suggested more aggressive “advertising” could help fill positions. She thought the grouping problem could be solved under
the current code as well. “That kind of falls back on the Mayor’s office to be aware of that and to make sure there aren’t clusters,” Turner said. Dave Nicponski was the sole vote in favor of the proposed change. He didn’t think the Mayor would allow representation to become unbalanced without the geographic requirement. “I just thought there was another avenue we could pursue... You have to have faith in your elected official,” Nicponski said. He also thought making the code less rigid could mean a more diverse candidate pool in more ways than geography alone. “We can look at experience,” Nicponski said. This sentiment was echoed by members of the planning commission. But Turner offered a reason for why the most qualified candidate might now necessarily be the best one. “When we have a council meeting we don’t get a lot of people there unless it has to do with zoning. I don’t think they should be specifically educated in [planning and zoning]...I think laypeople are very important in that position,” Turner said. “[Removing the geographic requirement] just kind of opens the door for picking and choosing who we should have instead of making sure we have a diverse representation. It’s a tough committee and an important committee. And it’s important that we’re getting proper representation.” l
GOVERNMENT
M urrayJournal.com
September 2016 | Page 9
Murray Police Officer Receives Employee of the Month Honors By Tyler Warren | tyler.w@mycityjournals.com
“C
ome up here Brandon. I know, you love this,” Councilman Brett Hales said. The officer reluctantly walked to the podium, smiling as he received his award. Brandon Francis became an officer of the Murray Police Department in 2012. At the July 19 meeting of the Murray City Council, he received Employee of the Month honors for exemplary service to his community. This is not the first time he has received recognition for his service. On more than one occasion, Brandon has been recognized within the department for his conduct as a Patrol Officer. “He comes to work, he does a great job, he’s very professional. He represents the police department and city of Murray very well,” said Murray Police Chief Craig Burnett. Francis serves as one of Murray’s Field Training Officers, responsible for helping new hires adjust through a 12- week program. Field Training Officers teach and evaluate new officers on what they’ve learned. It’s a strenuous process for both parties; there is a lot of information to take in. During the ceremony, Burnett also announced that Francis would be working part time with the Salt Lake Metro Gang Unit. “I’m looking forward to it, to talk to some of the guys and seeing a different side of law enforcement,” Francis said of the move. It’s the next step in a career driven by a desire to help people. Before he joined the Murray Police Department, Francis was exploring options with the military. However, he
Officer Brandon Francis received employee of the month honors for July —Tyler Warren
“The events of the last few weeks have really driven home the importance of what these officers do.” quickly realized that this would not fit the needs of his new family. A career as a police officer offered a better balance. Francis is thankful to able to come home every night and spend time with his wife and two sons. He dedicates his time off to his family, going as many games and events as he can.
His family is supportive of him as well. They turned out in force on July 19 to watch him receive his award. Francis said he was drawn to law enforcement on a professional level because it breaks up the day-to-day monotony of most jobs. “It’s the type of job…where every day is different. There might be the same classification of calls, but every call is different.” It’s also quite frequently a thankless job. All it takes is a glance through recent headlines to see that the bond between communities and law enforcement is generally strained. “The events of the last few weeks have really driven home the importance of what these officers do, the things that they do, and the honorable people they are just going out and trying to make sure that the community we live in is safe,” Burnett said during his speech. “We see people in their worst moments,” Francis said. He explained the necessity of respect on both sides in interactions between law enforcement and the community. “We’re all human. It boils down to treating everybody as a human being.” Fortunately, the community of Murray has been a positive example of this. “Murray’s been good to us. They’ve gone out of their way, they’ve written letters to show us their support…With all the negativity [out there], it’s nice to see that we have a relatively nice community.” l
The Heritage Center
Save the Dates - September 2016 Spinning Instructor Training
Saturday, September 17, 2016 • 9am-6pm The Park Center 202 E. Murray Park Avenue • (801) 284-4200
Register at spinning.com The Heritage Center is 55+
Plein Air Artists in Action
Museum Day/Plein Air Exhibit
Welcome to the Heritage Center, a recreation center for adults aged 55+. The Center is located at #10 East 6150 South (West of State Street) and is open Monday-Friday from 8:00-4:30 and Thursday evenings until 10:00 pm. The friendly staff can be contacted via phone at 801-264-2635.
Enjoy the talents of artists in action capturing the natural environment along Murray’s Jordan River Parkway from 6400 South to 4800 South. The event will also include sidewalk chalk art in front of the Nature Center. Interested artists may contact Mary Ann Kirk at mkirk@murray.utah.gov.
View the artwork created from the morning art event in a “Show and Sell” event along with newly designed history exhibits celebrating Murray High’s 100th birthday. Enter the southeast doors of City Hall. Children who attend the morning or afternoon event can collect a “brag tag” by completing designed art and history activities.
www.facebook.com/murrayheritagecenter
Ducky Derby Family Fun Night!
Monday, Sept 19th • 7:30 PM-9:45 PM The Park Center • 202 E. Murray Park Avenue $5/Family (includes 2 adults & up to 4 dependent children) September 24, 9 a.m. to noon Jordan River Parkway
Children under 3 are required to wear both a swim diaper and plastic pants. Children Under 6 must have an adult (18+) in the water with them at all times. Children under 9 must be accompanied in the facility by an adult (18+).Swimsuits required, only Coast Guard approved lifejackets allowed in the pool.
September 24, 1-4 p.m. Murray City Hall • 5025 S. State
The role and mission of the Heritage Center is to enhance the quality of life for those 55+ by providing a friendly atmosphere with programs of excellence, volunteer opportunities, social interactions, and resources to remain independent, healthy, and active.
GOVERNMENT
Page 10 | September 2016
Murray Journal
Murray Gets Taste of Utah’s “Buzz Du Jour”
MISSION STATEMENTS: The Murray Chamber creates synergy among professionals. We facilitate the creation of long lasting business relationships between members that are based on trust, value and cooperation. We provide tools to connect education, service opportunities and interaction between members.
By Tyler Warren | tyler.w@mycityjournals.com
The Murray Area Chamber of Commerce thanks the following members for reinvesting in their memberships. When shopping or looking for a product or service, be sure to contact the chamber. We are YOUR Business Family!
THANK YOU FROM YOUR MURRAY CHAMBER! Professional Plumbing by Paul Peterson Motel 6 #476 – Michael Wilkinson Intermountain Healthcare Center – Jess Gomez Mike Hale Acura – Nita Tuitupou Crystal Inn Midvalley - Vanessa Hirigoyen
AAA Utah – Marcy Rogers Memorial Mortuary – David White Thorne & Assoc. – Pat Thorne Anovite –Bette Jean Young Garden of Elegance – Marsha Prestwich
New code helps Murray taste Utah’s “Buzz du Jour”—Tyler Warren
T Upcoming Events: Eggs & Issues held every Friday
Anna’s Restaurant 4700 So. 900 East | 7:30 – 8:30am Meeting open to everyone We kindly ask you order from the menu to keep the room free of charge September 2nd: open networking September 9th: The Specific Chiropractic Center, Dr. Nguyen September 16th: Jon Harper, Candidate for Utah Attorney General September 23: TBA September 30th: Utah Governor Gary Herbert (this meeting will be 90 minutes)
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The Murray Area Chamber of Commerce is a wonderful resource for me as I search for opportunities to support the local community where I both live and work. As a Business Executive for Mountain America Credit Union, I am tasked with finding ways to support the local education system. At Mountain America we strive to be seen as a partner in the community. We do this through participation in programs that support and promote current and future leaders in the areas our branches serve. The Chamber facilitates a luncheon every year that honors outstanding teachers and students who stand out as examples to their peers. Mountain America is proud to be a chamber member where we are given the opportunity to sponsor this luncheon
and show our support of such amazing individuals. We also find opportunities to support the Youth Chamber through the annual Golf Tournament where funds raised are given in scholarships to Murray’s outstanding youth. All of this is made possible through Chamber membership. Please visit our website at www.murraychamber.org to learn of more opportunities to partner with the community and make a difference. Wayne Riggs Mountain America Credit Union 2015 Board Chair- Murray Chamber Board of Directors
he popularity of mobile food trucks has become something of a trend recently, exploding across the Wasatch Front in a matter of years. On July 19, the Murray City Council passed an ordinance that will make it easier for food truck owners to bring their fare to town. The code now contains language to clearly define food trucks as “a self-contained vehicle designed to serve food.” This sets them apart from ice cream carts and other types of food vendors that are already well defined by the code. The biggest change, however, was the decision to offer annual licenses to food truck owners. “Prior to now food trucks were operating only under special event licenses or temporary business licenses. We found this was really burdensome,” said Jared Hall, director of Community and Economic Development. The necessity of obtaining a new license every time they opened for business made food trucks in Murray uncommon outside of Movies in the Park and other special events. The new license requires an inspection by the Salt Lake Valley Health Department and Fire Inspector. After that, food trucks will be able to operate on private property with the property owner’s permission. The licenses will expire in one year, and they do not allow food trucks to operate in one location for longer than a day at a time. There will not be a limit to the number of licenses available. The ordinance will not affect any laws already on the book, and special event licenses will still be required any time there are more than two trucks in a given location. There are currently no plans to allow these trucks to operate on the public right-of-way. For now, signage other than on the truck is not allowed. Tiffany Allen, who works for the Salt Lake City food truck Blake’s Gourmet, said that it wasn’t that the city was hostile to food trucks before. “Some cities are stricter than Murray, even
in special events they won’t allow food trucks.” Murray helped food truck owners as best as they could, but their efforts were hindered by an outdated code. Local businesses were some of the most vocal in pushing for the change. “Fifty percent of our business is private events,” Allen said. “Food trucks have become so popular people want them for weddings and grand openings. They’re especially popular with car dealerships [which Murray] has a lot of,” Allen said. “[Before] the only events we did in Murray were special events. Changing the law is going to open us up for more…events.” The move to revise the code puts Murray in line with other Wasatch Front cities who have either changed their codes or are in the process of doing so. “I think we were playing catch up really,” Hall said. Being late out of the gate did give Murray the benefit of looking at their neighbors when drafting the section. Hall estimated that they looked at the codes of 15 to 18 other cities during the process. The result was an ordinance that fit Murray’s size and culture. Hall said the city also considered the effect that this decision might have on brick and mortar restaurants, but ultimately decided that food trucks operate infrequently enough to not have a large impact. In fact, some of the businesses who requested the city to re-evaluate its food truck laws were restaurants themselves. It didn’t take long for the licenses to start seeing interest. Just days after passing the code amendment, food truck owners were already signing up. “Food trucks are the buzz du jour,” Hall said“For us it’s about making sure our ordinances are still regulating, while recognizing the industry has changed. The goal was to make our codes compatible with the way these trucks are operating these days.” l
GOVERNMENT
M urrayJournal.com
September 2016 | Page 11
Central Business District Gets Revenue Boost By Tyler Warren | tyler.w@mycityjournals.com
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urray’s downtown development got a potentially major funding boost on Aug. 2. In their first meeting of the month, the Murray City Council voted in favor of an ordinance that would expand the Central Business District tax collection area by 10.18 acres. “We felt it was appropriate taking the revenue so we could adequately provide for the Central Business District,” said District 1 Councilman Dave Nicponski. Increased tax revenue from investment in the new tax collection area will be subject to the same conditions of the rest of the Central Business District. The base taxable value of the expanded tax collection area (approximately $2 million) will continue to be used as normal. The redevelopment of this area is governed by state law. Under the law, increased tax revenue from investment is paid to the Redevelopment Agency to facilitate future development in the same area. This process is known as tax increment financing. The 10.18-acre expansion includes the current city hall, post office, school district and 1.73 acres of private property. The land is part of the Central Business District established in 1982, but was not included in the original tax collection area because it is primarily composed of untaxable public properties. “As we’re looking at redevelopment, we are looking at the possibility that they will go private taxable in the future,” said Tim Tingey, executive director of the Redevelopment Agency of Murray. He added that there were no plans to expand the tax collection area further. “This is the last area that we anticipate being included,”
The expanded tax collection area includes the post office and current city hall. –Tyler Warren
Tingey said. Murray hopes to break ground on a new city hall next year, likely on a property within the Central Business District. If this happens, the Redevelopment Agency will miss out on potential revenue from privately developing that property. Expanding the tax collection area to include the current city hall property will help offset the loss. What would potentially be constructed on the current city hall property hasn’t been decided yet. However, infrastructure improvements that are integral to Murray’s plan for downtown development are unlikely to be built without tax increment financing. The ordinance includes a pass through. Twenty-five percent
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of tax revenue from new development will go to tax collecting entities that draw their revenue from this land. This includes the county and City of Murray, as well as the smaller Jordan Valley Water and Mosquito Abatement. Representatives from these tax collecting entities voted unanimously on July 5 in support of bringing the ordinance to the Council for approval. The pass through does not include the school district, which already receives $502,000 from the Redevelopment Agency budget. If downtown development goes according to plan, tax revenue could increase for the taxing entities significantly. The Redevelopment Agency projects that the future taxable build out of this area could be as high as $45 million. Tingey said that it is important to note that expanding the Central Business District tax collection area will not mean an increase in property taxes for residents. “A lot of people think that this affects the taxes. Property owners will pay the same taxes,” Tingey said. “It’s simply an expansion to include additional properties, so if there’s redevelopment or growth, those funds go to this area for purposes of redevelopment.” The city made steps toward the current stage of redevelopment in November, when they entered into an agreement with J.R. Miller Enterprises, an investment company. The agreement gave J.R. Miller an exclusive, 18-month contract to work with the city to develop Murray’s downtown. As of this date, no projects have been announced. l
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EDUCATION
Page 12 | September 2016
Murray Journal
New Murray Faculty, Staff Ready for School Year as Others Retire By Julie Slama | julie@mycityjournals.com
ew Liberty Elementary Principal Jill Burnside boosts school spirit by becoming an ice cream sundae. — Julie Slama
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s Liberty Elementary students walk into their school building this fall, they will see the familiar face of Jill Burnside, who has been their interim principal. She now is their permanent principal. “I’m excited,” she said. “My goals are to increase the students’ reading and writing scores and build good relationships that welcome our community. We’ll continue our movie nights, carnival, fun run, all those activities that build our school spirit.” Burnside isn’t the only “new” face in Murray schools. As of early August, there were 41 new people with licenses hired with four more positions needing to be filled, according to Murray School District spokeswoman D Wright. Before Burnside became interim principal, she served as Liberty’s literacy specialist and in the Murray School District office. She began her teaching career in Murray at Longview Elementary as a second-grade teacher, then worked at the school as a literacy specialist. Liberty faculty were happy with the decision to make Burnside permanent. “Our environment has been more relaxed and comfortable with her, faculty are laughing and are more motivated to do more to make sure students are where they need to be at the yearend assessments,” teacher Mike Ochumura said. Teacher Toni Wilkins agrees. “She’s so good being involved with the kids with afterschool activities, being on the playground with them, helping in and out of the classrooms and even running with them in the fun run,” she said. “She’s a champion
New Liberty Elementary Principal Jill Burnside and former Liberty Elementary Principal Darren Dean say good-bye to sixthgrade teacher Judy Mahoskey at her retirement party. She taught at Liberty for 33 years. — Julie Slama
for teachers. She knows what they’re going through, has cheered us on and has gotten us more planning time and help, even with making copies.” Burnside received her bachelor’s degree in elementary education with a deaf education minor at Utah State University, then earned her master’s degree in administrative licensure from Southern Utah University. She also has her Utah Educator License with English-as-aSecond Language as well as Level I and Level II endorsements. When she took her interim post at Liberty, Burnside said the teachers and staff were united in their mission to help students. “The teachers truly care about the students at Liberty. They review their teaching instruction; they change and reflect to understand the best teaching methods for the kids,” she said. This fall, she will be short one veteran — sixth-grade teacher Judy Mahoskey — who retired after 33 years teaching. “I’ll miss the community,” Mahoskey said before her summer retirement. “I don’t have a connection with my neighborhood as much as I do this one. I’m here day-to-day in this community and that defines you. Every decision I’ve made and done impacts the community. It’s been a fabulous career for me — perfect job to raise my kids, be informed and involved in the community and help so many students learn and succeed.” At her retirement, Troy Wanlass came to see her off. “My sister had her in 1988 and I had her during my math rotation,” he said. “She always
Liberty teacher Judy Mahoskey leads the sixth-grade annual bike ride on bike from the school to a nearby park. She is shown here in 2011. Mahoskey retired this summer after 33 years of teaching students. — Julie Slama
made me feel successful. She kept teaching me algebra until I understood it.” Former student Jacob Bracker said he remembers students writing about “if I could make the world a better place” and then, Mahoskey would bind the books. “She was an amazing teacher who really inspired me,” he said. “She made everything fun. We learned bike safety. Then on one of the last days in sixth grade, all the sixth-graders would ride to a park to eat lunch together. On my last day at Liberty, she gave me an old Polaroid photo. I still have it.” Sixth-grader Madison Lundquist said that in social studies, Mahoskey said they should try to understand the culture by putting themselves in it. “During Crystal Night (Kristallnacht) when the Jews’ homes and stores were broken into, if we tried to envision being there, we could better understand why they were upset with how they were being treated and their possessions being stolen,” Madison said. “When we did reports on Greeks and Romans, she encouraged us to dress up and make replica artifacts so we could better understand the times. When we held our economics fair, we learned about supply and demand, monopolies and marketing just by trying to sell our own products. We really understood what she was teaching us by doing it, not reading it.” Principal Burnside said that the school will lose “its heart and soul” they’ve had with Mahoskey for more than 30 years. “She really is the most amazing teacher ever. Her passion is kids, she is an advocate and
champion for kids and puts their interest above everything else,” she said. Liberty former principal and current director of student services, Darren Dean, agrees. “Judy is someone who truly cares about others and is here everyday, helping everyone succeed, especially the underdog,” he said. “Her influence will continue on, showing how she has cared about each student and our community.” Mahoskey is just one of several retiring staff and faculty from Murray School District. Others include Greg Bemis, Hillcrest Junior High science teacher, 29 years; Janet Buonocore, maintenance and transportation, 17 years; Shirleen Burkinshaw, Riverview Junior High counseling secretary, 25 years; Connie Buckner, district office administrator and former principal, 16 years with Murray District; Karen Craig, Riverview Junior High math teacher, 29 years; Lorraine Fedderson, Viewmont third-grade teacher, 30 years; Larae Kajma, Hillcrest Junior High head custodian, 31 years; Carey Lippincott, Hillcrest Junior High social studies teacher, 15 years; Robert Mayo, Murray High math teacher, 15 years in Murray District; Wade Meier, Murray High physical education teacher, 38 years; Michelle Miller, Viewmont second-grade grade, 30 years; Elizabeth Naccarato, Horizon sixth-grade dual immersion teacher, four years with Murray District; Deborah Trotter, Hillcrest Junior High English/French teacher, 34 years; Anne Smith, Longview school counselor, 19 years; and Julian Warton, Hillcrest Junior High school counselor, 35 years with Murray District. l
EDUCATION
M urrayJournal.com
September 2016 | Page 13
Murray High Students, Community Gather for Annual ArtsFest By Julie Slama | julie@mycityjournals.com
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undreds of Murray High students and community members could try their hand on the pottery wheel, help with a mosaic for charity or drive a nail to win. These and other activities were enjoyed by participants at Murray High School’s 13th annual ArtsFest. Senior Shay Potter tried her hand at henna, spray painting and tie dying early in the event that had the theme of “Artopia.” “I like to try new talents and learn how to express myself in many ways,” Shay said. “I’ve loved the ArtsFest. Every year, they add something new or mix it up so there’s always a variety.” She, and her basketball teammate, junior Jurnee Murray, were painting cards. Shay was painting a flamingo. “I love flamingos — and peacocks and other birds — so I thought I’d try painting one,” Shay said. Jurnee was painting two fish — one that was a mix of orange, red and yellow and the other shades of blue, green and purple. “I like painting and doing art for fun,” Jurnee said. “I thought the local breakdancing and choirs and bands were great. There are food trucks and all sorts of art to try. Last year, we had fun on the obstacle course so that’s been my all-time favorite thing.”
Murray High School students enjoy a number of student performers on stage as part of the school’s 13th annual ArtsFest. — Julie Slama
Being exposed to a variety of types of art is part of the ArtsFest goal, said Becky Powell, ArtsFest co-coordinator and Parent-TeacherStudent Association ArtsFest Committee Chair, who teamed up with teachers Anna Lewis and Audra Kasparian to coordinate the event. “Our goal is to make the event more interactive to allow students to learn and try as much art as possible,” Powell said. “We invited more professional artists this year to teach and
demonstrate for students.” Some of the ArtsFest stations included learning the art of cartooning, getting a cosmetic makeover, learning how to hula, professional face painting, printing a fossil and learning to draw with a professional artist. More adventurous opportunities included testing physical prowess with the Marines, a 5K fun run and climbing a rock wall with the National Guard.
“We had many of our students involved this year. The Latinos-in-Action helped with a booth of custom-made stencils that included a monster under the bed and the Loch Ness monster. They sold T-shirts with the designs spray painted them on them. Other students helped with booths where they made jewelry, taught computer gaming and did foil rubbings,” she said. Many students also displayed their art — paintings, ceramics, woodworking, photography and more while others took to the stage playing instruments, singing and dancing. “This ties into our student art show with ceramics, fine arts, woodworking, photography and our student performers on stage. It’s a chance for students in the arts to showcase their work to not only their peers, but to the community. It’s a celebration of the arts,” Powell said. Students also could pick up a “Quest at the Fest” passport where they completed activities at participating booths. After having the passport stamped, students could redeem the stamps for prizes as well as share it with their teachers to earn credit for participating in the ArtsFest, Powell said. l
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SPORTS
Page 14 | September 2016
Murray Journal
Sober Soccer: How the World’s Favorite Sport Aids in Addiction Recovery By Sarah Almond | sarah@mycityjournals.com
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here are 149 drug and alcohol addiction treatment centers throughout the state of Utah*. These facilities attract thousands of people from across the country who want to fight addiction and find a new life through sobriety. One such individual came to Salt Lake City in hopes of getting sober and ended up achieving much more than that - he’s chasing his passion. Twenty-seven-year-old Brian Knight moved from California to Utah 18 months ago to seek addiction treatment. Here, he joined the Fit To Recover gym in downtown Salt Lake City, where he met a community of individuals who were all working towards one goal: to free themselves from the thralls of addiction and live a life of sobriety. “It was a community that I really wanted to get involved in,” Knight said. “One of the things that helped me stay sober was definitely the Fit To Recover gym, but also rediscovering the hobby of soccer - something that has always been a passion for me growing up.” Within weeks of moving here, Knight found himself playing at the Gardner Village Indoor Soccer arena almost every night of the week. “It kept me sober and it gave me something to look forward to everyday and something to make me feel accomplished,” Knight said. “I just wanted to share that passion with other people.” Though Salt Lake City has an expansive sober community with dozens of programs designed for those in recovery, Knight immediately recognized an opportunity to combine his drive to live a sober lifestyle with his passion for the game of soccer. “There are other sober sports like volleyball and softball,
Brian Knight (in blue) runs drills with several participants of the sober soccer program during a Wednesday afternoon practice. When Knight started the first sober soccer team, just six people came out. Today the program has four different teams with players of all skill levels. –Sarah Almond
but there was no sober soccer,” Knight said. “So I just wanted to take the initiative and see if I could get people involved.” After deciding to launch a soccer program for those working towards sobriety, Knight started networking and getting the word out about his idea. “I started talking to people at Fit To Recover; I started talking to the alumni department at my recovery center; I started announcing it at AA meetings,” Knight said. “Wherever I would go, I would promote it by word-of-mouth.” It took time, but Knight’s efforts paid off. Though just six people joined the sober soccer program in the beginning, now, nearly a year later, more than 40 recovering addicts gather every Saturday and Monday to play • Foreclosures the world’s most popular sport. “One of my biggest goals • Garnishments of starting sober soccer is to get people involved even if they • Repossession don’t do other forms of recovery like AA programs or treatment • Creditor Harassment Stephen M. Enderton centers,” Knight said. “I wanted to give them somewhere they We also handle tax resolution, could come and be around people of similar backgrounds debt negotiation, business law, who are trying to achieve the and personal injury. same thing, which is changing your life and doing something Call for a FREE initial consultation: positive in sobriety.” Though Knight recently established a men’s team, the majority of the sober soccer Sarah L. Mathews program is coed, with ages ranging from 19 years olds to Enderton & Mathews, LLC players in their late 40’s. “We have four teams 555 East 4500 South, Suite C-200 right now,” Knight said. “One Salt Lake City, UT 84107 of our teams is called Fit To Recover, and another is called Phone: 801-281-0252 FTR - pretty much short for Fit Fax: 801-263-4304 To Recover. We also have one called Socceriety and another called Attacking Sobriety.”
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The sober soccer program runs in eight-week intervals with session games played every Saturday and Monday from 5 to 10 p.m. at Gardner Village in Midvale or Let’s Play Sports in Murray. Knight also holds weekly optional practices on Wednesday nights at 6 p.m. at Stratford Park near Sugarhouse. “We end every game by getting together and talking about ways we can directly relate our recovery to playing soccer,” Knight said. “Things like communication - that’s a big one; for people who haven’t played a lot, it’s about achieving something and doing it with no judgment. “We talk about teamwork and how you can’t win a game on your own - you need your team. And that’s the same in life, you know? You can’t stay sober on your own; you need people around you. When one of us is struggling, the rest of us are there to pick them up.” For many sober soccer players, this sense of sportsmanship is one of the biggest draws and benefits of the program. “My favorite part of playing soccer here is the friendships I’ve made,” said Mario McLaughlin of Midvale, who’s been with the program for the past eight months. “It’s been a blessing to know Brian, because his drive to get people involved with being active in sobriety and his leadership have really helped me get to where I am.” Knight said that many of the people who come out for sober soccer have little to no experience with the sport, yet their willingness to grow as both individuals and players is something that inspires him and gives him purpose. “I haven’t played soccer since I was a kid,” said player Steven Lopez of Sugarhouse. “But playing now, it’s challenging, and I think that’s helped me in my sobriety. It challenges me to get out of my comfort zone, to think less selfishly, and to work through things even when I want to quit.” Lopez, who’s only been playing with the program for two months, found sober soccer after joining the Fit To Recover gym. “Being here in Utah, there are a lot of different options in the sober community and a strong sober group here,” Lopez said. “But I can totally see this soccer program really growing and taking off.” And growing the program is exactly what Knight intends to do. Though his biggest challenge is funding the program, Knight hopes to continue spreading the word about sober soccer and getting people from across the Salt Lake Valley interested in the program. “I would love to eventually get Real Salt Lake involved,” Knight said. “But I have this bigger plan right now of trying to do something within the youth community. Once we have the numbers and the stability, I’d like to start a camp for youth were we not only teach them about soccer but we teach them about addiction and substance abuse and alcohol.” Ultimately, Knight hopes the program will grow large enough to create a sober soccer league and that sober soccer will continue to inspire other leaders to start sober initiatives of their own. Lastly, Knight’s biggest hope is that the program spurs community involvement and increases awareness of active addiction recovery. To learn more about sober soccer or to get involved, email Brian Knight at bjknight12@hotmail.com or visit Fit2Recover. org/contact-us. l *Statistics drawn from 2015 National Directory of Drug and Alcohol Abuse Treatment Facilities compiled by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (www. samhsa.gov).
SPORTS
M urrayJournal.com
September 2016 | Page 15
CHS Cross Country Team: a Well-Oiled Running Machine By Sarah Almond | sarah@mycityjournals.com
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he Cottonwood High School cross country team has been training for the 2016 season since June, putting in more than 85 hours of practice over the summer. During their two months of base training, the 25 runners met every morning at 7 a.m. to start their daily run of eight to 12 miles. “Throughout the season the boys run about 60 miles a week and the girls run around 40,” said senior captain Juliana Banks. While the purpose of this distance training is to prepare the Colts for their challenging season, they are also putting in the mileage in hopes of achieving a main goal. “This season the guys want to run a total of 650 miles and the girls want to reach 500 miles,” said junior Jacob Nielson. To reach this goal, members of the boys team must run an average of 10.8 miles, five days a week. The girls need to average 8.3 miles a day. “One of my favorite things about cross country is just getting to run with my team,” Nielson said. In addition to bonding activities like team runs and group breakfasts, the Colts’ cross country team has a unique tradition of what they refer to as “Timp Runs.” This tradition requires members of the varsity team to run the 15-mile round trip trail of Mt. Timpanogos, stopping only to jump in the chilly waters of Emerald Lake. “Timp runs were a tradition for my team when I was in high school, and it was really something that I wanted to bring over to these guys,” Baker said. “Last year was our first time doing it and the kids weren’t thrilled about the idea, but they always seem to enjoy actually doing it.” Legend has it that jumping in Emerald Lake will give runners the spirit of Timpanac, the fabled Indian warrior.
“I told the kids, ‘Yeah, there’s not a real spirit, but it’s the decisions that you make along the way to get yourself up here and fulfill and complete your requirements that makes you a better athlete,’” Baker said. “A lot of cross country is so mental - you really have to learn how to hone in.” Harnessing this mental focus is something that Baker believes could determine the success of the runners. From what he’s seen so far this season, Baker thinks his athletes have the ability to stay mentally strong. “I’ve never had a team like the one this year,” Baker said. “They haven’t just grown in number, but they have also grown in demeanor. They are committed to doing everything they are supposed to, where in previous years I had to always get on kids about taking training seriously.” As one of the biggest teams in the history of the Colts’ cross country program, this season’s group of runners seems to understand the importance of pushing past the finish line and putting in hard work day in and day out. “This is the first time I’ve ever had a team where everyone is doing their two-a-days, everyone is doing what they are told, everyone is being more seriously committed,” Baker said. “And it really shows in their races. The point is, the team is taking it seriously and they are doing whatever it takes and making the sacrifices it takes to reach their goals.” At the beginning of the season, Baker made his expectations very clear: either runners were fully committed to the team or they needed to find another activity to get involved in. “I told them that I didn’t want kids who only have one foot on the line - it’s gotta be both,” Baker said. In keeping with his efforts to create a committed cross
Members of the Colt’s varsity boys team pose for a photo after finishing a 5k race at the Highland Invite, their first competition of the season. The boy’s have a goal of running 650-miles total training miles by the time the season concludes on October 19 at the state championships. –Jason Baker.
country culture, Baker asked senior captain David Fagre to create the team’s theme for this season. “David wanted the theme to be centered around dedication, so together we came up with machine, as in everyone needs to be a machine this year,” Baker said. “Either everyone is in, or no one is in at all. A machine is reliable, it does what it’s supposed to, and it requires all moving parts to be working properly. So that’s our goal for this year.” Though the Colts began their official racing season on August 18 at the Highland Invite, the runners are confident that their dedication to training throughout the summer and their hard work ethic will work to their advantage this year. “I think we’ve put it a lot of good work this summer and we have a good squad of people,” said Fagre. “I think if we come together we can win region and that’s something I’m really looking forward to.” l
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Page 16 | September 2016
ON THE COVER
Murray Journal
Murray Spartans: Succeeding Through the Growing Pains of Change By Sarah Almond | sarah@mycityjournals.com
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ootball season is officially here and for the Murray High School football team, the season couldn’t come fast enough. “We’ve been preparing for this season all summer long,” senior captain Gage Cuthbertson said. The Spartans launched their preseason in late July with a two-day-long training camp at Weber State University. Here, the team’s 54 varsity players battled through six games and several practice sessions. “Honestly, I was really impressed by a lot of things that happened while we were at Weber State,” Cuthbertson said. “There wasn’t one game where I felt like we played bad. Our quarterback really stepped up which was a tough spot to fill.” Cuthbertson was also surprised by how well the team’s defensive group has progressed since the beginning of the preseason and is excited to see what the team’s talented offensive line will do throughout the year. “More than anything I’m just excited to get to finally start playing,” Cuthbertson said. For returning players like Cuthbertson and fellow co-captain Hunter Jones, the team’s early showing of success comes as a bit of a welcomed surprise. After graduating several all-star players like Drew Cash, Luke Shipley, and Maxs Tupai, the team also welcomed on a new head coach. Former Dixie State University head coach Blaine Monkres took over coaching duties for Mike Richmond in late February. With 25 years of coaching experience under his belt, this isn’t Monkres first time working with a new, relatively young program. “It’s been good being here [Murray],” Monkres said. “I’ve
Senior captain Gage Cuthbertson leads the team in pre-practice stretching exercises. Cuthbertson, Murray’s starting wide receiver, is one of just three returning starters on the team this year. –Sarah Almond
coached high school before so I know what it’s like. I enjoyed coaching at the college level but I’m really enjoying it here, too. You know, it’s always kind of rough in the beginning when kids are trying to learn the new offense, but we got through camp and did a good job with camp and they’ve gotten a lot better since we started back a few weeks ago.” For senior members of the team who played for three years under the direction of former coach Richmond, the different coaching style of Monkres has taken some getting used to. “There isn’t as much tradition this year as we used to have. I feel like some things got lost,” Jones said. “Coach [Monkres] is a lot more old-school, like we don’t watch as much film, we practice more, and we practice earlier in the day when it’s hotter.” Despite these differences, Jones thinks the team is adjusting well and is putting in the work necessary to make this season a successful one. And while acclimating to new coaching standards
has presented several members of the team with expected difficulties, Monkres has faces his own challenges in the early part of the season. “Some of the things they [the players] were used to doing before are not the same,” Monkres said. “So they are having to adjust to a new way of practicing, a new way of what we expect in the locker rooms, a new way of what we expect in the training room and what we expect out of school. It’s just a whole different set of rules that they are having to get used to.” Along with perfect attendance, no tardies, and completed classwork, Monkres also expects his players to be at all practices. “There’s really no excuse to miss a practice,” Monkres said. “And that’s been a bit of a struggle but they are coming around. They are learning that it’s important to be here and that their teammates expect them to be here.” Like many high school football teams, the Spartans’ goal is to claim the region title and go on to find success in the state tournament at the end of October. “Everyone is starting with an even slate,” Monkres said. “And if they want to work hard enough, I think these goals can be accomplished. If they are willing to put in the time and work, and hold themselves accountable, then it will be possible for them to get that done.” With nine challenging teams on their schedule, a roster that’s loaded with new players, and the anticipation of playing under a new coaching staff, the Spartans are grateful to have six home games this season and excited to defy adversity and reach their goals with the support of the Murray community. l
Council invests in Equestrian Park’s future
A
fter many months of meetings and ongoing communication between horse owners, county staff, and community members, the future of the Salt Lake County Equestrian Park is now set. We recently voted as the Salt Lake County council to keep the park in it’s current form but also to invest in a litany of deferred maintenance needs in the park. This park has been a long-standing fixture of our South Jordan community, and the county as a whole. Unfortunately, many maintenance needs of the park had not been adequately funded and addressed over the years. In addition, as a county we lacked good information about the actual use of the park among members of the community. In essence - the county was not investing in the park properly, and was not understanding the full value of the park sufficiently. I first posed questions about this park in the fall 2015 budget process, and then again in a blog post in January 2016. My position was clear - if we as a county are going to have an equestrian park, we need to be willing to invest in it, as well as measure the actual use and value to the community. For the past six months, a dedicated group of equestrian park advocates (known as the Equestrian Park Coalition) worked diligently to provide good information to me as well as other council members. They shared new information about the var-
ious events at the park, the level of use, and most importantly shed light on the many maintenance needs of the park. Thanks to their hard work in collaborating with our county parks department, we now have a clear vision for the future of the park. This group also recommended some fee increases to users of the park. Some of the deferred maintenance repairs include things like: new restrooms for park users, entry gates with controlled access points that will give us more precise data on park use, upgrading or renovating some of the barns for the horses, and upgrading footing (dirt) where applicable. These are just some of the many deferred maintenance needs that will be addressed through this investment. In addition, the fee structure adjustment will help enhance the park’s revenue stream to better fund its operations. The controlled access points will give us precise data on the number of users of the park, as well as let us better collect appropriate usage fees. We are also creating an ongoing Equestrian Park User Advisory and Oversight Committee, which will be an official mechanism through which users can provide valuable feedback to county staff as well as the park’s management. I’m excited about these improvements and the positive im-
Horses in their stalls at the Salt Lake County Equestrian Center. The aged stalls are part of along list of possible renovations that new funding could bring to the facility. - Kimberly Roach
pact they will have on the equestrian park. This is an example of good civic engagement at its best. Members of the public effectively and respectfully educated the council, and we’ve incorporated their feedback into the plan moving forward. l
September 2016 | Page 17
M urrayJournal.com SEPTEMBER 2016
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ummer months are now over, they brought the opportunity for many fun things – vacations, family reunions, swim parties, boating, hiking and enjoying the outdoors. At Murray City, summer and early fall are times of hard work as we have a short window of time to complete some of the construction projects planned during the winter months. Change is not always fun and can be challenging when inconvenienced by time, dust and detours. We are at the end of our summer construction season and hope we have good weather as we go into fall so we are able to complete more of our planned projects. We appreciate your patience. To date, we have completed roadway reconstruction and resurfacing on: – Norma Circle Still continuing into fall are: – Ann Dell Lane – Fairhaven Drive – Bullion Street – Dunbarton Drive – Chevy Chase Drive – Somerset Way – Chevy Chase Circle – 1045 East – Kent Circle – Ellerby Avenue before and after – Ellerby Avenue – 6220 South
Ellerby Avenue before
The city will continue to slurry seal various neighborhoods west of State Street and replace damaged sidewalk in areas east of State Street. Slurry seal is a mat of asphalt emulsion, water, polymers and aggregate that is applied to the street to create a new surface. This application is used to extend the life of a street showing signs
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of deterioration. Slurry seal gives the road an extended life of approximately five years. The 5900 South reconstruction project began in April. The first phase from Commerce Drive to 700 West is near completion. The second and third phases will be encompassing Commerce Drive to State Street. This project includes new storm drain and water lines as well as sidewalk improvements, roadway resurfacing and signal upgrades. The intersection of 5900 South and 300 West will be widened and new signals are being added to improve safety at the UTA Trax crossing. Traffic delays can be expected; the roadway will be restricted to local traffic only during major construction operations. Please try to help us by using alternate routes when possible. Efforts will be made to continue pedestrian access throughout the length of the project. For project updates, you can email 5900south@ utah.gov.
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Page 18 | September 2016
Murray Journal
The Crunch, Crunch, Crunch Under My Feet
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h, it’s here, fall. Here come the treasured foods of warmth, kids back in school, Halloween and that wonderful sound of crunching leaves under your feet when you head outside. There is nothing like the splendor of our amazing canyons with their fiery colors this time of year – anywhere else. Enjoying our canyons in the fall season is not only beauty to the eyes; it can be as cheap as a few gallons of gas and a picnic lunch too. Whether you’re leaf watching consists of a quick scenic drive on a Sunday afternoon or a weekend stay amid the trees, we can agree that, when the conditions are right, autumn time in Utah is worth celebrating. Here are a few ideas of where to see fall leaves that won’t disappoint. Lets start with The Grand Prix of Leaf Watching (Heber, Midway, and Sundance) By picking a central location; you can spend the weekend enjoying beautiful colors and a variety of fun activities in all directions. Midway If you are looking for a unique adventure amid the fall foliage, Homestead Resort in Midway welcomes you. The sprawling cottages provide the perfect setting and destination for the most devoted leaf watcher and a place we try to visit yearly. When the day is done, take a dip in the Crater where the temperature is always a balmy 90-96 degrees. You can find a discount for Crater swimming on Coupons4Utah.com/ Heber No matter where you are coming from, Heber always feels like home. Heber’s small town charm is a welcome respite from the hustle and bustle of big city life. When it comes to fall activities, Heber is the one of the best destinations for family fun. For many, the Heber Valley Railroad is a longtime family tradition for every season. Come ride the Pumpkin Train, but be sure to stay and celebrate the Annual Scarecrow Festival or brave through the spine-tingling Sleepy Hollow Haunted Wagon Ride. More adventurous visitors may choose to soar from above and take in the views on one of two different courses with
Zipline Utah. The Flight of the Condor course spans 4 zipline and a suspension bridge. The Screaming Falcon is the world’s longest zipline course over water! It consists of over 2 miles of 10 ziplines and 7 suspension bridges, while also showing you some of the most amazing views Utah has to offer Visit coupons4utah.com for news about available discounts on the train and/or the Zipline.
Sundance Nestled at the base of Mount Timpanogos, Sundance Ski Resort places you right in the middle of the fall splendor. After a day of enjoying the fall colors, you can savor wonderful cuisine made special from local and organic growers. For as low as $29.00 you can enjoy a fabulous adventure on the Bearclaw or Halloween Zipline Tour at Sundance or choose to ride the tram up for some amazing views from above. Details are on coupons4utah.com. Emigration Canyon Take Sunnyside east past the zoo where you’ll find dozens of trails full of fall color. Make a day of it and stop by the historic Ruth’s Diner for a lunch on their fantastic patio.
Wheeler Historic Farm Wheeler Farm is a kids favorite with its mature leafy trees, open grassy space, and rustic buildings, and don’t forget the super cute farm animals Wheeler Farm is a great place for the family to visit. Remember to take your camera for this one. Wheeler farm is a photographers dream. Last, I want to share with you a secret little stop in Draper. Beautiful Leaves can be as close as the next neighborhood over. Go east on Wasatch Blvd. until you reach Hidden Valley Park. Follow the Bonneville Shoreline Trail as it wraps around the east bench where you’ll find amazing views of the valley. These are just a few of the magnitude of places Utah offers for enjoy fall. Where is your favorite place to see the beauty of fall? l
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September 2016 | Page 19
M urrayJournal.com
Survival of the Fittest
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’ve always associated Yellowstone Park with abject terror. A childhood vacation to this national park guaranteed me a lifetime of nightmares. It was the first time we’d taken a family vacation out of Utah and we were ecstatic. Not only would we stay in a motel, but we’d see moose, bears and cowboys in their natural habitat. We prepared for a car ride that would take an entire day, so I packed several Nancy Drew mysteries, and some Judy Blume and Madeleine L’Engle novels just in case. Because my parents couldn’t hand us an iPad and tell us to watch movies for six hours, we brought our Travel Bingo cards with the transparent red squares that you slid over pictures of silos, motor homes and rest areas. For more car fun, there was the license plate game, the alphabet game, sing-alongs, ghost stories and slug bug. Even then, we got bored. Dad decided he’d prepare us for the Yellowstone Park adventure that lay ahead of us. That’s when the trouble started. He told us how beautiful the park was. Then he explained if we fell into a geyser, the heat would boil the flesh off our bones and bleach those bones bright white, and those bones would never be found. He told us when (not if) we encountered bears, we had to play dead or the bears would eat us. We even practiced drills in the car.
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Dad would yell “Bear!” and we’d all collapse across the station wagon seats (we didn’t wear seat belts) until the danger had passed. (It usually took an hour or so.)
He said if we wandered away, it would take just a few days until we died of starvation—unless the bears got us first. He warned us to stay away from every animal, describing in detail the series of rabies shots we’d need if a chipmunk bit us. We were cautioned to avoid high ledges (we’d fall to our deaths), moose (we’d be trampled), buffalo (again with the trampled) and the requisite stranger warning (we’d be kidnapped). By the time we reached Yellowstone, dad had thoroughly instilled us with horror. When we arrived at the motel, we frantically ran to our
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