September 2018 | Vol. 18 Iss. 09
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MCMILLAN STUDENTS HELP MEXICO SCHOOL damaged by earthquake By Julie Slama | julie@mycityjournals.com
H
ats off to McMillan Elementary students for helping a Mexican elementary school damaged by 2017 earthquake — or rather, hats on. Through the Sombreros for Ninos, or Hats for Children, fundraiser, McMillan students raised $2,400 earmarked for Coyolxauhqui School in Mexico City that was severely damaged by the Sept. 2017 central Mexico earthquake. Each Friday, McMillan school children would pay 50 cents to wear a hat to school. The money collected at the end of the school year, then was sent to help with repairs and necessities at the Mexican school, said Claudia Aragon, who helped coordinate the fundraiser. “It was fun for the kiddos since they normally can’t wear a hat,” she said. “We had some students who would contribute more to wear a hat, which helped for some of their classmates to wear hats and added to our donations to the school.” Aragon, who worked the past eight years at McMillan Elementary as a para-educator, said that with the $2,400, they were beginning to start building an emergency staircase on the two-story school. “I was just overwhelmed at the generosity of our students and parents who contributed. Sometimes, kids would bring in 20, 30, 40 dollars. Others would contribute their birthday money or do chores around the house to bring in money. One student was saving money to someday go to Hawaii, but instead, gave it to the Mexico school fund,” she said. The hats helped to unite the school Continued on page 5...
McMillan students helps raise $2,400 through their Sombreros for Ninos fundraiser for a school damaged by the 2017 Central Mexico earthquake. (Photo courtesy of Claudia Aragon)
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Murray man elevates banjo-making to an art form By Shaun Delliskave | s.delliskave@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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few picks on the strings and most untrained ears can detect the unforgettable twang of a banjo. Yet one Murray man, Jon Whitney, seeks to add visual brilliance to the banjo’s audio delight. “The bedrock principle is that they have to play well and sound good,” noted Whitney. The software developer was recently a featured artist at Murray City Hall, showing off his inventory of fine bluegrass instruments. The backs of some of his banjos feature intricately carved trees or pineapples. “I played guitar—not very well—for several years after I was married (before that, my main instrument was electric bass). I was interested in the blues, and many of the old blues guitarists played National resophonic resonator guitars,” said Whitney. These resophonic guitars were developed in the 1920s and ’30s to produce more volume than a regular wood acoustic guitar could provide. They have a distinctive sound and are very collectible today. “I wanted one, so I thought about building one myself. In order to see if that would be possible, I built a resonator mandolin using a pie pan as the resonator. It worked out pretty well; it was playable and sounds okay. In the meantime, I became interested in playing the banjo and switching from blues to other types of folk music. It followed naturally that I would build banjos. My first banjo was completed in about 1999.” The banjo is a four-, five-, or six-stringed instrument with a thin membrane stretched over a frame or cavity as a resonator, called the head, which is typically circular. Usually made of plastic, the membrane can also be animal skin. Adapted from African instruments of similar design, African Americans introduced the instrument to America. Although it is primarily associated with bluegrass music, the banjo is frequently associated with folk, Irish traditional, and country music. “On my ‘serious’ banjos, the pot (circular body) is usually the hardest part. I tend to want to use sections of cooking pots or large plastic pipe as the pot on my less serious banjos. In a
Jon Whitney plays one of his favorite banjos. (Photo courtesy Jon Whitney)
way, I think this pays homage to the humble origins of the instrument. And, those banjos don’t sound half bad.” That being said, sometimes the toughest part is being able to put it all together. “I guess the hardest part of building a banjo is finding the time to do it. It does take a lot of patience and perseverance.” Whitney has won first place twice in the Murray City juried art competitions, woodworking division— most recently last year. In addition, three of his banjos have been accepted for exhibition in the triennial LDS Church Museum International Art Competition. “I also enjoy working with my hands. My computer programming career was spent working with my brain to create something (software) very non-physical. Building physical things was a nice contrast.”
In addition to banjos, Whitney has made other instruments, such as Paraguayan harps, a hammered dulcimer, and ukuleles. “I’ve built two kitchen tables for our family and some cabinetry. I think I build some of these things because the price to buy them would be outrageous; I’m a notorious cheapskate.” Whitney hasn’t really been pushing his banjos into the marketplace. He has made enough to pass some along to his seven daughters and their families but is open to selling one to the next Béla Fleck or Steve Martin. “I’m to the point where I have enough banjos for myself. I’d like to make banjos on a commission that would have a special meaning to the buyer, but I also would like to provide good-quality, low-price instruments to keep the tradition alive with new players.” l
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Murray City Journal
Continued from front page... as students and
teachers had fun wearing hats of all types from baseball caps to goofy, funny ones. “One boy wore a taco hat, which was fun, and others really got creative,” she said, adding that she did wear a sombrero. Fifth-grade teacher Ann Saltzman said that it was a fun fundraiser. “It was fun to see all the hats the students came up with, especially all the characters on their heads,” she said. “It was a fun way to contribute to others who needed a helping hand.” McMillan may continue to raise funds this school year, but at this point Aragon, who has since left the school, isn’t sure. “We had to check each step of the way to make this happen, but the community has been very supportive. We tried to involve everyone from wearing hats to helping by having the kiddos make announcements and gather envelopes (of donations) in each classroom. We had two piñatas that we had to rotate each week to the classroom that brought in the most donations. At the end of the school year, the classes with the most donations got to break them,” she said, adding that the idea to wear hats as a fundraiser came from principal Joy Sanford. The idea to help these school children came from Aragon, who shared her personal experience with the students.
“Thirty-two years ago last September, to the day of the earthquake – Sept. 19, I was in an earthquake in Mexico City. I was 11. I was at home with my three sisters and my dad, but my mom was at work. Afterward, it was the weirdest feeling. I went outside and it was just dusty — I couldn’t see across the street — and very, very quiet. It was scary and eerily calm. Then, all the sirens went off,” she said. A bit later, a neighbor came and told her dad that her mom’s building collapsed. Her dad, suffering from leukemia, went off in search of her. Aragon, the oldest, watched her sisters until they could stay with relatives while her dad looked daily for her mom in the rubble. “He found her and they talked, but she died before she was rescued,” she said, adding that thousands died in the earthquake and some were never found. A few months later, her dad died. However, before he died, he had met Connie Gavin, who was the Mexican ambassador’s wife. She promised to help take care of the girls together and move them state side. Gavin, and her secretary, Janet Rogozinki, kept the promise and Aragon has been in touch with them since. So when this earthquake hit, Aragon knew she needed to help and contacted them. “They were my angels and did so
much for me and my sisters. I knew they could use help now,” she said. As a bonus, through the fundraiser, McMillan students learned much about their Mexican counterparts. Not only did they learn a little about the culture and have the opportunity to Skype with them, but they also learned that they are fortunate to attend school, Aragon said. “In Mexico, there are too many kids and not enough schools so there is a waiting list to attend school,” she said. “Right now, only some children are getting to attend school. At the school we’re helping, they’re alternating with first through third grade attending one morning and fourth through sixth attending the next in the part of the school that wasn’t damaged. There’s no kitchen now so they can’t fix them lunch. By Skyping, some McMillan students realized their part would help — even months later.” As a testament to their partnership, Coyolxauhqui School is creating a friendship garden that symbolizes the U.S.-Mexico children’s friendship. Aragon learned from a text that it will be named after her mother. “When I read this, it brought me to tears,” she said. “Even though she is not here with us, her spirit still is here with us. We are all connected through children regardless where we are from.” l
Got notebooks? Donations still needed in area schools By Julie Slama | julie@mycityjournals.com
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urray Education Foundation Director Jeanne Habel is appreciative for the help Murray School District students will receive from this year’s Tools for Schools. “It’s a conglomerate effort that helps students out in eight school districts,” she said. This year, school supplies, clothing, food and hygiene items were donated by the community in early August during the second annual Tools for Schools drive for students in area districts including Granite, Jordan, Canyons and Salt Lake as well as Murray. During the three-day drive, Z104 KSOP radio personalities Dave and Deb lived on school buses at the Shops at South Town to broadcast the need. Salt Lake Board of Realtors, district volunteers and others accepted and organized donations. Habel, who said that the combined effort allowed each participating district to indicate their greatest needs and then to divide those donations accordingly. “Murray School District can use about anything from pencils and papers to calculators, even clothing,” she said. Murray High School also supports a “Cinderella’s Closet,” filled with more
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formal clothing so students could select items to rent for prom and other dances. The need in Murray extends to meals. Many of the schools in the District also have non-perishable food pantries to help students and their families, Habel said. “We appreciate any donations we receive so kids aren’t going home hungry,” she said. The idea to hold a collaborative drive came from Jackie McKay, on-air promotions director for Z104. “It’s a way we can help our community as there is so many kids in need,” she said. “We’ve had people dropping off notebooks, backpacks, cash donations, food and other items we listed on a website. With some of the cash donations, we’ve gone out to buy more needed items like
socks and underwear and flash drives so students can save their work if they don’t have computers at home. We have a great group of listeners who love to support the community and are helping to stuff backpacks full for all the students in need.” Aside from Tools for Schools, Habel said that the Foundation was expected to help benefit teachers and students in the classroom through its 20th annual golf tournament that was slated for late August. The tournament helps to fund teacher grants for the classroom that help student learning. To contribute to students, donations to Murray Education Foundation are accepted online at www.murrayschools. org.l
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Boys & Girls Club, Verizon and Google provide school supplies to needy families By Shaun Delliskave | s.delliskave@mycityjournals.com
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t’s not unusual for parents to sing the Yuletide favorite, “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” in August, as their children trudge back to school. And, like the holidays in December, August can also be an expensive time for parents, since back-to-school costs include so much more than a notebook and pencils. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Salt Lake (BGCGSL) partnered with Verizon and Google to give away 2,000 backpacks to needy elementary, junior high and high school students in Salt Lake County. Volunteers gathered at the Murray Boys & Girls Club on Aug. 1 to fill each backpack with basic school supplies, including pencils, crayons, notebooks, binders, markers, folders, glue sticks and more. One backpack per child or parent was provided. For households already struggling financially, spending money on books, clothes and other needed school items often means that other expenses get behind. But getting an education is important in the fight against poverty. According to Amanda Hughes, director of development for BGCGSL, “More and more demand is put on working families and we see the need rising in our clubs. Every kid should walk into school feeling prepared and ready for a great year. We want to help make sure they have the tools they need to succeed now and later in life.” Both Verizon and Google provided the
funds necessary to purchase the supplies and backpacks. Verizon employees volunteered to stuff the packs, while BGCGSL helped spread the word and facilitated the distribution to the community. At each of the eight BGSGSL locations, 800 backpacks were given to youth and 1,200 were distributed to the community on a first come, first served basis. “Verizon reached out to us with a desire to do something good in the community and we worked together to identify the need and find a way to get these supplies and backpacks into the hands of the kids and families who need them most. Verizon brought on Google to help with the logistics,” said Hughes. Volunteers worked in assembly-line fashion in the club gym. With each person carefully stuffing an item into each pack, the completed backpacks soon grew into a mountain that dwarfed the volunteers. Murray Mayor Blair Camp stopped by in the afternoon to help distribute the backpacks. The Murray Boys & Girls Club has provided a safe place for kids for more than 50 years. According to its mission statement, “Our mission is to inspire and empower youth, families, and communities to realize their full potential as productive, responsible, and caring citizens.” While providing many after-school programs for youth, the Boys & Girls Clubs also seek to ensure success during school.
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Volunteers stuff more than 2,000 backpacks for needy children. (Shaun Delliskave/City Journals)
According to Hughes, “Kids need a safe place to be when school is out. They need caring adult role models, a healthy snack, help with their homework, and programs that help develop healthy habits and good character and citizenship. They need a place to belong. This is where our clubs step in.” “Those looking to get involved and make a
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Murray Power looks to tap into nuclear energy By Shaun Delliskave | s.delliskave@mycityjournals.com
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urray Power is moving forward with plans to tap into the nation’s first small nuclear modular reactor (SMR)—but not without opposition. Murray Power has, so far, committed $15,000 towards NuScale Power’s reactor, which is in development at the Idaho National Laboratory in Idaho Falls. Murray’s main power supplier belongs to the Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems (UAMPS) consortium, consisting of several municipally owned power systems in Utah. Murray City has subscribed to a portion of the nuclear plant’s capacity through its partnership with the UAMPS organization. Blaine Haacke, general manager of Murray Power, explained, “We have committed presently to 1 megawatt (MW) worth of subscription, and with that 1 MW commitment comes a study cost of about $15,000 for the next budget year. Each year, the projected study costs are evaluated, and UAMPS assesses proportional costs to each of its participant cities.” The study assessments are distributed through the UAMPS group based on the entitlement subscription that each city has committed to. With the study comes nuclear licensing that can sometimes take up to 10 years and development of the technology itself. NuScale Power is based out of Corvallis, Oregon and recently completed the Phase 1 review of its design certification application
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by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). NuScale’s reactor is the first and only SMR to ever undergo an NRC review. Presently, Murray Power receives 35 percent of its power from Colorado River Storage Project (large hydroelectric dams on the Colorado River). An additional 35 percent comes from the Hunter Power Plant, and 2 percent comes from San Juan Power plant, both of which are coal-fired plants. Murray Power also receives 5 percent from a small hydro plant at the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon and 8 percent from methane captured at landfills (Transjordan and SL County Landfills). Natural gas turbine provides about 10 percent of its needs, with another 10 percent coming from other market sources. Murray has a peak demand of 104 MW. Diane Turner, chair of the Murray City Council, is leery about Murray’s interest in a reactor using unproved technology. “I have concerns about Murray committing funds to a new energy form that has not yet been proven and is likely to cost billions of dollars. It is my understanding that our initial investment is not that high. However, it is my concern that as we get further into the commitment it will cost much more.” Watchdog groups have also expressed concerns regarding the new reactor. HEAL Utah, an advocacy group that promotes renewable energy to protect public health and the environment
Murray Power’s natural gas turbine, housed here, may share Murray’s electrical load with a nuclear reactor. (Photo courtesy Murray Power)
from dirty, toxic and nuclear energy threats, attended a recent city council committee-of-thewhole meeting to advocate for cleaner renewable investments in power and to express their concerns. They argued that renewable energy is more cost-effective and proven technologies already exist. According to Haacke, “I think we have all seen the cost of renewable energy coming down through the years as better technology and supply and demand business come into play. For example, large-scale solar costs per MW hour are becoming very reasonable. Price isn’t everything though. The important thing to remember is the reliability side of any resource. “The proposed small nuclear modular plant to be built in Idaho is totally carbon free,
meaning no exhaust, no emission pollutants. The spent fuel will be stored on site, as in other nuclear plants. Nuclear would be a reliable, 24/7 dependable, carbon-free plant.” While nuclear lacks carbon emissions, radioactive waste generated by reactors remains toxic for thousands of years. The NuScale reactor has space to store waste for 60 years. Nuclear reactors also draw significantly from water resources. This is one reason for Council Chair Turner’s reservations. “I don’t know that it is in Murray’s best interest to invest in nuclear rather than making further investments in renewable energy that has been determined to be more environmentally and fiscally sound.” l
September 2018 | Page 7
It’s official! Murray Park is the people’s choice for Top Park By Shaun Delliskave | s.delliskave@mycityjournals.com
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hen it comes to city parks, City Journal readers have spoken, and their choice is Murray Park. July was National Parks and Recreation Month, and the City Journals hosted a “Park Madness” tournament to determine the best park in the valley. Murray Park was one of 16 parks in the City Journals’ readership area that went head-to-head in an online poll. All 16 parks were seeded by their Google reviews, and Murray drew Herriman’s W&M Butterfield Park in the first round of polling. Murray Park fans came out in force and decisively gave the park an opening round win by claiming 88 percent of the votes. This set the stage for the most hotly contested matchup of the tournament against Riverton. Based on the number of votes cast in round two, the Riverton City Park versus Murray Park contest had more votes cast than all the other match-ups combined in that round of the tournament. The contest was a razor-edged phenomenon, sometimes vacillating by less than one percent. Social media websites for both cities went abuzz advocating for their followers to cast a vote in the nail-biter as the lead between the two switched numerous times. “The competition became personal for many,” according to Kim Sorenson, director of Murray Parks and Recreation. “Murray staff and citizens showed a tremendous amount of pride in Murray Park. They took the competi-
tion to heart and helped spread the word to others to vote.” It took until the final hours of the poll for Murray Park to pull off a squeaker, with only two percent of the vote. Demonstrating that it was all in good fun, and showing a lot of class, Riverton City posted, “We couldn’t have had a more able competitor, as it is so clear Murray residents take great pride in their community and in their beautiful park!” The Riverton round mobilized Murray Park’s fan base as it moved to the round of the final four. West Jordan’s Veterans Memorial Park put up a fight, but could only muster 32 percent of the vote, and Murray Park sailed into the championship round. All this provided momentum for Murray Park in facing Mountview Park in Cottonwood Heights. The relatively young park couldn’t withstand Murray’s enthusiasm, which, in the end, claimed 91 percent of the vote and the tournament crown. The tournament also included popular parks such as Sugarhouse, Memory Grove, and Dimple Dell. Created in the 1920s, Murray Park was the oldest in the tournament. “It would be unusual to find someone in the county who has not visited Murray Park,” said Sorenson. The park initially started out as a brickyard on the west side of Vine Street. Smelter employees formed baseball teams and played in the old brickyard, which eventually became
Murray Park’s gazebo has been a popular backdrop for many engagement photos. (Photo courtesy Murray City)
home to Murray’s professional baseball teams. Eventually, the city formally organized the park and created a swimming hole fed directly from Little Cottonwood Creek, and planted shade trees, some of which still stand to this day. The park later incorporated an arboretum, baseball stadium, café, amphitheater, and an indoor recreation center. Sorenson says there are still more plans for Murray Park. “Mayor Camp and the city council funded a Parks and Recreation Master Plan to be completed in 2019. The plan will include community input on future growth, new park
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amenities, and future recreation services. When complete, the Master Plan will prioritize future park improvements not only for Murray Park but all parks owned by Murray City.” The City Journals also recognized Riverton City Park as Most Improved Park, as it was reconstructed in 2015. Rookie of the Tournament was given to Mountview Park, which is less than 10 years old. Upset of the tournament belonged to South Jordan’s Eastlake Park, beating well-known Memory Grove in Salt Lake City. l
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Street realignment to impact Murray downtown neighborhoods By Shaun Delliskave | s.delliskave@mycityjournals.com
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s Murray plans to relocate the 4800 South fire station, the former lot will make way for new street realignments for the downtown Murray City Center District (MCCD). Neighborhoods that are served by Box Elder and Hanauer Streets will be impacted by new traffic patterns. Since the mid-1970s, the city has planned to connect Main Street at 4500 South to 300 West at Winchester Street (6400 South). The purpose is to provide another north/south corridor through Murray City to reduce congestion. Currently, the only north/south corridors east of the I-15 frontage roads are State Street and 900 East. The city has completed several phases of this project over the past 20 years, including environmental clearance from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), because the city plans to use federal funds for portions of this project. The city also completed projects to realign 300 West at Winchester Street and made intersection improvements at 5900 South and 300 West. The Hanauer Street project is another phase of this project between Vine Street and 4800 South. Future plans include reconstruction between Vine Street and 4500 South. The extension is part of the same 2004 project that built the overpass from Cottonwood Street over 5300 South to 300 West. That overpass cost $17
Page 10 | September 2018
million, of which $14.5 million was paid for by the federal government. Brent Barnett, whose family trust owns property on Vine Street, stated, “In March 2011 the city put in place a rigorous plan for making all the MCCD area a walkable area. In my view, the MCCD isn’t perfect, but it is a move in the right direction that will make the downtown an interesting place. My problem is that this grand traffic corridor was proposed before the idea of a walkable downtown was started.” Box Elder and Hanauer Streets, north of 4800 South, are residential streets. The city plans to turn both streets into a one-way couplet, with Box Elder becoming a southbound street and Hanauer becoming a northbound street. Both streets will merge together south of the 4500 South and Main Street intersection. According to Doug Hill, Murray City’s chief administrative officer, “During the environmental clearance process, the city desired to minimize the impact on residential and historic properties between Vine Street and 4500 South. The result was a plan to use two existing roads, Hanauer and Box Elder, to create a one-way couplet. Eventually, Poplar Street will likely be eliminated, providing more land for development between Hanauer Street and State Street.” Barnett feels that this will have a negative impact. “It turns the quiet neighborhood street of Hanauer Street into a busy thoroughfare with
One proposed plan shows Box Elder and Hanauer Streets being realigned as a one-way couplet. (Photo courtesy Murray City)
no thought for the residents. The proposed road charges right through the center of the MCCD area, dividing it with traffic and making walkability dubious.” The project has already been funded. The city applied for and received a grant ($1.5 million) from Salt Lake County. The county was awarded these transportation funds authorized by Senate Bill 277 by the state legislature during the 2017 session. The Murray Mansion and Murray Chapel will not be impacted by the new Hanauer Street
configuration. The only existing structure impacted by Hanauer Street is the fire station. Some city plans indicate that several homes on Box Elder will need to be acquired and torn down to reconfigure the street near 4500 South. “As a city, we are plunging forward without a clear master site plan for the downtown. Everything is piecemeal, and that doesn’t usually end well,” remarked Barnett. “The master site plan is simply a mess. It has never really been agreed on.” l
Murray City Journal
Home prices jump in Murray, however affordable housing available By Shaun Delliskave | s.delliskave@mycityjournals.com
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hat was once unthinkable is now becoming a reality—the housing market in Salt Lake County is too steep for many, especially first-time homebuyers. In the August 14 city council meeting, it was revealed that Murray’s home prices have grown on average by 8.5 percent; however Murray does have affordable housing options for potential residents. Murray City recently submitted its Moderate-Income Housing Report to the State of Utah, and its data reveals that Murray is experiencing the same issues that other communities along the Wasatch Front are experiencing: wage growth has barely increased, while the price of homes and rent have dramatically jumped. According to the Gardner Business Review, over the past 26 years, housing prices have skyrocketed in Utah. Home buyers and renters are feeling the impact of the 4th steepest housing price increase in the United States. A worrying projection in Murray’s housing report forecasts that the median household income will drop from $56,163 to $47,704. Jared Hall, community development supervisor for Murray City explained, “It’s important to remember that these are projections of a trend that is based on the most recent data, in this case 2015, as compared to the 2010 data from the U.S. Census. Data from the 2010 Census is more robust than the data collected in the years between. The resulting drop
from $56,163 to $47,704 is also based on a simple projection of the trend between the data in 2015 and the much more reliable data at 2010, and does not factor in variables like the significantly lower unemployment rates and good job growth since 2015.” To qualify for some public housing, affordable housing, and homeownership assistance programs, families must have incomes below 80 percent of the area median income (AMI). The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) develops these family income standards. Median rental costs in Murray fell below 80 percent of AMI income levels, resulting in 4,323 affordable units currently. This is good news for people wishing to call Murray home, as there are more housing options available. According to Hall, “Murray City has a great mix of single-family homes and other housing options, with those choices continuing to grow. When working to support affordable housing, the first and best goal is to provide housing options. Apartments, townhomes, condominiums, and even assisted living facilities and senior apartments have a role to play in the creation of communities.” Murray City continues to promote the use of Accessory Dwelling Units (mother-in-law apartments), Flag Lot Subdivisions, and Residential Infill Subdivisions, such as subdivided farm lots, in all single-family residential zones to reduce the costs associated with development. Some homeowners oppose mother-in-law apartments, etc., for fear of decreasing
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT D
esert Star’s latest parody takes on several current classics for a pop-culture mash up you’ll have to see to believe! Once upon a time, a beautiful theater named the Desert Star put on a hilarious show that delighted the whole family! This zany parody of ‘Beauty and the Beast’ opens August 23rd and it’s a hilarious musical melodrama you don’t want to miss! This new show, written by Ben Millet, with an update and adaptation by Scott Holman and Ben Mayfield, and directed by Scott Holman, follows the story of Beauty, who runs away from home to avoid marrying the evil Duke. She finds herself in a strange castle, hosted by a Tim Burton-esque butler and a mysterious Beast. But when Beauty is caught stealing, the Beast holds her captive and introduces her to his wacky collection of Fantastic Beasts, which are stored in his very fashionable fanny pack. Will the Beast be able to win over Beauty and gain her hand in marriage? Will Beauty’s less striking sister, Average, be forced to marry the evil Duke in her place? Only the tale as old as time will tell. Intrigue, romance, and adventure are all on the docket for this delightful send up
MurrayJournal .com
A report shows that Murray has affordable housing options in a steep housing market. (Shaun Delliskave/City Journals)
property values. Hall explained, “Murray’s Accessory Dwelling Units allowance is carefully written to allow some affordable options for housing in established, single-family neighborhoods, but in a limited way that doesn’t impact the look or feel of the area. This helps the family renting the accessory unit and benefits the property owner too. “In many cases, this allows for families to stay in their homes and neighborhoods in Murray as they age, as well as providing an affordable opportunity to be part of a great Murray neighborhood to another family. Flag Lots and the Residential Infill Subdivision rules also allow property owners to maximize the use of their land without creating undue impacts on the surrounding neighborhoods.” Murray partners with Neighborworks, a
non-profit organization with a mission to revitalize neighborhoods and create affordable housing, and to make funds available for low-cost mortgages and down payment assistance. Also, Murray works with Neighborworks to provide housing improvement loans to support the rehabilitation of aging housing stock. “The city values, and should, the existing housing. Many older homes provide a diversity of housing options and affordability that are important, and shouldn’t be overlooked,” said Hall. More information about Murray’s housing resources can be found online under the community and economic development tab at www.murray.utah. gov. (www.murray.utah.gov/979/Housing-Resources) l
Desert Star
4861 S. State Street, Murray, UT 84107
of several current classics, as well as comedy torn from today’s headlines. “Beauty and the Fantastic Beast” runs August 23rd through November 3rd, 2018. The evening also includes one of Desert Star’s side-splitting musical olios following the show. The “Zombie Stomp Olio” features hit Halloween themed songs and hot, spooky steps mixed with more of Desert Star’s signature comedy. Food is available from an á la carte menu and is served right at your table. The menu includes gourmet pizza, fresh wraps, appetizers, and scrumptious desserts. CALENDAR: “Beauty and the Fantastic Beast” Plays August 23rd - November 3rd, 2018 Monday, Wednesday, Thursday at 7 PM Friday and Saturday at 6 PM and 8:30 PM Saturday matinée at 11:30 AM & 2:30 PM Tickets: Adults: $24.95, Children: $14.95 (Children 11 and under) 4861 S. State Street, Murray, UT 84107 Call 801.266.2600 for reservations For additional information, visit our website at www.DesertStarPlayhouse.com l
September 2018 | Page 11
Vintage market & art sale earmarked to help fund Parkside Elementary after-school program By Julie Slama | julie@mycityjournals.com
Fall 2018 Classes
WELLNESS CLASSES GENTLE YOGA • Mondays & Wednesdays 6:00-7:00 PM • September 5 – December 19 • Hillcrest JH Dance Room YOGA • Wednesdays 7:15-8:45 PM • September 5 – December 19 • Hillcrest JH Dance Room MEDITATION • Mondays 7:15-8:15 PM • September 10 – December 17 • Hillcrest JH Dance Room ZUMBA • Tuesdays & Thursdays 4:00-5:00 PM • Beginning August 28 • Horizon Elementary
*See Website for Pricing Information on the above classes
INSTRUCTION CLASSES MICROSOFT WORD FOR BEGINNERS $40 • Tuesdays 5:30-6:30 PM • August 28 – September 18 (4 Classes) $40 • Hillcrest JH Room M208 MICROSOFT EXCEL FOR BEGINNERS $40 • Tuesdays 6:30-8:30 PM • August 28 – September 18 (4 Classes) $40 • Hillcrest JH Room M208 TAROT CARD INSTRUCTION $40 • Tuesdays 6:00-7:30 PM $40 (Choose one session) – September 4 – October 9 – October 16 – November 20 • Murray High School Spartan Cove DSLR PHOTOGRAPHY $50 • Wednesdays 7:00-9:00 PM • September 5 – September 26 • MHS Spartan Cove
BUDGETING CLASS Murray Community Education (MCE) classes are open to everyone. Some class times are still undetermined; the website will be updated as information is available. If you have any questions, contact Kristen Davis at kdavis@murrayschools.org or call 801-264-7400. For more information and to enroll in classes, please visit the Murray City School District website murrayschools.org under Community Education.
Page 12 | September 2018
• October 24, 2018 • 7:30-8:30 PM • Hillcrest JH Room M208
GETTING OUT OF DEBT
• October 25, 2018 • 7:30-8:30 PM • Hillcrest JH Room M208
ESTATE PLANNING
• September 13, 2018 • 7:00-9:00 PM • Hillcrest JH Room C109
SOCIAL SECURITY
• September 20, 2018 • 7:00-9:00 PM • Hillcrest JH Room C109
A vintage market and art sale will serve as a fundraiser to help fund an after-school program at Parkside Elementary. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
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his fall, Parkside Elementary school children may have an after-school program to head to – that is, if $20,000 can be raised through monetary donations as well as support at an upcoming vintage market and art sale. A group of about 40 current and former Parkside parents, alumni and neighbors have pitched in to organize the sale, hoping donated items that will be sold will make 100 percent contribution to the school. The funds would help support three teachers who have agreed to be involved in the program and supplies. The vintage market and art sale will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 22 in the parking lot of the Utah Orthopaedic Specialists, 5316 S. Woodrow St. (100 West). The group is seeking donations of gently used items and inexpensive artwork that can be sold as well as monetary contributions to meet their goal. If community members wish to donate items, contact Carolyn Kasteler at carolynkasteler@hotmail.com. For monetary donations, go to www.murrayschools.org and earmark the contribution to Parkside afterschool program. To volunteer, contact Jennifer Brass at jenniferbrass@xmission.com. “The dynamics of the school is that 86 percent of the Title I school are eligible for free or reduced lunch and breakfast and are very challenged,” said Jennifer Brass, one of the organizers along with Carolyn Kasteler. “The neighborhood asked, ‘What can we do?’” Through conversations with the principal, Kasteler learned that many students need help with reading and homework and through the help of teachers in an after-school program, they could get the support they need. This also would help with working parents who need to pick up their children after work hours. “The children need to be protected, loved and have positive role models,” she said. “We’re wanting to strengthen families and the community is stepping up to help.” Kasteler, herself, had volunteered to help with reading and art when her own children,
who are now adults, were Parkside students. She hopes she can help with reading with the afterschool program in the future. Brass said that the program would include teachers instructing students in subject areas as well as homework help. They’d also instruct students how to use some of the Utah Food Bank food donations to prepare meals so they could help make healthy meals for their families. Physical activity and games would be included in the afterschool program. “Many of the students live in apartments where there is no green space, so this way, they’ll get more activity and learn how to do some physical activity in a confined area,” said Brass, who also has adult children who attended Parkside. “Instead of hanging around the school, they’d be in learning and getting the support they need from caring teachers.” Already, Brass said local artists have donated or are making items to sell at the event. These include stained glass, pottery, watercolor, oil painting, weaving, quilts and other artwork. “It’s nice to get donations from our community,” she said. “People who know it’s a fundraiser going to an afterschool program are being generous.” Items that may be found at the vintage market sale include furniture, books, household items as well as children’s toys and sporting items. There also will be a $5 lunch — hamburger or hot dog, watermelon, chips and a drink — available and the event is being supported with volunteers from the Murray Fire, Murray Police and chamber of commerce. The idea of the sale came from a charity sale in the Ogden area that has about 75 tables of donated items and raises “thousands of dollars,” Kasteler said, adding that she hopes through monetary donations and the sale this group will reach its goal. “We’d love to have the community support these children,” she said. “It would make a big difference in their lives.” l
Murray City Journal
Murray School District to introduce “green” buses By Julie Slama | julie@mycityjournals.com
Murray School District is the first district in the Salt Lake Valley to purchase propane school buses, which are designed to have cleaner emissions. (D Wright/ Murray School District)
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hen school bus No.11 rolls up to pick up Parkside Elementary students for school this fall, they may not notice a green emblem on the side of the Blue Bird bus indicating it is powered by propane. Bus 11, which also transports Hillcrest Junior High and Murray High students, is one of two propane buses that Murray School District purchased and will use this fall. The other bus is dedicated to special needs students, said Rock Boyer, District director of support services. “Most people won’t be able to tell the difference, although it is a lot quieter bus,” he said. Murray School District is the first district in the Salt Lake Valley to purchase propane school buses. After investigating for one year, Boyer said the District decided to purchase two propane buses to try out this school year as some of their 23 diesel bus fleet were getting older. However, after talking to some other districts in the state that use propane buses, the benefits seem great, Boyer said. “With our state contract, the cost of the regular bus was about $15,000 less and the special needs bus, which has a lift and room for three wheelchairs, is about $20,000 less,” he said. “We’ll also be able to save on fuel.” Boyer said that propane costs about $1.19 per gallon while diesel is about $3
MurrayJournal .com
per gallon. The district also installed a 1,000-gallon tank so they can fuel up on site as well as use the propane for other equipment. However, a big plus is using a clean fuel, which Boyer said is better for the environment. “We are committed with every possible way to do our part to help the environment. We’ve tried to cut back idling in the schools, retrofitted some of our diesel school buses, and have energy-efficient programs in our buildings,” he said. Murray Board of Education member Glo Merrill echoes that pledge. “We are all very excited that these buses will help our environment,” she said. “We are concerned about the air quality, especially on inversion days when some of the students who have asthma can’t go outside, so we want to do our own little part to help out the air quality to take care of our earth and health.” Mark Turner, new bus sales manager with Bryson Sales and Service Inc., said that the buses purchased by the district are the fourth generation buses, which use fluid propane rather than vapor, and that makes it even cleaner than earlier versions. Another plus, he said, is that there are reports of fewer maintenance problems. “The propane buses have 27 less components in the system compared to those using diesel, so that means less wear on items that could have problems,
like the turbo, cooler and after-treatment device, which are all common to needing repair,” he said. The fuel tanks also are safer, being 20 times more puncture resistant than a typical fuel tank. It also is fitted with safety devices and shut-off valves that function automatically. Number 11 accommodates one less student at a capacity of 83 compared to its former diesel bus, as the emergency door is in the rear rather than the side. Its engine, in the front instead of in a rear diesel bus, has its drive line and exhaust line in its underbelly, which does reduce some of the luggage capacity, Turner said. However, the buses are better suited to the cold weather than the diesels, starting up at temperatures around 40 below zero Fahrenheit, he said. Boyer said that more school districts are looking at options instead of just purchasing diesel buses, including Jordan School District which recently introduced natural gas buses to its fleet. However, he added that Murray District is being cautious. “We’ll pilot these for the year and then decide on how they perform, their driveability, maintenance and cost before we commit to replacing more of our fleet with propane,” Boyer said. “By using a clean and affordable alternative fuel, we believe we’ll be able to cut down on emissions and still provide reliable transportation to our students.” l
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www.heidenortho.com September 2018 | Page 13
your murray schools – Murray City School District Newsletter MURRAY CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT 5102 South Commerce Drive • Murray, UT 84107 Phone 801-264-7400 | Fax 801-264-7456
Website: www.murrayschools.org | Facebook: Murray School District UT The Your Murray Schools section is a Murray City School District publication, under the direction of D. Wright, MCSD communications & public information.
September 2018
A Message From Superintendent Jennifer Covington Welcome to the new school year! The Murray City School Board has established the following four standards for our district: (1) Provide learning opportunities for students to excel personally, professionally, and academically (2) Foster a culture of mutual respect, leadership development, transparency, and collaboration (3) Integrate technology to impact student achievement (4) Ensure responsible stewardship over financial resources. Under their direction and support, the district has created an Action Plan centered Jennifer Covington on these standards. The overall focus of our Action Plan is to prepare students in our schools with knowledge and skills they will need to be successful in their future. We recognize that all students have unique needs, abilities, and interests, and we are continually looking at ways to provide our students with an engaging, personalized curriculum that will inspire and empower them to flourish as ethical and global citizens in the 21st Century. This year we will be launching our Power Up initiative which will provide access to digital devices to our students in grades 3-12. Educational technology enables students to experience a personalized curriculum and helps them gain the skills necessary to be successful in a college and career setting. We believe that as we implement our Power Up plan, the result will be a transformation of our learning environments, which will accelerate student learning. Another way we will be focusing on preparing our students of today for tomorrow is by promoting a rigorous understanding of content in all classrooms K-12. We want to ensure equitable access to learning to for all students. We will focus on this through the use of learning targets, success criteria, and questioning strategies in our classrooms.
2018 MCSD Calendar Highlights Sept. 3 (Mon.) Labor Day holiday Sept. 25-26 (Tues. & Wed.) Junior High PT SEOP Conferences Sept. 26-27 (Wed. & Thurs.) High School PT SEOP Conferences Oct. 18-19 (Thurs. & Fri.) Fall Recess Oct. 26 (Fri.) Teacher Work Day No school for students Nov. 7-8 (Wed. & Thurs.) Elementary PT Conferences Nov. 9 (Fri.) Teacher Comp or Work Day No school for students Nov. 21-23 (Wed., Thurs. Fri.) Thanksgiving Break Dec. 21, 2018-Jan.2, 2019 Winter Break Jan. 3, 2019 School back in session
Sharing learning targets goes beyond just writing an objective on the board and telling students what the objective is in a sentence or two. Well-defined and articulated learning targets in our classrooms give students the ability to understand the learning goal and know what good work or mastery of the learning goal looks like. In addition to our Power Up and learning targets initiatives, we are also looking forward to the following: • Implementation of Focal Point K12 Data Management System to standardize the collection of student proficiency data on the Utah Core Standards and the Murray School District Essential Standards. • Mental health professionals in all of our schools. • District behavior intervention team. • Security cameras upgraded across the district. • Reunification drills in all of our schools allowing students and parents the opportunity to practice this important safety procedure. • 1:1 technology purchased for grades 3-6, core content areas in grades 7-9, and all students in grades 10-12. • Two technology educators to assist our teachers and students with our Power Up initiative and provide coaching and training as needed. • Educators provided with online and on-demand professional learning in the use of technology and given the opportunity to earn an Educational Technology Endorsement.
• Implementation of the Student Support and Academic Enrichment (SSAE) grant which will allow Murray School District to focus on equitable access, rigor, and assessment for students in grades 4-9. (Murray was one of 11 Utah districts that received this grant.) • Redesigned district website that is ADA compatible so that all patrons may access information as needed. • The continued support of our Murray School District Board of Education in providing compensation to our teachers and classified personnel to remain competitive in recruiting and retaining effective educators. We look forward to a wonderful 2018-2019 school year. Thank you for your continued support of your Murray Schools!
New Teachers in the MCSD WELCOME to all of our new MCSD employees! Thank you so much for choosing to come to the Murray City School District, and best wishes for a wonderful and productive upcoming year. Marci Allred – Parkside KG Aaron Allsop – Grant & RJH Speech/Lang. Matty Barth – HJH Spanish Jordan Beckstrand – MHS Instrumental Laura Bettison – Parkside 6th Cara Cerise – Parkside 3rd Holly Chappell – Liberty Spec. Ed. Paige Clark – Parkside 2nd Brianna Hancock – Parkside 6th Alyssa Hobbs – Horizon Spec. Ed. Rochelle Horrocks – Parkside Spec. Ed. Alison Jacobson – Parkside Spec. Ed. Kevin Johnson – Horizon 4th Dual Im. Alisa Lambertsen – Horizon Spec. Ed.
Morgan Lami – HJH English/French Colleen Lawler – Parkside Spec. Ed. Krystal Lee-Chin – MHS Science Sara Lemcke – Horizon 3rd Dual Im. Sarah Lunceford – MHS Spec. Ed. Sierra Marsh – Grant Counselor Jackie Martin – MHS Automotive Katherine May – MHS Counselor Kaylie McBeth – Liberty 3rd Kylie McCurdy – Parkside KG Whitney Morris – Grant Instructional Crystal Norman – Grant 2nd Seth Otteson – Longview 5th Sarah Paul – Horizon 2nd Dual Im. Jessica Pearce – HJH Theatre
Stephanie Ruiz – HJH English Hannay Schulthess – Parkside 1st Kalli Searle – Grant Spec. Ed. Mikaele Shields – HJH English Gabriel Smith – HJH Spec. Ed. Amara Spere – Horizon 4th Dual Im. Matthew Stroshine – HJH Counselor Trisha Syversen – Parkside Title 1 Coord. Kimberlee Talbot – Parkside Speech Lang. Drew VanAmen – MHS Spec. Ed. Laura Wally – ECEC Spec. Ed. Maddison Wardle – Liberty 1st Jules Watson – Parkside 6th Kendra Wimbert – Parkside 3rd
NEW TECHNOLOGY FOR MURRAY SCHOOLS MCSD purchased over 2500 new electronic devices for student use this year. We are making sure our students are technologically ready! Pictured: Kraig Fisher, District Technology Specialist; Laura deShazo, MHS Assistant Principal
Teacher training at the DO before school starts.
The entire school year calendar is available on the District website, along with many other event listings. The Murray Board of Education reserves the right to alter or amend this calendar as may be necessitated by unforeseen events.
Page 14 | September 2018
Murray City Journal
September 2018 FREQUENTLY REQUESTED NUMBERS Grant Elementary . . . . . . 801-264-7416 Heritage Center (Senior Programming) . . 801-264-2635 Hillcrest Jr. High . . . . . . . 801-264-7442 Horizon Elementary . . . . 801-264-7420 Liberty Elementary . . . . . 801-264-7424 Longview Elementary. . . 801-264-7428 Ken Price Ball Park . . . . . 801-262-8282 Miss Murray Pageant (Leesa Lloyd) . . . . . . . . . . 801-446-9233 McMillan Elementary . . 801-264-7430 Murray Area Chamber of Commerce.. . . . . . . . . . 801-263-2632 Murray Arts Advisory Board (Mary Ann Kirk) . . . . . . . . 801-264-2614 Murray Boys & Girls Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . 801-268-1335 Murray City Cemetery . . . 801-264-2637 Murray Community Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . 801-264-7414 Murray High School . . . . 801-264-7460 Murray Museum . . . . . . . 801-264-2589
Mayor’s Message What Are You Doing About The Homeless Problem? We often get questions from our residents and business owners asking what the City is doing about the homeless problem in our city. Just exactly what the homeless problem is likely depends on your perspective. Is it an increase in crime? An increase in illegal camping? Is it perhaps the uneasiness of having an increased number “different” people in our neighborhoods? Maybe all of the above? In Murray, we have seen an increase in the number of homeless individuals since “Operation Rio Grande” was initiated about a year ago, mostly along the Jordan River, rail lines, and interstate freeways. Our police department gets numerous calls to investigate homeless individuals in or around neighborhoods, particularly when residents are concerned about their safety. Our fire department responds on average to two calls per day involving the transient population, and there have been a number of fires in or near transient camps and abandoned buildings in the past year. Business owners near the Jordan River and transportation corridors have expressed concerns over the impact on their businesses from homeless individuals. The homeless problem is indeed a complex, far-reaching, and extensive issue in our city, county, and society. As a city, we have responded to these issues in a number of ways. Our police department has been patrolling our parks and trails on bicycles throughout the summer. They continue to monitor areas of concern regarding drug use and crime. They are also working in coordinated effort with UTA police and Utah Department of Public Safety officers. In addition to these measures, we have
mayor@murray.utah.gov been involved with contacting and giving referrals to homeless indi801-264-2600 viduals for assistance programs, 5025 S. State Street including Workforce Services and Murray, Utah 84107 the Health Department. Our Public Works Department has assisted in cleanup of illegal encampment areas by providing personnel, trucks, and trailers and transporting materials to the landfill. Unfortunately, new encampments spring up rapidly after old ones are cleaned up. Our Parks Department has seen an increase of homeless individuals sleeping in parks. Overnight camping is not permitted in parks, so police and code enforcement officers work to enforce that ordinance. The restrooms in all of our parks have automatic locking doors that lock at night. Wherever possible, trees and brush have been trimmed to eliminate hiding and camping areas. Park personnel have also worked to clean up homeless encampments. As city leaders, we are in constant communication with County and State leaders regarding this difficult challenge. I am reminded that being homeless is not illegal, and some individuals choose that lifestyle. But homelessness goes hand-in-hand with an increase in drug use and petty crimes. We can never solve the problem by continually moving these people from one jurisdiction to another. The crisis is much bigger than one city or county, or even one state. As a city, I believe we are doing what we can within the bounds of the law and available resources. We are always open to thoughts and suggestions for solutions, and I welcome constructive and compassionate dialogue.
Murray Parks and Recreation Office . . . . . . . 801-264-2614 Murray Parkway Golf Course . . . . . . . . . . . . 801-262-4653 Murray Park Aquatics Pool . . . . . . . . . .801 290-4190
“Everybunny needs somebunny sometimes.”
Mick Riley Golf Course (SL County) . . . . . . . . . . . 801-266-8185
Meet Gidget, this cute little rabbit is sweet as can be, a tiny young rabbit who is looking for its forever home. Gidget loves lettuce, thinks it is just amazing and also loves other fruits and vegetables. If you think Gidget would be a perfect fit in your family, come visit Gidget at the Murray Animal Shelter during normal business hours.
Parkside Elementary . . . . 801-264-7434 Riverview Jr. High . . . . . . 801-264-7446 Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation . . . . . . . . 801-468-2560 Salt Lake County Ice Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . 801-270-7280 The Park Center . . . . . . . . 801-284-4200 Viewmont Elementary . . 801-264-7438
MURRAY ANIMAL
s h e lt e r
MAYOR’S OFFICE D. Blair Camp Mayor
MURRAY
POLICE DEPARTMENT
5624 South 300 West • 801.264.2671 Monday - Friday 10am - 5pm
R ECREATION Murray City Adult Volleyball
Cornhole
A game in which small bags are tossed at a target consisting of an inclined wooden platform with a hole at one end. A bag in the hole scores 3 points while on the platform scores 1 point. Play two matches per night. Must be 18 years of age and older. All participants receive a t-shirt!
Dates:
October 1 through November 26
Cost:
$75 per team includes a t-shirt
Place:
Hillcrest Jr High Aux. Gym
Nights:
Monday Nights
Time: 6am Coaches Meeting
Times:
6:30 pm, 7:30 , and 8:30 pm
Cost: $270 per team
Format:
Halloween Coed Volleyball Tournament Date: Saturday, October 27
Deadline: October 19, 2018 Register online at www.mcreg.com
Jr. Jazz Basketball Play 8 games, practice every week. Jr. High and High School League Dec. 1, 8, 15, Jan. 5. 12, 19, 26, Feb. 2, 9, Jr. Jazz Grades 1-6 Jan. 5, 12, 19, 26, Feb. 2, 9, 16, 23, Cost: $55 Resident, $65 Non Residents Registration Deadline: Jr. High and High School-November 7, 2018 Grades 1-6-Dec. 7, 2018 Register: Parks and Recreation Office, The Park Center, or online at www.mcreg.com
Deadline: Friday, September 21, 2018 Play two matches per night, can play with 2 to 4 people
Register: Murray Parks & Recreation Office, The Park Center, or online at www.mcreg.com
Flag Football 101
Football 101 is for youth in Kindergarten and 1st grade. This six week program is designed to teach youth the fundamentals of football. Instruction is given and games will be played each week. Both boys and girls are encouraged to participate in this program. It’s fun, safe, and exciting for the kids! A parent is required to be at each weekly session. Space is limited to the first 16 kids per session. Dates: Place: Days: Grades: Cost: Times: Deadline: Register:
Sept. 22, 29, October 6, 13, 20, 27 The Park Center Cove Saturdays K-1 $35 Residents, $45 Non-residents 9:30 am, 10:30 am, 11:30 am Wed., September 12, 2018 Murray Parks & Recreation Office, The Park Center or online at www.mcreg.com
Jr. Jazz 101
This is an introductory class to basketball. The program emphasizes skill development related basketball. Forty Minutes of instruction set to drill using fun games and 20 minutes of actual game time. Dates: Cost: Ages: Times: Place: Register:
Jan. 5, 12, 19, 26, Feb. 2, 9, $35 Residents, $45 Non Residents 4 & 5 year olds 9:00 am, 10:00 am, 11:00 am, 12:00 pm Hillcrest Jr. High Aux Gym Murray Parks and Recreation, The Park Center on online at www.mcreg.com Deadline: Dec. 28, 2018
SEPTEMBER 2018 C ULTURAL A RTS Resident on Display Original artwork by Murray resident artists are displayed in the central display case at City Hall. Our featured artists will be Ruth Johnson (pictured) in September and Sharon Collard in October.
Miss Murray Pageant September 22 | 7:00 PM | MHS $10 General Admission 3 & under Free
@MurrayCityCulturalArts @Murraycitymuseum
DID YOU KNOW? After a riot and fire started by a rowdy group of smelter workers in a local saloon, the fight for incorporation begun by a local newspaper editor. Murray City was officially recognized as a Third Class City by the State of Utah on January 3, 1903. The City received its present name from the Murray Post Office, named after the territorial governor and civil war general, Eli Murray, in 1883. Learn more about Murray City’s past at the Murray Museum located in City Hall. Open Mon/Wed: 9am-5pm and Tue/Thurs/Fri: 9am-1pm.
Arts in the Park Family Night Concert Series: September 10 – Mixed Nuts 7:00 PM | Murray Senior Recreation Center
Miss Murray 2017-2018 Jessica Christenson Photo Credit: David Christenson
THANK YOU to all who attended our Lunch Concerts, Children Matinees, and Family Night Series this season. We hope you enjoyed the variety of performances and join us again next summer. Check out our Facebook Page to view photos and videos of our 2018 Arts in the Park Series. Murray City Cultural Arts are able to provide these free series through funding from Zoo Arts & Parks, Utah Division of Arts & Museums, and community support.
MUSEUM MEMES WIN 2 TICKETS to America’s Music & Dance / Salt Lake City Jazz Orchestra’s performance at Murray Park Amphitheater. To enter, create an original caption with the photograph below. Photo and rules can be found on the city History Webpage at www.murray.utah.gov
M URRAY S ENIOR R ECREATION C ENTER The Murray Senior Recreation Center is a 55+ recreation center for people who like to stay active, learn, get services, go places, stay healthy, play, volunteer, meet people, enjoy life and more. The Center’s current newsletter is available on our website at www.murray.utah.gov/140/Heritage-Center and will have the most up-to-date information on our activities and services. Please call the Heritage Center at 801-264-2635 or visit us to register for any of our classes or services. Lunch is served Tuesday–Friday anytime between 11:30–12:30 and you pay for your meal after you pick up your food. No reservations are needed—except for special events. Options include the regular menu item, salad, soup, Panini, and sandwiches. The cost ranges from $2–$4 for people 55+.
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2018
The free FAMILY CONCERT begins at 7:00 and features Mixed Nuts and will be sure to entertain you and your family. Since their quiet beginning, this five-member ensemble has exploded into prominence, endearing itself to countless residents of senior centers and retirement facilities across the Salt Lake Valley. Playing the music of the big band era, in the minds of those who lived at that time, they reignite great memories of Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, and countless other entertainers of the era.
Oktoberfest The annual OKTOBERFEST will be held on Wednesday, October 17 from 11:00-1:30. Registration will begin on Wednesday, September 19. The meal will include a Salted Pretzel Appetizer with German Mustard or Cheese, Beer Bratwurst or Roasted Chicken Breast, Roasted Red Potatoes, Bacon Sauerkraut, and German Chocolate Cake. The cost is $8 per person or $56 for a table of seven.
eBook & eAudiobook Class: Friday, September 7-10:30 History Class –World War I: Tuesday, September 11 - 10:30 Brain Health Class: Tuesday, September 18-10:30 AARP Smart Driving Class: Tuesday, Sept. 25 & Oct. 23, 9:30-2:30 Vital Aging: Tuesday, Sept. 25- 10:30 Social Security Class: Thursday, September 27- 10:30 Brunch: Tuesday, October 23 - 10:00-12:00 Massage every Thursday: 12:00-4:00- $36 Registration required Flu Shots: Friday, October 5 – 10:00-12:00
SPECIAL EVENTS Annual Open House & Family Concert Mark your calendar for the Center’s ANNUAL OPEN HOUSE on Monday, September 10 from 5:00-8:00. The theme will incorporate growing, learning, giving, and connecting at senior centers. A rib dinner with barbequed beans, potato salad, and peach cobbler will be served anytime from 5:00-7:00. Dinner tickets are available for purchase at the front desk and must be purchased prior to Friday, August 31. The cost is $8 per person or $28 for a family of four. All ages are welcome.
When purchasing your seats, specify chicken or bratwurst for each person. Up to seven tickets (a table) may be purchased by an individual. Register early, seating is limited and tickets go quickly. The cancellation deadline is Friday, October 5. The entertainment will be provided by Polka Doodle Doo featuring Kevin Scott Christensen, a local accordionist who has been playing German folk songs for years. The troupe includes Mark Chaney on percussion and Pamela Lemons on clarinet. Only ticketed individuals will be allowed in the dining room for the meal and entertainment.
End of Summer Dinner Dance On Thursday, September 20, we will be offering a DINNER at 6:00 and DANCE at 7:00. We will be serving Pot Roast, Potatoes, Salad, Beverage, and Dessert. Cost for the night is $10. Advance tickets are required for the dinner and are available now for purchase.
TRIPS - SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER Swaner Preserve and EcoCenter Located on the entryway to Park City, the SWANER
THE MURRAY SENIOR RECREATION CENTER
PRESERVE permanently protects 1200 acres of rare and critical habitat encompassing valuable wetlands, miles of streams, and diverse wildlife habitat. Over 140 species of birds and 50 species of wildlife can be found on the Preserve. We will explore the exhibit hall and interactive displays of the ECOCENTER and connect with nature by taking a walk on the 400-foot pier onto the Preserve. The bus will leave Tuesday, September 25 at 10:00. After our tour of the EcoCenter, we will have lunch (on your own) at Kneaders. Cost is $8. Registration begins Wednesday, September 12.
Front Runner to Ogden
For this unique trip we will be taking the FRONT RUNNER commuter rail train to Ogden’s Historic Union Station on a museum and lunch tour. The almost century old Union Train Depot houses four classic museums and the Union Grill Restaurant, where you are free to dine on your own. Your trip includes entry to all four museums: Utah State Railroad Museum, John M. Browning Firearms Museum, Browning-Kimball Classic Car Museum, and the Utah Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. This trip will require extensive walking to and from the station, museums, and restaurants. Our bus will take you to the Murray UTA Front Runner stop at 10:00 and will pick you up again at 4:30 on Thursday, September 27. If you would like to drive to the Front Runner stop on your own, you can. Limit is 20 people. Cost is $10 which includes your Front Runner ticket and entry into all four museums. Registration starts Tuesday, September 4.
Fall Colors
The FALL COLORS trip has become a favorite of the Murray Senior Recreation Center participants. With fall just around the corner, mark your calendars for Thursday, October 4. We have chartered a bus which will leave the Center at 9:30 and return around 5:00. The cost is $32 and includes lunch and transportation on the bus. Registration begins Wednesday, September 5. We will travel to Logan where we will have lunch at Angie’s Restaurant (1/2 sandwich, soup or salad, dessert and beverage). After lunch we will visit Gossner’s Cheese Factory. After our tour, we will drive through Huntsville, Mountain Green, Coalville, and then back to the Center through Parley’s Canyon. Don’t miss this yearly excursion and the opportunity to enjoy a beautiful fall day and the parade of colors.
10 East 6150 South (West of State Street) • 801-264-2635
Murray-based women’s semi-pro football continues to thrive, now with a five-year record of 49-2 By Carl Fauver | carlf@mycityjournals.com
The “Best of the West Women’s Football Championship” tournament the Utah Falconz participated in was the first event of its kind. (Utah Falconz)
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couple of months ago we reported about the hundreds of Salt Lake Valley girls – including three Murray sisters – who play and love the rough ‘n’ tumble sport of tackle football. The girls play in a league started by Brent Gordon, whose daughter, Sam Gordon, became an internet sensation a few years ago, when highlights of her Ute Conference play – against virtually all boys – went viral. Brent Gordon is now 15 months into a lawsuit – against the Utah High School Athletics Association, along with Canyons, Granite and Jordan School Districts – to compel them to field girls high school football teams, to comply with the Education Amendments Act of 1972, known as “Title IX.” Retiring Utah Falconz running back Keeshya Cox believes the legal action is coming none too soon. A little more than a decade ago, the 29-year-old women’s semi-pro football player says sexism was thriving at her high school – and it cost her the opportunity to play the game of her dreams. “I attended an inner city high school in Kansas City,” Cox explained. “I desperately wanted to play full-contact football. Of course, it would be against all boys, but I wanted the challenge. When I asked the coach to play, he told me I couldn’t because ‘we don’t have pads to fit a girl.’ There had been a few female high school football players around the country by then, so his claim was ridiculous.” It’s hard to tell what will become of Brent Gordon’s “let the girls play too” lawsuit. But one thing is clear: young ladies under high school age are currently making the Utah Girls Tackle Football League one of the fastest-growing youth sports programs in our state. And women who are post-high school age are thriving
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in a variety of female, full-contact football leagues across the United States. If there’s that much interest in the sport among women — pre- and posthigh school — it will be interesting to see whether a Utah judge sides with Gordon to force school districts to fill that gap. And even if girls high school football does not come about in our state, at least the young ladies in the local youth league know, someday they can tryout for one of the most outstanding women’s football teams in the country, without having to leave the Salt Lake Valley. In fact you have never heard of a team with as high of a winning percentage as the Utah Falconz have, despite losing their league championship game in Las Vegas this summer. “With that championship loss (22-15 to the Texas Elite Spartans) our five-year record is 49-2,” Rick Rasmussen said. He’s the only head coach the Utah Falconz have ever had. And yes, you read that right. The women who play their home games at Cottonwood High School in Murray have played 51 games… and have lost only twice. The Falconz were the two-time defending Independent Women’s Football League (IWFL) National Champions. A year ago, the Falcons won their second national title on their home field in Murray. But this year the leagues attempted something different – holding a four-team “Best of the West Women’s Football Championship Tournament” in Las Vegas. That format forced the Utah women to win a semifinal game (29-14 over the Seattle Majestics) on a Thursday, and then turn around just two days later to face Texas – all in the sweltering Las Vegas heat. “We weren’t upset about having to
play two games in three days,” Cox said. “We took ice baths after that first game and stuck to a strict nutrition plan. We fought hard in the championship and led at halftime. But playing so soon after the semifinal is not why we lost. (The Texas Elite Spartans) were a very good team. And they had to do the same thing.” The Falcons scored first in the title game, with their 2-point conversion making the score 8-0. Texas countered, but kicked their extra point, resulting in an 8-7 Utah lead at halftime. “We scored one touchdown in the first half, and another in the second half, against a team that had given up absolutely zero points all season long,” coach Rasmussen added. “The outcome wasn’t what we hoped for. But I have never been more proud of this team. They were clearly the underdogs and fought hard to the very end.” This was the first meeting between Utah and Texas (based in Dallas) because the Elite Spartans play in a different league. After the championship, the Falconz also announced they will be moving to a different league next season. But that all gets into the kind of politics Keeshya Cox says she and her teammates don’t follow. “I just play for the love of the game and to be around my teammates,” she said. “That’s why we all do it. We don’t get paid. In fact, our fee to play their season went up to $1,000. We do it because we love it.” So regardless of whether girls tackle football ever becomes a sanctioned high school sport in Utah (or elsewhere), female players — pre- and post-high school — are clearly demonstrating this is an activity many want to pursue. l
September 2018 | Page 19
Well-travelled Cottonwood High School graduate Gary Andersen returns to U of U football sideline By Carl Fauver | carlf@mycityjournals.com
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oan Lambert, 77, is as thrilled as she can be to have all five of her children back living within two miles of her Murray home. Four of the five have never strayed too far. But the fifth – once Stacey Lambert, now Stacey Andersen – has been all over the place… all because she married her Cottonwood High School sweetheart. Joan’s wayward daughter is back – and hosting Sunday family dinners most weeks – thanks to an offer made by one “big time” college football coach, and a promise made to her by another “big time” college football coach. University of Utah Head Football Coach Kyle Whittingham made the (associate head and defensive line coach) offer, while Gary Andersen himself – Joan’s son-in-law – kept the promise. “Gary’s coaching career has taken us a lot of places,” Stacey Andersen said. “But he always promised me and my Mom he would get us back here (to Murray). For a while it looked like that might not happen until he retired. But then this opportunity came along. We were so excited – and Mom is thrilled.” If you follow PAC-12 football, you know all about Andersen’s mid-season departure last fall from Oregon State. As the Beavers’ head coach, his guaranteed contract would have paid him millions had he been fired by the school. Instead, Andersen made national news by telling OSU officials he wanted to resign – and would not expect one more penny from them. “We have never been money driven,” Gary Andersen said. “We’ve never woke up and said, ‘We’re doing this for the money.’ I coach to help student athletes grow and develop. So leaving (OSU and as much as $12-million in guaranteed money) was a difficult decision. But it had to be made.” And Joan’s daughter Stacey gave her husband no pushback. “I don’t need all the bells and whistles (millions of dollars can buy),” Stacey said. “We’ve always lived modestly. So, honestly, we did not give (walking away from the OSU contract) much thought.” After leaving Corvallis, Gary and Stacey moved back to their home in Logan, where he had been head football coach of the Utah State Aggies for four seasons. That was prior to their move to the University of Wisconsin, and then to OSU. “I first met Kyle (Whittingham) when we were both assistant coaches at Idaho State years ago (1992-93),” Andersen said. “And, of course, I had coached with him at Utah. So when the NCAA approved one additional college coaching position, Kyle called me. I was excited to take the job. Stacey had already gotten after me saying ‘retirement’ wasn’t working
Gary Andersen has moved back to Murray and rejoined the Utah football coaching staff for the first time in a decade. (U of U Athletic Dept.)
out. So I accepted the job and we started looking for a home in Murray near her family.” Andersen said they got close. “If you’re a strong golfer, you can hit any one of her five kids’ houses – from my mother-in-law’s place – with a good 9-iron shot,” he quipped. And Gary wasn’t the only coach who was pleased. “We’re happy Gary has rejoined our staff,” coach Whittingham said at the time of the hiring. “Gary brings a wealth of high-level coaching experience to the program, including serving as the head coach at two Power Five schools (Wisconsin and Oregon State). During his previous time on our staff, he developed some of the best defensive linemen in Utah history. In addition, he is an excellent recruiter and motivator and understands what it takes to win at this level.” High praise for the 1982 Cottonwood High School graduate who married his classmate. “Stacey and I met working at the same Murray hamburger joint,” Gary said. “She is the only girl I ever dated seriously.” The two wed three years out of high school and have three sons. Keegan, 27, has worked with his father at various schools, first as an assistant coach and now in recruiting. His twin younger brothers – Chasen and Hagen, 24 – just graduated from Utah State last December and are investigating non-sports career opportunities. The boys are all married, and Gary and Stacey are due to be first-time grandparents in December. Gary Andersen admits to being somewhat amazed at how a coaching career can turn on a phone call or two. In the early 1990s, he quit his job at Idaho State and ended up the head football coach at Park City High School for one season. At age 30 – and after six years coaching at the college level – he wondered whether he’d
remain a high school coach forevermore… until the phone rang. “That call came from (former BYU head football coach) Bronco Mendenhall, who was then at Northern Arizona University,” Andersen said. “He called out of the blue and got me back into college coaching… the same way Kyle (Whittingham) called me out of the blue, last winter.” Andersen said he is primarily the Utes’ defensive line coach. “That associate head coach thing… that’s just so Kyle can throw me a few small duties when he’s too busy,” he said. “There hasn’t been much of that.” The last time Whittingham and Andersen prowled the same sideline together was during, arguably, Utah’s most significant win in school history. Heavily-favored Alabama was shocked to see the Utes race out to a 21-0 first quarter lead in the 2009 Sugar Bowl. They then held on to beat coach Nick Saban’s Crimson Tide, 31-17. Utah finished their undefeated 2008 season with a No. 2 national ranking. Whittingham was elected Coach of the Year by the American Football Coaches Association. And Andersen accepted his first college head coaching job, in Logan. “I think we’ve been very fortunate with his coaching career,” Stacey Andersen concluded. “We’ve been lucky to be here in Utah for 13 seasons; but we’ve also had the opportunity to see other parts of the country. Gary’s worked hard to get where he is. It’s been challenging at times… but mostly exciting and fun.” It’s not yet certain whether this will be Gary Andersen’s final coaching stop. But, for now, Joan Lambert will continue enjoying her Sundays with all five of her children… just as soon as someone fires up enough good 9-iron shots to call them to dinner. l
Murray City Journal
Three 2018 MHS graduates have earned scholarships to play college softball in Colorado and Oregon By Carl Fauver | carlf@mycityjournals.com
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he Murray High School softball team had a bit of a disappointing season last spring, as their string of four consecutive region titles was snapped (placing second to West High) and they were put out of the Class 5A state tournament without placing. But second year head coach Danielle McKay did see nearly half of her graduating seniors (three of seven) earn softball scholarships, to play at the next level in Oregon and Colorado. “It’s very exciting to see these girls move on to play college ball and they deserve it,” McKay said. “I recommended two of them to a college coach I know very well and they will be teammates next year. The third one is going to play for a coach I don’t know and I didn’t speak to anyone from that program at all. I’m happy for all three of them.” The future collegiate teammates are Sophie Richmond and Gabbe Pond, who both signed to play for coach Megan Corriea at Southwestern Oregon Community College in Coos Bay. The Lakers athletic teams compete in the Northwest Athletic Association. Meantime, Sydnie Monson is moving the other direction – to tiny La Junta, Colorado – to play softball at Otero Junior College. “I posted some video clips of me playing on a recruiting website and I received an email from (Otero) coach (Dwight) Sanders,” Sydnie said. “It was nice to get noticed. So I made a recruiting trip over there last March. My mom drove with me and we had a great time.” Sydnie said she was supposed to attend an Otero home softball game during her trip. But poor weather conditions forced the game to be cancelled just a few minutes before play was to begin. “It was so cold, a couple of the bats broke during pregame warmups,” Sydnie added. “My mom came with me to the game, but she stayed in the car and was not upset when it was cancelled.” Between the cold March temperatures – and the tiny size of La Junta – Sydnie said it was a difficult decision to sign to play at Otero. “After one last talk with my parents, I just decided to do it,” Sydnie said. “It turned out that was the only school I visited.” Sydnie has been working this summer at an assisted living center and plans to pursue a career in medicine. She’s grateful for the work her Murray softball coach did to prepare her for college play. “Danielle is an excellent coach, one of the better ones I have ever had,” she said. “She gives her players lots of one-on-one time and is very mellow. She pushes to get the best out of us. But she never screams at you.” While Sydnie was earning her Otero scholarship – unbeknownst to coach McKay, before-
MurrayJournal .com
Three of these seven Murray High softball players are now moving on to compete at the college level. (Photo courtesy Gabbe Pond)
hand – the second year Murray head coach did play an active role in directing Richmond and Pond up to Southwestern Oregon Community College. “I got to know coach Corriea while I was living in the Seattle area, also coaching in the Northwest Athletic Association,” McKay said. “She’ll come to me from time to time when she has slots to fill. She trusts my opinion about players.” Outfielder Gabbe Pond said she has been aware of the Southwestern Oregon softball program for several years and is grateful for the recommendation she received from coach McKay. “I signed to play there before my senior (Murray High School) season started, on my 19th birthday, March 2nd,” Pond said. “Coach McKay has helped me a lot on the field to be a better defensive player. I also appreciate her putting in a good word for me with coach Corriea.” In addition to playing for Murray High, Pond has also played four years for the Utah Liberty travel softball team. She said the husband and wife coaches of that team were also critical to helping her earn her scholarship. “Coaches John and Codee Flores were influential in my scholarship,” Gabbe added. “Every senior-age girl on my Utah Liberty team signed to play college softball this spring, thanks in large part to their efforts.” While coach McKay was endorsing Gabbe Pond to coach Corriea, that’s also when she recommended Murray HS infielder Sophie Richmond to her former coaching associate. “Sophie has such a high softball IQ and is one of the best second base players I have ever coached,” McKay said. Richmond was also a member of the softball Academic All-State team. l
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Page 22 | September 2018
Murray City Journal
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September 18 at 9:30 AM and 10:30 AM Songs and stories in the Ice House for preschoolers and their caregivers. This is a partner program with Salt Lake County Library Services on the 3rd Tuesday of the month. No admission fee for this event.
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September 2018 | Page 23
Top five ways to avoid an accident
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ccidents are inevitable. Or are they? We’ve all met someone who says (more like “claims”) they have never experienced a car accident before. While we might doubt the veracity of such a statement, there are countless ways to avoid those nauseatingly time consuming situations — the ones where you wait for law enforcement on the side of the road (or middle of the intersection), deal with insurance companies and figure out finances for fixing the fender. There are countless ways to avoid an accident, here are the top five. 1. Attitude You probably weren’t expecting this one first. As a driver, you control over 3,000 pounds (or more) of metal that can cause incalculable damage. Driving with maturity and the right mindset makes a world of difference. Speeding to beat another car to the exit or to get back at the person who cut you off a minute ago may give you a moment of satisfaction, but is it worth the risk and ramifications? If all drivers commit to having a responsible attitude, imagine how much less we’d find ourselves in bumper to bumper traffic waiting to pass the accident. 2. Speed From 2012-2016, 40 percent of motor vehicle traffic crash deaths in Utah were because
Page 24 | September 2018
of speeding, according to Utah Department of let someone else go first. Public Safety’s crash data. This also applies when driving in poor Slowing down isn’t going to kill you, but weather conditions. Heavy rainfall and snowflying past others just might. storms blot windshields and make roads slick, 3. Distraction adverse circumstances to traveling safely. BaStay focused. Keep your guard up. Though sics become even more vital like keeping your you may be a phenomenal driver, others aren’t. distance from the vehicle in front of you. Be aware of your surroundings by paying 5. Maintenance attention to what’s in front of you and checking The best way to avoid car malfunction is your mirrors. Knowing where everyone else is the maintenance of said car. helps avoid collisions. If you’re distracted by Ensure tires and brakes are operating withyour phone, music, or billboards with cows out issue. Keep fluids to their proper levels. writing on them, it limits your response time to Oil changes and car washes make a difference. what another driver may being doing in front These simple, but effective maintenance tips of you. ensure your car remains a well-oiled machine 4. Defense (pun intended). l This was one of the first concepts taught in driver education and one of the first we forget: drive defensively. Failing to yield caused 12 percent of deaths from 20122016 in the same data mentioned before. That comes to 154 people who died because they didn’t Here are some ways to avoid a car accident, like this one. (Photo by David Shankbone)
Murray City Journal
Labor Day and Murray Day – two in the same By Shaun Delliskave | s.delliskave@mycityjournals.com
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abor Day, at one time, was so widely celebrated in Murray that it was simply called Murray Day. This year, Murray will continue to host Labor Day festivities by holding “A Race for all Ages.” The contest is an abbreviated triathlon using the facilities within Murray Park, with various distances for youth and adults of all ages. To some, Labor Day is the official end of summer, but to others, like Murray City Councilman and former President of the Utah AFLCIO Dale Cox, the day is “not just a holiday, but remembering that what makes America great is its hard-working men and women.” Cox hopes that everyone celebrating on Labor Day will take a moment to “remember working men and women, whether union or not, and all they have done for our country.” First observed in 1882 in New York as a festive day with a parade, speeches, and picnics; Labor Day was first declared a national holiday in 1884. The American Federation of Labor union asked all wage earners to observe it, as “it should be as uncommon for a man to work on Labor Day as on the Fourth of July.” The prominence of Labor Day in Murray is tied to its history of organized labor. Today, the Utah Education Association and Utah Public Employees Association call Murray home, while the Utah Farm Bureau Federation hosts its largest and oldest farmer’s market at Murray Park. In the early 20th century, Murray had a large working-class population that supported the smelter industry. Workers first organized for better wages against the Cahoon sawmill in June 1899. The Salt Lake Tribune reported, “A strike in this town is something new… about twenty hands at Cahoon’s sawmill struck for five cents more an hour… which was finally granted them.” However, the owners balked at the demand for better hours. This incident stirred the local workforce,
and days later employees at the Highland Boy Smelter went on strike, demanding better wages and hours, but to no avail. The following spring at the Germania smelter, one of the largest labor strikes Utah has ever seen happened, with 600 workers walking off the job. Sherriff deputies were called to the site with drawn weapons to disperse a relatively peaceful crowd. The Salt Lake Herald described, “The town of Murray is clearly in sympathy with the strikers, and should any outbreak occur, the houses of the people will be at their disposal.” While the strike ended up failing, it did attract organized labor unions to Utah, including the International Union of Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers and the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), which brought noted activist Joe Hill to a fateful visit to Murray. Murray Labor Days going forward consisted of a parade of thousands marching down State Street and picnics and rallies in Murray Park. In 1926, over 15,000 crammed the brandnew Murray Park for the dedication of a swimming pool and baseball games. Murray farmers also organized, under the Farm Bureau, and held their gathering at Murray Park in 1929. The success of that meeting persuaded the mayor and city council to declare Labor Day as also Murray Day with hopes of attracting the farmers to continue to hold their meetings in Murray. As crowds for Murray Day/Labor Day increased, the organizers for the Salt Lake County Fair took notice and setup permanent fair facilities within Murray Park, holding the fair concurrent with those days. By 1941, Murray’s Labor Day was part of what the Salt Lake Telegram called the “biggest celebration in history,” as several labor unions combined to promote the day. World War II dramatically changed those holidays, as the smelters would soon shut down
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The Labor Day parade of 1910 marches past City Hall on the corner of State and Vine Streets. (Photo courtesy of Murray Museum)
and the farms would recede from Murray. Councilman Cox doesn’t foresee the return of the Labor Days of old, but he still hopes that residents will reflect on the true value that is the
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American worker. More details on the “A Race for all Ages” can be found online at www.murray.utah.gov. l
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abbingtonseniorliving.com September 2018 | Page 25
Beginning teachers begin to see better salaries By Jet Burnham and Julie Slama | j.burnham@mycityjournals.com, Julie@mycityjournals.com
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anice Voorhies began her teaching career in Alpine School District in 1969, a time when it was the lowest-paying school district in a state with the lowest teacher salary in the nation. “I arguably was—for a brief while—the lowest paid teacher in America,” she said. Voorhies is now Board of Education president for Jordan District and was thrilled to announce a pay increase for Utah teachers for the 2018-2019 school year. The raise includes an $875 step increase for every teacher and a $2,500 cost-of-living adjustment for every licensed employee for a total raise of $3,675. “We had a goal to retain quality teachers and attract new teachers,” Voorhies said. “This compensation is something I never could have dreamed of when I started my first-year salary at $4,800.” When the package was announced, some teachers argued the raise was unfair because, by percentages, new teachers got a bigger raise than experienced teachers. Others, like Jordan Ridge Elementary’s Laurie Christensen, thought it was a great package. With the announcement, she reminded her colleagues that it incentivizes college students to enter and remain in the profession.
Page 26 | September 2018
“We’ve got to shift our view,” she said. “We’ve got to look at what’s best for all of the educators out there.” West Hills Middle teacher Victor Neves has been teaching for 27 years. He said before the raise last year, he was making about twice as much as a first-year teacher. “I certainly don’t work twice as hard as first-year teachers,” he said. “I’d say I work about one-tenth as hard as first-year teachers. And because I know what I’m doing, I think I teach better than them — but not twice as well as them.” In Canyons District, first-year teacher Whitney Lott will be teaching Midvale Middle School eighth-graders. “My contract begins Aug. 17 and already I’ve been getting the room ready,” she said in late July, adding that she has read the core curriculum, a teaching strategy book and will have attended a teaching “base camp” before her contract begins. “Being a new teacher may be more work than a veteran as I’m learning everything and creating a curriculum while veteran teachers usually are not on the same learning curve. (But) I truly, truly believe this is the one of the most important jobs we can do.” Neves said the salary arms race among the
districts competing for new teachers is encouraging. “If we’re going to attract and retain new teachers, which we need to do, we have to pay them market rates,” he said. Voorhies said the board had beginning teachers in mind when they approved the raise. “It’s never easy for a first-year teacher — financially or with the workload—there’s a huge learning curve,” she said. “But anything we can do to allow teachers to earn more money—they’ll go someplace else if they can’t feed their family.” Emily Oscarson is a first-year teacher at Golden Fields Elementary in Jordan District, starting at $42,800 a year. She survived on her intern wage last year—50 percent of a teacher’s wage—even while she ran her classroom independently. “Like any career, you have to work your way up,” she said. “You’re not going to start fresh out of college making some huge salary.” Utah Education Association spokesman Mike Kelley said that school districts together worked to “set the mark above $40,000 in all school districts here in the valley,” but that starting salary is not across the state as rural school districts may not have the same resources.
Murray Education Association President and Murray High School government teacher Mark Durfey is grateful for the pay raise. “Murray Education Association members are appreciative of the 2.75 percent raise,” he said, adding there won’t be an additional increase in insurance rates. “With this increase, added to the considerable adjustment from last year’s negotiations, we think Murray is a great place to work.” Utah teachers have always been quick to point out they are some of the lowest paid in the nation. According to statistics from EdBuild.org, a nonprofit organization in support of public schools, (see table), Utah’s salary ranking moved up from 35th to 31st when average teacher wages were adjusted for cost of living. However, the study used 2013 wages. The recent raises—nearly 12 percent last year and the additional bump from this year’s packages— may have moved Utah closer to the middle of the pack. However, there still is a need to make the pay scale equal to those of starting professionals, such as a computer programmer or a medical technician. (see table). In a recent article, the National Education
Murray City Journal
Association states: “It is true that most educators decide to enter the teaching profession because of a desire to work with children, but to attract and retain a greater number of dedicated, committed professionals, educators need salaries that are literally ‘attractive.’” In a 2006 NEA study, half of new U.S. teachers are likely to quit within the first five years because of poor working conditions and low salaries.
However, with salaries on the rise, the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Educational Statistics study found in 2015 that after three years, only 17 percent of teachers leave their field. The determining factor was money. Their study of 1,900 teachers showed that 97 percent of teachers who earned more than $40,000 their first year returned the next year, compared with 87 percent who earned less than $40,000.
Utah teachers, like Neves, are hopeful additional funding for education will be approved by the state legislature. He said it’s important to ease the burden of the high rent many young teachers are facing. “The raise is big and it’s great but the legislature needs to step up,” he said. “If we are going to get teachers, we have to pay new teachers enough to pay their rent.” Voorhies said those employed by taxpay-
ers—police, fire fighters and teachers—have traditionally been underpaid and undervalued by the community. “I don’t think they have to be rich, but they should be able to make a living so we can encourage good people—people that really care about the community—to work in the fields that will influence our children for better and keep us safe,” she said. l
Whitney Lott, a first-year teacher stands outside her classroom at Midvale Middle School a week before school starts. (Photo/Daniel Davis)
MurrayJournal .com
September 2018 | Page 27
Officials look for solutions to housing shortage
MISSION STATEMENT 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.
Murray Youth Chamber Golf Tourament Our 2018 Murray Youth Chamber Scholarship Golf Tournament was so much fun! Thank you to our wonderful Murray Youth Chamber/ Council for putting together a great tournament and showcasing all you do year round. We are proud to have you part of the Murray Chamber! Thank you to our Bay Sponsors: Intermountain Medical, Alphagraphics, Homewood Suites, Inwest Title, Executech, My City Journals, Thorne & Associates, Voxx and our numerous players. Thank you to Top Golf for hosting us. Your hospitality was so appreciated.
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By Lana Medina | l.medina@mycityjournals.com
H
ousing costs are rising throughout the Salt Lake Valley, and both renters and buyers are struggling to manage. But it’s low-income families that are getting hit the worst. In a recent study by the University of Utah Gardner Institute, Utah’s housing unaffordability crisis was found to be reaching alarming levels as a rising population comes up against a shortage of new apartments and homes for sale. While high-income and middle-class families are paying more for housing, low-income families are turning to subsidized programs, only to find a years-long waiting list. “I think that happens often, the people who need the housing, they don’t get it. I think it’s frustrating for all involved,” said Janice Kimball, executive director of the Housing Authority of the County of Salt Lake. Kimball explained the Housing Authority manages a program called Section 8, which helps place low-income families with subsidized rent. There are 1,200 units of affordable housing, but the waiting list to get one of those apartments or homes is six to seven years. There’s another public housing program that has another additional 600 units with a shorter waiting list — only two to four years, Kimball said. “Think about the average family who calls us with an emergency who gets told that,” Kimball said. “We’re a great long-term solution but we don’t have any short-term solutions.” In Salt Lake City, the Housing and Neighborhood Development office is spearheading a five-year plan called Grow SLC, which is dedicated to addressing the problem with affordable housing, specifically for low-income families. “In Salt Lake City, we have a gap of about 7,500 units for those making about $20,000 a year — that’s anyone working a minimum wage job,” explained Melissa Jensen, director of Housing and Neighborhood Development in Salt Lake. “In Salt Lake City, you have to make $20 an hour to afford a $950 apartment. That’s $20 an hour just to find an apartment in the city.” Jensen said half the people in the city are paying more than 30 percent of their income toward housing, and one-quarter are paying more than 50 percent. But the city has a plan. Within the next one to two years, the city plans to have three permit-supportive housing buildings — that’s 262 units — available for low-income housing applications, specifically designed to help people struggling with substance abuse disorders or mental health issues. Jensen said over the next two years, they
also plan to have an additional 1,000 units that are affordable at different rates. For example, some would be available for low-income families and others available at market rate. But while that helps Salt Lake City, the rest of the state is facing the same affordable housing crisis. In the last legislative session, Utah lawmakers developed a housing commission to discuss the current housing shortage and rising costs to find a solution. But Jonathan Hardy, division director for housing and community development for state of Utah, says the problem is vast. One of the solutions on the table is transit-oriented development. “If we can produce more housing within half a mile of a transit stop, we can reduce affordability,” Hardy explained. “Some households might not have to have a second vehicle. They might pay more in housing if they don’t have to pay as much for transportation.” But Hardy admits while it may cut down on some housing costs, it won’t solve the problem for many families. Hardy says the easiest way to solve the low-income housing crisis is subsidized housing, but it’s an expensive solution. For low-income families at a 30 percent area income, it costs $175,000 per housing unit, Hardy explained. “That’s the reality. (For each) new apartment creation is $200,000 per unit. That’s what we’re seeing along the Wasatch Front,” Hardy said, explaining that low-income families would pay the remainder in rental costs every year. Kimball said the families who need those low-income housing units don’t need them forever. “Thirty-eight percent of the people on public housing stay less than two years. Another 25 percent stay less than five years,” Kimball explained. But with housing costs rising, it’s unclear if those numbers will rise as well. Jensen says affordable housing is important for everyone, because even families who are making higher than minimum wage can struggle with unemployment or other emergencies that force them to seek low-income housing. “Affordable housing is really everyone at some point in their life, whether they’ve lost a job, whether they’ve just graduated and living in their parent’s basement, or whether they’re elderly,” Jensen explained. “People jump to a conclusion. But it’s for everyone.” l
www.murraychamber.org Page 28 | September 2018
Murray City Journal
Artwork raising awareness, appreciation of Jordan River By Joshua Wood | joshw@mycityjournals.com
Carpe Di End
Gain peace of mind knowing everything is taken care of your way.
Artists paint a Jordan River overpass. (Van Hoover, by permission)
T
he Jordan River is often overlooked as a natural asset of the Salt Lake Valley, but one local nonprofit is working to raise awareness among the community’s youth. Hartland Community 4 Youth and Families recently completed a three-year project that focused on beautifying the area around the Jordan River and raising awareness of the river’s importance. The project also provided at-risk youth with the opportunity to get outside to enjoy this underappreciated natural area that flows through their neighborhoods. The river serves the Salt Lake Valley as a unique and diverse ecosystem running right through its heart. The project was conceived as a way to beautify the Jordan River Trail while helping to connect young people in the area with the river. “The initial idea for the project was that there were so many old signs along the trail that had been tagged,” Project Leader Van Hoover said. “They were these old dilapidated signs that were structurally sound, and the thought was how cool it would be for people who were passing by to see cool art to appreciate rather than an old sign.” During the first two years of the proj-
MurrayJournal .com
ect, five directional signs were painted each year to cover graffiti and to add art to the area expressing appreciation for the river and the trail. The concept evolved to focus on art created by kids and community artists. Inspiration for the artwork was derived from activities that Hartland organized for local kids to enjoy, such as canoeing the river and biking the Jordan River Trail. “The overarching goal was to help the community have ownership of the river and the trail,” Hoover said. “They’re a lot less likely to destroy public spaces when they made it better or got to play a part. Now kids can go on the trail and say, ‘I got to help paint that mural.’ To me that’s a powerful connection.” During the third year of the project, which concluded this May, larger murals were painted on buildings facing the river near 1700 South and 300 South and a river overpass. The project involved dozens of kids from Hartland’s programs as well as community artists and other volunteers. “Everybody that participated saw the city in a new light,” said Pete Vordenberg, project volunteer and Hartland board member. “They discovered this thing flowing through their city that they had no
idea was there. They cross over the river in their car or the bus. People don’t think of it as a natural resource.” Project organizers hope this will be part of a larger movement to appreciate the Jordan River and what it can mean to the community. “It’s an opportunity for the city and the whole valley to enjoy this natural thing,” Vordenberg said. “Cities can revolve around a river like the Jordan River. This is such a great step in the right direction.” “People can think of the river in a different way,” Hoover said. “What sections of the trail are safe? People ask me that all the time. The river is being stigmatized. We can change the way people see it, that it is a positive place to be.” The artwork along the river depicts natural features of the Jordan River like pelicans, turtles and trees. The images also show ways that the river can be enjoyed like canoeing. “The artwork was very connected to what the kids did on the river,” Hoover said. He hopes their connection to the river will continue to grow and that more people in the community will value the Jordan River as a resource to be protected and enjoyed. l
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If you don’t need the entire Ultimate Pass, smaller package passes are available such as: Sports ($9.99), Amusement ($59.99) and Culture ($79.99). Additionally, Groupon is offering the classic Pass of all Passes for $24.99. Looking for an event a little different during the month of September? Check out these festivals and conventions: Snowbird’s Oktoberfest began on Aug. 18 and will continue every weekend until Oct. 21. The festival begins at noon every Saturday and Sunday and closes around 6:30 p.m. Admission is free but parking is $10 per car. For more information, visit www. snowbird.com/oktoberfest/. Salt Lake City’s Greek Festival will be held from Sept.7 through Sept. 9 at the Holy Trinity Cathedral Greek Orthodox Church, located at 279 S. 300 West. On Friday and Saturday, the festival runs from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. On Sunday, the festival will close around 10 p.m. Check them out for all the Greek food you can imagine, including: baked Greek chicken, gyros, keftedes, souvlaki, baklava, macaroons, loukoumathes, roasted lamb, tyropita and more. Admission is $3 per person with children under 5 free. For more information, visit www.saltlakegreekfestival.com. Downtown Salt Lake City’s Dine O’Round will begin on Sept. 15 and run until Oct. 1. The Dine O’Round includes 45 of downtown’s top restaurants featuring $5 to $10 two-item lunches, as well as $15, $25 and $35 three-course dinners. Some of the featured restaurants include Bocata, Gracie’s, Green
Pig Pub and Tony Caputo’s. Attendees can post their photos on Instagram for a chance to win dinner for one year (remember to use the hashtag dineoround and tag downtownslc). For more information, visit www.dineoround.com. The Utah State Fair will be from Sept. 6 to Sept.16 this year at the Utah State Fairpark on 155 N. 1000 West in Salt Lake City. Doors open at 10 a.m. almost every day. Adult tickets are $10 per person, while senior and youth tickets are $8 per person. Fan-X (Salt Lake City’s version of Comic Con) will be held from Sept. 6 through Sept. 8 at the Salt Palace Convention Center on 100 South Temple in Salt Lake City. Hours vary for each day and tickets range from $45 to $250. For more information visit www.fanxsaltlake.com. Enjoy the last days of summer! P.S. Did you know you can follow us on social media? Check us out of Facebook by searching for the Coupons4Utah Group Page. Check us out on Instagram by searching coupons4utah. Or visit our blog at coupons4utah.com. l
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Murray City Journal
Life and Laughter— Things We Forget
Life
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MURRAY
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here was a time, before we got all jaded and grumpy, that our main purpose was to have fun. As kids, we jumped out of bed every morning, eager to find the best ways to a) get candy, b) meet friends, c) watch cartoons and d) avoid chores at all costs. We had it all figured out. Why did grown-ups make everything so difficult? Politics, manipulation and sociopathic behaviors were things we didn’t understand. (I still don’t understand.) After life punches us in the face for several decades, we get out of bed a little slower and rarely find time for cartoons or candy. Friends become precious. Chores increase exponentially. But maybe those 10-year-old versions of ourselves were right all along. Maybe we need to remember some basic rules about life that were totally obvious to us before we finished elementary school. These things are truths at any age. • Going to the bank is boring— unless there are those chain-attached pens you can play with • If you’re good at the store, you might get a Butterfinger • Going to the zoo sounds like a good idea, but it’s actually exhausting • Visiting grandma gets you
spoiled • Sometimes you need to stay in bed all day reading a good book • Making friends is easy • Going to bed early is a punishment • It’s okay to cry when your feelings are hurt • Saturday morning cartoons are awesome • Spending an afternoon in the park is the best use of your time • A $20 bill makes you rich • When your friend is mean, it’s okay to tell them that wasn’t nice • It’s fun to be excited for birthdays and Christmas • Eating cold cereal for dinner is the best • Throwing a water balloon at your sister is thrilling • You never have to watch your carbs • Shoes aren’t always necessary • Cloud watching is not a waste of time So how did we go from being fun-loving kidlets to cranky adults? When did we decide it was better to be busy than to have fun? As with most terrible things, I blame the teenage years. Being 13 years old can
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be devastating. If you watch the movie Eighth Grade, be prepared for some serious junior high PTSD as a beautiful young girl destroys her own self-esteem with anxiety, junior high romance and pool parties. Seriously triggering. Once we drag ourselves out of the primordial swamp of high school, we’ve become a little less trusting and optimistic. Then we double-down on our cynicism as we enter the workforce. When you were in elementary school, dreaming about the time you’d be a grown up with your own car and the ability to eat ice cream after midnight, you never considered the possibility that working sucks. Sure, we saw our parents come home from work, down a bottle
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of gin and collapse on the couch like a bag of old pudding, but that was because they’d had SO MUCH FUN at work! Something needs to change. If you find yourself scowling at happiness, it’s time to check back with your inner fourth-grader and do something fun. Skip work and go hiking. Have an ice-cream sundae, without promising to jog later (because 10-year-olds don’t jog). Start a conversation with a stranger. Spend $20 on something entirely useless. Have Lucky Charms for dinner. We need to remember, it’s fun to a) get candy, b) meet friends, c) watch cartoons and d) avoid chores at all costs. Life’s too short to grow old. l
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