LIVING THE DREAM AS AN AIR FORCE REFUELING SPECIALIST
By Tom Haraldsen | t.haraldsen@mycityjournals.com
It’s said that we should be doing what we’re meant to do with our lives, not just what we want to do. But when they’re the same thing, it’s a great blessing.
Mark Hasara knows the feeling. From the time he was a 5-year-old boy in Southern California, he knew flying airplanes was his passion. Along with two siblings, Mark watched as huge jetliners—Pan Am Boeing 707s and Delta DC-8s in those days in the early ‘60s–would take off and land at Los Angeles International Airport near his grandmother’s home. And he was hooked.
“There was a fence at the end of the runway, 26 left and right, which are the two south runways at LAX, and we’d go with our grandfather who would park underneath the approach path,” he recalled from his home in South Jordan. “We’d go to Randy’s donuts–well known for its huge donut sign, and grab three each and then go watch the planes. Sometimes we even stood on the hood of my grandfather’s car and waved at the pilots. And once, while taxiing
out for takeoff, one pilot actually stuck his head out the window of the cockpit and waved back before he closed the window, turned the plane towards the main runway and then took off! I will never forget it.”
He says almost any aviator can tell you the moment when they knew they wanted to fly. Hasara never lost that desire, even after his family moved north to San Jose and “a lot of classmates’ parents were IBM executives. I started building plastic model airplanes as a kid. I read everything I could about flying, particularly military flying. I did a lot of research on many famous pilots and famous military battles, and this was at a time when we were going to the moon, when humans were flying to new heights.”
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Through the years, he’s never lost that love of building models. As an adult, he traveled to Okinawa, Japan, and he tells what happened there.
“There’s two very famous classic model airplane manufacturers in Japan, Tamia and Hasegawa. I went over there with 25 model kits. I came back five years later with 805! My wife would say it’s become an illness, not a hobby. True. But I learned about airplanes from building these little models and learning about the wheels, my cockpits and air propellers, jets, all the weapons and everything.”
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A KC-135 tanker refuels an Air Force jet, something Mark Hasara did at sites around the world. (Photo courtesy Mark Hasara)
Weight Loss Options: What You Need To Know About Diet, Prescription Medications & Surgery
By Catherine Beck, MD
Everywhere you turn lately, it seems the topic of weight loss is front and centerfrom billboards to TV to social media and more. And everyone seems to have an opinion on how to lose weight, with some offering weight loss services at a hefty price. So what is the best way to lose weight? How do you start? Is it worth the cost?
At CommonSpirit Holy Cross HospitalJordan Valley, the Comprehensive Medical and Surgical Weight loss program can answer your questions from a reliable, accredited, board certified provider.
Let’s tackle the first question - why you may want to lose weight or why it may be important for you to lose weight. Ultimately, it’s not just about appearances. There are multiple medical problems that improve or resolve with weight loss, including diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, arthritis and sleep apnea, amongst others.
Weight loss also decreases your risk of multiple types of cancer, specifically breast and colon cancer. In addition, most patients just want to feel better, have more energy, and be able to spend quality time with their family, without the limitations their weight may place on them.
In general, there are typically three ways people lose weight: diet and exercise, medically supervised weight loss, and surgical weight loss.
1. Diet and exercise include any program someone does on their own, including Keto, Weight Watchers, Mediterranean diets, Jenny Craig or meal plans and programs. No specific diet has ever been proven to be more effective than another. In general, any diet and exercise plan will lead to about 5% excess body weight loss on average.
2. Medically supervised weight loss includes using prescription medications to lose weight. Most people immediately think of Wegovy and Zepbound, but there are a lot of medications that help people lose weight and work in different ways. It is incredibly important to know that only a well-trained provider can help patients use the optimal combination of medications to see maximum results with minimal side effects. Medically supervised weight loss should include not only a provider trained in weight loss, but also a dietitian, along with lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise. These medications can help people lose up to 20% of their excess body weight if used correctly. Unfortunately, stopping the medication usually leads to weight regain and some patients have side effects that force them to stop the medication.
3. Surgical weight loss, or bariatric surgery, can help people lose 60-80%of their excess body weight and keep it off. Bariatric surgery
typically refers to a sleeve gastrectomy or a gastric bypass. All surgical weight loss should include working with a dietitian, a medical weight loss provider and a surgeon, along with lifestyle changes.
Choosing an accredited, comprehensive, bariatric and medical weight loss program, such as the one at Holy Cross Hospital - Jordan Valley, gives patients access to a variety of approaches designed to help them meet their weight loss goals in a safe environment. Only at a comprehensive center, can patients learn what will work best for them and get treated by providers with a history of safe and successful weight loss. Most insurances cover bariatric surgery and the costs of seeing a provider and dietitian, even if they don’t cover the costs of the newer injectable medications. With us, patients don’t have to pay program fees and we bill everything possible through a patient’s insurance. We work with patients to find the most affordable solutions!
Thinking about weight loss options? Please give Holy Cross Hospital – Jordan Valley a call to see if you have coverage and to make an appointment with one of our surgeons or medical weight loss providers at (801) 601-4423. We are here to compassionately care for you.
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Candidates confirmed to attend October PTA community nights
By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com
ThisNovember, voters will not only elect a new president, but they will decide several local and state offices as well.
Utah Region 17 PTA is hosting two Meet the Candidate nights where all local candidates were invited to participate. There also will be discussion about proposed constitutional amendments that affect education.
The nights will begin at 5:30 p.m. with an hour-long discussion on the proposed amendments, with questions being taken. Then, at 6:30 p.m. until 8 p.m., there will be the candidate portion of the night. The first Meet the Candidates night on Oct. 3 will be at Indian Hills Middle School, 1180 E. Sanders Road. A second night will be held Oct. 9 at Union Middle School, 615 E. 8000 South.
This falls in line with the PTA’s mission, said Rachael de Azevedo, the Region 17 advocacy chairwoman.
“The PTA is the largest advocacy group for public education in Utah,” she said. “Our mission statement is ‘To make every child’s potential a reality by engaging and empowering families and communities to advocate for all children.’ I hope that by hosting a ‘Meet the Candidate’ night we’ll encourage open dialogue between voters and candidates about the issues facing schools, families and neighborhoods. By creating a space of meaningful conversations, we hope to empower voters with the information they need to make informed decisions at the ballot and to understand the jobs of our representatives.”
While the candidates had a date after press deadline to respond, amongst those who committed early to attending include candidates for U.S. Senate and U.S. House as well as for Utah governor, Utah attorney general, state senate, state house, state school board, Salt Lake County mayor and council, county assessor, county recorder, county surveyor and county treasurer and Canyons Board of Education.
Within Canyons Board of Education district 1 race, three candidates — Jackson Lewis, Rainer Lilbok and Kristine L. Millerberg — confirmed their attendance to Meet the Candidates Night.
District 1 is one of the fastest growing areas within the school district, serving about 8,000 students in Midvale and northern Sandy. The seat was unexpectedly vacated in February with the death of then school board vice president Mont Millerberg; and later, filled by his wife, Kristine L. Millerberg, a long-time teacher.
The candidates who sent in a RSVP by press deadline include Brian King (tentative) and Charlie Tautuaa, Utah governor; Carlton E. Bowen and Caroline Gleich, U.S. Sen-
ate; Glenn J. Wright, U.S. House 3; Derek Brown, Austin Hepworth, Michelle Quist, Utah attorney general; John Arthur and Molly L. Hart, district 7, state board of education; Amanda B. Bollinger, district 9, state board of education.
Also confirmed to attend are state senate district 15 candidates Scott Cuthbertson and Kathleen Ann Riebe and state house candidates Jessica Wignall, district 39; Travis Smith, district 42; Sara Rose Cimmers and Tracy Miller, district 45; and Cal Roberts, district 46; for state auditor Tina Cannon and Jeffrey Ostler; for state treasurer, Miles Pomeroy.
In the county races, Salt Lake County mayoral candidate Erin Rider has confirmed
her attendance as did county council at-large C candidate Rachelle Morris, council 4 candidates Nolan Kruse, Roger A. Livingston and Ross I. Romero; and council 6 candidates Zach Robinson and Dea Theodore. For the county assessor, candidates confirmed to come are Joel Frost and Chris Starvos; for county recorder, candidate Rashelle Hobbs; for county surveyor, Bradley Park and Kent D. Setterberg; and for county treasurer, Phil Conder and Sheila Srivastava.
In addition to the Canyons School Board district 1 candidates, Barbara A. Gentry confirmed her attendance in the district 3 race.
While Region 17 PTA mirrors Canyons School District, de Azevedo said this nonpartisan event is a public service to better inform voters and the PTA and school district do not promote any candidates. l
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The polls will be open to voters on Nov. 5. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
Voters can drop off ballots or mail them in to cast their choices in the elections this November. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
South Jordan landmark Gale Center reopens
By Laura Spendlove Crapo | l.crapo@mycityjournals.com
The Gale Museum, referred to as a “hidden gem” by locals, enjoyed its reopening on September 9.
South Jordan Mayor Dawn Ramsey was in attendance for the official ribbon cutting ceremony celebration. Some city council members, staff members and museum volunteers were there as well.
Interactive activities, a prize raffle and cookies from Local Cookie Co. increased enthusiasm for event visitors.
“This is a very important day for the Gale Museum and the City of South Jordan,” Ramsey said. “It’s important for the city residents who were key in championing this building to keep the city’s history it represents.” Ramsey mentioned the location’s popularity. The city has received various offers from those wanting to buy the building and its location for other development.
This rebranded museum is a place where ‘history and discovery meet.’ Friends, couples and families commonly visit the Gale Museum. The museum is available to all ages. It will be open for 30 scheduled hours from10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Thursday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday. Eye-catching and educational exhibits teach visitors about South Jordan’s back story. The museum also includes a free online presence with digital resources available for public access.
“Most of our fieldtrips are for preschool classes, but we also have home school classes and youth group trips visit,” Maren Svare said, curator of the Gale Museum. “The hill beside the museum is part of the museum’s dugout. The dugout is a reproduction of the homes that early South Jordan families lived in when they moved to the area.”
The original dugouts were built into the side of the hill
South Jordan City makes supporting the arts simple. People here enjoy a plethora of resources for sports, education and entertainment. To round out these offerings, the city has created a way to easily support more art options.
“There are three different ways people can donate to the arts that are under the Round it Up Rachael Van Cleave said, communications manager. “The first option is for utility customers who choose to round up their bill to the nearest dollar. The Round it Up program has been around for at least a decade now, but we recently made a push for it as it is outlined in our new arts master plan.”
The second option is to make an Art Contribution. Utility customers choose to add a certain dollar amount to their monthly bill. The art contributions number of donations and the donation dollar amounts have increased.
“We launched our one-time payment option to our online payment portal in April of this year,” Van Cleave said. “Art Donations are the third choice. This is a one-time donation that anyone, whether utility customers or not can make for any amount. Art donations increased year over year, but since the launch of the one-time payment portal we have not seen the increase we were hoping for.”
overlooking the river. They used adobe bricks and reeds from the river wetlands for the front wall of the home. The rest of the house was provided by the part of the hill that was “dug out.” Gale Museum’s dugout uses the same construction approach using the hill for the floor, walls, and most of the ceiling. However, it was built to modern safety standards using logs and stones.
All are invited to be pleasantly surprised at the museum’s new look and learn something new about South Jordan City’s history. l
SoJo Art funding made easy
By Laura Spendlove Crapo | l.crapo@mycityjournals.com
South Jordan launched their campaign to spread word about this program to encourage donations in August of 2023. Promoters are hopeful that efforts like this will gain traction with city residents who appreciate the arts.
“At this point, the Round it Up funds support the theatre productions since they support all of the arts,” Janell Payne said, director of recreation. “In the future, the Round it Up funding may be specifically allocated to a particular program, like a public art maintenance fund, but that has not been done yet.”
With that confirmation, residents planning to enjoy South Jordan’s presentation of Blithe Spirit on Oct. 25, 26, 28 and Nov. 1, 2 should know this program helped. Funds from the Round it Up program are being used for this comedic play about a séance gone wrong. That should bring a smile to the face of residents easily supporting the arts in South Jordan. l
Visitors study an old Model T Ford. (Laura Spendlove Crapo/City Journals)
South Jordan launched the Round it Up campaign to help raise funds for the city’s art options. (Laura Spendlove Crapo/City Journals)
Historic Gale Fork mine replica. (Laura Spendlove Crapo/City Journals)
Mayor Dawn Ramsey in attendance for the ribbon cutting. (Laura Spendlove Crapo/City Journals)
Bingham defensive tackle Viliami Moala commits to USC for football
By Brian Shaw | b.shaw@mycityjournals.com
Although Viliami Moala is only a junior at Bingham, he often leads his Miners out onto the football field. Larger than life itself, the 16-year-old’s No. 56 jersey casts an imposing shadow upon the game as a defensive tackle. And now, Moala will be taking all 6 feet, 2 inches and 300 pounds to the University of Southern California.
“First and foremost, I wanna thank all the coaches that have recruited me since my journey began,” announced Moala Sept. 10. “With that being said, I’m proud to say I’m a TROJAN!!! My recruitment is shut down!”
Moala visited USC’s campus the weekend of Sept. 7 and you’d have to imagine he watched the Trojans blast Utah State, 48-0 inside Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
Truth be told, it was a tough night for any fan or alum of Utah State University to witness, but it was that visit to Los Angeles and USC that clinched it for Moala, who had already taken one visit to the University of Oregon in late July.
Rated a 4-star DT by various recruiting services, the “Utah Preps Podcast” recently called Moala “the best defensive tackle at Bingham since [former Utah Utes/NFL player] Lowell Lotuleilei.”
Having talked to former Bingham head coach Eric Jones, he seconded that notion and possibly one-upped it, even.
“A physically gifted and talented kid with a great personality,” recalled Jones of the bubbly No. 56 he’s known since Mo-
feet and pointed his index finger skyward. That play by Moala helped to key a second-half comeback in Bingham’s 17-7 win over Crimson Cliffs, the Miners’ lone victory on the season. He added two tackles and 1.5 sacks Aug. 30 in a 34-23 loss at Lehi.
To be fair, the Bingham junior’s rise up the ranks has been steady but not altogether sudden.
For Moala, this is his third season playing at a different school—his first at Bingham.
With the totals Moala has amassed in just five games for the Miners, the junior defensive tackle is well on his way to eclipsing the totals he had as a freshman at Brighton when he racked up 72 tackles, two tackles for a loss.
As a sophomore, Moala attended Cactus High School in Arizona where he helped his team capture the Section [region] title with a 4-1 record. Moala had 22 tackles, two sacks and five TFLs in just four games.
ala was young. “Big-time recruit nationally. Maybe the best DL talent in the state right now.”
This season, Moala has already recorded 23 tackles, had six quarterback hurries and has had 2.5 sacks and one tackle for loss in just five games for Bingham. He’s averaging 5.8 tackles per game, third-best on the Miners.
In both of Bingham’s games away from home, Moala was in the opponent’s backfield. He recorded one of his sacks Aug. 23 at Crimson Cliffs, a school that was the defending 4A state champions.
On that play, Moala absolutely mauled Crimson Cliffs’ offensive lineman and ripped the quarterback down. He then bear-crawled across the poor kid’s body, got back to his
Moala later transferred back to the state of Utah after the holiday break and attended Davis High School for the latter part of the 2023-24 school year.
Prior to his commitment to USC, Moala reportedly had offers from 15 different FBS Division I colleges and universities including UCLA, Miami, Tennessee, Arizona and Arizona State and in-state schools such as BYU, Utah and Utah State. l
Bingham girls soccer: Miners reach four wins on the season, besting last year’s total
By Brian Shaw | b.shaw@mycityjournals.com
Witha team that can do a little bit of everything, you’ve got to take the wins where you can get them.
That’s exactly what the Bingham Miners girls soccer team did Aug. 27 when they knocked off Salt Lake Academy by the score of 2-0.
Bingham would equal last season’s win total of three in that game, one that saw senior Alexi Ames score off a corner kick from Savvy Olson that was as savvy and swerving as the junior’s first name.
That goal handed the Miners a 1-0 lead, and it would be one that Bingham would double in due time, as junior Marley Porter scored her first goal of the season to capture a 2-0 win.
Freshman Brooklyn Vance would go the full 80 minutes in goal for the Miners and make eight saves in total, preserving the shutout.
Two days later at Mountain Ridge, the Miners would fall by the score of 3-0, Aug. 29.
But, Bingham [4-8] was up to the task Sept. 3 at Westlake, grabbing its fourth win of the season.
In that game, Alexis Ames would find sophomore Molly Cunningham for only her second goal of the year early in the first half— then the Miners would dig in and endure nine total fouls to hold on for the victory.
Vance would only need to make two saves to preserve the shutout. But you’ve got to think that the 1-0 win at Westlake will be crucial for state tournament seeding, considering that Bingham currently sits in last place in Region 2.
At No. 16 in Class 6A, Bingham is currently slated for a play-in game against the No. 17 seed; they’ll need to move up to at least No. 13 to avoid such a fate and earn a first-round bye.
Back to the games. On Sept. 5 at Riverton two days later, the Miners would score first—then get blasted for three goals in a 3-1 loss. London Pace would net her second goal on the year in a game that saw the Miners muster up three shots and just one corner kick, Bingham’s bread-and-butter scoring threat in its two most recent wins. Again, Vance went the full 80, making eight saves.
But, Bingham is a young team. This writer, a former club coach of boys and girls,
warned readers last month that winning eight or even 10 games would be a feat for this team—but they’re making inroads.
On Sept. 10, the Miners gave Herriman a scare before falling in double overtime on penalty kicks.
Ames scored what appeared to be the game-winner for Bingham—but the visitors from up in the hills equalized before time ran out to send it to OT. After two scoreless overtimes, the game went to PKs where Herriman outshot the Miners 4-2 to send Bingham out of its own stadium with a loss.
That said, Bingham took five shots on goal and earned three corner kicks against Herriman. Vance stood on her head for 120 minutes before Herriman netted two more PKs than the freshman could save. She had 10 saves and showed that if you draw the Miners at state, you might be in for a whale of a game.
Thus far this season, that’s the way the games are playing out, as Bingham either wins by one goal on average or loses by two.
For the Miners, Ames is the team’s leading scorer with four goals. Cunningham and Pace each have two and six players, including Vance, have each scored once.
But what makes this team tick is its unselfish play. Ames also leads the team in assists with three and senior Audrey Phillips has two. Four other Miners have assisted once.
What also makes this team unique is that more than one player takes corner kicks. On most teams you’ll find one or two specialists—Bingham has a good half-dozen.
Junior Kara Munsey has taken six corners for the Miners, and Vance and senior Izabel Weller along with Ames and Olson have each taken five. Junior Claire Bennion has taken two for Bingham and sophomores Brizzy Cottle and Pace, one apiece.
And then there’s Vance, No. 99. Between the goalposts, this freshman has made 72 saves in 20 games played. Her 2.12 goals against average is steadily dropping as the season goes on. It’s clear that Vance has big things ahead of her. It’s also rare that you find a goalkeeper ranked in the top 10 in scoring on any team; she’s at No. 7.
With five games left to play before the state tournament, these Miners keep digging. If they can stay strong through September, you get the feeling they’ll find daylight. l
Viliami Moala [second from right] poses for a picture with family members at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Saturday Sept. 7. (Photo courtesy USC Trojans)
South Jordan fourth graders get the entrepreneurship experience
By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com
Thisyear’s South Jordan Elementary fourth graders should be excited about the end of the school year.
Not necessarily because it will be summer, but because they will become entrepreneurs. Like classes before them, the students will create their own businesses to be part of the Economics Rocky Ram Mall.
Last spring at The Fun Store, Dulce Gonzales made puppets, bookmarks, bracelets and stickers available to her classmates.
At The Goods, Carter Pitre had high demand for his 3D creations, including dragons, sharks, chameleons and octopi, selling out of some he made in five minutes.
At Picture Perfect, Bailee Erekson, Ella Horton and Grace Merchant provided friends with props before taking their pictures and printing them with a sticker maker.
Those and other student businesses follow the state core curriculum, beginning with studying about entrepreneurship, understanding vocabulary and learning about payroll and balancing a bank book, fourth-grade teacher Karrie Wardell said.
“We help them understand it as it applies in the real world,” Wardell said. “They learn they need to come up with a business that will earn money. They learn there needs to be demand for the business and they should have
the supply for it. They learn to market their business to their classmates and price it accordingly.”
Students can only spend $10 of their own personal money toward the business, or they could come up with a business using materials they already have at home, like nail polish for a beauty salon or paint to paint rocks, she said.
The students also need to create a 30-second commercial for their business as well as an ad, which is posted on a bulletin board so the all fourth-graders can see what will be at the Ram Mall.
“They learn how to be truthful about their product or business and not to promise something just to make a sale. But they can offer deals or discounts to promote interest,” she said.
Fourth-grade teacher Melissa Handy appreciates students learning those skills.
“That experience of preparing a script, practicing it to record it and being aware of making their point within a set time is valuable and can translate to a skill they can use when they introduce themselves at a job interview to selling an idea or project in the real-world,” she said.
During the event, students can spend Ram Mall money to buy items at their class-
mates’ businesses; they earned the pretend dollars by completing their classroom jobs in the weeks preceding the event.
At The Blond Squad business, Elsa Butler, Jocelyn Hiatt and Taylor Johnson were selling 20 bracelets and 17 packages of slime they had made.
“We liked the creativity of our products and thought they’d be easy to make after school,” Jocelyn said.
However, they noted their supply was low.
“Business has been going really well; we should have made more,” Elsa said.
Their classmate, Timmy Pacini of Paracords and Treats, also was experiencing high demand for his paracord bracelets he made after studying how on a YouTube tutorial. They were made available in the store he shared with Sammy Braso and Rose Chanhonany.
“I know it’s a kids’ mall and we don’t have bills, paychecks or have to worry about overhead, but I learned how selling works and how we should have supply, and maybe that means raising prices,” Timmy said. “I learned if someone doesn’t do their job in an economy then others can’t do theirs and the economy fails. I learned about how selling works and how to price things to make a profit.”
Fourth-grade teacher Dodi Thacker said after the Ram Mall, students not only learn about supply and demand and profit and loss first-hand, they have a good understanding of Utah’s economy through the years.
“They’re learning economics concepts and understanding more about how it applies in Utah history,” she said.
Students learn about Native Americans bartering and trading services or goods to buy items. They learn about how Park City and Alta were once mining towns and have re-invented themselves as summer and winter resort towns for hiking and skiing, she said.
“We talk about how the economy changes and how technology, natural resource development and globalization impact that,” Thacker said. “Here, they are practicing good communication and math skills while being creative and putting their problem-solving skills to practice. They’re becoming smart consumers and more aware of products and advertising.”
Wardell appreciates the lesson students gain through the experience.
“It teaches them life skills. When I was even 8 years old, I walked my neighborhood, selling wrapping paper gift cards I made. I saved my money in a little tin can. That experience of managing my own money prepared me for real life and I became independent with my money to buy my own things,” she said, adding that later she operated a preschool and a dance business out of her home so she could buy her own school clothes. “This experience helps introduce them to financial independence and they’re learning to appreciate how the real world runs.” l
Fourth-grade students make purchases at their peer’s businesses during South Jordan Elementary’s Economics Rocky Ram Mall. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
Before his marriage and after serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he went to Rick’s College (now BYU-Idaho) for a year, then transferred to BYU in Provo. He couldn’t decide on a major, but knew “I wanted to study whatever would get me out of college the fastest. So I chose political science with an emphasis in national security and got involved with the ROTC in Provo. I was lucky, because this was during the military buildup under President Ronald Reagan.”
His ROTC class got 21 slots into the military–higher than most schools were getting–but there was a backup in the pipeline for pilot training. So Hasara bided his time restocking shelves at the ZCMI at University Mall and pumping gas at a service station in the morning. But Air Force training eventually came, and he was sent to Vance Air Force Base in Enid, Oklahoma.
His history as a pilot could fill volumes. For more than 24 years, and through four wars, he flew the KC-135 refueling planes, “passing gas for a living,” he said with a smile to hundreds of aircraft. He’s traveled all over the world at 28,000 feet with a Stratotanker aircraft filled with literally tons of fuel. During the operations in the Middle East in 2002 and 2003, his team of 30 US and international refueling experts transferred enough fuel to keep a 737-type airliner airborne for almost 12 years, or enough to make 2,685 round trips to the moon in a Ford
F-150 truck.
Though as a U.S. Air Force retired Lieutenant Colonel, he no longer flies those refueling tankers, he still has a keen sense of their importance to the defense mission of the US military.
“Our motto is ‘Nobody kicks a… without tanker gas.’ You cannot go to war and do a big air campaign without air refueling tankers. But we no longer have enough refueling assets to do potentially two wars. It’s a money thing, and even though there are still almost 400 if the KC135’s still in operation, it wouldn’t be enough if we are fighting in two different (military) theaters. Refueling capability is essential to military success.”
His knowledge of aircraft and his experience has made Hasara a well-known and much sought after speaker, a nationally known podcaster (https://markhasara.com/episodes/), and an Amazon best-selling author of “Tanker Pilot: Lessons from the Cockpit.” The forward for his book was written by his good friend, the late Rush Limbaugh. He’s an artist and a photographer, with his office lined with images of aircraft old and new, military and commercial. Many can be seen on his website at markhasara.com. l
Students statewide visit 10th annual STEMfest
A pair of girls who attend Terra Linda Elementary in West Jordan were excited to be maneuvering robots for their first time at a robotics booth overseen by Beehive Science & Technology Academy and Jordan High students at the 10th Utah STEMFest. They were among the thousands of Utah fifth-grade through 10th-grade students who came to explore the STEM world around them. Sponsored by Utah STEM Action Center, about 120 businesses, colleges and universities and nonprofits offered hands-on learning during the two-day event at the Mountain America Expo Center in Sandy, where students discovered more about STEM fields, from the natural world of animals and avalanches to the technical world, learning about hydraulics and synthetic diamonds. A West Valley City teacher who has brought her sixth-grade students every year said she appreciated giving them the opportunity to engage in fields they’re interested in while using their skills in reading, math and science — and hopefully, sparking a future career interest.
The KC-135 Stratotanker has been a key ingredient in the U.S. air defense program for almost 50 years. (Photo courtesy Mark Hasara)
(Photo by Julie Slama)
Bingham golf: Miners start slow but
By Brian Shaw | b.shaw@mycityjournals.com
Asrounds pile up on a golf course, so drop the scores.
At least that’s the case with the Bingham Miners boys golf team that began the 2024-25 season a tad sluggish but is finding its form of late.
By the time you read this, the Miners will have completed all their Region 2 qualifying events.
At the midway point of the season though, Bingham is seeing its scores drop while new players are coming to the forefront.
On Sept. 11, the Miners played their best golf of the season at Meadowbrook Golf Course as a team, having an adjusted score of 297. That finish by Bingham was good enough for a fourth place showing,
helped along by a season-low 72 from junior Krew Heward, who led all Miners.
Individually, Heward also finished in 12th place, seven strokes behind the winner from Corner Canyon. Another junior, Will Barrick, shot 73 and was 17th. Will Ekins was in 23rd place with a 76 score and Parker Young [76], 26th to round out Bingham’s top four at that event.
Back on Aug. 13, the Miners teed off for the first time this season. At this state non-qualifier and Region 2 opener at River Oaks, Bingham finished in fifth place as a team. Young was 14th with a 79 score while sophomore Connor Oettli finished in 15th and had the same score. Ekins shot an 81 and was 18th, while senior Jace Robison was 26th with an 84.
In Bingham’s first state qualifier of the season on Aug. 15, just two days later, the Miners would finish in fifth again as a team. At TalonsCove Golf Course, Ekins was the only Miner to break the top 20, finishing in 18th place with a 76 score. Robison shot 77 and was in 23rd for Bingham, Oettli in 25th and one stroke back [78] and Sean Robison earned his first top 4-finish, as the freshman shot 78 and finished 28th.
For the Miners’ second state qualifier of the year, they finished in fifth place for the third straight match but were steadily gaining ground on 4th place as a team. Heward led the way with a 15th place finish and a 74, and Jace Robison shot a 76 and was 23rd. Sean Robison grabbed his second top 4-finish on the Miners with an 80,
in 29th place, and Ekins finished in 30th with an 80.
Other Miners to keep an eye on as we head into the final four events in Region 2 play include junior Will Barrick, whose adjusted scores put him in Bingham’s top four finishers; junior Champ Carlson, who has consistently shot in the low 80s over all four events; senior Benjamin Beckstead, who shot a 79 at the Miners’ most recent event Sept. 11; and Conklin Thompson, a Class of 2029 student-athlete who is ranked 10th among all Miners players but shot an 84 in the season opener.
The 6A state tournament will be held Oct. 14-15 at a familiar place for all Miners, Riverbend Golf Course in Riverton. l
Bingham girls tennis racking up the victories
By Brian Shaw | b.shaw@mycityjournals.com
When eight girls are vying for just a handful of singles spots on Bingham’s varsity girls tennis squad, they’ve got to be good.
That’s exactly what the Miners have been thus far this season.
Quietly, the top six girls have racked up a total of 41 victories on the tennis court against only seven defeats.
Would you believe that the girl in first singles is undefeated and only a freshman? Well, it’s true; Kamryn Newman has a 13-0 record—14-0 if you count her play in doubles.
The closest anyone has come to knocking off Newman at the time of publication: a girl from Green Canyon named Bailey Huebner. In that match at the Cache Valley Invitational back in August, Newman lost the first set 4-6 but came back to take the second, 6-2. In the tiebreaker set, the Bingham freshman won by the score of 10-8 to keep her win streak alive.
Since then though, the closest competitors to Newman scored three points in a set in two separate matches—and still lost to her in straight sets.
Senior Emaline Roberts, a holdover from the teams Mark Smith coached, has had a 9-5 record overall with a 3-2 mark in first singles and a 6-3 record in second singles.
Junior Karli Shelley has a 3-3 record in second singles and is 6-3 in third singles, while another junior, Kelsey Warren, has a 6-1 mark in fourth singles.
The Miners coaching staff has tried junior Olivia Hawkins in six different spots. But, fifth singles seems to be the best fit thus far for her as her 5-0 record there would attest.
Sophomore Madison Yeates has not
only seen significant playing time in third doubles, she’s also netted a 3-0 record in sixth singles for the Miners.
In doubles play, the Miners have reigned supreme, too.
Roberts and Shelley have a letter-perfect 2-0 mark in first doubles, while senior Reagan Littlewood and junior Trish Wilson have a 4-1 record in second doubles play.
In third doubles, junior Abby Tullis and sophomore Madison Yeates are 5-0 as a duo and the senior team of Londyn Robins and Caitlin Uffens have had a 3-0 record so far.
Uffens has also teamed up with senior Taylor Harker and they’ve won one match, while juniors Aida Ashton and Anna Hall have a 1-0 record as well.
As a team, the Miners have an 11-5 record overall and are nearly perfect in Region 2 play with a 6-1 mark.
By the time you read this, the Miners will have wrapped up region action—ready for the Region 2 Tournament which takes place in October.
Bingham girls volleyball; Miners go through a seesaw preseason but finish strong at UVU tourney
With the preseason in the rearview mirror, it’s only Region 2 action ahead for your Bingham Miners girls volleyball team.
Bingham [7-5] completed the preseason having won four of its last six matches at the UVU Invitational Sept. 5-7.
The Miners went into the three-day tournament losers of their last two matches.
But, Bingham caught fire one day after it lost a grueling five-setter to Skyridge, Sept. 4 by the score of 25-21, 16-25, 13-25 and 25-16. The Miners then fell in the fifth set, 11-15.
That narrow loss seemed to steady the Miners though, and they thumped Wasatch and Timpview Sept. 5 to open the UVU Invitational, 3-0 each—before losing to Skyline by the same margin Sept. 6.
On Sept. 7, Bingham lost in straight
sets to Bountiful but would rebound an hour later to finish the tournament with a five-set victory over Farmington, 25-21, a16-25, 21-25, 25-15 and 16-14 to carry a winning record into Region 2 action that began on Sept. 17. l
JENNY WILSON, NATALIE PINKNEY, AND KATIE OLSON ARE WORKING FOR SOUTH JORDAN FAMILIES
NOT WAGING PARTISAN CULTURE WARS.
Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson, and County Council candidates Natalie Pinkney and Katie Olson are common-sense public servants. They don’t get distracted by political extremism and culture wars. They are focused on the issues that matter most to Salt Lake County residents:
LOWERING OUR COST OF LIVING MAKING OUR COMMUNITIES SAFER PRESERVING OUR WATER SUPPLY PROTECTING YOUR TAX DOLLARS
NATALIE PINKNEY COUNTY COUNCIL AT-LARGE
JENNY WILSON COUNTY MAYOR
KATIE OLSON COUNTY COUNCIL 2ND DISTRICT
COMMON-SENSE PUBLIC SERVANTS
HALLOWEEN SECTION
A publication covering local Halloween legends and activities for everyone around the Salt Lake Valley
6 terrifying haunted locations in Salt Lake County to visit this Halloween
By Bailey Chism | bailey.c@thecityjournals.com
When the air grows chilly and the veil between worlds thins during Halloween, Salt Lake County becomes a playground for the paranormal. This region, steeped in history and folklore, is home to some of Utah’s most spine-chilling locations where ghost sightings and eerie encounters are the norm. Whether you’re a thrill seeker or a believer in the supernatural, these terrifying places will give you goosebumps long after you’ve left. If you're looking for a truly terrifying Halloween experience, here are the scariest haunted spots in Salt Lake County.
Fear Factory
Located just outside downtown Salt Lake City, Fear Factory isn’t just a haunted attraction for thrill seekers—it’s a real-life haunted site. Once the Portland Cement Factory, this massive industrial facility was the scene of numerous gruesome deaths, including factory accidents where workers were crushed by machinery or fell into vats of cement. Today, the factory stands abandoned, except for the reported spirits of the workers who died there.
Visitors and staff at Fear Factory have reported hearing eerie whispers, seeing shadowy figures dart across the dilapidated buildings, and feeling an oppressive energy that seems to follow them. One of the most harrowing sightings is that of a disembodied hand, believed to belong to a worker who lost his life in a terrible accident. On Halloween, the site transforms into a commercial haunted house, but many say the real terror is the spirits that never left.
The Old Mill
Arguably the most infamous haunted location in Salt Lake County, the Old Mill sits abandoned in Cottonwood Heights, shrouded in mystery and fear. Built in the late 1800s, the mill was used to process
grain before a fire destroyed much of the building. While the mill has stood vacant for decades, it has gained a reputation as one of Utah’s most terrifying places.
Local legends claim that the Old Mill is haunted by the ghosts of workers who died in the fire, as well as by more sinister forces. Paranormal investigators have reported intense cold spots, phantom footsteps, and feelings of dread upon entering the property. The most terrifying accounts tell of shadowy figures watching from the upper floors, and some visitors claim to have been physically touched or shoved by unseen hands. Trespassing is illegal, but that hasn’t stopped urban explorers from visiting—many of whom leave in a hurry, spooked by the unsettling atmosphere.
The Shilo Inn
The Shilo Inn, now a Holiday Inn Express, is one of Salt Lake City's most tragic and haunted locations. In 1978, the hotel became the site of a horrific mass murder-suicide when a mother, who had become obsessed with religious doomsday beliefs, threw her seven children from the hotel’s balcony before leaping to her death. The tragedy shocked the community, and ever since, the hotel has been plagued by paranormal activity.
Guests have reported hearing the sound of children crying or laughing in the hallways, even when no children are staying there. Some have woken up to see ghostly children standing at the foot of their bed, only for the figures to disappear moments later. The hotel's staff also report eerie occurrences, such as flickering lights, doors opening and closing on their own, and sudden cold drafts. This real-life horror makes the former Shilo Inn one of the most unsettling locations in Salt Lake County and a place few would dare stay on Halloween night.
The Old Deseret Hospital
Located near the historic Avenues District in Salt Lake City, the Old Deseret Hospital opened its doors in 1882, catering mainly to women and children. While the hospital is long gone, many locals believe that the spirits of patients who died there still linger. Those who visit the area report hearing phantom cries, especially at night, and some have even seen the apparition of a nurse walking down where the hospital once stood.
Today, the location is a hotspot for ghost hunters who claim that the residual energy from the building still haunts the area. As the sun sets, the once-bustling neighborhood can take on a much more somber and eerie tone, making it the perfect place for a Halloween exploration.
The Rio Grande Depot
A hub of history, The Rio Grande Depot in Salt Lake City was once a bustling train station. Now home to offices and a museum, it’s better known for the ghostly “Purple Lady,” a spectral figure seen wan-
dering the building. According to legend, the Purple Lady died on the train platform in the 1920s after a lover’s quarrel. Distraught, she either fell or was pushed in front of a train, her body mangled in the accident.
Since then, her ghost has been spotted by countless people, often appearing in her elegant purple dress, wandering the halls or standing at the end of the platform. Lights flicker mysteriously, and security guards working after hours have reported objects moving on their own and the feeling of being watched. The depot’s cavernous halls amplify every sound, making even the slightest noise unsettling. On Halloween night, the energy in the depot becomes even more intense, and many believe it’s the best time to catch a glimpse of the Purple Lady herself.
Asylum 49
Technically located just outside Salt Lake County in Tooele, Asylum 49 deContinued on page 17
Which haunted house is the best in Utah?
By Bailey Chism | bailey.c@thecityjournals.com
When does “spooky season” really start? For most of the haunted attractions in Utah, the answer appears to be September.
But when the attractions open, how do you know where to go? Well, reviews have a lot to say when it comes to that. Here are the most highly rated haunted attractions in Utah.
Some attractions may not be included on this list if certain information—such as Google reviews, websites, or a 2024 schedule—was not available.
Castle of Chaos Haunted House and Escape Rooms, Midvale
Castle of Chaos Haunted House and Escape Rooms is a year-round attraction that has earned a 4.6-star rating from more than 2,600 Google reviews. The attraction has a 3.7-star rating from 110 reviews on Yelp.
The haunted house attraction is open Sept. 6 and will run most weekends for the remainder of September. In October, the haunted house will be open for most days except for the first three Wednesdays.
The haunted escape rooms have many different themes: Paranormal, “Nightmare Realm,” serial killer, asylum
By Bailey Chism
As the days grow shorter and the air crisper, a curious transformation takes place. Porches are adorned with jack-o'-lanterns, cobwebs, and eerie decorations, and people willingly seek out haunted houses, scary movies and tales of the macabre. The question arises: why do we love to be scared, especially around Halloween?
At the heart of this fascination is the adrenaline rush that accompanies fear. When faced with a frightening situation— whether it’s the jump-scare in a horror film or the ominous creak of a floorboard in a haunted house—our bodies react instinctively. The "fight or flight" response kicks in, releasing adrenaline and other stress hormones that heighten our senses and quicken our pulse. This surge of energy can be thrilling, especially when we know we are in no real danger. It’s the same reason people enjoy extreme sports or roller coasters; the controlled risk makes the experience exhilarating rather than terrifying.
Beyond the physical thrill, there’s a deeper psychological process at play: catharsis. Halloween, with its focus on the eerie and the supernatural, provides a socially acceptable outlet for exploring our
and lockdown. Tickets for the escape rooms range from $27 to $30.
The haunted house starts at $20 for groups of one to six people.
Nightmare on 13th, Salt Lake City
Nightmare on 13th is a haunted house located in Salt Lake City and its website declares its “Utah’s No. 1 scariest haunted house,” and the attraction boasts a 4.5star rating from more than 2,000 Google reviews. On Yelp, the haunted house has a 4-star average from about 80 reviews.
Nightmare on 13th is scheduled to open Friday, Sept. 13 and will run on Fridays and Saturdays for the remainder of September. In October, the haunted house will be open most days except Sunday. The haunted house will also run the first two days of November.
Tickets can range from $25 to $76 depending on the days and times you choose to attend.
Fear Factory, Salt Lake City
Fear Factory in Salt Lake City is located at 666 W. 800 South, and says on its website that it's “one of the top Halloween attractions in the world.”
Based on more than 2,600 Google
reviews, it averages a 4.4-star rating from visitors. On Yelp, it averages a 3.3-star rating from just over 110 reviews.
Fear Factory is set to open Friday, Sept. 6 and will be open on weekends in September before opening Wednesday through Sunday for most of October. The haunted house will be open for “Lights Out Night” on the first two days of November.
Tickets for Fear Factory can range from about $30 to about $250 depending on which experiences and souvenirs you’re interested in.
Haunted Forest, American Fork
The Haunted Forest in American Fork averages about 4.2 stars from almost 1,300 Google reviews, and 2.8 stars from 33 Yelp reviews.
The attraction doesn’t have a set schedule available online for 2024, but has advertised its featured attractions for 2024: Leech Lagoon at Bone Creek and Alien Attack.
Strangling Brothers Haunted Circus, American Fork
The Strangling Bros. Haunted Circus in American Fork has earned a 4-star rating from more than 660 reviews on Google. On Yelp, it’s garnered a 2.8-star rating
from about 40 reviewers.
The haunted circus’s website said it was “voted the No. 1 scariest haunted house in Utah” but it also offers visitors the chance to walk through the forest without the scare actors.
The circus is expected to begin Friday, Sept. 13 and will continue on Fridays and Saturdays for the rest of the month. Starting Oct. 1, the attraction will be open most days except Sunday.
Tickets for the haunted attraction can range from $30 to $80 depending on whether you purchase general admission, fast pass or VIP tickets.
Other Haunted Options
While there are far more haunted attractions than those listed, the attractions listed about are what the public deems to be the best of the best. A few other attractions in Utah are listed below:
• Asylum 49, Tooele
• Field of Fear, West Haven
• Frightmares, (Lagoon Theme Park) Farmington
• Hidden Lake Haunts, Bountiful
• Night Stalkers Haunted Trail, West Jordan
fears. In everyday life, we often suppress feelings of fear, anxiety, and uncertainty. Engaging with scary stories or participating in Halloween rituals allows us to confront these emotions head-on, in a safe and controlled environment. This confrontation can lead to a sense of release or relief, a psychological cleansing that leaves us feeling lighter and more at ease.
Another key aspect of why we enjoy being scared around Halloween is the social element. Fear, much like laughter, can be contagious. When we experience something frightening with others— whether it’s huddling together during a horror movie or navigating a haunted maze as a group—we create shared memories and bond over the mutual experience. The laughter and camaraderie that often follow a good scare are part of what makes these experiences enjoyable. They bring people closer, fostering a sense of connection and community.
The tradition of celebrating fear during Halloween has deep cultural roots. Originating from ancient Celtic festivals like Samhain, where people believed the veil between the living and the dead was at its thinnest, Halloween has long been asso-
ciated with the supernatural. Over time, these traditions evolved, blending with other cultural practices to create the Halloween we know today—a holiday where the scary, the strange, and the spooky are celebrated. Participating in these rituals, whether by donning a scary costume or telling ghost stories, is a way of connecting with these ancient traditions and honoring the past.
There’s also an element of curiosity
and exploration in our love of Halloween scares. The unknown, the mysterious, and the macabre have always fascinated humanity. Halloween provides a socially acceptable opportunity to delve into these darker aspects of life, to question what lies beyond the veil of our everyday existence. It’s a time to explore themes that are often taboo, such as death, the supernatural, and the afterlife, in a way that is both playful and profound.
Halloween offers a form of escapism. In a world filled with daily routines and responsibilities, the chance to immerse ourselves in a night of fantasy and fear is a welcome diversion. It allows us to step out of our ordinary lives and into a world where anything can happen—a world of ghosts, goblins and ghouls.
So, as you carve your pumpkin, don your costume, or settle in for a scary movie this Halloween, remember that the thrill of fear is not just a seasonal pastime. It’s a complex, multifaceted experience that taps into deep-seated psychological needs and cultural traditions, making it a beloved part of the Halloween season.
10 family-friendly Halloween activities this month
By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com
Halloween is a spooky time for families to create lasting memories. From eerie displays to costume contests, many activities in Salt Lake County cater to all ages, ensuring everyone gets in on the festive spirit. These family-friendly, spine-tingling adventures will bring excitement to your Halloween celebrations while keeping the scares at a comfortable level.
BooLights, Hogle Zoo (2600 Sunnyside Ave., SLC)
Specific nights from Oct. 2-30, 6:309:30 p.m., $12.95-$18.95
This after-hours light display transforms Hogle Zoo into a bewitching destination. With entertainment and attractions like Dr. Frankenstein's Lab Show at the Wildlife Theatre, the event is the perfect way to celebrate the season. Costumes are allowed, but face-covering masks and any resemblance of weapons are prohibited. Check HogleZoo.org for dates.
Little Haunts, This is the Place Heritage Park (2601 Sunnyside Ave., SLC)
October 11, 12, 18, 19, 25 and 26, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., $14.95-$18.95
Don your costumes and visit This is the Place for storytelling, trick-or-treating and take-home crafts. Learn about creepy bugs at the Creature Encounters and enjoy the petting corral, pony and train rides and more. Bring your own trick-or-treat bag. Tickets at ThisIsThePlace.org.
Riverton Halloween Bash, Riverton City Park (12600 S. 1452 West)
Monday, Oct. 14, 6-8 p.m., FREE
This annual Halloween tradition features age-appropriate games and activities for every family member. Snap holiday
pictures at the photo booth and enjoy the Scare Rodeo spook alley. Families are encouraged to wear costumes.
BOOtanical, Red Butte Garden (300 Wakara Way, SLC)
Oct. 17-30, Members $13, Public $16
BOOtanical Nights, 6-9 p.m. and BOOtanical Days, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Visit the magical world of Wonderland, where you can find hidden seeds and stop the Jabberwocky from transforming Wonderland forever. Join the adventure at RedButteGarden.org.
The Haunted Woods, Murray City Park (296 E. Murray Park Ave.)
Oct. 21-25, 5:30-9 p.m., $5
A family-friendly haunted attraction, the Haunted Woods offers a “Silly Trail” and a scarier “Spooky Trail” so everyone can have fun. All proceeds fund child abuse prevention programs. Tickets at MurrayHauntedWoods.com.
Monster Mash dance party, West Valley City Family Fitness Center (5415 W. 3100 South)
Friday, Oct. 25, 6-8 p.m., $5 per person, 50% off for members
The West Valley Halloween Dance Party is a fun time for the family with dancing, balloons and a costume contest. Pre-register by Wednesday, Oct. 23 at WVC-Ut.gov.
Halloween Fun Fest & Disability Resource Fair, Miller Conference Center (9750 S. 300 West, Sandy)
Saturday, Oct. 26, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., FREE
This event features trick-or-treating, sensory activities and DJ Rebecca to
keep the music hopping. Caregivers can chat with experts and find resources. Costumes welcome!
Samhain Festival, Gallivan Center (239 S. Main Street, SLC)
Sunday, Oct. 27, Noon-7 p.m., $13$15
Experience Samhain, the festival marking the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. Learn pagan traditions, enjoy live entertainment and food trucks, and activities for all ages.
Halloween Spooktacular, Abravanel Hall (123 W. South Temple, SLC)
Tuesday, Oct. 29, $8-$45 Wear a costume to this night of
hair-raising melodies featuring music from Halloween favorites. Watch and listen as members of the Utah Symphony bring monsters to life. Find tickets at UtahSymphony.org.
Día de los Muertos celebration (Millcreek Common, 1354 E. Chambers Ave., Millcreek)
Oct. 27-Nov. 2, FREE
Celebrate Día de los Muertos at Millcreek Common. Bring photos of loved ones for the community Ofrenda and enjoy the Halloween Party on Oct. 31 from 7-10 p.m. The big celebration is on Nov. 2, from 6-9 p.m., with the La Catrina parade, mariachi music, face painting, traditional treats and the movie “Coco.”
Continued from page 15
serves a mention for its terrifying proximity and haunted history. Once a hospital, this site is now a full-fledged haunted attraction. But while actors and special effects create a terrifying show, the real horror lies in the ghosts that are said to haunt the building.
Former patients of the hospital are believed to roam the halls, and many visitors have claimed to see shadow figures, hear ghostly voices, and feel sudden cold spots. Paranormal investigators have documented disembodied voices and even poltergeist activity in certain rooms. Unlike most haunted houses, Asylum 49 encourages interaction with both the living and
the dead, making it one of the most immersive and frightening haunted locations in Utah. If you're looking for an experience that blurs the line between entertainment and real paranormal encounters, this is the place to go.
Salt Lake County is filled with ghostly tales and terrifying haunted sites, each with its own dark history and eerie energy. From the real-life tragedy at the Shilo Inn to the haunted corridors of the Old Mill, these locations offer a chilling experience that will make for a Halloween night you won’t forget. Whether you believe in ghosts or not, these haunted places are sure to give you a scare, leaving you wondering what might be lurking just out of sight.
Families have a variety of choices when choosing fun holiday activities in October. (Stock photo)
The Old Mill in Cottonwood Heights. (File photo City Journals)
Draper’s Kuwahara’s Pumpkin Patch and Thriller Park open for the season
By Rebecca Olds | rebecca.o@thecityjournals.com
Kuwahara’s Pumpkin Patch and Thriller Park opened for the season on Sept. 20, giving thrill seekers more than a month to enjoy the park. Alex Kuwahara, the park’s owner, started the pumpkin patch when he was 12 years old at the original location now called Kuwahara Wholesale. It’s since grown into a pumpkin patch paradise with 25 to 30 different varieties of locally-grown pumpkins and pumpkin archways. He now runs the park along with his wife Sarah Kuwahara.
“That was a big expansion when we started to decorate our tunnels and do it all,” she said. “I mean, we always decorated them but when we made the switch to making it a real wow factor, that's definitely what puts us on the map in pumpkin patches.”
In 2016, the thriller part of the park was added and has been growing ever since.
“I would like the community to know just how much goes into this,” Sarah Kuwahara said. “We have lots of immersive attractions…[and] lots of employees here to make it awesome, so it really is a bang for your buck when you think about what
you're getting.”
Overall, the park employs about 120 people to make the experience as smooth and as fun for the crowds as possible.
More than 30 attractions draw crowds yearly, including the pumpkin patch, haunted house, Halloween Main Street, Once Upon a Time land, corn maze, Grand Bizarre, a magician and more. A crowning feature of the park is the shows and dance parties on the center stage, keeping the Halloween atmosphere alive with live entertainment ranging from fire dancers to musical performances.
Kuwahara said that park visitors can expect a reimagined pirate show to make a reappearance and the popular fire show to be back this season.
During the 2023 season, Kuwahara said more than 40,000 people visited the park and she expects even more this year.
Her advice for those experiencing the park for the first time or the 100th time is to come at night.
“At night, you really get to experience the lights and all the fun,” she said, with a big smile.
More information on park hours, pricing and events can be found online at www.kuwaharawholesale.com.
A mom takes a picture of her kids in Kuwahara’s Pumpkin Patch on opening night of the park, Sept. 20.
Known as a go-to fall picture destination, these teens came dressed for the occasion with crocheted pumpkin hats.
In the Grand Bizarre, vendors like Angie Broadbent (left) from Gemini Twins Art Studio and Photography, dress in their best ghoulish costumes to sell their wares.
Dracula was the first performance to don the stage during opening night of the park on Sept. 20. (Photos by Rebecca Olds/City Journals)
Face painting artist, Terri Williams, shows her customer the first glimpse at her handiwork in the Grand Bizarre. (Rebecca Olds/City Journals)
The Once Upon a Time addition to the park gives kids (and parents) a chance to immerse themselves in the magic of the season. (Rebecca Olds/City Journals)
Kuwahara’s is full of magical decorations to set the scene in each part of the park. (Rebecca Olds/City Journals)
Parkgoers enter the park’s corn maze. (Rebecca Olds/City Journals)
To the left of the park entrance is an archway that leads to the big stage. (Rebecca Olds/City Journals)
This is a local family’s second year going to the park where carts allow for easy pumpkin towing when you’ve found the best pumpkin in the patch.
A brave little girl is held up by her mom while she rings the bell to the cheers of a park employee before she enters the haunted house. The entrance to the pumpkin patch where more than 25 varieties of pumpkins await.
Ginormous Pumpkin Regatta coming your way!
By Laura Spendlove Crapo | l.crapo@mycityjournals.com
LiveDAYBREAK
knows how to have fun.
Their 13th annual Ginormous Pumpkin Regatta is taking place on Saturday, Oct. 12. The contestants will meet at the North Shore of Oquirrh Lake (10491 Lake Ave., South Jordan). This event will be from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
“This fun-for-all-ages event is the perfect way to celebrate fall with family and friends while enjoying the stunning Daybreak community,” David Steed said, communications manager for LiveDAYBREAK. “Whether you’re competing or spectating, the Ginormous Pumpkin Regatta promises exciting races, delicious food and unforgettable memories.”
This race will feature ‘ginormous’ pumpkins weighing in at 500 pounds or more. They are carved out, designed and transformed into boats. That fact alone will insure sights and sounds spectators aren’t likely to forget. While in their pumpkin boats the competitors will row with an oar to propel themselves to a hopeful
win.
Those residents not ready to race in giant gourds have the option to participate in the Cardboard Boat Race. They can use their creativity to prepare cardboard floating vessels. This challenge to compete in decorated boats will be focused on winning the race.
Also, there will be a Relay Regatta Race and Paddleboard Race. Teens will not be left out and can participate in the Teen Regatta race. Then, the creativity continues in the Porta-Paddle race where large porta-potties are raced like kayaks.
The event doesn’t stop there. There will be live entertainment, a petting zoo and a costume contest. Then the climax will be the Giant Pumpkin Drop. This grand finale will be a fun way to end the exciting event.
“This thrilling fall festival is one of Daybreak’s most anticipated events, and it’s back bigger and better than ever!” Steed said.
The Ginormous Pumpkin Regatta is definitely an event worthy of a spot on your calendars. The following is the event’s agenda:
8:30 a.m. - Pumpkins in the Lake
9:00 a.m. - Pumpkin Carving Begins
10:00 a.m. - Race Check-In, Food Trucks and Activities Open
10:30 a.m. - Paddleboard Race
11:00 a.m. - Teen Regatta Race (ages 12-18, single racer)
11:15 a.m. - Relay Regatta Race (ages 18+, two racers)
11:30 a.m. - Cardboard Boat Regatta (ages 14 & under, first to furthest buoys)
11:45 a.m. - Porta-Paddle Race (Large Porta-Potties are raced like kayaks)
12:15 p.m. - Champions Race
12:25 p.m. - Costume Contest (all ages, with a fun dance-off on the beach)
12:30 to 1:00 p.m. - Giant Pumpkin Photo-Op (get in the giant
pumpkins on the water!)
1:00 to 1:30 p.m. - Giant Pumpkin Drop (see massive pumpkins dropped from 30 feet high!)
1:30 p.m. - Event Ends l
The 13th annual Ginormous Pumpkin Regatta will take place Oct. 12. (File photo LiveDAYBREAK)
A boy with his cardboard boat. (David Steed/Daybreak communications)
South Jordan Mayor Dawn R. Ramsey, and City Council Members were able to tour the new ballpark being built in South Jordan to see construction progress.
“We are excited to see the construction progress and to welcome the Salt Lake Bees to their new home here at Daybreak Field in America First Square in the City of South Jordan in April of 2025,” said Mayor Ramsey.
During the tour, Council Members were able to stand in the beginning of what will be the ground level suites, see the field progress, and even stand in what will be the new Megaplex Cinema Entertainment Center adjacent to the park.
“Everything is shaping up to what will be a spectacular urban center here in South Jordan,” Ramsey said. “We’re getting ready to invite people from all over Salt Lake Valley and beyond to enjoy what will be the hottest place to take in a game, enjoy amazing food, watch a movie, and so much more.”
South Jordan is doing its part to build on the excitement of the new ballpark revealing its “Welcome to South Jordan,” social media contest in partnership with the Larry H. Miller Company and the Bees. Entrants can win hats, game-worn jerseys, retro team swag (think Gulls and Occidentals), and more.
Entrants simply take a photo with Bees swag, by the new ballpark, or in front of a
Council tours new ballpark
South Jordan sign, then make a post with the words “Welcome to South Jordan,” and tag @southjordancity @saltlakebees and @ daybreakfield, using the hashtags #BeesinSoJo #WelcometoSoJo. Tag as many friends as you want in the post. Each tag (of a person,
not businesses) counts as an additional entry on Instagram only. You can post to both Facebook and Instagram, each platform you post to will count for an additional entry. Winners must be able to stop by South Jordan City Hall to pick up their prize.
“It’s time to get excited that the Bees are coming to South Jordan,” said Mayor Ramsey. “And come April, everyone is invited to come enjoy what the new urban center has to offer!” l
Funeral arrangements are a deeply personal choice. Preplanning provides you with the time needed to make practical, detailed decisions that reflect your standards, lifestyle, taste and budget. And we assure you and your family that the choices you make will be carried out as planned.
The South Jordan City Council toured the new Bees baseball stadium. (SoJo Communications)
New faces and key races to watch in Salt Lake County 2024 election
By Shaun Delliskave | s.delliskave@mycityjournals.com
Asthe 2024 election season heats up, Salt Lake County finds itself on the brink of significant political change. With the retirement of long-serving officials like Jim Bradley, David Alvord, Ann Granato, Wayne Cushing and Reid Demman, the upcoming races will usher in a new era of leadership. In the spotlight is the high-stakes mayoral race, where incumbent Democrat Jenny Wilson faces a challenge from Republican Erin Rider. Alongside this, several key County Council districts and other county offices will see competitive battles as newcomers vie to shape the future of the county. Here's an overview of the pivotal races and the candidates aiming to steer Salt Lake County forward.
County Mayor Race
Jenny Wilson, the current mayor of Salt Lake County, is running for re-election. Wilson has been in office since 2019 and previously made history as the first woman elected to the County Council. According to her campaign page, she is a fifth-generation Utahn with experience in both the private sector and nonprofit organizations. Before becoming mayor, Wilson served on the council for 10 years.
Her opponent, Erin Rider, a Republican, comes from a background in law and business. Raised in Millcreek, Rider graduated from Brigham Young University with a business degree and later earned her JD/MBA from Georgetown University. She worked as a law clerk on the Senate Finance Committee under Sen. Orrin Hatch in Washington, D.C., and has been active in various community organizations, including Utah Women Run and the J. Reuben Clark Law Society.
County Council District Races
District 2 includes the towns of West Valley City, Kearns, West Jordan, South Jordan and Herriman. Both candidates in this race are new, as they seek to replace the retiring incumbent David Alvord.
Katie Olson, the Democratic candidate, indicates on her campaign webpage she holds a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and a master’s degree in public administration. She currently works as an internal consultant for the city of South Jordan, where she collaborates with various city departments to evaluate their effectiveness.
Carlos Moreno, the Republican candidate, is a recent U.S. citizen and political asylee from Venezuela. He achieved U.S. citizenship in 2022 and works as a community outreach representative for a national energy management consulting company. Moreno also runs a small business with his wife in West Jordan.
District 4 encompasses Salt Lake City, Millcreek, Holladay, Murray and Cottonwood Heights. Current incumbent Ann Granto retires after this term.
This race features Democrat Ross Romero, a former Utah State Senator and House
Member. Romero graduated from the University of Utah and earned a JD from the University of Michigan Law School. His career includes serving on the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars and being elected as a Democratic National Committee Committeeman in 2020. Romero has held numerous board positions, including with the National Association of Latino Elected & Appointed Officials and the Utah Hospital Association, and has been involved in initiatives promoting diversity, equity and inclusion.
Running against Romero is former Third Circuit Court Judge Roger Livingston, a Republican. Livingston previously served as a Deputy Salt Lake County Attorney and was a candidate for the Republican attorney general nomination in the 1980s. He also served in the Utah House of Representatives in the late 1970s.
Nolan Kruse is also running in District 4 under the Utah Forward Party. Kruse is a small business owner and the Co-Founder and CEO of Lunar Services, a company that provides building service solutions. He holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Utah.
District 6 includes the areas of Sandy, Midvale, Draper and Cottonwood Heights. Incumbent Republican Dea Theodore is seeking re-election. Theodore, who has represented District 6 since 2020, has a background in biology and experience in education administration and civic engagement. As noted on her website, she has been active on several boards, including the Unified Fire Authority (UFA) and SYLVESA, and has worked on legislative initiatives during her time in office; she is a Sandy resident.
Conder has a degree in mathematics with a minor in physics from the University of Utah. Conder has been the Chief Deputy Treasurer under Wayne Cushing.
For County Recorder, incumbent Democrat Rashelle Hobbs is seeking re-election. Hobbs has been involved in county operations for over a decade, starting her career in the Salt Lake County Clerk’s office. Hobbs has a bachelor's degree at the University of Utah and a master's degree in professional communication from Westminster College.
Challenging Theodore is Zach Robinson, the Democratic candidate who currently serves on the Sandy City Council. Robinson has a decade of experience as a firefighter and paramedic, and he works as an Operations Manager for virtual care at University of Utah Health.
At-Large and Other County Positions
In the at-large race for County Council, incumbent Republican Rachelle Morris and Democrat Natalie Pinkney are competing to replace longtime councilman Jim Bradley.
Natalie Pinkney currently serves on the South Salt Lake City Council and has an educational background in psychology and educational leadership from Marquette University and the University of Utah. Pinkney is also a small business owner and helped establish a Financial Empowerment Center in South Salt Lake.
Rachelle Morris, is a graduate of Brigham Young University with a degree in Information Systems. She has a career in private wealth management, having worked at both Goldman Sachs and J.P. Morgan. Morris is also a co-founder and partner at a Utah venture fund.
Treasurer, Recorder, Assessor and Surveyor Races
For the position of County Treasurer, the current officeholder, Wayne Cushing, is not seeking re-election.
Democrat Sheila Srivastava, seeks to replace Cushing. As indicated on her website, Srivastava has over 30 years of experience as a CPA.
The Republican candidate aiming to replace him is Phil Conder, who has been working in the Salt Lake County Treasurer’s office.
Challenging Hobbs is Republican Richard Snelgrove, who was defeated in 2022 for re-election to the Salt Lake County Council. Snelgrove has also served as district director for U.S. Congressman Merrill Cook and has been involved in international election observation for the U.S. State Department. He currently serves on the United Fire Authority board.
The Assessor race features Chris Stavros, the Republican incumbent. Stavros previously held several leadership roles in the Assessor’s office, including Chief Deputy Assessor.
Democrat Joel Frost is a residential appraiser in Salt Lake County since 2006. Frost has served in various capacities, including as President of the Utah Coalition of Appraisers and a board member of the Utah Association of Appraisers.
After 18 years, Reid Demman is stepping away from the position of County Surveyor. Two members from his office will compete to take his spot.
Democrat Kent Setterberg is running with a career spanning over 30 years in the Salt Lake County Surveyor’s office. Setterberg, a licensed Professional Land Surveyor, has a Geomatics degree in Land Surveying from Salt Lake Community College. His opponent, Republican Bradley Park, is the current Chief Deputy Surveyor and has been in the Surveyor’s office since 2021. Park has 17 years of experience in surveying, including a leadership role at Dominion Energy, where he managed the company’s survey office.
Salt Lake County voters can get registration, candidate and ballot information at www. saltlakecounty.gov/clerk/elections/2024-general-election/. l
The Salt Lake County Council will see new faces as Jim Bradley, David Alvord and Ann Granato chose to retire from their offices. (Shaun Delliskave/City Journals)
Incumbent Democrat Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson will face a challenge from Republican Erin Rider. (Shaun Delliskave/City Journals)
Retiring Salt Lake County elected officers Jim Bradley, David Alvord, Ann Granato, Wayne Cushing and Reid Demman. (Photos courtesy of Salt Lake County)
Expanding the My County Rec Pass program
In June, the Salt Lake County Council launched the My County Rec Pass, a program offering school-age children free entry to participating Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation amenities, including pools, public skate sessions at four skate centers, supervised climbing walls, open gym time, and fitness area access for older teens. The program has been an enormous success. As of mid-August, over 60,000 people had registered.
The council recently expanded the program to include children ages 3-4 and has offered to reimburse families that might have purchased an annual pass after June 1, 2024, for their 3-4-year-old children. Children under 3 are already able to enter these facilities at no cost.
The My County Rec Pass program is funded by TRCC (Tourism, Recreation, Culture & Convention), a tourist tax from the county's tourism, recreation, culture and convention tax revenue from restaurants and rental cars. A little more than $2 million went toward the program, and we hope it will end up paying for itself as more and more parents purchase rec center passes so they can play with their kids.
I believe we must also look to expand the program to include all non-participating rec centers, including Murray, Alta Canyon Sports Center, Kearns Oquirrh Park Fitness
Aimee Winder Newton
Salt Lake County Councilwoman| District 3
Center, West Valley Recreation Center and Cottonwood Heights Recreation Center. These facilities are not county-owned. Some are city owned or in a special service district, but it would be great to allocate TRCC funds for them to participate.
Given the popularity and positive impact of the My County Rec Pass program, I plan to advocate for TRCC funding for the city-owned rec centers to adopt this same program. My goal is to help expand accessibility to these facilities and ensure all of our county's school-age children can enjoy the benefits of recreation and community engagement.
The county wants to be an excellent partner to cities and towns. Helping our cities and towns access funding and expanding the My County Rec Pass program will benefit all county residents.
We are proud of the My County Rec
Pass program. It not only encourages physical activity and social interaction among children, but also improves mental health by getting kids off devices and connecting with others. By promoting healthy, active lifestyles and fostering a sense of community, this program is making a significant difference in the lives of our children and families. Have you taken advantage of this amazing program? Just go to your local Salt Lake
County Parks and Rec location with proof of ID and an adult (who must show proof of residency), get a photo, and begin enjoying this free resource for Salt Lake County youth. We also encourage parents to purchase an annual pass so they can enjoy these activities with their kids.
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As a sugar fiend, Halloween was a High Holy day in my childhood. Like a squirrel, I used the holiday to gather and hoard candy that would last me through the autumn months until Santa could fill my stocking with tooth-breaking peppermint discs.
On Halloween, my siblings and I would take pillowcases and trick-or-treat through the neighborhood. When the bags were full, we’d bring home our haul so Mom could scrutinize each piece. She’d look for razor blades poking out of apples, unwrapped candy laced with angel dust and Butterfinger bars that she confiscated as Halloween tax.
In sixth grade, I went trick-or-treating with a boy and we dressed as square dancers because Mr. Madson had taught us how to dance and it was an easy costume. The boy was more interested in trying to kiss me than in securing candy. So I told him we had no future and do-si-doed to the next house to see if they were handing out full-size candy bars.
The gathering of candy was just the beginning. After mom crime-proofed my loot, I’d sort it into categories: chocolate bars, Charms Blow-Pops, fruity Wacky Wafers, Pixy Stix, flavorless Smarties, wax bottles filled with questionable liquid, hard-as-rock orange taffy, Bazooka bubble gum and boring Tootsie Rolls. Then, I’d count each piece so I’d know if one of my bratty siblings took anything.
Once my bag-o-cavities was categorized and counted, I’d hide it under my pillow and sleep on it like Smaug protecting his treasure from the grubby hands of mortals. I sometimes woke up with a lollipop stuck to my face.
Give Me Some Sugar
Peri Kinder
Life and Laughter
til after Thanksgiving. But they attempted to confiscate any sugary substance, so I had to be strategic.
I’d pretend to look for something in my desk and shove a handful of Milk Duds in my mouth. Invariably, the teacher would call on me as soon as I had the candy stuffed in my cheeks like a chipmunk. Do you know how hard it is to talk with a mouthful of Milk Duds?
After school, I’d dash home to my pile of candy to recategorize and recount, and to punish anyone within screeching distance if one piece of Laffy Taffy was missing. Yes, I was a bit obsessive. I understand that now.
Halloween candy was also perfect for smuggling into Sunday school. If I could get it past my mom, I could snack all through the long Sunday services. At the time, dresses didn’t have pockets (those were hard times) so I had to resort to creative options.
My socks became repositories for candy contraband. I was too young to realize mothers notice when their child’s legs are suddenly shaped like Baby Ruth bars. Plus, the plastic candy wrappers strapped around my ankles made a crinkling and crackling noise as subtle as a bull in a china shop.
significantly. I needed to cut back if it was going to last until Christmas but the Bottle Caps, the Sugar Babies, the Bit-oHoney and the Boston Baked Beans called to me like a siren on a rock.
SOUTH JORDAN
The real benefit of Halloween candy was having access to sweet treats at school. Sneaking candy to school was the tricky part. On Nov. 1, teachers knew we’d all have pockets full of candy and we wouldn’t be able to pay attention un-
A week after Halloween, my candy stash had dwindled
Whether I battled the world’s loudest candy wrappers or faced the principal for participating in black market candy sales, Halloween remained my favorite holiday. I still squirrel away my favorite candies and I warn everyone to touch my cache at their peril.
