BUSINESSES WORRY AS SR 201 AND 3200 WEST BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION SLOWS CUSTOMER TRAFFIC
By Darrell Kirby | d.kirby@mycityjournals.com
JoseOrozco is holding out hope that he can hold on.
His El Paisa Grill in West Valley City is impacted by a months-long road construction project on State Route 201 where it crosses 3200 West along the border of West Valley City and Salt Lake City.
The Utah Department of Transportation is currently replacing the bridge that carries the busy freeway over 3200 West in West Valley City. The $14-million project, which started in July, has closed 3200 West to allow for the demolition and reconstruction of two bridge decks carrying east and westbound traffic along the freeway and the on and off ramps at 3200 West. The blockage has made it harder for people to access nearby businesses like El Paisa at 2126 S. 3200 West just south of the construction zone.
“We’re down 30% of our sales,” Orozco said. “It’s been a struggle.”
Orozco said even running radio and television ads has largely been for naught. Some potential customers are reluctant to endure the inconvenience of taking alternate routes to El Paisa, especially those north of SR 201 where concrete barriers put 3200 West out of commission under the freeway and require a detour to the east or west. “People would rather wait until this is over,” he said.
UDOT project manager David Cox said efforts have been made before and during the construction to let businesses know about the project and what steps the department is taking to mitigate the impact on them.
To do that, UDOT hired X Factor Strategic Communications to conduct outreach including direct meetings with businesses and social media and email updates to keep them and the public informed about the status of construction and detours around the road work to get to surrounding merchants and other enterprises.
“We tried very early in the process to be conscious of those businesses that will be impacted by the project,” Cox
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Delvin Chhour, whose family owns My Sugar’s Donut Shopp, says construction on nearby State Route 201 has resulted in a 50% reduction in customer traffic. (Darrell Kirby/City Journals)
Ladies Take the Lead with Experience, Passion and Purpose at CommonSpirit Holy Cross Hospitals
“Ido this work for my father, for families like ours, and ultimately, for the glory of God,” said Martha Boutsikakis Gamble, Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) at Holy Cross Hospital - West Valley and registered nurse for over 20 years.
For many, a career in healthcare is more of a calling - a decision made that was shaped by past experiences with loved ones, or even personal health scares of their own. This type of desire to care for others and passion to pursue a career in healthcare rings especially true for the ladies who are taking the lead at our CommonSpirit Health Holy Cross Hospitals in West Jordan and West Valley City.
Martha was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, to immigrant parents from Crete, Greece. While her parents spoke conversational English, her role as the eldest child often involved translating for them in settings where language wasn’t necessarily the barrier but rather, cultural understanding wasthis included translating at her dad’s appointments with his dietitian.
“When I was only about 11 or 12 years old, my father was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes,” said Martha. “It quickly became clear during his appointments that the meal recommendations we were receiving didn’t align with the food we grew up eating, nor did they consider the cultural context of our meals.”
In an attempt to adapt to the dietitian’s recommendations, the meals Martha and her family ate were repetitive… for nearly a decade.
“These early experiences fostered in me a calling—not only to serve but to advocate for
communities like mine, where language and culture can create unseen barriers to quality healthcare,” said Martha.
For Christine McSweeney, President of Holy Cross Hospitals - Jordan Valley and West Valley, her path to healthcare leadership began as a passion to explore the science behind nutrition and how to properly fuel our bodies.
“I’m a science nerd at heart,” said Christine. “I get excited about seeing people and myself thrive and improve through proper nutrition and care”
Christine’s career began at Banner Health in Arizona where she was a clinical dietitian. Over the course of 20 years, Christine climbed the ranks to eventually serve as Chief Operating Officer of a large academic center in downtown Phoenix before she joined the CommonSpirit Health leadership team five years ago, stepping into her current President role in 2023.
“My experience here in Utah has been like no other. It is full of neighbors helping neighbors, strong family values, amazing outdoor beauty and a true haven for healthy lifestyles. This way of living and thinking really brings me back to my roots as a dietitian” said Christine. “In addition, it certainly doesn’t hurt that the people we have working for CommonSpirit in the Greater Salt Lake market are loyal, dedicated and lean into our mission with their values first!”
Katie Flores, CNO at Holy Cross HospitalMountain Point and Interim CNO at Holy Cross Hospital - Jordan Valley, kicked off her healthcare
career in 2001 as a registered nurse - initially caring for patients at the bedside in Med/Surg and in the Emergency Department.
Over the years, Katie transitioned into leadership roles and has been serving as CNO for the last 10 years. A passionate caregiver, Katie’s background actually started with a dream to work in broadcast media… but that quickly changed.
“I realized early on that broadcast wasn’t the right fit for me - I felt a lack of connection and fulfillment so I pursued a career that would allow me to make a meaningful impact on others,” said Katie. “After going through some personal life experiences that led me to seek healthcare myself, I decided to make a change. I went back to school to pursue a career in healthcare—one that I could feel passionate about every day and truly connect with on a deeper level.”
Though different backgrounds and experiences fuel this leadership team’s passion to do what they do every day, Christine shared that the common thread between them all is, “This team of women lead with strength, confidence, curiosity, determination and heart…. it is present in everything we do and apparent in the quality of care our hospitals provide. I cannot wait to see all we continue to accomplish, together.”
At CommonSpirit Health, we make the healing presence of God known in our world by improving the health of the people we serve, especially those who are vulnerable, while we advance social justice for all.
Learn more about the services, care providers and missiondriven work of the Holy Cross hospitals and CommonSpirit Health at www.holycrossutah.org.
Comcast’s initiatives have a broad impact across Utah
By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com
Comcast
has contributed more than $5.2 million in cash and in-kind contributions to nearly 100 nonprofit partners in Utah, over the last three years. Organizations like Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind, the Alpine School District Foundation, Neighborhood House and United Way have all benefited from Comcast’s giving initiatives.
Project Up is a $1 billion program dedicated to closing the digital divide while connecting more people to the internet and creating opportunities for the next generation. Project UP supports nonprofit organizations that offer digital skills training, helping learners of all ages and skill levels to succeed in an increasingly digital world.
“With the support of Comcast, youth in our programs were able to get hands-on experience with advanced computers, guided exposure to the internet and new technologies, and about 3D modeling and other lessons that introduce youth to technology uses in many careers,” said Haylee Mathews, Boys & Girls Clubs of Salt Lake STEM Director. “The surprise of the 280 laptop computers to club members has been great for our youth to use as they learn about a variety of technology-related fields. Comcast has helped foster a culture and desire among our youth to learn more and pursue technology-related fields.”
Along with empowering communities, Comcast is helping to build a more equitable workforce by providing tech training and mentorship to underserved communities. Through partnerships with organizations like Per Scholas and CodePath, more people are mastering digital literacy.
Comcast also created more than 1,250 Lift Zones across the country, offering free WiFi access in community centers and recreation facilities. With nearly 40 Lift Zones in Utah, underserved families and neighborhoods can participate in accessing digital opportunities. Additionally, Comcast’s Internet Essentials program provides in-home broadband access for qualifying households.
Lily is an immigrant from Taiwan, assisted by the United Way of Utah County, one of Comcast’s partners. Adjusting to life in America has been challenging particularly when it comes to understanding technology. As an older woman, she said the learning curve was steep and she often felt overwhelmed in class.
“Then, during one of our sessions, I entered an old address from my childhood in Taiwan,” Lily said. “As the
screen displayed the familiar streets and landmarks of my youth, tears welled up in my eyes. It had been so long since I had seen the place where I spent my carefree days playing. It was a deeply moving experience, allowing technology to transport me back in time and mend a piece of my heart.”
Comcast’s corporate giving plays a crucial role in helping local nonprofits fulfill their missions. It also invests in future entrepreneurs through Comcast RISE, supporting the growth of 13,500 small businesses by providing monetary, marketing and technology grants to help entrepreneurs on their road to success.
By collaborating with community partners, Comcast has fostered digital literacy and work readiness skills, giving people across Utah access to the tools they need to navigate a digital world.
“Neighborhood House families live in areas that are digital deserts and many of our families do not have access to computers for their children,” said Neighborhood House Executive Director Jennifer Nuttall. “In this age of technology, that puts our school-age kids at a disadvantage, but Comcast has stepped in to provide laptops and connectivity, ensuring that all kids have the technology they need to succeed in school and beyond. This has been enormously impactful.”
Comcast is committed to addressing the digital divide with forward-thinking programs and technology. It aims to
continue building Utah’s tech landscape through valuable partnerships, initiatives and digital support.
“Our commitment at Comcast to bridging the digital divide is evident through forward-thinking programs and innovative technology that empower communities across Utah,” said Deneiva Knight, External Affairs Director, Comcast Mountain West Region. “By partnering with nearly 100 nonprofit organizations and contributing over $5.2 million in cash and in-kind support over the past three years, we are dedicated to nurturing Utah’s tech ecosystem.
“Through initiatives like Project UP, a $1 billion program designed to connect more people to the internet and equip them with essential digital skills, we are laying the groundwork for a future where every individual has the opportunity to thrive in the digital age.”
For more information, visit Corporate.comcast.com. l
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Comcast supports nonprofits in the state including Neighborhood House, United Way and the Boys & Girls Clubs. (Photo courtesy of Comcast)
Tween Author Boot Camp empowers Granger Elementary students to share their stories
By Collette Hayes | c.hayes@mycityjournals.com
Operation Literacy and the Granite Education Foundation teamed up to give Granger Elementary fourth- through sixth-grade students in the Granite School District a memorable morning of cultivating a love for reading and promoting literacy. Students couldn’t contain their excitement when, at the end of the event, they were each gifted five books written by the authors.
Operation Literacy, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, brought its Tween Author Boot Camp program to Granger Elementary, a Title 1 school in the Granite School District. The literary event, presented by bestselling children’s authors, included a mini-writing conference to foster creativity, problem-solving and connection.
Operation Literacy's vision is to get age-appropriate books into the homes of students attending Title 1 schools, which, according to a 20-year study, “Family Scholarly Culture and Educational Success” is one of the most significant predictors of a child’s academic success.
“The mission of our organization is to promote children’s literacy in the state of Utah, especially in a time of declining literacy rates,” Operation Literacy CEO Jennifer Jenkins said. “We have a special interest in working with Title I schools. We bring children’s authors and free books to give every child.”
According to the U.S. Department of Education, 61% of low-income families in the United States do not have age-appropriate books for their children in their homes. This highlights a critical gap between low-income families and children in high-income communities, who typically have around 13 books per child.
Operation Literacy promotes literacy, a love of reading, and self-expression by empowering children to share their stories with guidance from industry professionals, including Newbury award-winning and national award-winning authors. Local and national children’s authors Jennifer Nielsen, Frank Cole, Yamile Méndez and Heather Clark held a mini writers conference, inspiring children to explore the many possibilities reading offers and to unlock their imaginations and dreams.
“Title 1 schools rarely have author visits because Parent-Teacher-Association (PTAs) funds typically pay for author visits,” Jenkins said. “With most author visits, schools are expected to sell a certain number of books. As a result, Title 1 school kids miss out on these literary opportunities. Operation Literacy addresses this issue by providing free author visits, mini-writing conferences and free books
do read and will read, but we must give them a reason to do so. The purpose of the Book Drop program is to create an interactive setting between authors and students. By the end of the mini-conference sessions, the children will be inspired and eager to read the free books they receive at the end of the event."
According to Rachel Lowrey, Granger Elementary School principal, kindergarten through sixth-grade teachers promote reading every day. The school runs several literacy programs to get reading tools in the hands of the parents, including the Family Engagement Committee, where teachers and staff members work collaboratively to enhance literacy at home. Events like the Fall Festival of Reading connect students' families with literacy and STEM skills.
“We are implementing various programs at Granger that will connect families with reading materials and resources to encourage reading at home,” Lowrey said. “Our Family Reading Center is available every day of the week to support families. Also, we have an outreach program specifically for kindergarten families to assist parents in helping their children learn letter names and sounds and build pre-reading skills that are so critical.”
Kerry Lee, a fifth-grade teacher at Granger Elementary, was thrilled and grateful that this opportunity was made available to her students and that someone was generous enough to open up the world of literature to them.
“The glimpse into the creation of books and valuing their ideas is the support these kids need,” Lee shared in a recent conversation. “I was so impressed by how the authors expressed themselves and shared their ideas and individual personalities. Author Frank Cole included a slide featuring the word 'weird' in his presentation. The room relaxed when this one word came up, and he totally owned his weirdness. He explained that this was his superpower and that it fueled his creativity. The writers were fun and exciting; they had families, friends, and experiences just like our students' lives. They had a cool twist: they could use what happened to them and add creativity to make new stories to share with others.”
to Title 1 schools. In less than three years, we have given away over 30,000 books to students.”
New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Nielson, the Utah Ambassador of Young People’s Literature, pioneered Operation Literacy’s flagship Book Drop program, which was included with the school
visit. Her vision behind the program is to connect authors with students attending Title 1 schools and provide those students with free books, helping to ensure that books are available in their homes.
“If children have a connection with an author, they are 90% more likely to read the book, Nielson said. “I think children
Educators and parents concur that students should find reading adds to their day. Children should want to read for enjoyment, information, understanding, sharing ideas, learning skills and learning about the world around them. Operation Literacy’s support and programs help students in Title 1 schools achieve these literary goals while promoting academic success. l
New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Nielson, the Utah Ambassador of Young People’s Literature, pioneered Operation Literacy’s flagship Book Drop program, included in the Granger Elementary School event. (Collette Hayes/City Journals)
Author Frank Cole included a slide featuring the word “weird” in his presentation. The room relaxed when this one word came up, and he totally owned his weirdness. He explained that this was his superpower and that it fueled his creativity. (Collette Hayes/City Journals)
Author Yamile Méndez captured the students’ attention when she spoke and gave directions in Spanish for the DLI classes. Her background connected to the girls and boys as she talked about her book with soccer as the backdrop. (Collette Hayes/City Journals)
Hunter Elementary prepares for emergencies with reunification drill
By Tom Haraldsen | t.haraldsen@mycityjournals.com
It’snever too early to prepare for an emergency and students and parents at Hunter Elementary did just that on Oct. 24. In conjunction with the Granite School District and local law enforcement, the school held its first reunification drill.
The purpose was to work through the process by which parents and guardians can pick up their students from the school or a designated evacuation site. The drill gave all stakeholders in such a situation a chance to see how the plan would work.
“If there is a gas leak inside the school, if there is an earthquake or some reason why we would need to take students out of the school, that’s what we’re preparing for now,” said Andrea Stringham, media relations spokesperson for the Granite School District. “That’s how we tell the kids and the parents how we look at this drill. To be prepared.”
There are too often headlines of violent situations at a school, but Stringham pointed out that in the past schools have had many other developments, such as plumbing or heating/cooling issues, where students need to leave the campus.
“This is just a practice for parents, for students and staff, and for the law enforcement agencies we work with,” she said.
At Hunter, the streets around the school were cordoned off with several police vehicles. Parents were notified by the school that a drill was being conducted. They gathered in front of the school and had to sign in at a table, showing their IDs and proving their names were on the registration cards and they were authorized to pick up students. They then moved up closer to the school where they were organized into groups alphabetically by their last names.
Inside the school, students were moved into a large lunchroom for safe keeping, and as parents finished and handed in their paperwork, runners took those slips of paper to where the students were waiting. Then parents walked to a location in the back of the school, where they were called to an entrance when their children were escorted out the doors.
“It’s a good time to join forces with all the entities before something happens, to make sure we see where any pain points are and fix anything that needs to be fixed,” Stringham said.
The Granite District does these reunification drills at least twice a year, usually once in fall and then again in the spring when the weather warms. This was the first time the drill has been done at Hunter Ele-
mentary.
“We switch up schools and invite other principals to come watch the drills,” Stringham said. “They can observe what the expectations are and ask our emergency man-
ager questions.”
Around 500 families received notification about the drill, and District officials estimated that about half that many came to the school for the drill. l
Roy ends Granger football season in second-round playoff game
By Tom Haraldsen | t.haraldsen@mycityjournals.com
Allin all, it was a pretty good year for the Granger High Lancer football team. It ended the regular season with a victory over crosstown rival Hunter 47-6, upset Box Elder on the road 26-23 on Oct. 25 to open the state 5A playoffs, then stayed steady even in a season-ending 45-28 loss at Roy on Nov. 1. The Lancers finished 6-6 on the year, but had a five-game winning streak before the loss to the Royals.
In Brigham City, Granger won its first playoff game since 1997 against the Bees thanks to a fourth quarter 6-yard run from superback Sunia Fifita. The host Bees led early, but a fumble recovery by Ezekiel Kasitaki in the third quarter began a Lancer comeback.
Junior quarterback Aidan Welchman threw for 80 yards, including three completions to senior Brighton Webb. Fifita rushed 32 times for 180 yards and a touchdown.
That set up the game with Roy, a team ranked 10th in the state by MaxPreps. The Royals scored early and often, building a 31-7 halftime lead. But there was no quit in the Lancers. Welchman threw for 197 yards, including a 74-yard TD to junior Juni Tauataina. Fifita rushed for 194 yards and two touchdowns to make the final score re-
spectable. Webb caught three passes for 113 yards. It was the ninth straight game for the Lancers rushing for over 190 yards.
On defense, senior Mason Kasitati finished with 29 sacks on the season, ranking him second in the nation in that statistic. In all, he had 57 solo tackles, 50 assists and 48 tackles for loss on the year. That included a six-sack performance against Cyprus on Oct. 9.
A large number of players will return next year for Granger as it tries to build on the momentum from the final two months of this season. l
Parents lined up in front of Hunter Elementary as a reunification drill was held to prepare for an emergency.
(Tom Haraldsen/City Journals)
Continued from front page
said. For most of them, it’s a “tough pill to swallow,” he added. “Many of them understand it needs to be done.”
“We’ve tried to work with the chamber of commerce, with the cities to find other ways to drum up business, trying to be a resource where we can,” Cox explained.
Back at El Paisa Grill, Orozco said usually busy weekends have been especially hard hit with a reduction totaling tens of thousands of dollars in revenue each month during construction, but the entire week has seen fewer diners coming through the doors.
He understands that a complete tear down and rebuild of an overpass on a busy freeway takes time. “They said five months. The weather (as of mid November) hasn’t been that bad. I just wish it were a little faster.”
Before construction, El Paisa Grill had 40 employees to cover its daily hours of 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. except for a 9 p.m. closing on Fridays and Saturdays. The slowdown in business has cut that to 30. “We’re limiting the hours of our staff,” Orozco said. “‘If you want to go and find a different job, there’s really nothing we can do about it. It’s your call,’” he has told workers who don’t like the uncertainty of the situation.
Orozco said the restaurant is trying to do more catering to fill in the revenue gaps, but with mixed results so far.
It’s a similar story next door at My Sug-
ar’s Donut Shopp, which sells a variety of doughnuts and pastries and coffee to a mostly business clientele from the surrounding area.
Manager Delvin Chhour, whose family owns the shop, said sales have shrunk by half since the road work began. “There’s not much we can do besides stay open and manage how much (product) we make. Sometimes it can be super busy or super slow.” Regular cus-
tomers still come for their doughnuts and coffee in the morning, but the rest of the day until closing at 2 p.m. is uneven at best.
Like his neighbor, El Paisa, most of My Sugar’s customers are coming from the south, which is the relatively unobstructed direction from which to reach the shop.
Chhour said the UDOT outreach team has visited twice to inquire how business was
going, but didn’t offer much more in the way of information or resources to navigate the construction period.
He believes My Sugar’s will get through it. “I think so, but still business is down.” Orozca is optimistic El Paisa will pull through the duration of the construction work. “I have to be,” he said.l
El Paisa Grill and My Sugar’s Donut Shopp in West Valley City are trying to cope with a slowdown in business caused by bridge construction on State Route 201 at 3200 West in the background. (Darrell Kirby/City Journals)
Holy Cross Hospital in West Valley City captures safety award
Photo by Darrell Kirby
Holy Cross Hospital-Jordan Valley West in West Valley City has earned the designation as one of the safest hospitals for patients in the nation. The Leapfrog
Group, an independent national nonprofit watchdog focused on patient safety, awarded an “A” grade to the 133-bed hospital at 3460 S. 4155 West. The Leapfrog
Hospital Safety Grade is the only hospital ratings program “focused solely on preventable medical errors, infections, and injuries that kill more than 500 patients
a day in the United States,” according to Leapfrog and Holy Cross Hospital parent company CommonSpirit Health. (Darrell Kirby/City Journals) l
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Neil Armstrong Academy plants ‘moon tree’ from NASA
By Zachary Smith | z.smith@mycityjournals.com
For a school named after the first man on the moon, having a part of space exploration history on campus seems fitting. Especially when the school prides itself on being the first STEM-certified elementary school in the West Valley area, with a special curriculum focused on teaching the skills required to be a NASA engineer from a young age. On Oct. 25, students at Neil Armstrong Academy attending a special assembly had the opportunity to see the planting of a Douglas fir sapling in the school garden, one which had an incredible journey unlike any other plant.
The sapling, referred to as the “moon tree,” grew from a seed that traveled on the Orion spacecraft during NASA’s historic Artemis 1 mission. This seed traveled 1.4 million miles to the moon and back from Nov. 16 to Dec. 11, 2022, making it among the farthest and fastest-traveling living organisms on earth today.
Fourth-grade teacher David Pendleton is responsible for writing the application that brought this special tree to West Valley City. Following the return of the Orion, the seeds were taken in by the U.S. Forest Service and given out to schools that applied to have them planted on campus. Of the estimated 1,600 teachers who submitted applications, Pendleton was one of only around 50 to actually receive a moon tree.
“I hope having the tree at our school inspires our students and our community to reach new heights in their lives,” Pendleton said. “That just as this tree will grow over the years and decades to come, they too will grow and become stronger as they work toward their goals and dreams.” According to him, students in his class have already been talking about returning to visit the moon tree with their own children and grandchildren in the future when the tree has fully grown.
West Valley City is not the first community in Utah that has received a moon tree from NASA. A similar event took place following the Apollo 14 moon landing in 1971, in which the U.S. Forest Service brought tree seeds onto the shuttle. A sycamore tree from among this original batch of moon trees was planted at the Lone Peak Conservation Center in Draper in 1976, and it still stands in the garden to this day.
“I think it’s really cool that they took a tree all the way to the moon and were able to bring it back and plant it at my school,” said fifth-grader Dylan Sanborn, whose peers have been curiously discussing the special plant and its out-of-this-world origin. Students will have opportunities to study this plant as it grows as part of their STEM curriculum.
The school has announced plans to
form a committee of teachers and staff to take care of the moon tree, which will supposedly live for at least another 50 years. The moon tree can be easily viewed from the sidewalk adjacent to the garden boxes just outside of the campus. A small part of space now resides in West Valley City. l
The student body at Neil Armstrong Academy gathered around the newly planted moon tree. (Photo credit Luke Allen)
The Douglas fir sapling planted on school grounds. (Photo credit Luke Allen)
Navigating Grief and the Holidays
By Kathie Supiano, PhD, LCSW
The holiday season is nearly upon us. This is the time of year when grieving people often feel dread and sorrow about the very events and traditions that formerly brought happiness.
As every grieving person handles loss in their own way, each one of us observes holidays in our own way in time of bereavement. There simply is no one right way to experience the holidays. Some nd meaning in following cherished traditions, and others bene t from avoiding traditions because their associations are now tinged with loss. Some people nd great comfort in being with other people, others prefer solitude to camaraderie. For all of us, how we gather is as important as gathering at all.
Plan ahead for the holidays: The rst step in planning is to listen to yourself….what will help you most at this time? You may have strong memories and powerful feelings. Accept this as normal, but prepare for it. Anticipate the pleasures and the stresses of events, and select those you want to participate in. If you expect to be lonely, arrange supportive companionship. If you can’t bear the thought of connecting with the entire extended family, let the family know of your needs. Be creative and accept support by using distance technology.
Accommodate your plans to your new limits: Most grieving people have signi cantly lowered physical stamina and emotional reserve. Perhaps you can’t get every decoration out this year. Accept these limits as temporary, and good enough for this year. Choose to put your energy into the things that matter most to you.
Accept that the holidays will be di erent this year: The holidays are often lled with unrealistic expectations that may overwhelm you. You may need to revisit your goals and nd a balance between continuity and change. Many people nd a special comfort in establishing a new holiday tradition that honors the memory of the person who died.
Recognize that other family members or friends may have struggles, too: Look for opportunities to discuss your feelings and wishes with others who may also be grieving for your family member. Try to respect their choices, if they are di erent from yours. You all may need to make compromises.
If the holidays have always been hard for you: Use this transition in your life to try something completely new…an untraditional-tradition. Perhaps you have never taken the occasion create a new experience on your own. As challenging as loss can be, it can bring momentum to grow and to try something new.
For all of us, whether the holidays are a time of personal signi cance or not, it can be a season in which we re ect on what we do cherish as we journey through grief.
Kathie Supiano, PhD, LCSW is an Associate Professor at the University of Utah College of Nursing and the Director of Caring Connections: A Hope and Comfort in Grief Program. Caring Connections is a not-for-pro t program that o ers clinician-facilitated grief support groups in Utah.
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3X REWARDS ON QUALIFYING TRAVEL EXPENSES
3X REWARDS AT WAREHOUSE STORES
2X REWARDS AT RESTAURANTS & GROCERY STORES
1X POINTS ON ALL OTHER PURCHASES
Redwood Road Swap Meet ends on Dec. 22
By Tom Haraldsen | t.haraldsen@mycityjournals.com
Abit
of West Valley City history will come to a close on Dec. 22. That’s the date for the end of the Redwood Drive-In Swap Meet that has been hosted at the site for more than six decades.
On Sept. 17, the city council voted to rezone the 26acre site from general commercial to medium density residential. That paved the way for EDGE Homes to purchase the property from DeAnza Land and Leisure Corp out of Los Angeles so it can now build nearly 300 for-sale housing units on the site. That plan calls for three-story condos (40 units), two-story townhouses (244 units) and 15 single-family homes.
That decision was strongly opposed by vendors and supporters of the swap meet at the council meeting. They hoped to work with city leaders on an alternative way to save the meet, including sale of the property to vendors who hoped to develop the site into a more permanent home for the meet. An online petition on change.org received over 22,000 signatures in opposition to the rezoning. And before the Sept. 17 council meeting, hundreds of people held a peaceful protest in front of city hall to draw attention to their pleas for keeping the swap meet alive. Many of them later sat in at the meeting, holding signs for their cause, and over three dozen spoke during a public hearing on the issue.
There was no movement to consider that, so the sale by DeAnza went through as planned.
The drive-in itself opened in 1948 and flourished for 40-plus years. As in-home entertainment grew and the drivein theater business lessened in attendance and profitability, many owners of those theaters closed them and sold or re-
developed their properties. DeAnza once owned a number of drive-ins around the country, but began getting out of the business. Redwood is its last property.
Vendors have been looking at other options, perhaps finding another large vacant lot somewhere in West Valley City or on that side of the valley to reopen. As of now, nothing has been found.
One vendor the West Valley Journal spoke to in September was Juan Bastidas, who has been a vendor at the meet for years. He said it’s been important to keep the meet as it provides extra income to support his family, and he worries about how the closure will affect other families.
“I fear that many vendors will go into bankruptcy,” he said. “They have mortgages, and if they don’t have that extra income, I don’t know what they’ll do. I understand that West Valley is growing and we need more houses, but we also need more businesses. Why do they want to take this big place—26 acres—and make it all housing? It might be nice for them to make 300 families happy, but they’re going to cause hundreds more to be out of work and bankrupt. It doesn’t make sense and it’s not fair.”
There has not been an announced time for the start of demolition or the beginning of new construction on the site.l
Your Mental Health Deserves Care, No Matter the Season
As the days grow shorter and the cold settles in, many of us start to feel the weight of seasonal depression. If your struggle with depression includes low energy, lack of ambition, or a sense of isolation, you’re not alone—and we can help.
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The longtime Redwood Drive-In Swap Meet will close after its final day on Dec. 22. (Tom Haraldsen/City Journals)
CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR WEST VALLEY CITY
Dec. 4, 6 and 7–K.C. Mavericks vs. Utah Grizzlies, 7:10 p.m., Maverik Center
Dec. 9–SLC Stars vs. Stockton Kings, 7 p.m., Maverik Center
Dec. 10 and 12–SLC Stars vs. San Diego Clippers, 7 p.m., Maverik Center
Dec. 14–PAW Patrol Live! Heroes United, 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., Maverik Center
Dec. 15–PAW Patrol Live! Heroes United, 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., Maverik Center
Dec. 18–Giving Tree, Wrapping, 8 to 11 a.m., Utah Cultural Celebration Center
Dec. 18–West Valley Wednesday: Weed Out Wednesday, 6 p.m., Zoom Webinar
Dec. 19–Giving Tree, Family Event, Time TBD, Utah Cultural Celebration Center
Dec. 20–21–Tahoe Knight Monsters vs. Utah Grizzlies, 7:10 p.m., Maverik Center
Dec. 25–Christmas Day/city offices closed
Dec. 27–28–Rapid City Rush vs. Utah Grizzlies, 7:10 p.m., Maverik Center l
Paris,
London, Copenhagen, New York, Los Angeles, Boston, West Valley City.
Utah’s second-largest city has joined the ranks of some 400 other places around the world to get its own puzzle designed by renowned folk artist Eric Dowdle.
The puzzle, which is based on a painting by the Utah-based Dowdle, was unveiled in front of about 200 people at the Utah Cultural Celebration Center in November.
It features many of the historical and current landmarks, points of interest, and cultures that make up what is today known as West Valley City. “It’s a marriage of the past and present,” Dowdle said.
The result is a 500- or 1,000-piece puzzle that captures, among other things, the red-andwhite water tower along 6400 West near 4500 South, Utah First Credit Union (formerly USANA) Amphitheatre, Redwood Drive-In Theatre, Fairbourne Station, Centennial Park, Valley Fair Mall, and the Veterans Memorial, all against a mountain backdrop.
The puzzle had its beginnings when the city submitted an application to Dowdle Studios to have a painting done, which Dowdle accepted. From there, the idea and creation of a West Valley City puzzle took about a year and a half of working with city officials, the mayor, city councilmembers, local historians, and others to research what aspects of the city the puzzle should capture, then three months each to do the painting and create the puzzle. “They got a group together…in letting me know what is essential, what had to be done,” Dowdle said. “And then I came and had my own experiences and kind of put some of my own fun into the painting.”
“We can immortalize a place and tell a story that will last forever,” he said of the process.
The Boise, Idaho native said it starts with a vision and the people of the community help bring that vision to reality. “It’s fun to talk to the locals and to look into your eyes and see how much you love your town,” Dowdle said.
Dowdle has painted cityscapes for more than 60 Utah municipalities including Salt Lake City, South Jordan, Lehi, Ogden, Logan, Lindon and Tooele. Even Beaver has its own puzzle. He has also created a number of other puzzles featuring states, national parks, animals and seasonal settings such as Christmas.
Dowdle gives West Valley City exclusive rights to the puzzle and artwork for one year, allowing the city to make money off sales of the jigsaws and to recoup some of the funds used to commission the project.
Echoing Dowdle, Councilman Lars Nordfelt said the people of West Valley City make the puzzle possible. “Each of us is a piece of this great puzzle that is our city,” Nordfelt said.
“I think of this puzzle as a snapshot of what we’ve accomplished so far.” l
West Valley City gets its own jigsaw puzzle
By Darrell Kirby | d.kirby@mycityjournals.com
Renowned Utah-based folk artist Eric Dowdle created a puzzle highlighting historic and current landmarks and points of interest in West Valley City. (Darrell Kirby/ City Journals)
City councilman Lars Nordfelt and Mayor Karen Lang pull the cover to reveal the look of a new West Valley City puzzle created by artist Eric Dowdle. (Darrell Kirby/ City Journals)
By Rebecca Olds | rebecca.o@thecityjournals.com
Theserinks offer a range of experiences, from cozy, family-friendly options to Olympic-level facilities in or close to Salt Lake County.
Gallivan Center Ice Rink (Downtown Salt Lake City)
An iconic outdoor rink in the heart of downtown Salt Lake, surrounded by city lights and seasonal decorations, it’s great for both day and evening skating.
Ice Ribbon at J. Lynn Crane Plaza (Herriman)
Opening for the season on Dec. 2, this outdoor ice ribbon in Herriman is a treat. Instead of a circular rink, the ribbon gives skaters a path to follow surrounded by beautiful mountain views and seasonal lights. Just remember the center warns if it’s snowing outside, “Yes, we are still open!”
The center offers three free skate days on Feb. 3, 10 and 17, 2025.
Millcreek Common (Millcreek)
A rink and ice ribbon combo, the newly built Millcreek Common boasts the state’s largest outdoor skating rink at 11,000 square feet of ice. It has loads of features to make the ice skating experience unique too.
Music, lights and surrounding restaurants make it a whole outing, with a DJ coming to join the fun on Fridays and Saturdays. Ice skating begins Nov. 30 and the roller blading area freezes over.
A $5 ice show is offered from Dec. 5 through 7.
Park City Ice Arena (Just outside Salt Lake County)
A quick drive from Salt Lake County, this rink is one of the few outdoor ice sheets on the list! They offer public skating sessions, hockey
and even curling classes.
Salt Lake City Sports Complex (Sugarhouse)
A well-maintained indoor rink with public skating sessions, hockey leagues and figure skating programs.
County Ice Center (Murray)
A large, indoor rink that offers public skating, lessons and even curling classes. It’s popular among locals for its spacious rink and convenient location.
Acord Ice Center (West Valley City)
Located in West Valley City, this popular skating hub offers a welcoming environment for public skating, hockey leagues and figure skating lessons. Known for its spacious rink and family-friendly vibe, it’s a go-to destination for skaters of all ages and skill levels in Salt Lake County.
Utah Olympic Oval (Kearns)
Known as "The Fastest Ice on Earth," this Olympic venue offers a unique indoor skating experience, with a large ice sheet for speed skating and a separate area for public ice skating. It also holds the most Olympic records than any other ice arena.
As a fun added feature, the Oval hosts Cosmic Curling by changing the lights out for black lights and neon curling targets. The only caveat is that the Learn to Curl class is a prerequisite.
Cottonwood Heights Ice Arena (Cottonwood Heights)
Indoor public ice skating is available nearly every day except Thursdays, with time slots available during different parts of the day. Usually Fridays and Saturdays have open skating time from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. l
National Christmas Tree stops in Salt Lake County during its 4,000-mile tour
By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com
Thisyear’s U.S. Capitol Christmas tree made a stop at Wheeler Farm (6351 S. 900 East) where visitors could celebrate the 74-foot Sitka spruce, harvested from Alaska’s Tongass National Forest. Its visit to Murray was one of 11 stops along the 4,000mile journey to the U.S. Capitol.
On Nov. 9, officials from Salt Lake County and the U.S. Forest Service threw a party for the tree’s arrival at Wheeler Farm with crafts, food trucks, educational booths and information about the tree’s journey. It was a chance for people to see the tree up close before it lights up the nation’s capitol.
“We are honored that the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree [stopped] at Wheeler Historic Farm on its journey to Washington, D.C.,” said Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson. “Our community loves the holidays, and we’re excited to join state, federal and community partners in celebration of this 60-year tradition that helps kick off the holiday season.”
Although the national tree has been through Utah before, visiting Ogden in 2016, it’s the first time the tree has stopped in Salt Lake County. More than 500 people showed up at Wheeler Farm to sign the tarp covering the tree, receive commemorative pins and stickers from the event and visit with the team transporting the tree to Washington, D.C.
U.S. Forest Service Law Enforcement Office Trampus Barhaug was assigned to guard the tree at Alaska’s Tongass National
Forest while it was still standing and has accompanied it throughout the tour.
“Being the national tree, it’s the most important tree in the nation right now,” Barhaug said. “I love meeting all the people. Everybody’s been wonderful, both adults and kids. We thought it would be more for the kids, but the adults have been amazing. I’ll bet we’ve met 20,000 people already.”
Barhaug said schoolchildren in Alaska made more than 14,000 ornaments to decorate the tree and 41 handmade skirts were sewn by indigenous peoples in the state. The tree was scheduled to be delivered to the U.S. Capitol on Nov. 22.
Liz Sollis, communications director for Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson said there was lots of excitement around the event which was organized in collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service, Utah Highway Patrol, Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office and other local partners. She was pleased with the turnout at Wheeler Farm and excited the county was able to be part of the national tour.
“We were really passionate about getting the word out because we know Salt Lake County is for everybody, so we wanted to make sure everybody knew about this,” Sollis said. “Wheeler Farm always offers events and opportunities for learning and that’s what tonight is all about. It’s just a great opportunity for people to have fun and see the tree that’s going to be at the U.S. Capitol.”l
Hundreds of people visited the U.S. Capitol Christmas tree as it stopped at Wheeler Farm. They could sign the tarp covering the tree in the 100-foot semi-truck trailer. City Journals
Visitors at Wheeler Farm talked with representatives from federal and local agencies, made crafts, got free souvenirs and learned about the national tree. City Journals
Driving from Alaska to Washington, D.C., the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree made a stop at Wheeler Farm in November. City Journals
Salvation Army Angel Tree helps thousands of children each year
By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com
The Salvation Army and KUTV 2News have partnered for the 32nd year to provide gifts for children and older adults through the Salvation Army Angel Tree program. Since its inception in Salt Lake in 1992, the Angel Tree has helped hundreds of thousands of Utah residents.
Salvation Army Lt. Kate Combs said the program has been successful thanks to numerous donors and generous people who provide gifts and cash donations so children in the state can have a joyful Christmas.
“We really tailor it to each individual child so the parents get the opportunity to ask for the specifics for that child,” Combs said. “We also try to provide an outfit and shoes and a coat, as well as the toy items.”
To help a child or older adult for the holiday, people can visit Smith’s Marketplace and Cyprus Credit Union locations throughout Salt Lake County and select a tag from the Angel Tree. The tag has a list of items donors can purchase which they then return to the Angel Tree location.
Angel tags represent children from 0-12 years of age and older adults living in residential care facilities. The Salvation Army hopes to help nearly 3,000 children
this year and around 1,300 older adults.
“People can pick whichever tag they prefer and it’s a cool thing that sometimes they’re drawn to a particular name
because it’s the name of a family member,” Combs said. “Or maybe they have an 8-year-old girl and they want to let her pick something for someone her age.
Maybe a grandparent chooses a child because they have the same interests as their grandchild. Sometimes they choose a senior that’s the same age as their parents.”
People can pick up an Angel Tree tag through Friday, Dec. 13, giving volunteers time to shop and put gifts together for each child. Donated gifts must be new and unwrapped. Monetary donations are also accepted. For more information, visit saltlakecity.salvationarmy.org.
Additionally, the KUTV Holiday Pops Concert scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 7 at 7:30 p.m. will contribute all ticket proceeds to the Salvation Army Angel Tree. The concert, hosted by Sterling Poulson, will be held at Cottonwood High School in Murray (5715 S. 1300 East) and feature the West Valley Symphony of Utah, the Alta High School Madrigals and the Choral Arts Society of Utah. Tickets are available at Eventbrite.com.
“Every time you see a tag, that’s a genuine child,” Combs said. “If you’re still seeing tags in December that means that child doesn’t have items gifted to them. We don’t want any child to go without this Christmas.” l
Thousands of items are donated to the Salvation Army each year to help children and older people have a happy holiday. (Photo courtesy of the Salvation Army)
Spendlove tells Chamber members the economy determined the presidential race
By Tom Haraldsen | t.haraldsen@mycityjournals.com
Political commentator and pundit James Carville said it best 32 years ago. When it comes to elections, he said, “It’s the economy, stupid.”
That quip from the 1992 presidential election between Democrat Bill Clinton and Republican incumbent George H. W. Bush may have well summed up this year’s race between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. At least that’s the view that Robert Spendlove, senior economist for Zions Bank, shared with attendees at the Chamberwest Fall Conference on Nov. 13.
“It’s the largest reason why we saw the change last week,” he said, during an election where all seven “battleground states” threw their votes to Trump. “It explains the dramatic shift we saw. All those states flipped or went to Trump. The polls said it was a toss-up in many of those states. The polls got it wrong.”
Spendlove came to the Utah Cultural Celebration Center in West Valley City for the conference on the heels of two other presentations made earlier that day—one to a group of potato farmers in Pocatello, Idaho, and the other to a room of financial planners in the Salt Lake Valley.
“Their views of the state of the economy were vastly different,” he said. “I surveyed the farmers, and 95% of them were very pessimistic about the state of our economy. Conversely, among the financial planners, 80% were optimistic about it.” He then surveyed the conference participants who voted using a QR code in the room. The breakdown was 49% saying they were very optimistic, 22% very pessi-
throwing money at the economy. There was a good reason for it…during that little sliver of 2020, 22 million people lost their jobs in two months. The economy was in freefall, so the federal government stepped in to save it. They pumped in seven trillion dollars of financial stimulus. That caused our economy to overheat. So in 2021-22, the Feds reversed that from zero to back over 5%.”
In September, that rate dropped by one-half percent, then in early November, it dropped another quarter percent. We’re at 4.6%, with one more drop expected before the end of year.
“They project over 2025 that it will come down to 3.4%. At least that’s what they hope,” he said.
The markets thought the rates would be even lower, that the Fed was behind the curve because the economy was slowing. But Spendlove said that since mid-September, interest rates have been trending back up.
“The hard landing scenario is where the economy contracts—we go into a recession or a period where unemployment goes up. The second scenario is the soft landing. It’s where you have the economy slowing but you don’t contract. This is the best case scenario—what we want to see. But now we’re seeing the no landing scenario—where the economy continues to accelerate. We continue to see overheating in areas like the labor market or inflation. This scenario means the Fed has to keep rates higher for longer.”
He remains optimistic about the economy, though Utah shows consumer prices are up about 22% since 2020. A lot of factors go into those numbers—the lasting effects of the pandemic, rises in costs for food, fuel and insurance, and the subsequent shortage of affordable housing. Still, Utah is regarded as the best state for fiscal stability and overall economy. But voters are still hurting.
mistic, with the rest in between.
“Before the pandemic, people thought the economy was doing well—and then we had the initial shock of the pandemic where that flipped,” he said. “It started to improve again until 2021. Ever since then, people have not felt good about the economy overall.”
Spendlove said that played into this year’s election, where inflation, the economy and immigration were the top tiered concerns of voters, much more than protection for abortion rights or LGTBQ issues. And voter frustration over economic issues channeled voters away from the Biden administration.
“When we talk about the economy, one thing we look at is interest rates,” he said. “I hear it all the time. ‘The Fed is cutting interest rates–so why aren’t interest rates lower?’ The Federal Fund rate is the interest rate that banks charge each other to borrow money overnight. It’s the one rate the Fed directly controls, and that’s where the lowering has occurred. It doesn’t automatically or immediately affect other interest rates.”
He said this has been a period of historic distortion. During the recession of 2009 the U.S. lost nine million jobs and it took 10 years to recover.
“Feds pushed the Federal Fund rate down to zero, and it spoiled us into thinking the other interest rates would remain low forever—low mortgage rates, low car loans, easy financing for a startup.”
Spendlove explained that “during the pandemic, they lowered it again and began
“Mortgage rates as of Nov. 11 were at 6.9%. Rates are based on the 10-year treasury note—and long-term rates are usually 2 to 2.5% higher than the 10-year note,” he said.
So what happens next? Spendlove said there are three scenarios for the economy.
“You can’t tell people that they’re wrong—they are experiencing what they’re experiencing,” he said. “That weighs on how you decide to vote.”
When all was said and done, for those going to the polls, it was the economy that proved the most important issue in determining their voting choices. l
Utah prison appoints second female warden in modern prison era
By Bailey Chism | bailey.c@thecityjournals.com
SharonD'Amico has joined the Utah State Correctional Facility as its new warden, the institution's second woman to hold the post in the modern era. She is taking the reins from Bart Mortensen, appointed warden in November 2023, who will be working with D'Amico as she transitions into the role.
"Throughout her career, Sharon has been dedicated to uplifting her team, providing them with the resources and guidance necessary for success,” UDC Executive Director Brian Redd said in a statement. “In her new role, she aims to prioritize staff development and well-being while fostering a culture of empowerment and service.”
According to the Utah Department of Corrections, D'Amico brings almost 30 years of correctional experience with her. She started her career in 1997 at the Utah State Prison in Draper, working in the Olympus and in the Timpanogos facilities. She was then promoted to Sergeant in Wasatch A-Block and then to Case Manager in Wasatch Baker Block. She was later promoted to Lieutenant and then to Captain, serving in internal and external security for the correctional facility. Prior to her appointment as Warden, D'Amico was serving as the Deputy Warden, over-
seeing internal security, support services, operations and the Fremont unit.
D’Amico’s promotion marks the first time both the Utah State Correctional Facility and the Central Utah Correctional Facility have simultaneous female wardens. The Utah Department of Corrections appointed Kristen Keisel as warden to the Central Utah Correctional Facility last year. l
Sharon D’Amico, new warden of the Utah State Correctional Facility. (Photo from Utah Department of Corrections)
Zions Bank senior economist Robert Spendlove discussed the state’s upcoming challenges at the Chamberwest Fall Conference on Nov. 13. (Tom Haraldsen/City Journals)
Salt Lake County winter shelters strain as demand grows
By Bailey Chism | bailey.c@thecityjournals.com
As Utah prepares for another winter, emergency shelters for people experiencing homelessness are opening their doors to help individuals survive the harsh months ahead. However, the current shelter capacity falls short of the state’s goals, underscoring the persistent gaps in addressing homelessness.
Salt Lake County’s winter response plan includes approximately 732 overflow beds and 250 “code blue” beds. While these numbers are a step in the right direction, they remain below the 900 overflow beds and 100 code blue beds recommended by the Salt Lake Valley Coalition to End Homelessness, in collaboration with the Utah Office of Homeless Services. The shortfall highlights the ongoing challenge of meeting the needs of Utah’s homeless population during the winter.
Earlier this year, Salt Lake County’s initial winter plan, which identified only 450 shelter beds, was deemed noncompliant with state law. This prompted the state to intervene. The state’s involvement reflects the urgent need for better planning and resources, not just for winter overflow, but for year-round solutions to homelessness.
“Identifying the high number need -
ed beds in the short time allotted was no doubt a difficult task and demonstrated that additional year-round beds are needed,” said the Salt Lake Valley Coalition to End Homelessness leadership team.
In response to these gaps, the Utah Homeless Service Board allocated funding to acquire Ville 1990, a property on North Temple in Salt Lake City. The building, slated to provide 210 beds for winter overflow, will eventually be converted into deeply affordable housing in April. This property represents a shift toward addressing homelessness through permanent solutions, reflecting a broader understanding that long-term stability, not just temporary shelter, is essential for solving the homelessness crisis.
The county’s current winter plan includes several key shelters:
• 170 beds at the West Valley overflow site operated by Switchpoint, with the potential to increase to 200 pending fire marshal approval.
• 65 beds at St. Vincent de Paul.
• 50 micro-shelter units that were recently relocated.
• 175 beds at three resource centers.
• 32 beds for youth and families, likely through motel vouchers.
• 210 beds at the Ville 1990 facility, contingent on finalizing the purchase.
While these beds are a crucial part of the winter response, the shortfall of over 150 overflow beds compared to the recommended target points to the limitations of the current approach. More beds are expected to become available as shelters gradually expand their capacity. Yet, the reality is that emergency shelter is still a temporary fix and the need for long-term, sustainable housing solutions remains pressing.
In addition to overflow beds, Salt Lake County’s plan also includes 250 code blue beds. A code blue alert is triggered when temperatures drop below 18 degrees Fahrenheit, including wind chill, and aims to prevent cold-weather deaths. The 2023 legislation that established this protocol followed the deaths of at least eight unsheltered individuals in 2022, underscoring the urgency of keeping people safe during extreme weather.
The code blue beds will only be available when temperatures hit critical thresholds, with shelters required to increase capacity by 35% and warming centers activated as needed. These measures are vital for addressing immediate threats to life, but they also reveal a larger issue: the lack of permanent, stable housing options for those affected by homelessness. Code blue beds include:
• 10 family hotel rooms.
• 20 additional beds at the Geraldine E. King resource center.
• 20 additional beds at the Gail Miller
resource center.
• 30 additional beds at the Pamela Atkinson resource center.
• 85 beds at First United Methodist Church and 85 more at another church, both operated by the 2nd and 2nd Coalition.
While these emergency measures are essential for keeping people alive during the coldest months, they do little to address the root causes of homelessness. The city's approach also involves ensuring compliance with state laws that link homelessness services to the enforcement of no-camping ordinances.
This intersection of shelter provision, enforcement, and funding underscores a broader challenge facing the state and local governments: How to not only provide immediate relief but also create long-term strategies to end homelessness. Salt Lake City’s ability to access funding from the State Homeless Shelter Cities Mitigation Fund hinges on proving that it is not only enforcing ordinances but also making genuine efforts to reduce homelessness in the long term.
“The state is currently looking to bring more year-round beds online, which will help address the seasonal as well,” the Coalition’s leadership team said. “We anticipate with more year-round beds online, the need for temporary beds will decrease.” l
The St. Vincent de Paul Dining Hall/Resource Center at 437 W. 200 South. (Photo from Google Maps)
Behind the scenes at Utah's medical examiner’s office
By Bailey Chism | bailey.c@thecityjournals.com
Whenpeople picture a medical examiner’s office, they often imagine scenes straight out of a CSI show—investigations, crime and death. Dr. Dierdre Amaro understands how her office might be perceived by those unfamiliar with death investigations.
Her workplace features the expected fluorescent lighting, long hallways that connect coolers with the capacity to hold up to 12 to 70 bodies, and a noticeably strong odor. But beyond the clinical atmosphere, there are also some quirky touches: a full-scale X-ray machine affectionately named Larry, adorned with large googly eyes; a model skeleton with its own employee ID; and a spreadsheet to divide the responsibility of watering the office’s many plants placed on high window sills.
As the leader of the Utah Office of the Medical Examiner (OME), a position she’s held since this summer, Amaro oversees the investigation of all sudden, unexpected, violent, suspicious or unattended deaths in the state. The office conducts postmortem exams and autopsies to determine the causes and injuries behind these deaths. Recently, the OME opened its doors to news organizations to help the public understand the important role it plays in Utah.
“In some places, working as a medical examiner means you deal with death investigations, and everything else is secondary,” Amaro said. “In Utah, however, the work we do is for the benefit of the living. We still face death every single day, which some people think desensitizes us to it. In reality, the exact opposite is true; because death is a part of our jobs, we find meaning and purpose in the unique opportunities we get to serve, protect and support the living.”
More than 90% of the office’s work involves collecting data that’s then reported to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This data helps improve the health and safety of living Utahns.
“Death certificate data becomes a reflection of the health of a community,” Amaro said. “We are literally seeing the terminal results of public health problems here. Drugs? That’s a problem that’s killing people. We see that here. And if we can understand what is killing people in our community and why, then maybe we can figure out how to prevent that. And that is what we are about, not just little goblins under the bridge.”
While TV shows like CSI may glamorize the field, Amaro points out they often miss the mark. Most people assume the office’s work is focused mainly on homicides, but in reality, the majority of cases handled by the OME involve natural deaths and accidents.
Natural deaths might include older individuals who haven’t seen a physician in a long time and suddenly pass away, or young athletes who unexpectedly collapse on the field due to undiagnosed heart conditions. Accidents, such as car crashes and drug overdoses, are also frequent.
So how do investigations work? Utah’s system is distinct in comparison to states with elected coroners, who may not be required to have medical or forensic pathology training. In contrast, Utah’s centralized OME is staffed by highly-trained, licensed physicians.
According to the CDC, the leading causes of death in Utah are heart disease, cancer, accidents, Alzheimer’s disease, COVID-19, stroke, chronic lower respiratory diseases, diabetes, suicide and nutritional deficiencies. Amaro said the office’s cases generally follow a similar pattern to national statistics, with natural causes of death being the most common, followed by accidents, suicides and then homicides.
Life at the Office
A job at the OME is heavy, both physically and emotionally. Staff are alerted about 15 to 20 times a day via a doorbell that signals the arrival of a new decedent. Despite the regularity, the staff never takes their responsibilities lightly.
“Going to someone’s house on the worst day of their lives, being able to really handle their emotions with care and really have empathy for those people on that worst moment, is really important to me,” said Chief Medical Examiner Investigator Cory Russo. “And then to be able to come back and do the follow-up work, whether that’s positive identification after someone has been missing for years, that is so rewarding, to be able to bring closure to families.”
In addition to 12 forensic pathologists, some with specialties in pediatrics and neuropathology, the OME team includes forensic epidemiologists who focus on suicide, drug overdose and prevention efforts.
Suicide is a particularly prevalent cause of death the office encounters. In 2022, Utah ranked seventh in the country for suicide mortality rates. The team of epidemiologists helps make sense of this data.
“We can tell you this person died by suicide with a gun, but (epidemiologists) can tell you what were the circumstances around that death,” Amaro said. “So if we figure out the why, why are so many people in Utah killing themselves, then maybe we can fix that, and that’s what motivates me, and that’s what motivates most of us in this office.”
The facility also houses a space dedicated to DonorConnect, a nonprofit that connects tissue donors with recipients—such as those needing veins, long bones, skin, or corneas— through family authorization. According to Morgue Operations Manager Brandon Callor, this system ensures that viable tissue is recovered efficiently, without the need for lengthy travel that could diminish donation potential.
“There's a window of time in which they can still recover those tissues,” Callor explained. “Whereas in other states, those tissues may have to travel hours, losing a lot of poten-
tial donors.”
Though the work can be emotionally taxing, Callor finds purpose in his role. In addition to his duties as a morgue manager, he’s also a social worker. He interviews families who’ve lost loved ones to suicide or drug overdose, looking for ways to help beyond the autopsy suite, including advocating for policies that ad-
dress public health risks and supporting grieving families.
“I think I can’t feel sorry for myself for very long when I realize there’s so much suffering out there,” Callor said. “And so, being able to be involved in the aid of someone else’s suffering just helps me to gain that perspective and think outwardly.” l
Brandon Callor, morgue operations manager, shows autopsy suite’s equipment at the Utah Office of the Medical Examiner. (Bailey Chism/City Journals)
Groundbreaking simulation explores life after jail in Salt Lake County
Salt Lake County has introduced a re-entry simulation program aimed at increasing awareness of the challenges faced by individuals reentering society after incarceration or experiencing homelessness. The program, inspired by Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson and her staff’s participation in a similar event, seeks to reflect the unique demographics and needs of the county. Through this initiative, participants experience the systemic hurdles that many individuals encounter while trying to reintegrate into their communities.
“Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson and staff had an impactful experience participating in a re-entry simulation in another location, prompting them to bring a similar program to their community,” explained Liz Sollis, communications director for Mayor Wilson. “We recognized the growing need to address challenges faced by unsheltered individuals and those reentering society after incarceration.”
The re-entry simulation program uses real-life data to construct its scenarios, ensuring authenticity in its representation of societal reintegration. Character profiles for participants are based on the experiences of individuals facing homelessness and barriers to re-entry, as collected by a former street outreach case manager.
“The re-entry simulation’s character profiles are crafted based on real-life experiences of individuals facing homelessness in Salt Lake County,” Sollis said. “This dynamic structure allows participants to gain a trueto-life understanding of the barriers people face while reentering society, emphasizing the interconnectedness of policy decisions and real-world impact.”
Participants navigate challenges such as obtaining essential identification documents, finding housing and accessing transportation and employment opportunities. Feedback consistently highlights these experiences as “eye-opening,” with many participants ac-
By Shaun Delliskave | s.delliskave@mycityjournals.com
knowledging they had underestimated the extent of the barriers faced by individuals reentering society.
The simulation exposes several critical challenges, including the difficulty of obtaining identification documents such as state IDs, Social Security cards and birth certificates. These documents are necessary for accessing housing, employment and other basic services. Transportation issues and long wait times at resource centers also emerge as significant obstacles.
“Participants consistently identify several critical barriers in the re-entry simulation, with one of the most significant being the challenge of obtaining identification,” Sollis said. “These essential documents are often prerequisites for accessing housing, employment and other services, making their absence a major hurdle.”
The program’s design is adaptable,
incorporating legislative updates, policy changes and participant feedback. For instance, when funding for affordable housing is reduced, the simulation reflects this by limiting available housing options, providing a realistic portrayal of the impact of budgetary constraints.
Salt Lake County views the re-entry simulation as more than an educational tool; it is a driver of systemic change. Insights gathered from participants are shared with local organizations and policymakers, fostering conversations about improving collaboration and support systems.
“Salt Lake County uses the re-entry simulation to inform participants and create conversations within their respective organizations with the purpose of building more collaboration across existing systems,” Sollis explained.
Beyond the simulation, the county of-
fers programs designed to support individuals during the re-entry process. The Jail Resource and Re-entry Program, launched in 2022, provides individuals exiting jail with referrals to mental health and substance use services, Medicaid enrollment and other community resources. Over the past three years, more than 17,000 individuals have benefited from these services.
Other ongoing initiatives include the Peer Specialist Network, which connects participants with mentors who have lived experience, and the Legal Defenders Association’s social worker program, which offers targeted support to justice-involved individuals.
Community involvement remains a key component of the program’s success. The county encourages residents, businesses and nonprofits to engage in re-entry efforts through volunteering, advocacy and support for local initiatives. Suggestions include volunteering at shelters, participating in the annual Point-in-Time count, and supporting affordable housing and job training programs.
“The Nov. 21 event is the last scheduled re-entry simulation in 2024,” Sollis said. “If people are interested in participating in future re-entry simulations and/or other efforts, we encourage them to contact the Salt Lake County Office of Homelessness and Criminal Justice Reform.”
Sollis also emphasized the importance of community engagement in public policies to maximize social and economic potential for all residents of the county.
As the program’s current funding concludes in December 2024, Salt Lake County is exploring ways to sustain and expand the initiative.
“This does not mean that the work stops,” Sollis stated. “We will be looking for opportunities to evolve and continue this valuable service to the community.” l
Salt Lake County Sheriff Rosie Rivera congratulates an inmate for completing an education program. (Photo courtesy Salt Lake County)
A new initiative by Salt Lake County provides hands-on simulation training to assist former inmates and homeless residents with re-entry into community life.(Photo courtesy of Salt Lake County)
Taylorsville cross country makes history with 5A crown
By Josh McFadden | j.mcfadden@mycityjournals.com
For the first time ever, the Taylorsville boys cross country team is a state champion.
The Warriors captured the Class 5A title by winning the state meet, held Oct. 29 at Sugar House Park in Salt Lake City. Taylorsville scored 66 points, 14 better than Viewmont’s 80. (In cross country, lower scores are better.) Taylorsville was well ahead of the next-highest team in Region 4, West Jordan, which had 319 points.
Individually, junior Edward Stout came in second with a time of 15:34.71. His twin brother, Elliot, was 27th, running the 3-mile course in 16:12.17. Senior Cole Jameson was sixth, finishing with a strong time of 15:40.57, while fellow seniors Kai Makowski and Jonah Andrews were 14th and 17th, respectively. Makowski’s time was 15:50.62; Andrews ran the course in 15:54.93.
The championship meant a lot more to the Warriors than it might for other schools.
Not only was this the first title for Taylorsville cross country, but it was the first state championship the school has enjoyed since the softball team won it all in 2007. However, head coach Guy Mackay said his athletes recognized this championship as one that extends beyond the team itself.
“This group, they think about what a title means to the team, the school, the community and the entire west side,” he said. “Some people don’t understand what a big deal it was.”
Indeed, Mackay pointed out that no west-side school (those currently in Region 4: Taylorsville, Cyprus, Granger, Hunter, Kearns) had ever won a cross country state championship. The Warriors’ accomplishments defied Utah high school athletics history.
Mackay had nothing but praise for his hard-working, dedicated athletes, who gave it their all the entire season.
“These kids are special,” he said. “This is a group that has been running varsity for four years. We’ve been preparing this group for this moment. It’s been on their minds for a couple of years.”
Though the title may be a surprise to some people, the success and momentum have been building. The boys team was fourth in state last year and eighth in 2022. In 2021, the team was a distant 17th.
“We feel like we have it going in the right direction,” Mackay said.
Coming into the season, Mackay said the team didn’t even see itself as a state contender. That all changed three races into the season. Up until that point, the Warriors had been contending with injuries. The team hadn’t been fully healthy. But by meet No. 3, the Warriors did well
enough, even without some of their top runners, that the athletes started to believe they could be one of the top squads in 5A.
“The kids plugged in the time of where we would have been normally if our big guns had been able to race, and they realized, ‘We’re good; we can compete!’” Mackay said. “They made the goal to win the state championship.”
Cross country requires not only skill but endurance and mental strength. Mackay said a big key to outlasting the other teams at state and winning the top prize was the athletes’ mindset.
“They believed they could win,” he said. “I wanted to get the idea across that if you work hard, there are no limits to what you can accomplish. The kids believed it. They’re such good kids. They’re some of the best kids in the school. They just get it.”
Mackay said the runners pushed themselves all season to be their best.
“The kids didn’t want to let each other down,” he said. “They didn’t want to be the one that kept the team from not winning.”
Taylorsville still struggled with depth compared to other top teams in the state. Still, the Warriors’ numbers were more than other west-side teams. Mackay loses three top performers, Jameson, Makowski and Andrews, but welcomes back the Stout twins. Edward Stout will have his eye on an individual championship after his runner-up finish this season. The first-place finisher from the 2024 meet was a senior, so Edward Stout could be the favorite in 2025.
To build off this enormous accomplishment of winning state, Mackay hopes to grow the team and generate more excitement around the program.
“The key will be more numbers,” he said. “Our success will get more people excited.”
Mackay acknowledges that cross country isn’t as glamorous as other sports such as football, basketball and baseball. However, he hopes bringing home a championship trophy will go a long way in helping to recruit new team members. Mackay said he works hard with junior high schools and even pitches joining the cross country team to other athletes at Taylorsville.
“This whole year, we’ve tried to create enthusiasm within the school,” he said.
To bolster this enthusiasm, Mackay has prominently pointed out that the Warriors are ranked No. 24 in the nation.
As a precursor to winning the 5A crown, earlier this season Taylorsville also
won the prestigious Border Wars meet, which consists of teams from throughout the Intermountain West. Mackay said it was the first meet the school had ever won. The Warriors also took second at the renowned Bob Firman Classic in Boise, Idaho, a meet that attracts top cross country squads from around the West.
At Taylorsville, Mackay is hoping to develop not only good cross country runners but good people. He believes what the athletes learn in the sport can prepare them for the rest of their lives.
“No one’s going to make money running, but these kids can learn life lessons,” he said. l
Cole Jameson finished sixth at the state meet. (Photo courtesy Guy Mackay)
Edward Stout came in second with a time of 15:34:71 to help Taylorsville earn the 5A title. (Photo courtesy Guy Mackay)
The Taylorsville boys cross country team captured the Class 5A state title, winning the program’s first-ever state championship. (Photo courtesy Guy Mackay)
Our Salt Lake County budget process is wrapping up, and I wanted to share some of the things we’ve done as we look to approve the 2025 budget.
As we look to be fiscal prudent, one of our top priorities is to maintain our AAA bond rating. We are one of only a few dozen counties in the nation with this highest bond rating. That equates to much lower interest rates on bonds/loans.
I want to outline some of the key principles I’ve brought to the budget this year and every year prior.
First and foremost, tax dollars collected don’t “belong” to the county. They are your dollars. Taxpayers entrust the county, or any government for that matter, with a portion of their hard-earned money, and in exchange, expect the government to perform essential, necessary functions for the constituency. There is no amount of tax dollars that is too small to be scrutinized. That is why I push back aggressively anytime I hear someone say, “It’s only x dollars…so we shouldn’t worry about it.”
Any expenditure whether it is $10,000 or $10 million should be reviewed, and if it can’t be fully justified to the taxpayers, it should be cut.
Second, I believe that all government
Doing more with less in a tight budget year
Aimee
Winder Newton
Salt Lake County Councilwoman| District 3
functions should be viewed in two different categories: “need to have” and “nice to have.”
The “need to have” list obviously includes things that are statutorily required of the county to perform, as mentioned above, including public safety.
The “nice to have” list includes quality of life aspects, as well as any other program or effort that can easily be described as “good” or of benefit to the county, but not absolutely necessary.
These two lists are by no means exhaustive, but this demonstrates the same principle that every family in our county goes through in their annual budgets.
Because of inflation it’s been a hard budget year. As you know, everything from food to gas has increased over the past few
years. This is especially hard on government budgets.
This year, since we’ve been asking our departments to do more with less, I believe the council should have to do the same. I will be proposing that we do an office restructure in the county council office. Currently, each council member gets to hire one full-time policy advisor. We have additional central staff who help us with communication, legislative, fiscal and legal matters.
Because three of our nine council members are leaving office, it’s a good time to make a change for the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the council. I hope the majority of my colleagues will join me as I propose that each political caucus gets two policy advisors rather than everyone getting their own. It will cut four full-time positions and almost a half a million dollars of taxpayer funds. We are asking others to do more with less, and we should be willing to do the same.
Lastly, I review each aspect of our budget and ask, “Is this the proper role of county government?” I’ve said many times that government can’t and shouldn’t be all things to all people.
I’m confident that these principles are the essence of good budgeting, and I will
always advocate for this approach any time government is given the trust of the public through their tax dollars. You can rest assured that for 2025, Salt Lake County has a balanced budget with no tax increase. l
Angels from the realms of glory (better have their papers)
Near the twinkling Christmas trees, pine-scented candles and brightly-wrapped packages, most homes in Utah display a Nativity scene. It might be made with Star Wars characters or garden gnomes, but it usually includes wise men, shepherds, Mary and Joseph, and an angel hovering near Baby Jesus. If you have children, the crèche could also include stuffed dinosaurs and a Barbie.
It’s a peaceful tribute to the beginning of Jesus’s mission, right before the dastardly King Herod (threatened by the prophesied birth of a new king) proclaimed that every male child under 2 must be put to death. (I’ll bet he was a blast at holiday parties.)
Being warned by an angel, Mary and Joseph fled with toddler Jesus to Egypt where they lived for several years.
But what if the story had been different? What if the Holy Family arrived on Egypt’s border, where someone had built a big wall? What if the Egyptian border czar said, “Nah. We don’t like refugees. They ruin our economy. Go back where you came from.”?
The New Testament would be a lot shorter.
Utah has more than 300,000 refugees and immigrants living in the state; almost 9% of the population. Maybe we could
Peri Kinder
Life and Laughter
consider this percentage of immigrants a tithe offering where we dedicate ourselves to treating them with love and respect, and not actively try to evict them from the inn.
Refugees are survivors of wars, often fleeing for their lives, leaving everything behind, exactly like Jesus’s family. Immigrants want safety for their families and dream of American opportunities. Didn’t we learn in church we’re all children of God? Maybe I misunderstood.
Utah is a shining example of how to assist these populations. There are programs to help refugees get jobs, learn English, finish school and raise their families. Many immigrants own businesses, pay taxes and contribute to our healthy economy.
But a large faction of the United States agrees mass deportation is a great idea. We can have a country without immigrants or we can have a strong economy. We can’t have both.
Unfortunately, brotherly love doesn’t fit today’s immigration narrative which is that refugees are ruining the country. Words like “diversity” and “inclusion” have become MAGA kryptonite. Have we forgotten Jesus taught that loving each other was one of the greatest commandments? Was there a disclaimer I missed that excluded people who weren’t born in America?
If Jesus was here, he’d be flipping tables and fashioning cords into a whip. He would call us hypocrites for not showing compassion to those who are suffering. Instead, we offer harsh judgment, condemnation and close our communities to shelters. Who are we?
There’s a story of a family who was very hungry. The grandmother took a big cooking pot into the front yard, placed it over a fire, filled it with water and plunked a stone into the pot.
Neighbors asked what she was making. “Stone soup,” she replied. Soon, everyone wanted to add something to the soup. One person brought carrots, another brought chicken. Someone added pasta. Yet another brought spices and salt. In no time at all, they had a big pot of soup to share.
In many ways, society is breaking. Rules and common sense seem arbitrary.
People want to pick ingredients out of this huge melting pot of America, this pot of soup, as it were, and toss them away. Immigrants add flavor to our communities. They add variety and culture and spice. If you take out all the ingredients, you’re left with a pot of hot water and a heart of stone. l
