West Valley City Journal | May 2024

THE JOURNALS INTRODUCES NEW PROCESS TO ENSURE LOCAL NEWS DELIVERY

The City Journals have published newspapers every month for the past 33 years. During which we have mailed a copy of the Journal to nearly everyone in the city. We know from audits that over 70% of the households in the city read the Journal, but that means 30% do not. That is a considerable amount of wasted paper. We also know that some people in the community are not receiving the Journal, although they want it.

Until now there was no way to address

these issues. But now, using this QR code, you can select if you want to receive the Journal.

Because staying informed about local happenings is more important than ever, the Journals is proud to announce an innovative process to guarantee community members receive their local news each month.

Recognizing the vital role of local journalism in fostering community engagement and connection, the Journals has developed an approach to ensure timely and reliable news delivery to every doorstep within our coverage areas.

Using cutting-edge logistics technology and a dedicated team of delivery professionals, we can create enhanced route planning, tracking systems and distribution methods. The Journal aims to overcome challenges that have hindered timely news delivery in the past.

“It is important to keep readers informed about what’s happening in their neighborhoods, schools, businesses and local government,” said Bryan Scott, publisher at The City Journals. “With this new process, we’re not only reaffirming our commitment to high-quality local journalism but also ensuring every member of our community has reliable access.”

We have deep gratitude for the United States Postal Service, whose dedication enables the delivery of more than 200,000 monthly Journals to our readers. This partnership is instrumental in ensuring our local news reaches every household efficiently and consistently. With our new system, readers will still receive their Journal in the mail each month but with more accuracy and control based on our new process.

This underscores the Journals’ unwavering dedication to providing trusted local news and information for our readers.

Whether reporting on community events, highlighting local businesses, or investigating important issues affecting our neighborhoods, the Journals remains steadfast in its mission to celebrate and build the community.

ATTENTION: USE THIS QR CODE TO MAKE SURE YOU KEEP GETTING THE JOURNAL

The Journals encourages readers to provide feedback on their news delivery experience, allowing for improvement and refinement of the process. With this groundbreaking approach, the Journals reaffirms its position as the leading provider of local news, delivering stories that matter to our valued readers.

Residents can now choose if they want to receive the Journal at their home by using the QR Code or by visiting Mail. TheCityJournals.com. We ask all residents to complete this form to continue receiving the Journal each month.

Share this message with others in the city who may not be familiar with the newspaper and want to sign up. l

The following is based on real events. The names have been changed to protect identities.

Scalped at Work

Maria was a machine operator at a cardboard factory. The machine she operated turned flat cardboard blanks into complete boxes; taped and ready to be filled. As an operator, Maria had to load the machine with cardboard blanks, and remove the completed boxes and place them on a pallet. Occasionally there were cardboard jams, but nothing she couldn’t handle.

During one shift, Maria’s machine jammed. While fixing it, a small lock of hair that had escaped her hair net was grabbed by a gear as it began to spin. The gear devoured her hair and quickly began to consume more, leaving Maria in a tug of war for her life. With the emergency stop button out of reach, Maria began screaming for help while she continued to fight the machine. Before anyone was able to reach her, Maria shut the machine off herself, blinded by her own blood. Amazingly, Maria had managed to free herself from the grinding teeth of the machine, but it had cost her her scalp – skin and all.

Luckily, Maria received prompt emergency treatment at a local hospital. It was there that doctors told her that her injury was such that she was not able to accept full skin grafts and because the skin of her head was gone, she would never be able to grow hair again.

Workers’ compensation handled Maria’s case as they should – at first. They paid for the

medical bills, and paid two thirds of her wage while she recovered from the accident. However, soon after (too soon, in Maria’s opinion), she was told to report back to work. Maria protested; she was still recovering from a traumatic experience and was unable to wear a hat, let alone a wig, because of the pain they caused rubbing against her tender head. Her workers’ compensation adjuster told her that she really should return to work as she was not entitled to any additional benefits. When Maria asked about compensation for the loss of her scalp and for having to go through life as a woman with no hair, the adjuster responded by saying that it wasn’t really their

problem because she could still physically do all the things she could before. While her disfigured scalp was unfortunate, it was nothing more than a cosmetic problem. Maria was shocked. Her battle with the machine had cost her much more than her scalp, it had cost her self confi-

She couldn’t believe that someone would describe her situation as nothing more than a cosmetic problem.

dence and had taken a serious toll on her mental health. She couldn’t believe that someone would describe her situation as nothing more than a cosmetic problem.

Believing more could be done in her workers’ compensation case, Maria called Davis & Sanchez for the help and understanding she needed. While Maria’s accident may seem uniquely serious, these incidents happen more than you think given the number of manufacturing and construction workers across Utah. Work accidents can have life long impacts both at home and at work. Davis & Sanchez offers Utah’s injured workers serious help in cases big and small. Contact Davis & Sanchez at 801-746-0290 for a free consultation in your workers comp case.

Benefits of Deep Brain Stimulation

with Dr. Joel MacDonald

eep brain stimulation is an important surgical treatment option for patients experiencing progressive symptoms from Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s is a progressive neurological disorder with prominent impairment of movement including a disabling combination of tremor, rigidity (stiffness), and bradykinesia (slow movements). As these symptoms worsen, they interfere with daily function and diminish quality of life. Even simple daily tasks like using utensils to eat can be extremely difficult. Many patients notice declining effectiveness of medications over time.

Deep brain stimulation both directly improves these symptoms and allows medication doses to be decreased so that side effects are minimized. The process involves a brief surgical procedure under local anesthetic to implant electrodes within specific targets of the brain. The targets are selected based on the predominant symptoms. The electrodes are then connected to a small implanted stimulator that can then be programmed to improve movement function. Programming is done by a neurologist. Most patients recover from surgery quickly but optimal programming can take some time. This type of surgery has been routinely performed at Holy Cross Hospital - Salt Lake for several decades.

For more information about CommonSpirit Health and our Holy Cross hospitals, including information about neurological disorders, please visit www.holycrossutah.org.

As CommonSpirit Health, we make the healing presence of God known in our world by improving the health of the people we serve, especially those who are vulnerable, while we advance social justice for all.

ER Care Board Certified Emergency Physicians

Cardiac Team Available 24/7 Level III Trauma Center STEMI cardiac Receiving Center

Committee works to promote healthier residents

By Darrell Kirby | d.kirby@mycityjournals.com

Astrongeconomy, safe neighborhoods, and good government help make for a livable city. But an unhealthy citizenry can weaken what otherwise is a good community foundation.

Enter the Healthy West Valley Committee. It’s a group of volunteers from a coalition of area institutions devoted to improving the quality of life of residents by encouraging them and pointing them to resources to live healthier lifestyles—physically, mentally and emotionally.

Healthy West Valley is not a new organization. It started in 2018, but not a lot of people know it exists. Committee chairman Kevin Nguyen said it started as a grassroots effort when he and West Valley City Councilmember Jake Fitisemanu recognized a need to help the city’s diverse population find ways to improve its collective health.

“It’s pretty diverse in terms of the representation from the various sectors,” Nguyen said, noting that the West Valley City’s Parks and Recreation Department is on board along with the Neighborhood Services Division. Other partners include University of Utah Health and Intermountain Health. “It’s been really exciting to see the coalition grow.”

The West Valley City Council a year ago made it a formal city committee under the Neighborhood Services Division which gives it access to additional city resources to carry out its mission. “Our division thrives on members of the community who have a passion to make positive change and Healthy West Valley is a prime example of the committed residents we have here,” said Alex Kidd, Neighborhood Services’ community engagement specialist.

West Valley City’s largest ethnic group, Hispanics, are more prone to obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, kidney and liver disease. The top health concerns of Pacific

Islanders are cancer, diabetes, stroke and diabetes. And a sizable number of them are also beset by obesity and high blood pressure, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Minority Health.

Healthy West Valley has several work groups focusing on key parts of people’s

health makeup— physical, mental and emotional. “How do we increase access to health resources for people?” Nguyen said of what the committee is tackling right now. Knowledge is the key first step. “How do we provide better (health) education opportunities?” he asked. The partial answer is getting out in the community at city-spon-

sored events like SpringFest, WestFest, and the summertime farmers market, the latter helping to encourage healthier eating habits. Nguyen hopes the committee can even put together a WinterFest event, “something during the wintertime when most people get depressed.”

Healthy West Valley is also working with the city to continue building out its Crosstown and Jordan River trail system, so residents have places to get out and exercise. Part of that plan also includes making Decker Lake more of a destination for biking, walking and other means of physical activity.

The overall objectives of the committee will be driven in large part by gathering health-related data. West Valley City, along with 46 other cities, is taking part this year in the Utah Wellbeing Survey conducted by Utah State University. The just-ended survey collected information from residents to help create a report on “findings across a variety of topics such as well-being domain ratings and importance, community well-being, community connection, population and economic growth, and future concerns” all things that can have varying impacts on the health of residents, according to the survey website. That report will also come with “tailored resources that target the improvement of individual well-being categories.”

Another incentive to get out and exercise is Healthy West Valley’s Birds and Bikes initiative this summer. A Trail Scavenger Hunt and Golden Spoke Ride are opportunities for people to walk or bike the city’s trail network in a fun way with prizes being awarded for the Trail Scavenger Hunt. Each kicks off May 11 with the scavenger hunt running through Sept. 12. Details are available at www.wvcbirdsandbikes.com. l

The West Valley Journal is a monthly publication distributed directly to residents via the USPS as well as locations throughout West Valley City.

For information about distribution please email hello@thecityjournals.com or call our offices. Rack locations are also available on our website. The views and opinions expressed in display advertisements do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions held by Loyal Perch Media or the City Journals. This publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the express written consent of the owner. © 2019 Loyal Perch Media, Inc.

Bryan Scott | bryan.s@thecityjournals.com

EDITOR

Travis Barton | travis.b@thecityjournals.com

Mieka Sawatzki | mieka.s@thecityjournals.com

Jason Corbridge | jason.c@thecityjournals.com

Ryan Casper | ryan.c@thecityjournals.com

Greg Tanner | greg.t@valuepagesutah.com CIRCULATION

Lydia Rice | lydia.r@thecityjournals.com 385-557-1022

Rack

WEST VALLEY TEAM

The Healthy West Valley Committee hopes to make the Decker Lake area a key part of its efforts to improve the health of city residents. (Darrell Kirby/City Journals)

New golf fees implemented for West Valley City courses

By Tom Haraldsen | t.haraldsen@mycityjournals.com

Along with everything else, inflation has caused the city’s Parks and Recreation Department substantial price increases for provided services. So leaders have asked, and gained approval from city council, to raise fees at West Valley’s two municipal golf courses.

Prices have also been raised at the Family Fitness Center, the Kidz Kamp program and for after-school Kamp fees.

Jamie Young, Parks and Recreation director, presented proposed Ordinance 24-11 to the council that would amend Section 1-2-107 of the West Valley City Municipal Code to Update Certain Parks and Recreation Fees. That was approved by the council. Here is a look at the new fee structures for these services. Both Kindergarten Kamp and Power Cart Twilight golf rates were removed and are no longer being offered:

Family Fitness Center: Annual Membership Passes (West Valley City Residents): Family (up to six) – $484 or $48/month

Couple – $412 or $41/month

Couple – Senior (60+) – $256 or $25/month

Adult – $281 or $27/month

Adult – Senior (60+) – $190 or $18/month

Minor (3-17) – $228 or $23/month

Military/Veterans – 10% discount

Annual Membership Passes (Nonresidents):

Family (up to six) – $539 or $52/month

Couple – $467 or $45/month

Couple – Senior (60+) – $311 or $29/month

Adult – $336 or $31/month

Adult – Senior (60+) –$245 or $22/month

Minor (3-17) – $283 or $27/month

Military/Veterans – 10% discount

Family Fitness Center Daily Admission Fees (West Valley City residents):

Minor (4-17) – $5

Adult – $6

Senior (60+) – $4.50

Military/Veterans – 10% discount

Family Fitness Center Daily Admission Fees (Nonresidents):

Minor (3-17) – $6

Adult – $8

Senior (60+) – $5.50

Military/Veterans – 10% discount

Family Fitness Center Childcare Fees:

Per Child – $4/hour; Members: first hour free, $2 for each additional hour

Kidz Kamp Program – $36/day; members receive a 15% discount

After-school Kamp – $17/day; members receive a 15% discount

The Ridge Golf Club

Nine holes:

Green fees – $18

Power Carts –$10

Pull carts – $4

Premium Club rental – $20

18 holes:

Green fees –$36

Power Carts – $20

Pull carts – $8

Premium Club rental – $35

Military rate for nine holes – $11, for 18 holes – $22

Juniors (High School and College players), nine holes (Monday-Friday anytime, weekends and holidays after 1

p.m.) – $9

Juniors (High School and College players), 18 holes (Monday-Friday anytime, weekends and holidays after 1 p.m.) – $18

Seniors, nine holes (Monday-Friday anytime, weekends and holidays after 1 p.m.) – $12

Seniors, 18 holes (Monday-Friday anytime, weekends and holidays after 1 p.m.) – $24

Passes:

Players Pass – $249.95

Players Pass nine/18 holes

(Monday-Thursday anytime) – $10

Players Pass 18 holes (Fridays, weekends and holidays, includes cart) – $35

Players Pass Cart nine/18 holes

(Monday-Thursday anytime) – $9

Punch Pass 10 rounds of nine holes – $130 ($90 for Lake Park employees, must show Lake Park employee ID to purchase)

Driving range: Range Balls, small bucket – $5; Range Balls, large bucket – $10. Players Pass Small Bucket – $4; Players Pass Large Bucket – $8

10-Token driving range pass – $40 ($30 for Lake Park employees, must show Lake Park employee ID to purchase)

Tournaments: Monday-Thursday, includes cart and merchandise – $65; Friday-Sunday, includes cart and merchandise – $11,000 course rental for 18 holes, up to 144 players

Stonebridge Golf Course

Nine holes: Green Fees – $18

Power Carts – $10

Pull Carts – $4

Premium Club Rental – $20

18 holes: Green Fees – $36

Power Carts – $20

Pull Carts – $8

Premium Club Rental – $35

Military Rate for nine holes – $11; 18 holes – $22

Juniors (High School and College Players), nine holes (Monday-Friday anytime, weekends and holidays after 1 p.m.) – $9

Juniors (High School and College Players), 18 holes (Monday-Friday anytime, weekends and holidays after 1 p.m.) – $18

Seniors, nine holes (Monday-Friday anytime, weekends and holidays after 1 p.m.) – $12

Seniors, 18 holes (Monday-Friday anytime, weekends and holidays after 1 p.m.) – $24

Passes:

Players Pass – $249.95

Players Pass nine/18 holes

(Monday-Thursday anytime) – $10

Players Pass 18 holes

(Fridays, weekends and holidays, includes cart) – $35

Players Pass Cart nine/18 holes

(Monday-Thursday anytime) – $9

Punch Pass 10 rounds of nine holes – $130 ($90 for Lake Park employees, must show Lake Park employee ID to purchase)

Driving Range: Range Balls, small bucket – $5; Range Balls, large bucket – $10

Players Pass Small Bucket – $4, Players Pass Large Bucket – $8

10-Token driving range pass – $40 ($30 for Lake Park employees, must show Lake Park employee ID to purchase)

Tournaments: Monday-Thursday, includes cart and merchandise – $65. Friday-Sunday, includes cart and merchandise – $11,000 for course rental for 18 holes, up to 144 players;

Friday-Sunday, includes cart and merchandise – $14,000 course rental for 27 holes, up to 220 players.l

Fees at Stonebridge Golf Course, shown here, along with The Ridge Golf Club, are increasing to help with higher costs for service and maintenance. (Photo courtesy of Stonebridge Golf Course)

Sun and cell signals help security cameras keep watch on local businesses

By Darrell Kirby | d.kirby@mycityjournals.com

Morebusinesses and property owners are taking to technology to keep an eye on what’s going on in their surroundings.

For years cameras have been a staple inside stores, offices, homes and other buildings.

Now, a growing number of places around West Valley City and elsewhere are setting up mobile solar-powered, cellular-run surveillance cameras in their parking lots and other outdoor spots.

Many cameras and the software programs that run them are from LiveView Technologies. The American Fork company has developed the electronic eyes which are affixed to small trailers and are equipped with a solar panel which charges the battery that powers the camera. Information from the cameras is transmitted by cell signal. The cameras themselves are mounted atop a pole, or mast, that can extend as high as 22 feet in the air.

“That allows them to be deployed rapidly anywhere that’s needed,” said Matt Deighton, LVT’s senior communications manager. “Anywhere there’s sun and cellular, we can drop one of these units.”

The purpose: Keep areas safe and secure by visually monitoring the comings and goings of people and vehicles for any suspicious or criminal activity.

“We have more than 60 configurations of different cameras and things we can do with our units” to tailor them to the customers’ needs, Deighton said.

He says the images are detailed enough to be able to read license plates and other details of vehicles, people, and objects in the area.

The camera can be set up to send alerts via a mobile app to users if any questionable or unauthorized movement is detected. Deighton says users can even draw boundaries of the scanned area on a screen so that if anyone or anything crosses those imaginary lines, an immediate notification is triggered.

The cameras are equipped with lighting and speakers enabling the user to see and speak to whomever is below to let them know they are being watched. “The typical camera doesn’t tend to scare anyone away because people don’t even know if those cameras are working,” Deighton pointed out. “But when someone talks down from the loudspeaker, (people) know the camera is working,” they’re being watched, and descriptions can be captured and saved on video. Businesses can, if they choose, share the images with police for investigative purposes.

Customers rent the units on a subscription basis with costs varying depending on what customers want the cameras to do and the size of the area being monitored. “It allows people to set it up in a much cheaper way than having to buy a large piece of equipment,” Deighton said. LVT also pro-

vides a video monitoring service allowing property owners, managers and security teams to access the live and recorded images through the app. “A security team from anywhere in the world can sit and watch what’s happening on that camera and make sure that their property is secure,” he added.

“Typically, we see a reduction of crime…somewhere around 300 yards or so around the unit,” Deighton said.

West Valley City police spokeswoman Roxeanna Vainuku confirms that is usually the case. “Security cameras are known to deter crime, and while it’s too early to know the full effect of some of the security cameras in our city, we do know that having access to video when a crime does occur is a significant benefit to an investigation and often the successful prosecution of cases,” she said by email. “We are hopeful that businesses with cameras will see a reduction, not only in crimes committed but that the use of video to successfully hold criminals accountable will act as its own deterrent.”

Two of the busier spots the cameras were stationed as of April are at Smith’s Food & Drug, 4065 S. Redwood Road and 7-Eleven at 3510 S. Redwood Road. Both properties and surrounding areas have been the scenes of criminal activity in past years.

A new townhome development, Lofts on 35th, at 4555 W. 3500 South, is another site

under the watchful eyes of the cameras. A camera is also set up at a housing construction site near 3600 S. 3200 West.

LVT was started in 2005, one of the early technology firms to establish roots in what is known today as Silicon Slopes, the tech hub stretching from southern Salt Lake County through northern Utah County. Co-founder Rob Porter, who was in the construction industry at the time, had the idea to place cameras at home construction sites so homeowners could watch the progress of their houses being built. People liked what they saw and Porter realized the potential of it all. He approached his colleague Bob Brenner and the budding business opportunity came further into focus. LVT today has nearly 500 employees and its camera systems are used around the world. The company manufactures the devices at a plant in Orem. l

Solar-powered, mobile surveillance cameras are outside keeping watch on city businesses. (Darrell Kirby/ City Journals)

New concerts, big acts heading to UFCU amphitheater

By Tom Haraldsen | t.haraldsen@mycityjournals.com

It’s going to be a big summer for concerts in Utah, and nowhere will it be bigger than at the Utah First Credit Union Amphitheater in West Valley.

Two new shows were added on April 22—veteran rocker Neil Young and his Crazy Horse world tour coming on July 29 and Imagine Dragons set to close out the season on Oct. 11. More shows could be announced in the coming days.

Though last season offered a huge variety of shows, Trent Falcone, director of marketing for the venue owned and operated by Live Nation, said this year is shaping up to be one of the biggest in the theater’s history.

“I think part of it is the post-Covid effect,” he said. “More bands and performers are getting back out on the road. It’s just the way the cycle goes sometimes with new albums and tours.”

Even with some acts taking the summer off, Utah has become a hotbed destination for many performers, and Falcone says “that’s only going to continue to improve—it’s going to get bigger and bigger. Clearly, Live Nation has great partnerships with a lot of these artists anyway, and they love coming to the theater.”

Utah First Credit Union took over naming rights this year from the previous name holder—USANA. Signage in and around the amphitheater is being changed over, but the venue will operate the same as it has in the past. There are lots of concession stands at the theater offering food and beverage for sale, generally manned by groups of volunteers from local schools who raise money for their clubs

Calendar for UFCU ampitheater

May 30 Brooks and Dunn

May 31 James Taylor

June 5 Red Hot Chili Peppers, Kid Cudi and Irontom

June 6 Sarah McLachlan and Feist

June 14 Janet Jackson

June 20 Cage the Elephant

June 25 Third Eye Blind, Yellowcard and Arizona

June 26 Foreigner, Styx and John Waite

June 29 New Kids on the Block, Paula Abdul and DJ Jazzy Jeff

July 9 Noah Kahan

July 11 Hootie and the Blowfish

July 18 Barbie the Movie–In Concert

July 20 Niall Horan

July 21 A Day to Remember

July 29 Neil Young Crazy Horse

July 30 Thirty Seconds to Mars and AFI

July 31 Bush, Jerry Cantrell and Candlebox

Aug. 1 Alanis Morissette, Joan Jett and the Black hearts & Morgan Wade

Aug. 3 Sam Hunt

and organizations. It’s been a solid partnership for many years.

As of April 23, here’s the lineup for this year’s shows. Ticket information is available at www.livenation.com:

Aug. 15 Dirty Heads and Slightly Stupid

Aug. 16 The Australian Pink Floyd Show

Aug.18 Limp Bizkit, Bones, N8NOFACE

Aug. 20 Tyler Childers

Aug. 21 Santana and Counting Crows

Aug. 22 Rob Zombie and Alice Cooper

Aug. 24 Blue October, Switchfoot, Matt Nathanson

Aug. 29 Train and REO Speedwagon

Aug. 30 The Doobie Brothers

Aug. 31 Hozier

Sept. 5 Human Musical Group Sensations

Sept. 6 Creed, 3 Doors Down and Finger Eleven

Sept. 7 Jason Aldean

Sept. 10 Def Leppard

Sept. 13 Lainey Wilson, Jackson Dean and Zach Top

Sept. 20 Dan + Shay

Sept. 26 ZZ Top, Lynyrd Skynyrd

Oct. 5 Breaking Benjamin, Staind, Daughtry

Oct. 11 Imagine Dragons

Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre (schedule subject to change)l

The 2024 concert season will kick off May 30 at the Utah First Credit Union Amphitheater (formerly USANA) in West Valley City. (File photo Tom Haraldsen/City Journals)

Scheels funds learn-to-ride bike program for students at Academy Park Elementary

By Zachary Smith | z.smith@mycityjournals.com

OnMarch 29, kindergarten students at Academy Park Elementary were brought into the school gym for a special assembly just for them. The first thing they saw upon entering was a colorful parachute in the middle of the room, covering something that seemed to be a secret. They were asked to raise their hands if they knew how to ride a bike. Some did, others did not.

They were then asked to raise their hands if they knew what was under the parachute. Most of them did. Yet still, when the parachute was lifted on the count of three, the young crowd roared with glee and surprise as if they had just opened a present on Christmas.

The school unveiled 24 kindergarten-sized Strider balance-to-pedal conversion bicycles and their corresponding gear, and announced that the bikes were now school gym equipment. Head coach Glenn Leich explained that the bikes would be integrated into the kindergarten physical education program and that the whole kindergarten would be taught how to ride them as part of the class.

This is possible thanks to the All Kids Bike initiative, a national nonprofit that aims to teach every kindergarten student in America how to ride a bike. All Kids Bike has funded similar programs across America, impacting a total of 1,390 schools as of April 2. This in-

cludes multiple other schools in the Salt Lake City area, such as David Gourley Elementary in Kearns and Edison Elementary in central Salt Lake.

Academy Park is a Title 1 school, meaning that many of the low-income students who attend it may not get the opportunity to ride a bike otherwise. When the school was contacted by the organization, Leich would be the one to meet their challenge of teaching 30 kids how to ride.

“I love the idea that we’re teaching them something that might get them outside,” Leich said. “I’m hoping that this might just start something that they can take with them.”

This new program is funded by the Scheels company, who have provided a generous $9,000 grant to cover the expenses of the equipment package. Scheels prides itself on community involvement and nonprofit work, having previously given donations to organizations such as the American Cancer Society and the United Way of America.

After a brief safety rundown, the students were ready to bike. One by one, they mounted their bikes for the first time with the help of a Scheels volunteer and slowly rode in a circle to get a feel for the new skill they will soon be learning.

“It’s really nice being able to work for

a company that is investing in the future,”

said George Hagan, social media manager at Scheels in Sandy, Utah. “Being able to know

that there are kids who are not even born right now who are going to be riding these bikes in a few years is really cool.” l

George Hagan (left) and Cherie Oliver (right) helping students prepare for their first ride. (Zachary Smith/ City Journals)

Alzheimer’s conference set for May 15 in West Valley City

By Tom Haraldsen | t.haraldsen@mycityjournals.com

Utah residents are invited to a free Alzheimer’s Caregiving Educational Conference to be held in West Valley City. The Alzheimer's Foundation of America will hold the conference on Wednesday, May 15 at the Embassy Suites by Hilton at 324 Market Street in West Valley City. The conference will run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

“Attendees will learn about everything from caregiving strategies to early detection, healthy aging, dementia therapies and treatments, estate planning and local resources,” said Sandy Silverstein from the AFA. “The conference is for family caregivers as well as professionals and the general public. People who come to the event will learn healthy living habits and will get an opportunity to learn about early detection, and can get a memory screening to see if they might have any memory issues.” Those free, confidential memory screenings will be provided throughout the conference.

Silverstein said May is Older Americans Month, so the AFA holds events nationwide to talk about subjects that include a new Alzheimer drug that is pending FDA approval; frontotemporal—the same disease that both actor Bruce Willis and TV talk show host Wendy Williams are bat-

tling; and the reason the disease’s statistics continue to grow.

“Knowledge is a useful and powerful tool that can help make any situation easier to navigate, especially something

as challenging as caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease,” said Charles J. Fuschillo Jr., AFA president and CEO. “Connecting families with useful, practical information and support that can help

them now and be better prepared for the future is what this conference is all about.” Sessions will include information on development of a novel therapy for the disease, presented by Dr. Donna J. Cross, a research associate professor in the Department of Radiology at the University of Utah; long-term care and asset protection by attorney Eric B. Barnes, CEO of The Elder Care Law Firm in Kaysville; and the many manifestations of frontotemporal dementia by Dr. Christine J. Cliatt Brown, a Behavioral Neurologist and Assistant Professor in the Division of Cognitive Neurology at the University of Utah. She specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of various types of dementia such as FTD, dementia with Lewy bodies and Alzheimer’s.

Registration and more information is available online at www.alzfdn.org/tour. The AFA also offers a free seven-day-aweek hotline at 866-232-8484, texting at 646-586-5283, as well as web chatting at www.alzfdn.org. The web chat and text message features are available in more than 90 languages. l

Tickets: Scan the QR code or use link below in a web browser!

https://www.strideevents.com/events/murray-park-amphitheater/2024/tickets

Millions of Americans are impacted by Alzheimer’s disease, which will be discussed at a free conference on May 15 in West Valley City. (Photo courtesy of the Alzheimer's Foundation of America)

Your local experts in Spring Tree Care

Rio Tinto Kennecott has engaged Voconiq to deliver Local Voices to help them better understand the needs, concerns and priorities of your community.

Rio Tinto Kennecott is excited to announce the launch of a new community engagement initiative called Local Voices, an innovative program designed to provide community members with an opportunity to confidentially share their views and experiences with the company.

Local Voices is delivered by Voconiq, a third-party global research company. Local Voices invites residents 18 years and older to participate in a series of online surveys aimed at gathering insights, feedback and suggestions directly from those who live and work near Kennecott operations. Local Voices provides insights into how community members feel about a range of topics including the impacts and benefits associated with the Kennecott operations, the effectiveness of company community investment programs, and the nature of the relationship between community members and the company.

Follow-up surveys will be conducted every year to track key issues identified in the first ‘anchor’ survey and provide regular opportunities for community members to give their feedback. Survey results will be used to inform and refine business and community investment plans and to guide Kennecott’s operational and business decisions.

“The approach allows a dynamic interaction between company and community that aims to increase understanding on all sides, build trust and strengthen relationships for better community outcomes,” said Voconiq CEO Kieren Moffatt. “Local Voices is a way to help communities engage with the companies that operate alongside them.”

One of the key features of the Local Voices program is its commitment to confidentiality. Participation is 100% confidential, with no personal details shared with Rio Tinto Kennecott. This ensures that individuals can express themselves openly and honestly.

Voconiq thanks community members for their contributions by donating to local not-for-profit groups, directly benefiting the local community.

education SECTION

A publication covering local graduation stories and events in the Salt Lake Valley City Journals presents:

With a little PREP in their step, underrepresented students are college-bound

By Jet Burnham | j.burnham@mycityjournals.com

“Without PREP, I'd be a loser right now,” West Jordan High School graduate Arlen Villalba Guerrero said. “I wouldn't be very far, just the same old boring stuff, getting ready to do a job that I didn't even enjoy.”

Arlen is one of 15 students graduating from high school with an Engineering Drafting and Manufacturing Technology Certificate of Completion from Salt Lake Community College through Jordan School District’s Pre-freshman Engineering Program (Jordan PREP).

Jordan PREP students, many of whom are typically underrepresented in STEM careers, take four years of science, technology, engineering and math summer courses to prepare to earn 30plus general and engineering college credits by the end of high school.

Arlen joined the program his sophomore year and immediately began to explore his options.

“Being in PREP, you get to think so early about how you're gonna get to what you want to do,” he said. “PREP makes you do so much better and shoot for so much more. I know everything I wanna do right now. I know exactly how to get where I wanna be, and I know exactly what I need to do to get where I wanna be.”

Arlen is now on the pathway to become an Air Force fighter jet pilot, with a head start and higher pay grade due to his college credits.

Natalia Solis said the PREP classes she took as a 12 year old helped her discover her interest in drafting and interior design. She is already on her way to earning a college degree, the first person in her family to do so.

First generation college students, those from economically disadvantaged families or underrepresented minority groups make up the majority of the

students in the Jordan PREP program, which recruits interested students from Title 1 designated schools to motivate and prepare them for STEM careers.

Jordan PREP Coordinator Stacy Pierce has been amazed by the students’ dedication to the program despite difficult life circumstances.

“You've got kids that you had no idea the challenges they had at home— and the challenges got far greater—and they're going to make it,” she said. “They're going to graduate from this program regardless of those challenges.”

She said the rigorous academic enrichment courses students take each summer during their middle school years, prepare them academically, socially and mentally for advanced courses in high school and increase their opportunities to attend college.

“Because it's not a camp—it's a rigorous academic program— I think that's been key to making these kids believe that they could do anything and pursue any career,” Pierce said.

She said the math courses have the biggest impact.

“Math is the gatekeeper that keeps kids out of, say, 80% of the higher paying jobs that help these kids break into a different economic level,” she said. “To help them maintain and build that math confidence—I think it's absolutely huge.”

Anna Fotheringham said staying academically active during the summer with PREP courses gave her an advantage.

“You learned a little bit of math before [school started], so when you did math [in school], you already kind of knew what you're doing,” she said. “So I feel like it gave me a step ahead in regular classes, and then also just in life, because we have a lot of college classes

done that kind of set us up to, if we want, pursue the certain career that they have set up for us to go into.”

When she was younger, Anna wanted to work in a nail salon but is now planning to earn a manufacturing degree.

“Doing programs like this made me realize that doing nails is not really going to give me enough money to live on my own, basically,” she said. “It made me realize I can do harder careers.”

Ayden Bascom said many of his friends don’t have a post-graduation plan yet, but that PREP taught him to think ahead.

“In PREP, especially with Stacy [Pierce], she tells you this earlier, to be prepared for life,” he said.

Natalia said the expectations set in PREP classes, especially during her middle school years, helped her set

higher goals.

“It pushed me into showing myself that I can do harder stuff than I had set myself to, because I had set my standards low for myself,” she said. “You can do much more harder things than you think you can.”

Lai Lai Havili almost dropped out of the program but is glad to be graduating high school with college credits he can use as a fallback plan if his dreams of playing in the NFL don’t work out.

Talon Johnson, who has always known he wants to be a chemical engineer, said the PREP program has not only given him a head start that will save him time and money, but the confidence to be successful in college.

“I have this foundation that a lot of other students may not, and I can push

Continued page 15

Jordan PREP Plus students will graduate high school with 30-plus college credits. (Photo courtesy of Stacy Pierce)

Unique traditions make graduation ceremonies special

By Jet Burnham and Julie Slama

Thousands of students will be graduating at the end of this month and each school will conduct their graduation ceremony with unique traditions, awards, celebrations and themes.

Students will be the main speakers at Providence Hall High School’s graduation ceremony. The student body president, two valedictorians and two other students will share their thoughts and wisdom with their peers.

“We really make it kid focused, so adults don't speak more than three minutes,” Principal Melissa McPhail said. “I feel like if we're waiting ‘til the last day to teach them something, then we have not done our job for four years.”

McPhail said one of the student speakers chosen to speak this year is not a well-known student but will share an impactful message.

“We get these kids who have had a unique journey through high school, and we catch the attention of those kids that weren't the activity type or the academic type,” she said.

Providence Hall’s graduation ceremony is always less than an hour and 40 minutes to ensure the students have time to celebrate with friends, family, and former elementary, middle and high school teachers who attend the ceremony. Of this year’s 155 graduates, 29 have attended Providence Hall since kindergarten.

After the speeches and diplomas, the students will leave the stadium as the ‘song of the year’ plays. McPhail chooses the song that best fits the graduating class. Last year’s song was Bon Jovi’s “It’s My Life” and in 2020, it was R.E.M.’s “It’s the End of the World As We Know It.”

“The kids really want to know all year what their song is going to be, but I wait until the day of graduation,” McPhail said.

Providence Hall’s ceremony will be held at the Zion’s Bank Stadium at nearby Salt Lake Academy, which also has a unique graduation tradition. Following the graduation ceremony, each Salt Lake Academy graduate receives five roses to give as a ‘thank you’ to their parents, teachers, counselors or friends.

“They get to present them to people who have influenced them along their journey,” school office manager Cheryl DeHeck said.

Gifts are also a part of South Valley School’s open house style graduation. Students and their families will also be treated to refreshments and a slide show highlighting each of this year’s 35 graduates.

Here is the pertinent information. ADA accommodations are available at all loca-

tions.

Academy of Math, Engineering and Science — An anticipated 118 students will take part in the school’s commencement exercises, which will feature nine student speakers and two musical numbers. The 90-minute ceremony will begin at 2 p.m., May 23 in Cottonwood High’s auditorium.

Alta High — About 545 seniors are to walk through commencement exercises at 10 a.m., May 29 at the University of Utah’s Huntsman Center with Canyons Board of Education Vice President Amanda Oaks and Board member Holly Neibaur speaking and will be joined by Director of High Schools Tom Sherwood. This year’s theme is “Alta, Let’s Fly!”

American Academy of Innovation — About 60 seniors will take part in their commencement exercises. Graduation will be at 6 p.m., May 29 at Thanksgiving Point’s show barn.

American Preparatory Academy — At APA’s commencement ceremony, 52 students will graduate at 10 a.m., June 1 at the school. The APA Chorum Vita choir will be singing a Latin piece titled "Omnia Sol" by Z. Randall Stroope and "For Good" from the Broadway musical “Wicked.” The valedictorian will be selected in early May. The ceremony is by invitation only.

Beehive Science & Technology Academy — Twenty-three students will listen to their commencement speaker, Sandy City Council Member Marci Houseman at 7 p.m., May 23 at Salt Lake Community College’s Miller Free Enterprise Conference Center’s auditorium. This year’s valedictorian is James Nelson and salutatorian Lliam Delahunty.

Bingham High — Commencement exercises will be held at 5:30 p.m., May 30 in the UCCU Arena at Utah Valley University in Orem. The theme is from author T.S. Eliot, “The end is where we start from.” Speakers will include Jordan School District Superintendent Anthony Godfrey, Jordan Board of Education members Marilyn Richards and Bryce Dunford with Board president Tracy Miller and District Administrator of High Schools Brad Sorensen in attendance.

Brighton High — Canyons School

District Assistant Superintendent McKay Robinson is scheduled to speak to 520 students who are expected to graduate at 2 p.m., May 29 at the Maverik Center.

Joining him will be Canyons Board of Education President Amber Shill and former Board president Nancy Tingey. This year’s theme is “The future depends on what we do in the present,” by Mahatma Ghandi.

Copper Hills High — May 29, 6 p.m. UCCU Arena at Utah Valley University “Be your best self”

Corner Canyon High — “Always One” is the theme for 550 seniors who will graduate at 2 p.m., May 29 at the University of Utah’s Huntsman Center. Canyons School District Director of High Schools Tom Sherwood is scheduled to speak. Joining him is Canyons Board of Education Vice President Amanda Oaks and Board member Holly Neibaur.

Cottonwood High — About 400 seniors will walk through the traditional commencement exercises at 10 a.m., May 24 at the University of Utah’s Huntsman Center.

Cyprus High — May 23, 1 p.m. Maverik Center

Diamond Ridge — About 60 students will graduate at 6:30 p.m., May 28 at Eastmont Middle School’s auditorium. Canyons School District Director of High Schools Tom Sherwood is scheduled to speak. Joining him is Canyons Board of Education Vice President Andrew Edtl, former Board president Nancy Tingey and Board member Karen Pedersen. This year’s theme is by Canadian poet and author Rupi Kaur: “You don’t just wake up to become a butterfly. Growth is a process.”

Entrada — Canyons School District Director of High Schools Tom Sherwood is expected to address 135 soon-to-be graduates at 7 p.m., June 26 at Alta High

School. Canyons Board of Education President Amber Shill and Vice President Amanda Oaks will be present. The theme is “Winners never quit. We choose to win!”

Granger High — May 24, 7 p.m. Maverik Center

Granite Connection High — An open house will be held 4-7 p.m. on May 22 and 23 at Granite Connection High.

Granite Peaks High — June 5, 6:30 p.m.

Granite Peaks

Granite Transition Services — The graduation ceremony will be 10 a.m. on May 23 in the Granite Connection Auditorium.

Hartvigsen School — May 23, 12:30 p.m.

Hartvigsen gym

Herriman High — May 30, 7:30 p.m. Herriman High Football Stadium “Here and Now”

Hillcrest High — About 480 seniors will turn the tassel at their 9:30 a.m., May 29 graduation at the Maverik Center. The speaker is Canyons School District Assistant Superintendent McKay Robinson. Joining him will be Canyons Board of Education Vice President Andrew Edtl and member Kris Millerberg. The theme comes from American businessman and writer, Max Depree: “We cannot become what we want by remaining what we are.”

Hunter High — May 24, 2 p.m. Maverik Center

Jordan High — Canyons School Board of Education Vice President Andrew Edtl and Karen Pedersen will address the

Former Sunrise students who studied at several Salt Lake Valley high schools reunited at their elementary school prior to their 2023 graduation ceremonies. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

430 seniors at the 6:30 p.m., May 29 commencement ceremony at the Maverik Center. For their theme, the seniors selected “And the Beet Goes On,” to tie into their nickname, the Beetdiggers. Canyons School District Assistant Superintendent McKay Robinson will be in attendance.

Jordan Prep Plus — May 3, 10 a.m. Maverik Center

Jordan Valley — Canyons School District Special Education Director Nate Edvalson will talk to five students who will graduate at 3:30 p.m., May 24 at the Hillcrest High School’s fieldhouse gallery. Canyons Board of Education former president Nancy Tingey and Board member Kris Millerberg will join him. The theme is “Adapting to Change.”

Juan Diego Catholic High — The Baccalaureate Mass for 168 students in the Class of 2024 will be held on May 21 at the Cathedral of the Madeleine Catholic Church. The commencement exercises will take place on May 25 at the school. Both events require a ticket to attend.

Kearns High — May 24, 9 a.m. Maverik Center

Kings Peak High — May 30, 6 p.m. Hidden Valley Middle Auditorium

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” - Eleanor Roosevelt

Life Skills Academy — Eight students will graduate at 12:30 p.m., May 28 at the school. The theme is a quote by author J.R.R. Tolkien; he said: “The greatest adventure is what lies ahead. Each day brings new possibilities for exploration and discovery.” Speaking will be Canyons School District Special Education Director Nate Edvalson and he will be joined by Canyons Board of Education President Amber Schill, former president Nancy Tingey and member Karen Pedersen.

Lone Peak High — May 22, 12:30 p.m.

BYU’s Marriott Center

Mountain Ridge High — May 30, 1 p.m.

UCCU Arena at Utah Valley University

“This is the Time”

Murray High — The graduation ceremony will be held at 11 a.m., June 6 at the Lifetime Activities Center on Salt Lake Community College’s Redwood Campus.

Olympus High — May 24, 2 p.m. Huntsman Center

Paradigm High — At 4 p.m., May 30,

ENDEAVOR HALL CHARTER SCHOOL

55 seniors will graduate at the University of Utah’s Kingsbury Hall. The yet-to-benamed valedictorian will be the student speaker.

Providence Hall — May 24, 10 a.m. Zions Bank Stadium

River’s Edge — “Level Up” is the theme for this year’s commencement, which will be held at 1 p.m., May 31 in the school’s auditorium. Speaking will be Jordan Board of Education President Tracy Miller and Jordan School District administrator Lisa Robinson. Joining them will be Board vice president Darrell Robinson and Board member Lisa Dean.

Riverton High — May 30, 8:30 a.m.

UCCU Arena at Utah Valley University

“Beginnings are usually scary, and endings are usually sad, but it’s everything in between that makes it all worth living.”

- Bob Marley

Salt Lake Academy — May 30, 10 a.m. Zions Bank Stadium

Skyline High — May 24, 6 p.m. Huntsman Center

South Valley — May 29, 3 p.m.

South Valley School Cafeteria

“Chart Your Course”

Summit Academy High — May 30, 2 p.m.

Summit Academy High Gymnasium

Taylorsville High — May 23, 6 p.m. Maverik Center

Valley High — Graduation will be held at 10 a.m., May 29 at Zions Bank Stadium at Real Academy in Herriman. This year’s theme is “The People, The Stories, The Experiences.” Speaking will be Jordan Board of Education President Tracy Miller and Jordan School District Administrator of High Schools Brad Sorensen with Board vice presidents Darrell Robinson and Niki George and Jordan District administrator Becky Gerber in attendance.

Waterford School — At 10 a.m., June 6, the school will honor its Class of 2024 on the campus’ east soccer field. About 70 students are expected to participate in the commencement exercises, which will feature Waterford’s vocal ensemble, the Troubadours, as well as a musical performance by the Lower School students. ADA access is on the southwest side of the field.

West Jordan High — May 29, 2 p.m.

UCCU Arena at Utah Valley University

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Young women in Jordan and Canyons School Districts are shaping the future of business

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

A celebration was held for the 22 graduates of the South Valley Chamber’s Junior Women in Business Program. This year’s cohort was the biggest so far in the history of the initiative that coaches high school seniors through leadership, business and mentoring opportunities.

Young women from high schools across Jordan and Canyons School Districts spent the year attending women in business events, meeting female entrepreneurs in the area, doing job shadowing, participating in service projects and receiving one-on-one mentoring with prominent business and civic leaders.

Savanna Barlow (Alta High School) said the experience was a valuable way to create connections with female leaders, gain experience with the legislative process and develop relationships with the other young women in the program. She plans to attend the University of Utah to get a degree in business management. Each graduate received a $1,000 scholarship.

“That scholarship was only the tip of the iceberg for what this program gave us,” Savanna said. “It was amazing. First of all, the monthly luncheons and the guest speakers

were incredible. We talked to CEOs, authors and entrepreneurs…Each of these women told us about the challenges they faced in the business world and in their personal lives. Those experiences are priceless.”

Sponsored by America First Credit Union, WCF Insurance, Intermountain Health and Crystal Maggelet, president and CEO of FJ Management, the Junior Women in Business program started 12 years ago.

Along with Savanna, these high school seniors also graduated from the program: Aubrey Campbell (Brighton High School), Ava Pezely (Riverton High School), Brooklyn Woodley (AHS), Chantel Moore (Jordan High School), Daira Camacho (West Jordan High School), Gabriella Martinez (WJHS), Giovanna Grant (BHS), Grace Mahoney (JHS), Grace Palmer (RHS), Hannah Bradshaw (Juan Diego Catholic High School), Healani Hernandez (Bingham High School), Jaci Elzinga (BHS), Kaitlyn Rios (Herriman High School), Kate Taggart (Corner Canyon High School), Kiara Sunil-Singh (Providence Hall), Madison Crowther (Copper Hills High School), Makai Johnson (Mountain Ridge High School), Mya Ruiz (American Preparatory Academy), Samantha Picker-

ing (JDCHS), Sienna Yang (Hillcrest High School) and Zoe Kener (CCHS).

“At the Chamber, we’re trying to do some good, and I think the community is a better place,” said Jay Francis, South Valley Chamber president and CEO. “We have 22 young ladies who have rubbed shoulders with some of the best business women in the community. We’ll just keep multiplying that and we’ll just be better.”

At the graduation ceremony held at the Jordan Academy for Technology and Careers South Campus, Sarah Davies (The Piano Place), Alma Lopez and Diana Lopez

(Cakes by Edith), and Sadie Bowler (SadieB) participated in a panel discussion talking about their business journeys as female entrepreneurs.

“From the age of 11, I decided I wanted to go to business school and learn how to manage business, how to hire people, how to manage a group of people and eventually how to become an entrepreneur,” Alma Lopez said. “I feel super happy and blessed that my sister and I are able to take the reins of the business and manage the business and be entrepreneurs.”

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Nearly two dozen young women graduated from the South Valley Chamber’s Junior Women in Business Program in April, after receiving leadership and entrepreneurial training. (City Journals)

myself to do more, to do better because of this foundation,” he said.

Talon will return to Jordan PREP in June as a tutor for some of the 220 PREP students taking classes this summer.

Many of this year’s program graduates were part of the first cohort of the Jordan PREP program which began the summer of 2018 with 25 seventh graders. It has since served over 300 students.

Nationwide, PREP is only a threeyear program. With grant money, a sponsorship by Merit Medical, and a partnership with Salt Lake Community College,

Jordan District’s program expanded to a PREP Plus program, continuing through high school to earn a college certificate and set the students up for a promising future.

“It so far exceeded anything I ever dreamed of when I first started the program,” Pierce said. “If they decide not to pursue any more education, they've got a sustainable livelihood, and then they also have the option to continue their education and have the means to pay for it.”

For more information, see prep.jordandistrict.org.

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Wolverines boys volleyball having strong first season

By Greg James | g.james@mycityjournals.com

HunterHigh School boys volleyball entered the arena this season as a fully sanctioned sport by the UHSAA. Hunter has had a team that is in contention for a state title.

“For the first year it feels really awesome,” Wolverines head coach KJ Ng said. “The way the boys have come together as a team. I couldn’t be happier as a coach.”

The Wolverines have worked together to start their inaugural season strong. At press time they have a 19-4 record and find themselves ranked fourth in the latest RPI.

“With the first year of anything there are always a few hurdles. It has been simple things like uniforms, sharing gym time with the other spring sports. The admin at Hunter has been great to work with us and take care of our team. They have helped us do what we need to do and help us try to win games,” Ng said.

The team is made up of relatively inexperienced players. Only two currently play club volleyball. The Wolverines setter, Ethan Larsen, has had club experience, but had taken a couple of years off.

As a senior Larsen is top five in the state with 324 assists. His ball handling prowess has helped direct the offense. Outside hitters Jordyn Vagana and Pasi Havea have benefited by striking nearly 300 kills between them, both rank top five in the state.

“Those three guys are the ones the fans will notice. They touch the ball and are involved in the offensive plays we run,” Ng said. “Over the last few weeks of the season our middle blockers have really picked up. They get above the net and will surprise a few teams.”

Seniors Marshall Holdaway and Daniel Casas lead the team in blocks.

Learning the game has been challenging

for the less experienced players, but Ng pointed out they are changing every day.

“This team has been very receptive and are learning the game and job we do. We just need to get better every day,” he said.

The team was scheduled to play its last home game April 30 against Taylorsville. The state tournament is scheduled to begin May 14 and conclude May 18 at UVU.

“We are getting a lot of support from the Hunter students. There is an excitement around the school,” Ng said. “We need to focus on our defensive fundamentals and our blocking techniques then we can compete with any team in the state. We could surprise some teams.”

Ng is special education teacher at the school and is the boys’ head basketball coach. He played varsity high school basketball and volleyball at James B. Castle High School in Hawaii. He earned his bachelor’s degree at The University of Providence in Montana where he also played college basketball.

He encourages his players to participate in multiple sports. He has also used the knowledge the girls’ volleyball players have to help improve his younger players.

“It is amazing about this team. Most of them did not know each other before the season began. They have become friends. The way they have connected is amazing. I have encouraged my basketball players to come out and play. It helps them develop muscles they don’t always use playing basketball,” Ng said.

The popularity of boys’ volleyball is rising. With the growth of the sport and the support of the UHSAA its players have a place to showcase their skills. Some local athletes could have the opportunity to play after their high school graduation at the collegiate level. l

The Wolverines have had lots to celebrate in their first volleyball season. (Photo courtesy of @_mylesphotography)

Free recreation pass for youth in Salt Lake County

Parents in Salt Lake County can register their kids for the My County Rec Pass, allowing them to visit any SLCo recreation center for free. The pilot program was created with support from Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson, the Salt Lake County Council and the Tourism, Recreation, Culture, and Convention Program.

“We are thrilled to share this opportunity with the youth of Salt Lake County,” Wilson said. “By offering this program to youth, we are expanding access and fostering a sense of belonging and connection within our community. Together, we can empower our youth to lead healthy, active lives and cultivate lifelong passions.”

Any school-aged youth (ages 5-18) living in Salt Lake County is eligible to enroll in the program, granting them access to open plunge at county swimming pools, public skating at ice sheets, gyms, weight rooms and climbing walls (some age restrictions apply). The pass goes into effect Saturday, June 1.

To enroll, parents or guardians can register their children at any Salt Lake County-operated recreation center with proof of county residency. For those who are 18, an adult does not need to be present for registration but they still need proof of residency.

Salt Lake County Recreation centers in the City Journals readership area are:

Copperview Recreation Center (8446 S. Harrison Street) in Midvale

Dimple Dell Recreation Center (10670 S. 1000 East) in Sandy Draper Recreation Center (657 E. Vestry Road)

By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com

Gene Fuller Recreation Center (8015 S. 2200 West) in West Jordan

Holladay Lions Recreation Center (1661 E. Murray-Holladay Road)

JL Sorenson Recreation Center (5350 W. Herriman Main St.) in Herriman

Millcreek Recreation Center (2266 E. Evergreen Ave.) Redwood Recreation Center (3060 S. Lester St.) in

West Valley

South Jordan Recreation Center (10866 S. Redwood Road)

Taylorsville Recreation Center (4948 S. 2700 West)

Additional recreation centers are in Salt Lake City and Magna. Visit slco.org/parks-recreation for a complete list of participating facilities.

“This program underscores our commitment to providing accessible, inclusive and engaging recreational opportunities for youth across the county,” said Doranne Pittz, Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation associate director. “We aim to extend our reach and impact, ensuring that every young person has the chance to experience the benefits of recreation and community involvement.”

While visiting the recreation centers, children 9 years old and younger must be accompanied by someone 14 years of age or older at all times. The pass is good through May 31, 2025.

“Providing children with opportunities to engage in county recreation activities through the My County Rec Pass is opening a door to a world of discovery, growth and happiness,” said Taylor Abegglen, outreach program manager at Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation. “It’s an investment in their well-being and development. It’s not just a pass, but it’s a path to a brighter, healthier future for our children.”

For more information about programs and facilities, visit slco.to/my-county-rec-pass. l

Salt Lake County youth from ages 5-18 can get a free year-long pass to any county recreation center through the My County Rec Pass program. (Stock photo)

Step into the romance: A look into ‘Shakespeare in Love’ at West Valley Arts

By Grace Simpson | g.simpson@mycityjournals.com

West Valley Arts hosts many community-engaging performances that span from the visual arts to local events to professional theater.

“Shakespeare in Love” recently ran at West Valley Arts through May 4. A play based on the 1998 movie, it promises audiences drama and intrigue that is finely balanced with comedy and love.

Kate Rufener, a director for 31 years, described the show by saying, “If you take ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,’ ‘Seven Brides for Seven Brothers,’ and ‘The Scarlet Pimpernel’ and you mash them up into a show, you will have something that is this plotline. Only I think this plotline is more beautiful.”

Rufener is a lifelong patron of the arts and feels a close connection to “Shakespeare in Love” which fueled her excitement to direct the play here in Utah. “I remember watching the movie and identifying with the character of Viola…That meant a lot to me and at a time when I was feeling very disconnected from theater,” she said.

“I say be bold, and remember that we're cheering for you. We want you to succeed,” Rufener says as she emphasizes the importance of being gutsy when contemplating auditioning or becoming involved with theater.

Under the direction of Rufener is the actress Sonia Maritza Inoa-Rosado Maughan. Maughan explains how she found herself audi-

tioning for the role. “I'm challenging myself to step outside of the box and do different things that are not just musical theater. I usually shy away from anything that is Shakespearean…so I thought it would be a good practice to audition for it,” she said.

Maughan offers advice to wishful actors by advising beginners to "just try going for it" and to not feel like they can't get into theater simply because they haven't done it before. She suggests starting by asking questions in the community about where to begin and by checking which websites and theaters are good

for starters.

“This is not a show that's done very often,” Maughan said.

Stephen Kerr is a Utah-based actor who has spent his life studying theater and performing and plays Philip Henslowe in this production. Kerr has been a fan of the character since he saw Geoffery Rush portray him in the 1998 film. He says, “When West Valley Arts announced ‘Shakespeare in Love’ for the season, I immediately was like, ‘I want to play Philip Henslowe.’”

“It's so important that more and more people come and support [West Valley Arts] because it's quality theater,” Kerr said. “This place deserves to have a big audience to come to the shows here.”

Check out www.wvcarts.org/theatre to purchase tickets for upcoming performances along with other productions and events. You can follow West Valley Arts on Instagram @ wvcarts or find them on Facebook. l

Director Kate Rufener. (Courtesy West Valley Arts) Sonia Maritza Inoa-Rosado Maughan who plays Queen Elizabeth. (Courtesy West Valley Arts)

Stephen Kerr who plays Philip Henslowe. (Courtesy West Valley Arts)

West Valley’s girls’ golf teams find success on course

By Greg James | g.james@mycityjournals.com

Thehistory of high school girls golf in this state reflects the big trend in womens’ golf nationwide. It includes greater participation, improved opportunities and better recognition. Hunter, Granger and Cyprus high schools’ girls golf teams have been a leaders in this area.

“I am very excited about our very young team,” Wolverines head coach Rod Thompson said before the season. “It will be a challenging season.”

The Cyprus and Granger teams also have players that have achieved success on their own terms.

The Wolverines return one player to the varsity team this year. Junior Teralynn Petersen shot her best score of 94 at Rose Park Golf Course, she currently has a season average of 108, improving from 130 last season. She currently sits fifth in the UHSAA Region 4 rankings.

The top season performances reflect the time the players have put in to learn the game.

“The dedication, resilience and commitment to learn the game has been fun,” Thompson said. “Golf and coaching have been part of my life for more than 20 years. I have coached both boys and girls golf and am dedicated to having fun and learning at the same time.”

All West Valley high schools have had success on the golf course.

Cyprus sophomore Madilyn Hongell is leading the Pirates with an average of 98.

She is ranked second in Region 4, while Katy Chandra is currently sixth. Granger junior Sophie Frampton is 11th and Regan Willey 14th.

“It is fun to see the girls get involved and stick with it,” Cyprus head coach Zach Dickison said last season.

Hongell shot her season best score at Mountain View Golf Course. This year she rebounded to shoot an 89 at Stonebridge. She is the low scorer for the Pirates team.

In Utah, 117 high schools have girls’ golf teams and last season there was more than 1,400 participants.

The West Valley schools may not produce state champions but they stand alone in Region 4.

Granger had an individual region champion in 2019 as Ryan Stone came home with the title. Last year, Cyprus’ Madalin Chandra took home the individual title. In 2019, Hunter won the team championship. All improvements considering that in 2015 Hunter barely had enough participants to field a team and ran out of golf balls before the season ended.

Former Hunter head coach Devon Cooper said the girls are “somehow making golf cool.”

This season Hunter held a golf clinic in early March. Kerstin Fotu, a former Lone Peak golf star and the only women to ever make the 36-hole cut in the Utah Open, came and taught the girls a short game clinic.

The UHSAA oversees girls golf in the

state. The state tournaments provide the opportunities for the top girls to showcase their skills and compete for titles. Granger, Hunter and Cyprus all compete

in the association’s Region 4 in the 5A classification. The state tournament is scheduled to be held May 20-21 at Soldier Hollow Golf Course in Midway. l

The JV team at Hunter has only existed for a few short years. At one point the Wolverines barely had enough to field the varsity team. (Photo courtesy of Hunter Athletics)

Hunter celebrates after bringing home a tournament win in 2023. (Photo courtesy of Hunter Athletics)

I’ll be honest, when I first thought about running for the Salt Lake County Council in 2014, I really didn’t know what the county did. I remember sitting in a council meeting and being pretty overwhelmed as I tried to grasp the breadth of the county’s portfolio - criminal justice, behavioral health, prosecution, tourism, tax collection, property surveying/assessing/recording, elections, arts and culture, parks and rec, libraries, health department, aging and adult services, and…who knew that we co-owned a landfill?

As I meet with constituents, one of the most frequently asked questions I get is, “What does the county do?” So here is a primer on county government.

Salt Lake County is funded through property, sales taxes, and transient room taxes generated from lodging, recreation, and other tourism services. We have a $2.16 billion budget, but in 2014, the state auditor included Utah Transit Authority’s (UTA) state funds, currently $416 million, in our overall budget. We don’t have any decision-making authority for UTA, but their budget is counted on ours. Our actual general fund is roughly $600 million. Tourism sales tax dollars go into separate funds for our convention centers and many of our recreation and arts facilities

Do you really know what your County does?

Aimee Winder Newton

Salt Lake County Councilwoman| District 3

and operations.

The county serves all of its incorporated and unincorporated areas. Incorporated areas have cities and towns that make municipal decisions. In contrast, unincorporated areas do not have a municipal or city government, so Salt Lake County still provides municipal services. By law, the county has to separate budgets–revenues and expenditures–for unincorporated areas. We can’t use countywide-collected taxes to pay for municipal services in the unincorporated areas. We only have about 10,000 people left in unincorporated areas, most of whom are in the Sandy islands, Hi-Country Estates (west of Herriman), and the canyons.

The Salt Lake County Council is the legislative governing body with nine elected officials, including three “AtLarge” members elected to represent the

entire county for six-year terms and six “District” members representing geographical districts for four-year terms. The county council meets most Tuesdays to discuss issues, make and approve all budgetary changes, enact ordinances and regulations, distribute funds, and authorize intergovernmental agreements.

The county mayor has executive responsibilities like proposing the budget and running the county's day-to-day operations. The mayor can veto legislation and provide suggestions regarding public policy.

The county also has eight inde -

To give feedback to Councilwoman Newton please use this QR Code. Is there a topic that you would like to hear about, from the Councilwoman?

pendently elected offices – treasurer, assessor, district attorney, surveyor, auditor, recorder, clerk, and sheriff. Each of these officials is elected to a four-year term.

Now that you know more about your county, I would encourage you to try to identify county facilities as you drive around. You’ll see libraries, rec centers, regional parks, health centers, performing arts theaters, and convention centers. We love serving you and appreciate hearing your feedback. You can email me at anewton@saltlakecounty.gov.

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"Fred Cox has always been a stalwart, diligent defender of West Valley citizens. Whether acting as a Representative, or as a citizen, he keeps his ear to the ground for ways that the community needs to be served. Fred is informed and unwavering in Utah values and the Utah constitution. I was grateful when he was our Representative before, and I am looking forward to Fred being our Representative once again."

—Esther Olschewski,

UT

Over the last few years, more readers are emailing us about the Life and Laughter columns that run in the Journal. Last month, realizing the topic was more controversial, we decided to ask for reader feedback. Our readers left nearly 200 responses.

Over 60 percent of readers agreed with the article. Here is a small sampling of the comments that we received from our readers.

“I always love Peri Kinder's articles. I am on the same page with her politically. However, the length and tone of her articles make clear they are written for people who already agree with her - not for people on the fence or are looking for information on a topic”

“Peri inspired some thoughts that I hadn't paid much attention to.”

“Peri's bigotry is showing. No one should have to apologize for their sex, race, income status, or sexual orientation, unless of course, according to Peri, you’re a straight white male in Utah. Replace white with black and male with female in her piece and maybe you’ll be able to recognize the vitriol for what it is. Women are entitled to safe, private spaces, and I guarantee that if there were a man pretending to be a woman ogling at Peri in the bathroom, she might feel just a wee bit uncomfortable. As a woman, I’m tired of feminists telling me to “just get over it” and that my feelings don’t matter. Must I once again subjugate my desires in deference to a man who wants things his way? Maybe you should ask the girl in Virginia who was sexually assaulted by a transgender girl in the girls’ bathroom at school. Just because Peri doesn’t mind men in her bathroom doesn’t mean the rest of us aren’t traumatized by it. The Legislature did absolutely the right thing, carefully balancing the rights of transgender people with women’s right to privacy and safe separate spaces.”

“Biological men do not belong in the same restroom as women. I do not want my children to ever be in a bathroom where a man is present. Just because the author has

Life and Laughter Reader Response

not encountered a “creepy man dressed as Mrs. Doubtfire, accosting women in the restroom,” does not mean this has not occurred. There are numerous cases where women have been assaulted by so called transgender info inside of women’s restrooms, for example, the case in Louden County VA.”

“I really like a lot of her articles but I am very opposed to pretty much everything she said in this one.”

“I agree with most of the comments about the legislature. However, I do not want transgender (born male) in my women's bathroom. They can use the family bathrooms which are becoming much more available.”

“Responding to "the article" as a whole cannot be done here because many different opinions were expressed on many issues. My only reaction to the overall article is "what happened to laughter"? I have often enjoyed your humor but this article had none! That's sad.”

"I agree that Trans women should not be allowed in the female bathrooms. Why? Because they are not women. There are only two genders. There always have been two genders and that cannot change. It is not dependent on what we think we are or are not.

We cannot and should not change the gender given to us by our Creator. I think He knows best.”

“Also, the author makes it sound like not allowing Trans women in a female bathroom is being unloving...love thy neighbor. Since when does disagreeing with someone's lifestyle directly correlate to being unloving? In any relationship we have with others, there are likely times we don't fully agree with someone's opinion or choices. We can still love that person, but not agree with their actions or lifestyle. These days it seems that if you disagree in any way with diversity, equity and inclusion you are labeled a hater. How is it that everyone else is entitled to their opinion but if mine is different in any way, I am wrong. How is that loving? We live in a free country that allows us to have a variety of opinions and express those opinions in a respectful way. But we also have to understand that not everyone is going to agree with each other and that is OK. With the bathroom issue, single stall bathrooms that allow either gender is the best solution in my opinion."

“Agree 100%. Peri is right. Sometimes it is embarrassing to live in this state with the things the legislature worries about and focuses on, and the bills they pass. There are more important problems to deal with than worrying about which bathrooms people are using, fighting DEI, and what books kids should or shouldn’t be reading. Frankly I think some of these things send the wrong message; I fear the kids are only learning that the adults don’t trust them to make good decisions. Or any decisions at all which will only lead to more problems down the road… an even more intolerant society with no critical thinking skills which is never a good thing.”

“This article is right. I couldn't agree more with all of Peri Kinder's articles. This one is my favorite.

I usually read the Peri Kinder column to get a good chuckle but this one hit the nail right on the head.”

“Thanks for printing this. I'm a trans woman who lives here and this was nice to see. I worked at the airport before, now I'm looking for a new job. It's been a rough couple of years for trans people and can seem overwhelming at times. Thanks for reminding me there's allies out there.”

“Peri is so sensible. I appreciate her writing this column.”

"I completely agree. We have a short legislative session and too much time and efforts were made supporting hatred and exclusion, singularity of thought and government being for themselves instead of for the people.

Read the polls: none of this is what the majority of voters are asking for.”

“It is so refreshing to read an opinion driven by common sense and compassion, rather than ignorance and fear. I know people in Utah are more compassionate than those who represent them, based on proposed legislation.”

“I look forward to Peri Kinder's article every month. This article was especially "spot on". Government needs to be more transparent! Not hidden behind so called "privacy" laws that block access to to the daily calendar of elected officials. I also agree with Peri's stance on public restrooms. Nobody goes into a restroom 'looking for" a transgender. They are there to "do their business" and leave asap! I have noticed that airports, some restaurants, and some of the wonderful theaters (Pioneer Theatre's new Meldrum Theatre and The Eccles) have an open doorway. The stalls allow for individual privacy, but the rooms are open and very visible. This is the first time I have used my scanning code. I felt it was important to express my point of view.”

“Acceptance has been slow over the years, but acceptance of the reality is gaining more support as people learn about their families.”

“I question the comments about guns in schools but clearly agree with the rest.” l

My dog, Jedi, runs to the closet where her leash hangs. She spins in circles as I take it off the hook and click it on her collar. She bites the leash and pulls because I’m just not moving fast enough. She is so happy to walk the neighborhood and terrorize small animals.

Usually, these daily walks cheer me up, but recently, I follow behind her like I’m wearing cement shoes on a muddy beach. Does anyone else feel soul-tired?

I’m the weariest I’ve been since my daughters were newborns when sleeping two hours a night left me moving through life in a haze of dirty Pampers and milksour T-shirts.

But what’s my excuse now? I’m a deflated balloon, bouncing along the floor without the helium needed to float. I’m too weary to yawn, too sluggish to nap.

I guess I’m not alone because author and computer science professor Cal Newport said we’re in the throes of “The Great Exhaustion.”

It’s not about getting more sleep, it’s not about eating more fiber or fewer Hostess Twinkies, it’s a complete burnout because rest is a sign of weakness.

Taylor Swift recorded a double album while performing in a sold-out global tour and then flew halfway around the world to

Dead on My Feet

catch her boyfriend’s little football game. And here I am, struggling to write a column and make it to my granddaughters’ soccer games.

I sprawl on the couch watching dust accumulate on the end tables, too fatigued to do anything about it. I pray a brisk breeze blows through the house, scattering the dirt back to the floor where it belongs.

I feel a lot of people are in this same engineless boat. It doesn’t help that companies now require employees to return to the office, even though the flexible, athome schedules have kept thousands of women in the workplace. Even though, for the first time in history, job schedules have helped women feel like work and home are almost manageable.

Our energy is also being drained faster than our bank accounts because we’ve trained ourselves to be 24/7 content cre-

ators. We spend a crapload of time making reels about our trip to the Grand Canyon or a TikTok video about how to raise goats and make goat milk ice cream.

But there’s more! Start a tech company during your free time! Renovate your kitchen and use time-lapse videos to share with the world! Become an Instagram influencer by creating beauty masks using pencil shavings! Document all the moments all the time and share on all the platforms!

With nonstop information from streaming shows, music, podcasts, audiobooks and social media going directly into our big noggins, our brains are tired. Every person in your household (and possibly your pets) is processing information at speeds unheard of just a few years ago. There’s probably smoke coming out of our ears.

It’s a firehose of electronic data. Everything is breaking news. Everything is trying to capture our brief attention. Life is one big clickbait link and we doomscroll like we’ve been enchanted by a wizard to sell our souls for just a little more spilled tea.

The funny thing is, we can turn it off, silence the noise and deactivate the notifications. But our cortisol addiction is out of control.

So what do we do?

Jedi has the right idea. Walking outside, breathing fresh air, maybe even chasing a cat up a tree reminds us the small things matter. Quiet rituals are important.

“The Great Exhaustion” is a bone-deep weariness but also a reminder we’re not alone as we stumble through life. Maybe in sharing our weariness, we can find a listening ear, a comforting shoulder or a Hostess Twinkie.

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FEATURED SPEAKER: Congressman Blake Moore

PROGRAM WILL INCLUDE: Hill Air Force Base, Honor Guard, Utah Firefighters Emerald Society Bagpipes, Patriotic Music by Brian Stucki and the Minuteman Brass Quintet OPEN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC