September 2026 | Vol. 36 Iss. 9
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Murray
What lies beneath
Murray maps $71 million in storm drain needs Page 8
Sp e ci Pet al Edit ion
Siblings strike chord
Brother overcomes rare condition to play piano Page 20
Hot air has never been so popular: Magic Over Murray returns By Shaun Delliskave | s.delliskave@mycityjournals.com Magic Over Murray balloon festival runs Sept. 18-20.
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efore sunrise each morning, the skies above Murray will once again come alive with a colorful display as the Murray Area Chamber of Commerce’s annual Magic Over Murray hot air balloon festival returns Sept. 18-20. The three-day celebration combines breathtaking balloon launches with family activities, food, entertainment and community traditions that continue to make it one of Murray’s most anticipated events. This year’s festival begins Friday morning at Cottonwood High School, where gates open at 6:30 a.m. Guests can enjoy breakfast from food trucks before watching the mass balloon launch at sunrise, weather permitting. Tethered balloon rides will also be available each morning from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. Similar morning activities continue Saturday and Sunday, while Saturday afternoon shifts to Murray Park for STEM activities, a classic car show, artisan vendors, food trucks, live entertainment, a children’s zone and the popular Balloon Glow at dusk. For Murray resident and balloon pilot Stephen Harrison, the festival is more than another stop on the ballooning calendar. It’s an opportunity to share the sport he has loved his entire life with the community he now calls home. “I’m a Murray transplant,” Harrison said. “I was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico, moved to Utah when I was 20, and about 10 years ago my family bought our home in Murray.” Today Harrison operates Salt Lake Soaring, offering balloon flights throughout Utah, while also working at Larry H. Miller Honda Murray. Yet ballooning has always been much more than a business or hobby. His story began before he could walk.
Murray balloon pilot inspects the inside of his balloon. (Courtesy of Stephen Harrison)
According to Harrison, he attended his first Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta just two weeks after he was born. Growing up in the city that hosts the world’s largest balloon festival, he spent his childhood on chase crews helping pilots recover balloons after flights. “I was born into ballooning,” Harrison said. “I was on a chase crew my entire childhood, and that’s what started me down the path to becoming a pilot.” Today ballooning has become a family tradition. His wife, Tiffany, serves as his crew chief and accompanies every flight.
Their son is also part of the ground crew, while their daughter joins the family whenever her schedule allows. “It’s truly a family affair,” Harrison said. “I introduced them to ballooning, and I love that we get to share this passion together.” For spectators watching from below, the colorful balloons drifting overhead may appear majestic. Harrison says the experience from inside the basket is something entirely different. “People don’t realize how peaceful and calm it truly is,” he said. “There’s no wind, no noise, except for the burner every few
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minutes. There’s really no way to explain the feeling. You just have to experience it.” Although he has flown in locations throughout North America and beyond, including one of his favorite festivals in León, Mexico, Magic Over Murray remains especially meaningful. “For me, I love being able to fly over my hometown and share ballooning with fellow Murrayites,” he said. His two careers have occasionally crossed paths in surprising ways. Harrison recalls landing in a neighborhood where one of his Larry H. Miller Honda customers happened to live. “He came out to help us pack everything up,” Harrison said. “Another time I actually got to fly someone who’s been buying parts from me for several years.” Like many outdoor events, ballooning depends heavily on weather. Harrison says one of the biggest misconceptions spectators have is assuming conditions on the ground are the same as those hundreds or even thousands of feet in the air. “Sometimes we have to cancel, and people think the weather looks perfect,” he explained. “What we experience 500 to 2,000 feet above the ground can be completely different.” For first-time visitors, Harrison hopes the colorful display inspires wonder—especially among children. “I hope they experience the magic these gentle giants create,” he said. “Maybe they’ll develop a passion to learn more about them and even become a pilot one day. The memories we created for all the families who braved the early mornings to come out and see us,” he said. “That’s what makes all the preparation worthwhile.” For the complete festival schedule and event information, visit magicover murray.com.l
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September 2026 | Page 3
COMMON GROUND
Property Rights Confuse Me
Common Ground will be a column of rotating viewpoints that highlight specific feelings across the political spectrum, and it will always end with possible ways to come together. Where do I stand on property rights? Simple: if I own it, then I should have absolute control over it. And If I bought it and it is next to your property, I should also have some control over yours. For those who have followed Common Ground, I have left no doubt I lean fairly strong to the right end of the political spectrum. So when writing an opinion piece representing that end of the spectrum with the topic of property rights, I was certain what I’d say. Then last night as I prepared to write this I got confused. I stopped and prayed: Dear God, am I becoming a Democrat? A quick trip to my gun safe confirmed that I am good. But I am still conflicted. I know where I stand on my property rights, not sure where I stand on your property rights. Well, let me be clear, unless your property is near mine, I actually just don’t care about yours. To not look evil I will pretend that I care and that you should have the same property rights as me. To unconfuse myself, I broke down property rights into three categories: the ability to own property, the ability to control property, and property taxes. I see each category, but am conflicted where these fall on the typical right-left spectrum. Is everyone a Republican when it comes to property rights? Or maybe
MURRAY TEAM
The Murray Journal is a monthly publication distributed directly to residents via the USPS as well as locations throughout Murray. 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. © 2026 Loyal Perch Media, Inc.
John J Walker Common Ground
everyone is a Democrat? I don’t know but I can’t imagine a world where we agree on something. I agree with my dear friends from the left (yes I have a couple) that everyone should have the opportunity to buy and own their home. Home ownership is an important part of the American economy and society. I think we can all agree people should be able to own property (our own homes) and enjoy all the benefits from it, and we can all recognize that property rights are protected by the Constitution. So once you own it, what control do you have? Enter Jekyll or Hyde, I am not sure. On one hand, I want full control of my property. On the other hand, I want control of my neighbor’s property. Not full control but enough control to protect my property, property value and property rights. If I want to build a second story to my house and add a man cave garage in the backyard, hand me a hammer and shut your mouth; it’s my property. But if my neighbor wants to build an apartment on his lot, whoa whoa whoa. If my neighbor wants to
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have 14 people live in his 3-bedroom house and each of them park a car on the front lawn, no way, not in my backyard and not in your front yard. Enter local zoning. WWII veterans should be the most respected people in America. Just behind them should be planning and zoning staff and volunteers. For now, my stance is that I should control my property and I should be able to do whatever I want to do with it. And I should also control your property so that it does not impact me and my property. Until you come up with a better plan, this is my plan. My first consideration concerning property taxes is back to property ownership. I question – do we really own property if we are required to pay forever to retain that ownership? When I go to the grocery store and buy a peach, I don’t have to pay for that peach the rest of my life. But when I buy a home, all of a sudden I have to pay property taxes for the rest of my life. Technically, I “own” my home in Bountiful, but I often say I “lease” it from Davis School District and Davis County. Our governor and state legislators in recent years have stated they want homes more affordable, but they have sat mostly idle while school districts, counties, and special districts have increased property taxes – making homes even more unaffordable.
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Our Republican-led legislature and governor have provided taxpayer money to help subsidize the purchase of homes. I am sure this feels good for them. I guess on some baseline it should feel good; they are helping people live the American dream. But they are taking money from all taxpayers to give to a select few. It is clear to me that we must allow the housing market to operate in a fair and open market. As per taxes – property taxes make sense; there is a need for the government to provide amenities (roads, sidewalks, water, utilities, etc.) to homeowners that are associated with homeownership. These are expenses that I require and the value of my property is dependent on. A home that doesn’t have water or access is ultimately worthless. But remind me why we cover schools with property taxes. Don’t get me wrong, we should fund schools so our children get the best education possible. In Utah, that should come from income tax. Our legislation has lowered income tax every year but they did not change the spending with school districts so where does that “savings” come from? It comes from property taxes – your income tax goes down and your property taxes go up. A game of political whack-a-mole: slash-a-tax.
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Turning pages and pedals Max Nelson’s passion for fantasy adventures earned him more than countless hours of reading enjoyment. He also received a brand-new bicycle through an annual reading challenge. By Julie Slama j.slama@mycityjournals.com
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or many students, opening a book could lead to more than just a great story. At Viewmont Elementary, it led to a brandnew bicycle. As students prepare to once again participate in the annual Ken Garff for Good reading program, sixth-grader Max Nelson is proof that every page counts. Max was randomly selected as Viewmont Elementary’s bike winner after logging in 304 hours last school year. Over the past three years, he read more than 1,290 hours, making him one of the school’s most dedicated readers, said Library Media Specialist Emilee Barnett. “Max has been a great reader for the last three years and finally won this year,” she said, adding the bicycle winner is chosen through a random drawing. The school’s top reader last year was Brooklyn Larsen with 458 hours, followed by Ezra Nielsen with 430 hours. The Ken Garff for Good reading
CELEBRATING
Sixth-grader Max Nelson was Viewmont Elementary’s Ken Garff for Good reading challenge winner. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
challenge runs from October through March. Students earn one drawing ticket after reading 1,800 minutes, then receive an additional ticket for every 500 minutes they log. Winners from across Utah were invited to celebrate at the Living Planet Aquarium and like Max, were probably excited to receive a new bike.
Barnett said the program has become a powerful motivator for students. “It has definitely put a number on what students are reading,” she said. “The first year we had over 400,000 reading minutes with some really strong readers.” For Max, reading is how he chooses to
spend much of his free time. “I’m reading Brandon Sanderson right now,” he said. “He has this main universe called the Cosmere, and I’m in the middle of that right now. I like adventure stories and ones with mystical creatures.” His bookshelf favorites also include “Ranger’s Apprentice,” the Percy Jackson series, “Wings of Fire,” “Magic Tree House” series, “The 13-Story Treehouse” and “Fablehaven.” His favorite book is “Keys to the Demon Prison,” the fifth installment in Brandon Mull’s Five Kingdoms series. “A great book is cool if there’s different powers,” Max said. “I think there has to be creative ideas and plots in stories; it needs to be mythical, but close enough that you can believe it could be your world.” Finding time to read isn’t difficult, even with playing soccer and basketball. He said after his chores, he usually reads three to four hours on many days. He already was preparing himself a reading list for junior high this fall. While he has no ambition to become an author, Max said the highlight is when he meets authors of the books he’s read. “It’s cool to discover how they create the storyline, how they created the plot and characters, where they got their inspiration,” he said. “It’s cool to meet them; it’s like meeting your heroes. It inspires me to read more.” l
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Murray City Journal
Before college starts, he’s already doing Ph.D. math A love of numbers and a middle school programming project launched AMES student into advanced mathematics years ahead of schedule. By Julie Slama j.slama@mycityjournals.com
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t an age when most students are deciding their major, recent AMES graduate Bryce Holland has been simultaneously earning his doctorate in mathematics while pursuing a degree in electrical engineering. “I don’t think I’m like an Albert Einstein, once-in-a-generation genius,” he said. “When you do math long enough, you’re going to get good at it.” Holland’s grounded, yet inquisitive mindset defined his self-motivated academic journey. Math came naturally to Holland while attending Challenger School as numbers made sense. He was able to do simple multiplication in first grade. “It felt natural to me,” the Murray resident said. “I was always able to build up an intuition for the topics they talked about.” In seventh grade, while programming an object across a computer screen using angles and speed, that math transformed from a school subject into a passion.
“There was a moment when it connected; I remember thinking, ‘Oh wait, I can do some trigonometry I learned in math class to solve this computer problem I have,’” he said. “It was definitely the moment I discovered my love for math.” From there, Holland’s curiosity snowballed. He spent middle school watching online calculus videos, teaching himself concepts beyond his grade level. By the time he arrived at AMES as a freshman, he convinced administrators to allow him to test into AP calculus. At first nervous, he soon proved he belonged. Next term, Holland passed the higher-level AP calculus BC exam and immediately began taking university mathematics courses while in high school. “Going into AMES, the existing U of U partnership they had seemed attractive to me and my parents,” he said. “I didn’t quite realize how many U of U classes I’d be taking.” Every college course brought new challenges and with it, uneasiness when he walked into college-level classrooms years younger than his classmates. “Each step of the way I worried, ‘is this the step where it’s finally too much?’” said the AMES math club president. “But every time, I worked harder to make it.” Holland completed a phase separation in lithium-ion batteries research project, working with a U of U professor during his junior year.
“The process required me to read up and do a lot of graduate math, which was hard, because I was trying to both learn and apply the graduate level math at the same time. It was genuinely valuable because by the time I went on to graduate level math, I was more prepared,” he said. Holland graduated from AMES in late May and at the same time, only had two general education classes remaining to earn a bachelor’s degree. His math credits extend into Ph.D. levels where he has been able to focus on robotics, optimization and control systems. His long-term goal is to work in applied mathematics and engineering fields. “I would love to use my math for good, to actually make a difference,” said the Deseret News math Sterling Scholar, who earned a perfect ACT score, maintained a 4.0 GPA at AMES and earned the U of U President’s Scholarship. Despite his busy schedule, he maintains a normal teenage life, finding time to play video games and participating on his school’s robotics team. Classmates know him as “the math guy,” Holland takes time to help others understand difficult concepts. “I love math, and I love seeing other people love math as well,” Holland said. “The worst is to be stuck on something and feel unable to move past it.” l
GET TO THE RIVER! ALL SEPTEMBER! Enjoy experiences and make wonderful memories at Utah’s Jordan River Parkway throughout the month of September.
The Get to the River Festival is a month of recreational, cultural, social, educational, and stewardship activities and events. Join us for something familiar, or explore and discover something new. Check the Festival schedule and learn more at:
G e tToT h e R i ve r. o r g MurrayJournal .com
Dozens of Free Community Events & Activities Throughout the Month Recreation Arts Community Education Stewardship
your watershed
AMES senior Bryce Holland, seen here at the Utah Regional FIRST Robotics Competition, has been working on advanced college mathematics courses while still in high school. (Photo courtesy of Sara Whitbeck-Zacharias)
LOVE YOUR WATERSHED Litter, chemicals, and organic material like leaves and pet waste, on our streets, sidewalks, and parking areas, wash into storm drains and then into lakes, streams, and the Jordan River each time it rains and snows, polluting these waterways. Organize a group clean up of the litter and leaves around the streets and storm drains in your neighborhood for the 9/11 National Day of Service & Remembrance. Each month, make a habit to clean up the gutter and storm drains in front of your own home or business.
L o veYo u r Wa t e r s h e d . o r g September 2026 | Page 7
What lies beneath: Murray maps $71 million in storm drain needs
The city expects to expend $3.1 million in projects over the next five years. By Shaun Delliskave s.delliskave@mycityjournals.com
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he number was $71 million. It represented the potential cost of projects identified in Murray City’s new storm drainage master plan; improvements scattered across a system built over decades, inherited through annexations and, in some places, intertwined with infrastructure never designed for the demands now placed upon it. But during the Aug. 6 Committee of the Whole meeting, another number was just as important: $3.1 million. “We have a grand total here of $71 million for all those projects,” the city’s consultant Kayson Shurtz of Hansen, Allen, & Luce told the council. “Next five years, $3.1 million.” The distinction matters. The $71 million is not a proposal to begin $71 million in construction. It is the estimated cost of all projects identified through the planning process, including improvements that could be a decade or more away and some that may never be built. “Maybe we’re not even sure that they’re deficiencies, but we’ve based on our criteria that we’ve set, they are technically a deficiency until proven otherwise,” Shurtz said. Five projects received the highest priority. Together, projects anticipated during the next five years carry an estimated cost of approximately $3.1 million. Murray has already secured competitive grant funding for work along 5600 South and 6400 South. The discussion also revealed where Murray’s drainage
Murray will pursue $3.1 million in projects in the next five years. (Photo courtesy of Murray City)
problems are concentrated. Of 35 projects identified, councilmembers noted, 33 are east of Interstate 15. “Is the west in really good shape?” Councilmember Paul Pickett asked. “That is part of it,” City Engineer Travis Neely said. Neely explained that Murray had annexed portions of the east side and has continued discovering the infrastructure that came with those areas. “We kind of annexed the east side and we’ve been just continuing to discover what we inherited,” Neely said. Some of that inheritance involves older systems associated with irrigation. Separating storm drainage from irrigation infrastructure has become part of the city’s long-term task. Yet one discovery underneath the east side may save Murray millions.
Art at The Park helps Utah artists flourish
Bryce Samuleson is a landscape artist whose work was displayed at a previous Art at The Park Show. (Photo courtesy of Rob Chipman) SPONSORED CONTENT
Page 8 | September 2026
UTAH ARTISTS RETURN to The Garden Place at This Is The Place Heritage Park (2601 Sunnyside Ave.) as part of the fifth annual Art at The Park event. The community is invited to attend the free art show Sept. 18-19, where they can meet the artists behind the works, watch live art demonstrations and explore a diverse selection of original pieces priced from $100 to $10,000. “We are so excited to be back for our fifth year at beautiful This Is The Place Heritage Park, where art lovers can see the amazing work of over 75 of Utah’s top fine artists,” said Rob Chipman, founder of Art at The Park and ArtThrive. “It is so satisfying to have enabled our artists to have sold well over $1 million worth of art since our founding. Now, as part of a new nonprofit organization, all of the net proceeds of the event will go towards helping local artists to flourish to an even greater degree.” The show is presented as part of ArtThrive, a new nonprofit organization that assists Utah artists and promotes art appreciation in the state. More than 75 local artists will showcase their work at Art at The Park on Friday, Sept. 18, from noon to 9 p.m., and Saturday, Sept. 19, from 11:00 am until 7 p.m. Artists are expected from Cottonwood Heights, Bountiful, Kaysville, Draper, Holladay, Midvale, Millcreek, Murray, Riverton, Sandy, South Salt Lake, South Jordan, Taylorsville and West Jordan.
A proposed project called for installing storm drainage along Van Winkle Expressway. During the planning process, however, officials learned of an existing Salt Lake County pipe, described during the meeting as approximately 72 inches in diameter. The discovery caused officials to pause their work while they investigated the pipe and consulted with neighboring jurisdictions. Murray eventually received permission to connect to it, an arrangement Neely said “will in the long run save us millions of dollars when we get to that project.” Elsewhere, drainage work could change what residents see above ground. An ongoing project runs storm drain pipe from the Mick Riley Golf Course area through Woodoak Lane and 900 East, connecting with 5600 South and 5700 South. That work is intended to make a future 5600 South project possible. The city could eventually remove the concrete-lined ditch running along 5600 South and replace it with storm drain infrastructure. Neely said that would allow Murray to widen the roadway, construct bicycle lanes and sidewalks, and address flooding around Highland Lake and Woodoak Lane. The master plan, then, is less a construction schedule than a map of decisions Murray may face for years. Some deficiencies are immediate. Others exist primarily in engineering models and require further investigation. Some projects have outside funding. Others could become less expensive if engineers find ways to use infrastructure already underground. The largest number remains $71 million. For the next five years, however, Murray’s attention is focused on the smaller one — $3.1 million — and deciding which problems beneath the city need to be solved first. l
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Banners are a new addition throughout Cottonwood High. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
Cottonwood High refreshes campus, sets ambitious academic goals Fifty-six-year-old school is starting the year with a new look and a renewed focus on its ABCs — academics, belonging and community By Julie Slama j.slama@mycityjournals.com
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alking through Cottonwood High School this fall, students will notice more than fresh tile and updated graphics. New branding, identifiable wall wraps, digital displays and renovated spaces are part of a broader effort to strengthen school pride while supporting student achievement. Principal Justin Pitcher said the improvements are designed to modernize the 56-year-old campus while preserving the school’s history and identity. Cottonwood has removed unused lockers, upgraded lighting and completed more than 750 maintenance work orders while also undergoing a flooring replacement the past three years. “Old flooring was removed, which included asbestos abatement, and new tile flooring was installed,” Justin Naegle, Granite School District’s architecture, engineering & construction director, said about the Granite Board of Education-approved renovation. “The total cost of this project, including design, abatement, procurement of new tiles, and installation, was a little over $1.3 million.” New graphics, displays and trophy cases designed to improve campus navigation and celebrate student achievement were added. The school’s song now is clearly displayed in the commons. The rebranding also revived the Cottonwood leaf logo, inspired by a plaque donated by the Class of 1971. The leaf now represents academic spaces while the Colt logo
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represents athletics and activities. Nine new digital displays, expected to be installed early this school year, will highlight student accomplishments, classes and events. “It’s like a daily yearbook update,” he said. Additionally, the former diving pool was converted into a dry-deck fitness area. Pitcher said gymnasium renovations are planned as funding becomes available. Teachers say the changes are transforming the learning environment. “This is my 19th year and it looks better than it’s ever been since I’ve been here,” social studies teacher Janae Hirschi said. Social studies teacher Brett Merkley appreciated the attention given to small improvements, such as an unused ethernet cable box in his classroom. “It was cool to have someone come in with a fresh set of eyes and notice ways to improve our school,” he said. While small renovations are easy, Pitcher said the school’s primary focus remains student achievement. Cottonwood aims to improve literacy, math and science performance by 6% on statewide assessments, roughly double the growth goal many schools set, he said. “I want to be audacious in my goal setting with my teachers,” Pitcher said. The effort is centered on the school’s “ABCs” — academics and literacy, belonging and caring and community. Literacy instruction, intervention time and stronger student connections form the foundation of the initiative. Theater teacher Adam Wilkins believes the campus improvements reinforce what has always made Cottonwood great. “I love this school and I’m thrilled we’re making Cottonwood beautiful,” he said. “We’re making the community realize just how wonderful the school is.” l
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Fall Into Action: Tackle Cancer Screenings This Season
FALL IS MORE THAN football and pump-
kin spice – it’s time for men and women to prioritize their health. As September spotlights Prostate Cancer Awareness and October approaches with Breast Cancer Awareness, our local medical experts are issuing a direct call to our community. This is your cue: men, actively engage with your prostate health; women, prioritize your breast health. Early detection is the most powerful tool you have to protect your life and your loved ones. The statistics are sobering. For men, prostate cancer is the most diagnosed cancer, and tragically, it stands as the second leading cause of cancer death, surpassed only by lung cancer. Similarly, for women, breast cancer is a significant threat, also ranking as the second leading cause of cancer death, second only to lung cancer. These aren’t just abstract figures; they represent real individuals whose lives can be profoundly impacted by timely action. “Too often, men delay necessary screenings,” explains Dr. Pursifull, a urologist at Holy Cross Hospital – Mountain Point in Lehi. “But waiting for symptoms to appear
significantly reduces treatment options. Regular PSA blood tests and digital rectal exams are straightforward procedures that detect cancer early. Talk to your primary care physician about your risk factors, especially if you have a family history or are of African American descent. CommonSpirit hospitals offer comprehensive prostate cancer screenings and advanced treatment options.” For women, prioritizing breast health is equally critical. “Early detection is truly a game-changer when it comes to breast cancer,” states Dr. Raylene Natwick, a breast surgeon practicing at a Holy Cross Hospital – Jordan Valley. “When breast cancer is identified early, the chances of successful treatment and a full recovery are remarkably higher. This is precisely why regular mammograms are so vital. They can detect subtle changes years before they would ever be palpable.” Dr. Natwick advises women to discuss screening guidelines starting around age 40, or earlier if risk factors warrant it. Monthly self-examinations and annual clinical breast exams are also crucial. “CommonSpirit hospitals are equipped with state-of-the-art mam-
mography technology and a dedicated team ready to support women.” “As primary care providers, we are frequently the entry portal to the health care system.” said Dr. Grant Hawkins, an internal medicine physician with CommonSpirit in West Jordan. We encourage our patients to have their yearly wellness checkups. At that time we have the opportunity to review medical issues, make medication adjustments, discuss new concerns and arrange for screening tests that are so important in preventing serious problems in the future.” This Fall, make the decision to prioritize your health. Both prostate and breast cancer often have excellent prognoses when caught early. CommonSpirit hospitals are committed to providing accessible screenings, expert diagnostics, and leading-edge treatments. Schedule your screenings and engage in crucial conversations with your doctor. Your life, your future, and your well-being depend on it. For more information or to find a provider visit mountain.commonspirit.org SPONSORED CONTENT
Learn more about the services, care providers and mission-driven work of the Holy Cross hospitals and CommonSpirit Health at www. holycrossutah.org.
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.
When minutes count, count on our emergency care. Get to know us before you need us. When you need emergency care fast, the closest emergency room is a smart thing to know. You never know the level of care you’ll need when an emergency happens and choosing the right ER can make all the difference. And a hospital ER comes with the confidence of additional services right on-site. CommonSpirit Holy Cross Hospital – Salt Lake has been awarded Chest Pain Center Accreditation from the American College of Cardiology (ACC). Facilities that achieve accreditation meet or exceed an array of stringent criteria for evaluating, diagnosing and treating patients who may be experiencing a heart attack. Find emergency care close to you at mountain.commonspirit.org.
CommonSpirit Health Mountain Region does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, age, sex, religion, creed, ancestry, sexual orientation, and marital status in admission, treatment, or participation in its programs, services and activities, or in employment. For further information about this policy contact CommonSpirit Health Mountain Region Office of the General Counsel at 1-303-643-1000 (TTY: 711). Copyright © CommonSpirit Health Mountain Region, 2026. ATENCIÓN: Si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 1-303-643-1000 (TTY: 711). CHÚ Ý: Nếu bạn nói Tiếng Việt, có các dịch vụ hỗ trợ ngôn ngữ miễn phí dành cho bạn. Gọi số 1-303-643-1000 (TTY: 711).
Page 10 | September 2026
Murray City Journal
September 2026 MAYOR’S OFFICE
MAYOR’S MESSAGE
Brett A. Hales -Mayor
Love Your Watershed — Murray Is In!
mayor@murray.utah.gov 801-264-2600 10 East 4800 South, Murray, Utah 84107
FREQUENTLY REQUESTED NUMBERS Grant Elementary . . . . . . . 801-264-7416 Heritage Center (Senior Programming) . . . 801-264-2635 Hillcrest Jr. High . . . . . . . . 801-264-7442 Horizon Elementary . . . . . 801-264-7420 Liberty Elementary . . . . . . 801-264-7424 Longview Elementary. . . . 801-264-7428 Ken Price Ball Park. . . . . . . 801-262-8282 Miss Murray Competition (Lindsey D. Smith) . . . . . . . 801-699-2288 McMillan Elementary . . . . 801-264-7430 Murray Area Chamber of Commerce.. . . . . . . . . . . 801-263-2632 Murray Arts Advisory Board . . . . . . . . . 801-264-2614 Murray Boys & Girls Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 801-268-1335 Murray City Cemetery . . . . 801-264-2637 Murray Community Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 801-264-7414 Murray High School . . . . . 801-264-7460 Murray Museum . . . . . . . . 801-264-2589 Murray Parks and Recreation Office . . . . . . . . 801-264-2614 Murray Parkway Golf Course . . . . . . . . . . . . . 801-262-4653 Murray Park Aquatics Pool . . . . . . . . . . .801 290-4190 Mick Riley Golf Course (SL County). . . . . . . . . . . . . 801-266-8185 Parkside Elementary . . . . . 801-264-7434 Riverview Jr. High . . . . . . . 801-264-7446 Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation . . . . . . . . . 801-468-2560 Salt Lake County Ice Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 801-270-7280 The Park Center . . . . . . . . . 801-284-4200 Viewmont Elementary . . . 801-264-7438
In August, I joined dozens of leaders across the Jordan River Watershed in the year-long “Love Your Watershed Mayor’s Challenge.” The challenge is a regional effort to protect the Jordan River watershed and keep our waterways clean. Murray City helped start the conversation about the Jordan River in the early 1970s, long before environmental stewardship became a regional priority. Under the leadership of Parks and Recreation pioneer and later Mayor Lynn Pett and his City Administrator Jack DeMann, Murray advanced development of the Jordan River Parkway and recognized that protecting the river would require more than one city working alone. Murray helped bring communities and agencies together around a broader vision, connecting recreation, open space, environmental stewardship, and regional cooperation. That early leadership helped lay the groundwork for the collaborative approach communities now use to protect and improve the Jordan River watershed. To continue that Murray community spirit, “Love Your Watershed” asks Murray residents to take action on a few simple things that together, make a big difference. Here are a some few ways you can help: • Keep leaves, trash, pet waste and chemicals out of gutters and storm drains. • Cleaning up around our homes and businesses. • Pitch in during community cleanup days.
August 2026 Murray Journal Murray City is constructing a new storm drain line on 900 East from Woodoak Lane to 5700 South. This project will provide future storm drain connections for the neighborhoods east of 900 East that lack storm drain infrastructure. Delays on 900 East can be expected. For more information or project contacts please reach out to: contact@murray900Estormdrain.com or 801-405-2710. Murray City Engineering and their contractor will perform a mill and pave on 500 West from 4500 South to 4800 South. This project will also include widening from 4500 South to Cherry Street to better accommodate the dual lefts from 4500 South. Murray’s contractors will also complete sidewalk repairs on 400 East from 6270 South to 6360 South. Murray City streets will mill and pave Castle Creek Circle, 5350 South, 1140 East, and Castlegate Drive and then move onto mill and paving Arrowhead Lane, Pontiac Drive, Chinook Way, Caribbean Way, Harwood Lane, and Ute Circle though then end of fall. Murray’s Water Department is completing waterline replacement work on 5878 South through mid-October and installing a PRV Station (pressure reducing valve) at Winchester and State through mid-November. Thank you for your patience as we complete these projects in addition to those completed earlier this year, including new waterlines on Fashion Boulevard, Tripp Lane, Myrtle Ave, and Pontiac Drive. New roadway surfaces on Box Elder Street, Castle Creek Drive, Halcyon area streets, Winchester Street from 700 West to 1300 West, and Cottonwood Street from 5300 South to 6500 South. As well as concrete sidewalk repairs on Box Elder Street, Hanauer Street, Miller Street, Regal Street, and 5878 South.
In addition to managing stormwater, Murray City is very blessed to operate our own water system from source to tap. Our water comes primarily from deep groundwater wells and McGhie Springs near Big Cottonwood Canyon, and our own amazing Murray Water team maintains and improves the system that serves our community. We have great people who keep our city running, but protecting our precious water takes all of us. I love Murray, and I know our residents do too. When each of us does a little, together we can do a lot. Let’s keep Murray, and the Jordan River watershed, clean and healthy for generations to come!
“MEET THE MAYOR”
FIRST TUESDAY OF THE MONTH
Want to hear more about what’s happening in Murray? Join me for “Meet the Mayor”, Murray’s new podcast, published the first Tuesday of every month. I’ll sit down with guests to talk about city projects, businesses, people, and a range of topics that are interesting and important to Murray residents. The podcast will be available on Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube, so you can listen or watch wherever it’s most convenient. I’m looking forward to some great conversations. Hope you’ll listen! —Brett Hales, Mayor of Murray
Stay Connected with Murray City Alerts . Murray City is launching a new notification system to keep residents informed about water service disruptions, emergencies, leak alerts, conservation and other important City updates. Alerts will be sent by text message, email, or phone using the contact information associated with your utility account. . To add or update your contact information, visit murray.utah.gov/234/Water and complete the “Add or Update Contact Information” form. You can provide a mobile phone number that can receive text messages and confirm or update your email address. . For your security, official alerts will only come from: Text messages: 801-421-7860 Phone calls: 801-270-2440 . Links included in official alerts will use a Yoppify web address or direct you to Murray City’s official website.
We need your contact info. Update your contact details and notification preferences to receive critical communications related to your city account. murray.utah.gov/234/Water
email notifications
text alerts
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PUBLIC WORKS
MURRAY SENIOR RECREATION CENTER 10 East 6150 South, Murray, Utah 84107 | 801-264-2635 murray.utah.gov/140/Senior-Recreation-Center seniorrec@murray.utah.gov | mcreg.com Mon-Fri 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Thurs 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 p.m. | Closed Sat and Sun Check our website for any changes in programs.
CHEF OMAR LIMON Daily Lunch Date: Tuesday through Friday Time: 11:30 a.m. – noon Cost: Cost is $6; prior registration not required
CLASSES Basic First Aid and CPR Date: Wednesday, Sep. 23 Time: 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Cost: Free; Register now Defying Gravity: Fall Prevention Class Date: Thursday, Sep. 24 Time: 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Cost: Free; Register now Grief Support Date: Friday, Sep. 25 Time: 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Cost: Free; Register now Vital Aging: Radical Acceptance Date: Friday, Sep. 25 Time: 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Cost: Free; Register now Utah’s Native Birds Date: Tuesday, Sep. 29 Time: 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Cost: Free; Register now
Science: Cell Biology Date: Thursday, Oct. 1 Time: 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Cost: Free
DANCE Thursday Evening Social Dance Live Music provided by Tony Summerhays Date: Thursdays Time: 7:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Cost: $5 DANCE FITNESS CLASSES: NIA (blend of dance, martial arts, and mindfulness) Date: Mondays Time: 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Cost: $4 per class or $15 per month Zumba Gold (designed specifically for seniors) Date: Fridays Time: 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Cost: $4 per class or $10 per month FITNESS: Daily Fitness Classes – check our current newsletter for the schedule and fees
PROGRAMS Bingo Date: Wednesdays and Fridays Time: 12:45 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. Cost: Free; donations are appreciated Bridge Lessons Date: Mondays Time: 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Cost: Free
Chinese Mahjong Tile Game Date: Tuesdays Time: 12:15 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Cost: Free Mexican Train Dominos Game Date: Thursdays Time: 12:15 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Cost: Free
CLUBS Book Club: The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick Date: Tuesday, Oct. 6 Time: 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Cost: Free; Register now November Book: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain December Book: The Twelve Topsy-Turvy, Very Messy Days of Christmas by James Patterson and Tad Safran Movie Matinee Club Date: Mondays Time: 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Cost: Free Murray Senior Choir Date: Thursdays Time: 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Cost: Free; Register now
SPECIAL EVENTS Pajamas and Pages: Senior Read-A-Thon Date: Friday, Oct. 2 Time: 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Cost: Free; Register now
SEPTEMBER 2026
City Journals presents:
A publication covering local pets, their
humans and their care around the Salt Lake Valley
Give an old dog a new beginning By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com Puppies are cute but senior dogs have wisdom, manners and lots of love to share. While an older dog might not have the energy of a puppy or long years of fun and adventure left in them, for people willing to look past the slower walks and gray hairs, a senior dog can offer a life-changing experience at both ends of the leash. Guinnevere Shuster works as the Humane Society of Utah’s communication director. She said there are several misconceptions about adopting an older dog that can hold people back from a loving relationship, including the idea that the dog will pass away too soon. “When people are worried about that, I often bring up the fact that the time that you do have is really special, and you’re really making a difference for this animal,” she said. “You’re getting them out of the animal shelter into a home where they’re loved. Getting them out of the shelter and into a home is really rewarding.” Dogs are considered senior when they turn 7 and cats when they turn 10 or 11. Although aging differs between the size and breed of the animals, many pets live several more years. Shuster said one cat was 12 when she was adopted, but lived another five years. She said most senior pets offer calm
companionship and are deeply grateful for another chance to live with a loving family. While some of the animals had an established bond with their previous families, others might have led a rough life, but they usually have an easy time adjusting to a new home. “They’re really resilient, and they’re also very social creatures. So they are looking to make that connection with people,” Shuster said. “They want to be around you. They want to have their person. It might take them a little time to learn the ropes and get adjusted to everyone, but dogs and cats typically bond pretty quickly to who’s caring for them, especially to who’s feeding them.” Adopting a senior dog from the Humane Society comes with several benefits. All adoption fees are waived and they are spayed or neutered and microchipped. They receive all necessary vaccinations and are given medical and dental exams, including blood work and X-rays, if needed. If the animal has medical issues, or needs teeth pulled, those problems are taken care of before they are put up for adoption. Potential adopters receive full transparency when it comes to the animal’s physical condition. “When adopting an older dog, they know what they’re getting,” Shuster said.
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BlackJack is a 10-year-old Norwegian elkhound/husky mix. He’s one of the senior dogs available for adoption at the Humane Society of Utah. (Photo courtesy of Humane Society of Utah) “They don’t have to worry about potty training or loose-leash walking or the dog chewing up any shoes. You know what you’re getting with a senior animal and that brings a great peace of mind and a lot less stress.” For those interested in adopting a senior dog or cat, the Humane Society of Utah has information about all its animals,
including photos, at utahhumane.org. “One of the benefits is that when you get them home, you get that reward of giving an animal a home, an animal that’s often overlooked in the shelter environment and maybe not favored by most people,” Shuster said. “It’s really rewarding to know that you’re giving this animal a place to rest for their golden years.”
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September 2026 | Page 15
5 unique animal rescue organizations By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com It’s not just cats and dogs that need rescue and love. When you think of animal rescues, you probably picture shelters filled with cute kittens or adorable dogs. But animal rescue is much more than that. Several organizations in Utah are dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating everything from ducks to turtles and finding homes for these unique pets. Here are a few of these groups that help nearly every type of creature.
Wasatch Exotics Rescue
Founded by Angela Pollack, Marybeth Spencer and Mitchell Christiansen, Wasatch Exotics Rescue provides a foster-based model in which every rescue is placed in an approved foster home. The fosters set up a proper habitat for the animals and give the rescues love and attention until they find their forever home. The group accepts pets such as ball pythons, iguanas, geckos, bearded dragons, turtles and more. To adopt an exotic pet, surrender an animal, become a foster or volunteer, visit wasatchexoticsrescue.org for more information.
“cute” chick stage. Rescuers hope that by teaching people that domesticated ducks, geese and chickens cannot surClementine Ranch vive in the wild, it will stop the illegal Although they are not currently accept- dumping of these animals. Learn more ing new animals, Clementine Ranch is a about the organization, or donate to the sanctuary for livestock. Started by Lind- cause at wasatchwanderers.org. sey Armstrong and Rob Fenn, the ranch is intended to be a place of compassion, Community Animal Welfare Society embracing a vegan lifestyle. The couple (CAWS) took over an existing animal sanctuary in CAWS is Utah’s oldest animal rescue Herriman that needed a lot of renovation to group, providing foster care, adoption make it safe for humans and animals. and education to save cats and dogs that The rescued or retired livestock are often overlooked or under-appreciinclude cows, sheep, goats, horses, ated. This includes sick, elderly, injured emus and chickens who can live out their or special needs animals looking for the lives in peace and comfort. At clemen- perfect family. Most animals at CAWS are tineranch.org, information is available rescued from shelters across Utah and on how to support the organization to other states. Families looking to adopt keep the animals fed and housed. Fol- are carefully screened to ensure they get low their adventures on social media @ the best pet for their home. For informatheclementineranch. tion about adoption, fostering, volunteering or donating, visit caws.org.
Wasatch Wanderers Animal Rescue
This animal rescue is focused on the care of abandoned, neglected or unwanted animals. Since it was founded in 2021, the organization has rescued 1,400 animals in need. Wasatch Wanderers is dedicated to educating owners about the care of domestic fowl, which are often dumped in rivers, lakes and streams once they outgrow their
Canines With a Cause
This organization offers a double bonus: it pairs rescued shelter dogs with military veterans struggling with PTSD. Animals are evaluated at shelters to find potential candidates to become psychiatric service dogs, then partnered with a vet. The duo trains together, allowing the vets to work with the dog to develop therapy
When ducks are illegally dumped in ponds and streams, Wasatch Wanderers rescue and rehome them. It’s just one of the many organizations that help animals find loving homes. (Canva stock) skills and tasks. These can include interrupting distress, waking a vet up during nightmares, retrieving items and grounding. CWAC helps the pair develop a strong bond that supports both partners. Classes are offered to veterans at no cost. To learn more, visit canineswithacause.org.
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uah.org | 801-328-2561 THE WAY. DELIVERING RESULTS. ★ LEADING ★ PUTTING PUBLIC SAFETY FIRST. AS SHERIFF, I HAVE DELIVERED RESULTS: • Ended jail overcrowding releases and increased capacity • Rebuilt staffing after years of shortages • Increased mental health and substance use treatment in the jail • Strengthened youth gang prevention and intervention • Improved support for Search and Rescue volunteers
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Page 16 | September 2026
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Murray City Journal
Local vet clinic saves Piper the Viper By Cassie Goff | c.goff@mycityjournals.com “They really did treat Piper like he Exotic Pet Care and they recommended was my child,” Ruben “Rusty” Lugo bringing him in. said of the staff at Wasatch Exotic Pet “He was real lethargic and was barely Care. alive,” Lugo said. “We got the good call around 4:30 p.m. that Piper was thriving Pets reside in over 66% of U.S. in a heat incubator.” households, according to a Forbes report Lugo was prepared to pay whatever pulling research from the American Pet the cost to ensure a member of his family Products Association in 2024. Of those, remained healthy. He was pleased when the most common pets are dogs (56.3 Wasatch Exotic Pet Care presented him million) and cats (43.1 million). with reasonable and fair pricing that Salt Lake County residents, how- didn’t break his bank. ever, like to keep things interesting with “They really did treat Piper like he beekeeping and backyard chicken coop was my child,” Lugo said. “It’s exceptrends. Rabbits, ferrets, ducks, turkeys, tional to have that service in our awegoats, cows, pigs, sheep, horses, snakes some city of Cottonwood Heights.” and turtles are also allowed within most Piper was able to go home that day. of the county’s cities (with varying ordi- Wasatch Exotic Pet Care even sent Lugo nance and permitting requirements). home with additional information about One such nontraditional pet is a Cal- California king snakes. ifornia king snake named Piper. Cotton“It hit me I love Piper more than I wood Heights Planning Commissioner thought,” Lugo said. “I’ve been holding Ruben “Rusty” Lugo calls Piper the Viper him a lot more ever since.” a part of the family. Wasatch Exotic Pet Care is a drop“I’ve always loved exotic type pets,” off only small business located at 1892 E. Lugo said. “They are wonderful conver- Fort Union Blvd. (Open from 8 a.m. until sation starters.” 6 p.m. Monday through Friday). To learn Lugo adopted Piper in 2015 when he more, visit their website at: www.wasatwas 6 months old. At the time, he was chexotic.com. about 3.5 inches long and, when coiled, According to Lugo, Piper has a long could fit in the palm of Lugo’s hand. life ahead of him, which may be about 25 “People have this perception more years as that’s how long California Piper the Viper came home to an all new terrarium after a health scare. (Ruben “Rusty” Lugo/ Cottonwood Heights) that snakes are slimy. They’re actually king snakes can live in captivity. soft, smooth and very clean animals,” Lugo said. Lugo’s been able to watch people’s perceptions of snakes change in realtime. It all starts by slowly bringing Piper out to introduce him with a single touch or pet. “He’s so tame,” Lugo said. “Now, my friends are coming back to hold Piper.” Lugo’s love for animals is genetic. He recalls how his mom converted one of the bedrooms in his childhood home into a space dedicated to raising animals. They had lizards, praying mantises, tree turtles, swimming turtles and frogs. She even let the large turtles roam around in the backyard. Once, his mom brought home and cared for a wounded magpie. She eventually taught it to speak a few words. His favorite childhood pet was a tarantula which lived for 12 years. Lugo now passes on the tradition of nontraditional pet ownership to his son with Piper the Viper. Upon returning home from a recent summer trip, Lugo found Piper coiled up in his water dish (which is an abnormal behavior for snakes). Upon further inspection, Lugo noticed Piper’s heat lamp had gone out. He thought he might give Piper some time before he grew concerned. However, his girlfriend nudged him to not wait. Lugo called Wasatch
MurrayJournal .com
September 2026 | Page 17
From Murray to Warsaw: Coleen Paderewski carries a family legacy across generations Murray resident Coleen Jan Paderewski carries her family’s remarkable legacy from Utah to Poland through a music festival celebrating the famed pianist, statesman and champion of Polish independence. By Shaun Delliskave s.delliskave@mycityjournals.com
F
or 44 years, Coleen Jan Paderewski has called Murray home. But part of her identity reaches thousands of miles away— to Poland and to one of the most celebrated musicians and statesmen in that nation’s history—and her cousin That cousin is Ignacy Jan Paderewski, the internationally renowned pianist and composer who became a leading advocate for Polish independence and served as Poland’s prime minister and foreign minister in 1919. He represented Poland at the Paris Peace Conference and signed the Treaty of Versailles. For Coleen, however, Paderewski wasn’t merely a figure encountered in a history book. “My father was the oldest living male heir of the Paderewski family, and I was taught as a young girl the importance of
Murray resident Coleen Paderewski stands next to a monument in Poland honoring her cousin IJ Paderewski. (Photo courtesy of Coleen Paderewski)
Ignacy Jan Paderewski, renowned composer and prime minister of Poland. (Photo Paderewski to Polish history,” she said. said, designed more than 2,000 buildings in courtesy of Coleen Paderewski)
“My father carried on the legacy.” San Diego. Her mother was an aeronautical Her parents provided impressive engineer during World War II. examples of their own. Her father, C.J. Coleen believes those influences, and Paderewski, was an architect who, Coleen her own varied experiences, prepared her to become an advocate for her family’s history. “I believe all my life experiences have aided in organizing The Paderewski Music Festival,” she said. “IJ Paderewski was extremely diverse in his personal life, and I believe that is a part of my DNA.” One of the defining moments came with the fulfillment of Ignacy Paderewski’s wish to be returned to Poland after the Grief is an individual country regained its freedom. journey with a path Paderewski died in New York in 1941 as unique as each one and was temporarily interred at Arlington National Cemetery. Following the fall of of us. To offer support communism, his remains were returned to and hope, we provide Poland in 1992. various Grief Support According to Coleen, “Every president Services for those who served from President Roosevelt to who are mourning a President GW Bush signed a document that ensured that IJ Paderewski’s body could recent or past loss. remain in Arlington Cemetery until Poland was ‘free.’” In 1991, her father, President George W. Bush, Gen. Edward Rowny and Polish President Lech Walesa met at the Beverly Hills Hotel to make arrangements to take IJ Paderewski back to free Poland. Coleen, her father and her three children received invitations to participate in events surMURRAY rounding the historic return. “It was an event of a lifetime, and it 4760 S State Street Call or go to: helped me want to continue the legacy and 801.266.0222 Jenkins-Soffe.com history,” she said. “All the photos and events and click on Resources SOUTH JORDAN that took place had an enormous impact on 1007 W South Jordan Pkwy my life and my children to experience.” then Grief & Healing. She recounts the experience in her 801.254.1928
GRIEF HAS NO TIMELINE
Page 18 | September 2026
book, “Paderewski: His Journey Home.” Today, Coleen carries that mission forward through the Paderewski Music Festival, which has brought together musicians and audiences in both Salt Lake City and Warsaw. “It’s amazing to see people congregate, enjoy, and learn from a family member the history of IJ Paderewski,” she said. “At all the Paderewski Music Festivals that have transpired in Salt Lake and Warsaw, people from around the world gather to encompass the legacy.” The upcoming festival, dates and times to be announced, will feature performers spanning generations and disciplines. Pianists Katarzyna Kraszewska and Karolina Krupa are scheduled to perform, along with organist Agnieszka Rybak-Piotrowska and flutist Antonina Ciosek. Traditional Polish dance will also be featured, while Coleen will speak about her cousin’s life and historical legacy. She particularly hopes the festival reaches younger people. “I hope the music festival will inspire younger generations in music and independence,” she said. Her ambitions for her own legacy are considerably broader than preserving a famous family name. “I want my legacy to embrace and encompass living life to the fullest and keeping history alive through arts and culture,” Coleen said. “Nothing should hold back doing good for others.” Information about the Paderewski Music Festival, including material in English and Polish, is available at paderewskimusicfestival.org.l
Murray City Journal
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September 2026 | Page 19
Murray siblings strike a chord with talent, heart and hope Spencer Nielsen and Gracie Kent’s remarkable musical bond is built on trust, talent and a lifetime of performing together. By Shaun Delliskave s.delliskave@mycityjournals.com
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Siblings Gracie Kent and Spencer Nielsen will be going on a national tour. (Photo courtesy of Gracie Kent)
ong before the audience notices the piano, they notice the glance. Standing under the lights at Murray Theater during “Murray’s Got Talent,” Gracie Kent looks toward her older brother for only a moment. Nothing is said. Nothing needs to be. Spencer Nielsen immediately knows whether she’s about to stretch a note, change the rhythm, or take the melody somewhere unexpected. His fingers, and his instincts, follow. The exchange lasts only a second, but it captures the relationship the siblings have spent years building. “Spencer and I are not just siblings,” Gracie said. “We’re also best friends. We really don’t have to say anything to each other and the other instantly knows how to change up what we’re doing.” That unspoken communication is part of what makes the pair so compelling to watch. Gracie, 18, supplies the vocals. Spencer, 20, provides the piano accompaniment almost entirely by ear, adjusting in real time as his sister improvises.
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“I don’t know that I could sing as well with anyone else on piano because Spencer knows exactly how to follow my vocal lead,” she said. “I’m really lucky my brother is so talented at the piano.” But while audiences often come for the music, they frequently leave talking about something else. “The biggest thing I want people to notice when they see us perform is we are there to spread joy and happiness,” Gracie said. “We want to inspire people to go for their dreams despite their challenges.” For Spencer, those challenges began at birth. He was born with arthrogryposis multiplex congenita (AMC), a rare condition that affects joint development and movement. In his case, he was born with contractures affecting both his hands and feet. Surgery corrected his feet, allowing him to walk, but his hands remain positioned differently. As an infant, he also lacked the ability to lift his arms until months of daily physical therapy helped him learn to compensate by using his shoulders. “When you see him performing he is using his shoulders to lift his arms,” Gracie said. “Which is pretty amazing.” It is remarkable to watch, but Gracie is careful not to let her brother’s diagnosis define him. “Even though Spencer has arthrogryposis multiplex congenita, he’s really musically gifted,” she said. “The audiences just love him.”
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After performances, people often approach the siblings, not simply to compliment the music, but to share something more personal. “People with their own challenges will come up to us after our performances to share how he has inspired them to overcome their challenges after seeing him play.” Their musical partnership began years before either imagined performing across Utah. The siblings shared the same piano teacher and both earned multiple Gold Cups at annual piano competitions. As Gracie discovered her voice during her early teens, Spencer naturally became her accompanist. “The best thing about performing with my brother is he can anticipate any changes I want to make in real time,” she said. “I can mix up my vocals each time I perform and he just goes with it.” Offstage, however, the rehearsals sound much different than audiences might expect. “Spencer is super witty and clever,” Gracie said, laughing. “He can suddenly start playing a song while singing made up lyrics as he goes along.” She believes his comedic timing deserves a stage of its own. “We’ll need to do a comedy based album sometime in the future.” That sense of humor, she says, is matched by kindness. “Spencer is so smart. He is only 20 years old but he is wise beyond his years,” she said. “He is also one of the kindest people you could ever meet. He is always ready for an adventure.” Then she paused before adding what may matter most. “He doesn’t let his disability affect his attitude. He is always upbeat and positive. I’m lucky to be his sister.” Their appearance at “Murray’s Got Talent” wasn’t just another performance on the calendar. For both siblings, it was an opportunity to support the community they love while sharing the stage with other local artists. “Every single act that evening was incredible,” Gracie said. “We feel honored to have performed with such amazing local talent.” She also praised the Murray Theater staff for helping make the evening memorable. “We hope to be back in the future to perform at that stage again,” she said. “It truly is a landmark theater.” The siblings already have ambitious plans ahead. Gracie hopes one day Spencer will accompany her on piano as she performs the National Anthem at major sporting events. Together, they are preparing to release both a Christian album and a soft rock album next year before embarking on a church tour across America. Wherever the road leads, their performances are likely to continue beginning the same way, with a quick glance, a silent understanding, and two siblings reminding audiences that great music is built as much on trust as it is on talent. l
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September 2026 | Page 21
Why government needs leaders who will work together I‘ve written before in this column about compromise and why I think it’s one of the most undervalued qualities we can ask of Salt Lake County elected leaders. It doesn’t win applause at a Councilmember council meeting, and it rarely makes for a District 3 good campaign sign. But when it works, it produces better government than either side would have landed on alone. The Salt Lake County Council’s decision last fall on county-run child care is a great example of this, and I want to walk through why. For years, Salt Lake County Parks and the Millcreek and Northwest Activity CenRecreation operated childcare centers out of ters, even though childcare has never been recreation facilities in Kearns, Magna, and a statutory responsibility of county government. An independent analysis last year found the county was spending roughly $2 million a year in General Fund dollars to subsidize care for about 270 children, somewhere between $6,000 and $10,000 per child annually. A whistleblower audit also turned up fraud at one of the centers. Most troubling to me, the study found the county never verified household income at enrollment. Only 3285 W. 12600 S. 17% of the children enrolled were receiving Riverton, UT 84065 state childcare assistance through the Department of Workforce Services, meaning we had no real assurance that publicly subsidized spaces were going to the families who Guaranteed Auto Body needed them most. Repairs For ANY Everyone on the council agreed affordable childcare matters. The real argument was Insurance Company whether the county should keep operating
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Page 22 | September 2026
childcare centers directly, at that level of subsidy, when so many working families in the county couldn’t access those services at all. That disagreement showed up in an initial vote that split the council down party lines, and it came with real anxiety for the families already enrolled. What happened next is the part I think is worth sharing. Rather than treating that first vote as the final word, Republican and Democratic council members continued listening to families, reviewing options and looking for common ground. We asked a better question than fund-it-or-cut-it: could we still make these spaces available for child care without the county trying to run the program itself and county property taxpayers subsidizing it? That work led to a unanimous vote to partner with nonprofit organizations whose core mission is serving low-income families, leasing them our existing childcare spaces at reduced rates in exchange for those organizations prioritizing income-qualified families. We paired it with expanded, affordable summer programming at recreation centers countywide. This past month, we got confirmation that it’s working as intended. Salt Lake Community Action Program will run an Early Head Start program at the Magna Recreation Center. YouthCity now leases space at the Northwest Recreation Center. Centro de la Familia de Utah will provide childcare at
the Millcreek Activity Center. All three organizations already administer income-based programs and are equipped to verify eligibility and prioritize the families with the greatest need, something county government was never set up to do well. Along the way, we extended the closure timeline, connected parents with state resources, and transferred the county’s surplus childcare equipment to our new nonprofit partners so they could get up and running faster. In today’s political climate, compromise is too often mistaken for weakness, or dismissed as splitting the difference until nobody’s happy. This decision argues the opposite. The council didn’t simply eliminate a program. We built a better one, one that reaches low-income families more reliably, makes more responsible use of taxpayer dollars, and puts childcare in the hands of organizations whose entire mission is childcare. That’s what I mean when I say government needs leaders willing to compromise. Not leaders who abandon their principles, but leaders who stay at the table with people they disagree with long enough to find something better than either side started with. Compromise didn’t weaken this outcome. It strengthened it. This wasn’t government doing less. It was government doing better, and I’d like to see us keep doing it that way.
Murray City Journal
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’ve always wanted a beautiful front porch where I could drink tea, read a book and listen to the neighbor’s fight. A porch was one of the first social media platforms. It just took a while to get the gossip; you had to sit patiently and wait for it to walk by. Now, our inability to be still keeps us from the simple joy of lounging on the porch to watch the flowers bloom, see the boy down the street learn to ride a bike, notice where the stray cat hides so you can leave it a treat, or watch your neighbor back into a light pole. At my childhood home, we didn’t have a fancy porch with swings and flowers; we had a concrete slab in front of our door, with two cement steps leading to the walkway. That was our porch and we sat on it all the time. If we were seated on the stoop, our friends knew we could play. There was no texting to see if we were home. There were no parents on a group chat arranging a play date. Kids just rode by on their bikes and invited us to go to the park. We’d gather friends along the way who were sitting on various porch steps until we had an entire gang. When I had a stomachache, Mom gave me a can of Coca-Cola. Apparently the medical treatment for an upset stomach in those days was carbonated, caffeinated sugar. Because drinking Coke in Utah at the time was borderline scandalous, I took my demon
MurrayJournal .com
Leave the porch light on Peri Kinder Life and Laughter
beverage to the porch and sipped it while my friends watched, concerned about the state of my soul. Porches were the center of neighborhood communication. We’d leave treats on people’s welcome mats and Valentine’s cards on doorsteps. It’s where the paperboy threw the newspaper every morning and where the neighbor stood to accuse us of doorbell ditching, which also happened on a porch. How many first kisses happen on the front porch? People came to our porch every day. When the doorbell rang, we’d run to the front door, racing to open it first. We didn’t have Ring cameras. We had curiosity. It might be the Fuller Brush Man, a neighbor returning a casserole dish or Mom’s friend stopping by to gossip. The porch was where you sat in the rain, enjoyed the sunset, ate homemade cookies and watched a moth throw itself against the porch light. It was the place where nothing
happened, but also everything happened. A porch held no expectations but promoted childhood observations like: Is that mysterious car a kidnapper and does he have candy? Maybe we got rid of our front-porch communities because a porch required us to do something we’re increasingly uncomfortable with: nothing. We humble-brag about our busy schedules, eliminate downtime and use our phones to entertain us during the three minutes it takes to microwave a frozen dinner. Ironically, there’s an app called Front Porch Forum that’s supposed to connect people to their neighbors and communities. But you don’t have to download an app to build
connection. In fact, I challenge you to disengage from tech and go outside. If you have a porch or a stoop, sit down. Wait for the world to come to you. Talk to the woman walking her dog. Visit with the teenager slouching past your house. Watch the neighbor washing his car or the kid selling lemonade. If you’re lucky, listen to the neighbor’s fight. It’s really the perfect location. Peri Kinder is an award-winning columnist and journalist who has written for The City Journals since 2004. She also hosts the Life & Laughter podcast. Peri can be reached at peri.k@thecityjournals.com. l
September 2026 | Page 23
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