October 2026 | Vol. 12 Iss. 10
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South Salt Lake
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Community needed
Photography of youth
Students spent two weeks capturing their daily lives
Page 6
SSL coalition setting action plan for 100% graduation rate Page 9
Paddle the River participants drum up excitement for Get to the River Fest By Anna Nielsen | a.nielsen@mycityjournals.com The first Paddle the River event in the fourweek series for Get to the River Festival started in South Salt Lake, with plenty of people looking to get involved.
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n early September, community members gathered to paddle the Jordan River (Pia Okwai) from General Holm Park in South Salt Lake to Pioneer Crossing Park in West Valley City as part of the Get to the River Festival. Alongside bike rides, bird walks, trail clean ups, film screenings, yoga, dance performances and more, the first and free Paddle the River event was a quintessential part of the annual month-long festival, now in its 13th year. Festivities span the 50-mile length of the Jordan River Parkway, with events at parks, trails and, of course, on the river
itself, everywhere from Utah County to Davis County. After paddling between the parks, participants enjoyed a drum circle session at the river’s edge with Drum Utah. “What a beautiful way to enjoy the river,” Susan Klinker with the Utah Cultural Celebration Center said. “We love working with Drum Utah. This is the fourth year we’ve done it, and this year we connected it with the float coming down, which made just a beautiful, beautiful evening and a wonderful way to kick off the Labor Day weekend.” Nels Anderson, owner of Drum Utah, brings his instruments and instruction to gatherings like this as his full-time job. “Events like this get people to notice things Continued on page 7
Paddlers exit the river to get in touch with nature in a new way—through connecting to its rhythms. (Anna Nielsen/City Journals)
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COMMON GROUND
A Vote of Confidence
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. For two years, I’ve worried that the president will interfere with, postpone or even cancel the midterm elections, although that’s never happened in the history of our country. But before we go all Y2K on this election and panic-buy underground bunkers, let’s talk about how Utah is handling this situation. Contrary to what cable news would have you believe, the president does not oversee America’s elections. State officials handle that, and Utah has done a phenomenal job. Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson serves as the state’s chief election officer, earning a badge of courage as she stands against an administration demanding our voting rolls. It’s been refreshing to see someone in Utah’s leadership tell the president “No.” While the president continues to bang the “Stolen Election” drum (which is ironic since his administration was in charge during 2020), he says election integrity is a thing of the past. So what is election integrity?
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Peri Kinder
Common Ground
Has it gone the way of the pterodactyl? Here’s the Election Integrity Checklist. • Eligible voters cast a vote. • Ineligible votes are disregarded. • Ballots are secured. • Votes are accurately counted in a transparent process. This leads to an outcome we have to abide by, even if the results don’t turn out the way we’d like. Election integrity is NOT about making the voting process so cumbersome that it limits how many people can cast a ballot. There are some people who love going to their local polling place, casting a vote and getting their “I Voted” sticker. There are also people who can’t make it to a polling location. Maybe because of work schedules, maybe they’re caring for family members, maybe they’ve lived in an underground bunker since the Y2K scare.
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The point is, Utah’s vote-bymail process has gone swimmingly well. Mail-in voting doesn’t favor any one party; in fact, it gives more people a voice. Isn’t that what we want? I’d rather have an election with massive participation, even if my candidate loses. Isn’t that better than one side that wins because people couldn’t vote? But the federal government is acting like we’re handing out voting ballots willy-nilly, like Oprah giving away pajama sets at Costco. The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act would require voters to show proof of citizenship when voting, which you can’t do with a mail-in ballot. A federal judge blocked the president’s executive order that created a plan to regulate mail-in ballots. Now the administration, the U.S. Postal Service and the U.S. Supreme Court are in a race against time to change the mail-in ballot system. What could possibly go wrong? All of the president’s policies have gone off without a hitch. Right? Republican leaders make it
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sound like elections are being bombarded by illegal votes, but a Utah audit found nearly 100% of voters were U.S. citizens. Out of 2,069,640 voter records reviewed, 27 alleged noncitizen voters were found. That’s 0.0013%, for all you math nerds. Elections don’t belong to the president. They don’t belong to Republicans or Democrats. They don’t belong to cable news, TikTok influencers or the guy on Facebook who shares questionable memes. Elections belong to us: We the People. Election integrity boils down to this: protect the right to vote and ensure ballot security. We don’t want ineligible people to vote, but we also don’t want to make the process impossible for eligible voters. The system has worked for 250 years. Throughout this country’s history, no U.S. election has been postponed or cancelled nationwide. But the president’s interference implies you don’t have to cancel an election if you get to choose the voters.
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Festival at the Nature Center at Pia Okwai combines brews and birds
The conservation area is a 12-acre natural park in South Salt Lake. By Peri Kinder peri.k@thecityjournals.com
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he Something’s Brewing event stirred up excitement at Tracy Aviary’s Nature Center at Pia Okwai. Held in September, the festival was part of the Get to the River Festival’s month-long mission to encourage curious wanderers to explore the Jordan River. Something’s Brewing combined nature activities with brewed products, art and music. Participants could sample tea, beer, coffee and kombucha, visit with local vendors and artists, and stroll through the center’s 12-acre conservation area. Located at 3310 S. 1000 West in South Salt Lake, Tracy Aviary’s Nature Center at Pia Okwai abuts the Jordan River and highlights natural bird habitats. “This [center] focuses on nature and play, and using nature as your playground and highlighting conservation efforts for both plants and animals,” said Gabe Cabal, events operations manager for Tracy Aviary. “We have an observation tower so people can observe birds that they see. They can also roam the grounds and see little critters that are around the area.” Each September, the Jordan River
Tracy Aviary’s Nature Center at Pia Okwai (3310 S. 1000 West) hosted the Something’s Brewing Festival in September, offering brewed beverages with nature encounters. (Peri Kinder/ City Journals)
Commission organizes events to help people celebrate, protect and restore the Jordan River, also known as Pia Okwai. Along with Something’s Brewing, cities along the river hosted paddles, organized walks and clean ups, and held educational events to encourage residents to take ownership of the 50-mile waterway. Caroline Johnston, event and volunteer coordinator with the Jordan River Commission, said holding the event at the Nature
Center at Pia Okwai has been a way to highlight the wildlife haven. “This is a really cool property that the Tracy Aviary has been working on for the last few years,” Johnston said. “This specific event is to get people out and learn about the nature center and spend time here. Since it’s a newer property for the Aviary, compared to their facility at Liberty Park, not as many people know about it.” The center was established in 2020 to
host educational programs while providing a natural habitat for birds and animals, and more than 800 trees. It includes a pavilion, an outdoor amphitheater, greenhouses and the new EcoLab building to host educational programs. Its name is an acknowledgement of what the river is called by the Indigenous people in the area. Pia Okwai means “Big Flow” or “Big River” in the Newe Taikwa language spoken by Sosogoi/Shoshoni and Kutsipiuti/ Goshute tribes. It’s also a reminder of the deep relationship Indigenous people have with the land and an invitation for residents to embrace that idea of stewardship. “They’re doing a lot of really cool restoration work here,” Johnston said. “Not as many people know about this center yet, so they’ve been trying to host fun community events here to get people out and interacting with nature.” The Nature Center at Pia Okwai hosts bird-watching events, river clean ups, naturebased mindfulness workshops and First Friday Fono, where discussions are held about Pacific Island topics while enjoying kava, a nonalcoholic drink used in the Pacific for ceremonial purposes. There is no fee to explore the center’s property. For information about events, educational classes or volunteer opportunities, visit tracyaviary.org/nature-center.l
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The kids are paying attention—Photo exhibit shows what they see Young people came together to discuss photography, their interests and how the city can support them. By Anna Nielsen a.nielsen@mycityjournals.com
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he opening of South Salt Lake Scenes: Photography Through a Young Adult Lens was bustling with community members, student artists and their families all admiring the framed, finished pieces at Signed and Numbered, 2320 S. West Temple. In the weeks prior to the show, Promise South Salt Lake, a department of the city that provides free youth and community programs, recruited city youth who had not previously been participating in their programs, despite signing up or expressing interest. The group of 12, ages 12-17 met for a storytelling workshop with a team led by Mars Cameron, local photographer Darius Ray and poet Cydney Caradona. The team taught about photography and narratives, then students spent two weeks capturing scenes of their daily life and providing captions that explained the photos’ meaning and importance. “They shared with us the places that they love, things special to them, how they get around, and then it culminated in this project tonight,” said Edward Lopez, deputy director of Promise SSL. “Not only do we have unbelievable programs such as Mural Fest that we’re working with artists from around the world, international, national and regional artists, but focusing on the youth that we have right here in South Salt Lake and thinking about how they’re going to grow here and what they’re going to build into is really important for us,” Lopez said. “Beginner artists, intermediate artists, advanced artists… we have something for all of them here, and
Participants gathered around a table during a workshop brainstorming session. (South Salt Lake Arts website)
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Some students and staff from Promise South Salt Lake pose in front of the South Salt Lake Scenes exhibit. (South Salt Lake Arts website)
we’re really excited to be here showcasing that tonight.” Executive Director for South Salt Lake Arts Brittany Helmers continued that thought. “Art is a career. Art is a future, and we want to make sure that all the youth knows if you’re creative, there is a future for you. There is an opportunity for you to work in the arts and expand that.” One participant, Pearla, joined the course with her two sisters. She said she had never had her work showcased, but carries a small sketchbook everywhere “in case I want to draw something, and I really like to draw fan art. I draw what I love to express myself. I like to look back at old sketchbooks and see my improvement, and I like knowing there are a ton of teens out there who like to doodle like I do.” The sketchbook is the subject of one of the images she took, the other is a picture of the library interior. She shared that she loves the library’s resources, but also used her caption to convey something the image alone did not: the feeling of the crisp air conditioning. In fact, air conditioning came up three times in her short statement and throughout several other of the young adults’ submissions. Lopez recalled one participant who took public transportation saying, “It’s not my favorite mode of transportation. I would rather walk or bike, but it’s too hot, and transit provides a cooler space, even though it takes longer having to wait.” Another participant, Pearla’s sister Sarai, took a picture of her chickens in the backyard from through her bedroom window and an image of the colorful pan dulce in the bakery at Rancho Market, stating “I love that you can see Mexican culture around SSL.” Their third sister, Nancy, had a framed
picture of Fitz Park, with Pearla in the picture as a size comparison for a massive tree. Her other image showed “Cottonwood, the best school OAT (of all time),” her caption continuing, “My school is important to me because it has helped me grow, especially my orchestra teacher.” Pearla said the project “made me notice a lot more what’s going on around me because I do take pictures, but I never had to write their story. I wrote a lot and surprised myself because I’m not a writer. It made me realize that the pictures I take can have really more meaning than just a picture.” Caradona’s storytelling workshop prompted to “Write that story, even if it feels like fiction at first. Write it out because that
kind of brings us closer to how we actually realize those futures.” Caradona observed at the show that “the kids are paying attention.” She said the youth are “saying a lot with a little,” using everyday images to reflect their communities and what they want for the future. “This is arguably just like miscellanea, but they’re shedding light on it, saying ‘this reminds me that life is beautiful or fragile,’ or ‘this just is a place I like to be.’” Students’ observations included “trying different things is also part of living,” “flowers represent finding wonder in everyday life. There are beautiful and meaningful moments all around us if we take the time to notice them,” and nostalgia for childhood moments at Fitz Park, or a time when Ritz Classic Apartments was still a bowling alley. One caption read: “I miss that. It was fun. I wish more affordable houses were being built instead of fancy apartments.” Caradona reflected on the impact of this program at a time amid a loss of public funds for social services. “Libraries are closing everywhere from lack of funding. Libraries are not just for education, but they’re cooling centers and literally how people survive. You’re seeing a small portion of how that matters when a student mentions AC three times in the span of less than 100 words. We’re losing those spaces, and this is a stark reminder that we need to continue to fight for those spaces as hard as we can.” South Salt Lake Scenes is part of the Wallace Foundation’s Advancing Opportunities for Adolescents grant in its pilot year. “We’re doing some research that will then inform what we add in our community,” Lopez said. The work remained at Signed and Numbered throughout September, before being adapted into permanent public art at the South Salt Lake Community Center.l
Pictures and statements by Nancy, Sarai and Pearla. (Anna Nielsen/City Journals)
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SSL muralist honors water as source of life on WJ water tank
The water tank at 3465 W. 9000 South features a mural painted by artist Beto Conejo. (Peri Kinder/City Journals)
Muralist Beto Conejo titled his work, “Vida Del Valle.” By Peri Kinder peri.k@thecityjournals.com
U
sing vibrant flowers, bright colors, intricate designs and intricate details, muralist Beto Conejo finished painting the water tank at 3465 W. 9000 South, as part of West Jordan’s public art investment. The mural near the Salt Lake Community College’s Jordan campus was unveiled at the end of August. The project was a partnership between the city of West Jordan and SLCC to represent water as a source of life and protection,
and to encourage appreciation for water and conservation in the future. Conejo, an international muralist, human rights advocate, SLCC grad and creator of the Utah Day of the Dead Festival, titled the art piece “Vida Del Valle” or “Life of the Valley” to demonstrate our relationship with water. “We have a past, a present and a future worth fighting for, and protecting our water is the root of it all because water is life,” Conejo said. “Water protectors know this. The flowers blooming before and after are the things that inspire us to protect water and the things that will continue to inspire us to protect that source of life, even as the life forms change through time.” SLCC sponsored and paid for the mural,
Drummers smile as Drum Utah’s Nels Anderson leads them to play their instruments to an improvisation where players mimic animal sounds on beat. (Anna Nielsen/City Journals)
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which is part of a citywide effort to introduce new artwork and creative outlets throughout West Jordan. While familiar with painting on tall, flat surfaces, Conejo said creating a mural on a curved canvas created an artistic opportunity to do something different. “Executing these precise geometric shapes across a towering, curved cylinder on uneven ground was a new challenge for me,” he said. Conejo painted his first work of public art (a fire hydrant) when he was a third-grade student at Woodrow Wilson Elementary. He recently participated in the South Salt Lake Mural Fest, where he apprenticed with Mississippi artist Birdcap, painting a wall at that
same school. He also created the mural “Follow the North Star” at 220 E. Morris Ave. near South Salt Lake City Hall. Born in Mexico and raised in South Salt Lake, Conejo wants his work to bridge cultures through his bold designs, bright colors and layered symbolism. James Walton, program manager of SLCC’s galleries and art, said SLCC finds it important to have public spaces dedicated to sharing art. “Art prompts people to slow down, reflect and wonder,” Walton said. “There is often a story there for all of us, as there is in this mural so full of gorgeous colors, reminding us of the importance of water in making our state a sustainable place to live.” l
continued from front page
riparian area is a crucial ecological site as the habitat for hundreds of species and millions of migratory birds, as well as other creatures, including humans, who have relied on the river for thousands of years. It has tremendous ecological, cultural, recreational and economic value. Through outdoor recreation, conservation, the arts and social opportunities, the festival’s goal is to “highlight this amazing slice of nature through the most urbanized and populated region of Utah’s Wasatch Front, sparking discovery, stewardship, creativity, and fun” at the Jordan River year-round, per their website. If you missed the boat on the limited-space river float, fear not, the Jordan River Commission website offers a water trail map with entry and exit points to help create a paddle plan of your own. Visit jordanrivercommission.gov/maps-trail-guides/ water-trail/.l
like how the changing wind feels, maybe we’re changing rhythm with the way the weather’s working. When the wind is really calm, I notice everyone is in a serene state, and kind of hard to amp up, but I’m not going to try to push them. I just let them experience this place where you kind of feel a little bit reverent or sacred. You sit by a big river and it makes you breathe deeply. You can tell how it affects people’s attitudes.” Tiffini Adams from West Valley thought the festival was awesome. “It’s a beautiful way to experience the beauty that’s in our own backyard and gives a really unique perspective on our beautiful river.” The river is known as Pia Okwai (Big Flow) by the Indigenous Shoshone and Goshute people and weaves its way north from Utah Lake to the Great Salt Lake, passing through 16 cities. The Jordan River’s
October 2026 | Page 7
El motor invisible de Utah: Como las empresas de limpieza mueven la economía del estado
El trabajo de limpieza trasciende la simple tarea doméstica o comercial, es un servicio esencial que sostiene la salud pública, la estética urbana y la calidad de vida de toda la sociedad. By Marisol Camacho m.camacho@mycityjournals.com
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etrás de los deslumbrantes edificios en construcción y la calidez de las residencias familiares en Utah, existe un motor invisible pero imprescindible, el trabajo de limpieza. En un estado que experimenta uno de los crecimientos económicos e infraestructura más acelerados de Estados Unidos, la comunidad hispana se ha consolidado como la columna vertebral de este sector, demostrando profesionalismo y una ética de trabajo insustituible. Según cifras de la Asociación Nacional de Constructores de Vivienda (NAHB), los trabajadores hispanos representan hoy cerca del 32% de la fuerza laboral en la construcción a nivel nacional, casi el doble de su participación en la economía general. Y en Utah, uno de los estados de mayor crecimiento del país según el Departamento de Servicios Laborales de Utah, ese porcentaje se siente todavía más cerca de la mitad en muchos proyectos.
Según cifras de la Asociación Nacional de Constructores de Vivienda (NAHB), los trabajadores hispanos representan hoy cerca del 32% de la fuerza laboral en la construcción a nivel nacional. (Marisol Camacho/City Journals)
Alan Martínez, ingeniero de piso mexicano con cinco años de experiencia en proyectos de construcción, lo confirma desde su día a día. En su edificio trabajan alrededor de 16 personas de limpieza, y calcula que la proporción entre trabajadores latinos y estadounidenses ronda el 50-50. Para él, la limpieza no es un detalle menor, es lo que define la percepción final de cualquier obra. “Si el edificio no está limpio, al final va a ser un edificio feo”, explica que, “La mano latina es primordial”, al destacar la
participación de los hispanos en sectores esenciales para el crecimiento del estado. Su experiencia también evidencia otro elemento de la realidad laboral latina, la barrera del idioma. En reuniones y jornadas de trabajo, muchas veces es necesario traducir instrucciones para facilitar la comunicación entre trabajadores. Aun así, asegura que basta con dar una indicación clara una sola vez para que el trabajo se cumpla con disciplina y sin necesidad de repetirlo. De educadora a control de calidad La historia de Milanyela Gentile, venezolana y profesional de la educación, refleja otra cara de esta realidad. Al llegar a Estados Unidos, la limpieza fue su primera oportunidad laboral. Lo que comenzó como una alternativa terminó convirtiéndose en una experiencia de aprendizaje y crecimiento. Milanyela recuerda que los primeros meses fueron duros, tuvo que aprender de nuevo a limpiar, bajo normas y protocolos profesionales. Pero también encontró algo inesperado, que el trabajo en equipo y los valores de disciplina y paciencia que asimiló en la universidad, se aplican igual en una cuadrilla de limpieza que en un aula. “Es un trabajo digno que te enseña a ser humilde”, afirma, e insiste en que ningún oficio debería denigrarse, porque todo trabajo es importante.
“En nuestros países dejamos profesiones, pero aquí descubrimos nuevas fortalezas. La limpieza no es solo pasar un trapo; tiene normas, procesos y exige una enorme disciplina. Para ella, el cansancio de jornadas de hasta 12 horas se transforma en motivación: Cada espacio que limpiamos lo hacemos con amor y esmero. Además, es la semilla para grandes sueños, como emprender una empresa propia”. Ambos entrevistados coinciden en algo esencial, la comunidad latina llega a Estados Unidos con una disposición particular hacia el esfuerzo. Alan lo describe como ganas de sacar adelante trabajos que otras personas no quieren hacer. Milanyela lo llama, simplemente, amor por el trabajo bien hecho, ese cuidado extra que convierte una tarea rutinaria en un servicio hecho con orgullo. Sus historias son un espejo de miles de latinos en Utah que, como Milanyela, dejaron carreras profesionales en sus países de origen y hoy sostienen escobas o como Alan dirigen el mantenimiento de una empresa. No es resignación, es resiliencia. Utah crece a un ritmo que pocos estados igualan, cada edificio nuevo, cada casa entregada impecable, tiene apellido latino. Reconocerlo no es solo justicia laboral, es entender que la dignidad de un trabajo no depende de cuánto se vea, sino de cuánto sostiene a los demás. l
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Coalition wants SSL community to mobilize around action plan
Committee members and sponsors are needed to move the initiative forward. By Peri Kinder peri.k@thecityjournals.com
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t’s been a year of hard work, study and information gathering, and now the South Salt Lake Cares Coalition is ready to move on to the next phase of its process. The coalition set a goal to reach a 100% graduation rate at Cottonwood High School. Over the last year, a community council and six community groups investigated ways to encourage school attendance by supporting students and families. Addressing social impact, physical and mental health, gang and substance misuse prevention, early learning challenges and after-school programs, the six groups presented their ideas to the SSL Key Leader Council. Now it’s time to create an action plan to implement those ideas. “We needed to bring all of the leaders in the community to the table,” said Chelsea Frost, SSL Cares Coalition coordinator. “We’re doing cradle-to-career work. We’re doing more than interventions at the individual level; we’re doing more environmental and programmatic interventions.” The community groups will spend the
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SSL Cares Coalition Coordinator Chelsea Frost (right) addresses the coalition’s key leader council to explain the next part of the group’s plan to increase high school graduation rates. (Peri Kinder/City Journals)
next several months creating action plans that include ideas like helping families meet basic needs, monitoring early childhood development, encouraging students to avoid gang-related activities, and providing access to after-school programs and recreational activities. Frost said that once each of these topics is tackled, the likelihood of school success increases dramatically. That’s where additional help is needed from the community. Residents, businesses and organizations are needed to serve on committees, support the program and sponsor the coalition. “The benefit for them to be involved is
that their voice gets heard. They get to help determine the decisions that are made on this action plan,” Frost said. “It’s also professional development. They’re learning something that they can put on their resume. It’s long-term skills they learn as they go.” Not only can volunteers assist in creating an action plan for high school success, but the program helps families from the start of their child’s education. Committee volunteers are asked to attend two monthly meetings and use their talents to benefit the group. “The gang and substance misuse committee felt that they have good resources, good knowledge of the problem and the
issues that they’re addressing,” said Patrick Holman, Promise SSL family engagement supervisor. “But the committee wants a few more folks at the table when they do their committee meetings and particularly folks from elementary schools.” Sponsors are also needed to provide meals for the monthly community meetings held on the first Tuesday of each month, from 6-7:30 p.m. at the South Salt Lake Community Center (2531 S. 400 East). Restaurants or organizations are asked to donate a meal for 25-35 people each month. In return, the coalition will publish each donor’s logo in the Promise SSL newsletter. The final action plans will be presented in January, when Frost said it will come down to resources versus readiness. “We might have all the resources in the world, but if our committee is not ready to act, or if the community is not ready to let us act, then that can prevent us from being able to do the things we need to,” she said. “To what extent do community members know about existing local efforts and their effectiveness? What’s the prevailing attitude of the community toward the issue? Is it one of helplessness or one of responsibility and empowerment?” To volunteer on an SSL Cares Coalition committee, or to sponsor a monthly meal, contact Frost at cfrost@sslc.gov. l
October 2026 | Page 9
Could your home be exposing your child to lead? Children can look healthy while lead poisoning quietly causes harm. By Shaun Delliskave s.delliskave@mycityjournals.com
A
s public health agencies prepare for National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week this fall, Salt Lake County health officials are reminding parents that childhood lead exposure can be difficult to detect and may come from more sources than many families realize. National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week will be observed Oct. 25-31 with the 2026 theme “Keep Kids Safe from Lead.” The annual campaign, coordinated nationally by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, emphasizes learning about potential lead hazards, testing children who may have been exposed and identifying lead sources in homes. The issue has particular relevance in Salt Lake County because of the age of some of its housing stock. According to Gabriel Moreno, partnerships manager with the Salt Lake County Health Department, more than 30% of homes in the county were constructed before the federal
government banned consumer use of leadbased paint in 1978. “Many parents assume they’d know if their child had been exposed to lead,” Moreno said. “In reality, kids can look healthy, active and happy while lead quietly affects their learning, behavior and development.” That concern is consistent with CDC guidance. Most children with lead in their blood do not show obvious immediate symptoms, and a blood test is the best way to determine whether exposure has occurred. The CDC says no safe blood lead level in children has been identified. Even low levels have been associated with developmental delays and difficulties with learning, attention and behavior. Older paint remains a well-known potential source, particularly when it deteriorates into chips or dust. However, exposure can also occur through contaminated soil, some plumbing and water fixtures, certain toys and consumer products, and dust created during renovations. Lead can also enter a home indirectly. People working in occupations involving lead can carry contaminated dust home on clothing, shoes, tools or other items. Moreno said jobs such as construction, auto repair and plumbing may present potential
exposure risks. Because symptoms alone are not a reliable indicator, health officials encourage parents who believe their children may be at risk to discuss blood lead testing with a health care provider. “A blood test is the only way to know for sure, and right now, too few children in our community are getting tested,” Moreno said. Medicaid covers blood lead testing for enrolled children, and many private insurance plans also cover testing. Salt Lake County offers free testing to qualifying families. Testing is only part of the county’s prevention effort. When lead is detected in a child’s blood, the Salt Lake County Health Department’s Lead Home Visiting Program can help families identify possible sources and determine ways to reduce further exposure. Qualifying households may also receive assistance through the county’s Lead Safe Housing Program to address lead hazards. The goal, health officials emphasize, is to identify risks before they cause further harm. National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week encourages families to learn about lead hazards in their surroundings, consider whether their children should receive a blood lead test and determine whether older homes may contain lead hazards.
Salt Lake County wants families to consider their risk of lead exposure. (Photo courtesy of the CDC)
Salt Lake County residents with questions about testing or lead exposure can call or text the county’s Lead Poisoning Prevention line at 801-382-8877.l
801-266-2600
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ON THE MOVE
South Salt Lake Newsletter
SSLC.GOV SSL ‘ON THE MOVE’ HIGHLIGHTS New Water-wise Demonstration Garden .......................................... P.2 Public Input .................................. P.2 Halloween Events ........................ P.3 Craftober Fest - October 3 ......... P.3 E-Bike Safety................................ P.4
Cherie Wood, Mayor 801-464-6757 mayor@sslc.gov
City Offices Monday - Friday • 8 am to 5 pm 801-483-6000 220 E Morris Ave, SSL, UT 84115
Public Meetings
For more info: www.sslc.gov
CITY COUNCIL Wednesdays, Oct. 14 & 28, 7 pm
PLANNING COMMISSION Thursdays, Oct. 1 & 15, 7 pm
CIVILIAN REVIEW BOARD Monday, Oct. 5, 6:30 pm The South Salt Lake Curbside Cleanup Program will take place November 9-18 for items that are boxed, bundled, or bagged. Items may be placed in the park strip up to one week before your scheduled pick up day. Visit sslc.gov to find exact pick up days and program guidelines.
OCTOBER 2026
Strengthening our Community at Every Stage One of the things I value most about South Salt Lake is our commitment to supporting residents at every stage of life. For more than 15 years, we have built a cradle-tocareer system focused on children, youth, and families. Now, we are applying that same commitment to another important part of our community: our aging adults. Through conversations with residents while knocking doors in Mayor Cherie Wood our neighborhoods, I heard about challenges that can be difficult to navigate without a support system, and I realized there was a gap we needed to fill. We want people to be able to age in their homes if they choose to. Sometimes that means helping someone find food assistance, navigate Social Security or Medicare, find affordable housing, or connect with resources for home repairs. Sometimes it simply means having someone to call who will listen, help identify what is needed, and support them through the next steps. Last year we created a new staff position called the 55+ Community Liaison. This role is dedicated to helping aging residents navigate financial services, assistance applications, budgeting, affordable housing, and health insurance. The goal of this position is to help all residents feel connected to their community. Housing is one area where that connection can make a significant difference. As housing costs rise, some older residents are struggling to remain in homes they have lived in for years. The 55+ Community Liaison can help residents navigate available housing options and connect homeowners with resources for needed repairs. Through our partnership with Habitat for Humanity’s Critical Home Repair Program, for example, homeowners may be able to access assistance for repairs and improvements that help them remain safely in their homes. A new program we just started is a weekly walking group at Fitts Park, creating an opportunity for residents to get outside, make new friends, learn about resources, and build relationships with their neighbors. I firmly believe that sharing wisdom and stories across generations strengthens the entire community. Most importantly, I want all of our residents to know this: You belong here. We want South Salt Lake to be a place where every person feels safe, connected, supported, and valued.
If you have a concern, a question, or an idea about how our community can better support you, let us know. We want to hear from you, and we care about making South Salt Lake a community where every resident has the opportunity to thrive at every stage of life.
City News New Water-wise Garden at South Salt Lake Community Center Dial Down Outdoor Irrigation With summer officially behind us, it’s time to start putting our sprinkler systems to rest. Sprinklers should be set to one session per week or less, and turned off completely by October 15. By saving water this fall, we can help to protect our water supply in the event of the state’s drought continuing into next year. Find more resources for conserving water at sslc.gov/water.
Station Area Plan Survey The City of South Salt Lake, in partnership with the Wasatch Front Regional Council and Utah Transit Authority, is developing a Station Area Plan for the S-Line’s 300 East, 500 East, and 700 East streetcar stations. The plan will help guide future decisions related to land use, housing, transportation, public space, neighborhood character, and implementation priorities. Community input will play an important role in identifying opportunities, concerns, priorities, and ideas that will help shape the area’s future. Visit sslc. gov to take the survey and share your input.
On September 10, South Salt Lake staff were joined by United Way, Slow the Flow, and employees of OC Tanner to help convert 2,000 feet of non-functional turf into beautiful, water-wise landscaping at the South Salt Lake Community Center. This project was part of United Way’s Day of Caring which pairs businesses with available service projects in need of support. This garden will become a designated water-wise demonstration garden to show community members what is possible when they remove non-functional grass. It will support native birds and pollinators, and save a significant amount of water as the new plants become established. The inside of the building has undergone recent improvements as well with new mural inside the SSL Co-Op. Painted by local artist Trevor Dahl, A World in Bloom depicts a playful mountain scene, complete with large, colorful bees and ladybugs. It is located inside the Childcare Room, where it will inspire countless young minds over the years to come.
Traffic Safety Plan South Salt Lake is developing a Traffic Safety Plan to identify transportation safety challenges and create a roadmap for reducing serious injury and fatal crashes on the city’s transportation network. The first step in this process is hearing from our community about their concerns, and what areas need the most attention. Scan the QR code below, or visit sslc.gov, to take the survey and leave comments about where traffic safety can be improved in South Salt Lake
Know Your
CITY COUNCIL
• Find Your District • Contact Your Council Member • View Meeting Dates & Agendas • Watch Council Meetings Online
sslc.gov
At-Large Clarissa Williams At-Large Ray deWolfe District 1 Joy Glad District 2 Corey Thomas District 3 Sharla Bynum District 4 Nick Mitchell District 5 Irvin Jones
FALL LEAF BAG PROGRAM Free leaf bags can be picked up from South Salt Lake Public Works. 220 E. Morris Ave, 4th floor. Available only during business hours. Must show photo ID with South Salt Lake address.
City News ADOPT-A-DRAIN Community Clean Up Love your watershed! Join our community cleanup event to keep our storm drains clear of fall leaves and trash. Free lunch provided!
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17 10 AM - NOON SSL COMMUNITY CENTER (2531 S 400 E, AUDITORIUM)
Sign up online at sslc.gov, or scan the QR code. JOIN US... IF YOU DARE!
SPOOKTACULAR TRUNK OR TREAT FRIDAY, OCT. 16
COCO THEME!
6-9 PM SOUTH SALT LAKE COMMUNITY CENTER, 2531 S. 400 E. FOOD DRIVE DONATIONS ENCOURAGED. LEARN MORE AT SSLC.GOV
SPOOOOOKY
City Hall
TRICK-OR-TREAT AT SOUTH SALT LAKE CITY HALL OCTOBER 30 3:00-4:45 PM 220 E. MORRIS AVE
FALL Senior Ball
THEME: COZY SWEATER BALL
NOVEMBER 5 3 PM - 5 PM TO RSVP, PLEASE CALL 385-468-3340, OR VISIT THE SENIOR CENTER
South Salt Lake Senior Center 2531 South 400 East
City News Make a Promise to Prevent Overdose Deaths A new exhibit at the South Salt Lake Community Center guides viewers through statistics of overdose deaths in our community, and teaches what can be done to prevent them. Come by the SSL Co-Op inside the South Salt Lake Community Center to see it for yourself, and make a commitment to help prevent overdoses.
E-Bike Safety in South Salt Lake E-Bikes are an efficient and fun way to get around, but like any vehicle, they can be dangerous. It is important to know the laws surrounding them. E-bikes are categorized in 3 different classes. Each class has different age and safety requirements. If you or your child have an e-bike, it is essential to understand which class you own to ensure that it is being ridden safely and legally. Helmets should be worn at all times while riding an e-bike, and are legally required for any rider under the age of 21. E-bikes, like bicycles, should not be ridden on sidewalks, and must follow all rules of the road.
South Salt Lake De-Coded: Keep Sidewalks Clear South Salt Lake Municipal Code requires homeowners or renters to maintain their sidewalks free of weeds or other plants (12.16.030). As fall yardwork season progresses, pay special attention to make sure that public rights-of-way are kept clear of weeds and landscape. South Salt Lake’s municipal code can be found online at sslc.gov.
South Salt Lake Recreation
Youth Basketball Grades Pre-K. - 6th Registration closes October 27 Visit sslc.gov or scan the QR code to register
Utah students prepare for notable changes as school year begins Those include banning cell phone usage during school hours and increasing reading proficiency. By Lizzie Walje l.walje@mycityjournals.com
U
tah students have officially returned to school, facing numerous changes that will directly impact their daily operations from increased cell phone rules to targeted literacy initiatives. Many new policies come on the heels of the Utah State Legislature general session which was held at the beginning of 2026. Perhaps the most important change comes in the form of the recently upgraded bell to bell ban on cell phone usage. Prior to 2026, Utah had already put in place policy surrounding cell phone usage in school. That was until Sen. Lincoln Fillmore (R- South Jordan) introduced the updated bill, S.B. 69, which aimed to completely eradicate the usage of cell phones during the entirety of the school day, including during downtimes like lunch. The bill, which received substantial support from various legislators and Gov. Spencer Cox was passed during the general session. As of fall 2026, all schools in Utah must abide by the bell-to-bell ban. However, exactly how the policy is upheld will be determined at the local level, which means the law allows enough leeway for schools to create their own enforcement framework. Some schools have already implemented Yondr pouches or similar technologies, that allow for students to maintain their phone on their physical body during school hours without having access to the actual technology. For context, a Yondr pouch is a small fabric sleeve that uses a patented locking system with a magnetic unlocking mechanism. Exact procedures can vary by location, but generally, students place their devices inside the pouches at the beginning of the day. Once classes are dismissed, students can unlock their Yondr pouches at designated unlocking stations. Many teachers also have access to an unlocking mechanism in their classrooms in case of an emergency. With artificial intelligence currently exploding in academic spaces, the Utah State Board of Education has also amended their recommendations for how AI should be integrated into the classroom. In the spring, the board extensively outlined its updated AI framework for K-12 students in a document available for download on their website. The document addresses several concerns regarding AI integration, including how to use AI ethically and when its use should be discouraged or prohibited. Per the board’s guidelines, AI can be used in academic settings to aid student learning, supplement teaching methods, manage school operations, and support communities and families. The board’s
S outhSaltLakeJournal.com
Students head back to school amid notable changes. (Adobe Stock Photo)
guidelines also emphasized research assistance, improved communication between faculty and students, and enhanced safety alerts as appropriate applications of AI. Unlike the bell to bell ban, the state has not yet imposed any hard and fast rules surrounding AI usage. However, their framework acknowledges AI is essentially a double-edged sword. When leveraged appropriately, AI can be used as a tool that helps enhance student learning. Even so, the framework still advises against letting students become dependent on AI, particularly when it concerns in-class work. Another issue the state intends to tackle during the academic school year is literacy. At the beginning of this year, the University of Utah’s Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute released a report that underlined troubling literacy issues concentrated largely with early readers. The report revealed that a sizable percentage of K-3 students in Utah have failed to meet appropriate grade-level reading standards. Per Utah’s state policy, a student is considered to have met gradelevel requirements if they meet or exceed a score of 405 on the end of the year benchmark reading assessment. The study’s date revealed that just 50.3% of third graders are achieving appropriate proficiency. Third grade is often treated as a significant year for reading comprehension testing. Prior to third grade, education surrounding reading is streamlined to help students focus on learning how to read. Once a student reaches third grade, the expectation is that they begin to transition from learning how to read, into actually comprehending what they read. As a response, Utah lawmakers have since approved $16 million specifically to help early readers meet grade level reading
expectations. The funding will be concentrated for students in kindergarten through third grade. The funding will be used to support part-time reading specialists, known as paraprofessionals, who specialize in working with small groups of students before and after
school. Lawmakers are hopeful the funding and program will help Utah reach its literacy goal, which is currently having 80% of third graders reading at grade-level by 2030. Finally, it seems that many of Utah’s schools have already experienced a rising issue that coincided with the beginning of the school year. Many schools across the state are dealing with an increase in serious threats, which have included hoaxes and swatting calls. Such types of threats can trigger major law enforcement involvement. According to data retrieved from the Utah Department of Public Safety’s Statewide Information and Analysis Center, or SIAC, during the 2023-24 academic school year, there were 143 substantial school threats reported. That number rose substantially during the following year, with 445 incidents recorded. The number yet again rose last year, reaching an all-time high during 202526 with 537 incidents. These threats are being taken seriously by both resource officers and state investigators who explained that every threat is taken seriously, even if it appears to be just a hoax. Officials say investigators have numerous tools at their disposal to mitigate potential threats including using digital footprints, and working alongside local, state, federal and international partners to help them identify those individuals who are responsible. l
October 2026 | Page 15
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The City Journals, a conglomerate of community newspapers, has been bringing your hyperlocal news directly to your mailbox (for free!). That means we are sitting through city council meetings, following school boards and local elections, and covering high school sports, neighborhood issues, new businesses and the people doing interesting things down the street. Hi, I’m Cassie. You’ve likely seen my byline before, or at least flipped through something I’ve reported on. I’m an individual part of the bigger team of writers here who has been bringing you the local news you love. I started at the City Journals in 2015 and, even though an 11-year career may seem like a good chunk of time, it’s nothing in comparison to the rest of our editorial team. Our Salt Lake County Editor, Travis Barton, has been with us for just as long; our Davis editor to the north, Becky Ginos, has been monitoring the pulse of Davis County since the pandemic; and our humorist extraordinaire, Peri Kinder, has been bringing the laughter for decades. For more than 35 years, the City Journals have delivered community newspapers free to readers. Today, our 38 reporters produce roughly 190 to 220 original local stories each month across 15 communities in Salt Lake and Davis counties, each are embedded within the communities we serve. Oh! My colleagues would be upset with me if I didn’t mention the majority of us are award-winning journalists. “It’s amazing how you can turn some handwritten notes into a full, beautiful story,” said our account executive Marc Davis. It’s not unusual for a City Journals reporter to be the only journalist in the room at a local government meeting. That kind of reporting isn’t glamorous, but we think it matters. We want to keep doing that—and do more of it. Like local news organizations everywhere, we’re figuring out how to sustain and expand our reporting as the way people get their news changes. We want to publish more frequently online, spend more time on stories that deserve deeper reporting and continue putting reporters in the rooms where decisions about your community are being made. That takes time and resources. We’re asking readers who find value in the City Journals to consider supporting our work. If one reader in each household contributed even $2 to $5 per month ($24 to $60 per year), it would give us more resources to put directly into local journalism. There’s no paywall attached to this request. We’ll keep delivering the City Journals and reporting the news of our communities. We’re simply asking those who are able—and who believe local reporting is worth having—to help us do more of it. Your support won’t go unnoticed. Because we’re reporters, we think you should know what happens next. As this effort grows, we’ll report back to you about what reader support has allowed us to accomplish. To support your City Journal, visit donate.thecityjournals.com or scan the QR Code on this page. We welcome your direct communication. Please keep talking to us. Tell us what we’re missing. Ask us questions. The relationship between our reporters and the communities they cover is what makes this kind of journalism possible. From the entire City Journals team – With dedication to informing and, most certainly, celebrating our communities, Cassie Goff | c.goff@mycityjournals.com
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UHSAA’s new Composite Realignment Index to form all classifications in all sanctioned sports The UHSAA Board of Trustees meets in November, with meetings to be held through December on realignment before it makes its final placements on Dec. 17. By Brian Shaw b.shaw@mycityjournals.com
S
The UHSAA’s new CRI assigns a final Z-score to each school based on three criteria: school enrollment size, socio-economic status and competitiveness. (File photo City Journals)
tarting this December, the Utah High School Activities Association is doing business differently. On Aug. 21, the UHSAA announced at its next Board of Trustees meeting in November that it will be using a different set of metrics to determine how Utah high schools will be placed into classifications over the next two school years. “Beginning with the 2027-29 alignment cycle, member schools (from Class 1A to 6A) are placed into classifications using a Composite Realignment Index (CRI), which combines school enrollment, socio-economic status (SES) and competitive performance,” read the release. The No. 1 determinant factor according to the UHSAA? School size. That alone will carry 77% of the weight for each Utah
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the score decides the order—where the lines fall, however, will be a judgement call. The UHSAA’s Board of Trustees will have its preliminary meeting Nov. 19 to hold initial discussions on the new CRI criteria and make its first placements of member schools. On Dec. 1, schools will then be able to apply for a higher classification in a specific sport or activity and also make recommendations for geographic consideration at the second trustees’ meeting. It will also serve as the second round of adjusted school placements for the trustees, who will also begin placing schools into regions in their respective sports. On Dec. 8, the public will have their first chance to weigh in on the new CRI, via a Zoom meeting. The board will then reconvene the following day on Dec. 9 to make their second region placement, and on Dec. 17 will make its realignments final. According to the UHSAA, “realignment includes both a general alignment and a separate football alignment. Region assignments are finalized in December of even-numbered years, with competition under the new alignment beginning the following August.” l
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high school. After that though, things look a bit more interesting. Thirteen percent of a school’s score will be weighed by socio-economic status. And, before anyone presumes that portion will be based solely on said high school’s economic disadvantage, that’s only part of the equation. It includes the share of K-12 students within that school’s boundaries that are at said disadvantage, also. Finally, 10% of a school’s overall Z-score is to be weighted by its competitiveness, or, how it actually performed in the sports it offers to its students. How will this score be given? By taking a school team’s Post-Season Ranking or State-Meet Finish, in which its final MaxPreps and RPI will be combined into a single numerical value. If you’re asking whether or not it will be graded on a curve against the schools in the same classification that same season, the answer is yes. From there, the UHSAA will take an average of that school’s previous three seasons in said sport. Schools will then be given Z-scores ranging from -2.08 to +1.16. It’s at that point that all six classifications from 1A to 6A will be drawn across it. According to the UHSAA,
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Teal, purple and red pumpkins: The color-code of Halloween porch pumpkins explained Painted pumpkins are meant to bring awareness and spark conversation about health and safety topics. By Anna Nielsen a.nielsen@mycityjournals.com
T
Participants painting purple pumpkins at Epilepsy Foundation Utah’s Purple Pumpkin event last October. (Epilepsy Foundation Utah)
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welve-year-old Charlotte has celiac disease, and her friend and neighbor Liv has a nut allergy. The girls love trick-or-treating together each year, but so many of the treats they bring home on Halloween eve they can’t eat. They tend to relinquish a large portion of their stashes to friends. But, when they spot a house with a teal pumpkin out front, their eyes light up with excitement, because this signals that there may be inclusive options for them there. The Teal Pumpkin Project was started in 2012 by the director of FACET, a Tennessee-based food allergy group, Becky Basalone. Now, Food Allergy Resource and Education promotes the annual activity of offering nonfood items on Halloween across the US and beyond, citing on their website that one in 13 children have food allergies, intolerances and sensitivities, and encouraging participants to paint a pumpkin teal, put out a sign, or “get creative and add some teal lighting.” Teal was chosen for its bright, easy recognizability from afar. In addition to being displayed on porches, some children may carry teal totes/candy baskets to signal that they have a food allergy. Charlotte says the people who participate in the Teal Pumpkin Project make her feel included. “When I was younger, sometimes kids would bring cupcakes or cookies or doughnuts to class for their birthday, and I felt so bad seeing everyone else eat theirs while I had to watch with nothing. I was little enough that sometimes, it was so hard to resist that I would eat one too because I felt left out. I knew it would make me so sick, but it’s hard to resist when you’re a little kid, and I didn’t want to feel so sad and alone or different,” she said. When fall rolls around, her neighborhood goes all-out with elaborate decorations. Getting in the spirit last year, Charlotte’s family set up an “I Spy”-themed trick-ortreat trading table for their version of the Teal Pumpkin Project. “Everyone was excited to come to our house, it had the neighborhood talking all night. People thought it was so fun and different from what they’d seen before. My friends told me they thought more people should do things like this more often,” she said. “I think pumpkin projects are a good way for people to consider others and show support for each other, and you can get creative,” she said, adding that she looks forward to another fun display this year. 2012 was also the year another pumpkin project for awareness and consideration
began: the Purple Pumpkin Project. Started by Ron Lamontagne in Connecticut for his son with epilepsy, the display of painted purple pumpkins are meant to prompt the question: “Why is your pumpkin purple?” and start a conversation about epilepsy awareness. Purple is the official color of epilepsy awareness, as of 2008 with the founding of Purple Day by a girl with epilepsy named Cassidy Megan. Purple was her favorite color, and lavender as a symbol has an association with things that are hidden or overlooked, such as epilepsy in this case. The Purple Pumpkin Project is now an annual tradition by the Epilepsy Foundation of America and has spread to other countries. The Foundation encourages participants to join their local pumpkin-painting event and tell their individual stories (sharing them on social media, too) when asked “why is your pumpkin purple?” 2012 was a big year for pumpkin projects and also saw the creation of the nonprofit The Pink Pumpkin Project, an effort for breast cancer awareness based out of New York with the motto “Giving Hope to Fighters, One Pumpkin at a Time.” October is also Breast Cancer Awareness Month. In 2018, Mothers Against Drunk Driving designated red pumpkins as a talking point for awareness around Halloween being one of the deadliest DUI holidays, with marketing stating: “Join us by displaying a red pumpkin as a reminder to designate a sober driver this holiday season. Red pumpkins create a conversation as a unique way to encourage the public to talk about these issues and make them think.” Dark blue pumpkins are another symbol of Halloween, one for autism awareness. There is not a clear origin story around an organization for this effort, but for several years, dark blue buckets have grown in popularity through social media for trick-or-treaters who may be nonverbal or potentially have a sensory-processing disorder, with the hope that the blue bucket will provide recognition for them to be welcomed without proclaiming “trick-or-treat!” Promoters of the blue pumpkin/blue bucket aren’t looking to start a conversation, but simply to help people receive patience, understanding and accommodation. Another more informal piece of pumpkin symbolism comes in the color white. Many within the pregnancy and infant loss community opt to remember their babies who have passed away with a white pumpkin on their porch during Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month in October. Rounding out the rainbow, yellow pumpkins were chosen to represent childhood apraxia of speech (which may also prevent a child from being able to say “trickor-treat) by mother Laura Slatter, who cites the Teal Pumpkin Project as inspiration. l
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Cottonwood girls tennis starts season under direction of a familiar new coach After losing 13 seniors to graduation, the Lady Colts girls tennis team will rebuild under softball head coach Natalie Wonnacott and her daughter Zoey. By Brian Shaw b.shaw@mycityjournals.com
I
t’s not every day that you get to play for a new head coach that looks and sounds awfully familiar to a lot of students. But, that is exactly what took place when head softball coach Natalie Wonnacott and her daughter, Zoey, agreed to lead Cottonwood’s girls tennis team for the 2026-27 season. Fresh off a state tournament appearance in softball, Cottonwood’s first in many years and one that sent several kids on to college programs, coach Wonnacott will step in at a time when the school needed her to lend her expertise in another sport. It was an unexpected departure according to Cottonwood Athletic Director James MacIntyre pertaining to the previous head coach, and so the decision was made to hire Wonnacott, a move he’s grateful for, to come in as a pinch hitter. She’ll inherit a program bringing back seven seniors, one that lost a whopping 13 to graduation. The Lady Colts will bring back several returning starters—including one familiar to those who watch the softball team: Juliet Lewis. She played tennis last season and will be captaining the squad along with fellow senior Hadlyn Boyd. The team also welcomed another standout athlete from softball in senior Samanntha Rodriguez. She’ll join Zuli Corona, Indie Hoggan, Ariana Fattahi and Sillen Tuushin as Cottonwood’s seniors returning to the team. Thus far, the team under the new coach
is still gelling. In first singles action, Lewis served up the new season suffering several losses in straight sets during August. However, she bounced back at Jordan Sept. 3 in which her opponent, Annabelle Webster, needed three sets to dispatch the Cottonwood senior, a match that Lewis took the first set in, in a tiebreak: 6-6 (7-3), 2-6 and 4-6. In second singles at Jordan, Cottonwood junior Hasti Yazdani also competed in her match, falling to Lainie Dyman in straight sets, 3-6 and 4-6. Yazdani has taken at least a point from each of her six opponents in five of those matches. In fourth singles, junior Alice Love has emerged, and at press time is the only Cottonwood player in singles or doubles to win more than one set or match. On Aug. 11, she defeated Sadie Borden of West 8-0, and then at Jordan Sept. 3 got past Olivia Lindhardt, 8-4. She also won the only fifth singles match in which she played in a tiebreak, 8-8 (7-4) against Wasatch’s Brynn Meibos. The youth movement has also made noise in sixth and seventh singles, as sophomore Serenity Brenchley and freshman Emmaline Hiller each won their matches. Brenchley has also teamed up with freshman The 2026-27 Cottonwood girls tennis team is coached by Natalie Wonnacott. (Wikimedia) Magdalena Savage in second doubles to give the Colts their lone victory as a pair thus far. For a Cottonwood team that lost so many kids to graduation, this year was always going to have a few bumps on the court. The Colts will close out their regular season with CHOOSE SINGLE WASH OR U NL IMITED WASH CLUB four meets against Region 10 opponents in September, followed by the Region 10 JV TEACHERS • STUDENTS and varsity tournaments. NURSES • MILITARY The 2026-27 Cottonwood girls tennis FIRST RESPONDERS MEMBERSHIP team is: Brylin Busey, Zuli Corona, Claire Mitchell, Fiorella Cornejo, Arya Wood, Yaraiz Lopez, Hadlyn Boyd, Juliet Lewis, ULTIMATE SHINE Hasti Yazdani, Madison Bailey, Emmaline AND SHIELD Hiller, Indie Hoggan, Ariana Fattahi, Ruby SINGLE WASH $24 Myers, Autumn Luker, Alice Love, SamanUNLIMITED WASH ntha Rodriguez, Sillen Tuushin, Magdalena CLUB: $40/MONTH Savage and Serenity Brenchley. l
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October 2026 | Page 19
‘Ghost Adventures’ celebrities investigate The Great Saltair at ParaCon finale
Salt City ParaCon’s inaugural year draws such a wealth of local participation that the 2027 paranormal conference is already scheduled. By Cassie Goff c.goff@mycityjournals.com
“W
hat’s up with Utah, man?” asked Aaron Goodwin, “Ghost Adventures” TV personality, actor and producer. “There’s something going on with the land. It’s just weird.” Goodwin and Jay Wasley, his fellow “Ghost Adventures” actor, producer and director, were in town for the first-ever local paranormal conference known as Salt City ParaCon. Salt City ParaCon drew local paranormal enthusiasts together for various paranormal guest speakers, panel discussions, workshops, local vendors and late-night investigations of The Great Saltair.
David Sandoval, Salt City ParaCon’s event organizer, and Aaron Goodwin, “Ghost Adventures” TV personality, prep to investigate The Great Saltair. (Cassie Goff/City Journals)
“We love all things spooky and paranormal,” said local haunt actor Kookie The Clown. “The people here are amazing. It’s a great community.” David Sandoval, Salt City ParaCon’s event planner, was inspired by events like Vernal’s PhenomeCon and Pennsylvania’s Pennhurst ParaCon. He wanted to create a space and community in Utah specifically focused on the paranormal, as opposed to other areas of supernatural focus like Big Foot, aliens and skin walkers. “I didn’t know what to expect for the turnout,” Sandoval said. “Once we got Jay on board, it snowballed. Everybody in the community knows Jay.” As he was planning an event of this scale for the first time, Sandoval took care to pick and format the 45 local vendors into the conference. He wanted to have paranormal investigators included, of course, but he also wanted to bring in skeptics to balance out the vendor floor. “I always like the idea of a conversation,” Sandoval said. “I wanted to have both sides of the argument.” “The mystery of the paranormal has to have definitive answers,” said Zayne Searle from the YouTube show “The Unknown Investigators.” Sandoval personally buys into the “residual energy” theories to explain the paranormal world and to understand what we don’t know after death. “Past, present and future are happening all at the same time,” he said. During the daylight hours of the ParaCon weekend, attendees were able to browse local artist booths, snack on food from local artisan trucks (like The Haunted Wagon Philly Cheesesteak and Crazy Chicken), and listen to panel discussions and guest speaker presentations. “We love coming out to build connections with the overlapping community,” said Ollie Odinson, content creator of Slash Lake City.
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But after the sun went down, they were able to explore The Great Saltair (12408 W. Saltair Drive) in Magna with investigations led by Goodwin and Wasley. (Because as Sandoval noted, any paranormal conference must “end with a ghost hunt.”) “We asked the ghosts if they came to our booth,” said Amber Galer, Curst Beauty wholesale director. “They said yes.” After the Salt City ParaCon weekend was over, Sandoval shared that some of the vendors reported back to him with some of the biggest sales days in their entire business careers. Sandoval has already made announcements for Salt City ParaCon 2027 with returning appearances from Goodwin and Wasley, and new attendance confirmed by Amy Bruni, Jessica Chobot and Patti Negri. “I don’t want to keep it exclusive to the paranormal,” Sandoval said. “We’re reaching out to other celebrities that don’t believe in ghosts.” (Sean Kanan from “Karate Kid”/”Cobra Kai” has already signed on.) Salt City ParaCon 2026’s local art vendors included Curst Beauty (www.curstbeauty.com), Erica Lackey (on Instagram @
bone.n.ware), Chesley Jewelry (www.chesleyjewelry.com), Haderlie Designs (www. haderliedesigns.com), ideas2ink (www. ideas2ink.net), Haunted Haven LLC (with Northern Utah Paranormal) (on Facebook @Haunted Haven Paraphysical Shop), The Traveling Whisper (on Instagram @the_travelingwhisper), Kookie Creations (on Instagram @kookiezcreationz), and Slash Lake City (on Facebook), Local paranormal services attending ParaCon included: Wasatch Investigative Society for Paranormal Studies (WISPS) (www.advancedparanormal.com), Beehive Skeptics (www.beehiveskeptics.com) and “The Unknown Investigators” (on YouTube). Salt City ParaCon’s artwork and logo were designed by Claudio Bergamin (on Instagram @claudiobergamin.art). Salt City ParaCon 2026 was sponsored by Western Paranormal Society, Fear Factory, Castle of Chaos and Nightmare on 13th. Salt City ParaCon 2027 will begin on April 15, 2027 and run through April 17, 2027 at Asylum 49 in Tooele (140 E. 200 South). To learn more, or to buy tickets, visit their website at: www.saltcityparacon.com. l
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Parents have a voice in how School LAND Trust dollars help students
School community councils help determine how funding can address each school’s needs. By Julie Slama j.slama@mycityjournals.com
A
t one Utah school, the priority might be reading intervention. At another, it could be additional classroom support. A third school might decide educational software is what students need most. Who sets the priorities? In Utah, parents have a voice and a vote through school community councils. For the 2026-27 school year, $134 million in School LAND (Learning and Nurturing Development) Trust funds will be distributed to Utah district and charter schools, benefiting more than 658,000 students at more than 1,000 schools. School allocations are largely based on enrollment. For parents who want a greater voice in their children’s education, serving on a school community council can be one of the most direct ways to make a difference, said Jessie Stuart, assistant director of the School & Institutional Trust Beneficiaries’ Advocacy Office. “I feel like the trust lands story is one of the coolest stories out there,” she said. “These lands are put in trust to generate revenue for public schools.” Utah’s trust lands were established when the state entered the Union. Revenue is generated from trust lands through activities such as oil and gas, mining, solar power, real estate development and other uses. The money is invested, with earnings distributed to beneficiaries. “The beneficiaries of these trust lands are the K through 12 school kids who these teachers are teaching every single day,” Stuart said. When funding is distributed to schools, parent involvement in the local decision-making becomes critical, Stuart said. At Draper Elementary, Principal Scott Jameson starts by explaining the LAND Trust program to council members — parents, employees in addition to himself. “We start with data, identify our highest needs, then we develop goals and come up with an action plan,” he said. “We can put that money toward meeting our highest needs.” Draper’s 2026-27 plan includes goals to increase mathematics and literacy proficiency by 1% to 3%. “The greatest power of this whole thing,” he said, “is all that money is based on what the school needs.” Principal Suzie Williams, of Columbia Elementary in West Jordan, said LAND Trust dollars often support paraprofessionals who provide interventions and classroom assistance.
“We typically use it for support staff so we can provide intervention and individualized instruction for students with instructional aides and classroom aides,” she said. “We can provide rotation teachers to give our teachers planning and collaboration time.” Principal Justin Pitcher, of Cottonwood High School in Murray, said last year’s council determined the $265,000 LAND Trust dollars would support instructional coaching, assessment coordination, additional teacher periods and educational software. “We need parents to be involved in our school community councils, so we can appropriate the funding in ways that will benefit our students with the parent input,” Pitcher said. Parents bring a perspective educators may not always have. “Parents themselves give input and insight to a school which we don’t always see,” Jameson said. “Educators are experts in instruction. They’re experts in working with large groups of kids, but parents help us to hone down to individuals.” Pitcher said SCCs bring together those perspectives. “The power of a council allows us to be able to work through really hard decisions, and come to a consensus,” Pitcher said. That parent voice has a long history in Utah. Utah PTA members began advocating for reform of the trust-land system in the 1980s. “Today, those efforts bring millions of dollars every year to Utah’s
Parents, faculty and the principal at Cottonwood High School appropriate LAND Trust funding for students’ best interest. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
schoolchildren,” Utah PTA President Julie Cluff said. “What’s even better is that it’s not just today’s kids who benefit, it’s tomorrow’s kids too.” That’s an important lesson: the LAND Trust fund isn’t simply money to spend. “They are an investment in students and school community councils that give families a voice in determining how that investment can have the greatest local impact,” said Williams, who served on a LAND Trust committee for three years. “Parents do not need to be education experts. They simply need to know their community, care about students and be willing to participate.” l
Local School LAND Trust distribution 2026-27 Canyons District $6,039,052 Davis District $12,599,737 Granite District $10,227,609 Jordan District $10,473,694 Murray District $1,269,968 Salt Lake District $3,505,362 All Charter Schools $17,295,728 Source: School Children’s Trust Office, Utah State Board of Education. As required by law, estimates are based on October 2025 enrollment data.
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October 2026 | Page 21
Give people grace
S
eptember 11th marks 15 years since my 57-year-old mom passed away in a car accident. It was the first time I’d ever lost someone that close to me so suddenly, and it was jarring. In the days that followed, I thought often about how precious life is— and how quickly it can change. My parents were driving down to St. George for a water conference that my dad needed to attend. As they traveled on I-15 near Leeds, a terrible storm came upon them. Their car slid off the road and rolled several times. My mom was killed instantly. My dad survived with only a few bumps and bruises, but his heart was broken by the loss. My brother, Mike, and I drove to St. George and reached my dad at the hospital around 4 a.m. Later, after trying to sleep for a few hours, I awoke hoping it had all been a nightmare. Instead, I faced the bitter reality that my mom was gone. We had a funeral to plan and a long road ahead as we helped my dad begin to recover. The first time I went to the grocery store after the funeral, everything felt strangely
Aimee Winder Newton
Salt Lake County Councilmember District 3
normal. People wandered the aisles, chatted with one another and went about their errands. Meanwhile, my life had changed. My grief was heavy. I felt broken and numb, still trying to understand how my mom could be here one day and gone the next. I probably looked fine—just like any other shopper. But I was not fine. I share this with you because there are thousands of Utahns going about their lives with heavy hearts. Just because we can’t see their injuries, trauma or sorrow, doesn’t mean it’s not there. Sometimes when we are dealing with heavy burdens, we may not be our
best selves. Do you ever see people who seem agitated or just generally grouchy? We never really know what they are going through or the struggles that have been heaped upon them. Recently, I learned of a family grieving the death by suicide of a 14-year-old girl. Her loved ones are devastated and searching for answers. Others in our community are coping with life-threatening illnesses or a new cancer diagnosis. Some are experiencing addiction, mental illness, housing insecurity, domestic violence or abuse. Many are caring for an aging parent, worried about a child, struggling financially or simply trying to make it through another day. It is so important for us to give people grace. I am reminded of a quote often attributed to author Ian Maclaren: “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” We rarely know the whole story of the person in front of us — the coworker who snapped at us, the driver who cut us off, the neighbor who hasn’t returned a wave in weeks. Behind an ordinary Tuesday there might be a diagnosis just received, a marriage
falling apart, or a grief that has no expiration date. Fifteen years later, I still miss my mom every day. That loss taught me that kindness costs us nothing, and we never know when it might be exactly what someone needs to keep going. A text to a friend who has gone quiet. A phone call to check on a friend. Patience with the cashier who seems short-tempered, or the driver going too slow. None of us can fix another person’s grief or struggle. But we can meet a stranger’s rough edges with curiosity instead of judgment, and a friend’s silence with a check-in instead of assumption. That is the kind of community I hope we keep building here in Salt Lake County. If you are carrying something heavy right now, please know you are not alone, and there is no shame in asking for help. And if you’re not sure who around you might be struggling, consider assuming that someone is, and treat them accordingly. It is a small shift that can make a real difference.
First responders 9/11 football game is a cause close to Cottonwood coach Mike Ward’s heart The first game versus Cottonwood High alumni took place Sept. 10 at the CHS stadium. By Brian Shaw b.shaw@mycityjournals.com
I
n some years, the solemn day of September 11 falls earlier in the week. This year, however, it happened to fall closer to the end of the week. And so, it got new Cottonwood head football coach Mike Ward to engage in some deep thinking. “When I looked at our schedule and realized our game fell right around 9/11, I thought, why not use a football game as a way to honor that day and the first responders who continue to serve our community every day?” Ward said. “So the idea was to have a first responders versus Cottonwood alumni game and bring our community together through football while showing our appreciation for the men and women who run toward the things most people run away from.” On Sept. 10, one day before the Colts took to the field for a home game against crosstown rival Murray, a group of special and important emergency personnel suited up in Cottonwood’s football stadium to compete in a fun, competitive game. In turn, the community took a few moments to remember and recognize those that put all of us first. “September 11th was a tragic day that our country will never forget, and communities
Page 22 | October 2026
all over the country find different ways to honor the lives that were lost and the people who stepped up that day,” Ward said. Himself the product of a military family, Cottonwood’s first-year head coach said he grew up in the New York/Connecticut area an hour from where the towers fell at the World Trade Center and has always had a deep appreciation for the sacrifices made by the people placing their lives on the line to protect and help others. Inviting local emergency personnel from police, fire and EMS is just a way to give back and thank them for their service, according to Cottonwood’s football coach. His staff and players were also participants at the game, providing the kinds of support services they’d probably been taking for granted at their own varsity and JV games, day in and day out. In many ways, the game was a success, resulting in some big plays on the field, some hearty laughter on and off the gridiron, and some fun that was had by all at Cottonwood High’s football stadium. For Ward, this was also the fulfillment of a lifelong dream. “I’ve always wanted to create something like this as a tradition for the community I became a head coach in, and now I can make it happen,” he said. “Hopefully, this is something we can continue every year and grow into a tradition that our players, alumni, first responders and entire commu- Cottonwood High’s football stadium hosted a special first responders versus alumni game Sept. 10. (Photo courtesy of Mike Ward) nity can be proud of.” l
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W
hat if your worst day became your villain origin story? The day you lost your temper at Walmart. The day you kicked the office water cooler. The day you screamed at your partner in the grocery store and became a viral sensation for all the wrong reasons. What if your greatest shame or embarrassment became your legacy: forever. I’m afraid we’ve judged Disney villains too harshly. What if they were normal people having a tough day? What if their bad decisions defined them for generations? Take Ursula the Sea Witch. She ran a powerful, women-owned business, granting people their heart’s desire. What did she get? Impaled on the bow of a ship and labeled as a fast-talking, predatory loan officer for eternity. Were her tactics questionable? Of course. But she was also an octopus. What about Snow White’s Evil Queen? She bought into the idea that youth is everything and had a questionable relationship with mirrors, but one poison-laced apple and suddenly she’s a witch. Maleficent’s curse on Sleeping Beauty was an overreaction to not being invited to a baby blessing. Cinderella’s stepmother just wanted Cinderella to do some damn chores. Does that make her evil? Cinderella could have at least unloaded the dishwasher instead of dressing up her mice. Maybe these villains were all having a
S outhSaltLakeJournal.com
Welcome to the Dark Side Peri Kinder Life and Laughter
terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. But understanding why someone acted badly isn’t the same as excusing that behavior. We’ve all been there. We’ve said things we’ve regretted. We’ve hurt people’s feelings. We’ve done stupid things. Hopefully you didn’t try to skin 101 Dalmatians, but really, who hasn’t wanted a coat as soft as a pile of puppies? Who hasn’t gone all Queen of Hearts and yelled, “Off with his head!” during a stressful work meeting? No one? Just me? Was Beauty’s Gaston intentionally terrible? Maybe his father never taught him to respect women and never scolded him for putting his disgusting feet on the table. His public humiliation seemed to push him into “Kill the Beast” mode, but that’s no excuse for his villainous behavior. The way we treat each other matters. How often have we made someone the villain? The driver who honks immediately after the light turns green was obviously raised
by feral wolves. The woman having a meltdown at Starbucks becomes a “Karen” and is publicly shamed on TikTok. The neighbor who disagrees with you politically becomes your nemesis. And now our bad days can be recorded, posted, commented on by strangers and picked apart by internet trolls before we even figure out what happened. Life feels so prickly. We’re walking around like a cactus, trying not to stab someone in the thigh. I don’t think anyone wakes up and thinks, “I’m going to be an incredible jerk today.” Well, except some politicians. Who hasn’t felt rage, hopelessness or fear? Humans act irrationally. Sometimes we’re exhausted, sometimes we’re at wit’s end or sometimes we just can’t hear our co-worker chew his sandwich for one more minute. We are so quick to judge, so fast to condemn. Trolling has become a favorite pastime for many people, and I don’t mean the ones who live under bridges. I’ve often fallen into the role of villain. I’ve posted rage-bait; I’ve gauged a person’s character by the color of their hat or by the number of American flags stuck to their Ford F-150. We need to remember that everyone is carrying a heavy load, even the people we want to push off the castle. I know I’ve been the villain in someone’s story. Haven’t we all?
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.
October 2026 | Page 23
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