July 2026 | Vol. 22 Iss. 7
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Taylorsville
5400 South sidewalk
Multi-million project to improve pedestrian safety Page 6
Outdoor ideas
Special section looks at forest bathing, e-bikes
Page 21
Taylorsville Police Department: 5 years in and still going strong By Carl Fauver | c.fauver@mycityjournals.com
Born July 1, 2021, Police Chief Brady Cottam and his law enforcement agency continue to earn strong reviews from elected officials and citizens.
A
t a time when “inflation” and “affordability” roll off our tongues much more frequently than most of us can ever previously recall, Taylorsville elected officials are keeping a pledge they made to city property taxpayers half a decade ago. They are continuing to provide law enforcement “in-house,” at an efficient price. “Budget season is not my favorite time of year,” TVPD Police Chief Brady Cottam said. “The city (council and administration) holds me very accountable. Frugality is the bottom line here. My staff does an excellent job of helping me find places where we can trim our budget.” Striving for cost efficiencies is what prompted Taylorsville City officials, back in 2012, to dismantle their first in-house police department to become a contract city with the Unified Police Department. City Administrator John Taylor says that move made good financial sense back then; but it was an equally sound fiscal move to revert to a city-operated law enforcement agency on July 1, 2021. “After we brought the police department back in-house five years ago, we quickly began to discover spending waste and opportunities to be more efficient,” Taylor said. “As UPD kept increasing its contract rates, we could clearly see the direction they were going. We felt like we were on a train
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Nearly half of these TVPD officers – sworn in when the agency first began operating July 1, 2021 – remain with the force today. (Photo courtesy TVPD)
and didn’t like the direction it was headed. Our current TVPD 2027) is $15,331,419. That’s an increase of 33% over six years. budget is now about $2 million less than it would be if we had In that time, the number of TVPD employees has grown remained with Unified Police.” modestly, from 69 to 76 people. But more significantly, Taylorsville city paid Unified Police $11,485,463 in the Taylorsville City Council has succeeded in keeping its its final contract year (July 2020 – June 2021). The TVPD Continued on page 5 requested budget for the new fiscal year (July 2026 – June
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COMMON GROUND
The Pot Calling the Kettle a Rainbow
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. As normal for June in Utah, there was little rainfall, but that didn’t stop tears of the far left from crying throughout the month. What were they upset about this time? Gov. Cox decided June (2026) should be Fidelity Month. Did the left feel betrayed by one of their biggest supporters when he didn’t recognize their month-long orgy? His declaration reads: Whereas, a recent opinion poll of Americans showed that support for traditional values has significantly declined; Whereas, a majority of Americans no longer esteem values like faith, family, patriotism or community involvement; Whereas, fidelity means dedication to faith, family and country; Whereas, it is imperative that we recommit ourselves to the pursuit of fidelity; Whereas, John Adams, a founding father of the United States, said, ‘‘Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.’’; Whereas, the survival of the United States depends on the shared bonds of faith, family and patriotism; and Whereas, it is fitting to observe one month each year to rededicate the United States to its core values; Now, therefore, I, Spencer J. Cox,
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John J. Walker Common Ground
governor of the great state of Utah, do hereby declare June, 2026 as Fidelity Month in Utah. If you imagined Gov. Cox activated his taxpayer-funded propaganda machine and waged war against the LGBTQ+ community by shoving his new declaration down everyone’s throat, it would be exactly that, your imagination. No politician has made such a lackluster declaration since Clinton used his air quotes. The Governor simply posted the declaration to his website. But that didn’t stop people from feeling butthurt about the proclamation. As if the Governor’s track record had been forgotten: 2021: The Governor declares the month of June, LGBTQ+ Pride Month in Utah. 2022: The Governor declares the month of June, LGBTQ+ Pride Month in Utah. 2023: The Governor declares the month of June, Pride Month in Utah. 2024: The Governor declares June the month of “Bridge Building”. 2025: No declaration by the Governor, but 42 miles south of the State Capitol Charlie Kirk, a right-wing political activist, was assassinated on Sept. 10. Note: the accused assassin may have been aligned with the LGBTQ community.
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2026: The Governor declares the month of June, Fidelity Month. Now, let’s look at the track record of the LGBTQ+ community for the same time period. 2021: They mock the LDS culture and religious community by creating an all-out effort to change Pioneer Day into Pie and Beer Day. 2022: They continue to mock LDS culture and community by creating an all-out effort to change Pioneer Day into Pie and Beer Day. 2023: They continue their mocking of the celebration of Pioneer Day. 2024: Continue mocking the celebration of Pioneer Day. 2025: Continue mocking the celebration of Pioneer Day. 2026: Continue their mocking celebration of Pioneer Day. It’s probably the most consistent aspect of their culture, in a world where they add new colors to their flag and their acronym gets so large they just add a + sign. To get respect, you might have to give a little. Common Ground: The current political environment has tricked us, leaving us with two polar options. Either we have to gay bash or we have to run through the street dressed like Richard Simmons, waving a rainbow flag. However, it seems like there’s a lot of ground in the middle. That ground might be the area most of us occupy. I think most Utahns can agree the
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LGBTQ+ community should be recognized; they should be allowed to celebrate their community. But can we make it less about their sexuality and focus more on their suffrage, rights, and successes? Those things we can all celebrate. As a mutual sign of respect, can’t all members of the state come together to celebrate and balance religious aspects with the suffrage, rights and successes within the communities? Those celebrations leave room for the journey of the pioneers in the mid-1800s and the similarities to that of the LGBTQ+ community in the mid-to late 1900s. Both suffered persecution. Both fought the federal government’s overreach as to who they can marry. Should Utah celebrate Pride Month? Of course. Should the Governor have declared the month Pride Month? Maybe. He doesn’t own the month; he can declare it anything he wants and we can celebrate each day as we please. Equally important are values like faith, family, patriotism or community involvement. Are they currently at risk? Of course. Let’s celebrate those values. So thank you, Gov.Cox, for supporting these key values and declaring June Fidelity Month. Let’s celebrate it and next year let’s get even louder about our celebration, maybe a drone show over the Capitol or a UFC fight in the rotunda. Thank you, Governor, for supporting Pride Month for five years. We hope you have not given up on it, and our families and community.
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continued from front page promise to regularly increase police officer salaries. During the last several years of the law enforcement contract with UPD, the Taylorsville division was perpetually understaffed as officers quit the agency to seek higher pay elsewhere. “It is an ongoing challenge to provide our officers with pay raises,” Taylor added. “We are very proud of that accomplishment.” “When we first started TVPD, the pay range for our officers was $27.40 to $37.06 per hour, depending on experience,” Cottam said. “After the city council authorized our most recent pay raises last January, my officers’ pay ranges are now $36.51 to $50 per hour. In my five years now as chief, we have not had one single officer leave us to seek higher pay elsewhere. The city has kept its pledge, which is a big boost to our department morale.” Nearly half of TVPD’s current staff (36 of 76) have been with the agency since day one. “I can say it was absolutely the right decision to form our own police department in 2021,” Mayor Kristie Overson said. “It’s hard to believe it’s been five years already. Our citizens now have better, more personalized police protection. The department has
TVPD Police Chief Brady Cottam is proud of his law enforcement team as they enter year six as an agency. (Photo courtesy TVPD)
worked through a few issues along the way; but I have never had any second thoughts about our decision to form TVPD.” Now five years in, the mayor and city council will begin to look ahead to the next half-decade. “Starting from ground zero and standing up a police department has been terrific,” Overson said. “Now, at this five-year mark, it’s a good time to look ahead. We’ll be doing a deep, internal review – looking at everything. Are there more ways to be cost efficient? Do we need to tweak anything? We plan to take a good look, just to be sure everything remains on track.” City Councilman Curt Cochran shares the mayor’s pride in what’s been accomplished so far. “It was a scary decision to create TVPD, because the city took on a lot of new responsibility,” Cochran said. “But we also knew it was the right decision. We have been saving taxpayers a lot of money, right from day one. I hear from our residents they are happy with the move. And the city council also frequently hears from officers, our department is where they want to be.” In addition to keeping residents safe, TVPD also prioritizes community outreach. For starters, the agency operates a very vibrant Facebook page – posting photos of “bad guys” to be on the lookout for… along with notices about their many community activities. Each year, for example, Taylorsville Police K9 officers and their trainers present educational assemblies at all Taylorsville elementary schools. Two of the three dogs, “Turbo” and “Koda,” have been with TVPD from the beginning. The third, “Maverick,” joined the team last December. The TVPD K9 Unit has won a number of safety response competitions over the past five years. Another development over the past few years has been the creation and growth of the TVPD Bike Squad. Largely through donations and grants, the unit continues to become more and more active in the community. “The Utah Division of Natural Resources recently gave us two new e-bikes,” Cottam said. “We now have about 12 patrol bicycles all together. We use them primarily to patrol the Jordan River corridor. It has helped to
The three-dog TVPD K9 Unit presents annual demonstrations at elementary schools throughout the city. (Photo courtesy TVPD)
reduce the homeless encampments along the river and it also gives our officers a great opportunity to talk with residents. We use the Bike Squad during Taylorsville Dayzz and at other special events as well.” TVPD Bike Squad members are tested and certified by the Utah Highway Patrol. The officers have also proven valuable at city shopping centers, monitoring shoplifting and other incidents. Speaking of bikes, TVPD also recently earned a hefty donation from a nonprofit organization in exchange for bicycle pedaling 250 miles over four days, from St. Anthony, Idaho to Salt Lake City. Cottam and three TVPD officers were among 33 riders on the journey, hosted by a Colorado-based group Shield616 (shield616.org). The organization is dedicated to supporting law enforcement first responders nationwide. “This was the first time TVPD was involved in a Shield616 event,” Cottam said. “I met the organization’s president a couple of years ago. We spent nights in churches during the ride. In exchange for participating, Shield616 donated nine rifle-rated bulletproof vests to our department. The value of each vest is about $2,750, so the total donation was around $25,000. The ride was
a challenge, and we are very grateful for their donation to our department.” As the Taylorsville City Police Department moves into its sixth year of operation, you can keep abreast of their activities on their Facebook page and at taylorsvilleut. gov/services/tvpd. l
Donations and grant funding have assisted TVPD in establishing a bike patrol, deployed primarily along the Jordan River. (Photo courtesy TVPD)
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July 2026 | Page 5
Pedestrians walking west from Millrace Park on 5400 South are now finding the going easier, with new sidewalks in place up the hill to 1300 West. (Carl Fauver/City Journals)
Crews began to install the sidewalks west of Millrace Park, on 5400 South, in February. (Carl Fauver/City Journals)
UDOT-funded $2.5 million sidewalk project along 5400 South to improve pedestrian safety and rainwater control Taylorsville City Councilman Curt Cochran has championed the project for years – and finally got it done with zero cost to city taxpayers. By Carl Fauver c.fauver@mycityjournals.com
“T
his new sidewalk – on both sides of 5400 South, from 700 West to 1300 West – has been one of my top priorities from the day I joined the Taylorsville City Council.” For Councilman Curt Cochran, that’s more than eight years, since he first joined the city council in early 2018 – in a special vote by the other council members – to replace now-Mayor Kristie Overson on the council, following her November 2017 mayoral election. Cochran reports he never faced a lot of opposition to the plan. But it took lots of meetings, over many years, to figure out how the
multimillion-dollar project would be funded. “First I presented the sidewalk idea to our Taylorsville City Council, but the cost was a big concern,” Cochran said. “Soon after that, probably six to eight years ago, I got representatives from Salt Lake County, UDOT and UTA to all come out to the site to see my concerns for themselves. After that, I involved (Salt Lake County Councilwoman) Aimee Winder Newton, State Senator Wayne Harper and (former State Representative, now State Senator) Karen Kwan. I spoke with a lot of people because I refused to let go of the idea.” Cochran says his passion for the project began with something he saw years ago – and still remembers, like it was yesterday. “What really got me revved up about the need for these sidewalks was seeing a handicapped man sitting down in the snow, on the ground, during a snowstorm, waiting for a bus on 5400 South,” he said. “I decided
Looking west on 5400 South, this new portion of sidewalk makes the turn north into Millrace Park. (Carl Fauver/City Journals)
Page 6 | July 2026
then and there, if getting these sidewalks done was my only accomplishment during my time as a city council member, I would consider my term a success.” After a couple of years seeking funding, Cochran received a much-needed boost from Kwan. “This really was Councilman Cochran’s pet project and we had many conversations about it,” Kwan said. “I thought it was a great idea from the beginning. But funding is always the issue. I remember having several phone calls with UDOT (officials) about it. We were finally able to get the funds after lots of conversations.” Initially, the Taylorsville City Council did set aside a few thousand of their own tax dollars to fund a study on the need for the new sidewalks. But City Administrator John Taylor says even those funds never had to be spent. “Taylorsville City is literally spending zero money on the new sidewalks,” Taylor said. “I know Mayor Overson spoke with a couple of different Murray mayors about the project over the years, because the sidewalks are in both cities. Our city will face some new expenses because our maintenance crews will have to keep snow off the sidewalks. I’m also a little concerned rainwater could puddle at the entrance to Millrace Park after big storms. But we’re committed to make it all work. The sidewalks will definitely make that area safer for pedestrians.” Work began on the project in February. UDOT officials report about one mile of new sidewalk has been installed, at a cost of $2.5 million. “This has been a multi-year process and has taken so much time and energy,” Overson said. “Councilman Cochran never gave up on
Longtime Taylorsville City Councilman Curt Cochran has finally won his years-long battle to get new sidewalks poured on both sides of 5400 South – and at no cost to city taxpayers. (Photo courtesy Wendy Cochran)
his vision for the sidewalks. It took a lot of work; but the funding was finally found.” “As I have talked with my constituents, most of them have been very excited about the sidewalk project,” Cochran said. “I promised them I would not rest until they were in. This will be much safer for people walking in the area. It was a team effort involving our Taylorsville City staff, along with the county and state.” Then Cochran added one final thought. “Early every year, the city council members gather for a planning meeting and we are always each asked what our top priority for the year is,” he concluded. “Every year I have said the sidewalks were my top priority. But this year, I was finally able to say this project was not priority one – because it was finally getting done. That felt good.” l
Taylorsville City Journal
Senior Taylorsville couple win their age divisions at Riverton race
What started as a challenge became a generational celebration. By Peri Kinder peri.k@thecityjournals.com
I
t’s not like the Naisbitts are elite athletes or trained runners. In fact, before the Riverton Half Marathon, 10K and 5K, some of the family hadn’t ever participated in a race. But more than 40 members of the Naisbitt family showed up at the 2026 event to race or cheer each other on. Now it’s a new family tradition. Eden Callister suggested the event could be a meaningful way to celebrate two milestones: her grandfather’s 85th birthday and her brother’s 18th. Family members were traveling to Utah for the celebrations and Callister encouraged them to sign up for the race. What started as a few participants turned into an event that spanned generations and ranged in ages from 12 to 85. “It was my first race and I decided to train for the half marathon. I’m still working towards that,” Callister said. “I wanted to do something that was really hard, something that wasn’t possible at the time, but would become possible through discipline and training. I decided to sign up. My little brother has been running on and off, and so I decided I wanted him to do something hard with me, too. And so I signed
him up.” Callister’s mother, Andrea Bush, and little brother live in Alabama so coordinating training and travel was a challenge, but then more family members registered for the event, including Callister’s grandparents Gilbert and Jean Naisbitt. At 85, Gilbert Naisbitt won the 5K for his age division, and Jean Naisbitt, at 79, won her age division, too. The Taylorsville couple joined dozens of family members who celebrated their accomplishments. “It was so fun for my parents to get first place,” Bush said. “This was just a fun, family race where people came out and did their best, had fun and competed against themselves. So next year, that’s what we’re doing again.” “We had people who came just to support and cheer us on,” Callister said. “There were those who didn’t want to run, and some of the littles were too young to run; they cheered us on as we finished.” Although she organized and trained for the event, Callister sprained her ankle during the race and didn’t finish, but that only fueled her desire to run again next year when the event falls on her grandfather’s actual birthday. “I was so hyped up for it, and then I rolled my ankle,” Callister said. “It was the saddest thing to me. It would have been so easy to count the day as a loss, but the truth is, I got everyone there, and my little brother was so proud that he
Whether they were running or cheering, 43 members of Gilbert and Jean Naisbitt’s family traveled to participate in the Riverton 10K and 5K. (Brook Bowen/Riverton City)
finished. He’d never done something that hard. He literally wore his medal for days. It just brought me so much joy. And my grandma, she got to the finish line and broke down in tears.” While it didn’t turn out the way she’d planned, Callister is excited to prepare for next year’s Riverton races. With family spread across South Jordan, Taylorsville, Eagle Mountain and Alabama, she said the event in Riverton is a good location to bring everyone together.
The family is training again and Callister is preparing for the half-marathon. She’s challenged her siblings and other family members who didn’t race to join in the event next year. Her mom is already on board and will be back to run again. “We’re just a family who loves to be together and do stuff together,” Bush said. “It was a fun environment, and whatever race we were in, we could all go and do it together.” l
Salt Lake County’s America250 Initiative has delivered some unusual, temporary art to Taylorsville and several other locations
The patriotic hot air balloon inside the MVPAC, made of thousands of cans of food, will remain on display through the end of the month. By Carl Fauver c.fauver@mycityjournals.com
I
f you’ve wandered into the Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center anytime during the past several weeks, you likely had a doubletake when you glimpsed the northwest corner of the building, next to the ticket booth. And, after the elephant-sized display registered in your mind, your next thought may have been, ‘How many cans of food is that?’ Amber Craighill, Marketing Director at Salt Lake-engineering firm BHB Structural has your answer. “Our team used 4,330 cans of food to construct the patriotic hot air balloon in Taylorsville,” Craighill said. “All totaled, our team of 15 people – from three different companies – put in about 100 volunteer hours on the project. On the final construction day, it took us about four hours to assemble it.” Craighill’s team was one of eight deployed across the valley to erect similar patriotic food can displays at eight different Salt Lake County facilities, including MVPAC. From Herriman and Draper to the south, Magna out
TaylorsvilleJ ournal.com
This patriotic display inside the MVPAC is constructed of more than 4,300 food cans. (Carl Fauver/City Journals)
west and Millcreek to the east, you will find large art displays depicting the Liberty Bell, a naval battleship and many other things, all constructed of thousands of cans of food. “These cans are a symbol of what Salt Lake County does best,” County Mayor Jenny Wilson said. “(We come) together to take care
of one another.” The food can art is part of the county’s effort to join in on the nationwide America250 Initiative marking our country’s 250th birthday on July 4. Those old enough to recall the 200-year celebration back in 1976 remember that was the “bicentennial.” This time around, the actual term for 250 years is semiquincentennial, or halfway to 500 years. The MVPAC hot air balloon was created by the team of GSBS Architects/BHB Structural/Okland Construction. They call their display “Lifted by Community.” “This sculpture reinterprets the hot air balloon as a symbol of optimism, exploration and shared progress,” Craighill said. “The balloon reflects forward momentum and American ingenuity. Volunteers from GSBS Architects designed it, my company (BHB Structural) figured out how to keep it standing and Okland Construction provided the boards, steel rods and other equipment necessary to put it all together.” And why are all eight artistic structures created using, all totaled, about 25,000 cans of food? Angie Harris Roberts, executive director of the 805-member Utah Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, has that answer. That professional association began erecting CANstruction displays nationwide decades ago.
“CANstruction began in the early 2000s across the country, primarily as a way to highlight architectural firms, construction companies, engineers and other allied design businesses,” she said. “The displays have always been made of food cans, so the food can then be donated to charity, nationwide. In our state, we partner with the Utah Food Bank. Salt Lake County reached out to AIA more than a year ago to see if our CANstruction contest this year could be incorporated in the America250 Initiative.” When you visit any of the eight CANstruction displays across the valley this month, you will also see a large bin where you can drop any canned food donations you would like to contribute to the effort. Salt Lake County has set a goal of generating the equivalent of 250,000 meals for local families. “It was fun to watch these food sculptures take shape, and we hope residents visit all eight locations,” Salt Lake County Council Chair and Taylorsville resident Aimee Winder Newton said. “Who knew canned food could provide such great nutritional and artistic enrichment?” The displays will remain in place through July. All of the canned food will be in the hands of the Utah Food Bank by mid-August, where it will be redistributed to the Taylorsville Food Pantry and many other Utah pantries.l
July 2026 | Page 7
‘Art is for EVERYONE,’ creative reuse center opening in Taylorsville This “thrift store for craft supplies” opens in July with eager anticipation from the surrounding community. By Anna Nielsen a.nielsen@mycityjournals.com
T
he idea that “everyone is an artist” is a sentiment echoed by many in the art world. Sometimes the sentiment comes in forms of statements like “everyone has an art,” or “there is artistry in everything that exists.” At Secondhand Salamander’s new store, the colorful words painted on the wall are “Art is for EVERYONE.” The concepts of art being for everyone and offering everyone an avenue toward accepting their artistic identity, are core values at this nonprofit. The creative reuse center has made it their mission to increase access to the tools to create art, helping realize the mindset of art for everyone and everyone for art. Secondhand Salamander (SHS) is the Salt Lake Valley’s only creative reuse center, which in the words of one of the founders, Johanna Durham, means that “we take donations of art and craft supplies to provide them to the community at an affordable price. Basically, a thrift store for art and craft supplies!” The mission of “the Salamander” (as the store is affectionately referred to by its founders and board) is “making sure that people know that art is for you, so if you want to pick up a new hobby or a new interest, you should be able to do it at an accessible price point!” Durham goes on to share, “We also really want to help the community express themselves while helping the environment by diverting waste. A lot of our inventory would otherwise end up in a landfill, when really it’s not just usable, but can be turned into something beautiful!” Upon opening their storefront this July, the 501c3 will not only provide discounted art supplies for all, but continue bringing workshops, classes and events to the local community as they have since their 2024 founding. Other services include volunteer opportunities, school/teacher support “and so much more!”per their website. Past workshops and events
have included guest-teaching a Family Art Saturday at UMOCA to share the skills for creating a DIY teddy bear/stuffie; collagemaking at MOMU in the monthly Craft for a Cause series; sculpture-making using found objects at Alta Resort; a collaborative art show with Off We Go to Preschool; partnership with Together Arts Community Studio; and art supply swaps aplenty. You can find upcoming events on their website calendar, the in-store community bulletin or through social media and email newsletters (where there are also updates about the founders’ own artistic endeavors and regularly-shared DIY inspiration). In addition to those offerings, co-founder Kimber Gordon Watts adds that another way to characterize a creative reuse center is as a resource in moments of grief. “When someone passes away, you have to deal with a lot of stuff left behind. A lot of it is sentimental, so you don’t just want to toss it. Maybe your aunt was a huge crocheter, and no one in your family crochets, but you want to make sure those materials get somewhere where they will be loved.” She ends by acknowledging she’s seen this situation several times. “You love your family members, and you love their supplies as a kind of extension of them and their art, so you want that to carry on. There’s a lot of emotion wrapped up in art.” The cofounders list myriad benefits to the existence of creative reuse centers, but the thesis of the conversation with Durham and Watts kept circling back to the simple idea of art for all. “If art is financially inaccessible, people feel too scared to make bad art, which is what leads to good art, and meaningful and emotional art. So having a really low financial barrier-to-entry means you are allowed to make mistakes. You’re allowed to do ‘stupid’ stuff and realize along the way ‘actually I liked these parts and I didn’t like these parts.’ From there, you can grow without worrying that ‘I spent $40 on those and I have to make it perfect or not make it at all.’” Secondhand Salamander’s new home at 2238 W. 5400 South in Taylorsville will also feature an event space for those looking to
Co-Founders Johanna Durham and Kimber Gordon Watts stand in front of a freshly-painted mural of the store’s logo inside its new brick-and-mortar location.
hold a birthday party, craft night or workshop of their own. SHS has been steadily building toward their store for the last two years, starting out by popping up at farmer’s markets and events, and coordinating individual donation instances and product pick-ups from a storage unit. From the conception, there has been a buzz building around the opening of their brick-and-mortar store. Before opening their doors, SHS held a series of events inviting volunteers and donors to come leave their mark in murals on the walls, creating visual manifestations of all the hands that worked together to make the store happen. As the founders, volunteers and board members prepared for the long-awaited opening, kids ran around playing with toy versions of the
salamander mascot, woven from donated yarn. The energy there matched the attitude the founders express they are often met with when people learn about the existence of the Salamander. It’s the same enthusiasm that brought a stranger to a recent Taylorsville planning commission meeting which discussed the store’s opening. That stranger was one of the store’s new neighbors, someone who the SHS founders met for the first time at the meeting and were pleasantly surprised by that day. She joined just to say “I want this in my neighborhood.” Luckily for those who have been eager to see the center open, that planning meeting ended with approval received. On July 1, Salt Lake Valley officially welcomes Secondhand Salamander’s new store with a grand opening event and ribbon cutting ceremony at 1 p.m. l
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Saturday, July 4, 2026 Annual Chalk Art Contest (Pre-Register) 6 a.m.–2 p.m. Murray Armory, 246 Myrtle Ave Annual Plein Air Painting Contest 6:30 a.m.–1 p.m. Murray Armory, 246 Myrtle Ave Sunrise Service, 7 a.m. Murray Amphitheater, 495 5300 S Rotary Club Community Breakfast 6:30-10 a.m., Murray Park Pavilion #5 Entry Fee Required Races 5k Race, 8 a.m. Children’s Race (Ages 4-9), 9 a.m. Both Races Near Constitution Circle Parade, 8:30 a.m. Fashion Place To Murray Park Daytime Entertainment Heber Matute, 11:00 a.m. Flashback Brothers, 12:30 p.m. Murray Park Gazebo Evening Entertainment Hartley Road, 8:30 p.m. Firework Display, 10:00 p.m. Murray Park Softball Field For full list of activites and updates visit the qr code
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AMPHITHEATER For more show details & tickets, visit the qr code
Pirates Of Penzance August 7, 8, 10, 13, 14, 15, 8 p.m. Ronstadt Revival Saturday, September 5, 7 p.m. Always Tina: The Tribute To Tina Turner Saturday, September 12, 7 p.m. End Of The Line: Allman Brother Tribute Saturday, September 26, 7 p.m.
LUNCH CONCERTS
FREE, Murray Park Pavilion 5, 296 E Murray Park Ave Lonesome Folk July 7, 12 p.m. Rocksimile July 14, 12 p.m. Enny 1 July 21, 12 p.m. Craig Mecham July 28, 12 p.m.
THURSDAY MATINEES
FREE, Murray Park Pavilion 5, 296 E Murray Park Ave Patriotic Ensemble - Music July 2, 2 p.m. Ballet Center Inc - Dance July 9, 2 p.m. Paul Brewer - Magician July 16, 2 p.m. Angel Martinez - Music July 23, 2 p.m. Trash Panda – Drumming July 30, 2 p.m.
FAMILY NIGHT CONCERTS
FREE, Murray Senior Center, 10 E 6150 S Susie Brown July 13, 7 p.m. Pop-O-Gogo 60’S Band Aug 10, 7 p.m. The Ironport Band Sept 14, 7 p.m. Starlight Quartet Oct 12, 7 p.m.
For more information, call 801-264-2614 or visit https://www.murray.utah.gov/213/Cultural-Arts Sponsored by Murray City Cultural Arts, Murray Parks & Recreation, and Murray City Library. Murray Arts in the Park is supported with funding assistance by the residents of Salt Lake County, Salt Lake County Zoo, Arts, and Parks (ZAP), Utah Division of Arts and Museums, NowPlayingUtah.com, Utah Humanities and National Endowment for the Arts.
July 2026 | Page 9
Concejal Carlos Moreno en la gala America is a Miracle. (Marisol Camacho/City Journals)
Centro Hispano de la mano con las comunidades. (Foto cortesia Centro Hispano)
Liderazgo y comunidad: Servicio y esperanza para los migrantes El concejal Carlos Moreno y el Centro Hispano trabajan incansablemente por la comunidad latina de Utah.
empleo, construir una red de apoyo y, muchas veces, enfrentar el miedo a lo desconocido. Sin embargo, detrás de cada historia de superación hay líderes y organizaciones que trabajan para que ese camino sea menos difícil. By Marisol Camacho En el marco de los preparativos para el m.camacho@mycityjournals.com aniversario de los Estados Unidos, líderes locales y organizaciones comunitarias legar a un nuevo país significa empezar reafirman que la presencia latina no solo de cero. Es aprender otro idioma, enriquece el tejido cultural, sino que repreadaptarse a nuevas costumbres, encontrar senta el motor económico y social del estado.
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Page 10 | July 2026
América no es un sueño, es un milagro
Para Carlos Moreno, inmigrante venezolano y actual concejal del Distrito 2 del Condado de Salt Lake, Estados Unidos representa una tierra de oportunidades donde el esfuerzo continúa siendo una de las herramientas más poderosas para alcanzar el éxito. Moreno fue una de las figuras centrales en el evento conmemorativo de los 250 años de la fundación de los Estados Unidos, donde reunió a líderes políticos, empresariales y comunitarios bajo un mismo techo. Su mensaje fue claro y directo “El inmigrante llega aquí y está obligado a salir de su zona de confort, abre un negocio, cambia de carrera. De eso se trata este país: mientras uno más trabaja, más tiene”. Durante años, Moreno ha impulsado iniciativas enfocadas en el crecimiento económico, el fortalecimiento de pequeños negocios y la creación de alianzas entre líderes empresariales, comunitarios y políticos. Su visión se centra en ayudar a que los emprendedores latinos tengan acceso a oportunidades que les permitan crecer y generar empleo. Su mensaje para quienes recién llegan al país es motivador: no permitir que el miedo los paralice. Reconoce que comenzar una nueva vida no es sencillo, pero asegura que cada desafío representa una oportunidad para descubrir fortalezas que antes parecían imposibles.
Centro Hispano: más de dos décadas tendiendo la mano a las familias
Si existe una organización que ha dejado una huella profunda en la comunidad inmigrante de Utah, esa es el Centro Hispano. Desde sus inicios en 2003, la institución ha trabajado para convertirse en un puente entre las familias latinas y los recursos necesarios para construir una vida estable y próspera en Estados Unidos. Lo que comenzó como una iniciativa comunitaria en Provo para informar a las
familias sobre recursos locales evolucionó hasta convertirse en una de las organizaciones de apoyo más reconocidas para la población hispana del estado. Denisse Arias, nutrióloga de la institución, explica que el centro se ha convertido en el refugio idóneo para aquellas familias que recién llegan y se sienten perdidas. Durante el año 2025, el Centro Hispano atendió a 12.244 personas, impactando vidas a través de cuatro áreas fundamentales: servicios de migración, recursos comunitarios, fuerza laboral y promoción de la salud. Además, orienta a las personas hacia otras organizaciones cuando necesitan apoyo especializado. Arias también coordina una despensa de emergencia alimentaria que va más allá de dar alimentos: identifica la causa raíz de cada familia y las conecta con recursos específicos que pueden transformar su situación a largo plazo. Próximamente, el Centro lanzará un programa de prevención de diabetes. Una de las mayores barreras para el recién llegado es el temor debido a la desinformación. Ante esto, Arias enfatiza con el corazón: “No tengan miedo de acercarse. Los recursos están disponibles y son accesibles, no se sientan acorralados. No están solos. Aquí siempre habrá alguien que los oriente sin importar su situación”. El Centro Hispano y sus organizaciones cuentan con personal bilingüe, está abierto de lunes a viernes de 9 a.m. a 5 p.m., tiene participación en las redes sociales y boletines mensuales, esta organización demuestra que la historia de los latinos en Utah, es la de una comunidad unida que transforma el miedo en la fuerza necesaria para triunfar. Hoy, los latinos no solo forman parte de Utah; ayudan a construirlo y aunque el camino migratorio muchas veces está lleno de desafíos, historias como estas recuerdan que la esperanza, el trabajo y la solidaridad siguen siendo las herramientas más poderosas para transformar vidas. l
Taylorsville City Journal
Latinos que construyen sueños y fortalecen Utah Utah alberga a más de 450 mil his- muchos jóvenes. En 2022 fue reconocido en el Capitolio de Utah por su labor social panos, una comunidad que repredurante el Día de la Hispanidad. senta cerca del 14% de su población y que crece cada año. Sembrando convicciones firmes By Marisol Camacho m.camacho@mycityjournals.com
E
migrar es un acto de fe. Dejar atrás la tierra natal, los afectos y las costumbres para empezar desde cero exige una valentía que pocos logran dimensionar. Hoy, la comunidad hispana en Utah no solo crece en números, sino que se ha convertido en el motor económico y cultural que dinamiza el estado. Detrás del incansable movimiento en los servicios y el comercio, laten historias humanas de profundo sacrificio y superación. Utah alberga a más de 450 mil hispanos, una comunidad que representa cerca del 14% de su población y que crece cada año. No son solo estadísticas, son personas que cruzaron fronteras con el corazón apretado y las manos dispuestas a trabajar, impulsando la economía local.
El sabor que honra a una abuela
Irwin Rodríguez llegó de Maracaibo, Venezuela, con la gastronomía zuliana guardada en la memoria y el nombre de su abuela grabado en el corazón. Hoy es dueño de un restaurante que lleva a Utah los sabores que miles de venezolanos perdieron al emigrar: las hallacas, el patacón, los platos que huelen a hogar. El inmigrante tiene que hacer el doble del sacrificio”, afirma Rodríguez al recordar los desafíos de comenzar desde cero en un país con una cultura, idioma y sistema económico diferentes. Sin embargo, su restaurante se ha convertido en un punto de encuentro donde venezolanos y personas de otras nacionalidades descubren sabores que cuentan historias de identidad y pertenencia.
Francisco Teodoro lleva más de 40 años guiando almas. Llegó a Utah hace cinco años y se enamoró de la ciudad. Su ministerio atiende a una comunidad latina que, en tierra extraña, muchas veces enfrenta la soledad, la crisis del matrimonio, la rebeldía de los hijos, el peso del desarraigo. “Un pastor tiene que ser un padre”, dice Francisco. “Que busca que las personas crezcan como hijos espirituales.” En una época marcada por la incertidumbre y los cambios constantes, Teodoro El sabor de la perseverancia. (Marisol Camacho/City Journals) destaca la importancia de la fe, la unidad familiar y el compromiso con la sociedad. Gisella ve la danza como una herra- también en cemento, madera y concreto, su Además, reconoce las oportunidades que Estados Unidos ha ofrecido a miles de inmi- mienta terapéutica vital para el inmigrante. contribución no solo genera crecimiento El movimiento genera bienestar y crea económico. También fortalece valores grantes que buscan estabilidad y progreso. vínculos sociales que combaten la soledad como la solidaridad, el trabajo duro, la Sanando la soledad al ritmo de la salsa del desarraigo. Detrás del éxito recuerda resiliencia y la importancia de la familia. El llamado “sueño americano” no La bailarina y maestra de salsa Gisella que hay que superar barreras invisibles, Lachaise representa el poder de la cultura como su propio temor a volar, el cual significa riqueza inmediata. Sino la oportunidad de trabajar dignamente, la posibilcomo puente entre comunidades. Origi- venció para expandir su arte. idad de transformar el miedo en esperanza naria de Argentina, encontró en la danza y los obstáculos en oportunidades. Más que una forma de conectar personas, combatir Un aporte colectivo que transforma Más allá de los restaurantes y las inmigrantes, son constructores y su historia la soledad y fortalecer la confianza de academias, el aporte latino a Utah se mide apenas comienza. l quienes llegan a un nuevo país.
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El sensey Carlos Vásquez demuestra que el emprendimiento también puede ser una herramienta de transformación social. Con más de cinco décadas dedicadas a las artes marciales, llegó a Estados Unidos durante la pandemia y comenzó dando clases en una placita, hoy dirige una academia donde niños de distintas nacionalidades aprenden disciplina, respeto, confianza y han representado a Utah en campeonatos nacionales e internacionales. Lo que hace a Carlos excepcional no son los trofeos, sino los estudiantes. Niños con síndrome de Down que son incluidos. Adultos que descubren que la disciplina no tiene edad. Su trabajo va mucho más allá de la competencia deportiva. También ayuda a combatir problemas como el bullying y la inseguridad emocional que enfrentan
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Westside schools medal at state track championships Cyprus senior Schuyler Garlitz wins state title in boys 300 hurdles, while Taylorsville nets two silvers, bronze among other notables. By Brian Shaw b.shaw@mycityjournals.com
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t the 5A state track and field championships at BYU this May, Cyprus senior Schuyler Garlitz certainly saved his best for last. Having finished 16th at last year’s state championships, Garlitz lined up for his final shot at state gold in the 300-meter hurdles, looking to add to the Region 4 title he won a week earlier. Garlitz crossed the line in 39.28 seconds, winning his firstever state title in his final year at Cyprus. It was also a personal-best time for Garlitz, who starred on Cyprus’ football team that reached the state playoffs for the first time in several years. On top of that, Garlitz also set a school record with his blazing-fast time at state, one that will go down in the annals. It marked Garlitz’ fourth win in the 300 hurdles this season, and was his sixth top-five finish in 2026 in that race. Garlitz was not the only Pirate boys student-athlete to finish in the medals at state; senior Braden Rogers won bronze in the high jump by leaping 6 feet, while senior Tanner Harmon finished fourth in the 400 meters in a time of 49.17 seconds and senior David Lorton, seventh in 16.39 in the 110 hurdles. As a team, Cyprus was fourth in the 4x 200-meter relay. For the Taylorsville Warriors, they went home with some hardware at state, too. Seniors Edward and Elliott Stout crossed the line Nos. two and three at BYU in times of 9:06.13 and
9:08.30, respectively to take home silver and bronze medals. Granger senior Ifo Pili, who is headed to Utah State University on a football scholarship, closed out his illustrious career with a fourth place finish in the discus, throwing it a distance of 144 feet 6 inches. On the girls side, Taylorsville captured a silver medal in the 4x800 relay, running it in 7:52.85 and Hunter senior Malae Aumavae threw the shot put 35 feet 10.25 inches, finishing in sixth place at state. Meanwhile, APA West Valley had several notable finishes this season. Senior Sharmakaay Mberwa closed out his high school career with a fifth place finish at the 2A state championships in long jump, leaping 20 feet 11.25 inches at BYU. Mberwa had also recently captured Region 16 titles in the 4x100, high jump and long jump for the Eagles. For Mberwa, it was his second top-five finish at state; he won bronze in the long jump last year. For APA West Valley, a K-12 school located one mile down the street from Granger High School, it was a successful year according to athletic director Eric Wood, and they had other student-athletes win region titles as well: Luis Jimenez in the 110 hurdles; Anthony Mendoza in the 300 hurdles; and Oliver Oliva in javelin. On the girls side for the Eagles, 10 Region 16 titles were won. Amanda Delgado captured three region titles in the 100, 200 and 400 meter races; and Samantha Fernandez in the 3200 meters. To top off all the honors for APA West Valley at the Region 16 meet, Genesis Valle was the Eagles’ only four-time titlist, winning shot put, javelin, long jump and was part of the 4x100 relay team, as well. In addition, the Eagles also won the Sprint Medley, according to Wood. l
Westside schools competed in the state championships (File photo City Journals)
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Page 12 | July 2026
Taylorsville City Journal
City of Taylorsville Newsletter 2600 West Taylorsville Boulevard • 801-963-5400
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
—Mayor Kristie S. Overson
WHAT’S INSIDE – JULY 2026 Frequently Called Numbers, Page 2 Council Corner, Page 3 TVPD News, Page 4 Heritage Remembrances, Page 7 Environment, Page 8
July 2026
Taylorsville Earns JustServe Title, Opening New Opportunities
MAYOR'S MESSAGE One of my favorite parts of serving as mayor is welcoming new businesses to Taylorsville. There is something exciting about seeing a dream become reality, whether it is a new restaurant opening, a family business expanding or an entrepreneur launching a new venture. Every business brings jobs, investment and energy to our city, and I am proud that Taylorsville continues to be a place where businesses can succeed and community can connect. Recently, we celebrated a record number of ribbon cuttings, holding four in just two weeks, with several more ahead. Each offered a glimpse into the passion behind these businesses. At Little Caesars, what felt like a parking lot party broke out as community members gathered to celebrate. At The Break, a restaurant many of us had watched take shape, it was exciting to mark its opening and see the vision come to life. Another memorable ribbon cutting was at Villa Del Sol. Before we could even begin the ribbon cutting, the owners insisted on feeding us dinner. Their hospitality was remarkable, the food was delicious and it was inspiring to hear their story and why they chose Taylorsville. We also welcomed Fresh Coat, a home-based business whose start highlighted the partnerships that help small businesses thrive. These celebrations are a reminder that Taylorsville is truly a great place to do business. Our location in the heart of the Salt Lake Valley provides convenient access to customers, employees and transportation networks. Combined with ongoing investment in our commercial districts and community amenities, Taylorsville offers a supportive environment where businesses large and small can grow and succeed. One way I love to support our business community is by personally delivering business licenses each week. Rather than simply mailing them, I enjoy visiting businesses in person and welcoming owners to the city. I visit about five businesses each week, and those conversations have become a highlight of my schedule. I hear firsthand from the people investing in our community, and I am continually impressed by their determination. You can read more about these and many other businesses choosing Taylorsville on the city website, where we are pleased to highlight the people and services that add so much to our community. Without a doubt, these local businesses help make Taylorsville a vibrant place to live, work and shop. To all of our business owners, thank you for choosing Taylorsville. Your investment strengthens our community and helps shape our future. We are proud to have you as part of our Taylorsville family!
www.taylorsvilleut.gov
T
aylorsville is putting service front and center with a new designation as an official JustServe City, expanding opportunities for residents to connect with local volunteer needs. The recognition highlights the city’s commitment to promoting volunteerism and strengthening partnerships with nonprofits and service organizations. Mayor Kristie Overson accepted the designation on behalf of the city, joined by members of the City Council. JustServe is a free online platform that connects individuals, families and groups with volunteer opportunities that fit a variety of interests, schedules and skills. Local organizations can post needs on the site, while residents can browse projects ranging from food bank assistance and clothing drives to quilt tying, school reading programs and projects that can be completed from home. “JustServe is an incredible resource that helps people help people,” said Annette Hansen, a JustServe coordinating specialist. “There are so many different ways to serve, and some projects can even be done from home, making it accessible to everyone.” Hansen said becoming a JustServe City means Taylorsville is helping local nonprofits share their needs so residents can more easily find ways to serve. Mayor Overson said service plays an important role in building community. “We are honored to be recognized as a JustServe City,” she said. “Service is at the heart of what makes Taylorsville such a strong and connected community. This partnership creates even more opportunities for our residents to get involved, give back and support one another.” Residents and organizations can learn more at justserve.org.
FREQUENTLY CALLED NUMBERS
PAGE 2
| www.taylorsvilleut.gov
Emergency ...................................................................................................911 Police Department ............................................................... 801-840-4000 Utah 211 resource network ...................................................................211 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline ...................................................................988 Poison Control Center .................................................... 1-800-222-1222 Animal Control Shelter ....................................................... 801-965-5800 Animal Control After Hours Dispatch............................ 801-840-4000 Building Inspection ............................................................. 801-955-2030 Chamber West (Chamber of Commerce) ...................... 801-977-8755 Fire Department ................................................................... 801-743-7200 Gang Tip Line ......................................................................... 385-468-9768 Garbage/Recycle/GreenWaste Pick-up ........................ 385-468-6325 (Wasatch Front Waste & Recycling) Granite School District........................................................ 385-646-5000 Health Department ............................................................. 385-468-4100 Highway Conditions (from cell phone) .............................................511 Park Reservations ................................................................. 385-468-7275 Public Works (Salt Lake County) ....................................... 385-468-6101 Dominion Energy ................................................................. 800-323-5517 Rocky Mountain Power ...................................................... 888-221-7070 Salt Lake County Recycling/Landfill .............................. 801-974-6920 Taylorsville Bennion Improvement District................. 801-968-9081 Taylorsville Food Pantry ..................................................... 801-815-0003 Taylorsville Senior Center .................................................. 385-468-3370 Taylorsville Code Enforcement ........................................ 801-955-2013 Taylorsville Justice Court ................................................... 801-963-0268 Taylorsville Library ............................................................... 801-943-4636 Taylorsville Recreation Center ......................................... 385-468-1732 Swimming Pool (Memorial Day to Labor Day) ........... 801-967-5006 Taylorsville-Bennion Heritage Center ........................... 801-281-0631 UDOT Region 2 ...................................................................... 801-975-4900 Utah Transit Authority (UTA)............................................. 801-743-3882
City of Taylorsville Newsletter
MID-VALLEY PERFORMING ARTS CENTER TICKETS ARE $15 AVAILABLE AT ARTTIX.ORG OR AT THE DOOR
JULY 13-18 7:30 PM
EVENTS JULY 2026 Every Friday night through Sept. 25 Starry Nights @the Plaza. The food trucks arrive at 5:30 p.m. and most music starts at 6:30. See www.taylorsvilleut.gov for the full schedule and details about what’s happening each night.
Every Tuesday starting July 7 through Sept. 29 Taylorsville Farmers Market @ Centennial Plaza. Shop for fresh produce and artisan products. The market opens at 5 p.m.
July 14 through 18 – 7:30 p.m. Anything Goes @ the Mid-Valley Performing Art Center. Tickets are only $15 and may be purchased online or at the door.
July 14 & 28 – 6:30 p.m.
July 13-18 Taylorsville Arts Council presents ANYTHING GOES
UPCOMING EVENTS
Planning Commission Meeting @ City Hall. The Planning Commission meets the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month.
MID-VALLEY PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
July 17-26 Voodoo Theatre Company presents VENUS IN FUR
July 15 – 6:30 p.m. City Council Meeting @ City Hall. Address the Council during Citizens' Comments. Agendas are always available online.
July 24 – All Day Happy Pioneer Day! We hope you have fun celebrating Utah's beginnings. City Offices are closed on Friday for the holiday. Find our calendar of events every month on the city’s website, where you can also submit your own events for possible publication. Go to www.taylorsvilleut.gov
GET TICKETS AT SaltLakeCountyArts.org
July 31 SoulFill Music Foundation presents CLASSICAL RECITAL
July 2026
2600 West Taylorsville Boulevard • 801-963-5400 |
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COUNCIL CORNER Cleanup Day Helps Keep Taylorsville Tidy, With More Disposal Options Ahead By Council Member Ernest Burgess Taylorsville’s Annual Cleanup Day continues to be one of the many ways residents show pride in our community. Each year, the event gives residents a convenient way to clear out unwanted items, recycle what can be reused and help keep our neighborhoods clean, safe and beautiful. Organized by the Taylorsville Green Committee and held at Taylorsville High School, this year’s Cleanup Day gave residents a place to drop off bulk waste, green waste, glass, recyclable materials, prescription medication, clothing, gently used household items and documents for shredding. But it is about more than tidying up. It is a way to conserve resources, encourage recycling and reduce the amount of waste going into landfills. I want to thank all who made this year’s event possible, including Mayor Kristie Overson, the Taylorsville City Council, the Taylorsville Police Department, Coach Rozy and the Taylorsville High School Football Team, Wasatch Front Waste & Recycling District, The Other Side Thrift Boutique, Certified Shred, Redwood Recycling and all of the volunteers and residents who participated. The Cleanup Day also serves as a good reminder that there are several ways to dispose of unwanted items responsibly throughout the year. Some items are best handled through special collection programs or facilities and taking them to the right place helps protect our homes, neighborhoods and environment.
Household hazardous waste and electronic waste can be taken year-round to the Salt Lake County Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center, 8805 S. 700 West. The center is open six days a week from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is free for Salt Lake County residents. Items such as paint, fuels, pesticides, batteries, automotive fluids, aerosols, fire extinguishers, fluorescent bulbs and electronics should be taken to the collection center rather than stored at home or placed in regular garbage cans. Using the center throughout the year is safer for families and better for the environment. Additionally, residents will have another opportunity this month to dispose of bulky waste. Wasatch Front Waste & Recycling District is holding a Taylorsville Bulky Waste Drop-off Event from July 14-16, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event is for residential and household items and will be held at Valley Regional Park, 4870 S. 2700 West, with the entrance between the Taylorsville Recreation Center and the library. Online reservations are required for the bulky waste drop-off event, which is offered as an additional opportunity beyond WFWRD’s regular Seasonal Container Reservation Program. Residents should refer to their SCRP postcard and visit Wasatch Front Waste & Recycling District’s reservation system for details; go online to wfwrdutah.gov. Together, Cleanup Day, the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center and the upcoming bulky waste drop-off event give residents several good options for
Left to right: Bob Knudsen, Chair (District 5), Curt Cochran, Vice Chair (District 2), Ernest Burgess (District 1), Meredith Harker (District 4) and Anna Barbieri (District 3)
clearing out unwanted items the right way. Thank you again to everyone who participated, volunteered or took time to dispose of items properly. Each of these efforts plays an important role, and together they give residents more opportunities to care for their homes, neighborhoods and community. To help with that work, we are always looking for more volunteers for the Green Committee. If you would like to attend a meeting or learn more, please contact me at eburgess@taylorsvilleut.gov or 801-654-4482.
Neighborhoods, Location and Parks Stand Out in New City Survey Taylorsville residents continue to give the city strong marks for quality of life, neighborhood character and local services, according to the city’s latest annual community survey. The 2026 Taylorsville Community Survey, conducted by Y2 Analytics, found that residents see the city as connected, welcoming and welllocated, with neighborhoods, parks, community events and central location among the qualities they value most. Overall, 79% of residents said they approve of how the Mayor and City Council are handling their jobs. Residents also gave Taylorsville an average quality-of-life score of 74 out of 100, with positive ratings across all five City Council districts. “What stands out to me is how much residents value the everyday things that make Taylorsville feel like home, such as our neighborhoods, parks, events and the convenience of being close to everything,” Mayor Kristie Overson said. “Those are certainly the qualities we want to preserve and build on.” The citywide poll was conducted from Jan. 31 to March 8, with 415 residents participating. Survey
invitations were sent by postcard, and the survey was available in English and Spanish. The results carry a margin of error of plus or minus 4.8 percentage points, and data were weighted to reflect city demographics. Kyrene Gibb, partner and vice president of research at Y2 Analytics, said the results point to a city whose residents remain positive about where they live.
One of the strongest takeaways was residents’ willingness to recommend Taylorsville to others. Eighty-five percent of respondents said they would recommend the city to friends or family, up 6 percentage points from the previous year. Residents also cited Taylorsville’s central location and neighborhood feel as major strengths, including access to the rest of the valley, nearby shopping and restaurants, friendly neighborhoods, parks, community events and safety. Asked about the most important issues facing Taylorsville over the next three to five years, 51% selected the cost of living, followed by crime and public safety at 39%, taxes and government spending at 37%, and transportation and traffic at 30%. Mayor Overson said the feedback will help guide the city’s decisions, especially as residents continue to value services while also wanting to know their tax dollars are being used wisely. Additional information and survey results are available on the city’s website at www.taylorsvilleut.gov under the News section.
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| www.taylorsvilleut.gov
City of Taylorsville Newsletter
TVPD Honors Three Employees of the Month for Outstanding Work Check this space each month for news about the Taylorsville Police Department (TVPD) and their valuable service to our community. Three standout members of the Taylorsville Police Department have earned Employee of the Month honors for their service, professionalism and commitment to the community. Officer Ipsen is TVPD’s latest Employee of the Month. He has served in law enforcement for 12 years, including with the Utah Department of Corrections, Adult Probation and Parole, West Jordan Police Department and, for the past two years, Taylorsville Police Department. Now assigned to TVPD’s Patrol Division, Officer Ipsen also serves as a Field Training Officer and Officer in Charge. His background includes work as a SWAT operator, Sniper Team Lead, VFAST operator and corrections officer. Officer Ipsen was honored in part for his proactive policing and investigative work. In one recent case, he located a stolen motorcycle while on patrol and coordinated a safe arrest after the rider pulled into a convenience store. A search found the suspect in possession of a stolen firearm, a pepper ball gun and a distributable amount of methamphetamine. He also was wanted in connection with an aggravated robbery being investigated by West Valley City and was on federal probation. The arrest recovered stolen property, removed illegal drugs and weapons from the community and assisted another agency in a violent criminal investigation. Whether mentoring new officers, supervising patrol operations or actively pursuing criminal offenders, Officer Ipsen exemplifies the professionalism, initiative and teamwork that define TVPD. Outside of work, he enjoys hunting, camping and staying active through fitness. Officer Stone’s work as a new K-9 handler, SWAT operator and proactive patrol officer earned him TVPD’s June Employee of the Month honor. He has nine years of law enforcement experience and has served with TVPD for nearly five years, following previous work with the Cottonwood Heights and Sandy police departments. He is a graduate of Olympus High School and the Salt Lake City Police Academy. Officer Stone is assigned as a K-9 handler in the Special Operations Division and serves as a SWAT team operator. His responsibilities include responding to emergency calls with his K-9 partner, Maverick, training in narcotics detection and patrol operations, addressing concerns in high-crime areas, documenting criminal and suspicious activity and gathering in-
telligence to help prevent ongoing crime. Chief Cottam selected Officer Stone for his strong performance, including his progress as a new K-9 handler and continued support of the Patrol Division. Officer Stone recently assisted in the apprehension of suspects in an occupied stolen vehicle and located three juveniles responsible for multiple vehicle burglaries at several apartment complexes. Chief Cottam praised Officer Stone’s positive attitude, work ethic and ability to balance the demands of K-9 training while maintaining a strong presence in proactive patrol operations. When not on duty, Officer Stone enjoys spending time with his family and their dogs, Luna and Axel. They enjoy hunting, camping, hiking, watching football and hockey. Officer Stone also enjoys working out and riding motorcycles. At the front desk of the Taylorsville Police Department, Office Specialist Sanderson is often the first person residents meet, and her professionalism, kindness and steady support have earned her May’s TVPD Employee of the Month honor. Office Specialist Sanderson has been with Taylorsville for nearly five years. She has nearly 10 years of law enforcement-related experience, having previously worked with both the Unified Police Department and TVPD. She attended Salt Lake Community College, where she studied to become a medical assistant. In her current role, Office Specialist Sanderson is known for greeting everyone with warmth, professionalism and a welcoming smile. Her work includes assisting the public in person and by phone, scanning documents into cases, transcribing reports and citations, supporting officers, keeping the lobby organized and preparing archived records for disposal. Office Specialist Sanderson recently demonstrated exceptional composure and professionalism while assisting individuals in challenging situations. She consistently treated everyone with kindness and respect, ensuring each person felt heard and supported. “Office Specialist Sanderson is an absolute gem at the Police Department’s front desk,” said Chief Cottam. “She goes above and beyond in everything she does, and she is truly an invaluable asset to both the department and her colleagues.” Outside of work, Office Specialist Sanderson enjoys camping, taking walks with her dog Jack, and spending time with family and friends. TVPD extends its congratulations and appreciation to Officer Ipsen, Officer Stone and Office Specialist Sanderson for their dedication to Team Taylorsville.
July 2026
2600 West Taylorsville Boulevard • 801-963-5400 |
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Miles of Support Deliver Life-Saving Protection to TVPD A 250-mile bicycle ride completed last fall over four days by Taylorsville Police Chief Cottam and three TVPD officers has now brought added protection to the department. Shield616 recently donated nine complete rifle-rated vest sets to TVPD, providing life-saving equipment designed to better protect officers during high-risk calls, including active shooter situations and other threats involving high-velocity rounds. The donation was made possible through the Shield616 ride from St. Anthony, Idaho, to Salt Lake City, along with generous donations from community members and supporters. “This ride was about more than the miles,” Chief Cottam said. “It was about making sure our officers have the protection they need when they are called into dangerous situations. We are incredibly grateful to Shield616 and to every person who donated, encouraged our riders and supported this mission.” Shield616 is a nonprofit organization dedicated to equipping law enforcement officers with protective gear that goes beyond standard-issue body armor. While
traditional vests are typically designed to protect against handgun rounds, rifle-rated plates provide critical protection against higher-velocity threats. The organization was founded after the 2015 Planned Parenthood shooting in Colorado Springs, where officers faced rifle fire during a deadly attack. That experience underscored the importance of ensuring officers have access to the right protective equipment before they need it. For TVPD, the nine donated vest sets represent both added safety and a strong show of community support. TVPD expressed its appreciation to Shield616, the ride participants and everyone who contributed to the effort. From the long days on the road to the recent vest presentation ceremony, the project highlighted a shared commitment to officer safety and public service. Those who would like to support the mission can donate to Shield616 at shield616.org and note in the comments that the donation is for the Taylorsville Police Department in Taylorsville, Utah.
TAYLORSVILLE CITY
GET OUTSIDE SUMMER BINGO
Ready to shake up your summer adventures? Dive into “Get Outside Bingo” courtesy of the Taylorsville Parks and Rec Committee! Activities range from wandering down the Jordan River Trail and grooving at the Starry Nights concert series to trying out a new sport or playing park hero by picking up some trash. Whether you're a kid or just a kid at heart, check off at least 10 activities and turn in your bingo card at the Taylorsville City Hall Reception Desk (2nd floor) to snag a prize by August 29th. Pick up your bingo card at Taylorsville City Hall (on the table, located on the 2nd floor)
GOOD4LIFEMARKETS.COM
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City of Taylorsville Newsletter
| www.taylorsvilleut.gov
Thank you to the Taylorsville Dayzz Committee and Our Wonderful Sponsors!
Fireworks!
Michael & Anna Kay Waddoups
July 2026 Taylorsville Bennion Heritage
REMEMBRANCES Classic Cars Bring History to Life at Heritage Center
2600 West Taylorsville Boulevard • 801-963-5400 |
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Taylorsville Library Events The Taylorsville Library has planned several programs during the month of July. You’ll want to mark your calendar for these events: TEEN CERAMIC TILE ART — Tuesday, July 7, 1 p.m. Decorate a ceramic tile with sharpies and rubbing alcohol to make your own unique art. Supplies provided. FOAMTASTIC FOAM PARTY — Wednesday, July 8, 10:30 a.m. Enjoy an outdoor adventure on the grass with Foamtastic Bubbles and other fun activities. Drop by between 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. You will get wet so bring a towel and maybe a change of clothes. LOCALSCAPES: CREATING YOUR IDEAL UTAH YARD — Thursday, July 9, 6 p.m. Learn how to create a water-efficient, low-maintenance yard with the Localscapes method. This class is provided in partnership with Jordan Valley Water Conservation District.
By Susan Yadeskie Museums can be fun, and the Taylorsville-Bennion Heritage Center proved it with another first for the city. The Taylorsville Historic Preservation Committee sponsored the first “Old Time Car Show” on June 13 at the museum, with Salty A’s car club putting together an amazing display. The show featured a World War I ambulance, a World War II Jeep and a real, honest-to-goodness 1927 gangster Studebaker. There was even a replica of a sports car from the first James Bond movie, Dr. No. There were 13 cars in all. Thank you to the many visitors who came for punch and cookies and to see the fabulous cars. Among them, Bob Bennion and his wife, Sandy, brought their beautiful green 1929 Ford Roadster (pictured). Bob is a descendant of Samuel Bennion, an original settler of the Over Jordan community, now Taylorsville. More fun is coming to your museum. The Fall Festival will be held Saturday, Sept. 19. This year, we will create a cookbook for attendees to receive free of charge, and we ask for your help to make that happen. Please email Grandma’s, Grandpa’s or another deceased relative’s favorite family recipe to museum@taylorsvilleut.gov. Include a picture of your relative’s tombstone and a paragraph about that individual. Let’s make it fun and interesting. As always, thank you for your contributions to the many great experiences we have in Taylorsville City.
SPLISH SPLASH STORYTIME — Friday, July 10 & 17, 11 a.m. Meet at the Taylorsville Outdoor Pool for songs and splashing fun. Taylorsville Library and the Taylorsville Outdoor Pool are partnering to offer free summer story-times in the pool for families. The Splish Splash Storytime is free. Attendees re-entering the pool after the program are subject to the regular fee. This will be in the shallow beach area. Children ages 2 and under must wear a swim diaper. Children 5 and under must be within arm's reach of a parent or guardian. All children must be accompanied by a grownup. VIRTUAL LECTURE | Her America: Eight Women Who Transformed the Nation — Tuesday, July 14, 7 p.m. Register at: thecountylibrary.org/LectureSeries Author Heather B. Moore will discuss eight American women who challenged the status quo in our nation's history to secure independence, abolition, suffrage and civil rights. JOHN HUTCHING MUSEUM: FOSSILS — Wednesday, July 15, 10:30 a.m. Learn about fossils and the geological timescale with an educator from the John Hutchings Museum. See and touch hands on artifacts. This program will be outside. TEEN PICKLEBALL GAME — Tuesday, July 21, 1 p.m. Learn how to play pickleball with other teens. Learn the rules at the library and then walk over to the Taylorsville Rec Center to play! RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE — Monday, July 27, from 1-7 p.m. Give blood to help others. Schedule your appointment: redcrossblood.org or 1.800.RED.CROSS.
TAYLORSVILLE SENIOR CENTER 4743 S. Plymouth View Drive
July Activities The Taylorsville Senior Center has planned a variety of classes every month. Classes are free for those over age 60. Among the activities scheduled this month: Holiday Cake Walk — Tuesday, July 28. Join a festive Holiday Cake Walk filled with laughter, treats and plenty of Christmas spirit. Cookie Decorating — Wednesday, July 29, 10:30 a.m. Gather your friends, wear your favorite holiday colors and celebrate some Christmas magic in the middle of summer. Holiday Celebration — Thursday, July 30, 11 a.m. Who says you have to wait until December for holiday magic? Enjoy live entertainment by Larry Turner at 11 a.m., followed by a special holiday lunch at 11:30 a.m. featuring pork pot roast, herbed onion gravy, roasted fingerling potatoes, parmesan brussels sprouts and hot-spiced apples and ice cream. Please note that only 115 meals have been ordered for this special event and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Come early and celebrate at the Senior Center! Find the center’s full calendar and Senior Scoop Newsletter online at saltlakecounty.gov.
ANNUAL COLLECTION DAY PAGE 8
| www.taylorsvilleut.gov
City of Taylorsville Newsletter Hidden Leaks? A Quick Check Could Save Water and Money
JULY UPDATES Firework Safety & Disposal Tips As we gear up for a fun-filled July full of fireworks* and celebrations, please keep in mind a few important safety and disposal guidelines: *Check with your local municipality or fire department as firework restrictions may be in place. • Cool before you toss: After use, place spent fireworks in a fire-safe container and allow them to cool completely. If possible, soak them in a small bucket of water to prevent accidental flare-ups. • Do not recycle: Firework casings, even cardboard ones, cannot be recycled. They contain chemical residues and are often made from multiple materials. Once cooled, place them in your black garbage can. • Save or repurpose: If you have leftover, unused fireworks, consider saving them for Pioneer Day or repurposing them responsibly. • Think green: Explore environmentally friendly alternatives to fireworks, like laser light shows or LED displays.
Grilling, Camping, & Propane Tanks Summer means more time spent grilling and camping. • Allow coals and ash to cool completely for at least 48 hours before attempting to discard them. • Never throw hot ash directly into household trash or onto the grass. • Transfer completely cooled ash into a non-combustible, heavy-duty metal container. What should you do with empty propane tanks? All propane tanks whether large grill tanks or small 1-gallon green camping canisters are considered Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) and should never be placed in your garbage or recycling can. These tanks pose serious safety risks during collection and processing due to the potential for explosion. Instead, drop them off at your nearest HHW facility for proper recycling and safe disposal. These sites are free to use and ensure that hazardous materials are handled correctly. Need help finding a location? Visit the “How to Recycle” page on the WFWRD website, wfwrdutah.gov, and scroll down to “Household Hazardous Waste Disposal” for a list of nearby drop-off sites.
Summer is a great time to make sure your home's plumbing and irrigation systems are working efficiently. Small leaks can often go unnoticed, but over time they can waste a significant amount of water and increase your monthly bill. Have you noticed a sprinkler valve that never fully shuts off? A toilet that seems to refill throughout the day? Or perhaps a faucet with a persistent drip? These are common signs of a leak that may be costing you money without you realizing it. To help customers identify potential problems, Taylorsville-Bennion Improvement District monitors water usage through advanced metering technology. If you received a notice on your recent water bill regarding continuous flow, your water meter detected water flowing to your property for more than 15 consecutive days. Continuous flow is often an indication that a leak may be present somewhere in your plumbing or irrigation system. Taking a few minutes to inspect your sprinklers, faucets, toilets and other water fixtures can help prevent water waste and reduce unnecessary costs. Repairing leaks not only benefits your household budget but also helps conserve one of our community's most valuable resources. If you have any questions, please contact Taylorsville-Bennion Improvement District by calling 801-968-9081 or visiting www.tbid.org. Follow TBID on Facebook and X.
City Journals presents:
recreation A publication covering outdoor recreation around the Salt Lake Valley
Take a walk on the wild side By Peri Kinder | peri.k@thecityjournals.com Forest bathing is an invitation to fast-paced world.” The Japanese practice was created intentionally commune with nature. in the 1980s by doctors who noticed their If you’ve ever sat on the front porch to patients were experiencing burnout. They watch a sunset, enjoyed a cup of tea in the developed a prescription involving nature backyard or walked through a park to look connection that research has shown to offer mental and physical benefits. at the trees, you’ve done forest bathing. Napper invites people to attend a Ian Napper is a mindful outdoor guide who leads forest bathing sessions, also forest bathing experience which he holds at known as shinrin-yoku. He said commu- places along the Wasatch Range, including nion with nature comes easily to most canyons, parks and Tracy Aviary. Each people and the mental health benefits are event is around 90 minutes and Napper encourages participants to restore their off the chart. “It literally means to bathe in the sense of wonder, awe and community. “I’m trying to help people reconnect nature of the forest,” he said. “It invites you to slow down, like really deeply slow to nature in a personal way,” he said. “As down. The more you slow down, the more humans, we’ve become very isolated, you notice and the more you notice, then partly because of technology, but we expethe more you slow down. It helps us return rience this and there’s a connection that to a more natural pace, which is one of happens and it reduces this loneliness.” As an Army veteran and yoga the many things we need in this hyper,
instructor, Napper understands the grounding benefits of engaging with the natural world. He said some of those benefits include reduced stress, lower blood pressure, better sleep, reduced fatigue, a sense of peace and a settled nervous system. He holds his forest bathing sessions in places with lots of big trees, preferably near running water and away from man-made noise, which can be jarring to the mind. He said listening to birds or the wind in the trees, allows the body to relax in a way we don’t usually experience. People will ask him, “Why should I pay you when I can walk in the mountains for free?” He explains it’s the difference between taking a yoga class online and immersing yourself in a live class led by a trained guide. “You get instruction. You learn things that you wouldn’t have known before, because you get guidance,” Napper
said. “I have a master’s in education with a focus on trauma, and so I bring a lot of that understanding into this. It’s one thing to talk about things that I notice, it’s another thing to guide you into a different way of being.” Napper said learning to calm the mind and pay attention in nature takes practice; it can also bring up anxiety or judgment around being still. But as the practice continues, participants find it easier to attain a level of calm, and they want to bring friends and family into the experience. Some people think having idle time to walk around in a forest is a frivolous luxury, but Napper said that’s not true, in fact it’s just the opposite. “It might feel luxurious to schedule some time to do nothing but you’re giving yourself permission to go out in nature and do nothing for a while. It’s not a luxury; it’s kind of a necessity.”
Ian Napper leads groups through forest bathing sessions in canyons and parks as a way to reduce stress and build connection. (Photos courtesy of Ian Napper)
TaylorsvilleJ ournal.com
July 2026 | Page 21
Shifting gears: Utah enacts new e-bike rules By Shaun Delliskave | s.delliskave@mycityjournals.com One new rule will see riders ages 8 micromobility,” Begay said. “Micromoto 15 needing to complete a state-ap- bility being battery powered vehicles, also known as scooters, e-bikes, e-moto, proved safety course. hoverboards and similar devices. We Whether climbing mountain trails, have seen the supply and demand grow commuting to work or cruising through exponentially.” According to Begay, improvements neighborhood streets, e-bikes are becoming an increasingly common part in battery technology, performance and of life in Utah. Their growing presence has affordability have transformed the market prompted lawmakers to adopt new regu- over the past decade. As demand increased, manufacturers lations aimed at balancing safety, access responded with a growing number of and the future of outdoor recreation. The law arrives at a time when the brands and product offerings. However, broader micromobility industry—which Begay noted that rapid growth has also includes e-bikes, electric scooters, e-mo- created new challenges. “This rapid development in the last torcycles and similar devices—has expedecade has largely been unregulated and rienced explosive growth nationwide. Jeremy Begay, an e-bike enthusiast it feels a bit like the Wild West,” he said. who works in the outdoor recreation “The list of issues we are facing ranges industry, said advances in technology from batteries being a fire hazard, trail and manufacturing have fueled much of access, the speed of these devices, and the race of manufacturers to create a that expansion. “There are several movements platform that is faster, better and cheaper nationwide in industry, retail and outdoor than its competitor,” Begay said. Utah’s new law seeks to address recreation when it comes to the world of some of those concerns by reinforcing the state’s existing three-class e-bike system while drawing a sharper line between electric bicycles and higher-powered electric motorcycles. Under the law, Class 1 e-bikes provide pedal assistance up to 20 miles per hour. Class 2 e-bikes may include a throttle and are limited to 20 miles per hour. Class 3 e-bikes provide pedal assistance up to 28 miles per hour and require a speedometer. Devices exceeding those limits may be classified differently under state law and could be subject to additional requirements. The legislation also establishes new age-based restrictions. Children younger than 8 years old are prohibited from operating e-bikes on public roads, sidewalks and trails. Riders younger than 14 must be supervised by a parent or guardian, while riders under 16 are prohibited from operating Class 3 e-bikes. Additionally, riders younger than 21 are now required to wear helmets while operating e-bikes or electric scooters on public roads. Beginning in 2027, Utah will also require riders ages 8 through 15 to complete a state-approved safety course or ride under direct adult supervision. For Begay, the new regulations represent a reasonable first step toward addressing safety concerns while preserving access to the benefits of micromobility. “The simple answer to this for me is Quick fact sheet on Utah’s new e-bike law. yes,” he said when asked whether the (Shaun Delliskave/City Journals) law strikes the right balance between
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E-bike enthusiast Jeremy Begay takes his bike for a spin. (Shaun Delliskave/City Journals) safety and accessibility. “We need to start somewhere for the purpose of making people aware that micromobility devices are different, so that they can then educate themselves with how to interact with them.” Begay believes many consumers still lump all electric mobility products into a single category despite significant differences in performance and intended use. “The purist in me wants to see a difference in how e-moto and e-bike are treated,” he said. “Currently, people see these as one category.” Trail access remains one of the most debated issues within Utah’s outdoor recreation community. As electric bicycles become more common, land managers, municipalities and trail organizations continue to evaluate where different classes of e-bikes should be permitted. “This is still being debated, so there is a whole spectrum of opinions,” Begay said. He has observed changing attitudes among many outdoor recreation users. “I think people’s ideas about e-bikes are changing and more people are finding that these bikes allow for more people to ride,” he said. Begay noted that the popularity of e-bikes has expanded participation among older riders, individuals recovering from injuries and people who might otherwise be unable to enjoy cycling. “This new market of people who are riding are pushing access simply by riding,” he said. “Trails are becoming more crowded and municipalities are responding to trail demand by creating more trails and trails that are e-bike accessible.” State officials have cited increasing crash and injury reports involving younger riders as one reason for strengthening
regulations. Begay believes education remains one of the biggest challenges facing the industry. “Unfortunately, I have not seen changes in behavior with families yet,” he said. “With micromobility being somewhat new to the masses, there has not been enough education.” He said many consumers still view electric mobility devices as toys rather than transportation equipment capable of reaching significant speeds. “Most people categorize these devices as children’s toys or other light recreation devices,” Begay said. “This leads to people not enforcing rules of the road, helmet safety, product care and other best practices.” He hopes the new law will help raise awareness. “Hopefully, these laws will create more awareness to what people are purchasing,” he said. “Awareness and education lead to more responsible decisions.” Looking ahead, Begay believes Utah’s reputation as an outdoor recreation leader positions the state to influence future policy discussions nationwide. “Utah is known for its access to outdoor recreation,” he said. “Most of that comes from Utah being a model state in the way it approaches recreation.” While debate over trail access, safety standards and regulation is likely to continue, Begay remains optimistic about the future. “I think that Utah should be at the forefront of all of this because it would mean that everyone could benefit— riders, retailers and tourism,” he said. “I’m confident that we Utahns will find a place for micromobility devices to exist in all spaces.”
Taylorsville City Journal
Trading screen time for trail time: Why more families are heading outdoors this summer By Holly Curby | hello@hollycurby.com What are children missing when childhood and adolescence are critical periods of brain development. During the screens occupy more of their free time? middle school years, the brain undergoes With school out and long summer a process of strengthening frequently used days stretching ahead, families are looking pathways while pruning away those that are for ways to keep kids active, engaged and neglected. “If your kid is doing music and school healthy. For many parents, summer presents an opportunity to swap screen time for and sports, then those are the things that are trail time, replacing hours spent on phones, going to be strengthened,” she said. “But if tablets and video games with hiking, biking, your kid is sitting on the couch and playing video games, then those are the things that fishing and outdoor adventure. The challenge, however, is that tech- are being strengthened.” That reality has prompted some families nology has become deeply woven into children’s daily lives. Author and parenting to rethink how they spend their summers. expert Arlene Pellicane highlights just how Instead of defaulting to screens, parents dramatically technology use has increased are intentionally creating opportunities for among young people. She notes that smart- outdoor adventure. Whether it’s hiking a local phone ownership among teens surged from trail, exploring one of our many national park, 41% in 2012 to 89% by 2018. During that paddling a lake, fishing, mountain biking or same period, the percentage of teens using simply walking the neighborhood, outdoor social media multiple times a day rose from recreation provides something screens cannot: direct engagement with the world. 34% to 70%. Research has long connected outdoor For many parents, those numbers raise an important question: What are children activity with improved physical health, better missing when screens occupy more of their sleep and stronger social skills. Pellicane free time? According to Pellicane, one of the emphasized that children benefit from faceearliest warning signs of excessive screen to-face interaction and experiences that use is a loss of interest in real-world activities. require movement, communication and “If your child used to love playing soccer, but problem-solving. “In the absence of elecnow it’s like, ‘I’d rather just stay home,’ and tronics, guess what? They’ll go out and play, you know they’re gaming instead, that’s a they’ll go build, they’ll do different things,” she said. red flag,” she said. Some families are taking that advice Outdoor recreation advocates say that observation reflects a larger trend. Activi- literally. Pellicane described implementing ties that once happened naturally such as what she calls a “digital Sabbath,” a recurpickup games at the park, bike rides with ring period when screens are set aside and friends, neighborhood exploration and family other activities take center stage. “It could be hikes, now compete with endless digital Sunday afternoon where everyone’s offline and you go to the park instead,” she said. “A entertainment. The consequences extend beyond rhythm of forcibly getting off is helpful.” For outdoor enthusiasts, that idea resophysical activity. Pellicane explained that nates. Recreation experts often point out that children do not need elaborate adventures to benefit from time outside. A picnic, an afternoon of kayaking, a game of Ultimate Frisbee, an evening bike ride or a visit to a local trail can help families reconnect without the distractions of phones and social media. Parents may also find comfort in knowing they are not alone. While social media can create pressure to stay constantly connected, Pellicane argues that meaningful relationships are built through real-life experiences. “I’d rather have one person in real life say, ‘You’re a good person, and I’m glad you’re in my life,’ than have all these followers,” she said. As summer unfolds, families have a unique opportunity to create memories that don’t require Wi-Fi or a charging cable. Whether it’s introducing a child to their first hiking trail, teaching them how The best part of hiking isn’t always the destito cast a fishing line, or simply spending nation, it’s everything you discover along the more evenings outdoors together, these way. (Courtesy Holly Curby) experiences can help build confidence,
TaylorsvilleJ ournal.com
Whether casting for the first time or continuing a longtime tradition, anglers find recreation, relaxation and connection on the water. (Courtesy Holly Curby)
Paddleboarding provides time outdoors, enjoyment of scenery and creates lasting memories together. (Courtesy Holly Curby)
strengthen relationships and encourage healthy habits that last well beyond the summer months. For more insights on helping children develop a healthy relationship with technology while making room for real-world experiences, listen to the full interview
with Arlene Pellicane on Holly’s Highlights Podcast, Season 2, Episode 29 available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and at www.HollyCurby.com. Her practical advice offers valuable guidance for parents seeking to raise healthy, connected kids and perhaps spend a little more time outdoors along the way.
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School crossing guards highlight everyday pedestrian dangers
In local communities, crossing guards confront real dangers to safeguard children as they head to classes. By Rachel Aubrey r.aubrey@mycityjournals.com
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o be a school crossing guard is to learn to become a trusted adult that children get to interact with before and after school. According to Utah Division of Transportation’s crossing guard quick reference guide, “As a school crossing guard, you play a critical role in ensuring the safety of students as they walk or bike to school.” A report published in May by KSL Radio cited an Associated Press and Cox Media Group investigation that deemed school crossing guards as one of the top five deadliest jobs in America. But despite that, these community helpers continue to show up, in rain or snow, and put their own wellbeing in jeopardy to make sure kids get safely to school.
‘We are parents too’
Sarah Elliott has been a crossing guard since 2009. At the time, her and her family lived in Draper, and she was a stay-at-home mom with a toddler and twin babies. A fellow guard and friend suggested that Elliott become a school crossing guard as a way to get out of the house and earn a little extra money. “So my kids would stay in the car with one of the old school DVD players,” Elliott said. “It got me some vitamin D and got me out of the house for a little bit every day.” Elliott continued ‘crossing’ in Draper City after moving to Riverton, eventually becoming a crossing guard coordinator with Riverton in 2019. As a coordinator, Elliott is responsible for hiring the guards and is the liaison between the guards and Riverton police department. As a branch of public safety division, crossing guards are underneath the jurisdiction of the local police departments. “A lot of people don’t realize that,” Elliott said. “We’re under the police department, not the schools or the district. We work with them [the schools and districts] but we’re under the police department umbrella.” As coordinator, Elliott said she puts crossing guards in areas close to where their own kids are going to school as much as possible. “I try to put people where they want to be, where it makes the most sense for them because a lot of the guards are moms.” Elliott also noted that school crossing guards can help with special events during the summer months such as the Riverton City town day parade. Jackie Larson began crossing in 2017, quit for a year in 2025, and is now back to crossing in Taylorsville. She too was a stay-at-home mom at the time she applied to be a guard and was looking for something she could do to earn a bit of income. “I just love it,” Larson said. “It’s helping kids cross. It’s interacting with kids and just being there to just help them safely cross.” Larson knows just how dangerous the job can be, mostly due to distracted drivers. The year she quit crossing was due to a close call where a distracted driver almost hit her daughter while trying to get to school. “It is definitely dangerous,” Larson said. “People [drivers] are not aware of people crossing, or they’re just trying to get their kids to school as fast as they can.” Larson and Elliot both made similar pleas to all drivers,
Page 24 | July 2026
have physical contact with the kids as they cross, but there have been times when she has had to extend her arm out to ensure that kids don’t go into the street because of the potential to be hit by a car. “There have been times I have to block the kids,” Graham said. “Some of these smaller children, the light changes and they don’t understand what the process is and they just want to go.”
‘Take a beat’
Officer Jennifer Fairbanks of Herriman police department clarified that going more than 20 miles an hour in a school zone is an infraction and going more than 30 miles an hour is a Class C misdemeanor. In recognition of the need for more pedestrian safety, many cities across the Salt Lake Valley have installed HAWK signals, high-intensity-activated crosswalk. These signals are located in areas close to schools where pedestrians need to cross busy streets but that don’t warrant a full traffic signal. Melanie Cannon is assigned to crossing duties at a HAWK signal in Herriman by Providence Hall. Cannon would like drivers to stop and consider before making turns into crosswalks or speeding past crosswalks. “Especially if it’s a right-hand turn. Take a beat,” Cannon said. “You never know who is stepping out.” Even with all the measures in place, there are still Jill Graham stands at zebra crosswalk of a busy intersection too many close calls. Graham said she reported a close in Herriman City where she gets to interact with school call situation in accordance with Utah Code 41-6a-604.5. kids in the morning and afternoon as they go to and from According to Elliot, the school resource officers are typithe nearby elementary, middle and high schools. (Rachel cally the first point of contact for the guards who experiAubrey/City Journals) ence any type of emergency. “I could see this lady’s face clear as day,” Graham said. “I’m like, how did you not see me? That’s what I kept saying.” to remember that all children should be able to arrive to school safely. Recognizing the efforts “Think of [all] these kids as your kids,” Larson said. While pay varies from city to city, a crossing guard in Utah can earn between $16 and $21 an hour for one to two ‘Stay alert and be aware’ According to Safe Route Utah, there are two types of hours of work per day. Once hired, Elliott said that the new pedestrian crosswalks that drivers should be aware of: a zebra guards shadow another guard in a busier area, noting that if a new guard can handle a busier intersection, they will likely be crosswalk and a parallel crosswalk. The zebra patterned crosswalks, named because of the able to handle a smaller neighborhood crossing assignment. Because of a crossing guard related death in Layton in white and black stripes that resemble a zebra, are not to be entered into by a vehicle while there are pedestrians inside January of last year, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox declared Jan. 28 the crosswalk. Drivers should look for the yellow pedes- as ‘Crossing Guard Day’ in Utah. “I think people don’t appreciate what their crossing trian signs that indicate a school crossing zone and should wait until the crosswalk is completely empty of pedestrians, guards do every day,” Elliott said. l guards included. Jill Graham has lived in Herriman City since 2002 and has been a school crossing guard in the city for 15 years. Beyond the recognition of the crosswalks, Utah Her current assignment is at an intersection that has five Code Section 41-6a-604 outlines the fines assolanes of traffic in the east-west direction. In Herriman, with ciated with speeding in reduced speed school that many lanes, two crossing guards are stationed at each zones. The fines are as follows: side of the intersection. For Graham, part of ensuring that all pedestrians get For the first offense: across these lanes safely is making sure she walks in the Vehicle speed Minimum fine zebra patterned crosswalk, holding her big red stop sign, 21-29 MPH $260 wearing her bright neon vest issued by the police department, 30-39 MPH $420 to the middle of the intersection where a bright orange cone 40 MPH or greater $760 is placed. Graham has witnessed firsthand some of the hazards of For the second offense: walking kids, young and old, across the street. “I would say the two major issues that we have are Vehicle speed Minimum fine people on their phones and not paying attention and people 21-29 MPH $320 in a hurry that think they don’t need to look at the crossing 30-39 MPH $560 guard and follow their stop sign,” Graham said. 40 MPH or greater $960 According to Graham, school crossing guards are not to
Taylorsville City Journal
SLCC unveils mural honoring ‘transformative’ PACE program The Partnership for Accessing College Education scholarship program started in 2011 at West High and now supports students across six schools. By Anna Nielsen a.nielsen@mycityjournals.com
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lonso R. Reyna Rivarola has been director of The Partnership for Accessing College Education (PACE) program since 2023. He says the program “transforms lives by helping students think critically about tangible solutions for issues they care about in their community.” Students join as high school freshmen and meet with a mentor who helps them see themselves as college material. With over 700 students currently enrolled, the program celebrates its 15th year of providing a pathway for low-income high schoolers, many of them first-generation aspiring college students, to access higher education through a fullyfunded scholarship for six semesters at Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) upon completion of the program. Rivarola and his team brought on artist and SLCC alumnus Pablo Cruz-Ayala, M.F.A., to co-create a mural alongside PACE students from six schools in honor of the anniversary. The Salt Lake County high schools were Cottonwood, East, Granger, Highland, Kearns and West. “PACE now operates in six Salt Lake County high schools, with plans for further expansion. This college-readiness program aims to boost high school graduation and college enrollment rates among low-income and first-generation students by offering comprehensive support. PACE equips students with critical study and time-management skills, career exploration guidance, and mentorship in overcoming challenges” per the description on SLCC’s website. The mural titled “Six Stories, One Future” features 109 student artists’ work and was unveiled during a ceremony June 4. Created over the course of a year, through 12 listening and painting sessions with the students, Cruz-Ayala invited the participants to answer “What kind of impact do you want to leave behind?” on bilingual worksheets, with the question posed in both Spanish and English. Students were prompted to respond in visual art and written language, imagining the story they would tell about their school, story, generation and community. Cruz-Ayala emphasizes the importance of the drawing component of the worksheets for students. “Art doesn’t ask you to translate what you’re feeling,” Cruz-Ayala said. A selection of those worksheets were displayed among the 15 artifacts exhibited alongside the mural, the number being chosen to match the number of years of PACE’s operation. On them, students had written things
TaylorsvilleJ ournal.com
The 6-foot by 10-foot panoramic mural “Six Stories, One Future” hangs inside SLCC’s Center For Arts And Media at the unveiling event on June 4. (Anna Nielsen/City Journals)
like “In the story I want to leave behind, I want to resemble a student. A student who experienced grief, hardship and is still successful. To let other students know they are not alone.” Other answers included “The impact I want to leave is being known for change and helping to include people” and “I want to make people realize they can always improve and be a better person for themselves.” The high-schoolers reflected on their values, things that brought them joy, what they aspired to, and what they had overcome. Answers depicted stories of immigrating to the U.S.; gratitude for family; love for music, dancing, cooking, self-expression; dreams of graduation; everyday pleasures like watching movies; favorite things like “makeup and clothes and Christmas;” and the importance of folklore, diversity, and their school and friends. Some of those answers from the worksheet were found on the mural’s surface in painted tiles featuring cartoon characters, scenes from nature, butterflies, bumble bees, graduation hats, dogs, planets, sunshine, mandalas, clouds, cookies and hearts. At the edges of the six panels making up the 6-foot by 10-foot panoramic mural, the tiles pour out of the central pinata shape, full of joy and hope and color. Cruz-Ayala’s own experience as an immigrant informs his art. “This mural was inspired by incorporating living communities into artwork, their love and compassion coming across thousands of years.” Another inspiration Cruz-Ayala drew from was his time within a work group of community activists, artists and educators at the Utah Museum of Fine Art (UMFA) as the institution expanded the Central and South American art exhibit. He was drawn to ancient thunder pots, a clay predecessor of the modern pinata that held water and
were broken in a ritual to summon rain. “Thunder pots are a nourishing ritual, which is kind of what we sought from this mural project, asking gods of the future to protect and nourish students on their education journeys,” Cruz-Ayala said. The middle of the mural’s scene shows a golden sun, surrounded by six pointed, geometric butterflies to represent the six schools. The sun, butterflies and their radiating rings are found within the central shape: a six-pointed thunder pot. Each point of the pot is the heart of each school’s individual panel, surrounded by a landscape likened to Utah’s buttes, and covered in puffy, swirling clouds. Within that horizon, students wrote hidden messages, words like “love,” and the simple greeting “hi.” Above the layered lines of the landscape, students’ colorful contributions (the aforementioned tiles) encircle the entire picture. Every detail is symbolic. The geometric butterflies act as a metaphor for the metamorphosis and growth through high school and throughout students’ time in PACE. Cruz-Ayala says, “I saw how much work goes into the back end of it, how much love and care is put into each student’s story of success and story of the future they want to live” and hopes this translates to viewers. He added, “This is a culmination of 15 years in the making that we are making history as we record it,” noting that this work was made with the next 15 years of the program in mind. The mural will remain on display with its artifacts through July 3 at SLCC’s South City Campus Center For Arts And Media before it will be moved to its permanent home in the PACE office at South City Campus. PACE scholars spoke at the event, thanking their mentors and expressing their
gratitude for the opportunities provided by the PACE program. Zahra from Granger High School shared that PACE “taught me so much about how to be a leader, how to be somebody that someone looks forward. It’s taught me how to achieve my dreams as a first generation college student. I’m honored to be among so many special individuals who have helped me achieve what I could only dream of.” Camila from Kearns High School thanked parents and friends for coming to see their work and elaborate on the positive impact of PACE on the community by encouraging creativity. “Each piece of art on the mural is unique but it’s beautiful to see us come together.” l
The 6-foot by 10-foot panoramic mural “Six Stories, One Future” hangs inside SLCC’s Center For Arts And Media at the unveiling event on June 4. (Anna Nielsen/City Journals)
July 2026 | Page 25
Eisenhower teacher and soccer coach found his way to Taylorsville, from Madrid, in a most unusual way Short on Spanish instructors a dozen years ago, the Utah Board of Education changed Rubén Núñez’s life forever, through a Skype interview. By Carl Fauver c.fauver@mycityjournals.com
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eteran Eisenhower Junior High School teacher and soccer coach Rubén Núñez is starting a brand-new job this month. No, no – the students who love him at EJHS don’t have to worry. He’s not leaving the Taylorsville school. For this new gig, Núñez will have to drive to Magna, almost daily. He’s been named the brand-new Cyprus High School girls soccer head coach. He’s been hosting informal “open gym” practices out there all summer. He’ll officially select his CHS team at the end of this month. A daily round trip trek out to Magna might sound like a headache to some of us. But that commute is nothing compared to the one-way trip he took to begin his Utah teaching career back in 2014. After all, it’s 5,265 miles from Madrid, Spain to Taylorsville. “I was born and raised in Spain, learned
Last winter, Rubén Núñez (front left) coached his Razzia Stars 2009 soccer team to an international tournament championship in Nevada. (Photo courtesy Rubén Núñez)
to play and coach soccer there and also began my career as a high school teacher in my home country,” Núñez begins his story. “My parents and sister still live there. I never had any intention of moving to the United States – let alone, Utah – until late 2013. That’s when my life changed; and I couldn’t be happier.” The Utah State Board of Education prompted the change. “The state was short on Spanish dual immersion teachers and put the word out in Spain they wanted instructors in my home country to interview, over Skype, for teaching
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Page 26 | July 2026
positions here in Utah,” Núñez said. “My first Skype interview was in November 2013. Then there was lots of paperwork and another couple of long-distance interviews. I learned I had the job in June 2014. And I officially became a Utah resident on August 3, 2014.” Núñez has gone back to Spain many times since then to visit family and friends. But he’s been an official “Utah resident” ever since then – with no real yearning to ever move back. “In 2009, some friends and I flew from Madrid for a vacation,” he said. “We rented a car and drove the entire East Coast, from New York to Miami. That was my only other time in the United States prior to moving here five years later. I was excited for the challenge.” For the record, Granite School District officials report they have not needed to recruit any new foreign language teachers through this system – from Spain, or anywhere else overseas – for the past year or two. The same month he arrived in the Salt Lake Valley, Núñez began teaching at Millcreek Elementary School. Three years later – beginning in the fall of 2017 – he shifted to Eisenhower Jr. High. He’ll begin his tenth year at the Taylorsville school next month. “I love the age group I am teaching now and have no desire to move up to the high school level or to return to an elementary school,” Núñez said. “I teach a couple of levels of Spanish along with some other subjects. I am also the student body officers’ adviser. And, my second year at Eisenhower, I began coaching the boys soccer team there.” Núñez says 50 to 60 Madrid teachers initially applied for the Utah teaching posts and 21 of them were hired and moved to our state in 2014. At first, they were the only people Núñez knew in our country. “They were my only friends and social network when I first got to Utah,” he said. “But luckily, I’ve been able to make many friends since then. And now, of those 21 who moved here in 2014, I am the only one still here. The other 20 have all moved back to Spain.” Núñez, 41, has never been married and
has no children of his own. But he works with hundreds of kids at Eisenhower and dozens of others on the many soccer teams he coaches. At first, Núñez only coached the EJHS boys soccer team. But that changed after one of his athletes aged out of the junior high. That boy is the son of the Razzia Futbol Club President, Ricardo Scardina. “I invited Rubén to coach for Razzia FC after he coached my son at Eisenhower,” Scardina said. “He and I have coached several Razzia teams together. We joke with each other, this is really a second fulltime job. Because he is a teacher, Rubén is so good at explaining things to our players. He teaches them all of the right techniques.” The Razzia Futbol Club fields 10 to 15 teams in both spring and fall soccer leagues. The teams include boys and girls, ages 8 to 18. When not busy competing in their Utah Youth Soccer Association leagues, many of the teams travel to play in tournaments, from Park City to St. George to neighboring states. “Last winter, two of my teams went undefeated in a couple of international tournaments,” Núñez said. “In January, our Razzia Juniors 2010 (meaning all of the boys were born in 2010) won the Coyote Cup in St. George. The next month, over Valentine’s Day weekend, our Razzia Stars 2009 team won the International Mayor’s Cup Showcase in Las Vegas. Both tournaments featured teams from many countries – Ireland, Italy, Mexico and others. Both my teams included a lot of Taylorsville boys. It was very exciting.” The Razzia Futbol Club Board of Directors includes Núñez over social media and Malina Tripp over marketing. “In 2024, I was named ‘parent volunteer of the year’ by the Utah Youth Soccer Association and they had a fancy suit-and-tie and ball gown dinner to announce it,” Tripp said. “I had never even met Rubén before that night. He had never coached my sons. But he got all dressed up and came to the gala… just to support and congratulate me. That’s the kind of guy he is.” Tripp has gotten to know Núñez much better in the two years since that big night. “I have watched Rubén with his boys at practices and games,” she added. “He really knows his stuff. And the boys respect him so much. These players, ages 15, 16, 17, can be pretty loud and chaotic. But when Rubén wants their attention, he gets it instantly. The boys listen to him and follow his coaching.” Núñez’ parents and sister, another teacher, visit him frequently here in Utah. And Núñez plans to return the favor with a flight to Madrid over Christmas this year. But last year Núñez bought his first Utah home; so, the EJHS students, Cyprus HS girls soccer team members and Razzia FC athletes can expect Núñez to be a positive influence in their lives for years to come.l
Taylorsville City Journal
County resident competes at National Spelling Bee Ray Mishra is already practicing for next year’s event. By Peri Kinder peri.k@thecityjournals.com
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hen Ray Mishra first took the stage at the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee, he wasn’t stressed, but as he moved into the quarterfinal rounds, he said it became “a little bit nerve-wracking.” In March, the 11-year-old won the 2026 Wasatch Front Regional Spelling Bee, sponsored by the City Journals community newspaper. That win qualified Ray to compete at the national event and he traveled with his parents to Washington, D.C. at the end of May. After six rounds, which included two spelling words, two definitions and a spelling test, Ray misspelled “klinotaxis” and finished tied for 55th. “It was a little bit of disappointment. I didn’t make it to the semifinals. It was the final round of quarterfinals,” he said. “I didn’t focus very much on New Latin, and ‘klinotaxis’ is a New Latin word.” For the first time, the Scripps National Spelling Bee was held at DAR Constitution Hall in downtown Washington, D.C. The event featured 247 spellers from across the world in the week-long competition, which included tours, workshops and the Bee Week Bash.
“The Bee Week Bash was my favorite,” Ray said. “We got to go to the Smithsonian National Museum of History, but it was also a party that had some nice food, snacks, music, and if you ever got bored, you could just go and walk around the museum.” Ray, a South Salt Lake resident, stayed focused and grounded by studying words and reading “Words of Wisdom: Keys to Success in the Scripps National Spelling Bee” written by former Bee contestant Scott B. Remer. The book offered spelling strategies, competition tips and word lists organized by language root and origin. Not only is Ray a champion speller, but he also loves to hike, bike, study science and practice karate. Ray will attend sixth grade at Evergreen Junior High in Millcreek this fall. He hopes the school participates in the regional Bee so he can try to earn another spot in the national competition. Ray’s father, Santi Mishra, is proud of what his son accomplished. He said it was stressful watching him participate at the national level but he loved that Ray had the opportunity to compete. “It was a great achievement for him to be there. He was so close to the semifinals,” Mishra said. “He did really great. He’s already started preparing for next year, trying to learn new words and finding different sources.” Shrey Parikh, a 14-year-old from
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California, won the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee, following a spell-off, only the third in the Bee’s history. Shrey set a new spell-off record by spelling 32 words before winning the Bee and $50,000 with the word “bromocriptine.” Ray received a commemorative pin, a certificate, a $100 gift card, a prize package full of Bee souvenirs and subscriptions, and tickets
to the Kennedy Space Center Visitors Complex. “We were excited to watch Ray compete at the national Bee,” said City Journals Publisher Bryan Scott. “It’s essential that we celebrate academic accomplishments. It’s important to me that we give students like Ray a chance to shine on the national stage. We’re very proud of him and hope he competes at the regional Bee next spring.” l
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The 2026 Wasatch Front Regional Spelling Bee winner, Ray Mishra, made it through six rounds at the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee. (Photo courtesy of Santi Mishra)
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Ray Mishra, 11, spent a week in Washington, D.C. while competing at the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee. (Photo courtesy of Santi Mishra)
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JULY CONCERT SCHEDULE July 3: Josh Groban, Jennifer Hudson, Maverik Center July 8: Wynton Marsalis Septet, Red Butte Garden July 8: Lukas Nelson, Sandy Amphitheater July 9: Zach Top, Utah First Amphitheatre July 10: JJ Grey & Mofro, The Wood Brothers, Red Butte Garden July 10: Allen Stone, Canyons Village July 10: The Acrobats, The Depot July 11: Cumbiatron, The Depot July 11: Houndmouth, Sandy Amphitheater July 12: KALEO and Dawes, Red Butte Garden July 13: Old Crow Medicine Show, Big Richard, Michelle Moonshine, Gallivan Center July 14: Gin Blossoms, Blues Traveler, Red Butte Garden July 17: Hilary Duff, Utah First Amphitheatre July 17: Freddie Gibbs, Roo Nostalgia, Amie Blue, Gallivan Center July 17 and 18: Utah Symphony performing Beethoven’s “Symphony No. 9”, Deer Valley July 17: The Avett Brothers, Maverik Center July 18: Treaty Oak Revival, Utah First Amphitheatre July 18: The Me Gusta Festival, Zions Bank Stadium July 19: Marcus King Band, Red Butte Garden July 20: Maren Morris, Red Butte Garden July 20: Idobi Radio Summer School, The Depot
Page 28 | July 2026
July 21: Joji, Nate Sib and Corbin, Maverik Center July 21 and 22: Jimmy Eats World, Sandy Amphitheater July 22: Olivia Dean, Maverik Center July 22: The String Cheese Incident, Red Butte Garden July 23: Riley Green, Utah First Amphitheatre July 24: 39 Special, Canyons Village July 25: Taylor Dayne, Canyons Village July 25: Evanescence, Utah First Amphitheatre July 25: Utah Symphony performing Stravinsky’s “Firebird” Suite, Deer Valley July 26: Sawyer Brown, Canyons Village July 26: Totally Tubular Festival, Red Butte Garden July 27: Suki Waterhouse, Beeson, Gallivan Center July 28: Post Malone, Jelly Roll, Rice-Eccles Stadium July 28 and 29: Death Cab for Cutie, Sandy Amphitheater July 29: Alabama Shakes, Red Butte Garden July 29: Howard Jones, Wang Chung, Maverik Center July 30: Sarah McLachlan, Utah First Amphitheatre July 30: Wynonna Judd, Melissa Etheridge, Red Butte Garden July 31: Lyle Lovett and Utah Symphony, Deer Valley July 31: The Psychedelic Furs, Deer Valley
LOCATIONS FOR CONCERT VENUES Red Butte Garden 2188 Red Butte Canyon Road, Salt Lake City Sandy Amphitheater 1245 E. 9400 South, Sandy Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre 5150 Upper Ridge Road, West Valley City Maverik Center 3200 S. Decker Lake Drive, West Valley City The Depot 13 N. 400 West, Salt Lake City Zions Bank Stadium 14787 Academy Parkway, Herriman Rice-Eccles Stadium 451 S. 1400 East, Salt Lake City Gallivan Center 50 E. 200 South, Salt Lake City Deer Valley 2250 Deer Valley Drive South, Park City Canyons Village 4000 Canyons Resort Drive, Park City
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A
A more perfect union of hearts and principles
s our nation celebrates America 250, it’s worth asking what it really means to be a citizen of the United States. The Constitution is built on a simple but powerful idea: people should be free—free to speak, believe, assemble, act and worship. It protects our ability to make choices, even when others disagree. That freedom is not accidental. The framers also separated power— legislative, executive and judicial— because they understood something deeply human: we are imperfect. Unchecked power tends to be abused. So they built guardrails, not around perfect people, but around real ones. The Constitution itself was born from compromise. Large states and small states. Different economies. Competing interests. Deep disagreements. The founders didn’t eliminate those differences—they worked through them. Today, compromise is often dismissed as weakness. But peacemaking is not weakness—it is strength. We often talk about politics as two opposing sides, but that oversimplifies reality. Within each party are a wide range of ideas and perspectives. You will never find a leader—or a neighbor—you agree with 100% of the time. And that’s OK.
Aimee Winder Newton
Salt Lake County Councilmember District 3
Scholar Yuval Levin, in American Covenant, puts it this way: the Constitution answers a central question—how can we act together when we don’t think alike? His answer is not uniformity, but cooperation. The system works by requiring negotiation, bargaining and coalition-building. I see this firsthand in my role in county government. Our council includes members from both parties in nearly equal numbers. When we work together, outcomes improve. When we dig in and fight, progress stalls. The system works best when leaders work with each other—not against each other. Congress was designed with this same purpose in mind: to force opposing sides to negotiate and find common ground. The frustration many feel with today’s political climate is not because the Constitution has
failed, but because we are drifting away from how it was meant to function. Instead of persuasion, we often see performance. Cable news and social media reward outrage, not understanding. The more inflammatory the message, the more attention it gets. The more attention it gets, the more it spreads. And the more it spreads, the more it shapes our perception of reality. When we “like,” share and financially support politicians who attack, vilify or refuse to work with others, we are reinforcing the very behavior we say we dislike. We are, in effect, incentivizing division. Peacemaking, by contrast, is quieter. It requires listening, humility and a willingness to move forward together. It does not mean abandoning truth. It means recognizing that in a diverse society, progress often requires cooperation. Without compromise, we don’t get purity—we get paralysis. Yet today, there is enormous pressure to divide into “us versus them.” Instead of seeing neighbors, we see opponents. Instead of truth, we see spin. Instead of compromise, absolutism. Instead of charity, contempt. We can change that—but it starts with us. First, be principled, not tribal. Care more about what is right than who is right. Second, seek truth. Be thoughtful about
what you believe and share. If your news diet is dominated by one outlet—or your social media feed is filled with outrage—it will shape how you see the world. These platforms profit from strong emotional reactions. Don’t reward that model with your attention. Third, speak with civility. You can disagree without being disagreeable. Fourth, work with others—even those you don’t fully agree with. Relationships matter more than winning an argument. Fifth, participate. Vote, engage and serve. Too often, only the loudest and most extreme voices are heard. And finally, lead with charity. Remember that every person you disagree with is still worthy of respect. The Constitution can only do so much. It creates a framework, protects rights and structures power. But it cannot make people virtuous. That responsibility belongs to us. We live in a time of division—but also a time of opportunity. An opportunity to be better citizens. To use our agency wisely. To defend freedom with responsibility. To build unity without demanding uniformity. If we do that, we won’t just strengthen our nation—we will help create a more perfect union of hearts and principles.
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Taylorsville City Journal
I
had my first glass of water at the age of 27. I was at my doctor’s office for a physical and he asked how much water I was drinking. The answer was zero, but I thought it was a trick question. I hedged my bet and said, “Um, two?” “Two what?” he asked. “Two waters?” “Give me a measurement.” “Tablespoons?” He sighed and told me I was dehydrated. Looking back, that makes sense because I hadn’t had a glass of water in more than a quarter-century. Growing up, we drank four things: Kool-Aid, orange juice, milk and soda. Even our ice cubes were made from Kool-Aid. I never remember going to the faucet to get a glass of water. We used the faucet to fill up water balloons. On the weekends, I’d ride my bike 40 miles, play two games of basketball, hike Mt. Timpanogos and play at the park until it was dark, and I never, ever stopped for a glass of water. If I got thirsty, I’d swing by 7-Eleven to grab a Fresca and a pack of candy cigarettes. We didn’t carry expensive, gallonsized, bedazzled Stanley cups where we could sip cucumber-infused, artisan well
TaylorsvilleJ ournal.com
A tall drink of water Peri Kinder Life and Laughter
water through a biodegradable straw. We would have mercilessly mocked anyone who did. I did have a metal Thermos that came with my Holly Hobbie lunch box, but it always smelled like sour milk, even when it was filled with Hawaiian Punch. We didn’t drink water at school except after lunch recess, when we were allowed to have one gulp from the water fountain at the back of the room. But Raymond B. always put his mouth on the faucet and then no one else wanted to drink. Raymond was Patient Zero for all diseases in our class. If we were driving with Mom around town and got thirsty, she wouldn’t throw us a bottle of Dasani. She would hand us a stick of gum and say, “Chew this until you have enough spit to swallow.” I didn’t know drinking water was an option. Well, that’s not quite true. When we
played outside, we’d drink it straight from the hose like God intended. It was cold, refreshing and full of lead and arsenic, but it quenched my thirst. I never would have poured water into a cup and just sat around like a fancy person, sipping Perrier with my pinky in the air. No hoity-toity water for me, thank you. But then, single-use plastic bottles were created and water became an industry. Why drink water from the hose for free when you can purchase tap water in a bottle? We were told to drink eight glasses of water every day. Who has time for that? Social media influencers took drinking water to a whole new level. They are responsible for making reusable water bottles a lifestyle necessity, launching brands like Yeti, Hydro Flask and Stanley into the liquid stratosphere. Do you know how many water bottles are in my home? As of yesterday, there were 4,628, most of them branded from events, including the 17 my husband has from the Sundance Film Festival. We can blame data centers for taking our water (and I do), but maybe we should share culpability for the world’s dehydration by carrying 100 cubic meters of water with us wherever we go.
My eight-year-old self is sitting on a bench at Murray Park, puffing a candy cigarette and swigging Fresca. My 27-year-old self is learning how to drink water every day. My current self just knocked my Yeti mug over for the umpteenth time, spilling water all over the desk. Progress or product placement? 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.
July 2026 | Page 31
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