Returning to Springville to Recite Kiddish at my Mother’s Grave: How I Chose to Celebrate my 80th Birthday Honoring Jewish Heritage
Most people celebrate their 80th birthday with a party. I’m celebrating mine by taking my children and grandchildren on a pilgrimage to Springville, where I will stand at my mother’s grave in Evergreen Cemetery and recite Kaddish, the traditional Jewish prayer for the dead. Springville produced a woman who remained deeply connected to her hometown […]
Neighbors Helping Neighbors: Santaquin Mini Food Pantry
There is a new mini pantry in Santaquin, thanks to the support of many community members, and is now available for use near the Santaquin City Library at 45 West 100 South. My name is Jaxen Jensen. I live in Santaquin, I am a Senior at Payson High School, and am a member of Scout […]
Phyllis Peterson: A Lifetime of Love in the Classroom
After 44 years of teaching, Phyllis Peterson is retiring from a career that has taken her through schools in Idaho and Utah and into the lives of more than 1,100 students. Peterson graduated from Spanish Fork High School in 1976 and Utah State University in 1980. She began her career at Oakwood Elementary in Preston, […]
What’s Happening at the Huish Theater in Payson?
With the many renovations happening at the Huish Theater in Payson, many in the community are wondering how the progress is going. Many have expressed curiosity mainly due to the renovations now happening on the interior. The original plan was to renovate the building in three phases. Phase one included fixing the exterior and building […]
Beyond the Service: Spring Creek Mortuary Redefines Community Healing
Since opening its doors on Main Street, Spring Creek Mortuary has become a recognizable part of the Springville landscape. For the team at Spring Creek Mortuary, however, being a “new” business in town means more than just providing professional funeral arrangements; it means becoming a cornerstone of support and a dedicated space for long-term healing […]
Project Safe Lane: No Ping is Worth a Life: Join the 21-Day Challenge for Safer Streets
With April being “National Distracted Driving Awareness Month” in Utah, it is a perfect time to introduce myself and my community service initiative, Project Safe Lane. In the five seconds it takes to read a text message at 55 mph, a vehicle travels the length of a football field, but blindly if you are looking […]
Adopted by an Officer. Becoming an Officer. A Journey to Lift Others.
Life was never meant to be easy. The older I get, the more I understand that. The uphill climb is not the punishment; it is the path. I did not choose to sleep in a homeless shelter. I did not choose foster care. I did not choose the instability or the pain I was born […]
Beyond the Crash: Finding Purpose in Service After Life-Altering Trauma
One year ago, a semi-truck driver’s wife’s biggest worry and worst nightmare came true. The day started off as any normal day would: I woke up, started work and anticipated the end of the work week. My husband was excited to take our then 4-year-old granddaughter ice fishing on the weekend. He was on his […]
Not a Matter of If, But When: Preparing Your Children for the Digital Reality
Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about my children, my future grandchildren, and the world they’re growing up in. Many parents, myself included, want to believe their children won’t encounter online pornography — but the reality is starkly different: it’s not a matter of if a child will be exposed to pornography, but when. And […]
Perseverance in Service:Elder Evan Glazner’s Mission Marked by Faith, Pain, and Purpose
When Elder Evan Glazner began his Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint mission on November 20, 2023, he did so with the same hope and determination shared by thousands of young missionaries: to serve others, strengthen his faith, and grow into the person he felt called to become. What followed, however, was a mission […]
