Hey everyone! Welcome back to another week of news here on Summit in Six!
In today’s episode, we are going to cover Mental Health Awareness Month, summer safety tips, the Fourth Annual Trails, Trash and Tunes event… and more! Alright, let’s get into the news!
Mental Health Awareness Month
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Mental health continues to be a major issue in Summit County, with more than half of our residents having experienced mental health challenges in the past year. How can we all support mental health awareness this month? Visit OurMentalHealth.org for more information about mental health events and resources in our community. If you or someone you care about is experiencing a mental health crisis, text or call 988 for the National Suicide and Crisis Hotline.
Wildfire Awareness Month
May is also Wildfire Awareness Month. As Utah approaches another wildfire season, we urge everyone to spare a few moments to prepare for wildfires. Regardless of your location, you play a key role in wildfire prevention. Here are some ways to start:
- Create defensible space around your property
- Sign up for emergency alerts
- Practice safe outdoor burning and remember to use your Fire Sense
- Review your evacuation plan
Let’s protect Utah together. Visit Firewise.org or check out utahfiresense.org to learn more.
Tick Season is Here!
With warmer weather, tick activity is on the rise in Utah. While Summit County Health Department doesn’t offer tick identification services, residents can stop by any clinic in Kamas, Coalville or Park City to pick up a tick collection vial and instructions on how to send it to a lab for testing. When spending time outdoors, wear long sleeves, tuck your pants into your socks, and use an EPA-registered insect repellent to help prevent tick bites. To learn more about tick prevention, safe removal, and tick borne illnesses in Utah, visit the link in our show notes. [epi.utah.gov/tickborne-diseases]
Sun Safety
It’s crucial to practice sun safety, especially in Summit County, where melanoma rates are notably high. Summit County has the 2nd highest incidence rate for melanoma in the state and more than double the national average.
Here are some tips to protect yourself while enjoying the outdoors:
- Apply Sunscreen: Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher, reapplying every two hours, especially after swimming or sweating.
- Wear Protective Clothing: Opt for long sleeves, wide-brimmed hats, and sunglasses to shield your skin and eyes from harmful UV rays.
- Seek Shade: Limit direct sun exposure during peak hours, typically between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
By taking these precautions, you can safely enjoy the benefits of nature while reducing your risk of skin cancer!
Fourth Annual Trails, Trash and Tunes
The Summit County Stormwater Coalition is excited to host the FOURTH Annual “Trails, Trash and Tunes” event on Saturday, May 31st from 12pm – 4pm at Silver Creek “Loomis” Park (6530 Silver Creek Drive).
Welcome in springtime and celebrate the Earth with:
– LIVE music from Mountain Town Music
– A trail + park cleanup
– For the 21+ crowd, enjoy a beer garden with Offset Bier
– Kids activities will be hosted by the Summit County Library
– Education booths about stormwater, noxious weeds identification and more!
Registration is FREE and encouraged so we know who is coming at summitcounty.info/trailstrashtunes25. The link is in our show-notes.
May Weeds of the Month
It’s that time of year again, and our Weeds of the Month segment is BACK on Summit in Six! In this segment, we’ll cover some of Summit County’s most-wanted noxious weeds. May’s first two Weeds of the Month are Dyers Woad and Hoary Cress.
Dyers Woad is a native of Europe. It was brought here for the production of textile dyes and thrives in waste areas, gravel pits, roadsides, roadside pastures, and any disturbed soils. Dyer’s Woad can can grow from 1 to 3 feet tall, and the weed has a thick, deep tap root. Its leaves are blue-green with a whitish midrib. At its mature stage, Dyer’s Woad has a bright yellow bloom that is highly visible in late spring. A crazy fact about Dyers Woad is that large plants can produce up to 100,000 seeds, so the goal is not to let it get that big. To control Dyers Woad, herbicide can be effective if applied at the proper time of year and if applied during the rosette to pre-bloom stage.
Hoary Cress originated in Europe too. It reproduces by root segments and seed, and is commonly found on disturbed sites along roadways, field edges, and excavations. It is also a widespread weed of grain fields, cultivated fields, and meadows. It grows particularly well on somewhat saline soils. Hoary Cress is a perennial plant that grows 1 to 2 feet tall with creeping rootstocks. Its leaves are finely toothed, and its upper leaves clasp the stem. Its bloom is in late spring with clusters of white flowers, each flower contains four petals. Its seed pods are heart-shaped bladders and contain two brownish seeds. To control Hoary Cress, select herbicides offer fair to good control when applied from the rosette to early bloom stages.
Did you know that Summit County provides FREE weed-spraying equipment to all residents? If you have weeds like Dyers Woad or Hoary Cress on your property, learn more about this service here: bit.ly/sprayrentals
If you aren’t sure which plants are which, you can find more information, including photos of these weeds at various stages of their growth and of their key identifying features, at summitcounty.info/idweeds.
Willow Planting Event on the 910 Ranch
Join the County Lands and Natural Resources team for a willow planting event on the 910 Ranch next Thursday (May 15) from 1–4 pm. By planting native willows, the stream bed will be more resistant to erosion and there will be more homes and food for wildlife. Expect to walk across uneven terrain and potentially in or near water, so please wear suitable clothing and protective footwear (long sleeves, pants, and muck boots recommended). Bring hats and sunscreen, carry water, and be prepared for spring weather. Please register for this free event at: https://summitcounty.info/willowplanting
Summit County Chief Building Official, Richard Butz Retires
Our Chief Building Official, Richard Butz is retiring after 33 years of service to Summit County. From the very beginnings of his career Richard has built an environment of problem solving, a commitment to quality, communication, and trust, developing valuable relationships with a broad range of stakeholders throughout Summit County and the State of Utah. He has been an outstanding example of dedication and hard work during a roller coaster of construction cycles. Significant milestones include the building boom surrounding the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympic Games. Then in 2008, during difficult times for the entire construction industry, Richard re-committed to the future of Summit County by shouldering the job of Senior Building Inspector. Most recently, in 2021, he took on the position of Chief Building Official. Richard has made significant and meaningful contributions to the health, safety, quality of life, and general wellbeing of the citizens of Summit County and the State of Utah. Thank you for your 33 years of service, Richard!
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