As his four resident kittens affectionately meandered around my pant leg, I took in the unforeseen, yet exciting, situation. I couldn’t believe I had landed in an artist’s nook! The spontaneous nature of this encounter hinted at the aleatory story of the man before me
and his art.

In 2008, during the heat of the recession, Guy Wann, a plumbing contractor by trade for 18 years, had been to the doctor six times. His doctor told him, “You have got to get a hobby or you’re going to have a heart attack.” So, he packed his bags and went to visit his mom just north of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Wann’s mother is an artist; painting with watercolors and acrylics. As Guy and his mother were strolling around an art show he asked if she thought he could make art.

She assured him it was genetic, his grandmother had also been an artist; an oil painter to be exact.   He went home inspired and began to paint. The medium of choice for his distinct style is…wait for it…exterior house paint and beach sand! I know! Right? Who does that? Well, if you live in Heber, one of your neighbors.

Guy didn’t have the financial means to take professional lessons of any kind, so he started watching YouTube videos. He’s been told since what a blessing that was.  Often, professionally trained painters are influenced so heavily by their education that it is more difficult to break through and create their own style. Things tended to just fall together for Guy and his quirky technique that developed in a most original way.

Inevitably, when you visit the beach you bring a little souvenir home…every time…sand. While living in California, after a day at the beach, his wife and kids accidentally scattered sand where he was painting. Guy loved the accidental outcome! Wann came up with this wild idea to lay down paint and add beach sand — and voilà, Guy Wann’s unique style of painting was created! Guy shared the process: as the paint dries the sand adheres, then he paints over it and adds more sand to create a one-of-a-kind relief. Wann chuckled telling me how he goes through brushes like crazy! He’s literally painting sandpaper! When Guy moved from California to Heber, he brought 400 pounds of sand with him. “Every time I go back, I get a bucket to bring home.” Now, the sand spillage is quite intentional.

All that sand on the artwork gets heavy. Thank goodness Guy is handy – and admittedly thrifty. He builds his own framework to stretch his canvases. The frames of his canvases are much sturdier than the run-of-the-mill found at an art supply store. Not only does this provide a sturdier base for his incredible artwork, but it also makes for some pretty dramatic shapes and sizes for his paintings. The long, tall paintings are my personal favorite! They add such drama and maximize otherwise difficult spots to display fine art. Another cool aspect of Guy’s art is that it’s tactile. Wann has had clients purchase his relief-laden pieces for the blind to enjoy fine art through touch. His art really is a feast for the senses.

As an Ojai, California native, Guy began painting oranges at the onset of his artistic adventures. He was invited to sell his art on Saturdays at the 5 Diamond Resort, Ojai Valley Inn and Spa. Oranges and high-end California clientele were a magical combination, and Guy’s art sold like hotcakes. He’s been through spurts of quite a range of artistic subject matters. There was a stent of pomegranates that sold well in Saudi Arabia and Dubai. Swiss-inspired paintings followed a Viking cruise and a week in Switzerland. After moving from the beach to the heart of the mountains, his focus shifted to aspens, barns, sunflowers, and birds. The vibrant, rich colors hop scenes with him. Wann’s paintings are in 20 different countries.

His life is as eclectic as his paintings. He wheels and deals in crypto, and is currently building a website to mint coins. He also travels the world fishing. His most recent adventure was a 15-day trip to the Philippines, fishing off the shores of the islands. If you’re an artist, a crypto dealer, and a globe-traveling fisherman, why wouldn’t you be an author too? He has self-published a handful of painting books he sells on Amazon.

Guys’s art literally brings pieces of a faraway beach to our mountain valley; each grain of sand combining with the paint to create a visual delight. So, go and and take a random tour of Old McDonald’s Farm, learn about the history of the barn, and peruse Guy’s amazing art! He has a stockpile in the studio where you’re sure to find the right piece for your space.

Discover more of Guy Wann’s work online: guywann.com  |  @guyawann

Nabaum began his career as an artist at age 15, working as a caricature artist. You may remember the bobblehead art, so popular in the 90’s! That was his first paid job as an artist. After graduation, he became a true blue Aggie studying art at Utah State on a scholarship. Alex caught a great break for an aspiring artist and was hired by the Ogden Standard-Examiner as an illustrator and graphic designer. He then moved on to work for Desert News as a staff artist. When the Winter Olympics arrived in 2002, Alex took on the night shifts (undesired by most of the other staff) to free up his days to launch his freelance work with his clientele during the traditional work day. By 2004, he was able to set off on his own, working as a freelance illustrator for big names like the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, and the Los Angeles Times.

He touts with a chuckle that he made the cover of ESP — not by way of the typical route as an athlete, though. Professionally, he has worked with Forbes, Time, Newsweek, Readers Digest, National Geographic, and many more.

Growing up south of Denver, he spent time in powder on the slopes of our neighboring east side of the Rockies. After moving to Utah, Nabaum and his family became well-versed in the resorts of our area. For the past five years, Alex has combined his passion for art and skiing, pouring his heart and soul into creating his amazing poster art. Nabaum has iconic renditions of all of our beloved resorts, Sundance, Deer Valley, and Park City.

Ski resort involvement may be genetic! Alex’s grandfather and businessman, Sherman Nabaum, became chairman of the Winter Sports Committee, who helped raise the original $10,000 to launch Alta in 1938. To kick off his work, Nabaum dives deep into history to root out all the tiny details that capture the unique character of each location. The next step in making it an authentic representation takes a visit or two to really experience the feel and soak up the scenery. Nabaum’s daughter has been known to tag along, helping him take pictures and ‘live’ the moment. They go ‘see it’ from the visitor’s perspective. They take photographs and sketches to brainstorm ideas and create a visual collection inspiring the final piece.

Here is where his true artistic nature shines through. His creativity is off the hook! Deep, rich layers are in the ties between his art and each ski resort experience. Let me — ‘ahem’ — paint the picture for you. There are three different editions for each poster. They are named based on the three pertinent numbers for a ski resort: Base, Vertical, and Summit Editions. For example, the base elevation of Deer Valley is 6,570 feet; therefore, he prices his Base Edition at $65.70. Savvy? Now consider the vertical drop of the resort at 3,000 feet, thus making the Vertical Drop Edition $300.00. Finally, we hit the summit. Deer Valley peaks out at 9,570, so naturally, the Summit Edition is $957.00.

To encapsulate even more of the exact physical locations in the art, Nabaum describes a special connection. “I ride, hike, ski, or backpack to the highest point of the resort and collect a bag of snow, which I document on my SkiPosters.Art Instagram.” The snow is mixed into the Vertical and Summit Editions paint! The Summit Edition’s entire white paint surface is mixed with the snowmelt from the physical summit. The Vertical Edition prints receive a dose of colors mixed using the snow. Nabaum describes how this technique makes each print “literally drip with authenticity.” He smiles as he tells of how he has had some funny looks from ski patrol when he gathers his bags of snow. He has two bottles of snowmelt for each resort. He guards it with his life!

Within the art itself, he richly weaves symbolic images to represent the history and feel of each location. He takes painstaking measures to create just the right pallet of colors to capture the landscape and story of each resort. Both online and included with each print is a cheat sheet of the symbolism, hidden objects, and ideas of each poster. Let me give you an example. If you take a peek at the Deer Valley poster, you’ll see skiers traveling beautiful corduroy snow that is also lovely groomed locks of ritzy clientele. (Fun trivia: the French word ‘Cord du Roi’ means ‘cord for Kings.’) The award-winning grooming of Deer Valley is highlighted while masterfully emphasizing the prominence often found in the characters on DV slopes and lifts. Even the elegance of the bathrooms is mentioned on the cheat sheet, pointing towards the luxury, and showcased using the monogram in the art! Check out all the fascinating and playful symbols of each piece at skiposters.art

Park City’s poster highlights the iconic intersection of the lift and Main Street. Nabaum shared a story of how his high school friends had an elaborate system to all share one ski pass for the season. It worked because of Park City’s arrangement with Main Street! Once on the lift, they had a planned location to insert their pass into a mitten and drop it down onto the street. They would each take their turn getting on the lift with their pass and mitten. Ah, the creativity of youth and memories it makes!

Sundance is known for artistic flair and, of course, the resort’s visionary, Robert Redford. Front and center on Sundance’s poster is the top portion of the famous Morning Prayer sculpture by Apache artist Allan Houser. Skis with references to Redford’s films are stuck in the snow behind the sculpture, and in the distance is our beloved Timpanogos. The poster perfectly represents a little piece of our Heber Valley home.

The Nabaum’s basement has long since been completed and fully adorned with unique ski posters, hand printed by the artist at his home, but the passion has a momentum that rolls on. Although Alex and his family recently moved to Idaho, his years here in Wasatch County have gained him a loyal local following. Heber Valley resident Jeff Danley collects the first edition of each Base Edition. Be sure to watch for more favorites coming down the line. Solitude, Brighton, Big Sky, and Mammoth will be released in 2024. Just as sure as the snow will fly, Nabaum’s adventures and art will continue for years to come.

ski.posters.art
@skiposters.art

The traditional country barn stands as an iconic figure of yesteryear. If you were “raised in a barn” like I was, you’ll remember how dust filters through rafters and dances in the sunlight, the soothing rhythms of rain as it pitter-patters on a tin roof during a summer shower, and the sweet, permeating smell of new hay. If not, you may be able to imagine.

As time slips by, a vast majority of those, now, old barns in the valley have fallen into disrepair and quietly crumbled to the ground; slipping away with the people of their time. However, lucky for us, there are a few choice specimens and existing landmark buildings left around the valley. Join me on a tour as we visit a few exemplar classics.

Let’s start north of town at Old McDonald’s Farm…I’m not kidding! It’s the real deal!

McDonald Barn

In May of 1859 a Mormon pioneer party arrived north of where Heber would be established at a natural spring. They named the spring London in honor of their home country. Prior to World War II, Storm McDonald was a car salesman in Heber.

During the war he was unable to get inventory, and determined there was more money to be made in dairy cows than cars. He sold his automobile business and built a big red barn at the mouth of London Spring and began milking. McDonald had one of the largest dairies in the valley. He skimmed his cream and sent it by train to Cherry Hill Dairy in Provo. Today, the barn is being restored by artist, Guy Wann and his wife Jane. The couple has invested over $100,000 jacking the barn up and reinforcing it, securing and shoring up portions for modern use. Guy rummages at yard sales finding antiques to add to the property. The barn is now home to four barn kittens, a small herd of goats, and Guy’s art studio. Just to the side of the barn is the original ‘Caretaker’s Cottage’ now an Airbnb. You can watch the happenings on the farm at their YouTube channel, Life on our Mini Farm.

Old McDonald’s Farm: Contact Guy & Jane Wann 805-220-8181
guywann.com  |  2500 N Highway 40 Heber City

Kohler’s Dairy Barn

For almost 100 years, generations of the Kohler family have continued to work their family’s dairy farm. Russel Kohler’s great-great grandfather made cheese in Switzerland; his great-grandfather worked in the original Midway Creamery; and now, Russel works the dairy that has been in the family since 1929. In 2011, the family built a new creamery and began using their farm’s milk to handcraft and age artisan cheese. We are all very blessed to still have this working dairy in the valley. Stop by the barn for a tour, and enjoy some delicious, rich and creamy milk, a slice or two of their award winning chesses, and some yummy ice cream.

 Kohler’s:
Get the details at hebervalleyartisancheese.com
435-654-0291  |  920 River Road, Midway

CB Barn

This large red and white barn was originally built in 1875 by Swiss Immigrant (and my common relative), Andreas Burgener, using mortise and tenon style construction – no nails are used in the build. Seven generations later it has been lovingly restored, by his posterity and current owner, Rick Tatton.  Rick has gone to great lengths to maintain and renovate the property; staying true to the fundamental craftsmanship. Tatton named the barn after his grandfather Conrad Boss. This quaint, yet pristine property now includes much more than just the original barn. It’s the whole shebang! The barnyard is complete with a henhouse, outdoor stone kitchen, smokehouse, outhouse, garage, cellar, granary, spring, and home. The original Burgener family lived in the top of the granary until construction of the house was completed. Rick and Connie Tatton’s preservation and attention to detail shows in everything they have done. In 1995, the barn was recognized nationally by the Barn Again! Program. It has received multiple Civic Beautification awards and is designated as a State of Utah Century Farm. The Tattons enjoy sharing their story with those interested and are always up for offering a little hometown hospitality.

CB Barn: Rick & Connie Tatton
435-654-2416  |  102 W 100 N, Midway

Tate Barn

The Tate Barn stands proud on the west side of the valley. The one story hay barn, built by English immigrant, Francis Tate, at the turn of the 20th century is built on local pot rock, and was used on the Tate’s cattle and horse ranch. Ironically, the Southern Pacific Railroad, Ogden-Lucin Cutoff Trestle was also constructed in the same year – 1902-1904 to be exact. The trestle bridge spanned the Great Salt Lake. In 1961 Wasatch State Park acquired the Tate Barn, and unfortunately, in 1996 the barn collapsed due to heavy snow loads. In preparation for the 2002 Olympic Games, and to offer a symbol of the American West to the Soldier Hollow venue, the barn was restored using the wood from the Ogden-Lucin Cutoff trestle. Today, the reconstructed barn is used for storage by the state park.

Fun Fact: There is a geocache near the Tate Barn!
Check it out at geocaching.com and happy hunting!

Tate Barn: midwaycityut.org/visit
For more info visit the Midway Visitor Center  |  1281 Warm Springs Road Midway

Rustling Aspen Farm Barn

The old Probst Dairy Barn was built in 1948 as a hay and dairy barn. Back in its glory days, hay would be stacked to the very top. There are large iron grapple hooks hanging from the rafters that were used to move the hay to the top floor and wooden slat ladders creep up the walls. The old dairy cow stanchions are still in the traditional milk parlor, where cows are milked, on the north end of the barn. A stanchion is a contraption used to hold cattle in place as they’re milked. It runs the length of the parlor and catches each cow’s neck to hold them steady and allow them to feed as they’re milked. Afterwards, they return either outdoors or to a loafing area. Current owners, Rodger and Sue Pyper purchased the old barn and surrounding barnyard in 1983 from Joe Probst. Today, the Pypers use the barn to store hay for their horses, produce organic compost materials, and to hang garlic as it cures for their son and farmer, Chris. Chris’s organic vegetable and flower farm, Rustling Aspen Farm, is currently housed on the property. Behind the barn are three greenhouses and land used for production of organic vegetables and flowers. Chris is the founder of the Midway Farmers Market. Stop by on a Saturday June through October from 10-2 and grab some veggies and a bouquet grown in the company of this majestic old barn.

Rustling Aspen Farm:
rustlingaspenfarm.com  |  65 N 300 W, Midway, UT

Bollschweiler Cellar and Granary

84 year old Midway resident, Martin Bollschweiler was raised on this property. His mother, Norma Martin, moved with her parents and siblings to the little farmstead in 1929 when her family sold their original farm to the Kohlers (where Kohler Dairy is now). Originally, there was a large milk barn and hay shed behind the old granary. The cellar was built using local pot rock, it is cool and musty, the perfect place to store bottled fruit and root vegetables. There are small, aged doors in the top of the granary and chutes for the grain to flow through the top portion of the build. Martin tells stories of his mother in an old rock building out behind the granary and the house where she did her wash and hung it to dry in the country air. That crisp wash would bring a little sunshine to the home. His father, Henry Bollschweiler, hauled milk to the surrounding areas. As the years passed, Martin’s brother Reed and sister Rosann moved away, but Martin kept the old home and ran a small engine repair from the old garage and cellar. I caught up with Martin just days before he left for Spring Gardens Senior Living Community in Heber. If you’d like more tales of Midway and Heber Valley go by and visit him. He’d sure appreciate the company, and you’ll be blessed with learning about a little piece of our history.

Bollschweiler Cellar and Granary: On the corner of 300 W Main Street, Midway

Batty Barn at the Old Fort Wallsburg and Spring Creek

Joe and Marcia Young took me around the old dairy barn tucked back off the road on the old Batty Family Dairy. Young grew up on the property and lives there today. Joe was able to take a cabin from the old fort built in 1865 and restore it on his current property adjoining the barnyard. Looking closely at both the barn and the fort cabin you can see the joints carefully carved to interlock the red pine logs. Red Pine was used specifically to prevent rot. Over 150 years later it has proved to be a wise choice.

Batty Barn at the Old Fort Wallsburg and Spring Creek:
175 S Center Street Wallsburg

Murdock Homestead Barns

Smack dab in the middle of town sits the 1869 homestead of James Stacy Murdock. His great-granddaughter, Joyce Bailey, now holds down the fort. Stop by and admire the two beautiful hay barns, the loafing sheds, two granaries, a handful of sheds, a chicken coop, and a pot-rock root cellar. The big board barn on the south started out two blocks away on a neighboring farm. In the time of Joyce’s father, the family pulled it with teams of horses, rolling over logs, and brought it to the homestead. Joyce remorsefully tells of a little blacksmith shop that once sat on the property. She donated it to the 2002 Olympics, and it now sits in Midway. She’d love to have the original billows return home. The property is smattered with pot rock hauled from Midway and sandstone from James Stacy Murdock’s quarry.

Murdock Homestead: 250 N 500 E Heber City

Calvin Giles Barn

The Calvin and Amber Giles family lived on the east side of Heber, but their dairy was on the west side of town. Cal and his boys would get up early to milk each morning. George Giles, Cal’s cousin, was a policeman in town and would regularly come by at 5:00 am to haul all of them to milk in the morning. If the car wouldn’t start, they’d have to hoof it across town. The boys consistently missed their first period. Things clearly weren’t working. Calvin and Amber determined something had to be done. In 1950, after the banker called Cal’s neighbors to verify his strong work ethic, he was granted a $50,000 loan to build his big hay barn, a milk barn, and his house where the cows were. Their son, Lew, worked for the Forest Service and was able to secure timber to build their barn.

Calvin, now 98, reminisces about a time when there were no grocery stores, and families had to produce their own food. “There were barns on every corner of Heber Valley. Every family had 7-8 cows, 2-3 pigs, 3-4 sheep, and a dozen or two chickens, and that is how everyone survived. Big gardens were a necessity, and food was bottled and canned. They were thrifty people.” Calvin milked 40 cows, and butter was 2¢ a pound! Now that butter is $5 a pound, the cows are all gone, and Calvin’s granddaughter and her husband own the barns and are making plans to restore the big hay barn.

While visiting each of these historic barns, I had the privilege of meeting some extraordinary people who were happy to share their stories. I invite you to take time out of your busy schedules and go for a ride around town. Imagine a simpler time, talk to the ‘old timers,’ and get to know them and their stories. If we are to value our future, we must treasure our Heber Valley’s past.

We all love a good remix of a favorite oldie. There’s just something about the predictability of things we’ve known for a long time mixed with a fresh and unexpected twist. When I stepped across the threshold of the Old Firehouse, that feeling of ‘old meets new’ flooded over me. The building dazzles with southern light pouring in through the enormous updated windows. Visitors are welcomed by the interior’s clean lines and organic textures. The warm and fashion-forward entrance lounge made me feel right at home. It was easy to picture myself settling in among the cushions of their fabulous couch, sipping ice water while scanning my Instagram or flipping through a magazine. I resisted the urge and made my way through the rest of the newly renovated building.

In 1948 the structure was originally planned to serve as the Memorial Service Building. However, when it opened in May of 1949, the Old Firehouse would not only serve as the fire station but would also be home to the Heber City offices, Heber Light and Power, a meeting place for the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and a ballroom. The people of Heber packed it all into this building from the get-go! They also touted, in a 1948 newspaper article, restrooms, and a kitchen. Over the years, the facility’s uses have been vastly diverse. It has been a credit union, an optometrist’s office, a dance and exercise studio, a police station, and an engineer’s office. Everyone in the valley remembers it as something different.

Today, the Old Firehouse building is owned by Rodrigo and Natalie Ballon. Positive energy exudes from the couple, and they make me laugh out loud! They’ve had quite an adventure with this old charmer. Rodrigo’s booming voice and personality convey his passion for the new office spaces. His enthusiasm is contagious. Looking around, I can see he has a lot to be excited about. The space is gorgeous! He beams as he parades me around the carefully designed space that feels like a modern home. I’m so comfortable. I just want to kick off my shoes and settle in for a light-hearted chat. I realize they’ve nailed it when Rodrigo tells me, “We want to make this not just a place where you’re comfortable working, but we want a place that’s inviting where we can bring clients for seminars or weekends.”

Natalie’s quiet and knowing smile makes you want to pry more from her brilliant brain. Natalie Joy Ballon, and her sister, Madison Jean Blackburn, make up the dynamic duo of Jean and Joy Interiors, now housed in their very own masterpiece. Rodrigo’s space as Executive Vice President of Cross Country Mortgage sprawls the west wall. In his suite, Natalie and Madison worked with an old, weight-bearing, exposed brick wall to evoke that industrial feel, marrying the old and the new. Natalie speaks to the essence of this historic building, “It has history and great bones. It just has character! I love the brick. We didn’t want to change the look of it. We were attracted to it. We wanted to give it a little facelift; make it look nicer and more functional. We wanted to create some nice, classy office spaces for the community. I think it’s a great addition to the area.”

Madison chimes in, “It was important to develop something that wasn’t a new development. To take something in the community that was beautiful already and give it life. There’s so much new building going on, and I just think it’s important to clean up what is already here. New construction just doesn’t tell the story of Heber like this does.”

The story of the Old Firehouse building is one of a community coming together to create a space for all. In the 1940s, the initial construction funds included a “special memorial tax levied for years by the county,”² funds from the city, and “donations of the veterans organizations and other groups.” Even the construction was a group effort. An article from that time told how “a competent foreman will be employed and the work will be done by contributed labor as recruited by the veterans’ groups and the volunteer firemen.”
That may explain a little of the hodgepodge nature of the old build; however, the new build is far from a hodgepodge.

Although Natalie and Madison’s business specializes in residential design and development, the sisters are thrilled to have spearheaded the Old Firehouse’s entire remodel, reconstruction, and complete design. Both Natalie and Madison felt it was important to not only keep the outside as original as possible but to ensure that the building harmonized with Heber’s current Main Street redevelopment.

Jean and Joy Interiors is centrally located on the main floor, along with Christine Sara Photography and Ambienti AV Architects. Perhaps one of the most exciting spaces on the ground level is Kevin Kehoe’s gallery. It is the first fine art gallery in Heber City. Ten years ago, Kevin transitioned from 30 years as a marketing creative director to a fine art painter and photographer. Kevin created his studio in Heber’s Old Firehouse and has been here ever since. The studio, located on the top floor, is where each of Kevin’s masterpieces found life. Kevin speaks with reverence of the blessing granted to him and his work when Rodrigo and Natalie arrived in his world. When the building went up for sale, Kevin was on pins and needles regarding his fate. Relocating to his home wasn’t a possibility, and finding a space on a second floor with a nearly unobstructed view and southern exposure lighting would be almost impossible to replace, not to mention a place with the same vibes. When the Ballons purchased the building, Kevin not only kept his recently beautified and updated studio, but he now has a floor-level gallery.

As Kevin coins it, “This building was restored to attract people with a creative heart.” His neighbors upstairs include Milkcrate Development, Robison Home Builders, Northwestern Mutual, and a couple of offices yet to be leased. The updated space stands in drastic contrast to its previous state. The Ballons and Kehoe get quite animated when they share the details of the full demo renovation. Kevin, who remained onsite working through the entire process, describes it as almost a war zone. “They didn’t tear the outside walls down, but everything else got turned on its head. There were days in the thick of it when they would have to shovel a path for me to get to my door. There were several of those days when it was knees to waist deep! It was messy! It was noisy! It was dusty!”

Kevin muses about the path he has been on in tandem with the Heber Valley and this building where his artwork has emerged. “We’ve been like kindred spirits, and I’m very grateful for that. I’m like the building. It is changing just like I’ve changed myself, reinvented myself. I can’t believe I get to walk in here every day and do what I get to do. That is not lost on me, not for a single day — ever.”

Kehoe wraps it up perfectly. “You know when you walk into an old building that’s been given some love? That’s a good feeling. A brand-new building doesn’t speak to you that way. I think this building is the coolest in Heber now because it does have a story to tell. Rodrigo and Natalie did keep the integrity, and it has a soul, but there’s a new guard in there now. There’s new blood, and it’s exciting for the town.” The history of Heber marches on as people in the community continually work to unite and make space for one another in their lives. Go take a peek at part of the new narrative of Heber in a feel-good, familiar old place.

Friday and Saturday April 28th and 29th from 10-6 the farm will be filled to the brim with baby goats, cows, horses, sheep, rabbits, llamas, alpacas, zebu calves, and a variety of other animals, including baby fish. Springtime on Kohler farms is a fun activity the whole family can enjoy.

A few years ago, when their son, Russ, came back home to the farm, the Kohler family took a close look at the direction dairy farming is going in our modern world and decided to reinvent their approach to farm life. Farming can be a tricky way of life, especially when you are trying to make ends meet. Grant Kohler knew they’d have to be creative so, he invited everyone back home to enjoy the farm life. The Kohler family has been reaching out to bring all walks of people home to the farm ever since. Their goal is to help people experience the life of a farmer one little moment at a time. The best news is — you’re invited too!

Tickets for all farm events can be purchased at the Heber Valley Artisan Cheese gift shop or online at: HeberValleyArtisanCheese.com

The Heber Valley Farm Baby Celebration is a fun family event maxed out with activities for all. Your kiddos can have their faces painted and get all their wiggles out while bouncing in a bounce house and playing in a sand pile. Families can enjoy the crunchy goodness of Heber Valley Artisan Cheese’s famous grilled cheese sandwiches followed by a delicious ice-cream cone from the creamery. Of course you’ll want to set aside an hour or two to meander through the fields, where all the babies frolic, then mosey on down to the cow barns. Farmers and ranchers from around the Heber Valley will be there to help you pet, hold, and even feed the animals. If that doesn’t encapsulate childhood and country charm at its best, I just don’t know what would.

Additional activities and animal encounters are available for those who purchase a VIP ticket. Experience goat yoga with a licensed yoga instructor and baby goats, or feed a calf its bottle. As a girl who grew up on a cattle ranch, it’s my opinion that: kids (baby goats) and calves are the happiest and sweetest baby animals in the entire world! There is just something so endearing about their soft cheeks and wet leathery noises. And anyone who’s ever looked into the big brown eyes of a calf knows how they steal your heart!

Families can also go on a hay ride and barn tour every Monday through Saturday at 11:00, if you’re not available to make it to the baby animal event. The tour lasts about 1 1/2-2 hours. There will be a tour guide to offer information and guidance all along the way. The wagon will stop by the calves for about a half hour. There are usually 30-40 head of babies. If you get lucky, you may get to see a brand-new one. The thing about dairies is that there are always a plethora of new calves. Seriously always! That’s what keeps the milk flowing year round.

When you arrive at the cow barn you will have the opportunity to walk through and see them being milked by the robotic milkers and getting their massages. Yes, I did in fact say massages. This state of the art machinery is fascinating to both young and old. Learn how it gathers data about a cow’s production, nutritional needs, health information and more. The machines then send push-notifications to the farmers. Purdy fancy! Right?! If more people knew how technologically advanced farms are; they might be blown away. These dairymen are masters of the trade.

Another great thing about Kohler’s Dairy is that it is home to Heber Valley Artisan Cheese! There aren’t many farms where one can experience the entire chain from the field to the fork. This is a unique opportunity, not to be missed. The end of the tour brings you to a sneak peek of the newest expansion currently under construction — the cheese tasting room — where you can look out over the entire dairy from an elevated view.

Cheese making classes are monthly. There are two options: Mozzarella and Burrata. There is limited availability, and classes sell out quickly, so make sure to get your ticket(s) online early.

You can always swing by the gift shop for soup and a sandwich or an ice cream. Don’t forget to pick up some cheese curd and their creatively seasoned, delicious cheeses. You’ll find products from many local vendors like jams, cookies, fudges, charcuterie boards, salsa, crackers, beef, and of course milk and cheese. Good eats, sweet treats, and all the baby animals! You’ll leave with a smile every time.

Other exciting events happening throughout the year are Tractor Days and Howl ‘O Ween Town.

Fun Kohler Family Facts:

• Grant Kohler, current owner of the dairy and Heber Valley Artisan Cheese lives on the original farm purchased by his grandfather in 1929.
• Grant’s grandfather worked in the original Midway creamery when he was a teen.
• Gotlib Kohler, Grant’s great-grandfather was a cheese maker in Switzerland before immigrating to Midway as one of the first settlers in the area.
• 102 acres of the farm have a conservation easement. This is one way the family chose to give back to the valley; ensuring open spaces for years to come.
• Today, Russ Kohler is home to stay and dedicated to carry on the family way of milking cows and making cheese.
• Kohler’s Dairy is all about family: three of their children work full-time in the family business and the other two help as often as they can.

Farmers put in more hours, sweat, blood, and tears than they will ever be compensated for monetarily in this lifetime, but it’s a blessed way of life. Thank a farmer you ate today.

Michael grew up in Park City, so Heber wasn’t far from home. But Heber is where he chose to put some roots down and pour out his heart and soul. Over the years, they raised eight children, six from Fern’s first marriage and two more together, and welcomed eight foster children into their home. As Michael and Fern speak of their past, love of humanity fills their stories. I went into this interview knowing only I was about to talk with a county sheriff and two judges, yes, they both served as judges. The initial “power couple” story I had expected to find, became much more. The kind of power this remarkable couple wields is not only success in the realm of law and justice, but in love — lot’s of love. And love is powerful.

While the Spanos’ tried their best to assure me they are boring and have lived a quiet life of more than 50 years together, I chuckle and shake my head as they spin tales from Saskatchewan, Canada, South Africa, Singapore, and Heber City in the 1970s. Boring? I should think not. In fact, as they describe the Heber of the 70s I’m shocked! Heber Valley had no local dispatch! My jaw drops in disbelief as Michael tells how, “There was no number anyone in this county could call and get fire, ambulance, or police.” I can’t fathom having to call Coalville, who dispatched to the weigh station south of Heber, who then passed word along to someone in the valley for help. The jail was in the basement of the old county building on Main. The janitors served as the night jailers!

Michael served in the Air Force and obtained his first degree in Sociology with an emphasis in Criminology, Juvenile Delinquency, and Child Welfare from the University of Utah. He received his second degree in Law Enforcement and Corrections from Weber State University. Michael’s past experience and education served him and Heber Valley well throughout his 20 years as county sheriff and one year as a county judge. Michael shared, “I used my education. I didn’t have any real experience, but I saw things needed to change.” He ran for sheriff and was sworn in, January of 1979 and served two terms consecutively. He lost a third election, but ran again the next term and served another 12 years before retiring in September 2002.

Michael tells of times when they housed 20 prisoners in the 8 bed, basement prison. They purchased mattresses to lay on the floor. Heber needed a new facility to house prisoners and run the department. Michael began as sheriff with just three deputies. Where there’s a will, there’s a way; and Michael could plainly see Heber was in need of a new building and a dispatch. It was all a work in progress. Quaint as Heber City was, improvements were necessary. Michael began to spearhead the new building. He requested a build with 100 beds and a kitchen. It was an uphill battle. As an officer in the Utah Sheriff’s Association he made agreements and contracts with the United States Marshall Service and the Utah State Prison. He was able to arrange contracts, taking the first group of women out of State Prison and bringing them to Heber’s new jail, housing them for pay. The prisoners did all the cooking and cleaning. They began housing a number of detainees from both the Utah State prison and the Marshall’s Service. Michael also put together contracts with Midway and the Forest Service to patrol their areas to earn extra money adding revenue to his budget.

Other projects he took on in his time as sheriff included bringing Wasatch Search and Rescue up to speed with new equipment and beefing up their budget. Sheriff Spanos had Search and Rescue work the demolition derby to make a profit. He also initiated a fingerprinting safety campaign for children, along with programs like D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education), and Stranger Danger within the elementary schools, in addition to implementing the McGruff Neighborhood Watch Program.

While Michael was working to improve the police department, Fern was not sitting idly by. Fern Spanos earned her Master’s degree in Psychiatric Social Work and spent time working in the University of Utah department of psychiatry. Fern also worked as a social worker/consultant for the government; she checked in on hospitals’ care for their long term patients. Additionally, she spent many years home with her children raising her family. As her children began school and leaving home she went to work teaching 8th grade here at Wasatch. During that time she began working part time as a city justice court judge.

Fern shared, “I would work at the schools and then run down to the court and work until I was through.” She worked as a teacher and a judge for 11 years. Eventually, she began longing for more flexibility. She stopped teaching and focused on her judgeship for the remaining 11 ½ years until she and Michael retired together. Fern speaks fondly about her time as a judge, “It was fun to help people. I was a social worker by training, and that helped me a lot more as a judge than the law did.”

In 2002 both Fern and Michael retired. They didn’t sit still long. The couple served several missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; starting in Saskatchewan, Canada. They worked primarily with the First Nations people. A highlight of Fern’s experience was writing the histories of some of the older women. Once she had completed her written work it was bound and gifted to the people. Their second mission was to Durbin, South Africa. They worked in the townships in the bush of Africa. The conditions were deplorable. Michael was emotional when he shared, “The worst thing about Africa was that the people were so hungry.” Fern expressed how hard it was to see them stark naked and hungry, especially the children. “Those children are so beautiful, and loving and well behaved.” She tenderly shared how the children would sit with her, rubbing her arms and face, fascinated by the feel and color of her skin. She would regularly get impetigo and have to stay away until her skin cleared up, but then she’d hurry back to be with the children again. Fern and Michael shared how the children were drawn to where there was food and the women would walk such far distances for water. They had to work so hard just to eat. Michael worked with the church leadership in Africa to support families in finding ways to encourage and help them. The couple discovered that the women had a difficult time relating to men, so Fern, with her social work background, would spend time with the women and families establishing their needs; then Michael would step in to facilitate the assistance and support.

Upon return to the states Michael had to have heart surgery along with other various medical procedures. Once he healed, a job as a county judge became available. He served for almost one year before they were called on another mission. This time it was Argentina. The call didn’t last long before they were reassigned to a Singapore mission instead. Again, they found themselves working with the native people. Regulations and restrictions were very strict in what they could and could not do through their church. They rolled up their sleeves and got to work loving the people. Michael laughs about the boats used to get from one location to another, “packed so full of chickens and people and stuff that we thought we were going to sink.” Fern giggles relaying the hardest part for her was walking the plank to get off the boat to shore. They would teach, sitting on the floors and using a translator to communicate the concepts of the gospel they traveled to share. Fern recalled, “They were such humble people.”

Returning home from Singapore they were asked to serve in Heber as employment missionaries. After traveling the world touching lives and working for the greater good they were happy to be back home in Heber Valley. Michael and Fern laugh quietly as they claim they’re “put out to pasture now.” I disagree, now they travel the world digitally, tracking down ancestors, working on genealogy, and indexing documents for others to access. I certainly did track down a “power couple” of Heber City. The Spanos’ powerful hearts know no bounds — they are overflowing with service and love for their worldwide community.

Do you remember Disney’s Humphrey Bear and his ‘boss’, Ranger J. Audubon Woodlore? How about Yogi and Boo Boo, the troublesome bears who constantly went the rounds with Ranger Smith? In my wanderings, much to my children’s dismay, I often sing songs I acquired from the shows of my childhood! My favorite tune to sing when we’re outdoors is the chorus from Disney’s 1961 animated short The Litterbug.

The song may be dated, but the message lingers still. The favorite parental tactic of guilting to achieve desirable behavior is used. However, let’s wander a bit from the guilt and instead talk facts and etiquette to enforce the “leave no trace” idea as we spend time on public grounds. After all, we are civil human beings with good manners who know to not leave a trail of litter and destruction strewn behind us as we go … right?

Watch The LitterBug Song 1962 on Youtube

Property

Leave it the way you found it! Don’t take away and don’t add to the landscape. You may come across treasures, things that catch your eye and leave you in awe when on public lands, but it all needs to stay put. Rocks, trees, all vegetation, and natural elements need to stay where you found them. They don’t even need to be rearranged. Nobody needs to know you were there. Please don’t carve your name in the local scenery, build structures, furniture, or dig trenches. Also, be aware of undesirable passengers. I’m referring to the non-native species you could be transporting on your clothing, vehicles, or even your animals. Introduction of these in either plant or animal form can be devastating to the native ecosystem.

Do what you do with your doo doo

If you are out and about without facilities nearby and nature calls in a solid way, the proper disposal of human waste is to dig a 6-8 inch “cathole.” This little hole should be dug a minimum of 200 feet away from trails, camps, and water. It should be thoroughly concealed when you’re finished. If you choose to use paper rather than native supplies or other hygiene items, they should be packed out or burned. Speaking of fire…

Campfires

Utah’s public lands fire restrictions are continually changing. It is important to stay abreast of current conditions to avoid fines, or even imprisonment. Even more than that, let’s avoid burning things up, such as acres of forest and range lands where people not only recreate, but make their living by grazing livestock or harvesting and managing timber.  When visiting in agency-designated recreation sites, use the provided concrete or metal rings. If a ring is not available and there are not current restrictions, be sure to choose a spot clear of brush and grasses, and keep an eye out for low hanging branches that may catch a flame. Don’t light a fire in windy conditions and be sure you have plenty of water and/or sand nearby to extinguish. Keep your fire small and burn the wood entirely to ash. Leaving your fire unattended is a big no no.  Don’t forget, your fire is not a trash can. Pack trash out. Don’t throw it in the fire. When you are done with your fire, thoroughly douse the flames with water, and use the back of your hand to check for any heat that may still be radiating. Do not leave until is it cold to the touch. You may have to douse your fire a few times to be sure it is completely extinguished. Current regulations are posted at UtahFireInfo.gov

Rubbish

Leaving no trace takes good planning. A packing tip is to repackage food, and other usable items which create waste, into bags. Once items are used, the bags can be stored inside one other to eliminate and condense waste, making it easy to pack out.

Don’t throw your pop or other cans in your campfire. Your fire will not reach the temperature needed to properly dispose of cans. You packed it in. You need to pack it out. Take a close look at your camp on the way out for trash or spilled food.

You’re in bear country. Our area is home to thousands of our largest native predator, the black bear. Help keep these fuzzy guys content in their territory. Remember, you are a visitor to their home. For a bear-safe campsite, food, drinks, and scented items should never be stored in your tent. Instead, use a vehicle, a bear-safe container, or hang items in a tree away from your camp for storage. If available, bear-safe dumpsters are the best place to dispose of trash. Be sure to pack out anything that may tempt their sniffers. If bears get even the tiniest taste of pleasure and ease from our carelessness it can easily become their demise. They can quickly become aggressive the next time around. Sadly, that provides a one-way ticket to destruction for our furry friends. Be responsible and help them stay wild and free.

Operation of Vehicles and Travel

Whether you’re traveling to reach a destination to recreate or the ride itself is the activity — travel wisely. Whatever transportation you use, be sure your choice of travel fits the area. Plan your route ahead using the correct resources. There’s always a chance you may have to make repairs on your vehicle. Be prepared with tools and supplies; keeping in mind that you should carry all debris and rubbish out with you when you are good to go. Watch signage for the location’s information on allowed transportation. There are so many ways to travel including: automobile, 4WD, UTV, ATV, bike, motorcycle, boat, horse, skis, or on foot.  All trails, roads, and waterways have designations for appropriate usage. Stay the course! It is easy to damage meadows, wetlands, lake shores, and streams if you deviate from the provided paths. These environments are important to a broad range of plants and animals and keep our lands balanced and beautiful. Remember the non-native hitch hikers mentioned earlier? It’s important to wash your vehicle before and after a drive to prevent the spread of invasive species.

The Forest Service, and other public entities, work hard to provide designated trails, roads, and waterways. Keep in mind there are thousands of visitors passing through. It’s important to minimize our collective footprint. Remember to go over objects that may be lying in the path of travel instead of around. This prevents the widening of trails and limits damage done to the land. Be sure to cross water only on designated fording points.

Etiquette

Remember your mom harping on you to “leave it better than you found it?” This applies to our local forests and public lands. My favorite etiquette tip is to stop by the local Forest Service station and pick up the native seed packets. When you’re done doing your business plant a few seeds. You’re leaving a lot more behind and in a much better way than when your little venture started. At the end of the day, just mind your manners. Be the good human we all aspire to be. If helpful, sing yourself the litter bug song.

“Litterbug, litterbug, where’s your pride?
Making a mess of the countryside
Spoiling and soiling each lovely view
Shame, oh shame on you
Litterbug, oh shame on you!”

For more information on how to Leave No Trace and Tread Lightly visit: LNT.org and treadlightly.org
both sites have fun, free, printable info cards and pamphlets to help keep the outdoors accessible and open for all to enjoy.

Innovative, Discovery based, Educational, and Agricultural Leadership or I.D.E.A.L. Farms is Wasatch High School’s hands-on, outdoor classroom. Wasatch is taking students outside and getting their hands dirty in the real world; teaching them the skills they need to thrive in our competitive industries and markets. Not only do they do the physical work, they’re learning the business and marketing skills to drive it all forward.

Stepping into teacher and FFA Advisor, Matt Zierenberg’s, vision for their class is like finding yourself in a hive humming with productivity. Students are the integral piece to the creation of I.D.E.A.L Farms. On less than an acre of the school’s property the students have constructed a little complex of outdoor learning. Adults guide, but it is the kids’ elbow grease and innovation pushing it all forward. The space may be small, but the output is impressive.

The I.D.E.A.L. Farms’ land is home to: a native plant nursery, a game bird brooding shed and flight pen, a fruit orchard, vegetable grow boxes, an agricultural animal teaching and housing area, and an aquaponics greenhouse. Each of the six areas represents an ‘enterprise’; and they each provide scholarships for students. Students may apply and interview for a spot within the program. All students are welcome and invited to join in the classes; however, only those who receive placement are given responsibility for their enterprise for the year and are guaranteed a scholarship provided by the earnings of their venture. Sophomore, Chevelle Lundin, after working a year with the native plants says, “I enjoy this and it’s also beneficial for my future! That’s perfect!”

Working closely with sponsors and volunteers this outdoor classroom is not only a real-time leaning lab, it is a launch pad for students monetarily. This year’s goal is to provide a minimum of ten $2,000 scholarships to further the education of participating students. Zierenberg acknowledges, “It’s ambitious. I think we’ll get there; mainly with the trees, the game birds, and the aquaponics.” The key is that students are required to be active and stay active in an enterprise.

Spring Creek Conservation owners, Gifford Hickey and Liz Lewis, are instrumental in monetary funding, donations of supplies, and educating students from the ground up on both the nursery and orchard projects at I.D.E.A.L Farms. The orchard should be producing in about three years – watch for apples and cider sells in 2025! Zierenberg enthusiastically shares, “They (Hickey and Lewis) have been helping the kids set all of this up! They are a huge, huge help!” In talking to Gifford and Liz, it is obvious they are invested in the students. They get down and dirty planting and working together.  Hickey and Lewis know all the students’ names and stories, and they mentor students in both the horticulture and business portions of the projects. They stand behind the motto and passionately teach students, “Conservation is good business.” They are key participants in the interview process for student applicants. Additionally, Hickey is forming an advisory board for I.D.E.A.L Farms and will be seeking out and organizing community volunteers on every level of involvement.

Students running the native plant portion of the farm have contracts with our local Division of Wildlife Resources, Wasatch Mountain State Park, and the Forest Service. Mr. Z and Spring Creek Conservation also teach the art of propagation. Students take cuttings from the areas on the forest they are working in, bring them back to the school nursery to establish new plantings, and then return to plant in the restoration site. They currently have a large project underway for the Shoshone Tribe in Idaho. You can purchase native plants for your own conservation and landscaping projects Friday and Saturday afternoons on 600 South near the football field. While you’re there visit their demonstration garden where students showcase the use of native plants and trees. This season, they’re hoping to surpass last year’s native plant sales of $15,000.

Heavily sponsored by Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife, students have raised and released about 2,500 Chukar game birds in the Heber Valley over the past five years. Eggs are incubated in the classroom. Once hatched the chicks go to the brooding shed and the flight pens. The farm’s relationship with the Division of Natural Resources makes this project a solid enterprise with a good return.

I.D.E.A.L. Farms’ green house is a sight to behold. Students have been hard at work creating, building, and improving their aquaponics system. Fun fact: they actually use trout they raise to fertilize the plants they grow. The plants use the waste of the fish, and the water cleaned by the plants is pumped back to the fish. The whole cycle starts over again. Extra fish propagated in the system are released into our local Midway pond. The greatest thing is that the greens raised in the aquaponic system are purchased by local restaurants. Students co-created an aeration system collaborating with fellow Wasatch High School students involved in the Center for Advanced Professional Studies or CAPS program.  Together, the agriculture students worked with engineering students to design a water aeration device; they 3-D printed their invention at the school and use it in their aquaponics system. The innovative design and collaboration is extremely impressive.

The animal housing area provides a place for students to keep up to 20 sheep in preparation for the county fair. There is also a holding pen for animals to be brought in for educational purposes during a teaching day. Not far from the animals are large grow boxes. Student applicants can be awarded two grow boxes for the year. The grow boxes kick out loads of produce to be sold at the local farmer’s market. Senior, Liz Sweat, Director of Sales and Marketing, keeps Instagram up to date on all the happenings. Be sure to check out their website and social media, or better yet go visit I.D.E.A.L Farms and talk to a student on site.

Hickey and Lewis founded their company 30 years ago here in the Heber Valley. “We built a business restoring rivers and doing mitigation on open lands in the state of Utah for the Federal and State government. Our business is native trees, shrubs and forbs.” They also contract with high-end resorts and golf-courses in native landscape and conservation projects. Their work spans to the Falkland Islands and Chile doing large-scale restoration work through small grants to locals interested in business. This local business, with an international presence, is fostering the same kind of work here with our kids in our very own community. However, they can’t do it alone. Whether you’re interested in volunteering your time, business or production knowledge, resources, or funds, come take a peek at the infrastructure of the program.

Liz Lewis and Gifford Hickey
riogaucho@msn.com

SPRINGCREEK CONSERVATION
PO Box 895
Midway, Utah. 84049
654-5145

The Wasatch Education Foundation is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization.

When you buy from I.D.E.A.L Farms 50% of your purchase is a tax-deductible contribution. Revenue raised will go directly to educational scholarships and an endowment fund that will sustainably carry forward the program at I.D.E.A.L. Farms.

For more information visit:

ideal-farms.org, and /Wasatch IDEAL Farms 

I remember as a child, perching on a bench, with a burger and fries, in Dairy Keen’s little brick building, watching the train go round and round. This was a novelty that just never got old. It still hasn’t. This year marks the family’s 75th Anniversary of Heber’s Dairy Keen — Home of the Train. A good burger is always a hit, but don’t overlook the ‘soup-erb’ menu additions that roll in the first of October and warm us through the beginning of April. During the valley’s chilly months, Jan Olpin, the self-proclaimed Soup Nazi, and co-owner of Dairy Keen, will be whipping up batches of 42 unique in-house, made-from-scratch soups to warm and fill your belly daily. The soup making begins each morning at 8:00 and is ready to ladle by 11:00.

The family opened Dairy Keen seasonally until 1980 when they transitioned to year round service. It was those cold winter months that inspired Jan’s soup obsession, “We wanted something to eat for ourselves, because you can really only eat so many hamburgers. So I decided, okay, I guess I’ll just make soup.” At first they were in their old building making the soup on a hot plate. It took hours. When they created plans for their current building they included a 4-burner stove dedicated to soup.

Jan’s imagination is manifested in the soup menu. Jan was diagnosed with celiac disease, making her gluten-free. She would hear about soups or see soups, but never be able to taste them. Using her imagination she would recreate them. It is exceptionally hard to find cream soups that are gluten-free . . . not to mention taste decent. Jan’s secret is finely ground rice flour. She snuck the rice flour into her soups, and then asked on the sly how they tasted. Remarkably, not one soul could tell the difference. All 42 of Jan’s soup creations can be ordered gluten-free, including every cream soup your heart desires. A cream soup is served daily, in addition to one or two other kinds.

Everywhere Jan goes she imagines soups! Her son loved a popular restaurant chain’s Broccoli Alfredo dish. Jan thought, “I could make a soup out of that!” A few favorite dishes she’s converted to soup include Stuffed Bell Pepper, Cream Potato & Pea, Turkey Pot Pie, Loaded Baked Potato, and Pot Roast Soup, “It’s like Sunday dinner in a bowl.”  At one point there was even a Funeral Potato soup! That one is now retired. Jan chuckles, “It was too weird.” It came with a bag of baked cornflakes as garnish. If you’ve never experienced Utah Funeral Potatoes, think Au Gratin Potatoes, but instead of sliced spuds, they are cubed or shredded, and topped with Cornflakes and melted butter. Customers who didn’t know what to do with the bag of cereal clearly weren’t from Utah! Jan has a number of fun mix-ins for her unique creations including goldfish crackers, home-made pie crust, and even a scoop of mashed potatoes to top the Shepherd’s Pie soup.

Soup calendars roll out monthly. You can sign up online to receive them via email or walk into Dairy Keen and take one from the front counter.  If that’s not handy enough, give them a call and listen to the daily recording or drive by for a look at the marquee. Chicken Enchilada, Cream of Broccoli, Tomato Beef Macaroni, and Clam Chowder are served weekly. The other 38 vary from month to month based on popularity and special occasions. Clam Chowder is served in accordance to Catholic tradition of “Fish Fridays.” Mulligatawny is THE curry soup featured in the 1990’s sitcom Seinfeld, that the show’s Soup Nazi gets heated up over. It is served once in November. Give it a try! Chinese Chicken Noodle, the most labor intensive soup, with bok choy, carrots, pea pods, and noodles, is served only on Chinese New Year, which falls on February 1, 2022.

Belly up to a steamy bowl of Jan’s imaginative soups this season! While you’re there be sure to take a gander at their 75th Anniversary display.

Lila Mae Johnson

Local resident Lila Mae Johnson bakes Swiss Bread daily for Dairy Keen. She is 90 years old and has baked homemade Swiss Bread for 50 years. She is still dusting her bread board with flour and rolling out 12 loaves each morning at 4:00 a.m. You can learn how to bake bread from this remarkable lady on Dairy Keen’s website: www.dairykeen.com.

A slice of Lila Mae’s Swiss Bread with a side of Dairy Keen’s home-made raspberry jam perfectly complements any soup order.

@DairyKeen FOR DAILY SOUPS

Let’s interject running water and improved sewer systems amidst these advances. It may not sound exciting and forward-thinking in today’s day and age, but in the 1920s, mainlines of water and sewer were impressive steps into the future.

One hundred years later and our county is once again experiencing mind-blowing growth. Wasatch County is the third-fastest growing county in the nation. Our city and county leadership is working hard to manage current development and project future conditions of the valley we know and love. In the 2019 General Plan, Envision Heber 2050, the groundwork was laid to ensure that the values of our residents are honored as growth and density in the valley exponentially increase.

During the 1940s, it became necessary to improve the water and sewer. I shudder to share the record. Instead of installing new mainlines for indoor plumbing in new homes, it was decided to only improve, “the existing privy . . . by digging a deeper hole and installing a more comfortable seat” (Embry, Jessie L. 1996). At the time this may have seemed reasonable, but ten years later the lines needed another update. It seems that planners in the 50s finally got it right. Old Town has been relying on the foresight of those predecessors for over 70 years! However, the time has come, once again, to update and pay it forward to our future selves and children!

For more than a century Heber’s township has consisted of an area of 121 blocks. To preserve the water and sewer to these original blocks, and prepare for expansion and increased density, the city has engaged in a project called the Old Town Water and Sewer Line Replacement Project. This project comes with an 80 million dollar price tag to replace existing lines in current city limits, and includes a projected eight-year timeline. Phase one will commence in the spring of 2022, taking two seasons for completion. This first phase consists of the area primarily east of Highway 40/Main Street. Main water lines older than 1970, and the sewer lines sharing the same roads, will be replaced. In the planning stages, town sewer lines were inspected with cameras. According to Heber City Manager, Matt Brower, several lines are, “in an absolute state of deterioration.” These lines will be replaced during phase one. The disrupted roadways will be topped with new pavement. This is not a patch job. It will be a comprehensive, well thought out, investment in our valley’s present and future.

You may have noticed disturbances in water service over the past few years. From 2018 to the present time, there have been more than 100 water breaks. The past system design is lacking in that few turn-off valves were originally placed. Even the most minor repairs require shutting down a large number of city blocks to isolate the problem. Both reliability and service are on a decline due to the state of the current lines. Brower explains, “the pipes are so old that when one breaks it runs down the seam of the pipes and we end up having to replace half a block at a time, so the age of the pipes are saying they have to be replaced. We can’t keep it going anymore.”

Brower believes the new pipes will have a 60-80 year life span. Get out your crystal ball and imagine what downtown will look like years from now. “We’re thinking it will be much denser with new homes and apartments. We’ll have more commercial areas downtown. We’re trying to project the next 80 years and then program that new capacity in the new lines,” he stated. Brower also shares his concerns if we are not forward-thinking, “Imagine not looking toward the future and then in 20 years having to dig up the roads because we didn’t do the right thing. …to get ready for it [the project] we have already raised water rates twice over the last year. We have already applied for a 12 million dollar grant from the state to cover the cost. This is in conjunction with some federal funding that has trickled down to the states. We have hired a lobbyist to help us maximize as much of that funding as we possibly can for the project. We have hired an engineering firm to begin designing the project. We have already applied to the community impact board for financing, and we are moving forward aggressively on about every front.”

The purpose of phases in tackling this project is to encompass this sizable job in manageable chunks, not overwhelm the rates of service, and offer time to analyze and regroup to use the best tactics to proceed and prevail. Because of the enormity of the job and price, the first phase will be a 24 million dollar project, a much smaller fraction of the 80 million total.

Brower shares the vision of the approach, “After [the first phase], we’ll reassess and determine what the actual cost was, figure out what we learned from phase one, and then devise a strategy for phase two. There may be additional phases but we just don’t know yet.”

There will be a website dedicated to the Old Town Water and Sewer Replacement Project. Flyers will be distributed to all the homes affected in the first stage with information about the website, the dates of town meetings, and a hotline number. This will be a massive construction project for a few years. Stay in the loop through city meetings and the project website. Remember our city’s visionaries want to serve our community better by offering more than, “a deeper hole and a more comfortable seat.”