Heber Valley Life

Author: Carolyn Reeder

With love, Tate & Hannah

There are some unique, inspirational, and amazing stories of people who live in our valley; this is one of them.

Tate Davies and Hanna Homer, along with their families, have overcome preconceived notions in the face of special needs — and the challenges that they can bring — to create a place of belonging for everyone. Their tag line “I’m down” reminds us all to relax and enjoy life with a smile.

Tate Davies, the second of JW and Jen Davies’ five children, is easy going. He loves playing games, particularly Sorry, Guess Who, and he is an UNO champ! He currently attends the Unified Transition College and has participated in many Unified sports teams and activities throughout his life. Tate is well loved by his family, and just as much by Hanna.

Hanna Homer, the eldest of Aaron and Jana Homer’s four children, is almost always smiling and happy. She is nearly as chill and relaxed as Tate, but much more hopelessly romantic. She attends the Unified Transition College as well, participates in the Unified sports programs, and loves to relax on the beach. She is also well loved by her family, and Tate reciprocates her affection for him; he lovingly exclaims “Hanna is so beautiful”.

Tate and Hanna both have Down syndrome.

Tate and Hanna became friends during their freshman and sophomore years of high school; Hanna was 14 and Tate 15. They had an instant, “quick and easy”, connection and have been together ever since. During their remaining high school years, they had the same Special Education core classes, participated in many of the same extracurricular activities, and spent as much time as they could together.

Now, that high school is over, and the two are in college they — of course — still keep each other company as often as possible. Hanna will gladly and proudly proclaim that Tate is her boyfriend, and to watch them interact with each other — well, there are very few things I have seen that are half as tender. Tate’s older brother and sister-in-law frequently take the two on dates or trips. Their chill personalities lend to some easy company and laughter. Their families often vacation together and recently returned from a trip to Hawaii where, as Jana explained, Tate and Hanna “lived their best life” even with the chaos and exhaustion of the other people in the group.

During the not-so-distant days of the COVID pandemic, things got a little rough. When everything shut down, Tate and Hanna found themselves in need of an activity — they had nothing to do. Activities that other kids had to entertain them, like working, were not really an option. Jen explains, “We feel like most kids with special needs are put somewhere in the back…I’ve even heard them [the employers] say that for ‘liability reasons’ (for something they might say to somebody)…they [the employers] don’t want that.” Tate and Hanna’s parents talked about the possibility of opening an ice cream shop — for the flexibility it offered both families — and the idea for Tate & Hanna’s Food Truck was born. Jana shared that it was an opportunity to give the two a job and let them interact without fear. And an opportunity to show people that, “…these kids are valuable. They can do stuff. We don’t need to shove them in the back corner to wash dishes…they’re perfectly capable.”

The business is truly inspirational; people came from all over the state for the grand opening and to support kids with disabilities. Jen mentioned how many kids would show up to their days-on-location and just stay the whole day; several people, especially others with disabilities, would come to the events and pull out a chair and talk and laugh with each other and enjoy feeling included. Jen shared that it is sometimes rough on the families to run the little business because they are all busy and have full time jobs but then, “there were a couple of days last year that I just thought, ‘This is the reason’, when these kids come and hang out.” One young man, also with Down syndrome and mostly nonverbal, nearly brought his mom to tears when he responded to Tate by verbalizing his drink choice. The hope for the future of the business is to get to the point where other individuals with special needs can be employed as well, continuing to show the world the value and depth that they offer.

The idea of the food truck is not meant to raise any grandiose expectations. Tate and Hanna keep it simple and sell only drinks and treats mainly from local companies in the valley. What patrons can expect; however, is an added dose of love, a giant smile, and even a hug or two, if you’re willing to let them live up to their motto.

We believe in sharing BIG smiles & even bigger hugs.

We believe that an extra chromosome = extra love.

We believe that this life has downs, but together we can create the ups.

We believe that there is no overuse of ‘I love you’

As our new friend, we love you & are glad you are here.

Want to find Tate and Hanna this summer?

Thursday night Heber Market on Main, Heber City Park

Fair Days

Or simply follow @tate.and.hanna on Instagram for more information and to see all of their upcoming events. Click on the link in their bio to book them for your event or to see their menu.
June 7, 2022
A Leap of Faith and a Little Heavy Lifting

At the start of a world-wide health pandemic, Justin Fuchs took a leap of faith and opened Iron Backs gym to share his love of health and fitness with the valley. From the beginning, the mission of the gym has been to offer an environment of support and encouragement, where anyone could feel comfortable showing up as they are in the present moment at an affordable cost. Justin expressed, “I wanted less people without dads and granddads because of health issues. That’s something we can control . . . health and fitness we can absolutely control.”

Simultaneously, the Kole Wright Foundation, a youth mentorship program focused on creating positive mental health through fitness and other avenues, was struggling to stay running due to program restrictions and difficulty finding mentors and volunteers. Founder, Terra Wright, said, “At the end of 2020, our board had disbanded, we were going to shut down the foundation for good. Something kept stopping me saying, ‘No, just wait, just wait’. So we came into early 2021 and I was like, we are done.” However, she could never bring herself to push the button on the computer that would cause the final closeout.

In May 2021, Terra and her husband Chase, started attending Iron Backs gym and talking with Justin, who was in the process of qualifying for a non-profit to sponsor young athletes who couldn’t afford the monthly gym fee. His goal is to help as many individuals as he can, which is why, from the gym’s opening day, he has offered a discount to first responders and veterans; it is why he and his fellow coaches have offered a free class for special needs youth for nearly a year. Several patrons have been told to just come and use the facility if they can’t afford it. The purpose of the Iron Backs Barbell Club would be to help cover some of the costs of these benefits. However, as Justin and Terra continued talking, Terra realized that she knew why she couldn’t officially close the foundation and thus began the collaboration and combining of the entities, all under the Kole Wright name.

Chase and Terra Wright with Alec Sargeant, Tactical Games
@ironbacksfitness / ironbacks.com

Terra reached out to the disbanded board members to determine interest in coming back on with the new charter; two of them joined up again. With Terra, Chase, and Justin on the board it was now full and the foundation immediately began working towards its new mission. Terra shared, “My goal always with the foundation had been to turn it into a CrossFit gym setting. Now we all have the gym space, someone leading the way with the business model, and we can focus on mental health through fitness.” Probably the largest shift in the forward movement of the foundation is the expanded focus from youth only to encompass adults as well. Terra mentioned that this filled a void, allowing her to keep the mission as steadfast as possible.

Both Justin and Terra appreciate the benefits that exercise has offered them, not only physically but mentally as well and they are excited to share these benefits with anyone that needs it. According to the CDC, physical benefits from exercising can include: decreased risk of heart disease, slowing down of osteoporosis or prevention, help with warding off certain cancers — including breast and colon, regulation of blood sugar and weight to inhibit development of type 2 diabetes, increase agility, and strengthens the muscles and bones¹. There are also many mental health benefits from exercising like; reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety; alleviating stress and increasing the body’s ability to adapt to it; boosting self-esteem; improving sleep; and strengthening memory and delaying cognitive disease².

Veterans, in particular, are a special focus and the foundation is excited to participate in Tactical Games, which are “obstacle courses paired with shooting challenges; basically a Spartan race with guns.” Terra and Justin are both veterans and hold respect and honor for our country and those that fight for it. They have a passion for helping Veterans who often get released from their service and struggle with PTSD and the loss of being part of a team. Many struggle finding their place outside of Military service; having knowledge and incredible skills that may have less application in the civilian world — hence the Tactical games, which will allow them to use some of their skills in a fun and competitive yet collaborative environment. Not limited to Veterans, the foundation will also largely focus on all First Responders and Special Needs individuals. However, the sponsorship will not be limited to these groups. Anyone can apply to be considered, and the foundation will help as many people as possible. Eventually, they want to expand the services offered to include counseling and other forms of therapy for those that may need it.

The foundation has been funded, to date, through community fundraisers and businesses; the plan and hope is for that to continue. Terra spoke about the support that the Foundation has received over the last couple of years and how grateful they are for it. They will continue to hold the Spring Clean and other CrossFit competitions as well as an annual dinner and silent auction where they will showcase the accomplishments that the participants have achieved throughout the year. Their 2022 focus and hopes for expansion include, finding recurring sponsorships and a larger gym facility to accommodate the growing numbers of members for both the Kole Wright Foundation and the Iron Backs gym. What a wonderful blessing it is to have people who work hard to create a healthier mental community, who share such a passion for it, right here in the Heber Valley.

¹Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, November 1). Benefits of Physical Activity.

²Walden University LLC (2022). 5 Mental Benefits of Exercise.

March 4, 2022
Santa Claus Teams up with Local Law Enforcement

Each child visited with an assigned officer while they ate a hearty breakfast of pancakes, eggs, and bacon. Breakfast was interrupted briefly by a loud and clear “Ho, ho, ho” from the jolliest of souls, Santa Claus himself. After being greeted with hugs by a few incredibly eager children, he visited each table to give Christmas greetings.

With hunger satisfied, the children got an exciting ride to Walmart in the emergency vehicles, lights flashing and Christmas music blaring from the PA systems. Once inside, the glorious chaos ensued as each pair of officers and children grabbed a cart and started shopping! Most went straight for the toys, naturally. Officer Heath Harvey of the HCPD said this is his favorite part: to go through the aisles with the child, have them pick something out, and see their faces when they realize they will receive the item. It’s something they most likely haven’t experienced before!

Back in the customer service department at the wrapping station, volunteers waited with an abundance of paper, tape, and scissors. Many of the volunteers present were from the Park City Home Builders Association, who even sponsored a hot cocoa truck for the officers and participants. The association has been financial patrons of the program for more than 20 years, but this was their first experience being present at the event. They were impressed at how the valley’s several public service departments came together to make the event memorable and run smoothly.

The volunteers worked tirelessly, wrapping and labeling each gift for more than an hour. Hearts were touched as they would wrap a gift, and the child would explain that it was for their brother or sister, mom, or grandma. One little girl seemed to have every gift allocated to someone other than herself, exemplifying the idea that giving can bring as much joy as receiving.

Now that the gifts are chosen and wrapped, guardians will take them home to wait until Christmas Day. Thank you to all of the officers, Walmart, the Homestead, Park City Home Builders Association, financial sponsors, and other volunteers who made it possible for so many children to have a unique and memorable day.
December 14, 2021
Chamber of Commerce Christmas Gala 2021

The Chamber of Commerce hosted the party of the year, possibly even the decade, at their 4th annual Christmas gala on December 2^nd! Two years in the making (thank you COVID), the event was planned to perfection; and made me feel as though I had traveled through time to a lively and entertaining era of 100 years ago.

Citizens of the valley – some representing local businesses, others there for a good time, and all dressed in their best 1920’s attire- were greeted upon arrival at the Zermatt Resort by a ‘Moffia’ gangster who presented each individual with a ticket and explained the outline of the evening. Guests were then invited to the buffet tables for an incredible high class dinner that included an oyster bar, prime rib, charcuterie options, and several desserts; my favorite was the white chocolate mousse fig tart. During dinner, the BYU ballroom team showcased a few of their dances in flamboyant elegance.

Following dinner, several awards were presented by the Chamber to well-deserving members and businesses of the community. Roonies Ice Cream was given the Business of the Year award. This local business was a by-product of the quarantine season and has taken off! Amanda Pensis, founder and owner of Boutique 1921, received the CAMS Community Partner of the Year Award. The dynamic duo of Reggan Jastram (owner of Innovative Real Estate) and Nicole Ferguson (owner of Mountain Refined) deservedly won the title of Ambassadors of the Year. Valerie Kelson of Midway was presented with the Wasatch Community Member of the Year award for her dedication and service to the community. She was pleased and surprised with the presentation and grateful to have many of her children there to witness the announcement.

With dinner and awards finished; guests swapped out dinner plates for dancing shoes and traded tickets for poker chips. The next hour and a half or so was a constant uproar of hollers and laughter as round after round of Blackjack, Craps, and Roulette were played. Some people boogied to the sounds of the Heber Big Band, who did a remarkable job performing classic songs by Frank Sinatra and other iconic artists of the 1920’s era.

To wrap up the evening, poker chips were exchanged for raffle tickets and a few lucky participants were awarded with incredible prizes like an overnight stay and dinner at the Black Rock Resort, a hot air balloon ride, or a gift certificate to Sundance. The Chamber of Commerce would like to thank the CAMS committee, the Zermatt Resort, and all of the local businesses who were present or donated to the incredible evening. I would like to thank them all for creating a memorable experience.
December 6, 2021
Merry Christmas to All…

Heber City is hosting an Old Fashioned Christmas celebration with all of the favorite activities this Friday, December, 3^rd from 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm at the Heber City Town Hall.

You might get to talk to Santa or see his reindeer.

Maybe you’ll want to decorate cookies or drink some hot cocoa.

Perhaps a live performance filled with holiday cheer stirs up sentimental feelings.

Cross off some holiday shopping and support some local vendors at their booths.

Enjoy delicious food from the valley’s food trucks.

Join in caroling and watch the City Hall tree light up (this event will happen at 8:15 pm)

There will be something for everyone and the event is free to the public!
December 1, 2021
Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Christmas Gala

“The parties were bigger, the pace was faster, the shows were broader, the buildings were higher…” – F. Scott Fitzgerald

Come embrace the spirit of the Roaring 20’s at the Chamber of Commerce’s annual Christmas Gala this Thursday, December 2 at the Zermatt Resort in Midway! This event raises funds for the chamber to support our local businesses and promote tourism.

Tickets are available at www.gohebervalley.com/gala and can be purchased for Singles ($60), Couples ($120), or tables of 10 ($600).

Dinner and desert, dancing, casino-style games, and drinks are included with each ticket!

Attire is 1920’s or formal.

This is sure to be the event of the year!
November 30, 2021
Come together it takes a community

Knowing the children have full bellies and a warm hand to hold might make a spectator feel as if they have stumbled onto a paved, urban version of The Grinch’s Whoville; cue the singing.

The children hear a soft buzzing — quiet at first and a bit confusing but all the more exciting as it moves closer. Still watching intently they soon realize that who they’ve been waiting for — Santa Clause — is arriving in a . . . helicopter? A bit of an untraditional form of transportation perhaps, but no less special for these kids as they clamor forward to receive the first of their gifts. For most of these children, today is the only reason they are getting any presents this year.

SHOP WITH A COP

The “Shop with a Cop” program has been part of the Heber Valley for many years, or at least as long as the 20 years that County Sheriff, Jared Rigby, has been in the area. Sheriff Rigby shares that “The Shop with a Cop program is different. People don’t fill out an application like [they do] for other services.” Instead, they are referred by first responders who are actively looking for children from families in distress throughout the year. School resource officers, firefighters, valley-wide law enforcement, and volunteer search and rescue officers can make suggestions. Administrators take the time to research each situation and make phone calls to families in order to decide which 30-50 children will receive the opportunity to participate in this special day.

Partnering with The Homestead in Midway, the children meet with an appointed officer-friend for breakfast. Following the tasty meal, they are taken to the Walmart parking lot where the most iconic figure in Western Christmas culture is flown in by the valley’s Search and Rescue department. After receiving their first gift from Santa, the children are led into the store where they can spend an allotted amount of money on additional items they may need: winter coats; gloves; and shoes. Those in charge of the program try to collect enough donations from individuals and businesses throughout the year so that each child can pick out one or two gifts for a family member such as a parent or sibling. When it’s time for checkout, Walmart offers extra assistance to the program by having plenty of staff on hand to run the registers, offer treats, and wrap the items the children have purchased, so those they give to can open their gift on Christmas day. Donations for this year’s Shop with a Cop day are being accepted through December 1.

For details about how to offer assistance, contact the Wasatch County Sheriff’s Office at 654-1098

THANKSGIVING DINNER

Each year, the Heber branch of the Christian Center of Park City offers a Thanksgiving dinner open to anyone in the community. Traditionally, the dinner is prepared by volunteers and served cafeteria style. However, due to the worldwide pandemic of COVID, the custom has shifted to accommodate social distancing by serving meals through a drive-thru style service. Continuing concerns about the virus and elevated case numbers means that 2021 will look the same. As of this writing, details regarding the location and time for this year’s dinner have not yet been released.

If you would like to donate or partake of the deliciousness, visit ourwcf.org or ccofpc.org

WEEKEND SNACK PACK

In an effort to prevent local children from going hungry over the extended holiday break, the Wasatch Community Foundation expands their Weekend Snack Pack each year. The WCF partners with the CCPC and local businesses to offer Christmas gifts in combination with two-weeks worth of food for their Christmas Box Food initiative. Wigglish, Walmart, and other partners, including generous community members, provide gift cards that are given to the families to purchase the presents. The food is purchased with money from the Wasatch Community Foundation’s Human Services fund, bagged up by volunteers, and distributed to the families in need. Monetary and gift card donations are accepted year round for this program, and volunteers are needed to help package and distribute the food items.

For more information on donating, or to inquire about receiving assistance, contact the Wasatch Community Foundation at ourwcf.org

When we live with our eyes and hearts open, we see opportunities to uplift someone, even through a smile or offering a “hello”. Sometimes these tiny acts are the most meaningful. I challenge each of us to search daily for these kinds of moments. If you can do a little more, especially during this holiday season, consider participating in one of these programs to help take care of our own. We all know the Heber Valley is a great place to live for many reasons, and the quality that makes it the greatest place is our ability to give back.
November 24, 2021
Latinos In Action

On November 6, the City CAMS committee hosted a cleanup of the City Office Building grounds. Volunteers were asked to bring their pruning shears, brooms, rakes and gloves to get the landscape ready for the winter. It was a perfectly crisp fall morning; the chill of the night was just being overcome by the sun making it warm enough to keep the frost from your fingers and toes.

There were a small handful of volunteers at first, in addition to the City Manager, Matt Brower, and City Councilwoman Rachel Kaehler. We began pulling out the plants that we hoped were annuals and trimming back the assumed perennials. All were consistent in their efforts but there weren’t too many of us and I was thinking it would take a good portion of the day to accomplish the task! Enter the Latinos In Action class from Timpanogos Middle School to save the day – or at least the service project.

I had my head down over the Black-Eyed Susans when they arrived without a leader, about 10 of them, and went straight to work piling the leaves, pulling annuals, and scooping up armfuls of trimmed waste into bags. They easily cut an hour or two from the time it would have taken the rest of us to accomplish the task if they hadn’t been there. They had positive and respectful attitudes, and following the project, while they waited for their lunch, I made a point to go talk to them for a few minutes.

I told them how impressed I was that they would show up on a Saturday morning for something like this, to which one young man responded that he had nothing better to do and woke up early so he figured he may as well come. Not entirely the answer of a philanthropist, but I know many young teens who would gladly choose the option to do nothing. They shared that they are part of a for-credit class that meets every other day, under the instruction of Mr. Scott Bardin. The idea of the class is to find opportunities to serve the community. The students are required to complete 10 hours each quarter for their grade and this was just one way they could fulfill some of those hours. Other ways they have found include volunteering at the school by taking out garbage, facilitating Parent-Teacher Conference nights, and some light cleaning.

It was time for me to get home so I told the students thank you again and said goodbye to the other volunteers. It was a wonderful opportunity to serve; the grounds are ready for the snow; and I was able to learn about an incredible group of kids right here in our community.

Thank you to all who came and for the CAMS committee for facilitating the event in the continued effort to keep the Heber Valley a desirable place to live, work, and visit.
November 10, 2021

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