Heber Valley Life

Author: Karyn Anderson

  • Little India

    Little India

    Over 7,500 miles away, there’s a small village in the state of Punjab, India. This farming area is not only beautiful but it also offers delicious food previously unattainable in Wasatch County. But now, Heber City has a direct channel to Punjab. It’s called Little India.

    Traversing an Ocean

    It all started in 1997. Harjeet Singh was living in Northern India on a family farm. He decided to pack up his things and move to the United States, which he knew to be the “Land of Opportunity.” He had family living in Utah and decided to settle near them in the Salt Lake area. “When we came to the United States there were lots of kinds of opportunities,” he remembers, “but we chose the restaurant business because cousins and friends were in this business.”

    Harjeet and two relatives started an Indian restaurant called Bombay House. It was extremely successful. Eventually, the three owners split the business into three different restaurants — Bombay Garden, Mumbai House, and Bombay House. Harjeet kept Bombay Garden in West Jordan, which continues to have great success.

    One of Harjeet’s cousins had worked with him since 2006. “He is a very good worker,” Harjeet explains, “and I trust him a lot.” In 2021, the cousins decided to form a partnership and open another restaurant, this time in American Fork. They called it Little India, and everyone loved it. People came from all over to eat there. They even came from the Heber Valley!

    “In American Fork, thanks to God and the community, that place was very successful and very blessed,” says Harjeet. “And we had lots of customers from the Heber/Midway area. Before they leave, they always tell us, ‘You guys are very good. Come to Heber.’”

    Traversing a Mountain

    The family considered Heber, but they thought it was a pretty small community for an Indian restaurant. “One day, our whole family was on Deer Creek Lake on a Sunday, and I checked on the map and Heber was just like three or four miles from there,” Harjeet recalls. “I said, ‘Why don’t we go check on the market in Heber,’ and we just drove around.” The family agreed that it was probably too small of a community.

    However, Harjeet’s interest in the Heber Valley was still piqued. “I discussed it with a realtor,” says Harjeet, “and he said, ‘Heber is growing — think about it.’ And we decided to take a chance.” But they still needed a location. One morning, the realtor told Harjeet that a great place had just become available. It was a newer building built for a Culver’s, but that business had recently closed. They took a look and the whole family liked the building and discussed their options. They decided to move forward together, with Harjeet, his brother Manjit Singh, and his cousin Maninderpal Singh as owners. Harjeet’s children, Attar Singh and Bineet Kaur, were also very involved.

    Harjeet remembers that they had only a “50/50 mind” about it. It was a “nervous beginning,” he says. But they saw great possibilities and the reconstruction of the building began. “Even before we opened, our goal was to make the place beautiful with a cultural vibe and cultural food,” explains Harjeet. “As we bring authentic Indian food to Heber, we also wanted to bring a little bit of India here.” The family provided cultural pictures to local artist Jacob Fernandez, and he used them to paint murals all over the interior walls of the building. According to Bineet, “They all have a meaning behind them. All of the murals on the walls are from actual pictures of India. So, this is what India really looks like. The mural with the tractor on it, that’s actually from a picture I took in India. I just gave it to the artist who drew our murals. So, not only can people enjoy authentic Indian food, but they can also look around and picture as if they were in India.” Little India’s cultural vibe also includes soft sitar music and servers native to India.

    If You Build It, They Will Come

    After all the hard work they’d put into the restaurant, the family was eager to welcome customers. But they had no idea how eager the community was to come. “What we expected — it was a day and night difference,” says Harjeet. “The first day we ran out of food and had to close 2 hours early.” Bineet adds, “For the first 3 days actually.” The restaurant was immediately filled with people and was an instant success! “I don’t have a word for our customers … how much they love and support us over here,” says Harjeet. “We are blessed to be a part of the community.”

    Obviously, the food is a big hit here in Heber. “Sometimes people think that Indian food is very spicy, but what we do here is we make it mild,” explains Bineet, “and you get to choose your spice from mild, medium, or hot. We just want people to get familiar with the food because it is great food.” When asked to name his favorite dish, Harjeet says, “Everything is my favorite!” Bineet suggests that, “Chicken Tikka Masala is the most popular, but we are known for our Butter Chicken.”

    People don’t only come to Little India for the food. Many visitors want to walk around and take pictures. Most customers take a picture with the Taj Mahal mural at the front of the restaurant.

    And then there’s the tractor.

    “Some people love their car, and some people love their motorcycle, but I love my tractor,” says Harjeet, with a big smile. Harjeet recently had it shipped to Heber. Now, the blue tractor is parked in front of the restaurant. It came straight from his farm in India, where he’d restored it and added custom wheels, music, and lighting. There’s even a mural of Harjeet and his tractor inside the restaurant. The community loves Harjeet’s blue tractor as well! One night several customers had an impromptu dance party accompanied by the tractor’s lights and music!

    “We want them to be lifelong customers and have a different type of relationship with them,” Bineet explains. “Not only are they coming for the great food, but they’re coming for the ambiance and the staff and everything. We want them to feel comfortable and have fun here.”

    Heber loves Little India, and Little India loves them back.

    Little India has been donating meals to first responder groups, such as the fire department, the sheriff’s department, and the police department. They are also planning to take food to the hospital employees.

    “We just want to give back to the community,” says Bineet. “We’ve seen openings before, but the opening we had here was unexpected … so, we just want to give back a little bit.”

    Now, this fantastic family from India has become residents of the Heber Valley too. “I always used to talk to my family about living in a community that’s smaller, where everyone’s just like family,” says Bineet. “And so, one of my dreams came true by moving to Heber because it is a small community and everyone’s so supportive and loving.”

    Harjeet adds, “[Being in Heber] is a totally different experience in the United States than I’ve had. I don’t have a word to say how much I love this community actually.”

    The feeling is mutual. Welcome! We are so glad you are here!

    Spice Up Your Day!

    1266 South Hwy 189 Heber City.

  • Utah Arts Collective

    Utah Arts Collective

    Tucked away in the Heber Valley, the Utah Arts Collective has gathered top-notch teachers and talent. They work together, providing the community with incredible options for artistic and academic growth. What once began as Wasatch Dance Center has now become Utah Arts Collective. It includes dance, preschool, theater, and more. This elaborate and unique program began in 1998 when two dance teachers simply decided to form their own studio.

    Serendipity

    Vibeke Bodensteiner was living in Norway and had extensive background and training in the Vaganova method, a Russian ballet technique and training system. She met her husband, an Olympic skier on the US ski team, at the Lillehammer Olympics. They married, and Vibeke moved to Utah.

    Ciara Steele grew up dancing in Utah County. She attended UVSC (now UVU) and BYU. She was offered a job in Heber and began commuting up the mountain in between classes. When her teaching contract was over, she decided to stay. “I just felt like there was some reason I was supposed to be in the Heber Valley,” she remembers.

    Ciara and Vibeke met teaching dance in Heber. The pair realized they had similar ideas and educational philosophies, and the studio was born. Vibeke taught ballet classes, and Ciara taught almost everything else. From that small beginning, the company grew. It has now been an important part of the Heber community for the past 26 years. In 2022, Ciara took over the program and rebranded as Utah Arts Collective.

    Dancing Through Life

    It all started with dance. And the current dance program has so much to offer!

    From 18 months to four years old, children can take a Jungle Gym class, focusing on movement, with tumbling, singing, colors, and other readiness activities. Traditional dance classes and competition programs are offered to students ages 5-18. Dancers with the most experience can audition for an ensemble or company program. UAC also offers adult Hip-Hop and tap lessons and is looking forward to offering adult fitness courses as well.

    Another fun program is the Adaptive Dance group. This experience is offered free to students in both Wasatch and Summit counties. “The program pairs a student with disabilities with a movement mentor and allows them to experience dance without boundaries. Adaptive Dance is a program we are proud to have at UAC,” explains Ciara.

    The dance programs are all extremely focused. Specific methods are taught in ballet, jazz, tap, Hip-Hop, and tumbling. “We’ve written curriculums for all of those levels, and they’re all very unique,” Ciara shared. All of the Hip-Hop teachers dance professionally and have studied both background and technique. The UAC is especially proud of its ballet program. “We teach a Vaganova-based ballet curriculum, which is the Russian style of ballet that came from Vebeka,” Ciara explains. “She grew up in Norway and got her degree in that methodology, and so she brought that here. Most dance studios, especially in Utah, teach the Italian system, Cecchetti, so that’s unique.” The group even does excerpts of full-length ballets in the recitals. Many of the current teachers grew up as students and then spent time apprenticing to teach the strict Vaganova curriculum.

    For 20 years, the UAC has been performing at the Eccles Center in Park City in a show run by professional technicians. In addition, another type of performance is held at Wasatch High School. “We do this competition showcase, and we take all of our programs and put them out on stage. It’s an awesome show,” says Ciara. “It’s just an hour and a half of amazing dancing at all different ages and all different levels.” Even the preschool does a fun dance number.

    The Nutcracker Tea Miracle

    The Utah Arts Collective has an extensive program of giving back to the community, known as The Nutcracker Tea. Since their first performance, all the proceeds have been donated to the Wasatch County Children’s Justice Center. “We’ve been doing a full-length version of The Nutcracker for about 15 years, and then, in 2018, we created the WDC (now the UAC) Foundation,” explains Ciara.

    It began with small donations and a small Nutcracker Tea. But when Covid hit, things changed. They needed a bigger space to allow different families and households to purchase an entire table at the show. Zermatt donated space in the Bernese Center, and the group spread everything out. An amazing thing happened. There was so much support that the foundation donated $20,000 in 2020!

    The Nutcracker Tea has only grown from there. Although tickets are open to everyone, they are extremely difficult to come by and sell out almost immediately. Utah Arts Collective put together 11 tea parties last year to meet the demand, and they’re doing 12 this year! Midway Town Hall has been donating space for the performances recently. The food is all donated by local companies such as OG Café and Midway Bakery. The staff is made up of parent volunteers. The performances consist of a 30-minute narrated version of the Nutcracker. “When the mice scurry in the battle scene, your mouse cupcake is delivered to your table. It’s just a magical experience,” Ciara states. “This year we donated $35,000!”

    Emergent Education

    When Utah Arts Collective moved to its current building, about four years after beginning the studio, they added a preschool. “A lot of times, it was hard to pay all of the bills, and we rented to a preschool company that used our space. I think everyone thought it was ours,” explains Ciara. Eventually, they bought the preschool. Ciara and Vibeke both have degrees in education, so it was a natural development. They brought in early childhood educators and built a curriculum. “We thought, ‘If they think it’s ours, it might as well be ours. We might as well create what we view as an academic performing arts preschool that we’re proud of,” says Ciara.

    Many of the preschool teachers have education-based degrees, and others have degrees that are science-based or English-based. “We’re really open to creating this fantastic group of people who have lots of different perspectives to share with the students,” Ciara mentions. One teacher has a degree in horticulture, so the UAC created a garden. Students can plant seeds and watch them grow. They can even come back through the summer to see the results.

    The dance-based center accommodates the preschool fabulously. “We have curtains that hang over the mirrors because sometimes they can distract from what they’re doing. Every once in a while, we will have the mirrors out if it makes sense in the lesson that day.” Ciara explains.

    The Utah Arts Collective offers preschool for ages two, three, and four with lots of fun and movement. Older classes include a reading specialist. There’s even a dual immersion program, which Ciara calls “more of an introduction to Spanish.” The school has a native Spanish educator and makes it fun, with lots of Spanish music. In the summer, there are preschool day camps.

    Math, science, and creative artist programs can be added to the traditional preschool. And children who sign up for a morning and afternoon program are invited to Lunch Bunch, which is used as a bridge between them.

    One of the most unique features of the preschool is the drive-by drop-off and pick-up. “For our three and four-year-olds, parents can pull up on the north side of our building while wearing their pajamas, and drop them off and then pick them up at the end of the day. They don’t have to get out,” Ciara explains. “Especially for parents that have younger children, where they’d have to get everyone out of the car, it’s a convenient perk.”

    Let’s Add Some Drama!

    In addition to dance and preschool, Utah Arts Collective started a youth theater program. The first half of the season consists of education and training. This includes vocal, dance, acting, stage makeup, and theater etiquette. Then, for the second half of the season, the center auditions for a junior musical, and there is training and rehearsal. This program is for ages 8 through 15. In 2023, they performed Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the Wasatch West Campus Theater. In the past, they’ve done shows such as Little Mermaid, Lion King, and Beauty and the Beast.

    A theater camp is held in August and offered as an invitation into the program. “They don’t have to be the best vocalist,” says Ciara, “They just have to have a desire and a passion and be ready to learn more.”

    Generational Growth

    Working along with her husband, who, according to Ciara, is “very supportive and is involved in all of it,” Ciara has seen amazing growth over the years in the students of the Utah Arts Collective. “It’s been really fun to see students of ours grow up, and now they’re bringing their children. That makes me feel old, but there’s a lot of pride in that—that they brought them back to us.”

    She explains, “Our biggest goal is to be training and educating young people so they have the skills to accomplish their dreams or build the confidence they need. The whole idea of the Collective was to bring together amazing educators and kids that have a passion for dance, theater, or education and bring them all together under one roof.” This unique Heber Valley program is doing just that.

  • Heber’s Hometown Hollywood

    Heber’s Hometown Hollywood

    When James Lane was living in Rifle, Colorado, teaching middle school, he couldn’t possibly have imagined how drastically different his life would turn out.

    James moved from California to Colorado when he was 13. After graduating from Rifle High School, James joined the Air Force, went to college, and began dating Jane Elizabeth, whom he’d known since childhood. They married, and he decided to become an educator. James, or Jim to most, graduated from Colorado University, and he and Jane moved back to Rifle. He settled into a routine, teaching math and computer science in middle school and college. He obtained a master’s degree in Education, with his focus on becoming an administrator for the district, and became the union president. But after 17 years of teaching, something happened that changed his course in life.

    It seemed simple enough. Jim knew the owner of the movie theaters in Rifle. Her parents also owned some theaters in Heber City. They had just purchased the Heber buildings and were beginning to remodel them. But tragically, the father passed away. The mother wanted to find someone to buy the Heber theaters. So, she asked her daughter, the owner of the Rifle theaters, to find someone who might be interested.

    “She twisted our arm for several months and we finally came out to look at them over spring break of ‘05,” Jim recalled. “We left pretty much horrified because they were in really bad shape!” However, something in those buildings had taken root in Jim and Jane. Jim remembers, “We went home and thought about it. We approached her [the owner] and said, ‘It depends on the price you want for them.’ She gave us a price, and we decided ‘Well, let’s raise our kids for a while, instead of everyone else’s.” Jim left his teaching career, and he and his family became theater owners in Heber City, Utah.

    At that time, he and Jane had two children, a daughter in preschool, and a son in elementary school. They listed their home, at a time when nothing on the market was selling. The house sold at full price in 3 days! “That kind of indicated we were supposed to do this,” Jim said. That confidence in his decision was fortunate, because what happened next almost ruined everything!

    Saving Heber’s History

    After cashing in their retirement, selling their home, and buying a new home in the Heber Valley, the family arrived in Utah in summer of 2005 to find out that the bank had changed its mind about financing the theater project. Jim and Jane were at a loss for what to do.

    But then, the tide turned yet again for them. “I was out in the garage building shelves, taking out my aggression on the wood,” Jim said with a smile. “I got this phone call from a guy named Gordy down in Salt Lake. The first thing I thought was, ‘Oh my gosh, it’s the mafia!’”

    But in truth, Gordy and his brother ran some banks down in Salt Lake. They were interested in financing the theaters. After coming up to Heber the next day, they agreed to finance the buildings and construction loan. The project moved forward —there was so much more to do!

    The Lane Family was right about the theaters being in bad shape. “The Avon was condemned at the time, and the Ideal probably should have been,” Jim said. The family completed a quick remodel of the Ideal. They closed the theater for just 14 days and did the work themselves. They’d brought Jane’s sister, Margaret Stalcup, in on the project as a partner, and Jim, Jane, Margaret, and the two very young children all worked together to put in new ceilings, new curtains, new chairs, a new screen, and refurbished the projector.

    The Ideal was reopened just in time for one of the Harry Potter movies. “We were very busy, to say the least,” Jim recalled. “When we got into the theater business, we were completely green. We didn’t even know how to change a bulb,” laughed Jim. Jane had gone to school to be a bookkeeper, and she took over the books, with Jim taking care of maintenance and Margaret helping out wherever she could. The Avon was reopened in May 2006 with a very fitting free feature, Jim Carrey’s The Majestic, for the grand opening. The Sweet Shop reopened a year later. The nostalgic location had been an ice cream parlor and spudnut shop when it was first built. Since that time, it had been transformed into an arcade, a video shop, and a restaurant. The Lane’s decided to turn it back into an ice cream shop.

    They restored a portion of Heber’s history that could have so easily been lost forever. The Avon Theater was built in the 30’s. “From what I can glean and from what I’ve read, there was a theater here prior to this building,” Jim explained. “It was called the Wasatch Theater, and it burned down. And then they built this one.” The building date for The Ideal is unclear. “The best I’ve been able to find is the mid-teens,” said Jim. “It opened as a Vaudeville Theater initially, and was changed into a movie theater probably in the 30’s, and it’s been remodeled a number of times since then.” It was smaller with balconies, but was changed in the 1960’s. The theaters had their ups and downs throughout the years, until they settled in a dilapidated state, waiting for Jim and Jane to rescue them. The Heber Theaters were back serving the community once again.

    The first three years of theater-running went well, and they were busy! Jim even considered finding a property for a multiplex theater, but he held back because of the cost of property and impending recession. “I’m glad we didn’t build one,” he said, “because…we would’ve gone bankrupt very quickly.”

    Surviving a Slump and a Sickness

    “We made it through the recession,” Jim remembered, “but we had to refinance about halfway through because we needed to go digital in order to stay in business. And we upgraded to digital projection in 2010.” This time, a local bank financed the reconstruction and going digital. “At that point, we owed more on the equipment than we owed on the buildings!” Jim laughed.

    Making it through the recession was difficult, but in 2020, Covid hit even harder. “We have not recovered as far as attendance from Covid as of yet,” Jim explained. “Part of that is because of lack of content that people in Heber will watch, and the other part is, of course, because of the reluctance to get in large crowds that people have, and also the streaming phase that we’re going through right now, which I believe will pass.”

    Theaters are at a critical point in time right now. Regal is closing several hundred screens nationwide. AMC and Regal both filed for bankruptcy around the time of Covid. The multiplexes are struggling to survive. Small town theaters have a lower overhead, but they, too, are trying to make it through. “It involves a lot more than what most people think,” explained Jim. “It’s not just putting a picture on a screen and selling concessions.”

    The big studios sign profit-sharing contracts with the theater owners. “When we started the business, the rental price of movies was about 40-45% of sales. And it’s consistently gone up over the years to this point. Now it’s like 65-70%,” Jim clarified. “So when people say ‘your concessions are too expensive,’ I tell them it’s the only thing that keeps the theaters open. It isn’t the tickets.” In fact, if a movie does well enough, the studios have what’s called the 90-10 rule, where they then take 90% of the ticket income instead.

    Jim is extremely concerned about the future of film if locally owned theaters close. “It may cost less to watch it at home, but if theaters go away completely, we’re all going to be at Hollywood’s mercy, and we’ll have to pay whatever they want to watch their movies,” Jim reasoned. “So, I highly suggest that people continue to support theaters, otherwise, well, there’s no telling where it will go at that point.”

    There is hope, however. “I would encourage people to get back into the habit of going to the movies,” Jim entreated. “I understand that, if you have a large family, going to the movies is a very pricey proposition, but, as I’ve said before, if the theaters close, we’re going to be at the mercy of Hollywood. And I don’t think you could watch a movie for $20 on home streaming if it’s the only way of getting it. I think the studios will charge much more.”

    The Family’s Future

    Jim and Jane have enjoyed owning the Heber Theaters, but they’ve decided it’s time to retire and sell them to a new owner. “We wanted to put them back on the map, and I think we’ve done that,” Jim said. “We’ve had our ups and downs. My goal is to sell them to somebody who will keep them theaters.”

    In the meantime, the Lane’s have other plans. Their son is living in Delta, Colorado, and their daughter is now with her husband stationed at Fort Hood in Texas. So, the Lane’s are empty nesters. “When we’re done running the theaters, […] we would like to travel,” Jim said. “We bought a motor home. We’d like to enjoy the last 20 years we have on this planet.” They’ll likely still be seen around Heber, though. Jim and Jane have a home in Daniels, and they love having an international airport so close. “I think we’ll stay,” Jim said, then laughed as he added, “I might not spend winters here.”

    As far as the theaters go, Jim is hopeful they will continue to survive with the support of the community. “The fact of the matter is that if people want to keep these theaters, they’ve got to be used,” Jim states. “And it can’t be minimally, because the cost of running a theater is expensive. I’m hopeful that [the theaters] will be very profitable and a part of the community for many years to come.”

  • Molding a Midway Masterpiece

    Molding a Midway Masterpiece

    Midway is in the process of making a masterpiece out of a little mountain town. There is a lot to do, but the elected officials and residents are ready for it. This crucial creation begins with Midway’s general plan, which is being rewritten to ready it for the influx of people finding their way to this beautiful, once-hidden location.

    By carefully crafting its general plan, the city is attempting to protect its lifestyle and rural feel, while still providing refuge for weary travelers searching for a new home.

    Midway’s mayor Celeste Johnson explained, “The general plan is something that guides all of the decisions we make, and the state requires that we revisit it every five years. Midway’s very proactive on their general plan, and this every five year process has been pretty intense every time.”

    For this most recent review, Midway was granted a six-month moratorium on new projects, in an attempt to get in front of the exploding growth. “A moratorium is a double-edged sword,” Mayor Johnson said. “As soon as a developer finds out you’re going to do a moratorium, they’ll do everything in their power to vest before that moratorium happens. And so what you end up with is this huge workload …  and it takes months and months to get through that, and now the moratorium is over … That backlog is the other side of that double-edged sword.”

    The city dealt with the backlog when the moratorium was over, except for a continuation on what’s called a notice of pending ordinance. This means that the city has six months to complete work on about six codes. Development projects needing these codes can be approved conditionally, but must wait for the ordinances to be finalized with the city. The building is mostly on again. But that short, six-month break provided a huge opportunity for the city to gather information and organize strategies.

    General plan meetings were held in December and January; an all-inclusive survey was administered for public input; and an open house was held in March. There are ten chapters in the plan, and a committee was set up for each chapter.

    “For some of these committees, the chapter is pretty good already and they’re only going to tweak it and they’ll be done. Some of these chapters are going to need major overhauls,” explained Mayor Johnson. “Our affordable housing chapter is going to need a major overhaul. Our open space chapter was just written 2 years ago, so it’s going to need just a little bit of tweaking.”

    All of this public interest has provided Midway’s government with a clear picture of residents’ priorities for their city. “The beauty of Midway tends to just be that we want more of what we just had. Hands down, every survey, everything we’ve ever done, trails is the number one priority in this community. So we know that we’ll continue to connect our trail system and improve our trail system,” Mayor Johnson said.

    Also, some people would like to see different kinds of activities in the different parks. So, Mayor Johnson suggested that maybe instead of fixing antiquated playground equipment, the city could take that out and put some more creative options in those playgrounds, such as zip lines, and ADA-compatible options.

    Open space is another huge priority in Midway. A five-million dollar bond was passed recently, and the city has been making the most of it. They still have 1.5 million left for preserving space, after already saving almost 300 acres from development! Mayor Johnson explained, “When we use that money, we try to get matching funds and really stretch that out as much as we can.”

    Midway has been doing an amazing job making those funds last. The Kohler Dairy project cost seven-million dollars, but Midway only had to use one-million. Wasatch County and Utah Open Land provided money to complete the purchase, by gathering federal money and other grants. Landowners have been stepping in to help too. For example, Kem Gardner of the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute owns property in Midway. When he found out the bond had passed, he approached Midway about preserving his land. One-million dollars was approved to save some of his property for open space. But after it had all been approved, Gardner offered to give the one-million back on the condition that it be used to improve the land with trails and other options for public use. “Those are the kinds of beautiful things that happen when people understand that this is a priority,” said the mayor.

    Growth is also a major issue facing the city and their crafting of the general plan. The city has about 6,000 residents now and could possibly have as many as 12,000-15,000 in the near future. But Mayor Johnson and the city council are prepared. They’ve done several innovative things to get in front of the growth and preserve Midway. Some examples are increasing setbacks to protect view corridors and putting options in place, such as rural preservation subdivisions, to encourage developers not to build out to full density. Midway’s officials have also declined the push to change the 35 foot height restriction everywhere except for the resort zones.

    Affordable housing is another issue. “That is the million dollar question,” said Mayor Johnson. “That is a national crisis … Midway specifically is looking at two things right now. One, called a fee in leu, would mean that if a developer is doing a project, they would pay a certain amount on each lot to be used somewhere in the county to create affordable housing. Another option would be selling deed-restricted property to developers.”

    Even tiny homes could play a part. “There would be some charming ways to create tiny home, European-looking villages, that would totally fit Midway,” Mayor Johnson stated. “So we would absolutely take a look at that. But we would have to adjust our code to make it work. And we’re willing to do that.” She continued, “We hope to start getting some solutions. We’re way behind the 8-ball up here on that. The growth hit us all off guard … We have elected officials who weren’t prepared, myself included, for what that means.”

    Midway has already been coming up with some ingenious ideas to protect its culture. One of the most impressive ways was how the resort tax stayed in place. The clock was ticking, and Midway didn’t have enough nightly rentals to continue as a resort town. But then, at the very last hour, a resident came up with a plan — annex the Wasatch campground into the city of Midway. The city jumped on this brilliant idea, and the resort designation survived. In the future, Mountain Spa will offer some additional nightly rentals, along with a hybrid open space conservation project — forty acres around Mountain Spa have been preserved in perpetuity for agricultural use. These lots will be sold as deed-restricted agricultural lots, again keeping Midway’s open space open.

    “We’ve done everything we can to create some boundaries that will make our growth smart and protect our view corridors … protect the feel that we believe Midway is, which is somewhat eclectic, somewhat resort, somewhat rural, somewhat agricultural, and it’s also, well, the victorian houses on main street, there’s nothing Swiss about those; that’s British. But we like that eclectic feel,” Mayor Johnson laughed. The city even created code language specifically to protect those British historic homes. If they become commercial, some requirements would be waived in an effort to discourage developers from tearing them down.

    With all of the changes taking place, Mayor Johnson had plenty of praise for the residents of Midway. “I’m very proud of how engaged Midway is as a community and how willing they are to come together and discuss options and alternatives; how willing they are to learn the facts and to find out what the limitations are that we have to work within; and that guiding volunteerism that we have here — I love that they’re willing to come forward and help with solutions.”

    This new general plan, with all of its built-in encouragement to maintain Midway as a little piece of heaven, might be just enough to create a living work of art in the Heber Valley.

  • Valhalla

    Valhalla

    In Norse mythology, Valhalla is a magnificent hall where slain heroes from battle are received and restored by a mythical light. In Heber City, Utah, Valhalla is basically the same thing. However, instead of boar’s meat and golden shields, cutting-edge smart light cell therapies are used for healing.

    Dr. David Tate has been preparing for Heber’s Valhalla for decades.
    He has a PhD in clinical neuropsychology, and he did a clinical internship and post-doctoral fellowship at Brown University. He received a research grant, which he fulfilled with the women’s hospital at Harvard Medical School, spending almost 9 years there as a research professor. He then worked as a research neuropsychologist for the Army medical center in San Antonio for about six years.

    All of this research experience led him to accept a job at the University of Utah as an associate research professor. There, he currently co-directs the brain injury and concussion center. And now, he’s also opened Valhalla in Heber City.

    Using these lights for healing is not a new science; in fact, it’s been around for about 60 years. “These wavelengths of light have some very specific biological actions,” explains Dr. Tate. “It’s a little more than red-light therapy . . . more specifically, we’re using both visible red and near-infrared frequencies.”

    Dr. Tate continues, “The wavelengths of light that you’re using are really important. Red only gets about skin deep. When you get into the near-infrared, specific wavelengths have different penetration depths . . . You can actually push the light as much as 2 1/2 inches into the tissue.”

    The areas of healing depend on where and how the light is used. Valhalla has a handheld laser light that works on specific areas, but also whole-body pods that treat the entire body, including the joints, the deep tissue, the gut, and the brain.

    These lights have many benefits. Not only do they reduce inflammation, but they also increase circulation. And, when used consistently, changes occur in the mitochondrial function of the cells. This makes cell energy production much more efficient, which speeds healing and increases cell replication.

    Increased energy
    Better emotional health
    Reduced inflammation + pain

    An additional benefit of this light therapy is improvements in mood. “Moods become much more stable . . . [with] less depressive-type symptoms and less anxiety,” says Dr. Tate.

    Dr. Tate explained that, “The nice thing about it is there are 60 years of research on these wavelengths of light, and the safety parameters are very well-known. There are very few side effects, if any.” Possible rare side effects are similar to those from a detox, but the lights can be modified to minimize this. Also, this type of therapy is not recommended for people with a history of epilepsy or for pregnant women.

    Valhalla offers a free first appointment to anyone wanting to try it out. After that, there are lots of different packages to try. Visits are usually around $40-$45 each, with discounts for vets and first-responders.

    Light treatments range between 12 to 18 minutes, and most people with aches and pains come once or twice a week. “If you’re coming with other more chronic conditions, like fibromyalgia, thyroid disease, or long-haul covid, you’d probably need at least three treatments a week for the first month,” explains Dr. Tate. After that, a maintenance period is designed.

    “We’re really a wellness center,” says Dr. Tate. “We listen to see what’s helping and what’s not helping. Then we can modify some of the parameters.” He sees this as a complimentary therapy. “[Valhalla] really works hand in hand to improve the efficacy of other therapies as well. We want to be seen as partnering with these individuals and their treating physicians to get the best outcome.”

    Suffering from post-concussion syndrome?

    Valhalla uses smart light cell therapy to promote recovery in the body and healing in the mind. Valhallaplus.org

  • Hands that Heal

    Hands that Heal

    Creating A Beautiful Sanctuary Unlike Anything The Heber Valley Has Ever Seen.

     When Crystal Joy was young, really young, she discovered she loved giving people massages. By the age of six, she was already heading down the path that would lead to where she is today — the grand opening of Heber City’s Mountain Elite Massage Sanctuary.

    Youthful Beginnings

    “I actually started liking massage at like five or six years old. I worked on hands and feet, and I wanted to hang out with adults,” she remembers.

    Then, at about age 11, her aunt introduced her to a chiropractor because of her “strong hands.” Crystal thought she might help with some paperwork, but the chiropractor had other ideas. He immediately put her to work setting hot packs on people. Crystal took this task one step further by massaging their hands and feet too!

    Growing up in California, with a mother who worked with celebrities, Crystal spent a lot of time around successful people. She’s always known that she wanted to be successful, and worked hard to achieve her goals. “I just instantly gravitated towards more success,” she explained. “[When] you have more success, you can take care of others. And I didn’t have that when I was younger, and I knew I wanted it.” Crystal graduated from high school when she was 16 and soon after left home to make her way in the world.

    Her life plan evolved into becoming a physical therapist. Although she followed that dream for about eight years, she didn’t enjoy it. It was all about the insurance, the injuries, and getting paid, she recalled. “So, I dropped out. And I said, ‘Okay, I’m just going to stay with massage.’ So, I did.”

    Crystal’s path eventually took her to Aspen, Colorado, where she got a job at the St. Regis Spa as an on-call massage therapist. However, she remembered it being extremely difficult to be at everyone’s beck and call all of the time. When a position opened there for a core therapist, she went right to the top to apply for the job. “I showed them all my referrals and requests. I said ‘I can help your hotel. Let me do this.’ I was a baby! I was only 23. And they didn’t take me seriously.” She kept at it and convinced them to offer her a 3-month trial position. On her first day, she went downstairs, and a group of athletes came in. Her trial had begun. “I was so nervous,” Crystal recalled. “I mean, really nervous, and I just decided to fake it. So, I did!” And, as they say, the rest is history!

    Crystal had the opportunity to work with numerous athletes and celebrities while at St. Regis and it didn’t take long for her to develop a name and reputation among them. Today, Crystal has a full client base of around 700 people and she occasionally flies out to California or Florida, just to do a massage for some of her more affluent clients. Crystal may have achieved her goal of becoming successful but she’s not stopping there. Crystal’s drive has always come from her passion to help others; she’s continually looking for ways to lend a hand and alleviate the stress of one’s day.

    Developing Dreams

    Although Crystal was still traveling with sports teams, she wanted to put down some roots, and in 2014 Crystal and her husband decided to make the Heber Valley their home. Crystal created a “she shed” in her yard to offer massages in Midway. She put $10,000 into the shed, adding things like a fireplace, a waterfall, an outdoor shower, and a massage area. While she loved it, the city told her too many people were coming, and the location wasn’t zoned properly.

    The success of the “she shed” would need to be moved. Crystal found a new home for her business in the Heber bank building. She confidently told the landlord that she would need to expand in 3 years, saying “I’m going to bring people on, and we’re going to create a wellness mecca in your valley.” He was a little doubtful, but Crystal was undeterred.

    As predicted, she soon outgrew the space and needed a larger place. “Originally, I wanted a place that would have horses and just all the outdoorsy things, and then I saw this…in the middle of the valley. It was perfect!” she said, referring to the new location at the back of the Old Towne Square building.

    The Sanctuary

    Finally, Crystal would be able to create her wellness mecca. Her husband was supportive, though Crystal admits it’s “not really his world.” They started the building process four days before Covid hit. And what was supposed to be a five-month project instead became a 21-month project! But again, Crystal was undeterred. “I don’t give up,” she asserted. “I never give up. I give in so I can be bendable, but I don’t give up. I don’t even know how to do it.”

    Mountain Elite-Massage
    Mountain Elite Massage

    The 3,100 square-foot Mountain Elite Massage Sanctuary and Wellness center opened September 25, 2021. Created to be a healing sanctuary for the Heber Valley, each room was meticulously planned out by Crystal. “Every room is multipurpose here. We do it on purpose because I didn’t want rooms on top of one another,” she explained. “I don’t like having services where someone feels like they have to hurry and run out because they’re just a number. So, I have 30 minutes [planned] in between each session.” She also has added incredible details throughout, including a rain shower that incorporates the sounds of thunder and lightning!

    Services offered include nutrition and epigenetics, meditation, yoga, massage, aesthetics, foot zoning, and Wasatch County’s first salt room. Halotherapy, or salt therapy, is a treatment for respiratory and skin conditions where microscopic salt particles are pumped into the air to improve your breathing. In the future, there will also be a “wet treatment room,” used for exfoliation treatments, body polishes, and mud wraps.

    There are many options, but in the sanctuary itself, all of the rooms are dedicated to massage, with five rooms running most of the time. “I can’t do it alone,” Crystal explained. “I’ve been doing this for 27 years now, and I stopped counting at 20,000 massages.” She needed help, and she got it. “All the girls that are working for me are amazing,” Crystal gushed. “I dreamt them up in my head, and now they’re on earth. It’s wild to say, but they are.”

    McKenna is the wellness coordinator and is everything Crystal wanted for her front desk. “I liked her energy, and I stole her from a restaurant,” Crystal admitted. She also has several massage therapists, including Erika, who has been with Crystal for over 2½ years. “I don’t think I could’ve been here without her,” she said. And there are many other specialists Crystal is excited about adding to her wellness team.

    It has only been a couple of months since the center opened, but Crystal is already seeing the fruits of her labors. She’s even been approached about franchising, although she admits to being very particular about the kind of people she would be willing to involve. “I’d be afraid it would lose the element of what I’ve created here,” she said. “I love the way it connects people!”

    Crystal loves creating connections throughout the county with her new Mountain Elite Massage and Sanctuary. “I hope this valley accepts it,” Crystal shared. “I’ve been doing this almost since birth. It’s just innate in me. I love it!”

  • Altitude With An Attitude

    Altitude With An Attitude

    The Heber Valley Sits Comfortably At Just Over 5,500 Feet Above Sea Level. If You’re Coming From A Lower Elevation, There Are Steps You Can Take To Ease The Transition To A Higher Altitude.

     

    A few years ago, my husband and I spent a week in Newport Beach, California, and needed to be in Aspen, Colorado the next day. As we raced through the states, we hardly noticed the uphill drive. Arriving in Aspen, we settled in. However, we soon noticed headaches, dizziness, and nausea. It took a day before we realized what was happening. We were suffering from our first real bout of altitude sickness.

    Growing up in Utah, I barely noticed altitude changes. We lived at a moderately high altitude and drove up and down canyons all the time. But this extreme change, from sea level to over 8,000 feet in a day, gave me a new respect for the ways that high altitude affects us.

     

    The Downside of the Upside

    Major high-altitude sickness occurs mostly at elevations of 8,000 feet above sea level. But mild symptoms can occur at lower altitudes as well. Heber City, for example, rests at about 5,600 ft, while neighboring Park City lies at 7,000 ft. According to Harvard Health Publishing, altitudes of 5,000 to 8,000 feet are considered moderately high. And even moderately high levels can produce multiple health effects, including lower oxygen levels, higher UV radiation, and dehydration.

    Research is also being conducted on possible connections to mental health. A study done in 1963 suggested that higher altitudes could lead to depression, irritability, anxiety, and apathy. Most research done in this area has been focused on hypoxia. This means that blood oxygen levels are lower in higher elevations, which could negatively affect the brain and psychological responses.

    Dr. Kelley H. Woodward, Medical Director of the Live Well Center in Park City, shared that “While most people adjust very well to living at higher elevations on the Wasatch Back, there are several health effects we need to be aware of.”

    He noted that when people first move to higher altitudes, there is an adaptation period that usually lasts three to four months. “Before they have fully adapted, they will have noticeably lower exercise tolerance and even find they get winded more easily with simple activities like climbing a flight of stairs,” he explained.

    In some cases, high altitude also affects sleep quality. “With the lower oxygen pressure at higher elevation, sleep is more disrupted for some,” Dr. Woodward said. Sleep apnea is also a more pronounced issue and could be a long-term problem. In addition, those with lung disease, anemia, and heart disease might have a longer adaptation period and “may not be able to maintain adequate oxygenation even after prolonged living at higher elevations.” Quickly going from low altitude to high can cause other symptoms such as headache, confusion, shortness of breath, and dizziness.

     

    So, You Want to Live in the Mountains…

    While multiple challenges come with high altitude, some basic precautions can prevent most problems. Staying hydrated is a must. According to Harvard Health Publishing, “you will lose lots of water through your lungs, even if you don’t perspire.” Dr. Woodward adds that “addressing dehydration risk is simple: Carry and drink water frequently during all physical activities. Get that reusable water bottle, decorate it to your liking…then use it!” Hydration also helps protect against nosebleeds, another common ailment at higher elevations. However, even without internal dehydration, nosebleeds can occur because of the dry mountain air.

    Low humidity dries the nasal membranes, making them more brittle. If necessary, a saline nose spray can help hydrate nasal passages, having a humidifier in the home helps too, especially in the winter months.

    The drier air can also make skin dry, itchy, and cracked. Chapped lips are common. Using a good moisturizer for the body is essential. When exercising, it’s important to remember that the lower oxygen levels of the thinner air make it more strenuous for the body. It is much easier to exercise closer to sea level than it is in the Heber Valley. Jonelle Fitzgerald, Health Director for Wasatch County Health Department, explained, “We recognize that exercise is a little bit harder. It’s still definitely so important, and as you acclimatize, it gets easier.” She reminded people to recognize the altitude so that they will be more accommodating. “Just be aware; watch yourself,” she said. “If you’re getting super winded, sit down and rest. Recognize that the air is different here.” Dr. Woodward suggested that people gradually increase to their usual intensity and duration. “Don’t risk injury by overdoing it,” he warned.

    Another major issue at high altitudes is greater exposure to UV rays. This is not caused by being closer to the sun, but rather because the atmosphere is thinner, and the sun can travel through it more readily. Snow blindness, although temporary, can occur from higher UV rays reflecting off of the snow. Cold temperatures and dryness, common at higher elevations, can make it even worse. According to Healthline.com “When too much UV light hits the transparent outer layer of your eyes, called the cornea, it essentially gives your cornea a sunburn.” Sunglasses and sunscreen can help, and both should be used when outside.

    Sleep issues can be lessened by getting a medical evaluation for chronic problems. “Don’t ignore persistent sleep problems,” suggested Dr. Woodward. “There are ways to overcome the effects lower oxygen levels have on sleep.”

     

    The Upside of the Upside

    It’s a trade-off. Mountain living offers many opportunities to enjoy nature and breathe fresh air. Exercising at higher altitudes can actually strengthen the heart.  Post Independent News writes that “people living at higher altitudes tend to be healthier … They weigh less, have less cardiovascular disease and some types of cancer, and live longer.” High-altitude training is often used in sports to increase endurance. And even though the increase of sun exposure can escalate some risks, it also increases Vitamin D, which may give extra protection to the body.

    Research is continuing to discover links between health and altitude. Dr. Woodward gives this great advice: “Acknowledge and respect that the elevation changes challenge our bodies and require adjustments.” In general, drinking lots of water, using a good moisturizer and chapstick, remembering sunscreen and sunglasses, and resting when necessary, will help overcome most issues.

     

    Stay hydrated with Redmond’s Re-Lyte Electrolyte mix. Bonus! It’s local! Available online at Redmond.Life or at Redmond Heritage Farm Store: 475 W 910 S, Heber City.

  • Next man up!

    Next man up!

    Once there was a delicious soup. It was created with homemade recipes, and people loved it. They loved it so much that a big factory was built to make more of it. As people ate more and more soup, the factory tried to keep up with the demand. Finally, Bear Creek Country Kitchens moved the soup production elsewhere.

    What would happen to the enormous soup factory that had housed the facilities? According to Amaria Scovil, Director of Wasatch County’s Joyce & M. Anthony Burns Recreation Center, “When they decided to sell the soup business, it was sold to an organization back East, and of course, they couldn’t move the building. So, everything inside went.”

    Located in the small town of Heber City, Utah, the factory sat vacant for about four years. Until someone had the brilliant idea to retrofit the vast space into a recreation center.

    It would be unique and would turn the old soup factory into a factory for physical fitness.

    The Wasatch County Recreation Center was officially opened in 2010. Additional offices and a private gym called, The Fit Stop was added to the building. The new recreation center was still housed in the original soup factory. Scovil shared, “I was with the department before we had a rec center. Being able to offer the variety of programming and open play to the community, since we’ve had this facility, is an incredible difference.” Scovil continued, “It’s not just athletics or sports. It’s a lot of enrichment activities too, so there’s something for everyone. And I know that sounds a little cliché, but I think it’s important for everybody to feel like they can participate in something and learn something new and do something different. Especially in today’s day and age where it’s easy just to get sucked into the electronics and not look beyond your little phone.”

    A Unique Taste

    The Recreation Center offers a host of innovative and distinctive opportunities.

    The most noticeable are the three huge turf fields! These fields provide endless possibilities. “There are 12’ soccer goals on the fields, but the fields can also be used for non-tackle football, golf, or any number of other activities,” according to the website. Some people even use them during the frozen winters to let kids run around in the park-like atmosphere. “We do see a lot of soccer [on the fields],” explained Scovil, “but kids also come practice lacrosse or rugby, or they throw frisbees. A lot of Spikeball has become popular. There are plenty of other things as well.”

    And there is so much more! A .2 mile track surrounds the turf for those who want a place to run or walk indoors. In addition, there are six full-size basketball/volleyball courts. These courts also provide a place for pickleball, dodgeball, futsal, and many other activities. Additionally, there are three batting cages next to four full-size racquetball courts. The courts can also be used for wallyball or handball.

    On top of everything else, there are three full-size tennis courts, gymnastics equipment, two large classrooms, a party room, a putting green, and two state-of-the-art golf simulators! “It’s an amazing program,” said Scovil. “The screen is huge, and it has the sounds of birds and everything, and it makes you feel like you’re there. You have 150 courses to choose from that are actual courses in the world.” Equipment for most activities is available to rent as well, for a small additional fee. The recreation center also has a contracted tennis pro who runs lessons from September through May for adults and youth.

    Adding Some Extra Spice

    “Gymnastics runs throughout the year,” said Scovil.  “We run it in sessions, so it’s not a huge commitment for anybody. It’s more designed to be an introductory program. We do have different levels, but we run it on a 4-week basis.” The rec center provides all the gymnastics apparatus, except the special floors used in routines.

    This year, the rec center held two gymnastics meets. “It was amazing,” according to Scovil. “[The] gymnastics meets were not a part of our program, but they were part of a larger program in Utah. And it was incredible to see the talent that we have here. It was so fun to have the event here, and it brought a lot of revenue to the community and us.”

    Another fun activity provided at the center is Toddler Time. “Toddler time is something we offer Monday through Friday from 10:00 am until noon, only on the days that school is in, just so that we don’t get a lot of bigger kids running around with toddlers,” explained Scovil. “We let the toddlers bring in their bicycles or their scooters or whatever toys they want to bring in. And then we have some toys too, so a mom and all of her kids can get in for just $4 and play.”

    Heber Valley resident Rachel Bolos enjoys walking the track at the rec center while her baby sleeps in the stroller. “It’s fun, it’s open, it’s clean, and everyone here is always nice,” said Bolos. “My older kids come and play sports here. They love it. There needs to be somewhere for families to go to just have fun.”

    There are many opportunities here for kids to be kids and play. The Wasatch County Recreation Center also provides sports teams and other activities. “I think kids need athletics that they can just enjoy, that isn’t super competitive, and that they can just have fun,” explained Scovil.

    Amaria Scovil wants to encourage the community to take advantage of this incredible factory, where body, mind, and soul are amply fed.

    “Come play!” she welcomes. “It’s an amazing place; winter, spring, summer, and fall. I know a lot of people like to be outside in the summer, but it stays cool in here, and it’s sometimes nice to get out from under the sun and play. It’s great. We love to have people here!”

    The people love to be here too. And the production of soup for the soul continues.

     

    MORE INFORMATION

    345 W 600 S, #500, Heber

    435-657-3240

    wasatchparksandrec.com

  • Utah Governor Announces Vaccine Eligibility for All Adults

    Utah Governor Announces Vaccine Eligibility for All Adults

    Utah Governor Spencer Cox has announced that adults throughout Utah will be able to schedule Covid-19 vaccinations beginning on March 24th. In addition, the Pfizer vaccine will be available to those ages 16 to 18. It is the only vaccine approved so far for the younger age group.

    The vaccination expansion was announced sooner than expected. This was partly due to requests from local health departments. As the state races to provide vaccinations to underserved populations, such as the homeless and other groups, mobile units often provide those vaccines.

    According to Cox, the process is slowed in those areas by requiring eligibility factors. Furthermore, about 15% of appointments for next week have not yet been filled. Expanding the offerings to all adults will allow faster and less complicated vaccinations.

    To achieve “herd immunity,” where vaccinated individuals can provide significant protection for those who are unvaccinated, 70% to 90% of the population must receive the vaccine. Herd immunity through vaccinations have already successfully controlled diseases such as smallpox, polio, and many others.

    Cox mentioned that Utah is 6th in the nation for giving vaccinations and has currently given over one million vaccinations. “I want to encourage people that are eligible right now . . . to continue to schedule those vaccines,” he said.

    “As always,” Cox continued, “I want to encourage people to please be patient. The phone lines might be jammed, and servers might be backed up. And again, there won’t be enough doses in the state for everyone for a few weeks. But we are heading in the right direction.”

    He also discussed Covid counts and that numbers are going down drastically overall. The Governor reemphasized that the State mask mandate will continue until April 10th. Mask wearing will still be required in schools beyond that date. “The good news for everyone is case counts are really low,” he said.

  • Heber City Mayor gives State of the City Address

    Heber City Mayor gives State of the City Address

    Heber City Mayor Kelleen Potter gave her State of the City address in a live broadcast on March 10, 2021. Beginning with a short video, she displayed a quote from the Salt Lake Tribune that stated, ‘For the second year in a row, Heber ranked No. 1 for growth among the country’s smaller ‘micropolitan areas,’ with populations between 10,000  and 50,000.” 2020 estimates put Heber’s population just above 18,500. By 2050, projections have over 30,000 people living within Heber City’s limits.

    Mayor Potter started out by discussing Heber’s history. She told the story of Chief Tabby and settler Joseph Murdock, who signed a treaty of friendship in 1867.

    An overview of Heber’s current financial state was presented and several challenges were mentioned. These included Covid and the significant increase in cost of living. According to Potter, the MLS showed only two Heber City active listings under $600,000. “This is a significant challenge. As housing prices continue to increase faster than salaries, we have to consider what happens in the future when our workforce can’t afford to live here,” she said.

    Potter also discussed dealing with growth, traffic, and the demand for homes in Heber City.

    In addition, the mayor explained some issues and solutions for the North Village area, parks and the cemetery, and local trails, the airport, and the bypass.

    She quoted Stephen R. Covey, saying, ‘The best way to predict your future is to create it.’ “Our solutions to these problems are not reactive. We’re not waiting for things to happen to us, but we are being proactive and planning for the future,” she stated.

    The mayor mentioned several requirements the City would like to include for developments annexing in from the North Village. These include cluster development, more open space, dark sky requirements, parks and trails, and a required donation to help preserve the North Fields.

    Mayor Potter also announced a new citizen leadership program to teach about how the City functions. The program is planned to start in the fall, with more information to come.

    “In following the earliest Heber example set by our original local and move-in, Chief Tabby and Bishop Murdock, we must continue to welcome newcomers, find common ground in our shared humanity and deep love of the Heber Valley, and work through our differences to coexist in peace and prosperity,” she stated.

    A video of the entire speech is available at https://www.heberut.gov/321/State-of-Heber-City.

  • Food of the Gods

    Food of the Gods

    Chocolate (n.)
    A delicious cure for a bad day.

    What is it about chocolate? According to Robbie Stout and Anna Davies, owners of Ritual Chocolate in Charleston, it’s a lot of things! The two business partners recently moved their chocolate-making factory and café to the Heber Valley. And they want to invite everyone to experience their unique flavors and chocolate-making process.

    The café opened for business in October of 2020 and was the culmination of a 10-year journey. Stout is originally from Midway, UT, and Davies comes from Essex, England, although her mother is American. After Anna finished University she went to Colorado to spend time with her mom. “I met Robbie, and we started talking about chocolate,” she said. “I think really it was just a progression. We had the idea in Boulder, but neither of us really knew much about chocolate.”

    Stout shared, “The first motivation was we wanted to start a chocolate company and have our own brand and have chocolate bars — because it sounded like fun. But then, immediately, when we were looking into it, we learned about how difficult the process is to make it, and how important single origin can be, and [the importance of] where you get your cacao from. We could’ve just made a brand and had somebody else make it, but there was just so much opportunity to do something different if we made it ourselves.”

    They decided to learn how to source their own cacao and create something totally different from anything else out there. “So, that’s the path we chose,” Robbie explained, “which is the difficult path, because it’s expensive to have the machinery, it’s expensive to make it, and it’s hard to source the cacao from everywhere and trust that supply.”

    Anna recalled, “We just started really small . . . in a tiny little studio, we bought some equipment, and we were just making it in our studio. It was really fun in the beginning to just have random beans that we’d mess around with.” They began with a $5.00 budget, and grew from there, eventually renting a small chocolate factory in Denver. A man at the factory taught them some basics about the process and the equipment. They have since modified the experience into their own original process.

    Stout and Davies moved to Utah because they both loved the mountains and enjoy activities such as mountain biking, Nordic skiing, hiking, and backcountry skiing. They opened a successful café and factory in Park City but outgrew it. Although the café in Park City remains open and is currently being expanded, Ritual Chocolate has moved the entire production facility to its Heber Valley location, along with a second café.

    The chocolate produced at Ritual is shipped to over 800 stores around the country, with about 1,000 bars a day heading out from the Heber Valley. The delicacies include such varied flavors as Honeycomb Toffee, Juniper Lavender, and Pine Nut Chocolate. And for a pure chocolate experience, there are single-origin bars, which allow the different flavors of regional cacao beans to shine through, such as Ecuador, Belize, and Mexico bars. Each region’s cacao beans have evolved into a distinctive taste. The Madagascar bar, for example, has natural “tasting notes” of raspberry, citrus, and peanut. The Peru bar has a floral, herbal, toasted peanuts, and stone fruit taste.

    Stout explained why the chocolate tastes are so different. “Obviously cacao doesn’t know national boundaries, but depending on where you are, the local cacao will have had its own history and relationship to people. Like in Mexico, that area was farmed for about 4,000 years with cacao, so there was selective breeding happening just through what people wanted to eat. [They would] pick from that tree and not the others because it tasted better, and [they would] plant seeds from that tree because they tasted better.” He continued, “Over time, some regions got better just because of the amount of time that people were eating cacao. Some of the more wild areas, that haven’t had as much time, still have good cacao, but it hasn’t been through that same process. And there’s been a lot of breeding now through selective breeding. There are hundreds of varieties now.”

    The owners work with several carefully selected farms to ensure that they are purchasing quality cacao from heirloom trees. They also are particular about the farming practices, using only those farms that harvest, ferment, and dry their beans properly.

    There are only about four companies making 70% of the world’s chocolate. These large companies use high quantity, but poor-quality, beans. To hide the bad flavor, the beans are over-roasted. Any nuances in the beans are then gone, so the companies will add artificial vanilla, cheap oils, emulsifiers, sugar, and milk to disguise the taste of bad cacao. This cacao generally comes from West Africa, and the only thing that matters is the weight. The farms will harvest it early, ferment and dry it quickly, and ship it off to keep the price low. The entire business model is to strip out as much bad flavor as possible using high heat and a lot of processing.

    Ritual Chocolate, on the other hand, tries to maintain the flavor of their high-quality beans. “We definitely push to have the smoothest texture that we can. . . . If anything, our process is very gentle because we’re really not trying to take flavors out, were trying to keep it all in and keep the chocolate really smooth,” said Davies. “We barely even roast the beans. It’s more like a light toasting.”

    “Our definition of success with the product itself is we want to get as much of that original flavor through our whole process into the final bar.”

    “We’re trying to not lose any of that so that people can actually taste what the cacao tastes like — which is the complete opposite goal from these bigger brands,” explained Stout.

    The name Ritual Chocolate is a reminder of history. “It was a bit of a call back to the history of cacao, and how it ties into the ceremonies and rituals that the Mayans and Aztecs used chocolate in,” said Davies. The Mayans and Aztecs made a drink with the cacao, after adding spices, maize, and water. “It was considered this really powerful drink that could give you strength and would sustain you all day,” added Stout. “When they used it in ceremonies it was also symbolic of lifeblood.” The cacao beans were even used as currency! The Latin classification name means “food of the Gods.”

    Davies and Stout want to share their love of chocolate through the new café and shop. Customers can get coffee, lunch, or a light breakfast for now. “Once Covid is not as big of a threat, we’ll open up our private tasting room here for classes and tours, where we can actually bring people in. We hope that this will be another destination in the Heber Valley for families and everyone from around the area,” said Stout.

    “We hope people will come out here to check the café out, because really we want it to be a community space,” offered Davies. “Our vision and our hope is that tours aside, in the summer if people come up here to go to the lake or they have a Saturday free that they’ll pop in and have sort of a different experience. We have fun, different offerings, and this is somewhere people can bring friends. We want it to be a destination for people.”

    What is it about chocolate? Head on over to Ritual Chocolate and discover for yourself how it’s a lot of things!

  • Painting With Inspiration

    Painting With Inspiration

    When talent is cultivated and risks are taken masterpieces are created. When those masterpieces are discovered and treasured by millions worldwide – that is something truly extraordinary. Greg Olsen knows what it is to cultivate and take risks – to create his own inimitable path. Sharing his talent for art Greg Olsen has created something truly extraordinary as his masterpieces continue to inspire lives around the world.

    ARTISTIC FOUNDATIONS

    Olsen grew up in the rural town of Iona, Idaho. There were no art galleries or museums there, so he credits some of his artistic talents to the family genes. His mom painted landscapes, and his dad worked with graphics. He also has uncles, cousins, and a brother who are artists. Olsen enjoyed being in the outdoors. He lived next to his grandparents’ farm and would spend his time sketching the barn and the animals. “Because there was not a lot of stuff to do for entertainment, I think drawing just became a form of entertaining myself,” he said. In high school, he had an exceptional art teacher who was very influential for many students. “He was really impactful, and I was lucky to have him,” Olsen remembered. After high school, he attended Utah State University and studied illustration. While at USU he met his wife, Sydnie Cazier. Eventually, he left school and took a job as an in-house artist, creating signs and murals and whatever else was needed.

    A casual lunch with an old friend one day would leave a lasting influence. The friend asked him, “If you could do whatever you wanted to do, what would that be?” Olsen replied, “Really, I’d like to just quit my job and paint whatever I want.” His friend inquired how much the Olsen’s rent was. When he stated that his rent was only $197 a month, the friend told him that it would never get any easier to focus on art. Realizing they’d never have rent that low again Greg and Sydnie made a life-changing decision. “He kind of got us psyched up, and I quit my job and just started painting. We’d saved enough to live for maybe a couple of months without income.”

    This friend’s father was a wealthy doctor, who also wanted to encourage Olsen’s art. He offered to host an art show for him. “I painted like crazy, and I framed up all my old college art assignments,” Olsen said. “They got all their friends and neighbors, you know, ‘please show up for this poor kid. You don’t have to buy anything, just come and be a body here!’ And it was a really nice show.” Olsen recalled that they printed up some nice invitations and had refreshments catered. “We sold enough to pay for those nice refreshments and nice invitations, and that was it,” he laughed. “I probably had 40 or 50 things, but they were weird things, like school assignments. Not something most people would want to put above their sofa in their house! It was a depressing week after that show. I thought, ‘What have I done? I’ve quit my job!’”

    But, unbeknownst to Olsen, the wheels were already turning. A week or so later, he received a call from someone who had seen his work at the art show. The man offered him a commission. Olsen took it on, and that sent him down a new path for the next decade. He did commissions and all sorts of paintings. He moved to Arizona for five years and spent some time painting western art. Eventually, he partnered with a publisher and began doing prints. “That helped because our income wasn’t dependent upon just selling every original that I painted,” explained Olsen.

    One of his biggest motivations to get through the first part of his career was the fact that there was absolutely no backup plan. He told of a time when nothing was selling, and his house was nearing foreclosure. He considered getting a “real job.” He and his wife went to the grocery store to buy a newspaper, and they looked through the want ads. “After about half an hour doing that, we realized I wasn’t qualified to do anything! So, Syd said, ‘Well, get back in there and paint something that will sell.’
    Somehow it worked out, but, you know, those were scary times,” he recalled.

    He laughed; however when talking about his beginnings. “My first studio at home, after I was married, was the kitchen table. And then it progressed to the baby’s bedroom. I built a partition 7 feet high in the middle of the bedroom, and I painted a fairy tale scene on one side for the baby. The other side was a 4×8 foot cubicle that was my studio. And if I was working late hours at night, and the baby was asleep, I had a giant quilt that I’d put over the top so the light wouldn’t wake the baby. So, I was in this little fort, like I’d make as a kid. And that was my studio!”

    DIVINE OPPORTUNITIES

    In 1988, another influential moment transpired. The couple now had four children; the youngest was 6 months old. A friend, who had purchased some paintings, asked if Olsen could get a babysitter. He said he could, thinking the friend wanted to go to dinner. Instead, Olsen and his wife were invited to go to Israel with the other couple. “They wanted to take Sydnie and me with them, and they would pay for the whole thing,” said Olsen. “We couldn’t have afforded to go. My friend said, ‘I think you need to see that part of the world. It might influence your art,’” Olsen remembered. “Going over there really did have an influence on me.”

    While on the trip, Olsen climbed the Mount of Olives. This sparked the idea for one of his most popular paintings, ‘O Jerusalem.’ “I painted it in our windowless, unfinished basement in Provo. There were cobwebs and stuff, and I had little light bulbs hanging from the ceiling. And I was okay there,” he said. “But then I had a collector come to see some paintings. He was a big Amway rich guy from Alpine, and he had gold chains and rings and drove a huge Cadillac, and he wanted to see some work. So, I took him downstairs into this basement. The ceiling was low, and our oldest daughter had just been given a rabbit from her boyfriend . . .  and if you don’t change a rabbit cage every day . . . so there’s this rabbit hutch in our basement with this,” he laughed. “Anyway, I took him down to look at some paintings, and he asked how much one was, and he just looked around like ‘what do you do with the money, buddy, cause this is like a dungeon.’ He didn’t buy anything. He left, and afterward, Syd said, ‘Greg, maybe you need to think about looking a little more professional.’” After that, they built a studio behind the house in Provo.

    Although Olsen knew his galleries wouldn’t carry religious paintings, he painted them anyway. “It kind of took on a life of its own. I didn’t say, ‘I want to be a Christian artist,’ but it was just fascinating subject matter to me.”

    Olsen also continued to create Western art, in addition to paintings of families and children, based on his own life at the time.

    On a whim, his publisher selected one of Olsen’s Christian “inspirational pieces” to print – and it sold out. The publisher was thrilled and started a whole new division to produce Christian art! That first successful Christian painting set Olsen on a path to touch the lives of people around the globe. “I grew up with images of Jesus that were a little harsh, and that just wasn’t my concept. So, I was trying to do something that was a little more approachable, and maybe that resonated with some people,” Olsen explained. “I’ve used 10 or 12 different models as a starting point. You know, someone I can dress in a costume and pose and light a certain way. And then, I use my own thoughts and feelings, and creativity to morph that model into what I think of as a symbol of, in this case, Jesus. So, I don’t consider myself portraying him even accurately,” he continued. “I try to capture my feelings about that subject and hope that other people won’t get too caught up in the definiteness of my brush strokes. I hope it will just be a springboard. If they’re a Christian, they can still think of Him [Jesus] in their own personal way.”

    Olsen admitted that his spiritual subject matter can be a bit overwhelming at times. “It’s so daunting. How do you do justice to what people think of as a divine subject matter?” He told about a time he felt “paralyzed” from attempting to portray something that was so beyond the capabilities of his regular tools and supplies from the art store. “And then I had this real peaceful thought come to me one day, which was like, ‘Greg, just relax about it. Just have fun. Give it your best shot. You’re never going to create the perfect painting, so you might as well just have fun each day when you stand in front of that easel. And if you’re enjoying it, there will be somebody somewhere who might also enjoy it.’ And that was enough for me. And since then, I’ve tried to just enjoy what I do.”

    Fortunately, there are people everywhere who also enjoy his art. But Olsen doesn’t take credit for the emotions his paintings evoke. “In this genre, you get extremes. Some people are irate that you would try to portray Jesus, and it’s really gratifying if someone connects to it. But I’ve learned a long time ago to try not to take criticism too personally, or praise too personally,” he said. “My mom would like everything I did, and half the time she’d be wrong, you know, it just wasn’t that good. And then there are people who will never like what you do. I’ve had to separate myself a little bit from that.” Olsen continued, “We all like a pat on the back or to hear a nice story that something’s been helpful, and I really do appreciate those. But I think sometimes, especially with pieces with Jesus in them, people bring a lot more to the piece than I could actually put into it. In other words, it may just trigger a special experience in them that maybe has more to do with them, than the image they’re looking at. Because someone else can look at the same image, and it has a totally different effect.”

    He explained further. “Music, for example, kind of just sweeps you away and takes you wherever it wants you to go. I mean it’s so immediate. In painting, I’ve noticed, the person has to slow down. They kind of have to give something to the piece, their time, some mental energy, some thoughts, ponder it a little bit. And if people are willing to do that, then it often gives back in some way. Or it is a vehicle to have a unique experience. But I think that often says as much about the viewer as the artwork.”

    His personal favorite is a painting he created for himself of his wife, Sydnie. “It’s kind of a sentimental favorite because, as well as I knew her, I hadn’t ever spent days painting her and just looking at her. She posed for me live, and it was an intimate thing to just stare at her all day long, and we had nice conversations. Modeling’s hard, so she’s actually painted as though she’s asleep because she was asleep some of the time,” he laughed.

    ART AS LIFE

    Through the years the Olsen family has grown. They now have 6 children and 17 grandchildren. After raising their family in Provo, they wanted to find a new place to call home. While searching for their perfect place, Sydnie told Greg she’d ‘know it when she sees it’. It’s no surprise they chose the Heber Valley. They have lived here for several years now, and they love it. “We’ve just thoroughly enjoyed it here,” Olsen said. “Everyone’s been so nice. And the energy is different. If you drive up the canyon from Provo, which has become so busy, and you come out of the canyon, it’s like my blood pressure goes down. It’s just felt wonderful to be here.”

    Our valley’s unique environment has seeped into his artwork. “Moving into this studio has kind of changed my color palette because I have more light here than I’ve had before,” he explained. “In Provo, we were right up against the mountains, but so close that we didn’t see a sunrise for 30 years. We had trees, and I could never really see the sky. . . . Here it’s changed that. I’ve noticed my color palette has changed from kind of earthy, Rembrandt tones to brighter.”

    His innovative studio also includes one special feature that is a favorite of the grandkids. “When I was a little kid, we had big cottonwood trees, and we always had a rope swing in them,” he said. “When I was planning this studio, I knew it would have really high ceilings,” Olsen added a swing in the middle of the studio that stretches down from the over-25-foot-high ceiling. “We made the swing high enough to clear the furniture, and I put in this little step. And I do get in it occasionally. It just releases endorphins, ‘cause I just start grinning and feel goofy, like a kid. And I can look at my paintings, and it allows me to get close, and then far back.” He even has a little bucket swing he can swap in when the youngest grandkids visit.

    Olsen is appreciative of all those who have helped him to achieve success, especially his wife, Sydnie. “Syd has been wonderful!” he said. “If I would be down, she would be up, and we helped each other. We’ve had lots of people be very helpful and generous, and collectors have been so supportive. I still pinch myself; because nobody needs art like they need food or anything like that, so I kind of marvel that they’ll spend their hard-earned dollars to help my family.”

    When asked if he has any advice for young artists, Olsen said, “I think I’ve had the most enjoyment just kind of following my heart, doing what I like to do. So, if someone has artistic interests, pick a subject matter you enjoy that’s fulfilling for you. Try to learn your craft as best you can, but then just do it,” he encouraged. “I mean, I was not always great at art. The first grade I got in my high school art class was a C minus. And I was all depressed about that, but I just stuck with it and just always believed that if I worked hard, that some good things might happen. So, practice, practice, practice. Get sketchbooks and fill them up and find some heroes in the artistic field . . . and practice emulating them.”

    So where does he go from here? Greg Olsen has already achieved the kind of accomplishments that most artists only dream about. “I spent one summer,” he said, “where I’d get up early and start working on something, and I’d say at the end of the day I’m going to sign my name, and it’s done. And I did a whole series of pieces like that, and I had a blast that summer. I’m thinking now I might like to try something just for fun again.”

  • Community Reinvestment Agency

    Community Reinvestment Agency

    A city is most often defined by its Main Street. It’s the calling card. Most likely, anyone driving through Heber City will see Main Street. So, what sort of impression does Heber’s Main Street give? Quaint? Peaceful? Industrial? Busy? Is it a gathering place? Or is it a place people want to get through quickly? Many community members and leaders would love to create a more memorable Main Street. Heber is an amazing place, with a rich and interesting history. The people here are welcoming and thoughtful. The location is downright stunning. It’s obvious that word has gotten out. But is Heber City’s Main Street drowning in the influx of traffic and growth and even just years passing by? Is it too late to save Main Street? Many don’t think so.

    Heber’s Main Street still has a lot going for it. There are historic buildings, beautiful pieces of art, flower boxes, an amazing city hall, a city park, and so much more. Most importantly, there is a community surrounding it that cares. According to their website, The Community Alliance for Main Street was created “to restore and improve our beloved historic Main Street for our current residents and future generations.” Chairperson Tom Stone believes, “Main Street is the heartbeat. It’s the first impression. Today? It’s not what we want it to be. But it’s happening. Things are moving forward. People are noticing. Why is it going forward now? Because people see the potential. People want to be a part of it.”

    But where does the money to help Main Street come from? Main Street improvements cannot come to fruition without a method of funding. There is a way. Communities nationwide have used a funding mechanism called a Community Reinvestment Agency, or CRA. CRA’s are not unusual. They have already been utilized in multiple Utah cities including Moab, Ogden, Eagle Mountain, Salt Lake City, Sandy, and many more. It is a proven viable economic tool, especially useful for older downtowns needing a little reinvestment.

    FUNDING REVITALIZATION

    In Utah, the Neighborhood Development Act was originally created in 1969 to address concerns of urban infrastructure decline. Since that time, the law has continued to evolve into Utah’s current Title 17C, the Community Reinvestment Agency Act. The Act allows a municipality or county to create an Agency, which is a separate legal entity. This agency enters into agreements with other taxing entities, such as the school district or the County. They all agree that any property taxes arising from new development or improvements within the redevelopment area will be reinvested back into the same area. However, before this can happen, a base year value is established, based on the current taxes. In this way, the partner entities will continue to receive the original taxable base value throughout the project. The funding for reinvestment only comes from any increase in tax value. As the money is reinvested; that area increases in value. The reinvestment continues for a predetermined amount of time.

    Chamber of Commerce Director, Dallin Koecher, explained, “It is not taxpayer-funded, in the sense that it’s not even a new tax. It’s not even a new assessment. It’s just that, as the value of those properties increases, we’re going to take that increased value and reinvest.”

    According to Heber City Mayor Kelleen Potter, “One of the greatest things about a CRA is we do not have to put in any more tax dollars. It’s not going to cost [the public] one more dollar. But we’re going to have better developments and better opportunities come into the city because of the CRA.”

    “The CRA is a win-win for the City, the County, and the school district,” explained Heber City Manager Matt Brower. “Not only does the CRA allow us to reinvest in the downtown, but it also allows the school district to continue generating new tax dollars. And, by the way, when the CRA goes away in about 20 years, [the school district] will be the beneficiary of all the new tax increment that was gained during the life of that CRA.”

    AN INFUSION OF LIFE

    A recent Heber City newsletter stated, “Heber City is preparing a plan to facilitate preservation and redevelopment efforts in the downtown area and the area along 6th West, from Midway Lane to the Heber Creeper.”  Using the award-winning Envision Heber 2050 plan as a guide, the CRA would provide funds to achieve the community ideal. “The Envision Heber 2050 plan is amazing because it entails 18 months of intensive public input,” said Brower. “The plan really encapsulates what the public wanted for the future [of Heber City].” Brower continued, “Without the CRA, the downtown will continue to age and will continue to become blighted. We need to re-energize the downtown to fulfill its best days yet. To do that, we want to utilize the CRA, because the CRA is going to allow us to reinvest in the downtown.”

    Preserving the history and future of Heber City Main Street is dependent on funding. Mayor Potter described the issues at stake. “When I go to conferences or meet people and I tell them that I’m the mayor of Heber, so many people say, ‘It’s such a cute little town. It’s so quaint, and the Main Street is so charming.’ There are just some buildings that are getting old and need a little touch up, and sometimes for our business owners, the margins are really tight.” She continued, “Hopefully, with the CRA, we can help these businesses who have sacrificed and made our community what it is, but don’t have the money to redo a building or redo a facade on the front of a building. We’re really hoping to maintain the feeling of our old Heber and create that look and feel that we all love. The CRA will be an opportunity for us to do that—to keep going with the parts that we love and help fund some of the things that maybe aren’t doable without it.”

    A CRA is a well-known and often-used tool that has played a key role in revitalizing older downtowns across the country. Heber City Main Street certainly has as much to offer, and opportunity is knocking.

  • Soldier Hollow Hosts Utah’s Annual Skijoring Competition

    Soldier Hollow Hosts Utah’s Annual Skijoring Competition

    Utah’s annual skijoring competition was held on Saturday at Soldier Hollow. Skijoring is an event where a skier or snowboarder is pulled by a horse and rider. The group races through a course including jumps, gates, and rings.

    Skijoring is not a new sport. Reindeer skijoring occurred in the Nordic Games of 1901, and it was used as transportation for hundreds of years before that. Skijoring behind horses made its way to North America in the early 1900’s.

    Brian Gardner and his friend, Joe Loveridge, had seen the sport in Colorado and decided to introduce it to Utah. According to Gardner’s nephew Gavan, “It’s popular out in Colorado where [Brian] used to work, so they kind of took things that they saw out in Colorado and brought a little bit of that back here.” In 2017, the first Utah Skijoring competition occurred in Midway. Its popularity has grown since then, and tickets available for this year’s event sold out in 24 hours!

    The Skijoring Utah website explains that it “combines Utah’s signature ski heritage with its cowboy roots, creating a wild, fast-paced, and spectacular event.” Aside from racing, the competition also includes a “big air contest,” where participants try to jump the farthest. Winners of the annual event receive belt buckles, cash, and other prizes.

    Park City locals James and Ed Clissold both participated as skiers. “I think competing is fun and the atmosphere here, just hanging out and having everybody here cheering everybody on. It doesn’t matter if it’s the 12-year-old or somebody cruising, it’s just fun to cheer them on,” said James. Ed added, “To combine my two favorite sports of horses and skiing is just an awesome way to spend the day.”

    Competitor Cub Keller, from Lehi, was participating with his three boys, including his 4-year-old. “It’s the outdoors, it’s cowboys, it’s skiing, it’s competition, it’s everything all packaged into one event,” he commented.

    A full list of 2021 winners, along with photos of the event, can be found at https://www.facebook.com/skijoringutah.

  • 5A State Swim Meet Held at Wasatch Aquatic Center

    5A State Swim Meet Held at Wasatch Aquatic Center

    The 5A State Swim Meet was held at the Wasatch Aquatic Center this weekend. The championship event was originally scheduled to occur at Brigham Young University. However, a few weeks ago, due to Covid concerns, BYU decided not to hold the meet at its pool this year. Wasatch stepped in, and the 5A meet was moved to Heber City. Since Wasatch is a 5A team, they were able to compete at home.

    Wasatch Aquatic Director Dennis Tesch believes it means a lot to the Heber Valley community to have the state championship here. “We built this pool to hold big swimming meets. We built it to be fast and to hold lots of teams. I think to the community it means that we love our sports, and we want the sports of Utah to come to the valley and have a great time.”

    Since the meet was moved last minute up the mountain, it could have caused issues with other coaches. However, according to Tesch, the 5A coaches “knew it’s a good pool. They knew we could host a meet.”

    The Wasatch Aquatic Center was built by the school district only a few years ago. It was created to replace the outdated high school pool, and an activity area for the public was included as well. “It’s a district pool, so of course district events like this are first,” explained Tesch, “and then we want to do youth sports, and it’s been great for the public use too.”

    Olympus High School won first place in both the boy and girl swim meets. Wasatch High School, however, did well, winning second and third in multiple individual races. Their highest ranking was Jayden Hicken’s second place finish in the 50 freestyle event.

    “They’re swimming very well,” said Tesch. “[Head coach Shawn Marsing] has been impressed with the swims. The team is placing high, and it’s been a good meet for them.”

    Though the public was unable to attend this year, the swim meet was broadcast online. The coaches are hoping for more public involvement next time. Tesch stated, “We hope to continue to do these, and we hope in the future the community can come and watch, instead of just watching through the tv. It would be a lot of fun.”

  • Heber City Announces Parking Ticket Forgiveness Initiative

    Heber City Announces Parking Ticket Forgiveness Initiative

    It’s tough work driving a snowplow. When everyone else is staying in, they are going out in the worst weather. The plows are there earlier than the commuters trying to keep the roads clear, even while it’s still snowing. And it’s almost impossible to clear the roads well when cars are parked along the street.

    That’s why it is against City Code to park on the street when plowing is necessary. But some are surprised about the regulations. In fact, Heber City police have given over 300 tickets in the past few weeks for parking on the street during and after snowstorms!

    Heber City has now announced a Parking Ticket Forgiveness Initiative. The Police Department is willing to forgive the citations from now through February 22nd at 5:00 p.m. Those with parking tickets can bring 5 non-perishable, non-expired food items to the Heber City police building, the Heber City Public Works building, or the Heber City Building. The food should be presented along with the parking ticket, and the parking citation will be forgiven. All food will be donated to local food banks.

    “You may bring more food items. You may bring food items if you don’t even have a ticket,” said Mayor Potter in her weekly Facebook message. She also reminded everyone to “drive safe, and don’t park on the streets during the snow.”

    For future reference, the Heber City Municipal Code reads, “Beginning November 15th of each year and terminating April 1st, it is unlawful to park or leave parked any vehicle upon the City’s paved portion of the street or within five feet thereof under the following circumstances:

    1. When there is any amount of snow on the street;
    2. When it is actually snowing or within twenty-four hours thereafter; or
    3. The street has not been plowed since the snow fell.”

    Any vehicle that is parked in violation of this rule may be impounded. (10.16.040)

    In addition, in section 10.16.070, Heber City prohibits many other types of parking on public streets at all times. These include trailers, boats, farm equipment, construction vehicles, dumpsters, off-highway vehicles, campers, etc.

  • Free Ice Sculptures Exhibition Held in Midway

    Free Ice Sculptures Exhibition Held in Midway

    Heber Valley Artisan Cheese held their 2nd annual Ice Sculptures Exhibition this weekend. Several local businesses sponsored the sculptures being displayed. There were also two different ice carving demonstrations. The event was free to the public.

    The annual event began last year when Carolee Kohler saw ice sculpting on a Hallmark movie and thought it would be a fun idea for their farm. They are also considering a woodcarving event.

    According to Lindsey Strother, social media and events coordinator, each sculpture takes between 1-3 hours to carve. “We contacted Amazing Ice Creations back in November, and we reached out to local companies to sponsor the ice sculptures,” she said. “Yesterday morning around 9 am, they came in a massive truck and dropped them all off for us, and we set them up.”

    Along with the ice sculptures, sponsors receive a sign and canopy for the display and social media marketing. The sponsors decide what they want to have sculpted. After the event, they can take the ice sculptures and display them at their businesses. The creations normally last a couple of weeks. Some will be left in the field and can be viewed throughout the week.

    The ice this year included Olaf, company logos, animals, and other items. Darron Kingston, the sculptor, has carved ice for over 10 years with his dad. According to Kingston, “I like sculptures that give me a challenge. Here, for example, my favorite was the lumberjack.” One of his favorite past creations was a 9-foot bear.

    Grant Kohler, owner of Heber Valley Artisan Cheese, explained, “We decided to do something that was free and something that people could just get out and come and enjoy. Especially this year with Covid, it seems like Januarys are slow months. People are looking for things to be able to get outside and do.” He continued, “Businesses pay in and buy the sculptures, we have them sculpted, and then we just let people come and enjoy them.” Kohler estimated around 3,000 to 4,000 people will stop by the event.

    The dairy farm also offers cheese-making classes and tours of their new robotic barn. “The tours are everyday except Sunday,” according to Kohler. “People hayride over, intermingle with the cows, see the barn and amenities, and watch the cows be milked. The cows will literally go get milked on their own.” Tickets for the tours and other events are available on the Heber Valley Artisan Cheese website: https://hebervalleyartisancheese.com/.

  • Free Rapid Covid-19 Tests offered in Heber

    Free Rapid Covid-19 Tests offered in Heber

    TestUtah will be providing free Covid-19 Rapid Antigen tests in Heber City. The drive-through tests will be available on January 11 from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm and January 12 from noon to 7:00 pm. The testing center is located at the Wasatch County Events Center. The Antigen tests can be completely processed in only 15-20 minutes.

    These tests will be provided free to anyone, regardless of symptoms or insurance. Anyone interested in participating in the free testing should go online to www.testutah.com. Participants are asked a short series of questions regarding possible symptoms and exposure. They will then be able to register for a test.

    The TestUtah initiative is sponsored through Silicon Slopes, in partnership with the State of Utah and private corporations. The goal of the initiative is to “dramatically increase the rate of COVID-19 testing” by providing free tests to all Utahns. All testing and equipment is provided by the State of Utah. However, many of the staff members are working as volunteers. In addition to Silicon Slopes, several other companies have also contributed, including Qualtrics, Domo, and ATL Technology.

    Wasatch County School District is encouraging members of the community to take advantage of the free testing. A recent post on the District’s Facebook page read, “As we wind down from the holiday break, we hope this free testing opportunity will help quickly identify new cases and prevent the spread of COVID-19 in our schools.” Free testing is always available to students at a site on the West Campus near Wasatch High School.

    According to TestUtah, “Widespread testing is a proven, effective way to combat the spread of COVID-19.” Testing across Utah enables greater tracking and containment of the virus. This will “help stem the spread of COVID-19, to get us back to normal as quickly as possible.”

  • 10 Reasons to Love 2020!

    10 Reasons to Love 2020!

    Goodbye 2020. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out!

    We have been barraged with negativity about the year 2020. True, there were some bad things that happened this year. Okay, a lot of bad things. However, there’s always another side to the story.

    10 reasons to love 2020:

    1. The kids got more sleep.

    Really, sleep has so many health benefits. So, when the kids all came home from school permanently in March, definitely a shocker, they were probably completely sleep deprived from years of waking up at unearthly hours to catch the bus or make it to school before the tardy bell. So, thank goodness they could finally sleep in, day after day, week after week, and get caught up!

    2. The adults got to work from home.

    We all had SO MUCH extra family time in 2020. Everybody was able to spend 24/7 with his or her significant other and children. We had breakfast, lunch, and dinner together. Mornings, afternoons, and evenings together. Wasn’t that fun?

    3. The environment received a much-needed break.

    Were there really dolphins in the canals of Venice? It was on Facebook anyway.

    4. We had a mini, preparatory earthquake.

    All those years of trying to get people to take the big one seriously finally paid off. And we switched out the size 2T clothes we had in our 8-year-old’s 72-hour kit. And got new granola bars.

    5. The government handed out free money.

    We don’t know where it’s coming from, but hey, free money! Who knew the government could just print whatever money they want? Maybe we should just print our way out of the national debt too. So many possibilities here!

    6. The presidential election is over.

    Or is it? Just kidding. Whether your first choice won or not, I think we can all agree that at least, for the most part, hopefully, it’s over, and we don’t have to watch any more debates.

    7. We had a preview of what things will go first in emergencies.

    I, for one, am buying an extra package of toilet paper every time we go to Costco from here on out. And water bottles. And maybe some yeast and flour in case there is no food, and I need to learn how to make bread. And whatever they make Oreo cookies from. Let’s stock up on that too. And maybe plant a cacao tree.

    8. We realized other counties are jealous of Wasatch.

    Remember when the Governor said Utahns could only recreate in their own counties? That was awesome! Could we make that an annual thing?

    9. The shelters ran out of dogs!

    Awwww…So many pets found new homes. And they were taken on walks all the time. And their owners got more exercise too.

    10. ESPN showed the Cornhole Championship, old spelling bees, and the NBA players in a super-competitive game of HORSE.

    Ha. That was super entertaining. I’ve never seen a huge, billion-dollar, maybe trillion-dollar, network scramble more. I can only imagine what the network meetings were like. “Ummm…We could have the NBA players compete in a game of HORSE.” Silence. The president of ESPN starts to cry.

    Bonus: We learned to be more resilient and thankful.

    Seriously, we all received a much-needed course in resilience. And we realized how many things we’ve been taking for granted. The Covid pandemic knocked us off our feet. Will we come back stronger and more prepared?

    We badmouth 2020 like it was the worst thing ever. Covid has been devastating for communities and families. We have lost almost 2 million people worldwide. It’s unquestionably a tragedy.

    However, the Spanish Flu, the one that our pandemic is sometimes compared to, happened at the same time as World War 1. Can you imagine how difficult that would be? It’s estimated that 20 million to 50 million people died worldwide from that flu, in addition to the 16 million who died in the war. Some estimates have Spanish flu deaths as high as 100 million because of difficulties in record keeping. Could we have handled that?

    2020 brought with it plenty of trials, but also amazing advances in science and worldwide cooperation to stem the tide of this most-recent pandemic. 2020 was amazing in so many ways. Plus, now we have bragging rights to talk forever more about how we handled the pandemic of 2020, how it affected our lives, and how it made us stronger, more creative and innovative, and better able to handle challenges in the future. We’ve got this! Bring it on 2021!

    Kidding. We don’t actually want 2021 to bring on anything. But if it does, I have lots of Costco toilet paper in the garage.

  • Fireworks to Celebrate Utah on January 4th!

    Fireworks to Celebrate Utah on January 4th!

    Wasatch County and the State of Utah will celebrate together on Monday, January 4th. The event, Thrive 125, commemorates the 125th anniversary of Utah’s statehood.

    The festivities include a televised event called “Thrive125: A Utah Celebration.” The 30-minute special will play on all of Utah’s network affiliates at 6:30 p.m. on the evening of the 4th. There will also be a repeat showing on PBS Utah at 8:30 p.m. that night. The show will feature performances from notable Utahns and celebrities. There will be music and dance, along with a celebration of the state’s “artistic heritage, cultural diversity, and scenic wonders,” according to the website.

    Following the original broadcast, at 7:30 p.m., fireworks will fill the sky in all 29 counties of Utah. Wasatch County’s fireworks will originate from the top of Memorial Hill in Midway.

    In a video message, Heber City Mayor Kelleen Potter said, “We want everyone to watch them, but to just be socially distanced from wherever you are.” The Thrive 125 website states, “It is important that this celebration is COVID safe. People are encouraged to watch from a distance, in their cars, and in their front and back yards. The fireworks will be an exclamation point on a day of celebrations and in most counties will last 3-4 minutes.”

    Utah became a state on January 4, 1896. State leaders applied for statehood seven times before receiving approval. The complicated process lasted 48 years. Utah finally became the 45th state to join the United States of America.

    The Utah Department of Heritage & Arts created the Thrive 125 initiative, with support from Utah’s Governor and Legislature. More information about the event and Utah’s road to statehood is available on the Thrive 125 website: https://thrive125.utah.gov/january4th-event/. The site also includes a 12-minute historical video and additional resources for educators.

  • Nutcracker Tea Raises Money for Children’s Justice Center

    Nutcracker Tea Raises Money for Children’s Justice Center

    The Wasatch Dance Center Foundation’s Nutcracker Tea was held December 3–5 as a fundraiser for the Children’s Justice Center (CJC). The foundation normally puts on several benefit performances of the Nutcracker each December. They brought in $14,500 for the CJC in 2019. This year, the full-length show was unable to be performed because of Covid-19 restrictions.

    Instead, the Nutcracker Tea became a bigger, more involved production, with Zermatt Resort donating their Bernese Event Center. The group performed a 35-minute Nutcracker ballet with narration. The Nutcracker Tea also included sweets and a fun Christmas atmosphere for the four performances. Approximately 800 people attended.

    Accommodations were made at the event to protect against Covid-19. Tables were spaced apart, and patrons were able to purchase seating for an entire table to keep familiar groups together.

    Several sponsors participated in staging the event, including Lee’s, Kneaders, Suss Cookies, and Spin Café, along with many others. “We’re so grateful for the sponsors to be able to make it happen like it did,” said parent volunteer Corine Cook. “The community came through for us and helped us make it pretty awesome. This year’s event raised even more money than usual for the Wasatch County CJC.

    The Children’s Justice Center is a child-friendly interviewing facility set aside for abused or otherwise mistreated children. Interviews are recorded and given to law enforcement and child protection workers. Referrals are made for follow-up services. Aid is also considered for those in need of aftercare services.

    According to Kenna Jones, Director of the Wasatch County CJC, “It’s just a team effort to help the kids through that process. . . . It’s a one-time thing, where everyone comes to the child, instead of the child going a whole bunch of places to relive the trauma.” Last year, the CJC interviewed about 100 children. Currently this year, about 160 cases have already been processed through the Wasatch County center.

    The Children’s Justice Center cancelled their popular gingerbread fundraiser this year. However, in addition to the Nutcracker Tea donations, the center also received a grant from the Heber City CARES funds to help with operating costs for this year.

  • Heber Valley Tree Lightings are Set to Kick Off the Holidays this Weekend

    Heber Valley Tree Lightings are Set to Kick Off the Holidays this Weekend

    It’s been a long year for everyone, but the 2020 Christmas Season has finally arrived. Midway City and Heber City have both announced their tree lighting ceremonies. All are invited to attend.

    Midway City’s tree lighting event is on Saturday, December 5th. It is held annually at the Midway Town Square. There will be ice skating all day, beginning at noon. Patrons can skate for $5.00 by bringing a donation of 2 cans of food for the local food bank. Children 5 and under are free with a paying adult, according to the ice rink website. Food trucks open at 6:00 p.m. for those wanting to purchase a meal. Peanut and candy bags will be distributed from the gazebo at the event. At 6:30 p.m., the tree lighting and fireworks will begin.

    The Heber City Tree Lighting Event and Old-Fashioned Christmas Celebration is scheduled the day before, on Friday, December 4th. It is a free event and will include Christmas music, food trucks, caroling, a special guest, and the tree lighting. All activities begin at 6:00 p.m., and the tree lighting occurs at 6:15 p.m. It is held annually at the Heber Bank block and around the City Building.

    “The tree lighting is a magical setting that brings our families and communities together. It has become a family tradition for us to kick off the holiday season,” said Heber Valley resident, Steve Anderson. “Throughout December, we have this magnificent icon that I love seeing as I drive into the valley at night. It really sets the mood for a Heber Valley Christmas.”

    Both city events are held outside, and warm dress is strongly encouraged, as the weather is expected to have highs in the 40’s and lows in the teens. Masks are also requested.

  • Serendipity

    Serendipity

    There is something magical about the Heber Valley. It draws people. Visitors, unintentionally searching, find their way here and stay. They become a part of what makes this community so distinctive.

    Angelo Querciali and Carolina De Martino, owners of the Northland store on heber city’s Main Street, were settled in Patagonia, Argentina, a region at the southernmost tip of South America. Now, through their own amazing and unique path, they also have become part of the story of Heber Valley.

    Retail and Relationship Beginnings

    Growing up in Carolina’s family, outdoor retail was life. Carolina’s mother owned an outdoor retail store, and her father had his own brand. Her mother suggested a good friend and client who lived in Tierra de Fuego to help grow the brand. Carolina tried to make an appointment with the business owner. When she finally arranged the appointment, Angelo didn’t even show up! Instead, he sent his brother. Carolina was frustrated and called Angelo again to arrange a meeting. He didn’t want to meet, and she recalled telling him, “Tell me when, because I have the ticket in my hand.” Finally, they met and then started dating soon after. Just six months into their relationship, Carolina got a job in Angelo’s factory and moved to his city. After a year, they were married.

    They had a nice life in Argentina. “We had a lot of things we don’t have here — like our farm. Every weekend we went to the farm. We have a house there, horses, ATV’s, everything to play around with,” said Angelo. The couple was growing a very successful business together, with 15 locations in Argentina, another in Chile, and several franchises.

    Wandering Home

    “Because we had the business, we started coming for the outdoor retail show that used to be in Salt Lake City for the last 12 years. And every time we came up here for work, we took a few weeks to drive all over the Northwest.”

    “We flew to Seattle,” said Angelo, “and then we drove down here, and, honestly, we stopped in Park City by accident for lunch. We started walking . . . and I was telling my wife, ‘This looks like the land where I lived when I was a kid’ . . . We felt so comfortable.”

    They were a day ahead of schedule, so they spent the night in Park City. The next night, they had a hotel reservation in Salt Lake. But they didn’t want to leave. So, they called the Salt Lake hotel, canceled the reservation, and then drove to the convention from Park City each day.

    The couple began traveling to Utah every summer and winter for different retailer shows. “We loved Park City,” said Angelo, “so we started staying there for months every time we came. One day, we came [to Wasatch County] through the mountains and ended up in Midway.”

    While driving around Midway, they came across an open house. “We stopped to look at the house, you know, we were just curious,” said Angelo, “and then we just started looking for houses. In two weeks, we bought the one across the street!”

    “We fell in love with Midway. We bought the house seven years ago,” Carolina added.

    The Midway house served as their vacation home. But each time they came back, their children would beg them to extend the trip. Angelo was regularly rescheduling the airplane tickets to allow for more time here. “We tried to go home [to Argentina] but would end up extending the tickets,” explained Angelo. “Every time we changed the tickets, it was harder to go back. Nobody wanted to go back.” The family decided to move to their Midway vacation home, so they put their papers into the Embassy.

    Expanding the Operations

    While they were waiting, they participated in a show with Northland, which was their leading brand. They mentioned their upcoming move to the owner, and he was excited to have them represent the brand in the U.S. The Northland store in Heber City is now the only location for Northland products in the United States.

    Carolina and Angelo have known the family behind the Northland brand for a long time. “They are owned by a father, son, and daughter,” said Angelo. “They play around in the Alps in Austria all the time . . . It’s a unique brand, very European, with extremely good prices and quality. The prices are really affordable.”

    “Northland is a super complete brand because, on the one hand, they offer very technical apparel for high-performance mountaineering [and other sports]. They also have fashion outdoor apparel for every day,” Carolina explained. “Northland has all these beautiful things that transition super well.”

    They planned to open a small showroom in Midway to start a national distribution for Northland. But then they began considering opening a retail shop. They looked in Heber, but they couldn’t find a store they liked. They eventually found a location in Park City at Redstone. “We had all the papers ready,” recalled Angelo. “Our architect had already done all the plans for the store.”

    Persistent Providence

    A year before, Carolina had found a house on Heber City’s Main Street that she wanted to rent. But it wasn’t available. “It might happen,” she’d said hopefully. Right before signing the Redstone contract, Angelo was driving down Heber’s Main Street and noticed a man putting a sign on the house to announce its availability. Angelo chased the man as he drove off. When he caught up to him, he told him to take the sign off because they wanted the house. “The next day, I called the [Park City] guy and said, ‘You know what? Let’s cancel.”

    Angelo explained the decision. “This is the place we like. This is the kind of life we wanted when we moved here. I think we’re a very lucky couple because sometimes you move because you have to leave your country or because you need to move for a job. You cannot really pick the place. I think we’re very lucky we have the chance to really pick out the place we want to be, and not because we have to.”

    Angelo, Carolina, and their kids are enjoying their new life in the Heber Valley. “We feel super comfortable,” said Carolina. “We love the people, and they are super nice. There are also a lot of options in this valley to have fun, like mountains, lakes . . . we really love it.”

    “We’ve been here for a year already, and we have friends and people that have always helped us from day one,” said Angelo.

    Growing the Community

    Being a part of the community is important to them. One of their main goals is to help develop Main Street in Heber. “I think our main challenge is to try to change the minds of the people to know that they can shop local now. They are not used to it,” said Carolina. “In the next month, I know more stores are coming, and we all have to see what we can do to remind the people [to shop local]. Of course, you can always buy Amazon, but at least give us a chance first.”

    They are excited about the direction Main Street is taking. “If everyone contributes to that goal that the Mayor and the people in the city government are working towards, it will be great. It’s going to be an amazing Main Street,” said Angelo. “I think they have a great plan, and we want to be a part of it.” Carolina agreed. “We really feel part of the community. We are very into taking care of the valley.”

    Although the Heber Northland store is up and running, the couple’s 15 stores in Argentina, and additional stores in Chile are still open. They have 120 employees there, and over 50% have been with the company for at least 20 years. “We are a family business,” said Angelo. “We take care of our employees and our customers very well.” Angelo spends 7-12 hours a day keeping everything running smoothly in Argentina, while Carolina runs the store here. Although he used to alternate spending two weeks here and two weeks there, COVID required that he learn to run the business remotely, for which he is thankful. He enjoys spending much more time now with his wife and children. His future plan is to visit only four times a year and keep the house in Argentina for holidays.

    Quality Offerings

    Whether here or in South America, Angelo and Carolina want their business to be about quality. “It’s going to be quality, and it’s going to be affordable for the quality,” explained Angelo. “We try to give the best price we can.” And after 35 years in the outdoor industry, they know what they are talking about.

    “One difference between other companies and us is that we spend our lives at the stores. We’re proud of what we do. We’re very picky, and we have good, close relationships with the brands. Everything we get, we buy it ourselves,” said Angelo.

    Some of the other brands sold at the Northland store include Birkenstock, Roxy, Quiksilver, 686, and Dare2B Skiwear. They also offer smaller, unique brands, such as Dakota Grizzly, Vela, and Sherpani. Overall, the store mostly sells outdoor apparel, with lots of casual fashion. They like products that can be worn in multiple environments. “This valley is very open to that. You can go to a super high-end restaurant, and you’re still a little outdoorsy,” said Carolina.

    Store manager Thom Chamberlain, who decided to sell his house and move to the valley after a 3-day vacation here, explained that the Heber store focuses on an “active outdoor lifestyle — not only just full activity — but also après fashion. So, after you get done with hiking, skiing, biking, you can still wear our clothing for the bar or club or whatever.”

    Angelo and Carolina are pleased with their brands and their store. They are excited to bring these products to the people in Utah and, eventually, distribute them all across the U.S. But they plan to stay here. Even with all their worldwide travels, they feel very thankful to be here in the Heber Valley. As Angelo put it, “It’s an amazing place to live. There are not too many places like this in the world. Believe me. We’ve been everywhere.”

  • Taste The World At Global Grill

    Taste The World At Global Grill

    In a time when people are traveling less, the Heber Valley has a new little gem providing a huge variety of worldwide flavors. Global Grill is just that — a global food experience unmatched in the area. Their slogan “Come Taste the World” says it all.

    The unique menu is listed by the type of food, but also by origin. Patrons can order a bowl from Japan, India, Indonesia, or Cuba. Pasta dishes are available from Italy, Argentina, Thailand, and Mexico. Burritos are listed from four different areas of Mexico: Cancun, Zacatecas, Michoacán, and Sonora. Burgers celebrate ingredients from Korea, America, Mexico, and Persia. And there is a variety of multicultural kids’ meals and desserts too. There are even daily specials to add a little more flavor, from Polynesia, Greece, and the Gulf Coast!

    Owners, Rick and Elizabeth Moreno created the concept, and the menu, specifically for the Heber Valley. They looked at what was already available in the area, and they decided to create something entirely different. “I created the menu this way because I can see people two to three times a week,” explained Rick Moreno. “Today, you may want an authentic Mexican burrito, but tomorrow you may want Indian food.” The same idea applies to an office lunch setting. “They come in, and they can get a burger, and they can get pasta, and everyone’s happy,” said Moreno.

    The Moreno’s are well-versed in the restaurant business. “I’m a chef,” said Rick. “My background is in restaurant executive management. My family has had restaurants since 1951 back in California.” Moreno also worked for large companies, such as Hilton Corporation, to gain even more experience. He also created restaurants, menus, and bars for casinos in Montana before moving here.

    Elizabeth has been working in restaurants since 1999. She was a sous-chef at the former Mayan restaurant in Sandy. In fact, that’s where they met. Rick was creating recipes and consulting for the massive, cliff-diver restaurant.

    “[The Mayan] could seat a thousand people, and had three levels of kitchens,” Rick recalled.

    One night, Elizabeth was the kitchen supervisor over multiple cook lines. The restaurant was so big that they had eight cooks for each line, so 24 cooks total. The servers were complaining that the food service was getting slow. Finally, Elizabeth went to the cook line, moved all the cooks out, and started preparing the food by herself. Rick shared, “The servers were saying, ‘tell her to slow down. We can’t keep up with her!’”

    “They needed their food right away, so that was my mission,” laughed Elizabeth. Originally from Sonora, Mexico, Elizabeth learned from Rick’s mother, who ran a restaurant in California, and shared her recipes with Elizabeth. She has also worked for Chevy’s and Café Rio.

    The couple lived in Utah during the 2002 Olympics, and during that time, Rick created the restaurant Guru’s Cafe with two partners in Salt Lake. They eventually had four locations. His original recipes were used at the restaurants. The Food Network even did a show on Guru’s, where they showcased one of Rick’s recipes.

    Recently, the Moreno Family was living in Montana until they unexpectedly relocated to the Heber Valley last year. They had planned to move to Texas, moved their RV there, and then went back to Montana to pack. The couple’s older daughter was already living in the Heber Valley, and they decided to stop for a visit on the drive back to Texas. While visiting here, the Moreno’s found their current restaurant location and decided to stay. They created the Global Grill, opened in December 2019, and then the COVID pandemic hit. While it has slowed down the business, Global Grill is going strong. The food is full of variety and flavor, and the portion sizes are huge. Rick explained, “I did [large portion sizes] purposely because I wanted to make sure that,  everyone’s getting the value for their money. And most people take part of it home.”

    He continued, “We also have family meals. People can call us every day and ask for an Indian family meal, burrito, or whatever. We have two sizes; small is for four to six people, and large will feed ten to twelve.”

    “Just like our portions for our bowls,” Rick said, “We made sure that our family meals are huge.” Value for the money is a priority for the Morenos. “I hate to go somewhere and get a little disappointed with the food portions.”

    It’s not only the portion sizes that keep bringing people back. The food is all made fresh, in-house. And many of the recipes can be modified for those with dietary concerns. 90% of the menu can be served gluten-free, and 50% can be made vegan. They will also have alcohol available soon.

    The food variety found at the Global Grill is unmatched. “Besides our core menu, we feature other countries as specials,” Rick explained. “We do Russia one day, and we do stroganoff, and then we do Swedish meatballs. On Saturdays, we do Polynesian. Every Tuesday is Taco Salad, and Thursdays is the Greek Gyro Platter…Fridays is the Captain’s Platter.” said Rick.

    In addition to the meals, the Global Grill has two core desserts; tiramisu and tres leches cake. However, they also have other desserts available, such as chocolate tres leches, cheesecake, carrot cake, and tropical bread pudding. “The main ones are always tres leches and tiramisu, but I change sometimes,” explains Elizabeth. One day, Rick suggested that Elizabeth offer to make whole cakes, and “now she makes so many of those cakes!” said Rick. “It’s like a bakery too!”

    The Global Grill also does catering, but not just this menu. “Because of my background in large casinos, I can do anything. Literally, we can do carving stations or whatever. We can do any country and anything that they want,” Rick explained. “I’ve catered from 15 people to 1000 people.”

    The Global Grill fills a niche that the Heber Valley has been missing. And the Morenos are confident that the concept would be a success in other places too. They are preparing to create additional locations for the unique restaurant. Rick shared, “Right now, we’re ready to license them. If someone wanted to do one in Park City, or somewhere else, they could.”

    “We’re still trying to do that uphill climb because of COVID, but we see the light at the end of the tunnel,” said Rick. “We are very thankful for the support they’ve given us here in Heber. Everyone’s responded really well to the food, and the locals here have been good to us. They keep coming in and supporting us, and we want to say thank you. We appreciate that. Especially being the new guys.”

  • A Different Look at Healing

    A Different Look at Healing

    A community is a place for people with common interests. Being a part of a community can give validation and support to its members. The Sacred Nature Apothecary is striving to create its own community in the Wasatch Back. This group centers around a search for wellness and an interest in alternative medicines, such as cannabidiol (CBD). For Elena Yanez, the owner of the apothecary, this new community is a way to help others find relief.

    The shop held its grand opening in September of 2020. It takes the place of a previous CBD store, but Yanez plans to create much more than just a store. “I hope that we can create a community around hemp and CBD, and people can really get relief and joy from the products that they’re using.”

    Yanez has plenty of other things on her plate too. Aside from opening the store, she works in mortgages and refinances, she also runs a down payment assistance fund. She grew up with parents who were real estate investors. When her stepdad joined her family, she learned a lot about the retail business. Yanez followed in the family footsteps with real estate and retail. Then, about 15 years ago, her parents got into the dispensary business in Northern California, and she started learning more about alternative medicines, especially hemp.

    Although some might believe hemp is the same as the marijuana plant, Yanez explained that there are two different plants, although they are cousins. THC is what can induce psychotropic or euphoric effects. While THC is high in marijuana, the hemp plant has only a .03 THC level, which is much lower. In fact, hemp is not known to cause the negative effects of its cousin plant. Yanez explained, “There are no negative side effects with CBD. You’re just totally clear. There’s not that cloud that you can sometimes get with other things, like you could with another pain medication even.”

    Members of Elena’s family run the first hemp lab licensed in Utah, so it was a natural discussion for Yanez and other family members to talk about the possibility of creating a business around CBD when the hemp bill was passed in Utah in 2018.  Elena has always wanted to live in the Heber Valley. She has a lot of family here in Heber, her son was born in Wasatch County, so having her business here was a perfect fit.

    Although she spent most of her childhood living in Sugarhouse, in the Salt Lake area, Yanez moved to Northern California during the summer before her 9th grade year. “Most people, you’d think, would really feel connected with where they went to high school. No, I’ve always tried to get back here,” explained Yanez. “So, the minute I could, I did. Right out of college, I moved back here with a friend on a whim. No matter where I go, I always want to be back here.”

    That’s one reason she chose the name “Sacred Nature Apothecary.” According to Yanez, “That’s how we feel when we come to Heber . . . I remember the first time I drove into Heber. I remember thinking, ‘Oh my gosh. I feel like I’m driving into the commercials from the Hidden Valley Ranch [salad dressing]. It’s an amazingly beautiful place. There’s nowhere else really like it. Everyone is just so nice and connected. And I feel like there’s such a sense of community.”

    That’s her plan with the Sacred Nature Apothecary — to create a community within a community. “I feel like there are so many people out there that are in the same boat that suffer from anxiety or pain or something to do with their neurological system . . . It’s just kind of overwhelming for people to go through this and feel like they’re not being heard or that they have to jump through hoops for care,” she said. “What I really was focused on was creating a welcoming environment for people to come in and learn about products. Maybe they didn’t even know something like CBD would benefit them.” She even carries hemp products to help dogs with health issues.

    Many of her customers come in for pain management, looking for an alternative to prescription medication. “They don’t want to be on the prescription medicines anymore. They’re not working for them anymore, or they just don’t like how they make them feel.” According to Yanez, CBD products can help ease pain without the side effects found in many prescription medications.

    Yanez has so much confidence in the products she sells, that she guarantees everything. “If something doesn’t work for them, they can come in and find something that does,” she said.

    What Is CBD?

    Cannabidiol (CBD) is extracted from the hemp or cannabis plant. It does not produce intoxication.

    Is It Legal?

    House Bill 3001, also known as the Utah Medical Cannabis Act, was passed in 2018, and legalized CBD oil containing 0.3% THC or less.

    The Sacred Nature Apothecary focuses on local companies and products. Yanez explained that hemp is heavily regulated in Utah. “In Utah, everything has to be sent to a lab to get third-party tested, so everyone can see what exactly is in the product and how strong the CBD is. Sometimes, in other markets, there are products that are coming from overseas, and maybe it’s not fully regulated by the FDA or they don’t know what farms the plants are coming from.” Yanez has personal relationships with all her brands, and she knows where they are grown and processed. “Pretty much every product that we carry in this store is locally grown, sourced, processed, and the owners are actually local to Utah.”

    The apothecary also carries Native American jewelry with turquoise and semi-precious earth stones from a tribe in New Mexico and metal art from local artist Rob Palmer. “It looks like something out of Restoration Hardware,” added Yanez. For Christmas, she will have additional items such as other herbs and teas, tea sets, books, golden milk, turmeric, and crystals.

    Elena is grateful to all those who’ve helped her on her journey, “The apothecary wouldn’t be without my mom Elena Larson, and my Step Dad Vince Lera, they’ve always been so supportive and confident in my wild ideas. From a young age they taught us about business, markets, and investments. My Dad, John, and Stepmom, Ramona, who always managed to teach my siblings and I to never forget who we are and why we’re here, Karin and Jeff Mounteer of Heber, are my bonus parents, who have always been there for my son Maverick and I — our rock through thick and thin. And all of our amazing CBD and Brand partnerships, whom together through compassion, education, and using high quality natural plant ingredients and processes, are helping to build a community dedicated to creating alternative and holistic medicines. We are so excited to share our products and knowledge with others.”

  • Operation Hope 2020

    Operation Hope 2020

    Operation Hope 2020, a local humanitarian project, is underway. The Christian Center of Park City (CCPC) is holding the event in partnership with Wasatch County School District, Wasatch Parent Network, and Wasatch Community Foundation. Like most 2020 events, there will be some modifications made in an attempt to reduce Covid spread. Although the registration for families in need is closed, volunteers and donations are still needed.

    This year, the event is divided into Wasatch and Summit Counties. Wasatch County participants will receive gift cards for Amazon, Walmart, and Wigglish Toys, enabling parents to shop for Christmas gifts for their children. The gift cards, along with small gift bags for children, will be distributed to registered families on December 5th. CCPC is looking for volunteers to help with handing out gifts, greeting and checking in families, and providing hospitality.

    Additionally, financial donations are welcome on the website. About 750 families are registered to receive help from Operation Hope this year. CCPC needs to raise $20,000 to complete the charitable donations for these families.

    Coats were distributed to registered residents on November 2-5. However, CCPC is still accepting new coat donations, kids’ sizes newborn to 18-years. Coats can be donated to the Main Offices on Monday through Friday, from 10am to 5pm. These coats will be given to those registered families who were unable to attend the previous event.

    This year will be the largest Heber Valley Operation Hope event yet. Pete Stoughton, Director of Programs, said, “We will absolutely need volunteers. There are a lot of families to serve.”

    CCPC is a humanitarian center based in Park City, but with a satellite center in Heber. Their mission is to “meet people at their point of need.” Aside from Operation Hope, CCPC also offers assistance in many other ways, such as food pantries and counseling services. To find out more information, visit www.ccofpc.org or call 435-649-2260.

     

     

  • New Library Hours

    New Library Hours

    The Wasatch County library has made big changes since closing March 17. For months, patrons were only able to reserve books online and do parking lot pickups. However,

    According to Library Director Juan Lee, the delayed reopening was in response to a desire to ensure that once the library opened, it would remain open. Lee explained that the modified schedule provides a shorter patron window to minimize exposure. It also gives library employees time to clean high traffic areas.

    Lee said that the library has two goals for the reopening. The first is to be a responsible member of the community. The second goal is to ensure that families feel welcome and safe.

    “The library for many years was the living room of the community,” said Lee. “Under the current conditions, we had to change a little bit. We are hopeful to return back to normal soon.”

    For now, study rooms and meeting spaces are closed. Fewer computers are available and are spaced out to allow for social distancing. Surfaces and materials are cleaned regularly, and in-person programming is postponed.

    March 17. For months, patrons were only able to reserve books online and do parking lot pickups. However, the library is now open for limited hours, in order to provide a return to semi-normalcy for visitors.

    According to Library Director Juan Lee, the delayed reopening was in response to a desire to ensure that once the library opened, it would remain open. Lee explained that the modified schedule provides a shorter patron window to minimize exposure. It also gives library employees time to clean high traffic areas.

    Lee said that the library has two goals for the reopening. The first is to be a responsible member of the community. The second goal is to ensure that families feel welcome and safe.

    “The library for many years was the living room of the community,” said Lee. “Under the current conditions, we had to change a little bit. We are hopeful to return back to normal soon.”

    For now, study rooms and meeting spaces are closed. Fewer computers are available and are spaced out to allow for social distancing. Surfaces and materials are cleaned regularly, and in-person programming is postponed.

    Lee explained that the library’s classes tend to be very well-attended, and the close contact in those activities makes it challenging to reopening them. Unfortunately for library patrons, Miss Sally’s extremely popular children’s classes have also been discontinued. She is now working in the library of a local elementary school.

    Curbside pickup, which has been available since earlier this year, will continue for those who prefer it. Materials are requested online, and an email is sent when they are ready. Otherwise, the library is now open Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 11:00am to 3:00pm, and Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:00pm to 8:00pm. For more information, visit the library’s website at http://www.wasatch.lib.ut.us/.

  • Mark Your Calendars for Saturday, November 7

    Mark Your Calendars for Saturday, November 7

    Heber City Main Street needs some TLC. This Saturday, Nov. 7, is the seasonal Main Street Clean Up. The event is being organized by Heber City’s Community Alliance for Main Street (CAMS).

    Those interested in participating are invited to meet at the Heber City Tabernacle fire pit at 10am, and work will continue until noon. Volunteers are being asked to bring work gloves. Social distancing and masks are requested.

    In addition to citizen clean-up volunteers, businesses will be asked to clean up their storefront. Heber City and the fire department will also work together to sweep and clean streets and sidewalks. Lunch and snacks will be provided. For more information, go to the CAMS Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/hebercityCAMS/photos/gm.723708481865571/812476576178269

  • Wasatch County Election Day Results

    Wasatch County Election Day Results

    Another election day has come and gone, and Wasatch County’s preliminary results are in. For the most part, Wasatch County agreed with the rest of the state on every ballot issue. Judges were retained, amendments were passed, and seats were filled. The people of Wasatch County came out in force to offer their opinions through their votes.

    Out of 20,160 Wasatch County voters, 16,577 (82.23%) cast their ballots for this election. Rep. John Curtis will continue to represent Wasatch County for U.S. House District 3. In the State Senate race, Wasatch County had two unopposed candidates, David Hinkins and Curt Bramble, who will be representing the County for Districts 27 and 16. Republican Mike Kohler defeated Meaghan Miller for the State House District 54 seat. In addition, James Moss Jr. beat out Becky Taylor for the District 12 opening on the State School Board.

    Closer to home, four Wasatch County Council seats were up for grabs: Heber South, Midway, County South, and an At-Large position. Of those, three ran unopposed, leaving Spencer Park, Mark Nelson, and Kendall Crittenden as returning members of the Council. Another member of the County Council, Steve Farrell, also will be returning, after winning his race with 61% of the vote.

    The new County Assessor Todd Griffin, Recorder Marcy Murray, and Treasurer Diane G Burgener ran unopposed. James Kaiserman retained his position as County Surveyor, and Joey D. Granger will be the new County Clerk/Auditor.

    In several close school board races, Marianne B. Allen beat incumbent Mark Davis, Tom Hansen remained on the board, and Kimberly Dickerson will join as the new County East representative.

    All justices in Utah were retained, including Heber City Justice Court Judge Randy B. Birch.

    Utah had seven Constitutional Amendments on the ballot. All seven passed, including a controversial one diverting money from the state’s Education Fund and another establishing a right to hunt and fish in Utah.

  • “STAY SAFE TO STAY OPEN” STATEWIDE MOBILE TOUR IN WASATCH COUNTY

    “STAY SAFE TO STAY OPEN” STATEWIDE MOBILE TOUR IN WASATCH COUNTY

    The Heber Valley Chamber has helped to promote the next phase of the “Stay Safe to Stay Open” campaign in Wasatch County, and to share the message of public health best practices that businesses can sign-on to follow. Those businesses that join the effort receive digital and physical collateral including a seal of approval they can display to their customers.

    “The strength of our chamber members is that we’re all on the same team. By taking the ‘Stay Safe to Stay Open’ pledge our businesses are showing that we are willing to do what it takes to keep people safe and our economy going. And like a great team we all have a part to play in keeping our community thriving and safe.” – Dallin Koecher, Executive Director of Heber Valley Chamber of Commerce

    The statewide campaign aims to raise consumer confidence and instill a culture of safety throughout the workplace so businesses can remain safe and open. Business owners, managers, and employees who follow the seven basic public health best practices can take the pledge and have their business showcased in a Stay Safe to Stay Open directory. This directory will serve as a type of Angie’s List for companies who commit to remain safe and open.

    “Getting the ‘Stay Safe to Stay Open’ message out to our community is essential. It shows that our businesses are committed to protecting their customers, employees and staying open to keep our economy strong.”-Heber City Mayor Kelleen Potter

    The Stay Safe to Stay Open campaign was launched by the Utah Department of Health and promoted through the Heber Valley Chamber. Distribution partners include local chambers throughout the state, as well as partnerships with Salt Lake Chamber, the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, the World Trade Center, the Suazo Business Center, the Downtown Alliance, Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute at the University of Utah, the Utah Retail Merchants and Utah Food Associations, and the Utah Safety Council.

    “We have experienced such tremendous support from the Heber Valley community and our guests, that taking the extra precautions with our staff to stay safe is one way we can thank them for their continued support of Dairy Keen.”  -Jan Olpin Owner of Dairy Keen

    The Stay Safe to Stay Open campaign is visiting towns across Utah. To learn more about this initiative please visit stayopenutah.com.

  • Heber City’s Envision 2050 General Plan Receives Prestigious Award

    Heber City’s Envision 2050 General Plan Receives Prestigious Award

    Heber City is gaining some state recognition for its Envision 2050 plan. The Utah Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA Utah) recently presented Heber City with a High Achievement Award for the innovative community plan.

    The APAUT award recognizes planning excellence. “It’s a really important thing for us to celebrate great plans . . . and to learn from those award winners,” said Chapter President Ted Knowles.
    According to the Envision Heber website, “Envision Heber is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to contemplate the long-term goals of our city and imagine the future we want for ourselves, our families and our neighbors.” The plan was created using feedback from the community through public meetings, community open houses, workshops, and public surveys. Heber City’s new General Plan was then based on the input.

    An award ceremony was held over Zoom on Wednesday, October 21, 2020. Several local officials and committee members were in attendance.

    Heber City Planner Matt Brower stated, “This is quite an amazing award for Heber. We’re so honored to receive it for Envision Heber 2050. Never has a city undertaken such a comprehensive effort to outreach and try to garner as much input as we possibly could from the community.”
    Morgan Brimm, head of the Awards Committee, read a prepared statement about the plan. “Heber City Envision 2050 recognizes that Heber City is at a crossroads with significant growth along the Wasatch Back. The city, the general plan steering committee, residents and consultants worked together to create a thorough public involvement process to ensure that the general plan captures a vision that represents Heber’s values and hopes for the future.”

    Brower added, “As everyone knows, great things can’t happen without great people. Without [the City Council’s] vision . . . this would not have happened, and my hat’s off to them for supporting this.”

    The Envision Heber 2050 plan is available here: https://envisionheber.com/.

  • New Covid Restrictions Mandated for Wasatch County

    New Covid Restrictions Mandated for Wasatch County

    Utah’s government launched a new “Level of Transmission” index on Tuesday. It will provide a more scientific way for assessing each county’s Covid situation, along with new restrictions created to fight the current rise in cases. Color-coded guidelines are discontinued. 

    Wasatch County is one of six Utah counties currently on “high transmission” risk. Levels will be reassessed weekly. They are determined by looking at case rates per 100K, percent of test positivity, and statewide ICU usage.  

    The Governor did not enact a statewide mask requirement, as some have asked him to do. However, masks are required in the “high level” counties and in the “moderate” level until 10/29.   

    The new guidelines emphasize care being taken during casual gatherings between family and friends. These small social gatherings are considered to be one of the main causes for the current high numbers in Utah.  

    In Wasatch County, under the high designation, the following restrictions are now in place, according to coronavirus.utah.gov:  

    1. Casual social gatherings are now limited to 10 or fewer people. This doesn’t include “formal religious services” or events “overseen by a formal organization.”  
    1. Masks are required for “public indoor settings and outdoors when physical distancing is not feasible.” 
    1. Restaurants, including bars and buffets, must maintain six feet between parties at all times (including waiting and seating areas.) 
    1. Other establishments allowing public gathering, including live events, movie theaters, sporting events, weddings, recreation, and entertainment, must require masks (performers excluded) and six feet distancing between household groups. (Rare exceptions to distancing may be requested, but are highly discouraged.)  
    1. Business owners also have additional restrictions, which are available on the website. 

    Wasatch County’s Covid numbers will be reviewed each week. The “High” transmission level may be lowered after 14 days, depending on if the county is meeting threshold numbers.  

    “Over the last 4 weeks, we’ve seen our infection rates and case counts skyrocket to the highest they’ve ever been,” said Utah Governor Gary Herbert. “It’s really time for a new game plan.” 

    Additional information is available at https://coronavirus.utah.gov/utah-health-guidance-levels/.

  • Wasatch High School Goes Online

    Wasatch High School Goes Online

    Wasatch High School is temporarily switching to an online learning format from Monday, October 12 through Friday, October 23, 2020. The school is planning to return to in-person learning on Monday, October 26. Extracurricular activities will continue as planned.

    As stated on the Wasatch County School District Facebook page, “Our in-school mitigation efforts have proven to be effective. However, the recent increase in community COVID cases has had a direct impact on our high school students and staff.”

    The Wasatch County Health Department confirmed there has been an increase in recent community spread. The Wasatch County 7-day average, as of Tuesday, was at 10.7 new cases a day, with the majority of those attributed to community spread, according to Trudy Brereton at the Health Department. “I think our community’s doing a pretty good job, but sometimes as time goes on, we get a little fatigued,” she said. “We’re not through this yet, and our spike in cases kind of reminds us of that.”

    “The teachers will still be in the building, which works because they will be able to stay within their classrooms or individual spaces,” said Kirsta Albert at the District office. “So, they’ll be able to completely distance from each other.”

    It will be different from what happened at the end of last year. For the first two days, until the end of the 1st Term, teachers will be accessible to students during their regular class times and for 30 minutes before and after school. When the new term begins on October 20, teachers will begin each class period with a Zoom call at the regular class time.

    Fall break was previously scheduled for October 14-16, and teachers will be doing professional development days on October 14 and October 19. The teachers requested an additional development day to regroup.

    “The teachers learned so much during the shutdown last Spring, that we are confident they will be taking the tools that they added to their arsenal into this closure,” said Albert.

    According to the District website, “No other District schools are approaching the threshold for closing.”

    The Wasatch School District website can be found at https://www.wasatch.edu.

  • New Cascade Springs Road is Now Open!

    New Cascade Springs Road is Now Open!

    The road to Cascade Springs, in the mountains above Midway, is now open and much safer. The Central Federal Lands Highway Division (CFLHD), Wasatch County, the United States Forest Service, and Utah State Parks have been working together since 2019 to make some dramatic improvements to the roadway. The road was closed throughout the summer but recently reopened to traffic. According to the Federal Highway Administration, although the road is open, construction will continue through October. Visitors are advised to watch for work crews and anticipate delays.

    Cascade Springs is “a large artesian spring with naturally-terraced cascades and pools,” according to the U.S. Forest Service website. “Over seven million gallons of water flow through the springs each day.” Cascade Springs is extremely guest-friendly, with boardwalk trails, bridges, benches, and signs. Some areas are handicap-accessible, and restrooms are provided. Wildflowers, trees, and other vegetation are abundant around the springs.

    Cascade Springs Road can be accessed through Midway City. The newly-improved road stretches from the boundary of Wasatch Mountain State Park all the way to the Alpine Scenic Loop Road. On the western half of the road, the project included pavement rehabilitation. For the eastern half to Midway, however, work included “complete roadway reconstruction, including slope and roadway stabilization, guardrail, retaining walls, minor roadway realignment to straighten curves, and drainage enhancements,” according to the Federal Highway Administration’s Project Description. The eastern road before construction was a dirt and gravel roadway, with no guardrails and huge drop-offs.

    The new road provides safer and more reliable access to the Cascade Springs recreation area. It also enhances the entire Cascade Scenic Drive. The improvements cover approximately 12 miles of mountain roadway.

    For more information on the Cascade Springs Scenic Drive or the Cascade Springs Recreation Site, contact the Pleasant Grove Ranger District of the Uinta National Forest at 801-785-3563.

  • Midway Art Association Gallery Welcoming Public Again

    Midway Art Association Gallery Welcoming Public Again

    The Midway Art Association Gallery recently reopened to the public. It is housed in the historic Midway Town Hall. Gallery hours are Fridays and Saturdays from 10am to 5pm.

    The Gallery displays artwork from seven local artists at a time. Their art is presented for two months, at which time another seven artists will be featured. Aside from being able to see the local art, visitors can also purchase artwork from the gallery.

    One of the artists being shown this month is oil-painter Charlotte Wright. Wright intended to major in art in college, but she ended up, instead, taking a different path. She has now been concentrating again on her painting for the past ten years. “I think the main thing that I appreciate [about the MAA] is the opportunity to put my things in the gallery and to participate in [other] events.”

    According to Wright, the association gives artists many occasions to improve their craft and show their work to the public. In addition to the gallery and art shows, the MAA also has an artist come and do a demonstration once a month. Wright added, “[The MAA] has good people and good opportunities. They take care of their artists.” In 2019, the organization had about 140 members.

    The non-profit Midway Art Association (MAA) started in 2002 to give amateur and professional artists an occasion to develop and market their art. The association’s goals are “providing opportunities for association with other artists, learning from workshops, field trips and demonstrations, and … painting and selling fine art in planned events.”

    Aside from the Midway Art Association gallery, the organization is also involved in the Wasatch Plein Air Paradise. That event has supported local art for the past 15 years. It was postponed this year due to Covid, but it is usually the largest painting event in Utah, with over $20,000 in cash and awards.

    To join or learn more about the MAA, go to http://www.midwayartassociation.org/.

  • Free Family Dinner Tonight!

    Free Family Dinner Tonight!

    The Wasatch Caring Community Coalition (CCC) is giving out a free dinner tonight at their Family Dinner Drive-Thru event. The annual occurrence is modified this year because of COVID. Participants will drive to the booths, instead of walking, and will pick up dinner supplies to create a spaghetti dinner. The event will run from 5:30-7:00pm, Monday, September 21, at the Wasatch County Event Center. The free family dinner activity is an opportunity for the CCC to not only provide a free dinner, but also to educate the community about available resources in Wasatch County.

    The Caring Community Coalition sponsors this event each year during Family Mealtime Month. The coalition uses it to encourage family dinners and family togetherness. According to Trudy Brereton, who promotes health through the Wasatch County Health Department, “teenagers who eat dinner frequently with their family are less likely to use tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana.” The Stanford Children’s Health website explains that teens who eat dinner with their families also generally get better grades in school. There are similar findings with mental health. Those seeking outside help for depression, anxiety, and other emotional issues are half as likely to have family meals on a regular basis. These teens also usually eat healthier foods overall, according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

    The Wasatch Caring Community Coalition consists of leaders and representatives from the County. These include the County Health Department, the Heber City Police Department, Wasatch School District, the Wasatch County Sheriff’s Department, Intermountain Healthcare, and others. The CCC’s goals include promoting mental and physical health, decreasing substance abuse in Wasatch County, encouraging family togetherness, and strengthening community bonds.

    The Caring Community Coalition meets each month to discuss achieving these goals. Anyone interested in participating can find more information on the Wasatch CCC website: https://utahprevention.org/coalitions/wasatch-county-caring-community-coalition/.

  • Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for New Mural

    Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for New Mural

    A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held today, officially announcing a new mural on Main Street. The artwork is on the north side of the visitor center. It depicts many of the outdoor recreation opportunities available in the Heber Valley. This mural is only the first installment of many to come through the Heber City CAMS’ Art in Public Places Initiative. It is a collaborative effort between Heber City, the Heber Valley Chamber of Commerce, and the Community Alliance for Main Street.

    Tom Stone, Chairperson of CAMS, opened the ceremony. He said that 18 different artists submitted to create the mural. Artist Jason Quinn was eventually chosen to paint the first mural, setting the standard for those to follow. Stone discussed an ongoing question that Heber City has been asking: “Who are we?” Heber City has a rich history, which includes agriculture, pioneers, cowboys, swiss heritage, and many other potential identities. He suggested that the question the city could be asking instead is “who do we want to become?”

    “Heber has things other cities would die for,” said Stone. “It is the coolest place to live ever.” He proposed that Heber be recognized as an outdoor sports destination and a place to gather. The mural depicts some of the many outdoor sports available here, including fishing, cross-country skiing, mountain biking, and others. Improving Main Street creates a ripple effect throughout the Heber Valley. “We want to make our best first impression,” Stone explained. “People want this,” he said, mentioning comments he has received about the firepit gatherings, food trucks, and Christmas Tree lighting ceremony.

    The artist, Jason Quinn, a native of Heber City, was unable to attend. His comments were read, however, explaining how he desired to “generate emotion in the community.”

    Heber City Mayor Kelleen Potter then explained the purposes behind the initiative. It is hoped that creating this artwork on Main Street will bring tourism to downtown businesses, improve and enhance Main Street, and promote public gatherings. Mayor Potter then announced the next phase of the initiative, which will be a mural on the south wall of the bank building. Tom Stone will be sponsoring the mural. He will also be creating a gathering and eating space in that area. “Heber has no better cheerleader than Tom,” said Potter.

    Stone cut the ribbon for the official ceremony. The group is now turning their focus to Phase Two of the initiative.

    More information about the Community Alliance for Main Street is available at https://hebercitycams.org/.

     

  • Wasatch High Creates Innovative Homecoming Dance 2020

    Wasatch High Creates Innovative Homecoming Dance 2020

    Wasatch High School students of 2020 have missed out on many of the usual high school experiences. Prom, graduation, spring sports, and so much more was modified or cancelled completely. Homecoming was also on the chopping block. But the school district, the school board, the high school, Wasatch County Health Department, and some students, came up with an ingenious plan to save it. Thanks to them, Wasatch High School’s Homecoming Dance 2020 will be held this Saturday.

    Assistant Principal Ryan Bishop recalled, “Back in June and July, I started reaching out to see what other schools were doing.” He found that most schools were not going to have a dance. “At that point, I went to our district office and our school board, and they gave us an approval to try to work with the health department.” Bishop was hoping to come up with something for Homecoming that the Wasatch Health Department would approve. He continued, “Obviously we knew it would look different. So, I sat down with our student government kids, and we just brainstormed a hundred different things.” Sometime in the middle of august, students came up with the final idea.

    “What I really like about it is we had a lot of kids get involved. . . . It was really student-centered; the adults were just there to help them along the way,” said Bishop. Students took drone shots of the football field, and it was divided into 20 sections. Each section will be color-coded, along with assigned parking, entrance gates, wristbands, and a chaperone. 700-800 students are expected to attend, but there will only be 25-30 students in each 40×10-yard section. Digital tickets were pre-purchased over an app, to minimize contact. The dance time will be earlier than usual, 7-9pm, and masks will be distributed at the gates.

    “It’s amazing when there’s trust,” Bishop explained. “We’ve had a great deal of trust between our school district personnel, our administration at the high school, our school board, and the County Health Department.”

    Although many normal Homecoming activities were cancelled, some remained. Street painting was changed to “Chalk the Block,” and the front patio of the school was decorated by various school groups. Wasatch beat Spanish Fork 26-17 in a Homecoming football game Friday night. And a virtual Homecoming Royalty vote was held. The results were Sydney Brooksby as Queen, Kate Henderson as 1st Attendant, and Mary Santiago as 2nd Attendant.

    “We’re going to create a safe environment, and wear masks, and do everything that our health department’s asking us to do. But, we sure want to give our students some fun high school experiences too,” said Bishop. “We want to show them some sense of normalcy.”

    Parents seem to agree. According to Randy and Jen Larsen, “As parents of a Senior, we sincerely appreciate the efforts of the Wasatch School District, Wasatch High School administration & teachers, and the Wasatch County Health Department to be creative and implement guidelines that allow for some normalcy. Creating an environment that encourages social distancing and providing masks to each participant will give WHS students the opportunity for a unique, but real and memorable homecoming experience in 2020!”

  • Local Grant Provides Discounts to Customers

    Local Grant Provides Discounts to Customers

    The Shop in Heber Valley grant program was opened last week to businesses in Wasatch County. Not only will it help local businesses, but it benefits the general public as well. Businesses can apply for up to $5,000. These funds, however, must be used to reimburse huge discounts passed on to customers.

    The grant is the result of the combined efforts of Wasatch County, Heber City, and Midway City. These government entities are utilizing their CARES Act funds for the grant. It is aimed at supporting Heber Valley businesses with economic hardships, as a result of the COVID pandemic.

    According to Dallin Koecher, Director of Heber Valley Tourism and Economic Development, “We created this grant to help our businesses recover. The best way we thought we could do that would be to help share the load. If all of us are doing a little bit to help our businesses by shopping locally, then we’ll keep money here locally, and we’ll help those businesses thrive and survive through this pandemic.” The money received from this grant is intended to offer a “compelling discount” to customers. Businesses will then be reimbursed for the discounted amount.

    The Shop in Heber Valley grant has already been awarded to several businesses in the area. These include Spin Café, Heber City Theatre, Northland Professional, and others. Although all local shopping is encouraged, “these are folks that have had a significant economic impact due to the pandemic,” Koecher explained. These businesses and others are now offering large discounts to customers, using the grant money. A list of deals can be found here: https://www.gohebervalley.com/shopinhebervalley.

    By including the discounts on the website, more people can become “aware that maybe some of their favorite businesses are offering deals and discounts. . . . We’re trying to get that word out far and wide, using marketing efforts from both our own internal efforts and from those businesses’ efforts,” said Koecher.

    Other resources are also available on the Go Heber Valley website. A partnership with the Utah Valley University Business Resource Center provides business coaching and consulting. Additionally, a new grant using CARES Act funds will be available on the website soon. This future grant will be distributed in larger amounts. It can be used for things like payroll, rent, and COVID-related expenses.

    Grant applications and additional business help can be found at this website: https://www.gohebervalley.com/Local_Resources

  • The As Yet Unwritten Story Of The North Village

    The As Yet Unwritten Story Of The North Village

    Just to the North of Heber City, there is a little area of open land that is unassuming and easily overlooked. It’s known as the North Village. And there are some big plans in the works for this patch of ground.

    Due to purchases made and density granted years ago, this area is set to become one of the most active and growing areas of the entire Heber Valley. Many are concerned about what might come. Others are excited by the possibilities. How it all turns out depends on actions taken now, during this little phase of Heber history. The future is always uncertain.

    Heber City and the rest of Wasatch County are watching carefully to ensure that developers maintain the values of current Heber Valley residents. With annexation into Heber City being a distinct possibility, developers are using Heber’s new master plan as a guideline to try to realize the “Envision Heber” ideal. Open space areas are included throughout the developments, and town centers are being established on paper, just waiting for the chance to spring into reality.

    If You Build It…

    There are seven main areas of development in what is called the North Village. They are College Downs, DMJ, Highlands, North Village Crossings, North Village Resort, North Village Views, and Wingate. Each development will bring its own uniqueness and amenities to the Heber Valley.

    The DMJ Development is on the northwest corner of Old Highway 40 and Highway 32. It is the smallest parcel at 8.7 acres. It is proposed to be a “3-story commercial condominium project,” with 62.7% of the land remaining open space.1

    College Downs is a 17-acre development, located just north of the UVU campus. It runs along Highway 40 and also connects to the university’s land. Retail and condos are planned for that area, providing some additional opportunities for the nearby students.

    The North Village Crossings area is planning retail centers and townhomes. Developers would also like to include a hotel and some apartments. It consists of 57 acres of land and is located to the Southeast of Highways 40 and 32.

    North Village Views is a 33-acre parcel. It runs northeast up the hill from the UVU campus building. Single-family dwellings, townhomes, condos, and apartments are planned for the area, in addition to a park and trails.

    Wingate is just north of the College Downs area with 11.62 acres of developable land. Townhomes and commercial development are in the works to be constructed there. Open space will run along the highway and up into the neighborhood.

    The Highlands project is by far the largest parcel. It’s located at 2790 N. Highway 40, just south of the UVU campus. At 114+ acres, future planned uses include commercial buildings, single-family dwellings, apartments, condos, parks, an outdoor amphitheater, a plaza, and over five miles of trails. This project offers a town center, with retail and commercial improvements to support both the university and the community. Plans include mixed-use development, a hotel, student housing, and 11 different types of housing choices including 12-plex and 64-plex family developments, along with single family homes and lots of open space. 1,469 units are planned, with 30% of the acreage left for open space. “We envision it to be a low-impact development, with green sustainability everywhere that we possibly can [put it], as long as its economically achievable,” Ken Puncerelli, with LAI Design Group, explains.

    The North Village Resort is the only major development west of Highway 40. It consists of 39 acres of land at the intersection of River Road and Highway 40. The Resort is intended to be one of the most distinctive spaces in the area. Scheduled uses include retail, a theater, a plaza, condominiums, and a large, themed hotel with an indoor waterpark.

    Walking The Line

    These slated developments are still evolving. Most strive to align their designs with Heber City’s master plan, to allow for a possible future annexation into the city. According to Heber City Mayor Kelleen Potter, “The way the North Village develops will have a lasting impact on our city. The decision of whether or not to annex into Heber City and the type of development that happens will affect all aspects of Heber’s future. We only have one chance to get it right.”

    Maintaining open spaces and making these developments work within the community is a major priority for the surrounding residents. But it is also important to developers, as what makes the Heber Valley unique is also what will make developments profitable and desirable. As all interested entities work together to find common ground, the North Village areas will hopefully develop into something that our community can enjoy and be proud to share with others. This area is, after all, the north gateway to the Heber Valley and our welcome mat to the world.

    https://heber-ut.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=1&clip_id=806

  • With Liberty And Access For All

    With Liberty And Access For All

    The Right To Roam

    Looking out across the beautiful, expansive Heber Valley, there is still a predominance of green fields and open space. Although housing growth is exploding in some areas of Wasatch County, the Wasatch Back, overall, still has much lower building density than the Wasatch Front. Open space is a widely discussed topic here. A majority of Heber Valley residents have indicated a strong desire to protect open space. It’s an important issue. However, public access to those spaces is a topic that is often overlooked.

    Public access refers more to the status of a piece of land than the look of it. Sometimes called the “right to roam,” it involves the ability to wander, recreate, hike, hunt, camp, and otherwise enjoy land owned by the government or another person or entity. Aside from the discussions for open space, it is important to be equally aware of whether or not public access will be allowed on those open lands.

    The Expense Of The Expanse

    There are many types of public access, including entrance-fee National and State Parks, along with free public access to government-owned lands used for hunting, fishing, and other forms of recreation. Government-maintained lands come at a cost, however. Through taxes and fees, access is provided to these lands, which have been set aside for public use. It is an ongoing expense.

    As recently as August 4, 2020, President Trump signed into law the Great American Outdoors Act. This law will invest money into repairing federal lands’ infrastructure at a rate of $9.5 billion over the next five years; it will also fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund with an extra $900 million annually. Utah National Parks is requesting about $220 million for updates, including improving trails and other facilities. Many Federal lands throughout the country require repair and this Act will offer them money to do just that. In commemoration of the Act, August 4 has been designated “Great American Outdoors Day,” a National Park fee-free day. This will provide an extra calendar day for free public access to these preserved locations.

    Lawfully Trespassing

    Another type of public access includes the ability to encroach upon privately-owned lands. Each country has its own rules regarding public access to private lands. In some Nordic countries, public access is extensive, allowing hiking, camping, and boating on another person’s property. Other property owners, such as those within the United States, are granted the right to exclude others. It is an ever-evolving issue.

    The Utah Stream Access Coalition is a nonprofit created to “promote and assist in all aspects of securing and maintaining public access to, and lawful use of, Utah’s public waters and streambeds.” It uses “legal, political, and negotiated means” to accomplish this. For reinforcement, it cites the Utah Constitution, the Public Trust Doctrine, and the Utah Supreme Court. It was first created in response to a bill passed by the Utah legislature, which limited public access to rivers in Utah.1

    The Utah Constitution originally stated that the public has access to all navigable rivers. This does not mean that the lands along the borders of the rivers are public, but rather that one should be able to float down the river through privately owned property. In 2008, the Utah Supreme Court unanimously held that, in addition to floating downstream, the public could touch the private riverbeds if necessary for lawful, recreational use. A 2010 bill passed by the Utah Legislature, HB 141, attempted to overrule the decision. The Utah Stream Access Coalition fought against the passage of the law. A lawsuit was filed regarding access to the Upper Provo River. Finally, in 2015, after years of battling the 2010 law, the Utah Supreme Court agreed with the Access Coalition. It determined that the law was unconstitutional, stating that, “Every parcel of public land, every reach of public water is unique. . . . The Act substantially impaired the public’s interest in the lands and waters remaining.” Access to privately-owned streambeds was restored.2

    Since then, this coalition has continued to fight for public access to Utah waters in Wasatch County and elsewhere.

    Profiting From The People

    Public access to land and water is not only beneficial to those who use it for their recreation. This access also can increase state, federal, and local revenue. According to Fox13, Utah’s national parks brought in over $1 billion to Utah’s economy in 2018 alone.3

    Wasatch County also benefits from public land access. Wasatch State Park, Deer Creek State Park, Jordanelle State Park, the Provo River, and the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest bring revenue to the Heber Valley by bringing jobs and tourism dollars to hotels, restaurants, and other local companies.

    As both economic and population growth continues within our community, it is essential that access to natural resources remain available to the public. In the many discussions regarding open space, public access to those spaces must not be forgotten. The land and water recreation in Wasatch County are some of its most valuable assets, contributing significantly to both lifestyle and the local economy. Public access is worth fighting for and will help maintain the amazing opportunities available here in the Heber Valley.

    1 www.utahstreamaccess.org
    2 https://utahstreamaccess.org/public-waters-case/
    3 https://fox13now.com/2019/05/23/national-parks-contributed-over-1-billion-to-utah-economy-in-2018

  • Swiss Days 2020 Goes Online!

    Swiss Days 2020 Goes Online!

    Labor Day Weekend 2020 will be unusual in the Heber Valley. Swiss Days, a statewide favorite, was cancelled back in May due to Covid concerns. The massive craft, food, and entertainment event usually brings thousands to the valley each year. It is one of Utah’s largest festivals. 2020 would have been its 73rd year. However, there is still an opportunity to purchase items online from Swiss Days’ vendors.

    According to www.midwayswissdays.org, there will be a “one-time only Midway Swiss Days 2020 online vendors’ showcase.” Products from Swiss Days’ booths will be available on the event’s website. Select vendors received the online opportunity.

    Tami Van Der Veur, CEO of “Savvy Curls,” was invited to include her popular, no-heat headband curler in the website event. According to Van Der Veur, “We were so looking forward to Swiss Days and all the smiling faces and positive energy that it brings. And then, bam. As soon as we were accepted, they announced that they had to cancel this year’s event. As excited as we were to be accepted, we were equally disappointed that they shut it down.”

    Like many other Swiss Day’s vendors, Savvy Curls gets a bulk of its revenue every year from the highly-attended craft show. The event was cancelled early to give businesses as much time as possible to change course for the year. The website sales event is an attempt to help bring business to these vendors and bring products to customers.

    “Being the amazing community that they are, [Midway] was innovative enough to come up with an online Swiss Days to further support vendors,” said Van Der Veur. “We are thrilled to be a part of the online event this year. And we look forward with great anticipation to be able to participate in the regular Swiss Days next year.”

    Customers can shop 2020 Swiss Days online from August 31 to September 11 at https://midwayswissdays.org/.

  • Heber City Creates Main Street Banner Ordinance

    Heber City Creates Main Street Banner Ordinance

    The Heber City Council recently updated the city’s policy regarding banners posted on Main Street’s light posts. This was partially in response to an emotionally-charged, split opinion among local residents concerning Pride banners, which have been allowed on the City’s light posts for the past two years.

    Heber City Council Member Ryan Stack, an attorney who has worked as a public prosecutor since 2007 and has served on a Utah Supreme Court Advisory Committee, explained why the change was necessary. “Last year’s conversation regarding the Pride banners included several mentions about possible [negative] reply banners.” Because, from a legal standpoint, the old banner policy created a “limited public forum,” the City would not be able to regulate content, and any banners, no matter what they said, would have to be allowed to hang on the City’s light posts.

    The City Council was concerned about possible response banners being used to “infuriate and offend” people on both sides of the issues. Legally, Heber City “would have to allow any . . . banners, even those submitted by well-known hate groups . . . clearly designed to inflame and disrupt,” explained Stack. If the City reserved the right to choose which private speech was allowed, it would be discriminating against other free speech. A legal “slippery slope” would be created, meaning that the City would be obligated to allow all private banners.

    The City Council opted, instead, to reserve the city-owned light poles as a space for the City to promote its government-run events, rather than open them up to all possible private messages. Stack said that his vote for the new ordinance was only meant to protect Heber City from potential liability. From a legal perspective, the only way to guard against perceived favoritism is to allow all public speech or allow none, according to Stack. “This is a sensitive issue,” he continued, “and I understand the need to redraft our banner ordinance has been misunderstood by some as an attack on the Pride banners. This is not the case.”

    Heber City Mayor Kelleen Potter added, “It’s important to recognize this policy applies only to banners hung by the City on poles in our downtown. This does not affect private citizens’ or businesses’ ability to hang a Pride flag if they desire.” She continued, “I recognize for many in the LGBTQ community and allies, this policy is a painful loss after enjoying celebrating the Pride banners for the last two years. I encourage everyone who recognizes the value of those banners to come together and figure out how we can be more supportive of our vulnerable LGBTQ community members.”

  • Heber to Hold Public Open House

    Heber to Hold Public Open House

    Heber City will be holding an open house on Wednesday for public review of recommendations from the Parks and Trails Committee. The public is invited to attend virtually over Zoom. The meeting will begin at 6pm and again at 7pm, August 26, 2020. The public open house sessions will be recorded and available for viewing afterwards on the Heber City website.

    The city has been working with an outside consulting organization, Landmark Design, to create a vision for the city’s future parks. They met in January 2020 to begin the project. An advisory committee was then created, including public officials and members of the community, to discuss different options. Landmark Design analyzed current parks and future projections for growth. The committee later discussed ideas presented and, together with the consultants, created a plan. It is designed to meet recreational desires, while maintaining open space and an interconnected parks and trails system. According to Landmark Design, “the plan is intended to be synergistic with the Envision Heber 2050 general plan and will propel Heber towards achieving a world-class park system for the community.”

    Now the city wants public input on the draft master plan before the process continues. The document is available online, and the public open house gives members of the community an opportunity to discuss the draft master plan.

    The Zoom meeting ID is 822 9565 9118, and the passcode is 276398. A copy of the preliminary plan is available here:

    https://ldi-ut.com/images/project-docs/Heber-Parks/20-0820%20Heber%20Parks%20MP%20DRAFT%20for%20WEB.pdf

     

  • Spin Cafe – HV Chamber Business Of The Month

    Spin Cafe – HV Chamber Business Of The Month

    This pandemic has caused many businesses to adapt, get creative, and re-think the way they conduct business. We would like to recognize our business owners, government officials, and our community members for their commitment to Heber Valley. Our small businesses have been able to stay afloat because of the unwavering support of our locals and government officials.

    The Heber Valley Chamber of Commerce recognizes Spin Cafe as our business of the month for their ongoing efforts to keep our community fed and nourished during this crazy pandemic. Spin Café has recently added an outdoor dining option to support their customers and keep their business going.

    Joline and Vincent are the owners of Spin Café. They opened in Heber Valley 14 years ago. Prior to coming to Heber Valley Vincent and Joline owned and ran an Italian restaurant in Telluride, CO for 13 years. The Esposito’s visited Park City in the early ’90s and visited Heber Valley during that visit. Years later when the couple decided it was time to make a change, they quickly remembered the valley and decided it was the next stop on their adventure.

    Vincent comes from a long line of restaurant owners. His family has owned restaurants all over the US. Vincent is Italian-American which speaks-to his gelato-making capabilities.

    The Esposito’s like many small business owners wear many hats. They do everything from cooking, prep work, purchasing, cleaning tables, to waiting tables. You would be hard-pressed to find time at the restaurant without seeing at least one of them working.

    When they are not working the couple enjoys their time outdoors with their fur babies. Vincent enjoys mountain biking and hiking and skiing during the winter. Vincent attributes his love for adrenaline sports as a great way to escape the everyday pressures of being a small business owner. Joline on the other hand finds peace and serenity through yoga and meditation.

    Spin Café employs 17-18 staff members. Vincent and Joline are always looking for new recipes and opportunities. They have a very diverse menu that suits their diverse clientele. Joline’s favorite is the Seattle BLT which includes Fresh grilled salmon, apple-smoked bacon, lettuce, Roma tomatoes & chipotle mayo on a fresh potato roll. Vincent loves anything with brisket, more recently he has enjoyed the Korean Beef Bowl, Spicy gochujang-marinated beef, jasmine rice, kimchi slaw, hardboiled organic pasture-raised egg, green onion, toasted sesame seeds, sweet soy.

    The Esposito’s are very grateful for the support of the community during the last six months and have this to say “ Thank you to our customers, they came in more than regularly, and they did it on purpose. The local population cares about their small businesses and it’s a really great feeling.” Vincent Esposito.

    Read the original story at gohebervalley.com

  • Wasatch School District Opens its Doors

    Wasatch School District Opens its Doors

    Wasatch School District welcomed students back to school on August 17, 2020. The district opened on its original start date, a feat which was unattainable for many other districts across the country. Even in Utah, only four districts plan to be open by the 17th. Several have planned openings later this week. And many others will begin even later.

    Some states are still keeping schools closed. In fact, 8 states, plus the District of Columbia, do not have in-person instruction at all right now. Some are planning for delayed openings, while others are requiring hybrid or remote-only instruction. A majority of states have handed the reopening decision over to the individual school districts.

    In a video message sent to district patrons, Wasatch Superintendent Paul Sweat said, “It is now time to get back to school and to help our students with the learning process that they deserve. . . . We’re excited to start the year. We’re going to work very hard to keep our schools open and functioning.”

    Wasatch School District offered four options to parents, including full-time school, a hybrid day, an online academy, and homeschool. Wasatch also plans additional cleaning and hygiene procedures at school. Utah Governor Herbert later added a state mandate that masks would be required for all students and faculty in the school buildings.

    Garrick Peterson, Wasatch Director of Academics, added that keeping schools open will be a community effort. The district has three goals for the 2020-2021 school year. The first goal is that no teachers will contract the Covid virus while at work. Secondly, all classrooms and schools will remain open. And lastly, all students will show mastery on all essential standards for each grade level or course.

    “We know that there are some risks that we are taking, but we feel like the benefit far outweighs those risks,” said Superintendent Sweat. He emphasized that the district feels a great responsibility for the students. “We will do everything we can to help protect them and, most importantly, educate them,” he said.

    For more information on reopening plans, click here: https://www.wasatch.edu/domain/2283

  • The Show Must Go On!

    The Show Must Go On!

    The Timpanogos Valley Theater (TVT) is opening its 2020 production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat today. It will run in the evenings on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from August 12-22. All evening performances will begin at 7:30 pm. Saturday’s shows will also include an 11:00am matinee.

    The show was originally scheduled to run in May, but it was postponed due to health concerns. TVT determined in early July that a modified, outdoor performance might be a possibility. Outdoor, socially-distanced rehearsals were held beginning in July, and the show has become a reality. In addition to talented actors, performances will also feature the Heber Valley Children’s Choir. Even the One Stop dinosaur is jumping in on the action, with a rainbow coat and groovy hair, created by Heber City resident, Christine Chappell.

    The production will be held on the lawn, just south of the Main Street historic city building. Audience household groups will be distanced from each other and from the stage. Facemasks will be required, except while seated in individual, socially-distanced groups. The theater will not be selling concessions, but food trucks will be nearby. Also, sanitizer stations and temperature checks will be used. For additional safety, high-risk individuals may enter and be seated 50 minutes prior to the show.

    The 90-minute show will be performed concert-style to increase safety of the cast members and others. Tickets are $10 per person, or $50 total for groups of 6-8 people. They may be bought online in advance and early purchases are highly encouraged. Tickets may be purchased at the door through Venmo or with exact change, but capacity will be limited, and the shows may sell out.

    The Timpanogos Valley Theater Company has been in operation since 2001. Its focus is family theatre, and, especially, on bringing youth and adults together for quality productions.

    For more information, go to  http://www.timpvalleytheatre.com. 

    Photo credit: Timpanogos Valley Theater Facebook Page

  • Heber Valley Corridor One Step Closer

    Heber Valley Corridor One Step Closer

    The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) is studying options to alleviate congestion on Main Street in Heber, and they are asking for public input. A public comment period will begin on August 27 and will close on September 26, 2020. There will also be a virtual meeting for the public on August 27, from 6:00 – 8:00 pm. Current information is availble on the website at https://hebervalleyeis.udot.utah.gov/.

    The Heber Valley Parkway Corridor Planning Study was completed in 2019. It was determined then that further data and evaluation was needed. An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) has now been initiated. This process will evaluate the possible impact of alternatives on natural and human environments.

    The public, elected officials, agencies, and others are encouraged to consult with UDOT to identify the purpose and need for transportation action in the valley. UDOT will then create alternatives such as constructing new roads, reconfiguring Main Street, and improving other nearby roads. Each alternative will be examined for environmental impact.

    Throughout the process, there will be many requests for public involvement. These include public meetings, public comment periods, a public hearing, and other engagement opportunities. The August 27th meeting will be part of the scoping for the project. Alternatives will be examined and a draft EIS will be created. Another public comment period will be held. Afterwards, UDOT will identify a preferred option, and a final EIS will be prepared. A decision regarding Main Street and Highway 40 could be determined by 2023.

    During the public comment period, input may be submitted through the website, email, voicemail, or by sending a letter. More information can be found here: https://hebervalleyeis.udot.utah.gov/.

  • Art Murals coming to Heber City

    Art Murals coming to Heber City

    CAMS’ Art in Public Places Initiative kicked off this week by launching the first of several huge murals in Heber City. The Community Alliance for Main Street (CAMS) partnered with Heber City and the Heber Valley Chamber of Commerce to create the artwork. According to Mayor Kelleen Potter, the murals are “an investment in our downtown. Data shows investing in downtowns brings back great returns, often $3 for every dollar spent.”

    The inaugural mural will be on the north side of the Heber Valley Visitor’s Center at 475 N. Main Street. It will be visible to the approximately 15,000 cars that pass through daily. An estimated 30% of these drivers are visitors to Heber. The finished mural will be about 27 feet across and 8 ½ feet high.

    Local artist Jason Quinn was selected out of 15 muralists to complete the initial artwork. The artist spent a month planning the mural. He said it will probably take him another month to finish it. “They wanted to put something here that would identify . . . or send a message of who Heber is, and what they are aspiring to be,” said Quinn. “So as people come into town, the first thing they see is what Heber is proud of. . . . Everything they offer here [recreationally] is world-class. I think what [Heber] would like to do is point out that there are a lot of reasons to slow down and take it in.”

    The initiative will produce 6 to 12 murals, with at least one being completed per year. Tom Stone of CAMS explained, “We are going to have different locations. We have a couple private businesses that have donated their space that will put up some other murals as well. . . .We are getting top-notch, high quality people to come in and do the murals.”

    Mayor Potter added, “I think you’ll see some things from our history, from our future, from our present. It’s going to create a feeling.”

    More information about the Community Alliance for Main Street can be found at https://hebercitycams.org/

  • Wasatch High to Allow Fall Sports

    Wasatch High to Allow Fall Sports

    Sports fans will be pleased to know that Wasatch High School is planning to have cross-country, golf, soccer, tennis, volleyball, and even football this Fall. Some accommodations will be made to allow the sports to go forward.

    Ryan Bishop, Assistant Principal, said that a baseball program was held this summer with 30-35 participants. Protocols included extra sanitizing and cleaning, among other things, and there were no issues with Covid. The football team has also been holding drills and practices with very limited issues. Recently, the Utah High School Activities Association released a “Best Practices” document detailing adaptations to allow fall sports to go forward.

    “If everyone will participate and help with masks and social distancing, that will help keep this going so we don’t see what happened last [time] when everything was shut down,” said School Board President Blaik Baird. “Let’s follow the guidelines in August, so we can continue to play,” said Bishop.

    All sports will have new signs to inform the public about game protocol. For players and coaches on the sidelines, masks will be highly recommended. Fans will be encouraged to wear masks when unable to social distance. There will be no hand shaking before or after games. Also, players must not be sick when engaging in practices or games. Additionally, each sport will have specific guidelines to increase safety.

    Cross Country will create spaces to avoid congregating at the finish line, use fully automatic times when possible, spread out courses, and use mountain or park courses. Golf will limit matches, courses, and people. Soccer and volleyball will encourage observers to socially distance and wear masks, and Tennis will limit region matches. Many other accommodations will also be made.

    Because of the probable large crowds, football will use a digital ticketing system. This will allow for contact tracing, if necessary. Face coverings will also be encouraged. “If we want to stay open, the key is wearing our masks. . . . [Otherwise], we would have the rest of football games with no spectators,” suggested Superintendent Paul Sweat.

    According to Bishop, “We want our kids to be able to participate. We’ll follow any guideline we can. We’ll sanitize, we’ll come early, we’ll stay late, we’ll do whatever we can to keep them healthy, so that our kids can participate at the high school level. . . . That’s our goal.”

    To see the full document from the Utah High School Activities Association, click here:

    https://uhsaa.org/news/uploads/UHSAA%20Return%20to%20Play%20Document.pdf

     

  • Wasatch School District Approves Plan for Reopening

    Wasatch School District Approves Plan for Reopening

    Wasatch School District approved their plan for reopening schools at a meeting on July 21, 2020. District plans have been evolving since last March, when kids were sent home unexpectedly due to the coronavirus pandemic.

    “We have worked very closely with [the County Health Department] to put things in place,” Garrick Peterson, Director of Academics, explained. “We’ve put measures in place that make it safe to come back to school for our teachers, our staff, and our students.”

    Parent survey results showed 50% of parents desire full-day, traditional school. About 30% of parents chose a hybrid schedule. The remainder preferred online or home-schooling. In addition to parent surveys, the district also met with the district PTA, school PTA boards, teacher’s union representatives, principals, and a working group of teachers, administrators, and parents.

    Wasatch County’s school reopening plan gives parents three full-time options.

    1. Full-Day Traditional – This option will include a traditional schedule, increased cleaning, increased hygiene, and masks.
    2. Half-Day/Hybrid – There will be am/pm schedules, increased cleaning & hygiene, and social distancing. Students will continue to work at home for half of the time. High school and middle school students will attend core classes for 2 days a week. They will then watch an online stream from home for 2 days. This will allow for social distancing in those classrooms.
    3. Online – Wasatch Learning Academy (Harmony Educational Services) will provide online learning for K-8, and Edgenuity will be the district partner for Wasatch High School.

    Peterson said that the different options, “allow families to assess where they are and how they are prioritizing academics, physical safety, and social/emotional well-being, and make decisions for their families.”

    Face coverings are a necessity because of the Governor’s executive order and will be required in classes and on buses. According to Director of Operations Shawn Kelley, the schools will have plenty of masks available. Face shields will be provided for preschool and kindergarten children. Older students will receive “Utah” face masks with adjustable ear straps, custom “Wasatch High School” masks, or “Wasatch” masks. The district has plenty of hand sanitizer, and they even have N95 masks if a child requires one. Students could also choose to alternate masks and face shields if desired.

    Students riding on the bus will sanitize their hands upon entrance and exit and wear face coverings. They will also have assigned seating. This will allow for easier contact tracing.

    New cleaning and hygiene protocols request that students bring their own water bottles. Students and faculty will also need to stay home if sick, and they must be symptom-free for 24 hours before returning to school. If someone in a class tests positive, he or she must quarantine for 72 hours after symptoms are gone.

    Currently, if a person has been within 6 feet of someone with Covid for more than 15 minutes, that person should quarantine for two weeks. However, the health departments statewide believe that wearing face coverings will mitigate the risk of exposure, and so the 2-week quarantine won’t be required for students with a positive-testing classmate. In this situation, parents will be informed and instructed to watch their students for any symptoms.

    Blaik Baird, Wasatch School Board President, thanked everyone for their hard work. He also stated, “I think it will be a learning curve in all aspects of this school year. I’m confident we’ll do it to the best of our ability.”

    The full plan can be found here: https://www.wasatch.edu/Page/16346.

  • UDOT to Build New Traffic Signal At 3000 South in Charleston/Daniel

    UDOT to Build New Traffic Signal At 3000 South in Charleston/Daniel

    The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) is building a new traffic signal at the
    intersection of 3000 South and U.S. 189. On July 23, construction crews will be widening the
    right turn lane and paving the east side of the intersection. This work will require restricting
    access to U.S. 189 from westbound 3000 South between 7 a.m. and 2 p.m. Access to the
    Wasatch County Waste Transfer Station will be allowed from 3000 South and from U.S. 189.
    Residents will need to use 3000 South to Daniel’s Road as an alternate route to access U.S.
    189.
    Improvements Include:
    • New traffic signals
    • Turn lanes for each direction
    • Increased lighting at intersection to improve visibility for pedestrians and drivers
    Please contact 801-227-8012 or email [email protected] for any questions. Construction
    schedules are weather-dependent and subject to change. For the latest information on
    traffic restrictions during construction, visit the UDOT Traffic website (udottraffic.utah.gov)
    or download the UDOT Traffic app for iPhone or Android. Drivers can also follow UDOT on
    social media including Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

  • UDOT to Reduce Westbound U.S. 40 to Place Bridge Beams

    UDOT to Reduce Westbound U.S. 40 to Place Bridge Beams

     

    The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) will be setting the first bridge beams for the new bridges on U.S. 40 near the Mayflower exit. Crews are scheduled to set up to six beams at one of the north overpass bridge locations from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. tomorrow.  Placing the beams will require closing one of the uphill lanes of U.S. 40 between the Mayflower interchange and the Summit County line. Drivers should expect moderate to heavy travel delays as a result. Crews are scheduled to place the remaining beams at the north bridge locationThursday morning. The next bridge beams will be placed at the westbound bridge location south of the Mayflower exit in August.

     

    This $19 million project includes new bridge crossings to the north and south of the Mayflower interchange, which currently serves Jordanelle State Park and the surrounding communities. Once the bridges are completed, new local roads are planned to cross under them, and this local roadway network will help reduce congestion at the highway interchange by providing additional connections for area traffic. It will also provide access to new developments scheduled to begin building in the area west of U.S. 40 in the near future.

    Construction schedules are weather-dependent and subject to change. For the latest information on traffic restrictions during construction, visit the UDOT Traffic website (udottraffic.utah.gov) or download the UDOT Traffic app for iPhone or Android. Drivers can also follow UDOT on social media including Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

  • Big Hollow Fire at 22% Containment

    Big Hollow Fire at 22% Containment

    The Big Hollow Fire continued to rage Friday, as firefighter crews worked tirelessly to protect the town of Daniel. Heber Valley residents watched as huge flames were clearly visible on the mountain Thursday night. Big Hollow Fire had consumed 418 acres and was 22% contained by Friday evening.

    It began at around 4:30 pm Thursday afternoon, just above the Big Hollow Shooting Range. The specific cause is still under investigation. It was determined to be a human-caused fire, based on lightning maps of the area. Those responsible could face criminal charges. There also may be civil penalties to pay for the expensive firefighting operation.

    Mandatory evacuations were ordered at about 10:15 pm Thursday for part of Little Sweden Road. However, the order decreased to voluntary evacuations at 11:30 pm. The voluntary evacuations included from 1200 E. to Daniels Road.

    Winds, steep terrain, and poor access made it more difficult to fight the fire on Thursday. But, according to Mike Eriksson of the Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands, the firefighting effort was “looking good” on Friday afternoon. “The firefighters did an incredible job today to meet the objectives we set,” said Eriksson. He called it a successful day and said that the favorable weather conditions helped.

    The assault on the Big Hollow Fire has involved at least 90 personnel, 9 engines, 2 hand crews, and multiple aircraft including Heavy Tankers and Helicopters, according to the Wasatch County Fire Facebook page. The Fire Department is asking the public to stay out of the area and keep drones away. One drone will shut down the air attack and slow containment of the fire.

    The Heber Valley community has helped with spontaneous offers for animal lodging and housing for evacuees. The Utah Red Cross also set up an Evacuation Center in the LDS meetinghouse at 2285 S. Daniels Rd.

    Follow the Utah Fire Info twitter page for updated information: https://twitter.com/utahwildfire?lang=en

  • Wasatch County Fair (2020 version) is On!

    Wasatch County Fair (2020 version) is On!

    The Wasatch County Fair will be held August 5-8, 2020. Although this year will be different from past events, the organizers have come up with some unique, safe ideas for family fun!

    “We have great events and activities planned for Fair Days this year,” says Amaria Scovil, Director of the Wasatch County Recreation Center. “There is a free drive-in movie night with popcorn to kick off the fair on August 5th, and to wrap it up on August 8th, we’re throwing a tailgate concert and BBQ, followed by fireworks.” In between, there is so much more!

    The free Drive-in Movie on August 5th will show “A Dog’s Journey.” The gates at the Event Complex will open at 7:30pm, and free popcorn will be provided, while supplies last. There will also be a short video to recognize the Wasatch High School 2020 Seniors, prior to the movie at 9:30pm.

    The free Fun Run will be held on Thursday, August 6th, and can be completed anytime between 7am and 7pm. Participants can walk or run the 2 miles up Memorial Hill. Pre-registration and face masks are encouraged. New participants will begin the run every 10 minutes to allow for social distancing. Prizes will be given for social media posts.

    The County Fair will also include pre-registered outdoor family games, including a power-wheels race, a foul shot competition, and a stick-horse barrel race.

    The Jr. Livestock Show, including lambs, swine, and beef, will run throughout the fair. The sale will be held on Saturday, August 8.

    “Wasatch Has Talent” videos and County Fair exhibits will be submitted online. 4H exhibits will be dropped off in person. Exhibits will be judged and posted on the website for viewing beginning on August 4. Links for all three types of entries can be found below.

    The Wasatch County Fair 2020 will end with a tailgate concert and BBQ at the Event Complex. The BBQ will run from 5:30-7:30pm, at $6 a plate, and will be limited to the first 1,000 people. Tyke James and the Moss will then open the concert at 7pm, with Charley Jenkins headlining at 8pm. The Horse of Many Colors Balloon Launch will follow at 9:30pm, and festivities will culminate with fireworks at 9:45pm.

    For more information, please see https://www.wasatchcountyfair.com/

    Talent video submissions can be made here: https://www.wasatchcountyevents.com/p/fair-days-new/activities/talent-find

    Open Class Exhibits can be submitted here: https://www.wasatchcountyevents.com/p/fair-days-new/activities/exhibits

    4H information can be found at this link: https://d38trduahtodj3.cloudfront.net/files.ashx?t=fg&rid=WasatchCountyEventsCenter&f=2020-4H.pdf

  • Heber Market 2020 Begins Thursday

    Heber Market 2020 Begins Thursday

    Thanks to some very dedicated leaders of Heber City, the Heber Market on Main will be going forward this year! The kickoff event will be held on Thursday, July 9, 2020, from 6-8:30 pm, at the Main Street Park. It will include food trucks, live music, contests, and prizes. And, exclusively for 2020, there will also be physical distancing, sanitizing, and a face mask contest thrown in.

    After the event came to a close last year, the city decided to recreate it into a world-class event, with a new website and a new brand. Several issues were addressed, such as parking, crowd control, and organization. The original 2020 plan included a new layout with 300 booths, including free booths for farmer’s produce as an incentive. Specific areas were created for food and beverage, art, education, farmer’s produce, and craft vendors, along with a food truck area. The new design also included a Kids’ Play Zone and a Themed Activity Area. The new arrangement of the market was created to allow for larger crowds, strollers, and wheelchairs, even with the additional booths.

    Because of increased health restrictions for this year, 2020 will offer a scaled-down, COVID-friendly version of the new Heber Market. This year’s market will include several food trucks and live music. Sanitation stations will be provided, and virtual monetary transactions will be used. Wasatch County Health Department is requiring that masks and other physical distancing measures be utilized.

    Limited seating will be available this Thursday beginning at 6:00 pm. An opening ceremony will commence at 6:25 pm, with a color guard by the Heber City Police Department, the National Anthem, and a short message from Heber City Mayor Kelleen Potter. At 6:40 pm, Harry Lee & the Back Alley Blues Band will begin their show. There will also be games and prizes, including a couple of special awards for creative face masks.

    For more information, along with a map of the future Heber Market design, go to https://hebermarket.com/ and follow them on social media.

  • Midway to Host 4th of July Celebration

    Midway to Host 4th of July Celebration

    The Midway Boosters are holding an Independence Day celebration on July 4, 2020, and everyone is invited! Activities will include a drive-by parade, a radio broadcast, and fireworks originating from Memorial Hill. The City of Midway is encouraging people to watch the fireworks from their vehicles, if possible.

    Booster members Randy Bradley and his wife Annie are in charge of the event. They knew they couldn’t have the traditional Midway celebration because of the coronavirus. “We came up with a plan where we wouldn’t have to worry about the COVID restrictions. We just got creative with what we could do to provide safety for all involved,” Mr. Bradley stated.

    The drive-by will be like a reverse parade. It will run from 7:00-8:00pm. Selected individuals will be spaced along a 4-block area (between 200 E. and 200 W. on Main Street in Midway), and citizens of the community are invited to show their support by driving by, honking, and decorating their cars if they want. Individuals on the route will include Midway Mayor Celeste Johnson and the City Council, Midway Boosters, Swiss Miss Royalty, Miss Wasatch royalty, The Peak 94.5, and Honored Citizen Kaye Bonner with her brother Larry Bonner.

    “Kay Bonner is an icon in the city of Midway,” said Bradley. “This year, when we were throwing out names for honored citizens, her name came up, and it ended all conversation. We were a complete, total, unanimous vote without even any discussion. We feel so lucky to have her here and to honor her.”

    At the same time as the drive-by, beginning at 7:00pm, The Peak 94.5 will begin a special patriotic broadcast for listeners. Bob Hendricks will MC, and the broadcast will contain messages from Utah Congressman John Curtis, Midway Mayor Johnson, and Booster President Joe Klotovich. It will also include music by the Midway Swiss Miss and Heber Valley memories from Kaye Bonner.

    “At the end of the program, we’re going to ask everyone who’s listening to safely pull over, face Memorial Hill or where they know a flag is at, and sing the national anthem,” said Bradley. He was especially appreciative of the radio station for “graciously offering to prerecord the program and then broadcast it during the same time as the drive-by.”

    In addition, the Heber Valley Boy Scout Troop is doing a fundraiser. They will be handing out ice cream and asking for donations through Venmo.

    The Midway Boosters would love to have as many people as possible join in the celebration. For more information, go to http://midwayboosters.org/independence-day-celebration.

  • “A Night of Thanks” for First Responders

    “A Night of Thanks” for First Responders

    The Karl Malone Team held a free dinner event on Friday night to show the community’s gratitude for Wasatch County’s First Responders. “A Night of Thanks” included dinner and prizes donated from multiple local businesses. The Fire Department, Police Department, Sheriff’s Department, Utah Highway Patrol, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), and Search and Rescue were invited, along with their families, to attend.

    The event was created by Amy Madsen, who is the wife of Karl Malone’s local partner, Andy Madsen. Amy’s son is a deputy sheriff, and her friend is a detective for Heber City. “With all of the negativity [toward first responders] that I saw on Facebook and on social media, I just thought … we need to do something for them, just to let them know that we’re behind them.”

    She told her husband that she wanted to show support somehow. The dinner was held outside at a Karl Malone dealership only 9 days later, with over 300 people in attendance.

    When Madsen went to businesses in Wasatch County to ask if they would donate to the event, she received an overwhelmingly positive response. “It was a lot! I was surprised,” she said. “It wasn’t even a question of ‘what do you want?,’ it was ‘take whatever you want.’ I was so pleased.”

    Mohammad of Mountainland One Stop, who was out of town when Madsen first came by, later donated 5 gift cards for $100 each in gas. The Fit Stop donated 5 different prizes. Signarama made window signs saying, “We support our law enforcement.” Other businesses were also extremely generous.

    “It’s good that our cops, our law enforcement, and our firefighters are all comfortable enough with us, as a community, to be able to bring their families out to something like this,” said Madsen. “I hope they enjoyed it.”

    Team Karl Malone worked with The Junction, Cafe Galleria, Profit Concepts Inc. (PCI), Swire Coca-Cola USA, and Smith’s to provide the dinner. Additional donations were made by The Fit Stop, Red Ledges, Sport Clips, Crumbl Cookies, Fernweh, Phone Doc, Sportsman’s Warehouse, Signarama, Mountainland One Stop, and Citrus Pear.

    The Wasatch High School football team also helped out by setting up and taking down tables and tents.

    Madsen is hoping to make this an annual activity to show support to Wasatch County’s first responders. “It was an amazing event, and I hope to do it every year,” she said.

  • The Classics Come to Heber

    The Classics Come to Heber

    Heber City hosted a popular Car Show on Saturday, June 27, 2020. The “Back to the 50’s” Car Show was held at Heber City Park and included music and awards. JC Hackett, radio personality for Oldies station KCPX, was the organizer, and this is his 27th year hosting the Heber City show. The proceeds from the show will go to charities, including The Alzheimer’s Foundation and the Utah 1033 Foundation for families of Fallen Law Enforcement Officers.

    Some accommodations were made due to the current COVID pandemic. For example, the cars were parked wider than usual and social distancing was encouraged. An “Attend Event at your Own Risk” sign was also posted at entry points.

    Local participant Cindy Cooper was at the show displaying a ’57 Ranchero and a ’64 Oasis trailer. She participates every year and said she was “thrilled” to be at the show this year. According to Cooper, everyone was “really nice, waiting for people to come out [of the trailer], and then the next group would go in. They’re not all crowding like they usually do. Everybody’s been really respectful.”

    West Jordan resident, John Dixon, was in Heber showing his award-winning “Betty Boop” car. The original body is almost 100-years-old but now is a bright, candy-apple color, with Betty Boop custom paint. It’s also been updated with a Windsor motor and a motorcycle front end.

    Not all of the entries were cars. Rocky Bowlby brought his 1978 racing boat to the show, with its custom black paint and carburetor gold-plating. He came to Heber Saturday to go boating, but then saw the car show and decided to enter, winning an unexpected award for his unique watercraft.

    Cooper added that she was pleased with the turnout at the show. She also noticed that “everyone seems so happy to be out.” More information can be found on JC Hackett’s Car Shows and Cruise Nights at https://www.jchackett.com/.

  • Utah Lt. Governor Spencer Cox Visits Wasatch County

    Utah Lt. Governor Spencer Cox Visits Wasatch County

    The lieutenant governor and GOP gubernatorial candidate Spencer Cox, along with his running mate Utah Senator Deidre Henderson, stopped by the Spin Cafe in Heber City on Wednesday to meet with local residents. The event provided an opportunity for Cox and Henderson to discuss issues important to Wasatch County. Cox also visited the Kohler Dairy Farm earlier in the day.

    A native of rural Fairview, Utah, Cox has made it a goal to visit each of Utah’s 248 cities and towns during his campaign for governor. He currently continues to reside in Fairview, commuting 200 miles almost every day to work in Salt Lake City. One of his main priorities is strengthening rural economies.

    Cox discussed the growth-related challenges that rural Utah is facing and emphasized that infrastructure must be in place ahead of growth to manage growth more effectively. “There are a couple of things that are really important, and one is we want to maintain our quality of life, … and when infrastructure precedes growth, the quality of life stays high. Where growth precedes infrastructure, the quality of life goes down,” according to Cox. He added that the type of growth and where it happens is also important. “For example, we need localized opportunities,” he stated. However, Cox mentioned that the ability to work from home more, due to the COVID pandemic, has had its own benefits. “That is one way to change growth patterns,” he suggested.

    When asked about the balance between strengthening rural economies and preserving open space, he said that “the best way to preserve open space is to work with agriculture and make sure that our agricultural communities can succeed.” He mentioned the many dairy farms that used to be in the Heber Valley, of which there are very few left. “There are things we can do to preserve [those lands] for future generations and keep farming happening. . . . Making sure food is produced [in our state] is critical, and that’s one way to preserve open spaces.” Cox said that they are working with the agricultural community to incentivize farming, thus encouraging land to be passed down to later generations without being developed.

    COVID-19, mental health, and education funding were also among the many topics discussed at the event. To learn more about the lieutenant governor’s initiatives for Utah, go to: https://ltgovernor.utah.gov/

  • What’s Happening – Wasatch County Council

    What’s Happening – Wasatch County Council

    The Wasatch County Council held a meeting on Wednesday, June 17, 2020 where several topics were discussed, including COVID-19 updates and zoning amendments to the Jordanelle Basin Overlay Zone.

    County Health Director Randall Probst gave an update on COVID-19 for Wasatch County. From a per capita rating (per 100,000), Wasatch County has overtaken Summit County to have the second-highest count in Utah, with only San Juan County being higher. There were 17 hospitalizations at the time of the update (19 at the time of printing). He added that Salt Lake hospitals are nearing capacity and are now sending Covid patients to other nearby hospitals.

    Probst mentioned that anyone desiring to hold an event in the county should fill out the template at www.coronavirus.utah to request an event review.

    Councilman Kendall Crittenden discussed a potential land trade between Heber Light and Power and Wasatch County regarding “Cowboy Village” and about 5 acres behind the Wasatch Events Center. In 2001, the county and power company traded the two properties, giving “Cowboy Village” to the county and the power company the land behind the Event Center. Heber Light and Power would like to trade back, taking the Cowboy Village land and giving Wasatch County the land by the Event Center. The possible need for a public hearing was considered by the Council. Councilman Crittenden requested that more discussion be held in a closed session. After the closed session, the Council decided to continue the discussion at a later date to allow for additional research.

    Also, several code amendments for the Jordanelle Basin Overlay Zone (JBOZ) were proposed. The JBOZ was originally written as a stand-alone document, but was later merged into Title 16, so the recent amendments deleted the redundant sections covered elsewhere.

    The new amendments will also allow for some additional land uses in the area. Professional offices, recording and sound studios, finance and insurance offices, personal services (such as barbershops), professional services (such as county and medical offices), educational services (including schools, yoga studios, etc.), cultural activities (such as art exhibits and museums), and recreational activities (such as golf courses) were all added as acceptable land uses in the area. Archery and firearms were also added as a conditional allowance but remain restricted from residential areas.

    Some small changes in required setbacks were also included in the amendments.

    The County Council found the changes to be consistent with goals of Wasatch County to “support activities that provide jobs which can support permanent resident households, … [encourage] commercial services near population centers, and [facilitate] commercial development in an area where residential development is increasing pressures for necessary services . . . .“

    It was determined that the positive impact of the new amendments will be “flexibility in commercial zones for additional uses that could facilitate development of commercial areas.” The negative impacts were determined to be “reduced amount of retail commercial in developed projects that mix non-retail commercial uses.”

    In the end, the Council decided to unanimously approve the amendments.

    To see the schedule for upcoming Wasatch County Council meetings, or to view past meetings, go to https://docs.wasatch.utah.gov/OnBaseAgendaOnline/

  • Red Light, Green Light, GO!

    Red Light, Green Light, GO!

    One of the city’s busiest intersections is becoming much safer. A new traffic light is being added to 100 South and 300 West. This road is also State Highway 113 and is managed by the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT). The department has been doing a “warrant study” to determine if there was a need in that location, and their analysis showed that the stoplight was necessary to maintain the safety of the road. UDOT is also adding left-turn lanes on 100 South and crosswalks in all four directions.

    “These added safety features just make that intersection safer for everyone who uses it,” said UDOT spokesperson Geoff Dupaix. “It makes it a lot more traffic and pedestrian-friendly.” This intersection is currently used for school crossing and is also a main connection point between Heber and Midway.

    This area has an interesting potential future. The area is zoned as R-3, with an RC Overlay Zone. An R-3 zone is generally located near the main city area, and can have single-family homes, but also apartments and community facilities. Usually, commercial business is not allowed. However, the RC Overlay Zone provides some additional uses for the area. This residential/commercial overlay corridor runs along 100 South, from 100 West to 100 South.

    The RC Overlay is still primarily residential, but it allows for limited types of businesses. Any commercial use, however, must maintain a residential look through small, individual, historic-looking buildings. Currently, the only business on the intersection is the Heber Senator Bed and Breakfast, housed in the 1902 Joseph Murdock home.

    According to Dupaix, future possibilities were not a factor in this particular situation. However, UDOT is constantly collecting data on all their state roads to measure how well their transportation system is working. The new stoplights should be in operation on Monday.

  • A Colorful Display Of Heber City Unity

    A Colorful Display Of Heber City Unity

    Heber City has officially put out its welcome mat for the summer! This past Saturday, the Community Alliance for Main Street (CAMS) organized its Heber City Annual Spring Planting. CAMS has made its mission to “restore and improve our beloved historic Main Street.” The non-profit is required to work with the significant limitations of being on a state highway, but Main Street is still the face of Heber City to visitors, and CAMS is working towards supporting local businesses and Heber’s economy by creating a unique and charming corridor.

    Business owners along Main Street have previously had the responsibility of maintaining the planter boxes along the street, but this year Heber City Municipal has taken a larger role by tilling the boxes and adding a new water-wise drip system. Also, the boxes were mostly redone to create a more uniform look, although a couple of them still retain their former unique character. The old boxes had not been officially updated since the Utah Olympics in 2002. The planters are now overseen by Head Gardener, Chris Keeling. She has been working with Dairy Keen for years and has now joined with CAMS and Heber City to prepare and oversee the Main Street boxes throughout the season.

    According to CAMS Chairperson, Tom Stone, analysis of other cities has shown that flowers, greenery, and trees on main streets are a major draw for communities. He says that along with creating a better perception of the town, beautifying Main Street helps local businesses by creating an inviting place where people will want to gather and shop. For this reason, the partnership between Heber City and CAMS is mutually beneficial with shared goals to improve the city, visually and economically.

    “I’ve been involved with this for about 15 years,” Stone explains, “and never had we had the city leadership, both City Council level, City Manager, and the Mayor be this heavily interested and putting in the time and effort to make sure we succeed together”. Stone says there is much more to come, such as murals around town and a water feature. “We need more people and volunteers,” says Stone. “Main Street is our first impression. . . . There are a few of us doing a lot, and I think if there were a lot of us doing a few things, we would have even greater things coming.”

    The local volunteers who planted flowers on Saturday created a beautiful reminder of the good that can come from community involvement and effort.

  • CAMS Annual Spring Planting

    CAMS Annual Spring Planting

    Please join us outside the Heber City Tabernacle on Saturday June 6 from 9am-Noon to plant flowers in the Heber City Main street flower boxes.

  • The Provo River

    The Provo River

    By Karyn Bates Anderson

    “A river is more than an amenity; it is a treasure. It offers a necessity of life that must be rationed among those who have power over it.”

    A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT

    This statement by Oliver Wendall Holmes Jr. (Former Associate Justice of the US Supreme Court) is as true today as it was in 1922.

    Of all the majestic landforms in the Heber Valley the Provo River, flowing silently along, yet changing everything in its path, is a significant game-changer. The river is a consistent and necessary source of drinking water for Utah. In 2005, Provo River provided drinking water for half the population of our state. In addition, the river offers incredible vistas, outstanding boating, fishing, and other recreational opportunities.1

    In the mid-1900s, this magnificent river was made to bend to the will of those in power. The dramatic change in the river’s natural course caused severe damage to native flora and fauna. Recently the Provo River was reconstructed again in an attempt to reverse some of the damage done, and is currently protected to provide habitat and natural beauty.

    The river’s story begins high in the Uintah Mountains, in an area full of natural lakes. It winds through the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest before making a monumental stop at the over 3,000-acre manmade Jordanelle Reservoir. After the completion of the Jordanelle Dam in 1993, the three small towns of Keetley, Jordanelle, and Hailstorm, were submerged by 320,300 acre feet of water from the Provo River — creating the Jordanelle Reservoir. The reservoir helps support the needs of nearby counties, and provides an abundance of recreation for the area, with three main access points from Hailstone, Rock Cliff, and Ross Creek.

    The abundant Provo River continues its way throughout the Heber Valley until it reaches Deer Creek Reservoir. The Deer Creek Dam and Reservoir were completed in 1941. This reservoir covers 2,700 acres of land at full capacity, and also provides another massive water storage area for Utah’s population, again with the added benefit of boating, ice fishing, kite surfing, and other outstanding recreational opportunities.

    After leaving the Heber Valley, the river steadily moves down the canyon, through the popular Provo River Parkway, and across the cities of Orem and Provo. Finally, it empties into Utah Lake, which is the state’s largest freshwater lake at about 148 square miles of water.

    MOVING A GIANT

    The Heber Valley portion of the river, between Jordanelle and Deer Creek, is known as the “Middle Provo River.” In the 1950s and ‘60s, this area became the subject of a major facelift through the Provo River Project. The project was designed as part of a more extensive program to divert, store, and deliver more water to the citizens of Utah. This plan for the Provo River was created through a federal program called the Central Utah Project (CUP) and was headed by the Utah Bureau of Reclamation. The concept for the CUP was conceived by Utah Valley farmers in 1902. The government began investigating the idea in 1945, it was authorized in 1956, with construction beginning in 1967. This elaborate system serves seven counties with 12 reservoirs throughout Utah and is the largest water resources development program in the state.2

    After the CUP began modifying the river higher up, the Middle Provo River received extra water from these multiple, High-Uinta, trans-basin diversions. Because of the high flows created by this project, it was determined that the Middle Provo River should be straightened and channeled to reduce flooding. According to Paula Trater, the biological technician for the Provo River Restoration Project, “They basically took the Provo River and put it into a gigantic ditch. They diked both sides and channelized it because, at that point, they were having problems with flooding due to the other water projects.” However, in doing this, the complex fish and wildlife ecosystem of the middle river was destroyed.3

    For years, the river flowed undeviatingly through the Heber Valley along the manmade channel into the Deer Creek Reservoir. When the Jordanelle Dam was created the possibility of flooding was significantly reduced, since it allowed for possible flood control in years with heavy rain and snow. The money to build the Jordanelle Dam also included funding for mitigation to compensate for any ecological damage. The situation offered the perfect opportunity to begin restoring the Middle Provo River. The Central Utah Project Completion Act of 1992 was created to organize completions of the CUP design, as well as to mitigate damages caused by it. The Act authorized the Utah Reclamation Mitigation and Conservation Commission as an Executive branch agency of the federal government. Its task was to try to undo the damage from the larger projects.

    CIRCLING BACK

    The plan called for “un-straightening” the river channel again into more natural river meanders, as similar to the original river path as possible. Existing remnants of secondary channels would be reconnected to the main river, and small side channels and ponds would be recreated in a bid to restore wetland and wildlife habitat. A new flood plain would be established, as near to natural as possible, to allow the river to move and flow more naturally. To facilitate this, the restoration project needed to acquire “an 800 to 2,200-foot-wide continuous corridor the length of the Middle Provo River, protected for angler access and wildlife habitat.”4

    The Commission began its pilot project in 1999, completing approximately one mile of river per year. Hydrologist Tyler Allred created the designs, attempting to mimic a naturally functioning river throughout the Heber Valley corridor, while still working within the restrictions of the Jordanelle Dam on the upstream end and Deer Creek Dam down below. Trater explained, “We’ve got basically ten miles of river that we turned into about twelve miles of naturally-meandering water . . . well, as natural as a bulldozer can make a river. The Mitigation Commission was undoing the channeling project that had been done in the ‘50s when they didn’t have as much consideration of greater environmental impacts to moving water. Rivers then were more just a way to get water from point A to point B, and they didn’t think about the general ecosystem and floodplains and how everything is tied together. We’re all connected — plants, water, humans, animals — it’s just such a complex system.”

    Creating the new, old Provo River was a huge task. The banks of the river were initially private property on both sides, so there was a lot of opposition to having a public corridor come through. To balance the private property interests, it was agreed that there would be only seven access points for the public. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation had acquired 135 acres of private property along the middle river when the Jordanelle Dam was built. About 490 additional acres were secured for the Provo River Restoration Project to fulfill its intention of habitat restoration and public access. Not only was the main river channel recreated and reconnected to remnants of secondary channels, but the area was also revegetated to restore destroyed habitats. The project construction lasted from 1999 until 2008. There is still ongoing surveying and monitoring of habitat wildlife populations such as native fish, macroinvertebrate, birds, and the Colombian Spotted Frog, which is on Utah’s Sensitive Species List.

    A DIFFERENT KIND OF OPEN SPACE

    Some think of open space as park-like, with paved trails for bikes and strollers. The 40-mile Jordan River Parkway, running from Utah County to Davis County, and the Provo River Parkway, a 15-mile stretch between Utah Lake and the Provo Canyon, are examples of this type of area and are intended for heavy travel. The Provo River Restoration Project is different. It was designed for a much more agricultural, rural area. “Of course, population demographics have changed,” says Trater, “and it’s gotten much more populated here in the Heber Valley, so I know a lot of pressure [could be] coming from recreationalists, but the original design was focused on wildlife and mitigation for lack of habitat that construction of the dam caused.”

    According to Trater, people sometimes talk about creating that kind of [paved] trail along the river here, but that was not its intention. “People see this beautiful, open, riparian corridor and, of course, humans are drawn to open spaces and the great feeling of being out in nature by yourself. But it was specifically designated more for wildlife habitat. Some people have a hard time understanding that just by being there, you’re affecting it — even if you’re just passing through on your bike.”

    Because of the habitat restoration, the Commission had to balance the needs of the Provo River’s natural wildlife population with access to the public. They came up with the concept of allowing access to minimal places along the river, with strict guidelines. The public corridor access includes recreation such as fishing, hiking, bird-watching, enjoying nature, and other non-consumptive uses.

    Although there is no easy trail, Trater points out that, “we do have a lot of footpaths that the deer and fisherman create by use. Those are pretty much throughout the whole corridor. The way I think of it is instead of the big, wide, green-circle bunny trail at a ski resort where everybody goes; this is off in the trees, it’s the black-diamond areas. Mountain biking is not allowed because it’s considered a higher-impact use. You have to bushwhack, you might get wet, and you’re going to get attacked by deer flies and mosquitoes in the summer. It’s raw nature. We don’t have Kentucky bluegrass out there, you can come out there with your kids, and they can throw rocks and scamper over logs.”

    Crossing the river in a few places and running alongside the river still adversely affect the natural habitat. The Commission contributed to the cost of a few of the several bridges placed along the river where there is heavier public use to help protect the native flora and fauna. The Midway Lane Legacy Bridge is one example.

    JOINING FORCES

    Although the Utah Reclamation Mitigation and Conservation Commission is a small, federally-funded agency, it also works with local county and city governments to create public spaces. “A lot of these big projects have been done with state partners and nonprofits,” says Trater. “We are kind of like the band leader, but we’ve got the whole orchestra going on, working towards river restoration to make up for the construction that has been done.”

    As in the original Provo River Project, which channeled the river, and the Provo River Restoration Project, which attempted to undo the damage; the government, and the current population has considerable influence over the direction of nature in the Heber Valley. The influx of growth will most definitely change the view. How we respond to the demands pressing in will determine the future of the valley.

    The Heber Valley is not the first and will not be the last open area to be threatened with historically uncharacteristic development. Salt Lake City recently announced the purchase of Allen Park. The seven-acre parcel, affectionately known as Hobbitville, was being considered for development property; however, it will now be preserved open space for public use. In this case, public money set aside from impact fees was used. Utah Public Lands, who joined with the city to try to preserve the park, said, “We have all witnessed how open space has served as a ray of hope amid the current crisis. The ability to preserve Allen Park became a reality because of Salt Lake City’s diligence.” Heber Valley must also be diligent in providing a measure of balance once again between population and nature, as our open space dwindles.

    One way to do this is through open space bonds. Both Midway City and Wasatch County have open space bond money available for their use, and Heber City has recently formed its own Open Space Committee. There are also some other innovative ideas for saving open space, such as Midway’s creation of the rural preservation subdivision, which has a limit of one home for every five acres. This incentive-based program provides a shorter approval process with fewer requirements for infrastructure to developers who choose less density within specific parameters. Cost-saving measures are used “to incentivize folks not to develop their property to full density, but rather to protect it,” stated Celeste Johnson, Midway City’s Mayor.5

    Working with state partners and nonprofits might be another option, as was done in the Provo River Restoration Project. Programs aimed at this type of preservation maintain open land not only for us but for all future generations. We can only do this growth once. There are no second chances, and we can’t go back. It is a huge responsibility on the current population of the Heber Valley to find a way to maintain some of the open space that we currently enjoy, as the pressures of growth mount. Open space is one of our most valuable assets.

    According to the Envision Heber website, 53.6% of survey respondents value preserving open space as a number one priority in the Heber Valley. Heber City Mayor Kelleen Potter explained the reasoning behind the numbers. “I believe that one of the reasons people come here and love it here is because of the open space. It feels rural, it feels open, and it’s beautiful. I think that it’s really important to people to make sure that we preserve some of that space, and that we have, especially, outdoor spaces where we can recreate, and that we can use and enjoy. I think it’s a quality of life issue, it’s an economic issue, and it’s also a health issue. There are just so many reasons why it’s valuable to our residents and to our community that we maintain significant amounts of open space.”

    During the current pandemic and quarantine, the Provo River and Heber Valley open spaces are even more valuable to us as we are instructed to remain close to home. We are incredibly fortunate to have so many natural resources available nearby. The movement of life is reminiscent of a river — ever-changing and continually moving forward. Once in a while, though, the current slows down. We as a society are being forced to slow down, similar to how the Provo River Restoration Project forced a return to a more meandering, slower path for the river as it runs through the Heber Valley. This change restored not only the original beauty of the river but also the wetland habitat surrounding it. Public and governmental preservation of open spaces works similarly to slow down growth and maintain the unique charm. Much like the straightened river, growth, if left on its own, will move forward in the quickest and most convenient path. The Provo River Restoration Project can be used as a metaphor for slowing down and controlling the direction of growth in the Heber Valley, ensuring that a beneficial balance is achieved between man and nature.

    As Paula Trater so fittingly stated, “Everything that happens on a river affects everything else. What happens upstream affects downstream users. Rivers connect the whole community.” Likewise, our actions now will affect our community for generations after us. It is a huge responsibility but I believe we are up to the task.

    1 https://www.ser-rrc.org/project/usa-utah-the-provo-river-restoration-project

    2 https://www.mitigationcommission.gov/aboutus/aboutus.html

    3 https://www.ser-rrc.org/project/usa-utah-the-provo-river-restoration-project

    4 https://www.mitigationcommission.gov/prrp/prrp.html

    5 https://www.kpcw.org/post/midway-city-council-gets-update-four-properties-applying-open-space-bond-money#stream/0

  • Heber City Council Completes Sorenson Annexation

    Heber City Council Completes Sorenson Annexation

    sorenson annex

    Heber City Council approved the annexation of the Sorenson Property, meaning the incoming 5,700-unit development built over the course of 40 years will officially be a part of the city.

    The 5,700-unit development is located on 8,000 acres to the north of current Heber City development. The annexation agreement has placed the development on 3,000 acres of the land leaving the remaining 5,000 acres as natural open space.

    The property was originally granted entitlements to build by a previous Wasatch County Council, without the annexation agreement the development would have had the same units in unincorporated parts of the county.

    The developers began the process to petition annexation into the city over a year ago. The result was hundreds of hours by the developers, city staff and the council to create a 50-page master development agreement outlining how the development will be built as a part of Heber City.

    Ahead of the meeting Mayor Kellen Potter shared that the developer has put around $20 million into a system in the area meaning they won’t be using the city’s water and sewer systems. They’ll also pay city taxes along with a provision in the MDA that if any services cost more than they do for the rest of the city that a special assessment will be required.

    Council spent a few additional hours ahead of voting on the agreement making some final tweaks. Those amendments included language that required affordable housing to be built, not allowing a fee in lieu to be paid instead. Council also finalized items such as amenities in parks, private street widths and dethatched garages. Mayor Potter shared her thoughts on the thoroughness of the project ahead of the vote.

    “I would just like to add that I am positive there’s not a development agreement in this county that’s been discussed and worked on for so many hours, and is so thorough,” Potter said. “I’m going to put some stuff out there for the public, because there are a lot of things that people think weren’t thought of, I think everything was thought of. So, well done to everyone who’s worked on this.”

    Council member Mike Johnston made the motion to accept the master development agreement and annex the 8,000-acre property into Heber City.

    “I want to say that we appreciate as a city council, the work that the staff has done,” Johnston continued. “Hundreds of hours I think have been put in by staff on this important development and future of our city. I appreciate the work that Mike Bradshaw has done and the property owner, and developer. So, I would like to make a motion that we accept the development agreement for the upper Jordanelle master planned community as we have amended it tonight.”

    The motion was passed unanimously by the city council.

  • Wasatch County Moves To Low Risk Yellow Phase

    Wasatch County Moves To Low Risk Yellow Phase

    Wasatch County has been moved to the low risk, yellow phase effective immediately.

    Thursday evening Wasatch County Health Department announced the county has been moved from the orange moderate risk phase to the yellow low risk phase.

    Wasatch County stayed in the yellow phase six days longer than most of the state.

    Wasatch County Health Director Randall Probst explained Wednesday the decision was made by the governor’s office based on monitored data of the virus.

    At the Wednesday meeting Probst says most businesses will continue to operate in yellow the same way they are expected to in orange. He did highlight three main differences of particular interest to those that had sent complaints to the council.

    “Team sports is allowed in yellow,” Probst continued. “The playgrounds in the parks open again. The parents are directed for still maintaining social distancing. The third thing that changes, our larger swimming pools have been open only to lap swimming. Under the yellow guidelines, that changes a little bit. Now their capacity for a pool is determined by the amount of deck space that they have where they can maintain social distancing, and that’s spelled out in the guidelines.”

    Although schools will remain closed through the end of the academic year, Probst adds that the yellow guideline allows schools to open which could impact summer school and drivers ed courses in the coming months.

    Part of the delay to move the Wasatch Back to the more moderate phase is the short amount of time they’ve been in the orange phase.

    “We’ve only been on orange for a little over two weeks,” Probst explained. “As we know, this virus has a two-week incubation period, so it takes two weeks to really know what impact any of these things are having on the spread of the virus.”

    Probst shared that on Wednesday afternoon of the 217 confirmed cases in the county, three were in the hospital. 146 of the 217 have recovered, meaning there were 71 active cases on Wednesday.

    Probst also echoed the governors concern for the highly vulnerable and minority populations.

    “Even though a lot of people aren’t happy about being encouraged to wear masks, that does help to protect,” Probst said. “It helps protect the vulnerable, and it really does help us move forward. Dr. Dunn’s comments she strongly encouraged us again to stay home when you’re sick, wear masks when you’re out in public and maintain proper social distancing. If those that are healthy are willing to do that and protect the vulnerable, we help with this whole thing along and the economic recovery much faster.”

    Wasatch County citizens were also encouraged to familiarize themselves with newly released Utah Leads Together 3.0 plan for economic recovery.

    Those that are high risk for COVID-19 and are struggling to meet basic needs can call the high-risk hotline 877-424-4640. More info can be found here. 

  • The Homestead

    The Homestead

    In a small little area of the world, over 10,000 years ago, snow melted in the Wasatch Mountains running through cracks and fissures in the ground until it reached 2 miles under the surface. It then began to heat and rise back up, bringing minerals with it. Eventually, that process created what is now known as the Homestead Crater.

    Midways Natural Wonder

    The Homestead is one of the most unique properties in Utah and has received well-deserved attention for over 125 years. Maria and Simon Schneitter originally built Schneitter’s Hot Pot Resort on the property, which officially opened in 1891. In 1907, Simon J. Schneitter married Fanny Miles, and they operated the resort together. Fanny’s restaurant still stands as a tribute to her and her famous fried chicken.

    It wasn’t until the mid-90’s that Craig Simons brought his innovation to the property to create easy access to the inside of the crater. Until then, inside access required dropping in from the top. The Simons family was given permission to create an access tunnel through the limestone sides — if they paid for it. They used fifteen tons of dynamite to blast through. The Simmons added electricity and dressing rooms, creating a one-of-a-kind opportunity for visitors and residents of Wasatch County.

    Classic To Classy

    The Homestead has stood as a symbol of heritage for over 125 years, and now it is approaching a significant transformation. Although a previous group had plans to demolish most of the buildings, that application was withdrawn. On October 18, 2019, The Homestead Group, LLC purchased the property, with Slate Canyon Hospitality managing the hotel. The new owners have big plans to continue the Homestead tradition by cultivating an upgraded vision for the property that they hope will maintain the current magic while enhancing the amenities offered. They believe Wasatch County residents will be pleased with the results.

    Aside from removing a few storage buildings that could be deemed unsafe, The Homestead Group intends to “launch a full-scale renovation of each building, both inside and out, throughout the property.” They are also planning to “beautify” the golf course with some improvements.

    “A common theme that we hear is that the property is a bit tired, and given our background in hospitality, we couldn’t agree more,” The Homestead Group stated. “The thought of reinventing the Homestead Resort & Golf Course was intriguing to us. Hearing that the previous potential buyers wanted to use it as a development opportunity and remove many of the buildings was disappointing. Our main goal in this purchase is to bring life back to the Homestead and make it a beautiful resort that is relevant for generations to come.”

    Staying Sentimental

    Several areas within the Homestead property are especially nostalgic for residents of the Heber Valley. While the Virginia House is currently the only building on the Historic Registry, many feel just as attached to the main building where the lobby and restaurants are housed. The current owners plan to keep the lobby building intact, but with some improvements to upgrade the guest experience. “A few of these changes include: bringing the drive all the way up to the main building, which will allow our Valet and Bell team to create a better guest arrival and check-in experience. The front desk will move to a different area. The restaurant will be enhanced. The current meeting space will be fully renovated, and the lobby itself will become a much grander environment.”

    The Virginia House will remain and be reopened for visitors. “Over the years, [the Virginia House] transitioned from a home, to guest rooms, to a spa, and has now been shut down for the past ten years or so. We plan to fully renovate this building while keeping the historic elegance,” The Homestead Group explained. The Virginia House will be designed to accommodate overnight guests, especially large families or groups, and will include common areas for gathering.

    Unlike Anything In Utah

    The owners are planning to replace the pools with “a very different and unique concept that will be unlike anything around.” Plans also include a spa to accommodate hydrotherapy and massage. The Homestead Group intends to keep the crater open to the public as well.

    The group would like to continue the summer concert series for the long term. However, they admit they may need to be creative during construction. Once building is complete, our valley can expect to see a wide variety of great talent and maybe even an outdoor amphitheater.

    The new food and beverage areas of the resort are still in the planning stages, but there will be two or three dining areas. The group is hoping to build a “hydroponic greenhouse” to accommodate a farm-to-table concept with plenty of fresh produce. They hope to develop strong partnerships with local farmers to “help source everything from cheese to meats locally.”

    Residents of the Heber Valley will continue to play a large part in the future success of the Homestead, and their support is important to the new owners. “We have truly enjoyed getting to know the community of Midway, from the Mayor . . . to our neighbors. We feel that the community is going to be very happy with what we do with the Homestead.”

    A Community Treasure

    Unfortunately, many Heber Valley residents and hotel guests are still under the false impression that the Homestead buildings will be demolished. “Helping to spread the word that we are a different group of investors that is focusing on the renovation and revitalization of the Homestead is important to us. . . . We are here as a hospitality group, and our only plan is to create one of the best hospitality destinations in Utah.” The new owners are, in fact, local to Utah County, and they expressed a love for the Heber Valley and a desire for the community to “continue to think of the Homestead as a gem for generations to come.”

    “As an ownership group, it is vital to us that we maintain the quaint feel of the Homestead, while also delivering a product that exceeds the expectations of our current and future guests,” the group stated. “We will have green space, . . . which [will] include a garden farm and orchard concept. We will offer a host of activities and amenities, including incredible pools and spas, great golf, farm to table-style dining, and outdoor activities that will introduce our guests to our amazing mountain ranges through hiking, snowmobiling, ATVs, and horseback riding. We will be intensely focused on wellness and providing our guests with a relaxing, yet exciting, experience unlike anywhere they have ever been.”

    The renovation is expected to be in full swing by Fall 2020. The Homestead Group is in the final stages of site planning, designing, and branding, and they are encouraged by the community around them. “There are so many unique things [about the Homestead], but ultimately, we have never been involved in a hotel that has such incredible community involvement and support, which we truly appreciate.”

    Maria and Simon Schneitter probably could not have imagined all those years ago what Schneitter’s Hot Pot Resort would become — a bedrock in the hearts of Heber Valley residents and the state of Utah. Its influence will extend even farther with the upcoming renovation. Heber Valley has exciting changes to look forward to, and in its true, trail-blazing fashion, the Homestead will remain a unique and magical place, unlike any other.

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