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.

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.

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.”

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.

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.

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

 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.”

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!”

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.

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

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 6^th 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 10^th. Mask wearing will still be required in schools beyond that date. “The good news for everyone is case counts are really low,” he said.

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.