“I have a magical vision in my head of live music or music playing from juke boxes, with the windows open and the late summer breeze blowing in, and laughter. I just can’t wait to sit there and hear those sounds.” Leentje Klingensmith, the Marketing Director for the newly restored Oakley Diner, shares her vision for how the fresh space is going to feel. The historical Oakley Diner, formerly known as the Road Island Diner, has resided in Oakley, UT since 2007. Recently, the diner closed its doors in 2020 and went up for sale.
When Steve and Jana Smith purchased the property, they had a big vision for its future. The couple wanted it to be a gathering place for locals and tourists alike. Steve was born and raised in Kamas. After various adventures outside of Summit County, Steve returned to this area that holds a special place in his heart; calling it home once more. The Smiths put together an incredible team of people, and began renovations and plans for a new, fun community hub.
One of the key players on their team is Chef Eric May. Eric has overhauled the menu and helped with hiring a new staff. Leentje shares, “Eric’s […] been involved in the culinary scene here in Utah […] well over a decade. He has worked at the Blue Boar Inn for years and years, as well as Sundance, […] he has passion for the culinary arts, and has the same vision that Steve and Jana have.” Eric wants to offer classic diner food — but have it taste better than you can imagine — and has been instrumental in taking a vision and bringing it to life.
Guests at the Oakley Diner can expect delicious traditional breakfast fare served from 7:00 – 11:30 a.m. daily. There are plenty of ways to please your palate with options like Cowboy Benedict, Cinnamon Swirl Brioche French Toast, or the Breakfast Burrito. Lunch and dinner options are served until 9 p.m. and include salads, burgers, and sandwiches, as well as some pasta options. And not to worry — they haven’t forgotten to satisfy your sweet tooth: pie, cake, sundaes, and of course traditional and specialty milkshakes are all menu offerings. The menu also includes gluten-free options and a kids menu to please younger eaters.
Leentje says, “We’re so excited to be offering all of the diner classics that everybody loves, but also some more elevated options as well [like avocado toast], just to mix it up a little bit.” Leentje describes herself as a ‘breakfast-all-day-kind-of-gal’ so she’s excited that a few breakfast items, like waffles, will be served all day. She goes on to say, “But what I’m really excited for is the burgers and the shakes.” Leentje describes the burgers — two smashed burger patties piled on a housemade potato bun. Many of the bread items that will be served will be made in the Oakley Bakery which resides on the lower floor of the building. Lita May, wife to Eric, is heading up the bakery and has also been involved with hiring and rallying the team. The bakery will have pastries and other goodies. You’ll be able to grab a classic donut or something a bit fancier like the blueberry pancake donut with specialty toppings. The lower level of the building will also be home to a FiiZ Drinks and Oakley Roasting Company. There will be space inside to sit down and enjoy freshly brewed coffee or you can grab it and go at the drive-thru. “It’ll be fun to have those things right there in Oakley,” Leentje expresses.
Renovating the diner hasn’t come without some challenges. The diner was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places in August of 2009. As a historical landmark, the project team has taken great care to preserve it. Leentje shares one obstacle they were mindful of: “Trying to make sure that we did justice to the history of the diner, and that we were keeping that in mind, and really capturing that essence of what it was like in its heyday back in Rhode Island.” The heavy and long winter has also caused some setbacks with construction. Leentje laughs as she says, “It’s kind of one of those things; like if you wash your car, you’re almost guaranteed it’s going to rain. If you start renovating a diner up in Oakley, you’re almost guaranteed you’re going to have a heck of a winter I guess.” With construction delays, they’ve had to push back the opening date a couple of times. The team has persevered through the disappointment knowing that the end result is going to be worth the wait. “It’s important to us that we really knock it out of the park. We want to make sure that people have a phenomenal experience when they walk through those doors,” Leentje shares.
Many people in the valley have experienced the diner in its former days. So, what changes can be expected? Patrons can get excited for a new menu complete with classic favorites. An expansion off of the back of the diner allows for far more seating. There will be outdoor seating as well. While sticking with its classic styling, the diner will also sport a new look. Leentje explains, “As cliché as it sounds, I think people are going to be really blown away when they step into the diner for the first time. It is just spectacular! They have done such a great job of capturing that classic Americana diner feeling. We have the red bar stools and the black and white tile, and it feels like stepping back in time without being cheesy. […] I think that experience and that nostalgia is just going to really blow people away.”
As Leentje has been involved heavily in preparations for the grand opening, she has had lots of conversations with people who cannot wait for those doors to open again. She knows of families who have made the diner part of their family tradition as they visit the valley during the summer. Leentje had the pleasure of speaking with a woman who was recently engaged. The woman shared that while she worked as a waitress at the diner, a certain ‘guy’ would come in often to grab a cup of coffee just so he could see her and talk to her. And, they just got engaged! Many more fun memories and moments are sure to be had in this historic yet new space. “It’s just like this little piece of magic that I think can bring the community together. I just really love that!” Leentje says. She continues, “I look forward to having the diner be a big part of the community and participate in things that make the community better and somewhere that people want to come visit; making it better for the locals and everyone in between.”
“The limits of my language mean the limits of my world.” Ludwig Wittgenstein
Devany Browning and Jenna Haynie are helping individuals and families break through language limits in relation to speech and literacy. These two talented women recently joined forces; opening the doors to their joint office space. Jenna’s Literacy Utah and Devany’s Pathways Speech and Language Therapy go hand-in-hand, and, while they practice separately, they serve many of the same clients. Devany and Jenna are aware that the services they offer are not a one-size-fits-all program. They work hard to individualize what they do for each child.
Pathways
The mission of Pathways Speech and Language Therapy is: “To help children increase their ability to effectively communicate by providing powerful therapy that is uniquely adapted to each child and family, based on proven clinical techniques.”
Devany works with children ages 2-18, but she emphasizes the importance of early intervention. Often parents think their kids will grow out of speech delays or impediments, but working on these struggles early on can be really beneficial. For Devany, it’s all about creating solid relationships and growing from there. “Really, it’s about first building that relationship with the child so they trust you enough to work on things that are hard for them,” she shares.
Pathways Speech & Language Therapy -Devany Browing
For many parents, it’s difficult to know when help is needed. Devany shares a few warning signs to look for at different ages and stages of development:
Not able to communicate their needs at age 2 and 3
Can’t say all the letter sounds clearly by kindergarten
Still struggling with reading by 1st grade
Issues with R sounds or S lisps by age 7
Unable to write clearly and put together complex sentences by 2nd grade
While this list shares a few red flags, it is not comprehensive. If your child is struggling, reach out for a free 15-minute consultation. In that short amount of time, Devany can let you know if your child is on track, and if his/her speech and writing is age appropriate. Many people worry about financial constraints, but Devany is able to accept most insurance plans, and also works to help qualified candidates take advantage of a grant through United Health Care to relieve the financial burden. There are also many resources offered through the county and the school district. Devany works with and supports school SLPs and county intervention teams to make sure that children reach their goals.
Devany’s unique background helps her serve her clientele with creativity and understanding. While working as a paraprofessional in a school setting, she saw the speech pathologists come into classrooms and work with kids one-on-one. Devany says, “I enjoyed working with kids with disabilities, but was overwhelmed by the classroom setting.” Devany decided to return to school and earn her master’s in Speech and Language Pathology.
Vocabulary, reading comprehension, articulation, language delays, literacy, and spelling, all fall under the umbrella of speech and language. Devany shares, “The ability to process words and then hear individual sounds and manipulate them can be hard for kids. I focus on phonological awareness, which is the basis for being able to process sounds. Jenna’s team focuses on teaching explicit reading and spelling skills.” Together they do a combined dyslexia screening that looks at a myriad of factors that play a role in reading: reading fluency, writing fluency, vocabulary, and cognitive skills. They work with local psychologist, Ben Belnap, to do a full diagnosis. Aside from dyslexia, Devany also diagnoses articulation disorders and language disorders. Devany also has all the credentials and training to diagnose autism. This can be especially helpful to people on a long waiting list who want a diagnosis right away.
Literacy Utah
Jenna is highly trained in providing kids with the building blocks to not only be successful readers but to enjoy reading. According to her website, 1 in 5 students has dyslexia. That’s 20% of the population, and of that, only 1 in 20 are identified. Contrary to popular belief, dyslexia isn’t just having letters appear in a different order or backwards on the page. Dyslexia is an umbrella term for what Jenna defines as “an unexplained reason why they [children] can’t learn how to read.” It has nothing to do with vision or with intelligence. Jenna explains, “It has to do with how your eyes are seeing the information, but the most important step is what your brain is translating it into.” She notes, “For someone with dyslexia, it’s hard to retain all the information those little symbols (the alphabet) hold, and all the ways they can stretch.” As a certified dyslexia practitioner, Jenna can help students gain and retain that information. It just requires her teaching it in non-traditional ways.
After Jenna earned her bachelor’s degree in Communicative Disorders and Deaf Education, she began work as a speech assistant at a middle school. During this time, she witnessed a lot of students struggling with reading who weren’t getting what they needed. Jenna wanted to offer more help to those students; so she went back to school and earned a Master’s of Education in Curriculum and Instruction.
Literacy Utah -Jenna Haynie
Jenna says, “I want everything we do to be impactful.” Literacy Utah’s goal is to build the neural pathways that children need to be fluent readers.
Jenna compares building these pathways to the connection between a big screen TV and a DVD player. She explains, “You can have a massive big screen TV and a brand new DVD, but if the cord is broken, the communication between the two machines won’t work.” When the neural pathways are supported and strengthened, the brain can allow a reader to thrive. These neural pathways are strengthened as students are taught all the sounds a letter can make. They learn phonics in a different order than is traditionally taught in schools. Practitioners follow the student’s lead helping each child to master concepts at their own pace.
There are several key indicators that may point to a struggle with dyslexia. Here are a few to look for:
Mixing up letters or syllables in words
Can’t come up with words that rhyme
Can’t remember sight words
Messy handwriting
Letter or number reversals beyond 1st grade
Limited vocabulary
Poor writing skills
Family member with dyslexia
For the full comprehensive list and free online screener, head to Jenna’s website.
One of the first places parents should go if they suspect their child is struggling is to their child’s teacher. Teachers can share standardized reading test scores that show if your child is at or below grade level. If your child has completed multiple grades, ask to see the test scores through the years so you can identify any trends. You can also ask for free testing through the school if you’re concerned. Interventions and accommodations are available.
If kids aren’t on grade level with reading, now is the time to remedy that, regardless of age.
Jenna has learned, through trial and error, how to create marked progress with reading struggles. She can even help kids who are pre-readers. Jenna puts together an individualized learning plan for a child using science and data. Jenna says with a smile, “Science and data are my friends.” She tests every six months and pivots based on what that child needs. Jenna moves at the pace of the student recognizing, “If they’re not learning, I need to change what I’m doing. This kid can learn. I need to approach it from a different angle.” She constantly asks herself, “What do I need to do to nurture your growth?” Jenna explains that some kids need 10 repetitions to understand something, while others need 2,000 repetitions. Data is constantly driving the direction of the work Jenna does with individual students.
For the students, it’s not just about getting help. They develop a special relationship. Jenna describes the bond between her and her students, “You know when you’re just with someone and they […] have faith in you? And you just feel that and you know they’re your person on your team?” She says that bond has been an unexpected part of receiving therapy for some students. The faith she has in her students has promoted some incredible growth. Jenna has also helped college students who started their studies and recognized they needed some help in order to thrive. Another client approached her in his later years, just hoping to read his own email and to have the possibility of changing jobs. Jenna shares that for her students, “The world kind of opens in a way.”
The help that Jenna and Devany offer is a team effort. They want parents and families involved. They want school professionals involved. Jenna says, “The more people on these kids’ teams, the better.” Services are also offered in office, and online. If you want to replace frustration with confidence and hope, if your child is needing some extra support in relation to reading, writing, and communicating, this clinic is a place to fill in the gaps and to find success.
“What you do has far greater impact than what you say.” – Steven Covey
Jerry and Ella Simons have spent their lives impacting others and offering the ‘Gift of Hope’ from the bottom of the ocean to the top of the high Andes of Peru and everywhere in between, including the Utah Crater in our beloved Midway. Along the way, they have discovered how to not only balance family, work, and adventure but to serve others and celebrate lives with great meaning. One aspiration, in particular, has led them to do work that changes lives daily. Ella vividly remembers years ago watching the movie Schindler’s List and, together with Jerry, making the goal of impacting 1 Million lives. Let’s take a deep dive into the life of these two humble, but incredible people.
The Early Years
Jerry and Ella’s story starts out somewhat ordinary. Jerry was born in Fairview, UT, but grew up in San Bernardino, CA. Jerry’s father passed away when he was eight years old, and he shares how blessed he has been to have good role models throughout his formative years. He recalls a specific life-changing experience he had when he was 11 years old. His scoutmaster was a plumber and requested that Jerry help him with a project replacing an old water heater for a widow they went to church with. There was one catch. They were going to perform the act in secret, and Jerry was to tell no one. Initially, Jerry thought that was strange because they were doing something neat, and he wanted to talk about it. However, on Sunday, when the widow came to church and told everyone how an anonymous person had installed a new water heater just for her, a seed was planted. Jerry knew he wanted to continue doing secret acts of service. This lesson about kindness stuck with him and has highly impacted the person he has become.
Ella was born in Preston, Idaho. As a young teenager, Ella traveled to San Bernardino to help her sister with her new baby. She and Jerry met at a celebration in the San Bernardino Valley when Jerry was 15, and Ella was 13. Ella’s family was called on a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and spent three years in New Zealand and Samoa. Upon their return to the States, Ella ended up in Salt Lake City, Utah, where she finished her Senior year of high school and then attended beauty school. Jerry was attending Brigham Young University in Provo, and the two began dating. Soon after, Jerry and Ella were married and made California their home. Jerry attended San Jose State, and Ella got her cosmetology licensing for both Utah and California.
After receiving his bachelor’s degree from San Jose State, Jerry taught high school and was a professor at Fullerton Junior College. Jerry spent 12 ½ years in college, receiving a master’s degree from CSU, Long Beach, and then receiving his doctorate of electrical engineering from Texas A&M. After receiving his doctorate, they returned to California, where Jerry taught electronics at San Diego State University. “I could make more money in the summer in electronics than I could at the University. We had six children, so I started my own business making chips,” says Jerry. The business was a success. After a few years, Jerry was approached by Exxon Oil and sold his computer chip business to them with a no-compete contract in 1984. The sale of this business meant retirement from Silicon Valley and financial freedom for the Simons family.
The sale also gave Jerry and Ella the time and resources they needed to start doing more humanitarian work. “We had been doing some work on and off, humanitarian work, where we could, but we had the philosophy, we want to do the work without being seen. […] We tried to do things behind the scenes.” Jerry and Ella started looking for organizations they wanted to be involved with and were discouraged to find some that weren’t transparent about where personal contributions were going and objected to sharing that information. Jerry says, “We decided if we did something on the humanitarian level, we wanted to do it where we had full control. If somebody gave us ten dollars as a donation to buy a flock of chickens for a poor family, that’s where the money would go.” In 1967, Jerry and Ella founded the Simons Says Foundation. As their foundation grew, the Simons were uncomfortable with the personal attention using their names garnered, and so they became Hope Projects. In 1999 Hope Projects began to focus much of their efforts on the people of the Andes with a, “[…] determination to help those who are willing to help themselves […] and to change hundreds of thousands of lives in the High Andes villages.” Why the Andes? Well, that story begins with a treasure hunt.
Diving for Treasure
Although their story began as ordinary, it quickly became extraordinary. During the early 1960s, while living in California, Jerry was introduced to scuba diving. Eight years later, he discovered a new obsession – Spanish gold diving. Jerry shares, “There were 200,000 ships that went down, most of them carrying treasure from South America to Spain starting in the 1500s and going clear to the early 1900s.” The ships would hit the breakwater, and the coral reef would tear a hole or holes in the ship, and they would sink. Traditionally, the Spanish would light the top of the ship on fire or cut it off until nothing was visible above the water. Then they would carefully map the position of the ship and its location with the stars so they could eventually return and find it. With 200,000 vessels facing the same destiny, many were left in the ocean with treasure aboard that the Spanish never reclaimed.
With his metal detector in hand and his scuba mastery, he dove down and found lost treasure.
Jerry discovered records that listed locations and what was aboard these sunken ships in Seville, Spain, and became proficient at finding the wreckage sites. Many times most of the wood had rotted away, and all that was left of the ship was a pile of rocks that at one time balanced the ballast. But Jerry knew there was also a great chance of finding gold near those piles. With his metal detector in hand and his scuba mastery, he dove down and found lost treasure. He says, “We were really successful in finding stuff.” Over the years, Jerry has found coins from the 1500s, 1600s, and 1700s. Now, laws and regulations make it more difficult to find and keep the treasure, but when Jerry first got into it, it was finders’ keepers. Jerry’s favorite find was after a hurricane in Key West, Florida. The seaplane he was on landed out in the ocean. Jerry found himself in the midst of lots of jellyfish, and as he looked down on the ocean floor, he “[…] saw three sparkling gold coins. All three of them were visibly dated.” It was a rare find as there was nothing else anywhere close by. During the 1600s and 1700s, one gold coin could purchase three ships and all the supplies needed. Today, these gold coins can be worth $20,000 if the date is visible, making them ten times more valuable than undated coins.
Jerry had a desire to travel to where these coins originated. His travels took him to the high Andes of Peru. The gold they were diving for initially belonged to the Incas, Mayans, and Aztecs, but the Spanish came to South America greedy and lustful and wrongfully deemed the lives of these indigenous people as having no value and being without souls. The Spanish killed 9 million people, chasing the remainder either into the high Andes or into the dangerous Amazon to survive. Many of the coins Jerry found were from Lima, Peru. Jerry was also interested in finding coins he didn’t have to dive for. Jerry explains, “While visiting the Amazon basin and the high Andes of Peru in 1993, I wanted to see if there were any museums with Spanish gold, silver, or treasure. There sadly was very little other than the gold museum in Lima, Peru, none of which was for sale.”
Jerry and Ella traveled to Cusco and Lima with no success finding coins, but they did have success in finding something of far more value. A place that was compatible with the type of humanitarian work they wanted to do. They found that the people of the Andes were extremely generous, humble, and hard-working. They saw that when the people were finished harvesting their own crops, they went and helped their neighbors. When a young couple got married, the community came together to build them an adobe shack. Jerry proposed a plan to their tour guide, Cesar, who was fluent in English, Spanish, and the Quechua language spoken in the small villages of the Andes. Jerry said he could provide building materials to help the people there if they were willing to put in the labor to enhance their communities. Jerry shares, “For the next six months, Cesar and the villagers worked hard and completed a school in half the projected time and at half of the estimated cost.”
Hope Projects and the High Andes
In the last 25 years, with their personal funds and donors’ funds amounting to 8.3 Million dollars, the Simons have provided assistance to 650,000 individuals. They have supplied 175 villages with building materials for greenhouses, classrooms, clean water systems and reservoirs, medical clinics, roof tile and concrete block factories, guinea pig farms, orphanages, and much more. The Minister of Education in Peru came from one of these small villages and has promised to provide a paid, permanent teacher for every school Hope Projects completes. This work isn’t just improving lives; it’s saving lives. Jerry explains that once a village has added all of the enhancements that are offered, the death rate goes down by 80%. That’s huge! That is life-changing! It is humbling to know that giving others the ability to have the things we take for granted every day, like clean water, food sources, medical services, and education, saves their lives.
The Simons are unique in their humanitarian efforts: “Our philosophy is we don’t give away anything. We’ll provide building materials for schools, etc.” The villagers provide all of the labor. Jerry says, “Our formula for success is, ‘Do you want to do work? If you want to do work, we will help you.” They let the villagers perform the work their way. “We don’t go with our footprint,” Ella shares. Jerry and Ella value the skills and knowledge that the people already have. They have loved learning from the incredible people who live in the Andes. Ella says, “They are very kind people, and they don’t have grudges. […] They love each other. They work together well. They’re really hard workers. […] The whole family’s out there working.” People find it hard to understand the Simons’ incentive in all of this. But Jerry explains, “They [the people Hope Projects helps] say this, and it hits us to the core, ‘God sent you. You are the answer to our prayers.’ That touches my heart. That’s the reward we get.”
“Our formula for success is, ‘Do you want to do work? If you want to do work, we will help you.”
Diving Into Midway
The Simons’ humanitarian service projects, treasure hunting, and scuba diving are all very rewarding. But it was scuba diving that eventually brought the family to Midway, Utah.
In the early 1990s, Ella and Jerry purchased a scuba shop in Orem. They trained and certified people in scuba diving but were discouraged that there weren’t any great options for scuba certification nearby. Jerry heard about a place referred to as the Hot Pot Dome in Midway. The Sheriff’s Department had been doing some emergency rescue training, rappelling down to the hot spring by way of the 28-foot hole at the top of the large crater. He decided to check it out. Jerry says, “I took a wench and lowered my youngest son [he jokingly adds ‘he was expendable’ under his breath] down to look it over.” His son found six inches of moss on top of the water, but when he cleared it away, he discovered that the water was warm and clear and a prime location for scuba certification.
Jerry’s son, Craig Simons, who is now the manager of the Utah Crater, chuckles while remembering watching his brother being lowered down through the hole. Craig shares, “The final step in becoming certified was to complete a dive in 60+ feet deep water. We would always go out to a geothermal lake on the Utah-Nevada border. It’s in the middle of nowhere and is a difficult and not enjoyable drive to get there. When we found out about the crater, that was a treat because it was only 25 miles away, and the water was warm.” It was the perfect solution. However, the only way in was to rappel down. Craig explains, “Up until 1890, the crater was full of water to the top. The water would flow over the top, and the accumulation or depositing of the minerals is what created the unique dome.” In 1890 a hole was drilled through the rock, allowing water to flow out and swimmers to come in. Craig shares that the idea of accessible, warm, deep water was too good for his father to pass up. In 1994 Jerry Simons had an idea — dynamite a hole in the side of the crater to grant accessibility to visitors. With the help of some digital imaging, they decided on the best point of entry and, in Jerry’s words, “[…] with a good idea and 15 tons of dynamite,” they created an entrance to the crater, and the rest is history. Craig shares, “We’ve been a resident at the Homestead property ever since.”
“With a good idea and 15 tons of dynamite” they created an entrance to the crater.
The crater opened in 1995 and celebrated its 1 Millionth customer in July 2021! With the help of the Simons family, today, The Utah Crater serves people from all over the world. It is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Utah. Ella remembers, “One day, we counted 29 different license plates in the parking lot.” At a continuously balmy 96 degrees, the crater is the only warm scuba destination in the continental United States. The unique hot pot has also ‘starred’ in a few productions. Craig explains, “We’ve had music videos shot here. The Bachelor and The Bachelorette have both filmed episodes here, and a portion of the movie 127 Hours was also filmed at the crater.” No need to worry if you aren’t a rock star or a movie star. You’re still invited to come and experience a variety of activities. You can take a simple tour and learn more about the history, geology, and archaeology, or you can sit back, relax, and soak in the mineral water. Take a swim, go snorkeling, or schedule a Scuba Experience. And, of course, you can get scuba certified. The crater has no caverns or tunnels to explore, but at 65 feet deep and 400 feet at the base, the Utah Crater has plenty of space to discover!
One thing that most people don’t know about the crater is its strong ties to the Simons Says Foundation Hope Projects. A large portion of the proceeds from the crater provides help and support for the indigenous people of the Andes in Peru. Craig shares that this work has been a very special part of the crater for him and his family. As I write this article, Jerry and Ella are back in Peru for the next several months. The Simons Family’s lives have been anything but ordinary! Ella and Jerry have received 18 presidential awards from the country of Peru and, if you remember their goal of impacting 1 Million lives . . . they’re more than halfway to meeting that — and that’s just in Peru! If we zoom out from the Andes and consider the impact they’ve had here in Wasatch County and elsewhere — Ella and Jerry have not only met their goal they’ve reached far beyond. I can’t help but think that the gold taken from the Quechua people of the Andes is finally being restored in the most beautiful way possible.
The Heber Valley is not only lighting up the night with fireworks this Fourth of July but also extending the festivities to an all-day-long celebration. Fifteen individuals representing different community organizations have come together to create a grassroots Independence Day celebration. 2023 marks the first year of the Red, White, and Blue Festival, which is destined to become a memorable family tradition. Jessica Broadhead, the marketing manager for Heber Valley Tourism, says this special event is “by the community, for the community.” With a day full of scheduled events, there’s sure to be something for everyone.
The day begins bright and early with a chance to watch majestic hot air balloons soaring above the valley at 6:00 am. With the sound of the starting gun at 7:00 am, runners will compete in their choice of a 5k or 10k starting at Heber City Park. If running isn’t your thing, you can join in the patriotic walk following the flag ceremony. The patriotic walk is a one-mile walking parade. This is an opportunity to dress up in patriotic gear and walk alongside local veterans and other members of the community. Jessica says, “We just hope to get families out, kids especially, just anyone in the community to come out and show their patriotism. Wear their gear. Bring their flag. Dress up their bikes or their scooters or whatever the case and participate […].”
Heber Valley Tourism decided to join, along with many local organizations, to make this celebration a reality. Jessica says they were able to do this by saying, “If your event falls within these four categories: freedom, family, independence, and country, then we will endorse your event as part of our event, even if it’s not happening at the Heber City Park.” With this call for participation, the day is chock-full of fun and entertainment. Several community organizations are joining in on the excitement.
Members of the community can come together to enjoy breakfast put on by the Rotary Club, the art exhibit from the Plein Air Festival in Midway, and the freedom train with HV Railroad. After a full morning, families can enjoy a free lunch sponsored by Heber City with true American fare: hot dogs, chips, and watermelon. There will be local vendors selling food, crafts, and other goods. Fun traditional yard games will be available at the park, including a bean-bag toss tournament, a sidewalk chalk art contest, a strong man contest, and gunny sack and three-legged races. You will not want to miss the Guns vs. Hoses tug-of-war, where the Heber City Police Department will battle it out against the Wasatch County Fire District. If stuffing your face is clearly one of your talents, the schedule has you covered with a post-lunch, pre-dinner eating contest.
When the sun starts to set, there’s still plenty more fun to be had. Stomp it Out Cloggers will perform. Music artist Corbin Gordon will then open for a concert in the park. After swaying to the music, watch the night sky light up with fireworks off of Memorial Hill. This is a chance to come together with neighbors and friends, new and old. A chance to gather and create a stronger sense of community. A chance to celebrate our freedoms and the people we get to enjoy them with. A chance to salute the Red, White, and Blue.
“Yoga takes you into the present moment. The only place where life exists.” -unknown
Two miles underground, in the middle of Midway, lies a water source that feeds an incredible natural wonder. She has a lovely hourglass shape, was formed from a geothermal hot spring, and boasts a cozy water temperature of 94°F year-round. You might know this crater as Schneitter’s Hot Pot, Homestead Crater, or the Utah Crater. Regardless of the name you know her by; she has been in the making for years. Some estimate that the limestone rock dome started forming from the geothermal spring 10,000 years ago. This ancient formation with its unique qualities has become a beloved destination for many. Swimming and scuba diving are both popular choices here, but one of the most unique experiences offered is paddleboard yoga through Park City Yoga Adventures.
Julia Geisler, the owner of PCYA, had the idea of taking yoga outdoors. Her mantra early on was, “Get outside and breathe.” She wanted to provide people with the opportunity to enjoy all that this area has to offer. Julia wanted to offer paddleboard yoga classes, but did not want to be limited to the short summer season. Her good friend, Charlie Sturgis, a Park City legend in his own right, gave her the idea of offering yoga in the crater. Going to the crater fit perfectly with her hopes of taking yoga outdoors and allowing her the ability to offer it year-round. Julia entered into an agreement with Utah Crater at the Homestead and the rest is history.
Blake Summers, PYCA’s manager, affectionately calls the crater “the oldest yoga studio in the world” and “the fountain of youth.” He is proud to be able to offer such a distinctive and special experience. He shares, “To be totally honest and fair, it’s the only place in the world that you can do this. So talk about unique, right? Yoga on paddleboards, on hot springs, in a cave…literally the only place in the world that people are doing this.”
The mineral-rich waters and serene environment offer a therapeutic experience to people of all fitness levels, ages, and abilities. Blake says, “For me personally, every time I go into the crater, it just puts me in a great mood. I can walk in there having a rough morning and I always walk out with a smile on my face.” He loves being able to offer this experience to others and feels that it feeds a variety of needs. He explains, “Some people just want a cool, unique experience. Guaranteed, they’re going to get that. Some people need a little bit of spiritual therapy. Some people need […] a physical boost. Whatever it is, I think people get that from this experience in the crater.”
One of the most rewarding parts of Blake’s job is to see the confidence people gain as they work through their nerves and fears during the one-hour class. For some, getting back on the paddleboard is a challenge after falling off. For others, the hurdle is standing up on the board. By the end of class, Blake relishes in the successes of his guests as they stand on their boards looking confident and self-assured. Blake shares, “This is not for super-dedicated yogis, it’s for everyone. It’s really about the uniqueness and about the special place.”
Before heading to the crater, guests also have the opportunity to snowshoe or hike, depending on the season, at Wasatch Mountain State Park. The two together are a winning combination. Blake explains, “[The purpose is to] really kind of get in touch with nature whether it be the winter wonderland or summer beauty. […] It kind of just sets you up perfectly for going into the crater and doing some stretching on the paddle boards and getting into the hot springs. It’s just a great combo. In the winter you see your breath in the air. It’s cold out. It’s crisp. You see the sparkles glistening in the sky, the snow in the trees. And then to go inside the crater in the winter with a little bit of steam and hot water. That contrast is really cool.”
As Park City Yoga Adventures continues offering mindful and unique experiences, they hope to touch as many lives as they can. As explorers themselves, they want to continue to expand on finding and offering new adventures. Their vision and hope in Blake’s words: “We want to keep pushing the boundaries of what a yoga experience is.”
There are lots of giants in the world, formidable foes, beasts, dragons to be slain, and our job is hopefully to make those more manageable, to shrink them a little bit so that people can handle their particular trials.
When Jean-Marc Barr was 16 he walked into a pawn shop in Provo, Utah. His sole purpose? To walk out with a guitar.
At only 4’ 8” and 75 lbs Jean-Marc decided to use this to his advantage; placing a handful of wadded up bills and some change on the counter, he declared, “I’m looking for a guitar for my dad for Christmas.” He asked with child-like innocence if it was enough, knowing very well it was not. When the owner wasn’t moved an employee piped up and said, “Come on. It’s Christmas. Give it to the kid.” And that’s how Jean-Marc walked away from a pawn shop with a $250 guitar for $50 and one step closer to fulfilling his dream of being in a band. Although that didn’t happen — Jean-Marc vowed that one day he would have his own family band.
Fast-forward 28 years, and three children later, to the year 2010 when Jean-Marc’s dream for a family band began to unfold. His 15-year-old daughter Stefania, started a band with a couple of her friends. Jean-Marc took them to an open mic at the Kimball Arts Center in Park City. During their first song, a man in the audience made a call to the director of the Mountain Town Music Festival telling him to get down there now. He arrived during their last song and asked if they would like to open for One Republic in three weeks at Deer Valley. The band had a conflict with the dates and weren’t able to perform at that show, instead they were given the opportunity to open for Ryan Shupe & the RubberBand. They had their work cut out for them, but they were up for the challenge. The band wrote a half-an-hours worth of music and was ready to go. Then, just days before the show, their drummer bailed on them. They recruited a new drummer and the band’s performance was a success! Aaron Hurt, a guitarist, watched the show, and knew he wanted to be part of this fun new group. He approached the Barrs and that same night they collaborated and wrote a song; it would become the last song on the band’s first album. It was official. Aaron Hurt was in.
Aaron was ready to put together a three-song demo, but Jean-Marc acting as the manager had other plans. He had been thinking about this for years and knew he wanted to run this as a business, and that meant they needed a full 12-song album. They stopped performing, hunkered down in a “concentrated effort” and worked really hard for one year and eight months to create their very first album. In the beginning there was a lot of trial and error. They had a hard time getting a professional sound. They watched YouTube videos, bought some books, read articles, slowly upgraded equipment, and learned how to use music software. The more they learned, the better they sounded. Jean-Marc describes this as a “slow, grueling, fun, and beautiful process.”
Introducing The Barr Family (and friends) Band: Shrink the Giant
The name of the band also acts as their mission statement: to shrink the giant. “There are lots of ‘giants’ that people struggle with in this world, […] our job is hopefully to make those more manageable, to shrink them a little bit so that people can handle their particular trials.” Jean-Marc, adds, “We want to bring some light, some happiness, […] some goodness into the world and brighten people’s lives.” Stefania explained, “It’s not just about shrinking other people’s giants; making music is also a tool that we use to shrink our own giants.”
In 2012 Shrink the Giant was ready to hit the stage again. Their first show back in the arena was the Wasatch County Fair Battle of the Bands. They won first place. Next stop was a Battle of the Bands competition at alternative rock radio station X96. They submitted the first song on their album 2 minutes before the deadline. They made it to the top 5 bands and were able to perform in a live show. Again, they won, and received the envied reward of opening for a show at the Gallivan Center. This was not just any show — the concert featured several big bands, including: Neon Trees, Imagine Dragons, Grouplove, and Awolnation. Stefania, at age 17, felt like she was in heaven. She remembers Slug magazine writing, “we [the band] were good enough to headline the show someday.” They continued to play show after show. Stefania shared how amazing it was to have a packed house and fans singing the lyrics with her. They were humbled by the response they were getting and felt that setting up the framework first made all the difference. They were prepared for the climb.
By 2014 Shrink the Giant had shows booked out for months and was working on their second album. The future looked bright. On this upward climb, Stefania was in a car accident and suffered a traumatic brain injury; band member, Sebastian Barr, left on a church mission to Russia; and bassist Marisa Wilde decided to pursue a new path. The band definitely had some giants to shrink. Stefania recalls, “These [experiences] were just general growing pains of being a human. The band members that came and went along the way — that was part of the process of growing up and seeing who wasn’t going to let the dream die.” Although momentum fizzled for a bit, the Barrs didn’t let the light burn out. One thing seems to be consistent with the band: change. The response they have consistently chosen has been resiliency. Sebastian shares, “No matter how much things change, if you just stick to it, it keeps going and it keeps improving.”
While the band never stopped creating new music, they haven’t released anything since 2014. After their long hiatus Shrink the Giant is set to release their third album in 2023. “We are all different humans than we were 10 years ago, when we started, and I’m really excited about this fresh presentation and launch again,” says Stefania. The band agrees fans will recognize the new sound. Guitarist Morgan Handley explains, “As far as Shrink goes, there is such a definite fingerprint that is on all the music, it’s just sort of the style of it. It’s sort of a liveliness and eclectic mix.” This variety is what helps set the band apart and makes them unique. Jean-Marc states, “Right from the beginning it was spoken and unspoken that we would always be very eclectic. From song to song, we don’t necessarily sound like the same band and that is part of our sound. We break the genre barriers, yet because of our instrumentation and our individual-ness that we all bring, there is something that sounds cohesive.” They encourage people to listen to a few songs. They say if you listen to one song and don’t like it, try a few more and you are almost guaranteed to find something that clicks with your style.
The band is really excited for the future and the opportunities that keep presenting themselves. They want to integrate video and art in different ways and would love to score movies and even make a TV show. However, while looking forward, they are also proud of what they’ve already accomplished. When asked what she views as the band’s biggest success, Stefania shares, “People. The lives that I know we’ve been able to impact because we’ve put ourselves out there.” They’ve heard from fans who had given up on life and were able to keep going by listening to Shrink the Giant’s music and its message of hope. Stefania adds, “I’m just really proud of that fact and grateful for the connections we’ve been able to build with other human beings.”
Jean-Marc shares his thoughts on the importance of this connection, “Poetry, musical poetry, and art separate us from all other animals. It’s what makes us human. It’s part of every culture, every society all throughout history. We’re part of something that is part of the human race’s experience of life throughout the whole existence of the human race on earth — it’s not to be taken lightly. We take it very seriously. When we’re making music, we play and have fun, but it’s a very serious endeavor.” Sebastian adds, “People need art, but not for the sake of art. People need art for the sake of inspiring themselves to become better.”
Did you know that the largest plein air painting competition in Utah is held right here in our valley? Painting “en plein air” is really just the French way of saying “in the open air.” With an easel set up right on location, this process allows artists to paint directly in the landscape they are working to capture on their canvas.
For fifteen years now artists from all over Utah, and neighboring states, have gathered in our beautiful valley for Wasatch Plein Air Paradise, the signature event put on by the Midway Art Association (MAA). The MAA is a non-profit group that provides art education through demonstrations, classes, workshops, and competitions. This year’s plein air competition and exhibition was held June 23-July 4 and hosted 85 artists from eight states. Jerry Watterworth, MAA president shared, “The competition is open to artists of every level, from renowned professional artists to amateurs (those who have not received awards or sold paintings in the past).” In fact, in an effort to encourage amateurs, there are separate awards set aside specifically for them. The participants competed for over $20,000 in awards and prizes.
Wasatch Plein Air Paradise is broken into several competitions. The first and main event started June 23rd. You may have seen artists out and about honing their craft. Artists painted outdoors all throughout Wasatch and Summit Counties and were allowed to submit up to four paintings. Paintings were turned in on June 30th and judged by a panel of renowned judges, who are also artists. Awards were presented that same evening in the Midway Town Hall.
In addition to the main event, “Paint Out” competitions were also held. Blank canvases were stamped at 8:00 am in the morning and the finished paintings were due back at the Midway Town Hall at 2:00 pm the same day, giving the artists only six hours to work. Artists painted in or near Heber the first day and then Midway the next day.
Artists are also given a chance to share work they have previously created in their studios. Each artist may submit two paintings created at another time in-studio, rather than outdoors. Subject matter can vary, and does not have to be a landscape.
The various competitions ended with a “Quick Draw” on the fourth of July. Thirty artists had three hours to complete a painting right next to the Midway Town Hall. Afterward, those 30 paintings were auctioned off as the town hall transformed into an auction house, complete with a fast-talking auctioneer.
Aside from an auction house, the Midway Town Hall also became a gallery for a few days as the community was invited in to see all the amazing work created in such a short span of time. Natalie Shupe, who placed first in both the main event and in the studio work categories, said, “I love painting in Heber Valley! It’s very similar to my own Ogden Valley; mountains, rivers, and tress. I started painting in the Midway Plein Air about eight years ago. The organization and volunteers are truly amazing! The community is so supportive. I have met so many wonderful people through this event.” If you would like to stay posted on upcoming art events, or to become a member of the MAA, head to their website at midwayartassociation.org
A common thread weaves its way through the life and work of Robert Duncan illuminating and inspiring his life’s path.
What is this thread and driving force that ties his work together? A bright yet simple curiosity. Curiosity about interactions between people and places and time. Curiosity about wildlife and the earth they roam. Curiosity about relationships between individuals and other living things. This curiosity has driven a lifetime’s work that has shifted and evolved over time according to the current passions of Robert.
Curiosity Illustrated
One passion of Robert’s is travel. He loves the Heber valley, but also enjoys going with his wife, Linda, to different places to get inspiration and references for new artwork. Robert explains, “The world’s so beautiful everywhere.” Some of his favorite destinations include Maine, Vermont, and England. In his travels, he is known to stop random strangers and to spark up conversation. He loves seeing people in their native lands. “I’m terrible at just stopping and introducing ourselves to people and saying I’m an artist and that kind of opens the doors a little,” he shares. He has met a lot of people this way, many of which have become good friends and models for his work.
Once he saw a girl walking down the aisle of an outdoors store who had a look best described as part hippie, part cowgirl. He loved her uniqueness and introduced himself. Before he knew it, he and his wife were at her ranch enjoying conversation with her and her dad. They also ended up modeling for his artwork. Robert says, “Those kinds of things have happened to me all the time just by being curious about someone.”
Another time, he saw a fascinating man with a distinctive look walking down the road in Vermont. He asked some other people in town about him. He was told that this man was a grumpy hermit. Robert could not resist getting a picture of him. He rolled down his window and quickly snapped a photo … without permission. From this photo, Robert painted a picture that ended up being one of his all-time favorites, titled “The Face of New England.” The man had a bale of hay on his back, a pitch fork, and socks for gloves. Robert went back a year later and gifted the gentleman with a print of the painting. He responded that the painting did not do him any favors. Robert sat and visited with him for a few hours. After the visit, Robert asked for another chance to paint him. The man agreed and so a year later Robert returned once again with a new painting. He loved it! Robert says, “Those are the kinds of ways I love getting inspired. It’s looking for excuses to meet people and hear their stories.”
For Robert, life is an art form. When it comes to meeting people and hearing their stories, he can’t help himself. He shares, “I’m so passionate about art that I can’t control myself that way. […] I love people and country life and […] people that live life with character.” He likes the saying ‘Life is art and art is life.’ He says, “Life’s an art form to me and so I love people who kind of are a piece of art in the way they live their life.”
Robert’s Life
Art has called to Robert all his life. He remembers drawing constantly from the age of four and receiving his first set of oil paints from his grandmother when he was 11 years old. Robert knew early on in life he was meant to be an artist. He shared, “I just never had anything else I even considered really.” So paint, he did. He painted his way through elementary and high school and ended up at the University of Utah for a couple of years studying art. He decided to quit attending college to pursue his art career.
Robert remembers, “When I quit at the university, I didn’t tell my family I had quit for two or three months.” He wanted to prove he was going to make it. He says, “I worked hard on a little group of paintings and had my first show at a gallery / dry cleaners up in Wyoming and sold a big painting for a little money and that was the start of my professional career and it just kept going from there.”
Reincarnation
Wisdom of the Ages
Bonners Corner
In the Great Wide Open
Curiosity + Courage
One of the most formative things that happened early on in Robert’s career took place after he wrote a letter to John Clymer; a famous artist known for his illustrations on the covers of the Saturday Evening Post as well as his paintings illustrating the history of the American West. Again, curiosity was on Robert’s side. He couldn’t have known how a letter to one of his favorite artists and role model would change his life and open doors. Robert was amazed when he opened an invitation in response asking him to come visit with Clymer in his studio in Jackson Hole. Robert went and the beginning of a great friendship was born. Clymer became a mentor for Robert. Robert says of Clymer, “We became friends and he would have me come up and he’d critique my paintings and we would talk until two in the morning and he’d tell me all these stories about the great artists I admired that he knew when he was young.”
“Life’s an art form to me … I love people who kind of are a piece of art in the way they live their life.”
Clymer also instigated a huge break for Robert when he introduced Robert’s work to the Cowboy Artists of America, a highly respected Western Art organization. This introduction led to Robert being voted in at age 29 as the youngest member. “That kind of kicked me to a different level as far as my career,” he shares. Robert enjoyed Western art, but after five years realized he didn’t want to be pigeon-holed into just one category. Robert says, “I didn’t want to be known for just Western art. […] I just wanted to do all kinds of stuff. I didn’t want to be just known as a cowboy artist.”
Robert made a bold move and resigned from the prestigious group. He worried about how this may affect his relationship with Clymer. He says, “My friend John Clymer who had introduced me into the group was just awesome and encouraged me even though I left that group he got me into. He cheered me on and was great.” Robert recalls with fond emotion his last sweet moment with Clymer, “When he was dying [from cancer] and had to go home to Washington for his last few months, we took him to the airplane. He wrapped his arms around me and told me how proud he was of me. […] It’s those rare kinds of people that don’t have a set idea of what you should be and just cheer you on no matter what.”
Artist Evolution
Robert naturally started his career painting Western art because of the time he spent on his grandmother’s ranch in Wyoming. After marrying Linda and starting their family in Midway, he began painting his family members. He says, “I figured that the best art is art that someone painted because they were passionate about it. You always do your best when you’re doing something you’re passionate about.”
Robert’s art shifted to country life. “Seeing the farms starting to disappear made me pretty passionate about wanting to feature that lifestyle in my work because I felt it was really something of value,” he shares. Robert hoped people would make the connection to keep open spaces and to recognize the value they have. “I feel like space has a real way of bringing peace and releasing tension.”
Beauty was also an important element Robert wanted portrayed in his work. “I’ve always felt like beauty has a super important value in life” Robert says. Gardens, pets, livestock, and wildlife — Robert feels they all add value to life, making for a richer human experience. Most recently, Robert has done more wildlife paintings. He recognizes a need to save places where wildlife can still thrive and be around us.
Robert’s artistic process is imaginative and involved. Rather than drawing from one reference photo, he pulls from many. He says, “I’ll have a hundred photos I’m using for most paintings I do.” He sketches several rough thumbnail sketches to help pull his ideas together. When it comes to what ends up on the canvas, Robert says, “Mine is mostly something I have in my head and then I’ll pull things from everywhere to put it together and have to make up parts of it.” In this way, he creates the scene exactly as he imagines.
Artist Wisdom
Robert was involved in a road biking accident a year ago. Now, more than ever, he realizes he cannot live without making art. With initial nerve damage, broken bones and ribs, Robert has fought hard to paint through the whole recovery process. Even when he finds himself in a slump, he says there is no end to inspiration.
A couple of Robert’s favorite ways to get inspired are to travel or go for a bike ride. He shares, “One of the best things for me is to just go out somewhere and I almost always come back inspired.” He advises, “Get out and experience life and open space and refresh your mind.” Robert is also (not shockingly) inspired by art. He has acquired quite the library in his studio and sometimes needs a break from his own art to get energized by looking at great art from other artists.
“Get out and experience life and open space and refresh your mind.”
Robert doesn’t feel art is a competition. Rather art is about passion. Robert’s advice to artists, but applicable to all: “One of the most important things any artist can do is find something they’re passionate to express or to bring into the world.” He feels that passion leads to more important, effective, emotionally connecting work. When it comes to art there’s room for everyone.
Robert says, “Art isn’t a competition; it’s a beautiful way of everyone sharing what they love and find beautiful.”
Robert has been painting professionally for fifty years now. His life is art and art is his life. His curiosity has served him well. Robert expresses it best, “Art to me is looking at everything with curiosity and treating life as a beautiful thing and wanting to take care of it and make it something special.”
Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.
The emergence art contest is in its second year and is already gaining good traction. The theme this year was “My Place in the World.” The theme really inspired the youth of Heber to think of and express the interaction they have with the world we live in.
Last year there were 175 entries, and this year entries soared at 255. Angie Neuberger, president of Wasatch Parent Network for the high school, was thrilled with the increased submissions. There were a lot more entries from the upper grades. She shared, “We’re wanting it to be for everyone, but we really want it to be for those older kids to really kind of just showcase their art.” She feels that it is important to provide the youth of the valley with that opportunity.
Five judges gave their time and talents to look over every single entry. They had the difficult job of selecting winners in five visual arts categories in four age groups between grades K-12. The categories included: sculptured work, painting, drawing, photography, and graphic design. Judges selected three winners in each category for each age group and then chose seven top winners overall. The top winners were honored in a school board presentation April 21st.
What makes this contest a success? It is all about the community coming together in collaboration. Wasatch Parent Network, Wasatch School District, Wasatch Arts Council, and Heber Valley Life Magazine, all join forces to bring this to fruition. This year, Angie received an $800 grant from the Wasatch Arts Council that helped in providing prizes, advertising, and potentially cover the costs associated with framing the artwork for display in the school district board room.
Angie and the team enjoyed discovering how each of the artists’ expressed their place in the world through art. And, they look forward to continuing the opportunity for the youth of Wasatch County to grow into young artists.
Overall Winners Grade 9-12
Lacee Liles
Sailing Through Waters
Sailing Through Waters – Acrylic Paint
Lacee Liles, a Wasatch High 9th grader, started painting when she was eight, but looking at her work it would be easy to think she has been painting for much longer. Lacee’s interest in art piqued as she went to arts and crafts fairs around town as a child. She loved the look of different paintings and wanted to try her own hand at the craft. She humbly says, “I just started trying to paint from pictures and different things, and I guess I picked it up somehow.” With help from a few online videos she learned how to properly use her brushes and how to perfect different techniques. She explaines, “I kind of taught myself.” Lacee has taken a couple classes, but most of what she’s learned has been from experimenting with her medium of choice, acrylic paint, at home. Lacee’s purpose in creating art is simple: enjoyment. Art for Lacee is one of her favorite things to do. She squeezes it into her schedule whenever she can throughout her week.
Speaking of her painting, Lacee shares, “Just as a sailboat belongs on the water, I belong in the world.” She says that for both a sailboat and an individual, success comes by knowing where to go, how to get there, and by preparing for problems that may arise. She also acknowledges the need for help from others on our journey. Lacee’s no stranger to this idea; as the only painter in her family, Lacee was apprehensive about entering the contest. Lacee’s mom stepped in to help by providing Lacee with the encouragement she needed. Lacee shares, “I wasn’t going to enter, and my mom kept telling me to do it, so, then I finally just decided to enter.”
Lacee has lived in the Heber Valley her entire life. Her favorite thing about the valley is the pretty scenery. Her hopes for the future: “I just hope that people enjoy what I paint. I hope to be able to paint like a professional.” Lacee dreams of making painting her career; having already sold four paintings, she’s off to a really great start.
Overall Winners Grade 9-12
Keeley Shae Tuttle
Blissful Morning
Blissful Morning – Water Color
There is no doubt about it: Keeley loves art! Creativity has always been an important part of her life. “Honestly, I think I’ve been making art ever since I’ve been alive. I’ve always loved drawing, and coloring, and painting ever since I was little,” she shares.
As a senior, Keeley has taken as many of the art classes as she has had time for. This includes two drawing classes, painting, pottery, and jewelry. It was her painting class that inspired this watercolor piece. While she does enjoy the layering that she can do with watercolors, watercolors aren’t her favorite medium. She actually likes painting with acrylics or drawing more. However, for Keeley, it’s less about the medium and more about what creating does for her. “For me, I’m able to zone into a project and it’s just very relaxing for me. It’s just something I can do with my free time and something I can feel proud of,” Keeley explaines.
About her piece, Keeley shares, “I love the feeling that my picture evokes. It has a peaceful and calming effect for me. I think the contrast of colors in the rocks gives it a dramatic effect.” She appreciates the wonderful color pallets that nature offers her. Whether she is camping or boating, she feels constantly inspired by her time spent in nature.
Keeley is headed to Dixie State University this fall. She’s unsure of what she wants to study, but she really wants art to be a part of her future. She never really knew if she could make it as an artist, but with encouragement from both her mom and her art teacher, she’s gaining confidence and recognizing the talent she has. In Keeley’s behalf, her art teacher entered another one of her paintings in a separate contest — and she won. Keeley’s mom was the one who pushed her to enter the Emergence contest. Keeley confides, “I love art so much and it’s such an enjoyable thing for me. So, to have a career that would be related in art would be amazing.”
Overall Winners Grade 9-12
Avery Springer
Growth
Growth – Sculpture
When Avery was given the school assignment of sculpting her face, she really had no idea where the project would take her. With a love for nature and incorporating it into her artwork, she was inspired to add leaves to the face. The product for her was a little unexpected. It wasn’t until she was finished that she realized the significance and meaning. For Avery, the act of creating and finishing the sculpture came to represent the growth and potential in her life.
Avery shares, “Nature and humankind have always been seen separately. As I’ve grown up, I’ve continuously realized how much of an impact nature has on my life. For this piece, I decided to combine nature and humankind into one, while also representing growth throughout my life.”
Avery was able to create this piece in her high school pottery class. She loves the freedom her teacher, Ms. Crestman, gives her students and says of her teacher, “She is open to anything that anyone does. Any idea that anyone has, she says, ‘Yeah, go for it!’” Ms. Crestman has really influenced Avery by having no limits.
Art is therapeutic for Avery and helps her cope with everyday life. She’s been creating her whole life and loves the effect it has on her. She says, “Creating art kind of takes my mind off of things. If things are going crazy in my life, it’s something that I can focus on — just that one thing that I know I can focus on. And I like the fact that I can control what I create and create things that aren’t necessarily normal.”
Besides art, Avery enjoys time with friends and playing music. She loves playing the guitar and drums and time spent outside hiking. Her feelings about living in the Heber Valley have changed over time. She shares, “I feel like growing up I was frustrated growing up in a small town because I thought that I was missing out on experiences, but the more I grow up, the more I realize how grateful I am living here […].” The kindness of the people and the beauty of the seasons are what makes her grateful to call Heber Valley home.
“Cyclers see considerably more of this beautiful world than any other class of citizens. A good bicycle, well applied, will cure most ills this flesh is heir to.” – Dr. K. K. Doty
Are you ready to shake it up a bit? Do you need a mood-boosting change as you head into summer? Are you looking at rising gas prices and thinking it is time to try a different mode of transportation? A bike may just be the answer. Picture yourself starting your day on two wheels, breathing in the fresh air and taking in the sights of the grand Timpanogos and passing green farmland. Imagine the feel of a cool breeze on your cheeks as it rejuvenates your spirits. Riding a bicycle around town can provide financial, physical, mental, and environmental gains.
Wasatch High teacher, James Hansen, has been riding his bike to work daily, rain or shine, for the last three years. He sold his car after his first year living in the valley. James shares that selling his car has saved him thousands of dollars a year.
With the average price of gas over $4 per gallon, one estimate shows that a typical household will be spending an additional $2,000 this year on fuel.1 This does not include the money that could be saved on vehicle registration, maintenance, and insurance. Instead of watching all your pennies drained from your bank account into your gas tank, you could start commuting and running your errands by bike. James shared, “I don’t just bicycle to work, but to the grocery store, picking up the kids from school, and all over the valley during XC season as I ride along with the runners.” This change in transportation doesn’t only benefit your wallet; it can improve your health too.
Think about the amount of time you spend in your car completely sedentary. Now, consider spending at least a quarter of that time on a bike by planning to bike a couple days a week. Contemplate the impact this could have on your physical health. It could be life-changing, perhaps even life-saving. Researchers see positive ties between cycling and prevention of cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.2 The tie between cycling and good health has certainly been apparent for James. “At my last check-up, my doctor said I had the metabolism of a 16 year old,” James shares. This is pretty amazing considering James, at 33, is over twice that age.
Mental health benefits also abound. Studies show that cycling can protect you against brain tissue loss and encourage new brain cell development. One survey by Cycleplan found that 75% of its participants noticed improvement in their mental health after they started cycling.3 Some even expressed a decrease in depression and anxiety. Cycling provides the ideal opportunity to practice mindfulness and to be completely present in the moment. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle expressed this idea perfectly: “When the spirits are low, when the day appears dark, when work becomes monotonous, when hope hardly seems worth having, just mount a bicycle and go out for a spin down the road, without thought on anything but the ride you are taking.” James has appreciated the reduced stress that has come with being able to cruise along with no need to sit in traffic. He also enjoys the ease of stopping to talk to someone.
Environmentally, riding a bike versus traveling by car is a no-brainer. You don’t have to worry about contributing to traffic congestion and pollution. You can do your part to keep our valley’s skies smog-free and our mountain air clean. According to HealUtah.org driving our vehicles is the biggest contributor to our air quality problems.That is a big motivator for James, who says, “[…] there is a lot of potential to reduce emissions and pollution by cycling more.” He would love to see our valley take on more of a European feel, meaning that the city is planned and designed in such a way to promote and serve pedestrians and cyclists over vehicles.
You may be concerned that your commute is too far to consider traveling by bike. This is where the curtain lifts and a lone spotlight shines to reveal an e-bike in all of its perpetual glory. An e-bike is an electric bike and it is likely you have seen them out and about. The e-bike has a motor on it that allows the rider to have assistance as they pedal. The cyclist can choose the level of assistance they prefer, allowing for longer mileage while exerting less energy. Electric bikes allow the rider to go up to 20 mph.
If your interest is piqued, there are a few places in town to do your research on the best bike for you. Slim and Knobby’s Bike Shop, Gravity Coalition, and Wasatch E Bike, are all great places to start. If you just want to rent a bike to ride for the day or the week, check out Wasatch E Bike or Rover All Over. Maybe you have a bike in the garage and it just needs a quick tune-up. Slim & Knobby’s, Midway Adventure Company or Gravity Coalition can take care of you. With a road or paved trail to get you where you need to go, why not give it a try and see how going from four wheels to two can benefit you.
Know before you go
Stand out
Invest in lights and reflective gear so that you can easily be seen day or night. Make eye contact or wave to drivers to make sure they see you when crossing a side street, parking lot, or driveway.
Safety first
Become acquainted with bicycle laws and safety. Check out the Utah Bicycle Commuter Guide. Also read the article “How to Not Get Hit By Cars” on bicyclesafe.com to help you consider situations you will be facing on a bike and how to safely navigate them. For example, avoid riding on sidewalks, ride with traffic, don’t stop in a vehicle’s blind spot, and don’t pass a car on the right.
Head gear
Get the right helmet fit to make sure your head is always protected.
Climatize
The Dutch, who are known for riding in all kinds of weather, like to say, “You aren’t made of sugar.” You can handle the weather year-round if you’re dressed for it. A pair of warm gloves, a Gore-Tex™ shell, and thin beanie under your helmet can keep you comfortable on winter days. Dress in layers and avoid loose-fitting clothing. When commuting to work, consider bringing a change of clothes.
Accessorize
Get the needed components for your bike. Maybe you want to haul kids or groceries. There’s a way to do it. Don’t forget a lock to keep your bicycle safe.
MANNERS, please!
Be courteous. Ride defensively and be polite. Take it slowly at first and be predictable to others on the road.
A chicken, a dog, and a paintbrush – sounds like the perfect start to an art career.
“It all got started when my dog killed the neighbor’s chicken,” artist Rebecca Proctor shares with a laugh. How could an art career bloom from this you may ask? Well, let’s back up a little and you will begin to see.
Rebecca says it is likely that her mother has caveman drawings on her uterus. She says, “I have drawn since I can remember. All my Christmas gifts were always art, always craft stuff. I drew and drew and drew.” With all of that drawing, painting, and doodling, she began gifting her creations. In fact, she confesses that her art skills even helped her score well in a couple of her high school classes that she struggled in. A painted portrait of Bob Dylan for her math teacher solidified an A.
Rebecca studied art at BYU-Idaho and BYU. After getting married, she and her husband moved to Logan. The art program offered at Utah State did not feel like a good fit for Rebecca so she decided to take a break — a long break. She would not pick up her paintbrushes for eight years while she worked to get her husband through school and began to have children. When Rebecca’s husband finished school, he turned to Rebecca and told her it was her turn to get going. With young kids and little time, Rebecca had a hard time finding the drive and motivation. And that is where the neighbor’s chicken comes in.
When Rebecca’s dog killed the neighbor’s chicken, she knew she had to do something to try and make it right. She remembered how she had gotten herself out of tight situations in the past. People loved her paintings. Rebecca painted the chicken and took the painting, along with money as restitution for their loss, to her neighbor. She told them, “Here’s a chicken my dog can’t touch.” That’s all it took for her to find her artistic drive once again.
From there, Rebecca took a deep dive into painting the masters. She spent a year studying and replicating their work. She learned all about color and value as she worked to re-create their pieces. “There’s so much they can teach you looking at their work,” Rebecca says.
After that, Rebecca moved on to creating original pieces. She found a great mentor in Kathryn Stats, an incredible landscape artist based out of Salt Lake. Rebecca loves learning from her as they paint En plein air, completing pieces from start to finish outdoors. She has been an invaluable critic and teacher.
Caribou in Pink
Set In
Hope
Rebecca comes from a long line of artists. Her mother, Julie Jeppsen, is a professional artist, and also helps Rebecca perfect her projects. The two often travel together and display their work in some of the same shows. The best art advice her mom instilled in her is that: “It’s not precious. You can always repaint it.” Rebecca says, “When I get into the mentality that it’s [a painting] precious and I just have to make sure it’s perfect, I always mess it up.” Starting with this mentality gives her the freedom to be more adventurous and playful in her work. It leaves room for bright colors and experimentation.
Rebecca’s husband also serves as a great support to her. He has no problem giving it to her straight. When he says, “Becca, how’d you get that color? By mixing mayonnaise and mustard?” she is not offended. She knows his opinions represent what the general public might see or think. Rebecca doesn’t shy away from some good criticism. She explains, “If you can take what they give you [and] swallow a little humble pill, it makes you so much better.”
For three years now Rebecca has been back into the art scene and has been furthering her art career. “I am just constantly trying to find time to paint,” Rebecca shares. She tries to get 20 hours of work in during each week. Her challenge is the same for many of us; balancing family time and work time. Thankfully her husband provides a lot of support and will often take the kids out on the weekend to give her a day to create. She spends a lot of her time painting pieces for upcoming shows; and has a unique resource for obtaining reference photos for her artwork. Rebecca likes to peruse Facebook, looking for photos of dogs or horses that inspire her. When she discovers an image that moves her she will reach out and ask the owner if she can use their photo. Rebecca has had a lot of luck with this unusual approach.
What is it that Rebecca hopes to accomplish through her art? Really it is about bringing people closer to their creator. Rebecca says, “I make art a matter of prayer. What was this dog like? How can I portray it in the best way?” She does this; recognizing the connection that can happen on a spiritual level with people and places or with people and their pets.
Rebecca also uses her gift to help others. Last year when she found out her co-worker’s son was diagnosed with cancer, she knew she wanted to do something to help. She got to work painting a picture of Mount Timpanogos. She started adding horses to the picture, but they just didn’t seem right for this painting. Instead, Rebecca felt inspired to create a fictional stream in the foreground. When her co-worker, Sunni Provost, saw the painting, she was touched because she recognized the stream as one her kids used to play in as young children. Rebecca titled the piece “Wyatt’s Hope” and used Facebook to invite others to buy prints, with all the proceeds going to benefit Wyatt, who has a family of his own and wasn’t able to work due to treatments and his illness. Rebecca was amazed by the response: “I felt like it was a really good cause and I was amazed at this valley. I had clients that bought my art and contributed to the family that didn’t even know the family — such generosity and such kindness. It blew my mind how giving people were.”
Rebecca has some meaningful guidance for other creatives out there: “My advice would be, to be honest with yourself in your creation process. When you’re honest with yourself and you paint or create whatever it is that makes you beyond excited, that’s going to be your best work every time.” Success doesn’t come overnight and Rebecca knows that you have to be persistent, putting the time in. She reminds us all that, “Over time, consistency turns into mastery.”
Chris Peterson has tried almost every form of outdoor recreation. He has snowboarded, mountain biked, and backpacked, but the thing he keeps coming back to, the sport that connects with his soul, is fly fishing.
He says, “For my personality, for who I am, fishing is the thing. It’s about those moments of magic where you’re face to face with the wild animal, these crazy looking creatures.”
Fishing is not the only thing Chris happens to love. He is also passionate about painting.
The Contemplative Man’s Recreation
So, when Chris was contacted on his Instagram by Fish Heads Fly Shop owner Ben Diamond, and asked to complete a mural in their new space, it was a no-brainer. Chris was all in. One painting turned into two, and soon the shop had a vivid, larger than life trout, as well as an informative map of the Middle Provo River ready to inspire any adventurous angler.
For Chris, painting and fishing hold one beautiful thing in common. They both take him to an ethereal place where he can experience the sublime. He said it reminds him of the subheading “The Contemplative Man’s Recreation” from a famous old book The Compleat Angler by Izaak Walton published in 1653. Chris said, “For me, fishing and painting are both amazing and exciting adventures that I, in some way, use the same part of my brain for. The exploration of paint and the way that I interact with the canvas as it iterates to sort of take it [the painting] in a direction that is unexpected or not planned; that’s also sort of the way that I like to fish […] I’m looking for adventure as I go out there. I don’t want to go to the same old place. I’m trying to figure out how to solve a problem, how to get to this place where there’s like a transcendent moment, which is what you’re also looking for on a canvas.”
Chris’s artwork is informed largely by his previous work in environmental advocacy, international rural development, teaching, and charter school development. Chris got his BFA in painting, but then stepped away from his art while he worked in nonprofit and public sector organizations as a manager, and earned two Master’s degrees. Eventually his path led him to teach art in an elementary school. While there, he started a nonprofit to fund art projects with kids. He became entranced with community development using art, and creating murals, as a tool. Chris said, “I had this experience doing these projects. I wasn’t controlling the outcome of them. It was more about the process.”
These experiences led Chris back into doing art full-time. “I decided I was going to refine my art skill set, my artist vision, so that it was more powerful and said what I wanted it to say.” What is it that Chris wants to say with his giant, colorful trouts and massive portrayals of wildlife? Really, it is about commemorating the creatures that Chris has grown to revere. Chris says, “In a way, it’s like my way of talking about this thing that’s kind of painful, the plight of wildlife in the age of climate change and what their future looks like, but doing it in a way that’s celebratory of these animals and our experience to live in a place where we get to interact with them.”
Walking into Fish Heads and having the trout with its dancing colors greet you at first sight does feel like a celebration, but it also becomes quickly apparent that painting a mural is not an easy undertaking. With a mural being so expansive in scope, it can be difficult to replicate something larger than the artist’s field of vision. How does the painting end up in the right proportions on the wall? Chris has a few tricks and tools that make the magic happen. A projector is critical in getting the drawing to scale in the designated space. Chris says, “The pattern of trout spots is not replicable, by me at least, without some tool to do it. I can’t just do it by eye. It doesn’t look right. There’s sort of a natural order to that stuff that you can’t replace.” He adds that using the projector allows the proportions to be right on, allowing him freedom to then go back into the framework with a variety of colors with different values and temperatures. The result is spectacular.
Chris hopes that as people take time to view his paintings and have their own experiences with wildlife they can learn something about themselves. Chris hopes that this thoughtful observation will help build appreciation. He says, “For me, it’s more about recognizing the special moment we are in right now in the history of this planet. Don’t take it for granted and do what you can to not destroy it.” One of his future goals on his bucket list is to create a trout mural on an exterior wall somewhere in the Heber Valley. He hopes to paint giant trout murals around the world at key fly fishing and trout habitat areas as a way to commemorate the identity of that place and how it’s tied to that particular animal.
Did you know?
Fish Heads Fly Shop is the only full-service flyfishing outfitter in the Heber Valley.
For those dreaming of getting more actively involved and developing a stronger network in our community, a rewarding leadership opportunity has come to fruition. The City of Heber and the Chamber of Commerce have joined together to create Heber’s first Leadership Academy.
What exactly is it? The Heber Leadership Academy is a group of 20 individuals from the community who have the opportunity to gather together and learn leadership skills from several impactful leaders. The team will discuss community-related hot topics and will come to better understand the needs and dynamics of the city. But don’t worry, it is not all talk. They get to practice what they are learning by completing a project to enhance the city. Dakota Mahan, Heber City Manager Assistant, shares that the goal of the program is two-fold: “It allows for people to, number one, expand their leadership skills and qualities because they will be meeting with leaders in different fields. And two, they will gain a better understanding of issues that surround the valley.”
In August, applicants were selected based on work experience, community involvement, and leadership goals. The leadership team will meet one Thursday of each month to learn from various leaders, problem solve, and create a positive impact. The Heber Leadership Academy held their first meeting in August and will finish up in May with a graduation ceremony. Over the next nine months, the group will hear from leaders in law enforcement, government, public health, and education, to name a few. Mayor Kelleen Potter has many hopes for the participants. She says, “I hope people who attend this program will find a deeper understanding of both the city government and just how things work in our community. I hope they will be inspired and motivated to want to participate and also to be ambassadors.” Mayor Potter also desires for this group to help dispel misinformation and create solutions.
One of the highlights for the group will be their opportunity to complete a project in the community. Mahan says, “One of the main parts of the program is to allow the participants to have a class project where they identify a need in the community and work to solve or alleviate that issue.” Similar programs have been working to accomplish great things in other places. Heber has drawn from other city’s leadership academies to develop a program they feel will best meet the needs of our citizens and our city. According to Mahan, in another city with a similar program, the group saw a need for a dog park. The individuals worked together to get the resources needed to make the dog park a reality. Mayor Potter says she doesn’t have any preconceived ideas of what this project will be for Heber. She really wants it to be an idea generated by the group so that they have real ownership and the opportunity to lead out in the task they choose to complete.
Mayor Potter is excited to see this program help people better understand local government. She also feels that this academy has the ability to help unite us as a community and to create a better dialogue: “ . . . I feel like it elevates the conversation in our community from one of divisiveness and attacking to taking the realities that we’re facing and figuring out what are the best solutions for this community.”
If this sounds like an opportunity you would like to be a part of, and you missed enrollment, don’t worry. Enrollment will open up again next summer. This will be an ongoing program that will continue to benefit our community and build leaders. For those wanting to get more involved in the community, opportunities abound. While the Heber Leadership Academy is a nine-month commitment, there are other chances to make a positive impact without as much time to dedicate. Mahan suggests getting involved in one of the many organizations that benefit the city. The Heber Valley Chamber of Commerce is a great place to get started if you want to network, strengthen your business, and gain training. Community Alliance for Main Street (CAMS) works to improve Main Street. The Wasatch Community Foundation is the largest non-profit organization in Heber striving to build healthy families and relies completely on volunteers. Citizens can also work to stay informed by tuning in to city council and town hall meetings. Our involvement counts. Mayor Potter says, “I believe that the more people who understand what’s going on in local government, the better candidates, the better elected officials, the better solutions we will have to problems.”
The leaves crunch under-tire as the crisp air greets and awakens your senses. Fall in all its colorful splendor is finally here! And, what better way to welcome autumn than with a bike ride in good company?
Slim and Knobby’s Bike Shop has been hosting group road and mountain bike rides for the last few years. On Tuesday mornings and Thursday evenings, a group of road bikers makes their way around the valley by riding in a big clockwise loop. Making mostly right turns Thursday evenings, they’ve dubbed their ride; Thursday Night Rights or TNR. For both morning and evening rides they divide into two different skill levels; A group and B group. Ron Yerrick, the manager of Slim and Knobby’s, playfully differentiates between the two as “a fast and furious group and a chill posse.” It really is a group event though, with everyone starting and finishing together, so while the A group gets in some extra sprints and mileage, the B group takes a little shortcut. They occasionally mix it up by riding to Woodland for a visit to The Woodland Biscuit Company or to Kamas for some Chevron donuts. The general schedule, weather permitting, is Tuesday at 6:30 am and Thursday at 6:00 pm, meeting in front of Slim and Knobby’s on Main Street in Heber.
For those who crave the challenge of mountain biking, WOW Wednesdays are in full swing. Slim and Knobby’s provides a shuttle at the Pine Canyon parking lot to take bikers to the top of the Wasatch Over Wasatch trail. The WOW trail works great for hosting a party of riders with each group typically having around 15-20 mountain bikers. It’s not uncommon to have as many as 50 people show up for the beautiful ride through our mountains.
Why join up with the biking crowd? For Bob Emmett, a leader and instigator of the road rides, the social part of it and sense of community are his favorite. He has watched the group slowly grow from 3 people to 30 people in just four years. He says, “If there’s [sic] 30 people there every week [some old, some new], that means I know 50 people because of the ride.” He loves that he has been able to build so many friendships through biking. He shared that he can pretty much walk into any store in Heber, see a shaved pair of legs, and know it is most likely a friend he has made biking the roads of the valley.
If you are considering riding with the gang, but feel a little intimidated as a new biker, Ron Yerrick has some great advice for you: “Just come out and do it. We’re very accepting. The B group is a no-drop group so everybody goes at the same pace as the slowest rider. It’s fun. They’re insightful. You get to learn a lot.”
The group rides generally start up the first of April and go through October, and possibly later in the year if the weather allows. So dust off your old bike or grab your sweet mountain bike and go hit the roads and trails!
Jordan’s studio is bright and open and full of natural light. Large paintings lean against the wall, some complete, while others are awaiting their turn. An easel sits in the corner with a canvas adorned by a beautiful array of vibrant colors coming to life as they circle around and around. To some, the looping pigments resemble tree trunk rings; others see a thumbprint or an oyster shell. One of the more substantial linear abstracts Jordan loves to tackle takes up a good portion of another wall, while a cart sits with wet paint and a variety of Jordan’s tools of choice — painting knives. Next to the cart, art books with dog-eared pages sit nearby, ready to inspire. Her husband, and best art critic, works busily at his desk drawing up architectural plans. And, of course, the studio wouldn’t be complete without one of Jordan’s signature pieces: a vibrant painting of lips smiles from the corner.
Jordan describes herself in the words of her favorite artist Wayne Thibaud: “I am a happy artist,” and everything about Jordan, her space, and her art screams good vibes. Although Jordan’s pieces are varied, they all share some common themes. Jordan loves color! Black and white just doesn’t do it for her. “I love to paint by laying down color and reacting to it,” Jordan shares. Her work also exhibits a certain roughness. She embraces her flaws: “Imperfection is one of my strengths. I’m not trying to make a perfect piece. It has to be up to my quality of standards, but the imperfection of something and kind of the ‘offness’ or the rawness of the piece is something that I feel is specific to my work.” No paintbrushes for this painter. She loves the look and texture she can create with painting knives. She says, “It has to feel a certain way, but the more brutal, the better.”
Jordan has loved creating since she was a child and has identified as an artist for a long time. She remembers receiving her first set of oil paints in 5th grade as a reward for practicing the piano. Jordan has had a love for oils ever since and doesn’t mind the messiness of the medium. In fact, she knows all the tricks for getting it out of clothes, and she has been known to deliver paintings that are still wet to the gallery.
When Jordan took art classes in high school, she honed her craft with the help of an amazing art teacher who saw her potential and helped her develop as an artist. After high school, Jordan graduated from Caine School of the Arts in Logan, Utah. Soon after, Jordan and her husband headed to LA so he could attend architect school. In Los Angeles, the couple started a family, and Jordan worked as a personal trainer, all while she continued to paint. Jordan exhibited her work in a few art shows and online, but it was a chance discovery through Pinterest that opened the door for more significant opportunities. A woman in Dallas, Texas, saw Jordan’s work and loved it. She commissioned several large-scale paintings for her new gallery opening. Getting into the Dallas gallery was a huge stepping stone in Jordan’s career; it was also a big risk. She had to invest in many supplies and materials; however, her hard work and skills were rewarded. Jordan began making a name for herself through her paintings of large abstracts, hot dogs, and lips. Her fun, playful — yet artful style was getting noticed, and Jordan gained traction as a professional artist.
Jordan and her family moved from LA to Midway in 2015, where fate led her to Colby Larsen, the owner of five Park City art galleries. Jordan was invited to feature her work in one of Colby’s galleries — Pando Fine Art. Although the gallery has a more natural mountainscape feel, that hasn’t stopped Jordan from selling her crowd favorites: lips and hot dogs. Jordan would like to keep one of her hot dog paintings to display on her wall, but she can’t keep one on hand because they sell too fast. When she started showing in Park City, Jordan began creating pieces with more organic shapes and references to outdoor scenes. However, Jordan’s work is open to interpretation. Many of her linear abstracts remind people of aspens, but Jordan has started signing them on the back so that the painting can be hung in any direction. Jordan shares, “I paint joy and what inspires me, and then people can do and see whatever they want.”
The viewer’s reaction is very rewarding for Jordan. She doesn’t create a painting with an agenda of what she wants the viewer to see. She wants them to see whatever they are drawn to. At one of her shows, a couple from the Great Lakes area was looking at a painting and said it looked just like the road to their cabin. “That means a lot to me that they can put themselves in a place with my work that I wasn’t even trying to go to. I like them to connect with it within their backgrounds and their own experiences.”
Jordan’s work continues to evolve, and she has no shortage of ideas or plans. As she thumbs through the books of her favorite artists, she sees more destinations her art can take her to. She has several different areas she’s explored with her paints. Her unique series cross a varied span of work. She likes to keep things moving and fresh by not restricting herself to just one area or subject. Jordan’s painted everything from hot dogs and textiles to abstract lines and packaged meat. As she’s been able to have her artwork featured in galleries, she says, “It’s moved from being one of my hobbies — which I’ve kept painting just because I needed to for my own self-creativity- to, oh, I can actually make some money off of this.”
Jordan admits to the vulnerability that has come as she puts her work out into the world, but she says the more she does it, the less she cares what people think. She shares the advice she gives to her children: “I tell my kids everyone has to do something they’re uncomfortable with, but if you do something you’re uncomfortable with, you end up growing from it and learning from it and getting better.” And where did Jordan learn such sound advice? Her mother. She says, “I credit her because she wasn’t afraid to do something. She wasn’t going to wait around for her husband to use the power tools. Her ability to get in and do something without being afraid of messing up or failing or not making something perfect, I do credit her for that.”
Jordan lives her life by the motto, “Create more than you consume.” However, she certainly does not believe painting is the only way to be creative. Jordan says, “As long as you’re creating, I don’t care what it is, create. She mentions several different ways creativity is expressed: singing, yard work, gardening, making food, and fitness. But there’s one thing all creative outlets have in common: “The more you produce, the better you get. Keep going, and you’ll get better no matter what.” Jordan feels that it is part of human nature to create. She says, “You’ve got to produce, you’ve got to create, you’ve got to put something out there and contribute to the world rather than just taking it all in. Everyone has creativity in them. They just need to do it.”
“…you’ve got to put something out there and contribute to the world rather than just taking it all in. Everyone has creativity in them…”
Remember the falling? The times you couldn’t wait one more second to see each other. The conversations and hanging on to every word shared. The feeling that there’s no way you’ve known one another for just a couple of months because you feel you’ve known this person forever. Take a moment and remember.
Falling in love is exhilarating. There’s nothing else like it. Staying in love? Staying in love can sometimes feel more exhausting than exhilarating; however, it can provide an incomparable foundation to build from. A strong relationship can be the source of pushing you to reach your individual potential; it allows great joy in one another and in building a family. And, it promotes growth as you let someone into the innermost workings of your mind and heart. While falling in love may come easy, staying in love and nurturing your relationship takes resilience, trust, and vulnerability. It may not sound romantic, but like anything that’s worthwhile, staying in love takes work.
While renewing marriage vows on a tropical beach may sound like the best way to boost your relationship, the truth is that the real magic and progress lie in the daily upkeep. Many of you may have found that you had more time than ever together this last year, but time doesn’t always equate to connection and closeness. With a degree in Marriage, Family, and Human Development, here are some ideas I’ve learned along the way to reignite that spark and help your relationship be a renewed source of joy in your life.
CREATE VISION
When marriage feels mundane, sometimes all you need is renewed vision. Do you remember when you were dating and had so many dreams for the future? The dating period is such an exciting time to create goals and ideas for what the years ahead will look like. Some of those plans may include children, careers, travel, and contribution. As a relationship matures and many of those initial goals are accomplished or change, it’s easy to lose sight of what you want the future to look like. It also may feel more difficult to accomplish what you want to do. There are likely more pressures and more people counting on you. It’s important as a couple to have some future plans that excite and rejuvenate you. There are several fun ways to create vision as a couple:
Make a bucket list together. What are some trips you want to take? What are some house projects you want to work on? What are some books you want to read together? What are some financial goals you have? Make your list and hang it up where you can see it often. Take time to review it together periodically.
CREATE A VISION BOARD Maybe you aren’t the pen-to-paper type and you want more of a visual way to dream for the years ahead. Take magazine cut-outs and print off pictures to represent all of your goals and ideals. Pick a place to display it where you can both look at it regularly.
WORK BACKWARD Create a statement together of what you want to be said about you at the end of your lives. What accomplishments, traits, and relationships are the most important to you? What do you need to do now to live the life you’ve described? Revisit this statement together each year on your anniversary to see your progress and to set new goals.
START A NEW HOBBY TOGETHER
Doing something new is good for the soul and mind. Take a painting class. Arrange a weekly tee time or private golf lesson together. Become workout buddies. Write a book together. Join a bowling league. Make a list of hikes in the area that you want to do. If the first thing you try isn’t a good fit, try something different. Here are some local resources to help you get started:
EDUCATE Many continuing education courses are offered at the UVU Wasatch Campus. You can do anything from getting scuba certified to learning to garden. Explore their website to find something that interests both of you: uvu.edu/ce/discover.
EXPLORE The Heber Valley Tourism website has several hiking and biking trails listed by skill level: gohebervalley.com/Trails
TEE TIME Golf is a great sport for spending time together in a beautiful setting. You can work on your golf game year-round at the Jim McLean Golf School at Red Ledges or sign up for a clinic or lesson at our public courses.
HAVE A MEANINGFUL CONVERSATION
When you’ve been together a while, a couple of problems are likely to arise when it comes to communication. The first is that it’s easy to assume you know everything about your partner. It’s important to stay curious and to continue to learn about each other. There’s always more to learn if we ask the right questions and take time to really listen. A second problem is finding time to have a good uninterrupted conversation. I have been frustrated more than once when I’ve been trying to talk to my husband and haven’t been able to finish a conversation over the noise and interference of our kids. Finding time to talk each day is an important part of a connection. Here are some ideas:
USE YOUR WORDS Set a time aside to talk without distractions. Maybe it’s a chat over morning coffee, a phone call on your lunch break, a few minutes on the couch right after the kids are in bed, or maybe on an evening walk. The time doesn’t matter just so long as both partners are in a mental state where they can engage.
GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER, AGAIN Need something to talk about? You can find questions tied to intimacy in the New York Times article, “The 36 Questions that Lead to Love.” nytimes.com. Or pick up this great book: Questions for Couples Journal: 400 Questions to Enjoy, Reflect, and Connect with Your Partner by Maggie Reyes.
DEVELOP AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE Express what you are thankful for each day to your partner. Always be on the lookout for what you appreciate in each other. It’s like the old saying goes, “Water the flowers, not the weeds.”
GET TOUCHY You know those couples that make you cringe with their public displays of affection. Chances are you were once one of them. Thank goodness that the PDA wears off a bit, but you still need to have a physical connection with your partner, and not just in bed. There’s no need to return to making others around you uncomfortable. Small gestures go a long way.
HOLD HANDS Hold hands while you’re watching TV. Hold hands while you’re walking. Holding hands, though a small gesture, speaks volumes. It helps you know you have someone by your side to face the world with.
GIVE HUGS Coming? Going? Give a hug. And the comings and goings aren’t where it should stop. Find other opportunities throughout the day to give a hug. There’s research that claims that hugs can improve heart health, boost the immune system, and relieve stress. Spend more time hugging!
TREAT EACH OTHER TO A MASSAGE Maybe your partner loves a foot rub, head massage, or back scratch. Learn some massage techniques and spoil each other. This book is a great place to start: Massage for Couples: “Heal, Soothe, and Connect with the One You Love” by Ashley Dwyer.
Taking time to tend your marriage with small daily acts will pay great dividends. Be proactive in connecting with your spouse. Vision, hobbies, conversation, and physical touch can build your relationship and take you to the next level. Shake it up a little by trying something new. Who knows? You may find yourself falling all over again.
In 2010, Allison Page had an epiphany. When stressed or overwhelmed, a day on the trails with her girlfriends or a walk outside on her own was what helped her most. Realizing her best thinking and problem solving was done when she was outside walking, she began formulating a business plan, and TrailTalk® was born. The idea and now one of the company’s leading taglines is this: “taking therapy off the couch and onto the trail.”
On the other side of the country, in Baltimore, therapist Megan Perry was sitting in a dark office with no windows, wondering what other options were out there. She began searching and discovered an innovative idea out of Park City: the opportunity to own a TrailTalk affiliate. After one trip, her first-ever visit to Utah, Megan was in. She and her husband moved across the country from Baltimore to call Heber home. When asked what drew her to TrailTalk, Megan stated, “This idea of walking and talking, not just being outdoors, but having that movement piece, could really elevate people’s experience with therapy and maybe make it even more productive than just sitting on the couch.”
Megan had often wondered why we tend to compartmentalize physical health from mental health. Incorporating the outdoors and movement with mental health sessions just seemed to make sense. Combining the two has the power to enhance the whole therapy experience. Megan shares, “The theory and concept behind TrailTalk is to increase the integration of physical health with mental health . . . to give people more access to mental health therapy, and to take the stigma away from it.”
How does taking therapy to the trail promote physical and mental health?
Bilateral stimulation: Walking creates a rhythmic left-right motion that helps process traumatic memories or events and feelings. Walking can help us generate new ideas.
Vitamin D: Getting out in the sunshine provides your body with the much-needed benefits of Vitamin D. In addition to numerous health benefits, Vitamin D is vital for regulating absorption of calcium and phosphorus; it promotes a healthy immune system, protects your teeth and bones, and improves the body’s resistance against certain diseases.
Exercise: Activity and movement improve mood and burn calories.
New Experience: Being in a different or fresh environment helps us stay curious and explorative.
Practicing Mindfulness: Hearing birds chirping, leaves rustling in the breeze, and a stream gurgling down the hill provides an enjoyable scenario to practice being present and grounded.
While hitting the trail is an excellent option for many, it’s not the right fit for every person or every kind of therapy. If an office visit is more conducive to a client’s needs, TrailTalk also has an office-on-wheels option. Their TrailTalk vans are equipped with a comfortable, quiet space to sit and converse.
You may wonder if TrailTalk could be a good fit for you. Therapy is a wonderful option for people dealing with life crises: grief, life transitions, anxiety and depression, trauma, etc. However, therapy can also be largely preventative in nature. We see a doctor for our yearly health exam and a dentist for our biannual cleanings. We might visit with a financial planner to get our budget figured out and retirement in order, or a personal trainer to get our exercise regimen just right. Why not make a tune-up visit with a therapist to consider the state of your relationships or your progress on personal goals? Therapy is great for those who need to repair and heal, but it can also be approached from a wellness model to help people “thrive rather than just survive.” It’s for people who are working to be more authentic. It’s for people who feel stuck and can’t quite pinpoint why. It’s for people who find the same problems continually resurfacing in their relationships. Really, it’s for people seeking personal wellness in all aspects of life. Megan shares, “If you just feel like you’re not making the progress that you want, that’s when it’s time to come in and have someone who’s trained to see those patterns take a look.”
How can trained professionals help? A therapist can help you identify where you may be stuck. They can offer ideas and resources, steps you can take, and areas where you might want to try a different approach. They can help you to see something from a new perspective and give you the tools you need to problem-solve in your own life. Sometimes all it takes is a couple of sessions to empower clients to move forward with clarity in an area they find challenging.
One area that many of us find challenging is gracefully getting through the long winter months. Winter can genuinely challenge our mental health. Megan has several ideas that promote prime mental wellness during the coldest season:
Get sunlight and Vitamin D: Even though Utah gets cold, we still get a lot of days with sunshine. Make an effort to get outside and catch some rays, even if it means bundling up. Getting sun is our most important natural source of Vitamin D. You may want to talk to your doctor about supplementing with Vitamin D as it can be difficult to get enough during the winter months. Megan says, “People think they have to go out and do a 10-mile hike. You just need to walk around the block.” Any outdoor activity is fine; just get outside every day!
Socially engage: If we start feeling a little depressed, it’s easy to isolate ourselves socially. We have to push against that. Megan’s advice: “Send that text. Do that game night. Go to that dinner. Sometimes when you get depressed, you don’t feel like it, but doing something is always better than doing nothing.” She adds that our efforts to socially engage are critical to preventing or decreasing the severity or intensity of depression.
Exercise and sleep: Getting your heart rate up and blood pumping can boost your mood and improve your mental state. A good wind-down routine at night can help set you up for a good night’s sleep, especially if you suffer from anxiety. Megan uses a cell phone analogy: “If you leave all your apps open all day, your battery is dead. You have to close out all the different apps constantly, so your phone stays charged. And your brain is the same way. If you go through your whole day and do no processing, by the end of the day, you’re on complete overload; then, you’re going to just sit there and think about stuff.” If this describes you, this next tip can be incredibly helpful.
Take mini mental breaks: Try to take little pauses throughout your day. When you feel an emotion, pause and recognize what caused that feeling. Confront it. It’s easy to live our days completely over stimulated and constantly multi-tasking. Sometimes it’s helpful to slow down and do something mindfully without distraction. Doing this allows us to quiet the mind. Megan shares an example of how to do this, “If you’re washing the dishes, just wash the dishes. What does it smell like? What does it look like? What does it feel like?” If mindfulness feels foreign, it may be helpful to be guided through it a few times. Headspace is a great app to help you get started.
This year of uncertainty is almost over. It has given us an incredible opportunity to lean in rather than resist. Megan shares some pertinent advice as we contemplate the changes we want to make in the coming year, “Go ahead and take that step. If people are anxious about making a change, perhaps that’s a sign that they need to back up and make it smaller and . . . more manageable.” Her closing words of advice to carry you through the new year, “Take your values and vision and align it with action. Actions don’t have to be grand, and they don’t have to be huge. It’s just picking something. Something is better than nothing.”
Thirty years of non-stop hustling. Thirty years of mastering a competitive craft with constant creative challenges, where no two days looked the same. Thirty years of working his way to the very top in an intense environment.
Thirty years of visiting gallery after gallery in all the towns and cities he toured across the U.S. Thirty years of frustration knowing an inherent reservoir of talent was left untapped. Thirty years of inspiration seeing the expressive and meaningful creations of others.
Starting A New Chapter
After a thirty-year career in advertising, Kevin Kehoe turned fifty and decided to do some serious soul searching. After much contemplation, he knew it was time for a change and time to start a new chapter. Although Kevin had enjoyed a successful advertising career, the urge to paint continually nudged and beckoned him. He could no longer ignore the call, that gnawing at his heart. Of this experience, Kevin shared, “I knew there was this other door I never really opened and I never wanted to get to a point in my life where I had to wonder ‘What if?’” Kevin summoned his faith and courage and took a mighty leap.
In January of 2013, he found a space in the Heber Valley and put together a studio. After high school, Kevin had attended the Art Institute of Boston, but he hadn’t picked up a paintbrush in thirty years. He didn’t know what he wanted to create, what kind of paint he wanted to use, and ultimately who he was as an artist.
Instead of allowing the overwhelm to overtake him, Kevin got to work. He started with three small paintings highlighting hallways and stairwells in post-war buildings of the Chelsea Gallery District in New York City. He was inspired by the “light pouring in the vintage glass, the twenty coats of paint on the walls, and the colors.” These three paintings became the beginning of what he titled his Chelsea Light Series. They sold quickly, giving Kevin the confidence and experience he needed to move forward.
Hitting The Road
Kevin developed his particular art process, which doesn’t start in the studio at all. Instead, it begins with days on the road with his camera. While on his way, he waits to be “struck.” He describes being struck as having everything to do with the “beautiful relationship between landscape and light and person and place.” He never forces these moments, but patiently allows them to happen. “I think my true gift is being a really keen observer of the world we live in. What I see and what I feel about what I see, I allow to really take me. I know when it happens, and I know it’s a very special feeling when I get struck like that,” Kevin shares.
After a week to ten days of traveling, with miles and miles covered, Kevin will return home with hundreds of photos. He shares, “Out of 500 photographs that I’ve taken, if two are worthy enough for me to want them to become a painting, then that’s a huge victory.” A big part of his artistic process happens through the lens. Kevin shoots all of his own reference photos because it’s imperative to him that his work feels authentic and captures what he felt as he saw it.
Brush Strokes
After returning to the studio, with his photo reference in hand, his goal is to express “the true essence of the subject matter.” Each of his subjects has a story to tell. What he paints on the canvas is how he wants to remember it. He says, “I choose to paint realism because I know there’s a lot of unseen, underappreciated beauty in the world, and if I see something that I think is beautiful, that I think gets passed by or overlooked, I want to express that beauty.”
Kevin now has four separate and ongoing series that he’s developed: Chelsea Light; Western Therapy; Western Night, Western Light; and Of Horse, Of Heart. To some, Kevin’s work may seem to be quite contrasting because of the various subject matter: man-made structures to horses and western landscapes. There are reasons for his versatility. As a relatively new painter, Kevin doesn’t want to leave any doors unopened. He doesn’t want to miss out on creating something special. With an eye for seeing details and nuance that often go unseen by others, there certainly are many open doors. However, there are common threads that run through all of his work and define him as an artist. He describes the qualities that tie his work together as authenticity, soulfulness, and reverence.
Dreams Fulfilled
Kevin credits part of his success to his advertising career and his experiences in both the East and West. He calls his thirty years in advertising the ultimate boot camp to becoming a disciplined painter. He credits his work ethic and perspective to his Eastern upbringing, and values the West because it inspires and “ignites his heart and imagination.” He says, “The wide-open west is open wide with possibility.” Having life experiences in both the East and West, he describes as a beautiful yin and yang.
When Kevin took that leap back in 2013, he wasn’t positive where it would lead, but he was determined to go places. He had his sights set high. Now, he has seven and a half years under his belt. Seven and a half years putting in the work and expressing with paint what strikes him; tapping into his creativity and learning his personal style and artistry. Seven and a half years of following his intuitive nature and building patience and trust; using his talent to produce many inspiring pieces to share with the world. Seven and a half years since that mighty leap into the unknown. What has come of it? Kevin expresses, “The creative fulfillment and personal reward that I get from this is off-the-charts. It’s immeasurable.”
If you would like to view Kevin’s work, he will be featured in a Red Ledges model in the upcoming Showcase of Homes. His work can also be found in Altamira Galleries in both Scottsdale, AZ and Jackson, WY. You can visit his website at kkpainter.com.
82 acres of open land in Midway will remain undeveloped thanks to generous hands.
Utah Open Lands and Midway City were thrilled to work with Kem C. Gardner in placing 82 acres under conservation easement. Gardner, who has owned a home in Midway since the 70s, has been concerned as he’s watched Midway “slowly lose its rural flavor [as] it gets more and more built out.” Gardner said, “I’ve worried that we need to protect our open lands as much as possible.”
Gardner is a real estate mogul and has many impressive titles, but for Gardner, this conservation easement tops the list. In a Midway City Council meeting held June 2, Gardner said, “If I could put 130 acres [he hopes to add another 50 acres in the future] in Midway under conservation easement, that would be a great legacy for me. I’ve got my name on buildings. That doesn’t mean anything. I’d rather have open land, particularly in Midway.”
The 82 acres entering the conservation easement consists of two separate properties. One parcel of land, 45 acres running along Highway 113, is an entrance corridor from Charleston to Midway. It will likely become home to a welcoming sign or entrance monument. It will also be open for public use along Snake Creek. The other parcel, a 37-acre plot, is within walking distance from Midway Main Street. It will also continue to have non-motorized access along Snake Creek. Gardner envisions people walking their dogs, enjoying a horse ride, or having a picnic under the trees by the stream. Both parcels have areas that will continue to be leased for growing hay. Most important to him, though, is that this land remains open space that is undeveloped. These properties offer great views of the mountains, protect wildlife habitats, and benefit the community by providing recreational opportunities with trail access. These attributes are right in line with the goals Midway City has in preserving open land.
Entering into a conservation easement means that Gardner continues to own the land privately, but allows public access and use. The 45-acre easement, Gardner generously donated to Utah Open Lands. The purchase price for the easement on the 37-acre plot is three million dollars. Midway City authorized one million dollars from the Midway Open Space Bond to go towards the easement. However, Gardner readily gave the million dollars back to Midway City, entrusting them to use it on beautification projects for the properties. Utah Open Lands will do some fundraising to pay for the remainder.
The conservation easement runs with the land, meaning it’s not just applicable to the current owners, the Gardner family, but also future owners, allowing the property to remain open forever. Gardner wants to encourage others to look for opportunities to have open space and to buy critical pieces to help keep Midway open moving forward. He praised Mayor Celeste Johnson and the City Planner Michael Henke as being easy to work with and very cooperative. He said they are “interested in open space and cooperate in every way to keep things open.” Gardner has a clear message: “I want to let people know that I personally don’t want to develop in Midway. I want to keep it as rural as I can, and I hope people will join me on that.”
If you want to know how you can help protect open lands in Utah, visit utahopenlands.org.
In the last few months, life as we have known it has dramatically changed, but thankfully there are still great options for our kids when it comes to summer reading programs and incentives. It’s true that some restrictions remain in place, but we can rest assured that curling up with a good book will never be against the rules. We still have the power to travel to far-away lands, have great adventures, and expand our knowledge on various topics. Here are some resources to get kids excited about summer reading.
READ TODAY
Read Today is an awesome program sponsored by KSL and Deseret News in partnership with McDonald’s and the Governor’s office. To participate, go to readtoday.com, where you can download a baseball field game board. Each day a child reads for 20 minutes, they get to color in a baseball. Kids earn prizes as they make their way around the bases. Prizes include a mood-changing pencil, a free book from Seagull Book, and a coupon for a McDonald’s Happy Meal. Making their way around the bases to home plate earns children tickets to the Salt Lake Bees game on August 11th. If the season is canceled due to COVID-19, participants will receive vouchers for the 2021 season. This program is open to children ages 6-14 and needs to be completed by July 20th to receive all of the awards.
WASATCH READS
Wasatch County School District is committed to promoting literacy. Each school has its individual plans for how to keep students reading over the summer break. Programs may include book clubs, free books, and rewards for minutes read. Wasatch High School has donated a copy of “Scythe” by Neal Shusterman to every student wanting to read it during the summer months. Check with your schools to find out what they are doing.
WASATCH COUNTY LIBRARY
The library’s theme for this year’s Summer Reading program is, “Imagine Your Story.” Wasatch County library will begin to post information in June on its Facebook page and website at www.wasatch.lib.ut.us.
SCHOLASTIC READ-A-PALOOZA
Scholastic is providing kids a rewarding opportunity to give. This online program offers students the chance to read digital books, play games, and track reading. As students record their reading, they get virtual rewards and unlock book donations for kids with limited access to books. The goal is to unlock 100,000 book donations by July, but the program runs through September 4th, to sign up, head over to scholastic.com/homebase.
We are so lucky to call this valley home. Surrounded by mountains and breathtaking scenes, it only makes sense for our beautiful valley to have a fantastic trail system to help us get outside and explore our home. Trails are a way to reconnect with a friend as we walk and talk. Trails offer us a way to get our legs and hearts pumping as we bike our way to the top of the mountain then bask in the rush of our downhill descent. Trails are to be discovered with a child as we become reacquainted with creatures and creations through a new lens.
Our county is continually working to connect neighborhoods, cities, and surrounding counties through trails. Thankfully many entities, including the Wasatch Trails Foundation, our county and city councils, Mountainland Association of Governments, and Wasatch Mountain State Park, along with others, are working together to make this massive undertaking a reality. When it comes to trail planning and building, it really does take a village. Right now, a new position is awaiting approval for a part-time regional trail planner to oversee all trail development in the county. With approval, this person will coordinate and help champion trail progression. With miles of existing trails and new trails being planned and organized, it is an exciting time for us as residents.
The countdown is on for the new trail addition at Pine Canyon Road in Wasatch Mountain State Park. Two new flow trails and one pump track are slated to have their grand opening on National Trails Day, the first Saturday in June. Scott House, a member of Wasatch Trails Foundation and major trails advocate, stated, “These trails are the first of their kind in the county and within a Utah state park. They are a good example of a non-profit [Wasatch Trails Foundation] working side-by-side with a state park [Wasatch Mountain State Park].” They have great accessibility and are an excellent resource for families wanting to enjoy a place to mountain bike together. For those who enjoy Trailside Park in Park City, this has a similar layout and feel.
Another highly anticipated project is a connector trail that will connect Heber to Vivian Park in the Provo Canyon. Currently, there are approximately three miles of trail that need to be built to connect Deer Creek to Vivian Park. It doesn’t sound like that complicated of an undertaking, but with a river to work around, steep canyon walls, the railroad, and funding challenges, it’s more difficult than one may presume. MAG and UDOT have partnered on this project. When it is completed, over 100 miles of non-motorized, multi-use trail will be connected, allowing users to go all the way from Midway to Provo, Utah Lake, American Fork, and other areas of the Wasatch front via trail. Planning and design work will continue through this year, with construction beginning in 2021.
There are several exciting trails on the county’s master plan. The proposed Lake to Lake trail will run from Jordanelle Reservoir to Deer Creek Reservoir. This trail will need federal, state, and local government support to become a reality. Wasatch Mountain State Park will continue to build more single-track trails. One of their next projects is the Maple Grove Trail, a three-mile connection from the WOW [Wasatch Over Wasatch] trail in Wasatch Mountain State Park that will permit users to make shorter loops and allow for better emergency access. Another trail on the agenda will take route along the railroad from Soldier Hollow to the Heber Valley Railroad Train Depot. Of course, the reality of each of these trails is dependent on funding and developers abiding by what they have agreed to.
Although trails are a big priority for our county and city representatives, there’s much that we as citizens can do to help. Mr. House reiterated the very applicable phrase, “Many hands make light work.” He shared several ways we can contribute: Serve on a trails and open space committee in your city. If you aren’t available to serve on a committee, try to participate in planning commission and council meetings by sharing your support for trails and letting your elected officials know how important they are to you. Get involved with Friends of Wasatch Mountain State Park or the WMSP Dirt Crew helping to maintain and develop facilities and trails. Donate time, money, or expertise to the Wasatch Trails Foundation, a non-profit organization where every dollar donated goes toward building and maintaining trails. House said, “Go out and help where you can. Every little bit helps.”
How can you enjoy the trails? Get out and use them. Discover new places. If you aren’t sure where to start, download the Trailforks or AllTrails App and discover mileage, trail conditions, and uses. Many of the trails are multi-use, meaning they can be enjoyed by hikers, bikers, anglers, and equestrians. Each trailhead will have the information you will need to know about length, appropriate use and the skill level recommended for each trail.
The future of our county trails is exciting. House said, “The needle is moving very much in the right direction. The wheels turn slow, but I’m very encouraged. Nothing happens fast, but if you take your time, you’ll come out with a really awesome product. So many cool trails are going to be built in the next 15 years. With our community on board, big trail projects will really come together.” There are good things on the horizon and lots of passionate people working to make new trails happen. Right now is the perfect time to get outside and enjoy our big backyard. Happy trails to you!
Recommendations to help kids get excited about exploring trails:
Start Small. Don’t try to go too far when you’re starting out and try not to be in a hurry.
Get a Pack. Have your kids carry a fanny pack or backpack with their own snacks and water. They love being in charge of their own stuff.
Track Your Progess. Kids love tracking distance and time. If you say you’re going for two miles, have a child track your progress with a watch or cell phone.
Take Binoculars. Children love looking for wildlife and checking out their surroundings.
Observe and Record. A notebook and pen are also simple, but great tools. Kids can record observations or draw plants or animals that they find.
Make it a Game. Create scavenger hunts, pretend to go on a quest, make-believe their gathering food or sneaking away from a pretend enemy.
Sunlight softly filters through the branches of a mulberry tree, creating mesmerizing shapes of light and shadow. A young Valoy Eaton stands below the tree captivated by all he sees. Now, at age 82, that fascination with light, shapes, and shadows continues to be an integral part of him. He says that when it comes to being an artist, “The seeing is really important.” His ability to see and appreciate his surroundings, along with good old-fashioned hard work, has earned him his livelihood and a 50-year career as an artist.
Beginnings
Born into a family of musicians, Valoy didn’t get much encouragement in the visual arts as a youngster. However, he did enjoy drawing as a young boy. He recalls what a treat it was to get out of months of school during the 5th grade to create an art piece for the roof of the school featuring Santa and his reindeer. It won 1st place in a community Christmas contest.
Art certainly wasn’t Valoy’s main focus in his youth. The Eaton family lived in Vernal, and money was tight. Valoy recalls, “We were on the edge of poverty, and I felt my best chance at going to college was to get a scholarship to play basketball.” The sport became his driving force, but something else also caught his attention — a beautiful girl in one of his classes named Ellie. Ellie was a cheerleader and the student body president. Valoy told his mother that when he got married, he wanted it to be to a girl just like Ellie. Both of Valoy’s high school plans worked. Several colleges offered him scholarships to play for them. And following high school, he got to marry his dream girl, Ellie.
A Call For Change
The newlyweds headed to BYU, where Valoy played basketball for Coach Stan Watts. At the same time, he majored in art and minored in PE. After four years playing ball and earning a bachelor’s degree, Valoy secured a job at Cyprus High School in Magna, Utah, where he taught and coached. Life was good. The Eaton family was growing and now had a couple children in tow. Valoy was spending much of his spare time playing golf and basketball with his buddies. Everything seemed to be going just fine. However, one person wasn’t satisfied with the situation. In Valoy’s words, “Ellie got fed up.” In a moment of brutal honesty, Ellie told Valoy that she didn’t know if she could be married to someone with so much artistic talent who only wanted to have fun. Initially, Valoy was shocked, but as the shock wore off, he ultimately knew Ellie was right. Valoy took this truth Ellie shared with him and used it for motivation to start “painting truth” as he calls it.
He started working harder at painting than he ever had. He would occasionally even work through the night on his art, only to shave, brush his teeth, and head back to his teaching job. The Eatons decided together that Valoy would quit teaching just as soon as he was making as much money with his art as he did with his day job. That day came in 1972. The Eatons packed up and made the move from Granger to Midway, where they bought a little fixer-upper on the corner. Valoy had spent a lot of time painting on the river in Heber Valley and knew he would love living in the area. Ellie was Valoy’s right-hand gal, a true business partner, helping him any way she could. He made art. She sold the art. She also was a model in many of his paintings and became a great art critic. Valoy credits Ellie with doing as much, if not more than himself, to create the success he has enjoyed as an artist.
Crowning Achievements
As he looks back at a career that spans over 50 years and 3,000 paintings sent out into the world, Valoy considers his crowning achievements. Without pause, he lovingly mentions his family. He and Ellie are proud parents of five children, grandparents, and now great grandparents. When it comes to his art, though, the single thing he’s most proud of: “That I stuck with it.” He never gave up even when it wasn’t easy. He also considers getting into the National Academy of Western Art in the Cowboy Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City a significant milestone that pushed him to the next level in his career and gave him national recognition. Valoy feels he may be remembered most for the, almost sixty, works of art he has displayed across the world in the temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Valoy and Ellie, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, wanted to donate paintings to various temples. With this goal in place, the couple spent their summer vacations traveling all over the U.S. going to temple sites so that Valoy could paint a local scene for each temple. In six years, the Eaton’s donated twenty-four paintings to the church’s temples. Valoy now looks at this time with his beloved Ellie as some of their most precious memories together. Ellie has since passed away, but her influence lives on, continuing to inspire Valoy.
A Bit of Advice
Valoy has plenty of his own inspiration to share. For those wondering how to take the leap from hobby to career, he offers a no-frills approach with straight-forward advice: “Work hard and start selling.” If you really want to make a living with art, Valoy shares the formula that’s worked for him: “Paint to please yourself to the maximum. There are always going to be people who don’t like your work, but make sure that you do.” And when it comes to those creative slumps that we all occasionally find ourselves in, Valoy says, “Make time to think. Realize you’re in a slump. Keep working at it. Throw some paintings away if needed. Compare where you’re at now with where you used to be.”
Valoy can no longer put in the same amount of hours painting that he used to, but he paints for at least an hour each day. Valoy’s walls are covered in many beautiful finished canvases, but they also hold many paintings that hang unfinished. He says starting is the easy part, but it’s the finishing that remains the real challenge: adding those delicate touches that give his work life. Those walls serve as a reminder of the starting and finishing that each of us must do: the goals recognized and completed, the dreams that remain unrealized, and the work yet to be done. In art and in life, “The seeing is really important.”
You can see more of Valoy Eaton’s artwork on display at Edelweiss Gallery in Midway and online at valoyeaton.com
