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.

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.

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.

Get Involved!

Give the Most Important
Gift in the World – HOPE!

hopeprojects.com

Soak Snorkel Swim Dive at the Utah Crater

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.”

Get Outside and Breathe

Visit ParkCityYogaAdventures.com and book your adventure today!

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.”

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

Main Event

• 1st Place: Natalie Shupe
• 2nd Place: Trijsten Leach
• 3rd Place: Bridget Barksdale
• Honorable Mentions: John Poon & Rob Adamson

Heber City Paint Out

• 1st Place: Steve McGiney
• 2nd Place: Don Miskin
• 3rd Place: Kimbal Warren
• Honorable Mentions: David Dean & Steve Stauffer

Midway Paint Out

• 1st Place by Don Miskin

Studio Work

• 1st Place Natalie Shupe
• 2nd Place Trijsten Leach
• 3rd Place John Poon

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.”

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.”

Find Duncan’s work on Facebook, Instagram, and RobertDuncanStudios.com

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.

¹ https://www.cbsnews.com/news/gas-prices-household-impact-2000-a-year
² https://kbobike.com/blogs/news/benefits-of-outdoor-cycling-kbo-bike 
³ https://www.bikebiz.com/the-mental-health-benefits-of-cycling