Through recent strategic discussions, CAMS’ board clarified its core values, collaboration, stewardship, and community connection, with a clear focus on creating a thriving downtown that serves everyone. CAMS’ work centers on Main Street business owners, property owners, and the broader Heber Valley community, serving as a connector that aligns shared interests, amplifies local voices, and champions a resilient downtown core.

That vision is deeply rooted in the values that have shaped the Heber Valley from its earliest days. Often described as “The Way of the West” or a “Western Way of Life,” the community reflects ruggedness, resilience, independence, and a pioneering spirit. Downtown landmarks like the Heber Valley Railroad, Dairy Keen, Granny’s, and the Heber Tabernacle are reminders that Main Street is not just a collection of buildings, it is the living memory of the people and traditions that built this valley.

As CAMS looks ahead to 2026, business activation is a central focus: telling the stories behind downtown businesses, encouraging residents to shop local, and recognizing the dedication it takes to operate a small business in a growing community. The goal is simple—to remind our community that behind every storefront is a family, a dream, and a commitment to Heber City. We’ve highlighted a few shops that you may have overlooked, and yet their products and services truly represent the American dream that hard work, quality and integrity matter.

Heber Valley Brewing Company

501 N MAIN  |  Heber City  |  hebervalleybrewing.com

More than a brewery, Heber Valley Brewing Company is a gathering place. Owned by locals Clint Jones and Greg Poirier, this Main Street favorite is built on great beer, hard work, and a deep love for the Heber Valley.

With carefully crafted small-batch brews and a welcoming taproom, the brewery invites locals and visitors alike to slow down, connect, and enjoy something truly made here. Grab a pint, bring a friend, and support the people helping make downtown a place worth gathering.

Jade’s Café

200 Gateway Dr  |  Heber City  |  jadescafe.com

Opened in December 2023 by husband-and-wife team Halle-Jade and Mason Squires, Jade’s Café represents the realization of a lifelong dream. For Halle, owning a coffee shop was a childhood vision, beautifully paired with her creative work as head designer at Nomad Soul Interiors. Mason brings experience in sales and logistics, along with a passion for wellness as a certified personal trainer.

Together, they’ve created a space centered on fresh, high-quality food that nourishes both body and soul. Jade’s Café is quickly becoming a downtown favorite, where thoughtful design, intentional ingredients, and warm hospitality come together.

Can you recall the scene in Runaway Bride where the small-town baker helps Maggie (Julia Roberts) choose wedding cake toppers—only to have Ike (Richard Gere) smash them into the frosting? Later, when Maggie finally marries Ike in an open field, the same charming baker dances with joy in celebration. It’s a favorite moment—and as luck would have it, Kamas has its own quintessential baker: Mandy-Joe’s Bakery on Main Street, lovingly owned and run by Mandy Keddington.

When I walked in to speak with Mandy, she was bent over the stove stirring a huge pot of deliciously fragrant browning butter, a key ingredient in many of her recipes. In talking with Mandy (and eating her baked goods), it’s clear she doesn’t skimp on the quality of ingredients used, and you can taste the effort.

“I use all real ingredients,” Mandy explains, “I don’t use any synthetic dyes. It’s all natural dyes. I use real butter and good-quality chocolate. The only exception is if something has M&M’s or something like that in it.” She smiles as she continues, “You really can taste the difference. I wouldn’t use anything here I wouldn’t use at home for my family.” The eggs she uses are sourced from a small family-run farm just up the road in Oakley.

Mandy has been baking practically all her life. At just 12 years old, she took on the weekly task of baking cookies—keeping the cookie jar stocked for a bustling household with eight kids. She began by following the recipe on the back of the Nestlé chocolate chips package, and built from there. She learned a lot watching the Food Network “back when that was a thing— I watched a lot of Julia Child and Rachel Ray when I got older.”

However, the majority of what she has learned has come from practice and experimenting with ingredients. Some of her friends call her the “master of tweaking.” Mandy truly loves baking, and still does it for the joy of it. She admits that things change from batch to batch (a side effect of “baking from the heart,” as she puts it), and rarely sets a timer, stating that her nose is the best timer! “The nose knows. I can just tell when something is ready.” Her menu has classic mainstays, but also gets “fun surprises” depending on what inspires her that day.

Baking from the heart isn’t just part of Mandy’s process—it’s the reason her shop exists. Mandy and her husband, Joe, married in 1999, after being introduced at a “buddy dance” by her roommates, who happened to be his sisters. Joe is a veteran of the Utah Army National Guard, and his career took them to Columbus, GA, where he worked in linguistics. Mandy readjusted her recipes for Georgia’s lower elevation and was constantly baking for friends there, and eventually their growing family.

They adopted their two oldest sons, Chase and James, before moving back to Utah after Joe retired from the military. At which point, they needed to find a way to supplement their income. “The transition out of the military is challenging.” Mandy began baking at home and posting on Facebook Marketplace.

Things were going well, but Mandy really wanted to take her business to the next level. Her dad surprised her with a solution— an old camper! Together, they gutted, outfitted, and beautified it, turning it into her bakery. In 2020, Mandy received another surprise – she was pregnant. Mandy took a break for two years to enjoy pregnancy and the birth of their third son. By 2022, Mandy was baking at home for another local business, but had dreams of opening her own shop. The stars aligned, and she opened shop in a 200 sq foot space just a couple of storefronts away from where Mandy-Joe’s is now located.

Although the bakery is Mandy’s, she shares the work—and the heart behind it—with her husband, Joe.  “[Joe] is the people-person, and half the heart of this place. He’s all about the customers,” Mandy beams. That partnership is reflected in their logo: a turquoise heart with “Mandy-Joe’s” written below in red. In the storefront, her dad, Barry Walker, sells woodwork, and her sister-in-law, Brittany Walker, has crocheted goods. Love fills this bakery, and you can feel it the moment you walk in. It is definitely a family business run with heart.

Like any business, they face challenges—the most frustrating being the soaring cost of ingredients. Since 2020, the cost of every ingredient has doubled, and some (chocolate, for example) have even tripled. And there have been plenty of learning curves, Mandy laughs as she explains that she is “not a business woman by nature.” Even so, she truly enjoys being a part of the close-knit business family on Main Street.

Mandy is proud to own a business in Kamas. Her family has lived in the Kamas Valley for four generations now, including her sons. They have farmed, worked in education at the South Summit School District, and now she is continuing that legacy with her bakery, Mandy-Joe’s. Each business heavily affects the others around them. Of this, she says, “We are all part of the puzzle that is Main Street. We look out for each other. It’s nice to see how we all care for one another.”

Mandy loves that the bakery lets her “get to know new faces from new places.” Right by the register, a push-pin map of the United States tells the story, with colorful pins marking where visitors have traveled from—almost every state has one! Looking ahead, Mandy hopes to see more mom-and-pop shops open and stick around, creating cozy spaces where people can linger, chat, and connect.

You can find Mandy-Joe’s baked goods at 54 N Main Street and the +7 Farm Store in Kamas, and at Mix’ Place in Coalville.

The idea of Alchemy Art was something Shanoa often dreamed about, and she finally brought it to life in 2024, shortly after moving to Heber. Growing up in Mapleton, she was drawn to art from an early age, beginning lessons at just eight years old and discovering her passion during an oil painting class. Her love for art never waned—she went on to study art education at Utah State University and spent 23 years teaching art in public schools across the Western United States.

The landscapes of the West inspired her art. During summer breaks from school, she spent her time hiking and painting with her children, inspired and drawn to the simplicity of nature. The influences of nature can be seen around the walls of her studio and leaning against artists’ easels around the room. Some depict recognizable landscapes, while others are abstract and non-objective. Over the years, as she has grown as an artist, Shanoa has drawn inspiration from nature, often distilling it into its purest forms—swirls, shapes, and movements that are both beautiful and enhance the creative energy of her studio.

On a table beside the nature-inspired gallery wall of Shanoa’s art, the well-loved tools of her artistic medium sit under a shelf made from an old Coca-Cola bottle crate. The shelf is filled with, not paint tubes, but colorful sticks of wax. When she married her husband, Kit, and their lives started in Heber, Shanoa dove into an art form she’d experimented with in college: encaustic art. Finding an artist in Park City who was selling all her tools for this specific medium, Shanoa felt like it was a call from the universe.

Encaustic art is an ancient form of painting dating back to the early Greeks in the 4th century. “If you could imagine painting with candles? That’s kind of it.” Using a hot plate, Shanoa heats the pigmented wax and paints with it in its molten state. She referenced how many people as kids would dip a finger into candle wax to watch it dry–just like that, the wax dries quickly, so she fuses it with a butane torch. “It’s all about transparency layers. It’s additive and subtractive.” The encaustic paintings on her gallery wall showcase the versatile ways she can manipulate the wax: carving, scraping, layering, and mixing of both texture and smooth sheen across the surface.

As Shanoa dove into encaustic art, even winning first place at the International Encaustic Competition in Santa Fe, NM, Shanoa’s creative energy didn’t end with her own art. By day, she teaches art to students at Heber Valley Elementary, and in the evenings, she continues to share her love of art with the community at large at her studio, Alchemy Art. “[Art has] been this constant strength throughout my life that’s given me joy, strength, insight. And I feel so lucky to have that, that I want to share with other people. So that’s part of the mission. . . give as many people as I can that gift.”

Whether the class is a deep dive into a specific medium, like watercolor or oil painting, or a more casual paint night with friends, Shanoa always strives to offer her students skills that help them progress. Her goal is never a one-and-done painting, but to understand the why and how of certain techniques so they can go home with confidence and create on their own.

Going above and beyond technique, though, Shanoa is passionate about the transformational power of art–the alchemy in Alchemy Art. Which is why she also offers art therapy classes, where that transformational work can shine.

Shanoa strives to cultivate a safe, nurturing space that reflects her mission of fostering community and connection. In art therapy class, she directs students in guided meditations and encourages them to work toward being in a “flow state” instead of structuring the class to have artists follow step-by-step instructions. “I try to get people to enjoy the process and be present with the process and become less attached to the results. The results don’t matter.” Often, it’s much easier for children to get into that flow state, whereas adults can be more timid and overthink things. Shanoa’s seen some touching transformations take place when people open themselves up to
the process.

At the end of each art therapy class, if students are comfortable, they can share their art and what it means to them with the group. In self-portrait exercises—where she encourages students to embrace more abstract, non-objective art—Shanoa has witnessed people who struggled with elusive feelings finally experience breakthroughs in self-reflection. When painting a portrait of a loved one, a woman processed and released some of the grief of losing her husband as she painted him. Often, Shanoa notes, the breakthroughs in her classes are about strengthening relationships, connection, and love.

Shanoa sees this as a process of using art as a visual language. “We all have that visual language, but we don’t access it a lot of times, and there are those things that we know, but we don’t know that we know them. They just kind of reside there. And so, I try to get down to that level.”

Alchemy Art’s class offerings are as creative as Shanoa is, as she rotates through various classes throughout the year, including art therapy, watercolor, art foundations for children and teens, oil painting, acrylics, and fun paint nights. She even offers private lessons and at-home paint parties. “I just have so much respect and appreciation for art… I think it contributes to people’s lives: making it, sharing it, teaching it.”

Book your next class
Artbyshanoa.com
@artbyshanoa

A Little Tax with a Big Heart

In November 2022, voters in Wasatch County chose to invest in the future of our valley, not by adding a heavy burden to our residents, but by approving a modest 1/10 of 1% local sales and use tax dedicated to enhancing trails, arts, and parks. That’s just one penny for every ten dollars spent, and it officially went into effect in 2023.

This simple decision has already sparked creativity, strengthened community connections, and helped translate long-held dreams into physical places and experiences for everyone to enjoy.

Where It Comes From and Where It Goes

Visitors from near and far are part of what makes the TAP Tax work so beautifully. When someone comes to enjoy our mountains, dine in our restaurants, or shop in our local stores, a tiny portion of that spending goes directly into the life of our community through the TAP Tax. In this way, visitors help us build a more vibrant place — supporting projects that benefit both residents and guests, the next time they visit. While the tax is local, its impact is shared.

So How Exactly Does it Work?

• Collected Locally, Spent Locally. Revenue from the TAP Tax stays right here, split across Wasatch County, Heber City, and Midway, for projects that enhance trails, parks, arts programs, outdoor recreation, and cultural experiences.
• Advisory Boards. Advisory committees in each jurisdiction review applications and recommend projects to city councils or the county council.
• Project Grants. Funds are awarded through a competitive grant process twice a year in spring and fall, allowing nonprofits, individuals, and community groups to bring proposals forward.

It’s a thoughtful, community-driven approach: a way to hear ideas from residents and help turn them into real-world improvements.

Projects That Are Already Making a Difference

Thanks to the TAP Tax, the valley is seeing creative and important investments come to life.

In 2024, the Wasatch County TAP Tax Advisory Board recommended funding for 13 diverse projects that span music and performance, outdoor recreation, trail improvements, and community gathering spaces. These included:

• Music and concert series like Homegrown Concert Series and various performance projects that bring live music to the library and community gatherings.
• Singletrack trail maintenance and new mountain bike trails developed by the Wasatch Trails Foundation. Check out the new asphalt “all-wheels’” pump track, nearing completion at South Fields Park, a community project by Wasatch County, Wasatch Trails Foundation, and The Wasatch Community Foundation. And don’t forget the new BO-WOW trail, connecting Park City to the Heber Valley through a single-track trail.
• A new disc golf course at Wasatch Mountain State Park and other outdoor-focused facilities.
• Veterans Park improvements and skate park enhancements, making public spaces more welcoming and fun for all ages.
• Support for theatrical arts like Timpanogos Valley Theater and Charitable Acts Theatre, enriching the valley’s cultural life.

In Heber City, TAP Tax grants have already made an impact on local arts organizations — like the Utah Wildlife Federation, Heber Valley Children’s Choir, and Art Around the Square festival — boosting cultural vibrancy and opportunities for connection.

Who Can Apply and When

One of the best parts about the TAP Tax is how open and inclusive the process is:

• Nonprofits and foundations with community-focused goals.
• Local organizations with ideas that enhance trails, parks, or arts.
• Individuals and project leaders with community-oriented proposals (for many categories).
• In Heber City specifically, TAP Arts grants are available for projects led by residents, nonprofits, and city staff focused on music, visual arts, performance, and cultural programs.

Each jurisdiction has its own deadlines and details.

A Little Tax, a Big Return

Though the TAP Tax is a small 0.1% levy, its impact is anything but small. It’s a community investment that brings people together, from hikers discovering new trails to families enjoying music under the stars, from artists creating new work to volunteers building our parks.

It’s a reminder that when we work together, residents, visitors, and local leaders, we can build things that matter: places that bring joy, strengthen bonds, and elevate everyday life in Wasatch County. And if there’s only one thing we can all agree on, it’s that we all love to spend time celebrating the arts, hiking/biking our trails, and gathering at our parks.

Whether you’re dreaming up a new cultural event, a trail connection, or a community art installation, the TAP Tax is here to help spark that idea and support it into reality. So dream big and let’s keep building a stronger, more vibrant Wasatch County, together.

Well, sharpen your Strava segments and holster your side-eye, because the rivalry just got… connected.

In Spring 2026 (conditions permitting), the first official backcountry trail connection between Summit and Wasatch Counties will open to the public: the BLT (Bonanza Loop Trail) to WOW Connector Trail. Five miles of singletrack diplomacy. One narrow ribbon of dirt proving that neighbors can get along—especially when bikes, boots, and trail runners are involved.

A Trail Ten Years in the Making

The BLT to WOW Connector Trail has been quietly simmering for more than a decade, originally conceived by Rick Fournier, former Mountain Trails Foundation (MTF) trails manager, and Scott House, current Wasatch Trails Foundation (WTF) board president. Like all great ideas, it took time, patience, and just the right mix of persistence and grit to move from “wouldn’t it be cool if…” to “holy WOW, it’s actually happening.”

The result is a thoughtfully designed backcountry trail system that doesn’t just link maps—it links communities.

At its core is Tall T, the main multiuse, bidirectional connector that makes the county-to-county magic official. From there, the system fans out with something for just about everyone:

• WOWZA DH, an intermediate downhill MTB trail with advanced options for those who like their adrenaline spicy.
• WOWZA, an MTB climb and multiuse trail that earns its name one switchback at a time.
• Boulder Dash, a hike-only spur for those who prefer their joy delivered on foot.

More Than Dirt and Distance

The WOW trail system isn’t just about recreation—it’s about relationships. Lora Anthony, Executive Director of the Mountain Trails Foundation, puts it best:

“The entire system of WOW trails isn’t just connecting communities through trails, it is a shining example of what long-term, supportive relationships between many partner organizations can bring to bear.”

Translation: this didn’t happen by accident. It took collaboration, trust, and a whole lot of meetings where people chose progress over turf wars. Mountain Trails Foundation proudly served as one spoke in a very effective wheel, with Wasatch Trails Foundation steering the project home.

WTF Board Member, Scott House, highlights the deeper purpose behind the build:

“Its location speaks to the Foundation’s commitment to balance wilderness and open space protection, while still providing meaningful trail connections.”

This is modern trail design at its best—integrating natural features, respecting sensitive landscapes, and delivering a sustainable experience that will keep riders and hikers stoked for years to come.

The Hard Part (a.k.a. Everything Else)

Of course, no great trail story comes without a few “are we sure this is going to work?” moments. Or several.

Funding came through three separate grants—two from the Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation (UORG and RTP) and a grant from the Wasatch County TAP (Trails, Arts, and Parks) Tax. Approvals were secured. Mountain Trails Foundation was hired as the contractor. Construction began in Spring 2024 with a firm completion deadline of Fall 2025.

Then came the real challenges: wildlife mitigation areas, shifting political landscapes in Park City, and the not-so-small matter of building across the steep, dramatic terrain of Tall T Peak (elevation 9,360 feet).

Current WTF Executive Director, Mia Yue, doesn’t sugarcoat it: “There were multiple times over the last three years that I was convinced this connection was dead in the water.”

Spoiler alert: it wasn’t. Thanks to the unwavering support of the WTF Board and the relentless partnership with Mountain Trails Foundation, the project crossed the finish line—and the county line.

A New Chapter in Local Trail Lore

When the BLT to WOW Connector Trail opens, it will mark more than a milestone—it will mark a mindset shift. Competition gives way to connection. Boundaries blur. And trail users gain a seamless backcountry experience that feels bigger than either county alone.

So whether you’re clipping in from Summit, lacing up from Wasatch, or just happy to see neighbors finally agree on something, this trail is definitely for you.

Because sometimes the best way forward… is straight through the middle.

To support future trail projects and become a member of the Wasatch Trails Foundation, visit wasatchtrails.org.

Reflecting on my life from a newfound perspective on the other side of the hill, I can see that I have been literally encompassed by hard-charging, A-type, ambitious personalities since childhood. My formative education was at a New England style, all boys, college preparatory school, where very high expectations in academics, sports, and extracurricular activities were set. I tried to roll that intensity back a touch in my college years, but the daily grind of creatives and fine arts education knows no professional time boundaries. I tried to roll that fervor back again by working as a ski instructor and fly-fishing guide, only to meet some of the highest-functioning people on the planet and, by necessity, adapt to their pace to keep the day positive and remain employed. Albeit unwillingly, this background set me up well for an entrepreneurial mindset and has helped me professionally, but man, some folks, particularly in Utah and the Wasatch Back, just need to practice what they preach and chill out!

Cacti get it. These guys are nature’s tribute to toughness and longevity. Once established, most can endure heat, cold, wet, or dry conditions. They are covered with passive self-defense mechanisms. Most cacti grow very slowly: they pace, they rest, they replenish. They will store water and spend it responsibly during periods of scarcity. Ironically, if a cactus takes in more water than it can absorb, the plant body often ruptures from the swelling, causing permanent injury or death. Once established, the balanced practice of growth, rest, and replenishment strategically allows cacti to endure most any hardship. I can think of no other plant or animal that is better suited to the various harshness of Earth’s reality.

The ‘hard charger’ persona might look at a cactus, compile a surface observation in the less than three seconds allotted to such minutiae as a ‘highly effective person,’ and think about being a prick. If one pauses for a genuine moment of thoughtful reflection, cacti employ a slow, adaptable, and intentional method that leads to better long-term outcomes and ultimately to survival in a harsh, ever evolving ecosystem. This is one of my many fascinations with cactI, and the primary attribute I like to remind myself to emulate while tending to my garden.

Soil conditions are critically important to the success of any plant. Different soils suit different needs, but a common thread is that all soil eventually needs replenishing. Natural replenishment happens with nutrients and rest. Composting and ‘resting’ soils in the winter season creates a beneficial soil biome and leads to far more productive growth and yields. While it is true that an artificial injection of chemical fertilizer will boost outcomes for a season, those crops do not thrive perennially. Chemical fertilizer sparks a spike in growth, but it is a short lived and poorly visioned strategy. The natural soil biome eventually disintegrates amidst the salinity, and all life becomes dependent on the next injection.

Organic winter gardens teach us that rest is not necessarily laziness—it’s preparation. Henry Miller, a somewhat controversial American writer of philosophical fiction and social criticism in the Second World War era, stated:

To be silent the whole day, see no newspaper, hear no radio, listen to no gossip, be thoroughly and completely lazy, thoroughly and completely indifferent to the fate of the world, is the finest medicine a man can give himself.

In the ancient B.C.E. period of my life (Before Children Enveloped), I was pretty good at the concept of rest and replenishment. I loved afternoons spent in leaf diffused light scattered across my Peruvian blanket style hammock, reading paperback editions of dystopian science fiction I acquired at the local thrift store. I became a very proficient fly fisherman, which in my reality was a lot more based in ‘Norman Maclean’ or ‘John Gierach’ romanticism than the Zoomer, catch-at-all-costs, ‘bro’ edition, fly-guy released in the mid 2000’s. I would travel to remote places and immerse myself in full-day explorations, sometimes longer, without any interaction beyond entomological curiosities, piscatorial presentations, and canine companionship. I trained myself as a fine artist to have a studio ‘sanctuary.’ An artist’s studio is like the mainstream concept of a “man-cave” or “she-shed,” except it is designed as an intellectual oasis for reflection and pondering. I would read, eat, nap, and bring ideas to life in my studio. Outside of the dog, I almost never let others into that personal, introspective space.

But alas, middle-aged life goals wiggled free and emerged like a spring Blue Winged Olive nymph from under a cold water stream’s tumbled rock bed, and the self-containment and self-mastery life model and all of its color-chromatically organized precision was traded in for the wonderful and fulfilling chaos of family life. Further goals included self-employment, then staff, and long term investment strategy. One day, not long ago, I woke up, looked at myself, and realized I had become “the man” to at least two generations below me and a handful of my peers. What a surreal epiphany for a guy who once lived in a backpacking tent for three months!

Amidst the chaos of whatever tier of life you find yourself, and enduring our ‘oh-so-connected’ modern society, we must periodically detach from the very thing that provides our daily bread if we want a healthy, naturally grounded, metamorphic headspace that has generationally connected our species to our planet. Most of our homes require dual incomes to sustain in our region. As a consequence, our children are being raised by the state, and the ‘connection’ being taught is to Wi-Fi networks, not to the naturally stabilizing tactics of rest and replenishment. We throw in hurry-up-and-relax yoga classes on a timer, talking points about self-care from entities that care only about profit margins, and government-stamped rack cards promoting mental health. Such efforts are considerate and well-intentioned, but the one thing that truly heals does not fall within the allowable constraints of a corporate benefits package or of the internet backed precision timepiece that monitors your personal production on the company hamster wheel.

It is a backwards reality, and I do not have a magic equation to change society’s priorities, the methodology of our governmental institutions, or the Western banking system. My best poke at building a healthier community is to promote awareness and lead by example, hoping that some will change their outlook enough to unplug from the Matrix. Yet behold! Some insist “ignorance is bliss” and just want steak, whatever the cost.

Life can be easier if you simply let the channel current guide your thoughts and actions. Many choose to submit to the current and get sucked downstream in that particular river crossing, but not me. I will choose a calculated course, with the current at my back and my posterity in the eddy I create, to overcome the channel and reach the other bank intact and with dry waders.

Most of us chose the Heber Valley to ‘reconnect’ with nature, but our hometown is becoming a downtown, and access to traditional charging outlets has changed with that growth. Utah’s popularity will not change in the foreseeable future, and our community will continue to evolve with that demand. What we have in greater abundance than most is proximity. Hot pots, solitary river walks on the Middle Provo, horseback rides on the benches, shooting cans in the canyons, or a Heber Valley deer hunt may be outside of reality at this point—but all is not lost, and many similar opportunities exist minutes away.

Be creative this spring. Embrace rebirth. Be adventurous. Get outside, rest, and replenish. Ponder. Be still. Learn to be comfortable within your own headspace. Life.. is a road, no simple highway, between the dawn and the dark of night. And when you go, no one may follow. That path is for your steps alone.¹ Strive to make your path memorable and noteworthy. Digital accomplishments are false victories subject to purge on the next software update. Real accomplishments happen in the real world. Choose to spend your time wisely and create higher level, sustainable personal yields.

¹Ripple, Jerry Garcia, Robert Hunter, 1970.

In Heber Valley, history lives not only in archives or photographs, but in homes, churches, railroads, businesses, and Main Street buildings that continue to anchor community life. These places connect us to the people who settled this valley, worked the land, built institutions, raised families, and laid the foundation for the Heber Valley we know today.

This spring, Heber Valley Life Magazine highlights a meaningful preservation initiative made possible through a partnership between Heber City, the Heber Leadership Academy, and the Community Alliance for Main Street. Together, they have launched the Heber City Historic Walking Tour, designed to celebrate and preserve the valley’s architectural and cultural heritage by honoring homes and buildings constructed between 1865 and 1937.

In recent months, I have had the privilege of hosting historic tours with Wasatch County Senior Citizens through the Senior Center. These tours have created powerful moments of connection. Some participants have been reunited with stories of ancestors long passed; others have shared personal memories—being born in the old hospital, living in historic homes, or visiting Main Street businesses as children. It has been deeply moving to witness how a place can unlock memory. I feel honored to have researched and shared these histories so they may be preserved for future generations.

A Walking Tour Through Time

The Heber City Historic Walking Tour is a self-guided experience inviting residents and visitors to slow down and see familiar streets with fresh eyes. Participating properties feature thoughtfully designed plaques placed along the public easement, each sharing brief histories of the families who built and lived in the homes—stories of resilience, craftsmanship, and community-building that shaped early Heber Valley.

This is more than a tour of old houses. It is a living tribute to the individuals who transformed a rugged mountain valley into a thriving agricultural and civic community. By preserving and sharing these landmarks, the tour fosters deeper appreciation for Heber’s past while strengthening pride in the present.

The Power of Place: The Heber Tabernacle

Some historic places carry such emotional weight that stepping inside feels like stepping back in time. One such structure is the Heber Tabernacle, once described by the Wasatch Wave as “the Valley’s largest and finest building.” Hundreds of residents donated materials and labor to complete it—a testament to collective effort and shared purpose.

The Tabernacle’s original design featured a grand assembly hall seating 1,500 people, galleries along the north and south sides, and a three-tiered stand for church officials. Coal oil lamps lit the space, potbelly stoves warmed its corners, and seating reflected the customs of the era—men on one side, women on the other, families gathered near warmth.

A bell tower crowned the structure, its ringing signaling church meetings, community events, and even serving as the town’s fire alarm. As historian Jessie L. Embry noted, the building stands as a reminder of “sturdy men who knew how to build a building to last through the ages.” Even today, many believe that if you listen closely, you can still hear echoes of early voices raised in song.

Rails, Wool, and the World Beyond the Valley

Preservation extends beyond buildings to industries that shaped the valley’s identity. In the early 1900s, Heber City became a global hub in the sheep industry. Thanks to the Heber Valley Railroad, more sheep were shipped from this valley than anywhere else in the United States.

Families such as the Murdocks, Lindsays, Clydes, Clotworthys, and Christensens brought flocks from surrounding regions to Heber for transport across the country. Their work fueled economic growth and connected this mountain community to global markets. Today, monuments and markers honor the families whose labor and traditions left a lasting imprint on Wasatch County.

Main Street: Adaptation and Resilience

Heber’s Main Street buildings tell stories of adaptation. One such site began as a saloon operated by Parley Murdock in the early 1900s, surviving rising permit fees and strict liquor ordinances. During Prohibition, it transitioned into a pool hall and remained a community fixture for decades.

Later, Willis “Tink” Clyde ran the establishment, solidifying its place as a local gathering spot. Over the years, restaurateurs were drawn to its authentic Old West character. Today, it continues that legacy as Melvin’s Public House, known for its welcoming atmosphere and longstanding role as a “tribal gathering spot.”

Another cornerstone of Heber’s preservation story is the historic Bank Block. Built in 1904 from red sandstone quarried at Lake Creek, it housed the valley’s first bank and served as a financial anchor until the Great Depression. During a 2000 renovation, old bank records were discovered hidden within its walls, and the original vault door still stands as a tangible link to the past.

The Bank Block endured devastating downtown fires in 1937 and again in 1972, which destroyed neighboring buildings including Safeway and Christensen’s Department Store. For many residents, the 1972 fire remains a defining memory.

Carol Bonner recalls watching her husband, Richard, a volunteer firefighter for more than 30 years, working tirelessly that night. “I can still picture him standing on top of the building, outlined by smoke and fire,” she said. “It was one of the most significant fires our valley experienced.”

Susan Dayton Singley remembers losing her father’s barbershop, located between Safeway and Christensen’s. She stood across the street with her family, watching the building give way. Days later, her father’s antique cash register was found in the ashes—warped by heat but still recognizable, a small yet powerful reminder of what once stood there.

These stories reveal that historic places are more than structures. They are the settings of daily life, personal milestones, and shared community history.

Why Preservation Matters Now

Preserving historic places is a one-way street: once they are gone, they cannot be recovered. Historic homes, storefronts, rail lines, and public buildings offer more than aesthetic value—they provide continuity, identity, and belonging.

The Heber City Historic Walking Tour invites us to recognize these places as community assets rather than obstacles to progress. Preservation and revitalization can work hand in hand, ensuring growth respects the character and stories that make Heber Valley unique.

As new generations walk these streets, may they understand not only what was built here, but why it was built—and why it still matters. In preserving the places that shaped us, we honor the past while strengthening the foundation for the future.

The days get longer. Snow recedes. Trails and roads reappear. The idea of running—starting fresh, building momentum, getting fit again—suddenly feels possible.

And for many people, that’s exactly where things begin…and end.

They don’t fail because they lack motivation.

They don’t fail because they lack toughness.

They don’t fail because they don’t want it badly enough.

They fail because they misunderstand what actually creates progress.

At Adventure Your Potential, consistency is the second core attribute for a reason. It doesn’t look impressive on the surface, but it is the single most reliable driver of physical adaptation, mental confidence, and long-term success.

Consistency is King.

Not perfection. Not intensity. Not the occasional heroic workout. Progress comes from repeated, manageable effort over time—long enough for the body and mind to adapt.

The Body Adapts to What It Repeatedly Experiences.

When people begin running, they often assume their lungs or muscles will be the limiting factor. Sometimes that’s true. More often, the limiting factor is the connective tissue: tendons, ligaments, bones, and joints.

Muscles adapt quickly. Connective tissue does not.

These structures need consistent exposure to load in order to strengthen. When stress is applied regularly and within manageable limits, the body adapts quietly and effectively. When stress is random—too hard one day, nonexistent the next—adaptation stalls, and injury risk increases.

Consistency teaches the body what “normal” feels like.

Short, easy runs done frequently allow the body to learn how to tolerate impact, fatigue, and recovery. One great run followed by long gaps of rest teaches the body nothing.

This is why consistency matters more than pace, speed, or distance when starting out. Your goal isn’t to prove anything—it’s to teach your body what it’s being asked to do.

Start Short. Start Easy. Start Often.

One of the most common mistakes new runners make is believing every run needs to feel meaningful—long, fast, or exhausting.

It doesn’t.

Early progress is built on short, easy runs done frequently. Short runs minimize recovery cost. Easy efforts reduce injury risk. Frequent exposure builds routine and resilience. Together, they create momentum without overwhelming the body or the schedule.

A runner who jogs for 15–25 minutes most days of the week will build more durable fitness than someone who runs hard once or twice per week and spends the rest of the time recovering—or restarting.

This approach isn’t cautious. It’s intentional.

Consistency turns running from an event into a habit. And habits, not motivation, are what carry people forward.

Volume Is More Than Mileage.

Another common pitfall is focusing exclusively on mileage. Distance has value, but it doesn’t tell the whole story—especially in mountain environments.

Training volume is total stress, not just miles.

Trail terrain, uneven footing, elevation gain and loss, weather, and altitude all increase the cost of a run. Add strength training into the mix, and overall fatigue rises quickly.

Strength training is beneficial, but it is also about volume.

Heavy lifting places stress on the same tissues used in running. When planned intelligently, it supports durability and performance. When ignored as part of the total workload, it quietly contributes to overload.

This is why many runners benefit from thinking in terms of time rather than distance, particularly on trails. Time accounts for terrain, effort, and environment. It provides a clearer picture of how much work the body is actually doing.

Consistency isn’t just about how often you run—it’s about managing total load so you can keep showing up.

Gear Matters—But It Shouldn’t Stop You From Starting.

Gear plays an important role in running, but it should never be a prerequisite for beginning.

Too many people delay action while waiting for the “right” setup. The result is hesitation instead of adaptation.

Start with what you have. Let consistency reveal what you need.

As training becomes routine, friction points emerge naturally—discomfort, blisters, overheating, or lack of data. Those signals guide smart gear improvements.

Shoes deserve priority. Proper footwear—matched to foot width, arch structure, and preferred drop—can significantly affect comfort, mechanics, and injury risk. Shoes influence how force moves through the body, and dialing them in matters.

Beyond shoes, socks help reduce blister risk. Apparel should regulate temperature and breathe well. A watch can help track time, distance, and effort. Heart rate monitoring can offer insight into training load and recovery.

But none of these tools replace the most important factor: getting out the door consistently.

Gear supports training. It does not create it.

Nutrition Supports the Process—It Doesn’t Start It.

Nutrition is critical to performance, recovery, and overall health—but like gear, it shouldn’t feel overwhelming or prevent someone from starting.

Training reveals nutritional needs.

As consistency improves, the body provides feedback: changes in hunger, energy levels, recovery, and
performance. That’s when nutrition strategy becomes meaningful.

Most runners benefit from thinking about fueling in three phases: pre-training, during training, and post-training.

Pre-run nutrition varies widely. Some people perform well fasted. Others feel better with a light carbohydrate-based snack. There is no universal solution—only what works for the individual.

During longer efforts, easily digestible carbohydrates and electrolytes help sustain energy and hydration.

After training, moderate whole carbohydrates paired with protein support muscle repair and replenish glycogen stores.

These strategies matter—but they matter most once consistency is established. Without regular training, nutrition remains theoretical.

Consistency Builds Confidence.

Within the Adventure Your Potential framework, consistency reinforces attitude.

Each time you complete a planned run, you reinforce self-trust. Over time, doubt fades and confidence grows.

Small, manageable increases in volume reduce overwhelm and reinforce momentum. Large, rushed increases create pressure and risk breakdown.

Consistency removes fragility.

Play the Long Game.

Spring isn’t the season to rush. It’s the season to build.

Running rewards patience. It rewards those who respect adaptation timelines and understand that progress is built quietly, one consistent effort at a time.

If there’s one takeaway, let it be this:

Start small. Keep it manageable. Show up often. Let your body adapt. Let confidence grow. Gear and nutrition will evolve as your training demands it.

Adventure doesn’t come from doing everything at once.

It comes from committing to the process long enough to discover what you’re capable of.

A Final Word.

If you’re unsure how to structure your training or manage workload, guidance matters. As a professional athlete, elite coach, and private personal trainer, I help individuals train smarter, stay durable, and progress with purpose.

If you’re ready to invest in a consistent, long-term approach to fitness, I encourage you to reach out and start the conversation.

@adventure.your.potential 

adventureyourpotential.com

The +7 Farm Store is a labor of love for proprietor Chelsey Leavitt. She’ll tell you the idea simply filled a need in the community. “We’re bridging the gap between people who want to buy locally produced goods but don’t know where to find them—or don’t want to spend Saturdays driving from farm to farm—and producers who have incredible products but no place to sell them.” If pressed, she’ll admit the idea had been quietly forming for years, waiting for the right moment.
The +7 name itself carries deep meaning. It began with Leavitt’s grandparents, Neal and Mary Jane Mortensen, who created the +7 beef brand by selecting the best seven genetic traits from different breeds and combining them into one superior product. That philosophy—bringing the best together—stuck with Chelsey. When the farm store became reality, the name felt inevitable.

Today, the +7 Farm Store is exactly that philosophy in action: a locally produced food hub bringing together the best of the Wasatch Back under one roof. The shelves feature locally raised beef, eggs, produce, sourdough, coffee, skincare, pottery, flowers, and art. Every item is hand-selected, with offerings shifting seasonally to reflect what’s freshest and best.

“Honor your own stories and tell them, too.” – Madeleine L’Engle

The store also solved a very real logistical challenge. Chelsey and her husband, Cliff, had spent years trying to find the right way to market and distribute their own cattle brand, L2 Ranch Beef. After they married, they began the gradual process of buying the family ranch and transitioning from a conventional operation to a direct-to-consumer model. Chelsey, who holds a degree in Agribusiness from Utah State, always knew she wanted to be a cattle rancher—but the path wasn’t straightforward.

Without a storefront, they experimented with beef shares, farm boxes, deliveries, and restaurant sales. Each model worked—kind of. “For years I was trying to figure out how to sell,” Leavitt says. “It was inconvenient, especially with four little kids. Delivery and pick-up were hard to coordinate.”

Then everything clicked. After a conversation with her sister about a sourdough business and stumbling across a video about an “honesty box” produce stand, Leavitt had an unmistakable moment of clarity. “That inner knowing—you just know. Within two months, the shed was up and running.”

The result is a self-serve experience customers love. “People enjoy being able to shop without someone hovering or asking questions,” Leavitt says. “That freedom really resonates.” It also allows Cliff to focus on ranching while Chelsey runs the business—each leaning into what they do best.

“There are only two lasting bequests…roots and wings.”
– Hodding S. Carter

What truly sets +7 apart is Leavitt herself. A natural connector, she’s genuinely interested in people’s stories and thrives on helping others succeed. When the store idea took shape, she tapped into a wide network of local farmers, makers, and artists—relationships built over a lifetime.

That entrepreneurial spark showed up early. She raised goats at age seven and ran a pet-care business in middle school. “My dad’s side of the family is all entrepreneurs,” she laughs. “It goes back generations.”

Now, all those experiences have converged. “Everything I’ve dabbled in is finally coming together,” Leavitt says. “My confidence has grown. I believe in my vision, and that makes you brave enough to do bigger things.”

The response has been overwhelming. “It’s exceeded all my expectations,” she says. “People love it. The community has embraced it. And I’m having so much fun—it’s my creative outlet.”

Leavitt’s passion for healthy, accessible, locally produced food continues to drive her forward. This spring, she and partner, Lindsey Waddoups, of Three Sprouts Flower Farm will open a second +7 Farm Store in Farmington.

When asked if she’s arrived where she wants to be, Leavitt smiles. “I’m just getting started.”

Visit +7 Farm Store at:
231 S 175 W, Kamas
plus7farm.store  |  @plus7farmstore

During my delightful time spent talking with Emma and her general manager, Krystina Clough (a true dynamic duo!), Emma explained, “Eating [in Australia] is so different. Spaces are shared more, so the experience is shared.” Aussies tend to be early risers, so breakfast is early and much more a part of everyday culture than for the typical American. Inspired to bring a little taste of home to Utah, Emma opened Harvest in Park City in 2017 and most recently in Midway this past August.

Long before arriving in Park City, Emma had built a strong foundation in the restaurant industry. In Sydney, she opened and owned restaurants, including her first at the young age of 21, and later explored another side of the business through restaurant supply. Emma has seen and done it all. However, even before that, the foundation for her appreciation of good food and time spent gathering around it was laid in her childhood home. Her mother, a solo parent who worked as a nurse, made sure her busy family gathered together for dinner each night. No small feat! Meals would be coordinated with work breaks, and her mother would leave handwritten instructions on partially prepared meals. When the time came, Emma or one of her sisters would finish preparing the meal, making sure everything was ready so that when their mother walked in from the hospital, the family could gather and share a homemade dinner together. Such a beautiful act of love, which created a lasting legacy. Emma carried on the tradition of family meals with her four children. A tradition she continues even further with Harvest.

At each location, three words simply and succinctly greet you. “Coffee. Food. People.”  The company’s guiding principles. Their menu is full of delicious, made-from-scratch choices. Their goal is to provide clean, health-minded choices that still feel indulgent, flavorful, and comforting. Tip for those with picky eaters— smoothie number two is divine. My kiddos devoured it! And the coffee is indeed delicious, and sourced from Utah’s own Idle Hands Roasting Co. in Salt Lake City. Notably, they source a significant portion of their ingredients and products from Utah companies, including several based in Heber Valley. The list includes Auntie Em’s, Casperville Creations, City Cakes, Hans Kombucha, Hawk and Sparrow, Heber Valley Cheese, Lococo, Lone Pine Bakery, Mountain Mamas Bakery, Park City Creamery, Rimini, Ritual Chocolate, Rosehill Dairy, and Sweets & Cheese. A list to be proud of! At Harvest, partnerships are at the heart of what they do, helping guarantee fresh, high-quality ingredients while strengthening their deep commitment to community and connection.

Emma’s vision with Harvest is to bring people together with food. To them, this doesn’t only extend to patrons, but also to employees. Emma and Krystina share a strong belief that how employees are treated naturally carries over into the experience guests receive. They take great pride in their team and deeply value the contributions employees make to Harvest, striving to create a workplace that feels positive, rewarding, and supportive. Krystina’s path with Harvest is a perfect example of this culture. While working as a barista in Park City, she met Emma during post-workout coffee runs. That connection eventually led her to join Harvest, where she later embraced the opportunity to step into a management position. Krystina loves where she’s at. “I feel like I’m where I need to be. I am able to be my authentic self. And I love our staff.” A sentiment she shares with Emma, who is constantly impressed by how her amazing team works, and “how they show up.” In my experience, their staff are all warm and kind individuals who together create a wonderful overall atmosphere.

The welcoming staff are the perfect complement to the building’s fun, inviting design. The space, designed by 89 Oak in Park City, is beautiful, eclectic, and inviting. Emma explained how the design team “just got what I wanted creatively.” Their vision came together, with a fresh earth-toned palette, filled with charming details with nods to Emma’s Australian roots (including Vegemite jars at the bar). The space is divided into distinct zones to offer guests different experiences: a cozy, intimate lounge area with couches; an area with tables facing the busy kitchen, elegant, large family-style tables; bar seating along a beautiful, green stone counter; and outdoor seating on a patio. Emma wants all guests (including kiddos) to feel welcome and at ease.

“A tuck shop is a casual spot to grab lighter fare, a quick bite, or a bit of a treat.”

The large building also plays an important logistical role. Its spacious kitchen allows the team to prepare dishes for their Park City locations, where kitchen space is limited, while also enabling them to serve more guests comfortably on-site. Sundays, in particular, are bustling, with families, friends, and visitors filling the dining room. In addition to outstanding food, guests can enjoy live music every Sunday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. While the team has no shortage of future plans, one especially exciting addition is the upcoming “Tuck Shop,” set to open behind the building. If you’re unfamiliar with the term, you’re not alone. Popular throughout Australia, a tuck shop is a casual spot to grab lighter fare, a quick bite, or simply, as Emma described it, “a bit of a treat.”

Emma and Krystina shared that opening in Midway represents more than expanding Harvest’s footprint—it’s an opportunity to become part of a new community. “It’s more than just Harvest, it’s the whole community,” Krystina said. Both have embraced getting to know Midway, a beautiful, distinctive town known for its generational families and relaxed pace of life. They are excited to continue building relationships and deepening their connection to the area. Stop in, slow down, enjoy a great cup of coffee, and experience this charming slice of Aussie-style dining on Midway’s Main Street.

Visit Harvest: 195 W Main, Midway
harvestparkcity.com