Heber Valley Life

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  • Valhalla

    Valhalla

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Increased energy
    Better emotional health
    Reduced inflammation + pain

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

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

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

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

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

    Suffering from post-concussion syndrome?

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

  • Springtime Sips

    Springtime Sips

    What is spring without a fancy drink to welcome in warmer weather? Early spring has the beginning of berry harvest season and the colors are divine, making any occasion cause to celebrate. After all, March comes in like a lion and your party skills should, too. Make a drink with me. Sit and chat with me for a spell. I want to hear all your news!

    Black Currant Herby Mocktail
    Spring Kiwi Refresher Mocktail
    Mixed Fruit Bellini Mocktail

    Mixed Fruit Bellini Mocktail

     A Berry Burst of Flavor

    Mix –

    1/2 pint each of 3 fresh fruits in season (strawberries, raspberries, early peaches)

    1 bottle of sparkling flavored water
    (that matches the fruit selected)

    1 pint of sorbet
    (that matches the fruit selected)

    Directions –

    1. With a melon baller, place 1-2 scoopes of sorbet in the bottom of a champagne flute or glass of your choosing.
    2. Fill each glass with your sparkling water and top each glass with an assortment of the fruit.
    3. Chill in the freezer for 7-10 minutes to frost the glass before serving.

    Mocktail to Cocktail – substitute the sparkling flavored water for Moscato or other dessert wine of choice.

     

    Black Currant Herby Mocktail

    A Cool Blend of Fruit and Herbs

    Mix –

    1/2 cup black currants or blueberries

    1/3 cup for garnish

    1/3 cup of sparkling water
    (you can use flavored sparkling water)

    ¼ fine granulated sugar

    1 bottle of sparkling white grape juice

    2 sprigs thyme (sub any fresh herb)

    1 sprig sage (sub any fresh herb)

    Directions –

    1. Mix sugar, sparkling water and 1/3 cup black currants. Bring to a boil for 10 minutes. Strain and let the simple syrup cool.
    2. Add 2 heavy Tbsp. of the syrup to the bottom of the glass, sprinkle a few black currants on the bottom and top with your sparkling grape juice.
    3. Add a leaf of sage and 1 sprig of thyme to garnish.

    Mocktail to Cocktail – substitute the sparkling grape juice for your favorite champagne or prosecco.

     

    Spring Kiwi Refresher Mocktail

     A Vibrant and Refreshing Splash

    Mix –

    2 cups Kiwi, peeled and petite diced

    6-8 mint leaves

    3-4 limes, juiced

    4 tsp of granulated sugar or substitute

    2 cups of coconut water

    2 cups of tonic water

    Ice for chilling

    1 Kiwi, peeled and sliced for the
    rim of the glass

    Directions –

    1. Get 4-6 serving glasses and place approx. ½ cup of diced kiwi in the bottom. Add 1-2 mint leaves, 1 tsp of sugar, and 2 tsp of lime juice. Muddle together until well-combined.
    2. Fill each glass with ice to the top and pour equal parts coconut water and tonic until the glass is full.
    3. Place a kiwi slice on the rim for garnish.

    Mocktail to Cocktail – substitute the coconut water for a high-quality vodka.

  • Stepping into Spring Time

    Stepping into Spring Time

    Are you tired of running from your car into your home, then back to your car, then to school, work, or the grocery store for the past few months? Well, guess what? That part of the year is over!

    The time has come to step into spring and rediscover the outdoor world, as our beautiful Heber Valley blossoms all around us. We call it “springtime,” but sometimes it feels more like ‘uncertainty season’ as our weather changes daily from sunshine to snow to rain and back to sun again. It’s a churning, and a season children in the valley look forward to, knowing they can finally start walking to school again wearing t-shirts, a windbreaker, and shorts. (However, you might want to pack them a coat, a hat, and some gloves, just in case. I hear there’s a chance of snow.)

    Yes, it’s springtime folks! A season synonymous with rebirth, love, and feelings of renewal. A time we welcome the beauty of new flora as we anxiously await the arrival of the infamous, “snow-art-horse-head” on our side of Mount Timpanogos so we know when to plant our gardens. (If you’re not familiar with this spectacle, ask a local farmer or google it. It’s cool.) And to celebrate, here’s a few rides we suggest you take now before our summer tourists snag up most of the good reservation times!

    RIDE A ZIP LINE

    If you’re looking for team-building challenges for your gang, then consider Zipline Utah, a high adventure activity located on the shores of Deer Creek Lake. With the longest continuous zip line course in the world; this memorable activity will blow their minds. ziplineutah.com

    RIDE IN A BALLOON

    Skywalker Balloon Company offers daily flights out of Heber Valley Airport. Spectacular views with a vantage point that changes the higher you go! A calming experience that feels like you’re casually walking through the sky. skywalker.at

    RIDE A GOLF CART

    Heber has five beautiful public golf courses to choose from, including two at Soldier Hollow, two at Wasatch Mountain State Park, and one at The Homestead Resort. They’re all amazing and affordable. gohebervalley.com/golfhebervalley

    RIDE YOUR BICYCLE

    With endless trails to explore, and friendly roads to take you there, riding a bike is one of the quickest ways to experience the outdoors. There’s no barrier to entry. Just hop on your bike and start peddling. But please watch out for wet trails. If the mud is deep, turn around and let the trails dry out. And if your gear needs a tune up, visit Slim and Knobby’s. slimandknobbys.com

    RIDE ON A HORSE

    Enjoy riding on the back of a magnificent horse with Rocky Mountain Outfitters. With your personal, knowledgeable, guide leading the way; they’re country trail ready for you, whether you’re a novice (greenhorn) or an experienced cowboy. rockymountainoutfitters.com

    FLY A KITE

    Whether you create a one-of-a-kind pinterest worthy masterpiece, purchase one from your local grocery store, or dust off the one you’ve had stuffed in a bin in your garage for 10 years; Wasatch County is full of open spaces — and spring (usually) offers the perfect weather — so, ‘let’s go fly a kite!’ (100 points to the one who can channel ‘Mary Poppins’ while singing the entire song — by heart.)

    On that note; remember most of these experiences can be enjoyed almost anytime (weather permitting), and some require advanced reservations so be sure to check ‘em out before driving out. And don’t forget to mark your calendars for these fun local spring-only outdoor events.

    ZERMATT RESORT

    This year, over Easter weekend (April 14-16), Zermatt Resort will host their annual “Springtime Extravaganza” with an egg hunt and breakfast with the Easter Bunny! Reservations required. They also host a very popular Mother’s Day Brunch (May 8) inside their Z’s Steak and Chop House. zermattutah.com

    KOHLER FAMILY FARM

    In addition to daily milk barn tours, goat yoga classes (what?), and V.I.P. calf-feeding experiences (what? what!), the Kohler Family Farm will host Baby Animal Days April 22-23. Learn about farm animals, take a hay ride, and munch on some of their incredible homemade artisan cheese. If it rains you can always take it inside and participate in a mozzarella making class. hebervalleyartisancheese.com

    Speaking of inside — here are a few great indoor activities to consider — for when that proverbial ‘spring-time snow storm’ decides to hit. And if it doesn’t come — oh well — do them anyway!

    GO TO THE MOVIES

    Whether in the comfort of your own home or at The Avon; There’s nothing like a good movie, and buttery theatre popcorn, accompanied by an ice-cold carbonated drink to shake you out of the bad-weather blues. hebercitytheatre.com

    ENJOY LIVE THEATRE

    Improv-comedy troupe, The Belvederes, will be performing on the last Saturday of every month, at the newly renovated Timpanogos Valley Theatre. High Valley Arts will be performing “Shrek, Jr” in April and “The Sound of Music” in July, while TVT is doing “Pirates of Penzance” in April. Yo ho, let’s go! timpvalleytheatre.com highvalleyarts.org

    THE UTAH CRATER

    One of Midway’s hidden treasures; this geothermal spring, 10,000 years in the making, stays between 90-96 degrees all year long. Not only is it a relaxing place to get away; it’s also one of the few places in the state where you can snorkel, swim, or dive to depths of 65 feet. People from all over the world come here to get scuba certified. utahcrater.com

    WASATCH COUNTY EVENTS COMPLEX

    There are several equestrian events happening inside our events complex, including the ZD Cattle “Luck of the Irish” roping event March 18-19, a Utah Barrel Racing Association competition April 22-24, and the Utah junior high and high school rodeo finals on select dates May 26- June 11. Spectators are always welcome to this family-friendly event. And don’t worry, cowboy hats and boots are not required. wasatchparksandrec.com/events

    HOLIDAY LANES

    Up for a little friendly competition with family and friends? Bowling is a fantastic mix between mild and fun exercise, amiable competition (well mostly-there’s always one overachiever in the group), conversation, good food, and delicious shakes! All for a reasonable price.

    FIELDCRAFT SURVIVAL

    If you’re not familiar with Fieldcraft Survival, may I suggest you look them up. With everything from survival and family/emergency preparedness online webinars, to in-person workshops, and live training courses — including cool indoor virtual courses for firearm and personal safety training — this is a great place to not only visit but learn something new too. fieldcraftsurvival.com

    WASATCH COUNTY RECREATION CENTER

    You could literally spend all day here! Perfect for self-care days, date night, family night, or a great place to get noisy and hang out with a group of friends — the rec center has a plethora of activities to choose from including: basketball, racquetball, volleyball, tennis, pickle ball or simply running around their endless fields of Astroturf! wasatchparksandrec.com

    So, yes folks, spring is here! And regardless of our ‘uncertain weather’ I highly suggest doing ‘all the things’ whenever you can!

    P.S. Don’t forget your jacket!

  • Authenticity

    Authenticity

    Nourishing the bodies and souls of Heber Valley

    Gloria Grass and her son, David Perez-Medina, have been nourishing the bodies and souls of residents and visitors for decades. Their unique origin story and outlook on the food business has helped this duo run two successful restaurants in Midway; their delicious food keeps the crowds coming back for more.

    David was just 15 years old when he and his single mother, Gloria, immigrated to Utah from Mexico in 1997. On their journey to Wasatch County, they brought along their traditional Mexican recipes, passion for food and people, and their unique perspectives and values that have enriched the Heber Valley and Midway communities.

    Gloria had only planned to stay in the United States for six months, but, “God had different plans for us,” she explains. In 1997, Gloria met her husband, Greg Grass, at the Yarrow Hotel in Park City. Gloria’s traditional Mexican cooking background and Greg Grass, formal culinary education created the perfect combination. Together the Grass’ opened Tarahumara in Midway. Their commitment to fresh food and authentic service gave them enough common ground to develop a successful, community building business. Gloria shared, “At Tarahumara, we were trying to give Americans a taste of our rich culture, with love and pride.”

    Gloria attributes her skills and passion for cooking to her aunt, who she calls her Nina. Gloria lovingly recalls, “She was the best cook, and made delicious meals with very little money. I know she put a lot of love into everything she cooked.” Her Nina helped to raise her after Gloria’s mother passed away. Gloria’s mind is still fresh with memories of waking up every morning to the smell of homemade tortillas, and coming home from school to smell her Nina’s cooking from outside the house. These memories have stayed with her as a chef and business owner at Tarahumara.

    David worked in many different restaurants before joining Gloria and Greg as they opened Tarahumara. During his nine year tenure there David hoped to go to culinary school, but felt that he could not afford it and should focus on working as much as possible. “I used to believe that without school, I could never be great at this stuff,” says David, “but I’ve had the best teachers; my mom, Greg, and my Nina. I don’t know where I would be without them.”

    Today, David and Mandy Perez-Medina, are the owners of Lola’s Street Kitchen, a wildly popular street food restaurant on Midway’s Main Street. However, they didn’t start out as a restaurant. After the Grass’ sold Tarahumara in 2015, David and Mandy, opened the Lola’s Street Kitchen food truck. To them, a food truck seemed much less demanding than a restaurant. Gloria and Greg were extremely involved with the food truck business helping with recipes, cooking, preparation, and service. Lola’s was a hit and customers repeatedly asked for a restaurant location, which led the Perez-Medinas to open a permanent Lola’s on Midway Main Street.

    Lola’s Street Kitchen

    David is grateful for loyal Lola’s customers, but he made it clear that he and his wife do not prioritize numbers or profit. They care deeply about having real relationships with customers that go beyond the surface level of typical restaurant service. In his many years working in the high-pressure restaurant industry, David has experienced various negative encounters with customers. He believes that these can be attributed to the lack of respect the general public has historically had toward restaurant workers. “People still carry those entitled attitudes. I’ve always had a hard time with that, and it goes back a long time,” he says. He feels that this perspective has given Lola’s a unique integrity that attracts the right kind of customers. “One of the biggest draws is the energy at Lola’s,” says Grace Bingham, current Lola’s manager, “I also think the care put into sourcing and making the food is difficult to find anywhere else.”

    David Perez-Medina
    (Left to right) David Medina, Gloria Grass and Gregg Grass

    The food found at Lola’s does not resemble the traditional Mexican cuisine Tarahumara was known for. But the Grass’ priorities of quality food and a welcoming environment were central to David as he and Mandy developed Lola’s. As David expertly sliced and shaped organic hamburger bun dough using Greg’s recipe, he explained, “we really believe if you’re eating good food that is real and good for you, you do everything better,” he says, “from a simple bun right here to the herbs we grow out back, there’s thought in all of it.”

    This mindset has translated directly from his mother. “Good and healthy food nourish not just the body, but our souls too,” Gloria expresses. The integrity, commitment, and authenticity that this family has held through their restaurant careers has indeed nourished the bodies and souls of all those who have visited Tarahumara and Lola’s.

    “We’re hoping to inspire you, be a part of your daily life,” says David, “I believe that we’re helping each other and I want to spread that mentality.”

  • Günther Vonhaidenthaller

    Günther Vonhaidenthaller

    Everything comes down to contrast.

    Günther Haidenthaller points out the window at a car dealership across the street. “Look at the highlights off those two jeeps, and that cold, steely kind of stainless steel quality to the light.” He also indicates the snow-covered mountains further in the distance, pointing out the blue tones in the shadows and the warmer tones — the hint of cadmium yellow — where the sun shines.

    Günther is a man of contrasts. Born in Austria and raised mostly in Utah — two wildly different landscapes — both, he says, feel familiar. Günther still speaks his native German language as well as English. An artist and an adrenaline junky; Günther has summited Mount Rainier more than once, has skydived over the Great Salt Lake, and describes himself as “comfortable” riding class four white-water rapids. When it comes to Günther’s art — mostly landscapes in oil and sometimes in pen and crayon — at first glance it might be difficult to picture their creator taking life to the extreme. However, upon closer inspection one can sense the peace, serenity, and calm, comfortably merged with just the right amount of play and fun.

    “I love painting outdoors because of the light,” he says. “When you’re painting on location, the light constantly changes. Every time you look up, the shadows are different. You’ve got to have a good memory, and it forces you to make accurate decisions quickly. Lay in the big shapes, get it all down, and then you can play. Then you can experiment.”

    Experimentation is also a major theme in Günther’s work. When he found himself, some years ago, at an art workshop with nothing more to work with than a ballpoint pen and a box of crayons in his backpack — he took the challenge. While other attendees worked in watercolors or oils Günther experimented with the ‘tools’ he had. He couldn’t have known at that point just how much he would enjoy the results, or that he would continue to work in pen and crayon throughout his career. “I was just playing,” he says. “Like when I was a kid, coloring in coloring books.” He laughs. “I could never color inside the lines. I was always trying to do gradients and fades and trying to come up with effects.”

    As a young boy in the first grade freshly immigrated to the states and still learning the language, Günther was often easily distracted in school; frequently gazing out the window, daydreaming, or drawing on his school work. According to Günther, not much has changed. “I get bored easily,” he says. “There’s always something new around that next bend in the path or on the other side of that hill. That’s what drives me.” Some of Günther’s works feature scenes from his home country of Austria — a heritage to which he feels a deep and profound connection. But more often he paints the landscapes of Utah, and he finds beauty and fascination in the ways that his current home both differs and is similar to his first one. “What I look for when I’m painting is the light,” he says. “European light, it’s hard to describe.” But Günther tries. “Like smoky light,” he says. “Light that has a tint to it like it does in the fall. That kind of light reminds me of Europe. Reminds me of home.” When asked if he primarily seeks out landscapes that remind him of home, or that are different, contrasting from that European feel, Günther’s answer is, “Both.” Utah is nothing like Austria, and yet for Günther it is still fascinating in its stark, red rock, desert beauty. “And realistically?” he says. “You go up in the Uintas and that’s what Austria is like.”

    After twenty-seven years working in graphic design, and ten years as a professional soccer referee and administrator, it was Günther’s wife, Diane, who eventually gave him the push he needed to turn to painting full-time when she found his old design and illustration portfolio. “I come home from work and she grabs me and she goes, ‘why aren’t you painting?’” Günther laughs. “I mean, I always wanted to do it. And I never took the time, until she finally convinced me that I was wasting my life and I needed to paint.” Diane encouraged Günther and even bought him a set of oil paints. “The last time I had touched oils was in junior high school, so it was an absolute disaster,” he says. But eventually, “It clicked.”

    He’s come a long way since then. Now, a full-time artist, Günther says that, while it’s hard to make a living doing art, it’s never been about the money for him. It’s the experience and the satisfaction of accomplishing something. “The purpose of life is to have joy,” he says. “That’s why I paint.”

  • A Leap of Faith and a Little Heavy Lifting

    A Leap of Faith and a Little Heavy Lifting

    At the start of a world-wide health pandemic, Justin Fuchs took a leap of faith and opened Iron Backs gym to share his love of health and fitness with the valley. From the beginning, the mission of the gym has been to offer an environment of support and encouragement, where anyone could feel comfortable showing up as they are in the present moment at an affordable cost. Justin expressed, “I wanted less people without dads and granddads because of health issues. That’s something we can control . . . health and fitness we can absolutely control.”

    Simultaneously, the Kole Wright Foundation, a youth mentorship program focused on creating positive mental health through fitness and other avenues, was struggling to stay running due to program restrictions and difficulty finding mentors and volunteers. Founder, Terra Wright, said, “At the end of 2020, our board had disbanded, we were going to shut down the foundation for good. Something kept stopping me saying, ‘No, just wait, just wait’. So we came into early 2021 and I was like, we are done.” However, she could never bring herself to push the button on the computer that would cause the final closeout.

    In May 2021, Terra and her husband Chase, started attending Iron Backs gym and talking with Justin, who was in the process of qualifying for a non-profit to sponsor young athletes who couldn’t afford the monthly gym fee. His goal is to help as many individuals as he can, which is why, from the gym’s opening day, he has offered a discount to first responders and veterans; it is why he and his fellow coaches have offered a free class for special needs youth for nearly a year. Several patrons have been told to just come and use the facility if they can’t afford it. The purpose of the Iron Backs Barbell Club would be to help cover some of the costs of these benefits. However, as Justin and Terra continued talking, Terra realized that she knew why she couldn’t officially close the foundation and thus began the collaboration and combining of the entities, all under the Kole Wright name.

    Chase and Terra Wright with Alec Sargeant, Tactical Games

    @ironbacksfitness  /  ironbacks.com

    Terra reached out to the disbanded board members to determine interest in coming back on with the new charter; two of them joined up again. With Terra, Chase, and Justin on the board it was now full and the foundation immediately began working towards its new mission. Terra shared, “My goal always with the foundation had been to turn it into a CrossFit gym setting. Now we all have the gym space, someone leading the way with the business model, and we can focus on mental health through fitness.” Probably the largest shift in the forward movement of the foundation is the expanded focus from youth only to encompass adults as well. Terra mentioned that this filled a void, allowing her to keep the mission as steadfast as possible.

    Both Justin and Terra appreciate the benefits that exercise has offered them, not only physically but mentally as well and they are excited to share these benefits with anyone that needs it. According to the CDC, physical benefits from exercising can include: decreased risk of heart disease, slowing down of osteoporosis or prevention, help with warding off certain cancers — including breast and colon, regulation of blood sugar and weight to inhibit development of type 2 diabetes, increase agility, and strengthens the muscles and bones1. There are also many mental health benefits from exercising like; reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety; alleviating stress and increasing the body’s ability to adapt to it; boosting self-esteem; improving sleep; and strengthening memory and delaying cognitive disease2.

    Veterans, in particular, are a special focus and the foundation is excited to participate in Tactical Games, which are “obstacle courses paired with shooting challenges; basically a Spartan race with guns.” Terra and Justin are both veterans and hold respect and honor for our country and those that fight for it. They have a passion for helping Veterans who often get released from their service and struggle with PTSD and the loss of being part of a team. Many struggle finding their place outside of Military service; having knowledge and incredible skills that may have less application in the civilian world — hence the Tactical games, which will allow them to use some of their skills in a fun and competitive yet collaborative environment. Not limited to Veterans, the foundation will also largely focus on all First Responders and Special Needs individuals. However, the sponsorship will not be limited to these groups. Anyone can apply to be considered, and the foundation will help as many people as possible. Eventually, they want to expand the services offered to include counseling and other forms of therapy for those that may need it.

    The foundation has been funded, to date, through community fundraisers and businesses; the plan and hope is for that to continue. Terra spoke about the support that the Foundation has received over the last couple of years and how grateful they are for it. They will continue to hold the Spring Clean and other CrossFit competitions as well as an annual dinner and silent auction where they will showcase the accomplishments that the participants have achieved throughout the year. Their 2022 focus and hopes for expansion include, finding recurring sponsorships and a larger gym facility to accommodate the growing numbers of members for both the Kole Wright Foundation and the Iron Backs gym. What a wonderful blessing it is to have people who work hard to create a healthier mental community, who share such a passion for it, right here in the Heber Valley.

     1Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, November 1). Benefits of Physical Activity. 

    2Walden University LLC (2022). 5 Mental Benefits of Exercise. 

  • Destination Spring Brunch – Chef About Town

    Destination Spring Brunch – Chef About Town

    I will be the first to admit that once Christmas is over, I have an unrealistic expectation that spring should immediately present itself. Don’t hate me Heber, but winter is not my jam. Spring brings with it holidays, baby animals, renewal, and a buzz in the air that life is beginning again after a long winter’s nap. Like any hardcore foodie, I took to our streets to figure out brunch in our slice along the Wasatch Back — pun intended.

    Overlook Restaurant at Black Rock Mountain Resort
    Café Galleria
    Meg’s Timberline Café

    Meg’s Timberline Café

    Let’s talk about Meg’s! Really, let’s just talk about Meg’s. When researching brunch places, I found Meg’s and I am all for a little nook where you are instantly a regular. When you walk in, you are immediately connected to how there is a little something for everyone. The patio is lovely and my experience was perfect. I indulged in a little bit of every area on the menu, starting with the eggs benedict because honestly, how can you ever go wrong with a perfect eggs benedict? You can’t! The portions are tremendous — I did not walk away hungry at all. I highly recommend the breakfast burrito (so filling), any panini (I had the turkey, bacon, avocado), and I went to heaven when I saw the steakburgers come on a proper potato bun, as they should. Nestled just inside the Timberline Ace Hardware, I can imagine the comings and goings as hungry folks see the café and suddenly realize they need a bite. I am also sure they are relieved and happy when they are given their large to-go boxes, full of fresh, made-to-order wares fit for a king and a farmer, alike. Pop on over to Meg’s and become a regular — you’ll be so glad you did.

    Café Galleria

    If you ever need to feel elegant, no matter the occasion, Café Galleria is my recommendation for brunch in style! Sometimes, you just need to have an experience surrounded by an incredible glass of wine and a perfectly cooked egg, especially if you were a little crazy the night before — and for me, crazy is actually getting a full night’s sleep. I made a special trip to Café Galleria one weekend when I just wasn’t “feelin” life. I wanted something scrumptious, something I could count on, something new and engulfing. I found it. You all know I had to get a little bit of everything, but can we laser in on the Wood-fired Bagels and the Corned Beef Hash. Ok, it takes one tasty hash to impress me. On my first bite — I was transported back to the east coast where there is a fun little Irish Pub that served the best corned beef hash. The wood-fired bagels are delightful — I topped mine with hummus and a few of the roasted peppers from my CB-hash. Paired with a little mocktail of the Lemon Lime Lavender craft soda; my mid-morning brunch just washed over my weary soul. If you haven’t caught site of Café Galleria; they have the snow globes you see while driving down the main drag in Midway. Side note, they are always taking reservations. As any good crystal ball will tell you, I see an enchanted brunch in your future.

    Overlook Restaurant at Black Rock Mountain Resort

    Going along with my desire for spring to hurry up and get here, I am always up for a drive. The excitement of having a hidden little destination to go to, I think makes my time at the Overlook Restaurant a true Heber adventure. Do not let the call to Summit County deter you. Overlook, inside of the Black Rock Mountain Resort, is located in Heber and I can imagine the ride to be incredibly beautiful during autumn. You can heed the call to Summit County once you finish your meal. Never one to shy away from tasting as much as my tummy will allow, I dove fork-first into the Grand Marnier French Toast. Their cremé anglaise sauce was superb, simply superb! Big shout-out to my server who procured the French toast even though it is technically not on the brunch menu. I am not a huge pastry-for-breakfast fan, but this combination of humble brioche with all the toppings got me right into all the ‘feels’ of a perfect spring outing. Since I ventured up when it was sunny and bright, I also tried the steak and eggs. You can always tell the mark of a great kitchen by how they pair the technique of basted eggs with a perfectly red/pink center of beef. My steak was on-point the first try! I fervently believe the staff at Overlook would do just about anything to ensure you have a one-of-a-kind dining experience because they accommodated my crazy pairings without question. I finished my tasting with the Salmon BLT and Buffalo Cauliflower — ½ & ½ as they say, and it was the ultimate burst of winter cool with spicy spring I was looking for. Take a drive up for the stellar views and exceptional service one morning — you won’t be disappointed.

  • 2 Farm Boys

    2 Farm Boys

    If you love buying local products and supporting our small business economy — you should visit 2 Farmboys.

    This wonderful family-owned and operated goat farm and soap-making company is located right here in our talent-filled valley. 2 Farmboys Soap is created in a ‘soap shed’ in small batches on the Cummings farm in Heber. The business sold its very first family-made, goat milk soap at a local market in 2016 and has been selling and growing steadily ever since.

    The Cummings family includes; JR, Colleen, Wyatt, and Kash. JR and Colleen have been married for 22 years, and in 2008 were able to move to JR’s family homestead that his great-grandfather established as a farm in the early 1900s. After the passing of JR’s mother, the farm laid dormant with no signs of life. The Cummings decided to get back to their roots and revitalize the farm for their two young sons in hopes that doing so would teach them valuable life lessons that only running a farm can. The pride, joy, and hardships of honest, hard work, and the importance of preserving small farms and agriculture have been a valuable part of the farm-life experience for the tight-knit family.

    The farm began to come back to life with the addition of cows, chickens, a horse, and even a peacock or two; however, as Colleen states, “no farm is complete without goats.” They fell in love with three goats after ‘borrowing’ them as weed eaters in 2014 and decided to purchase them as permanent members of their small farmstead.

    The boys were 12 and 9 when they added taking care of the goats to their chore list. They happily took on the responsibility of caring for and milking them every day, and each spring they also help deliver the kids. Today, the farm boasts 11 lovable goats, including their buck, Tank, a LaMancha breed, whose been with them from the start.

    Once they had the goats, they had to figure out what to do with all the milk they were getting. A friend mentioned to Colleen that goat milk soap was popular where she lived and convinced Colleen to start making soap for friends and family. With no experience in the art of soap making, the family watched many YouTube videos to get them started. It was a long process of trial and error and it took nearly a year to produce the perfect bar of soap that the whole family could be proud of. By the time they had the best, final product, all the family members knew how to make the soap and that has ensured that there will never be a low supply. Hashtag teamwork.

    Happy Goats Make The Best Products!
    Happy Goats Make The Best Products!
    Happy Goats Make The Best Products!

    GET YOUR SOAP & FARM FIZZIES SHOP ONLINE

    Enjoy free local delivery in the Heber Valley. Or call 435-654-8511 for shop times. In the summertime, look for their booth at the local Farmers’ Markets!

    Soap making is not a fast process but after years of making it, the family has a pretty efficient soap system down. First, the goats need to be milked every day from April to October (with a break during the winter). The milk is then frozen to prevent scroching from the lye. The lye slowly melts the milk and then it’s time to add colors, and/or essential oils. Once this process is complete, the mixture is poured into molds and set on a shelf to ‘cure’. In four to six weeks the bars are ready to be packaged.

    The soaps are all-natural, made by hand, and packaged by hand. Small batches ensure the quality of the product and all the ingredients are food grade; safe and gentle enough for even the most sensitive skin. Goat milk is naturally rich in fat, vitamins, and minerals, all of which help to prevent skin damage and keep skin radiant.

    The family has found soap-making to be a great creative outlet and has experimented with different colors, molds, and fragrances. They carry artisan and natural soaps as well as Farm Fizzies (bath bombs), shower steamers, and holiday products. The business also offers custom creations and loves creating special soap favors for weddings, and products for company swag. Colleen states, “We have fun artisan soaps as well as an essential oil product line available. We have something for everyone!”

    2 Farmboys wholeheartedly believe in serving the local community, especially the agricultural community, by giving back as often as possible. They love supporting the local Midway Farmer’s Market and sell there during the summer. The boys are part of Wasatch Highschool’s FFA program, where the eldest son, Wyatt, is the president. They participate in a variety of agricultural education activities with the elementary schools. They, as a business, have gone to preschools, kindergartens, and community events to help promote agriculture, teach about goats, and talk about soap making. At times they have even had several foreign exchange students visit the farm. The whole family is passionate about teaching where food comes from, how to create a business from the land, and the importance of donating products to school events and charities.

    Even though the 2 Farmboys Soap will be down to 1 when Wyatt leaves for college, the family still has plans to expand the ‘soap shed’ and have a store where anyone can stop by and purchase their amazing soap and other carefully crafted products. Colleen and JR both have jobs that they will retire from in 5-10 years and will be able to devote more time to the business and plan on selling at more markets. They are hoping to create different products as well and are currently experimenting on goat soap lotions and by request: goat milk lip balm!

    For a valley as small as ours, (not as small as it used to be!) there are so many amazingly talented family businesses that deserve local support. We, as a community, have so much potential to keep our businesses thriving and able to stay in our beautiful valley for future generations. It may take a little bit more effort on our part, but the beauty is that you can have your product the same day if you shop locally. Amazon can’t beat that! The businesses are out there, and now you know of one more: 2 Farmboys Soap!

    WASATCH HIGH SCHOOL Rodeo Team annual fundraiser

    The Farm Boys are members of the team AND THEY ARE fundraising to help OFFSET FEES. If you’d like to donate to this great group of kids, click here!

  • Built to Ride

    Built to Ride

    It’s no secret that one of the greatest, most tangible benefits to living in or visiting Wasatch County is the proximity to high-quality, sustainable trails.

    Whether you consider yourself a hiker, a mountain biker, an equestrian, or just someone looking for great views in Heber Valley — you know our trails are amazing — but have you ever wondered how the trails you use came to be?

    THE BEGINNING OF IT ALL

    In 1992, the Mountain Trails Foundation was established in Park City at a time when all local hand-cut trails were on private land. Their team and board worked with developers and private landowners to advocate for creating more non-motorized trails across Park City.

    The same energy, desire, and opportunity for a hand-cut trail system existed in Heber Valley, but without any formal organization to get it off the ground. A group of dedicated individuals, including Carol Potter, a Heber Valley resident and former Executive Director of the Mountain Trails Foundation, and Don Taylor, took on the challenge by founding the Wasatch Trails Alliance. They began heavily advocating for trails in Wasatch County with a focus on soft surface, single-track style trails. But, due to being largely run by volunteers, the organization eventually paused operations as the founders focused on other initiatives.

    Luckily, the light of the Wasatch Trails Alliance never fully went out. Together, Perry Dickson, the owner of Slim & Knobby’s Bike Shop, Eric Porter, a local professional mountain biker, and other current board members took the Alliance through a rebranding and relaunched a few years ago with a new website, now doing business as Wasatch Trails Foundation.

    “That original group basically came in and breathed new life into the organization. They brought in new donors, new blood, and started looking at new projects,” said current Foundation director, Scott House.

    “This was right about the time that the WOW (Wasatch Over Wasatch) trail was coming out of concept into something that could be a reality. That was really where Wasatch Trails Foundation hit the ground running — working with Wasatch Mountain State Park and Mountain Trails Foundation to get the WOW Trail as we know it today built and in place. That really was the proof that this can be successful. We can do this as a group of volunteers. And that there’s a high demand in our valley for trail work and trail advocacy.”

    BLAZING NEW TRAILS:
    START TO FINISH

    From ideating and designing to funding and building, you might be surprised to learn just how much goes into bringing the trails we know, use, and love, to fruition. Let’s start from the beginning.

    1 IDEATION

    “Everything starts from an idea — whether that’s an idea from a board member, community member, or one of our partner organizations — be it Mountain Trails Foundation, Wasatch Mountain State Park, or another,” said House.

    2 DESIGN

    The next step is to pressure test if an idea can live as a legitimate concept. The Foundation determines if they can move from the idea phase to designing by heavily examining local maps and putting down lines and markers to determine what terrain is available. The Foundation then consults with partners and community members to continue determining the viability of the design.

    3 COST

    Once the initial design is mocked up, the next step down the funnel is going through the costing process — pricing out each step, including rough estimates for using professional trail builders, creating signage, and more.

    4 APPROVALS

    With a solid dollar amount in mind, the Foundation moves to get approvals from their board on where the trail’s going to go in Wasatch County and where it’s going to cross through. Then, they talk with respective landowners, land managers, and state and national environmental agencies for full approval to move forward.

    5 GRANT WRITING

    After design and budget approvals, the real action begins — finding funding for the project in mind.

    House explained, “We start looking for different grant resources, both locally in the state of Utah and nationally. Most of the grants that we have written, or wrote as of late, have been through the Utah Office of Outdoor Recreation, which is under the Governor’s Office of Economic Development. And those grants can cover up to 50% of the cost of the total project.”

    The other 50% is typically matched by fundraising efforts locally and through partners.

    6 TRAIL BUILDING

    Once the grant is awarded, that’s when the work can really start of building a trail. The Foundation begins by flagging the corridor.

    “That means we’re out in the woods, walking through the hills, tying nylon flagging on trees, shooting grades, avoiding sensitive areas, and all the things we need to do to get that trail alignment,” said House.

    Next comes clearing the corridor of trees and brush with the help of volunteers and paid professionals to prepare for building out the trail. House stated that, “Wasatch Trails Foundation has taken the stance that hiring professional trail builders — who this is their career, this is what they focus on — really produces the best product. They build that trail [from] start to finish and are all polished up. Once it’s in, we take all that information and we report that to our grant: this is what we’ve completed, it’s all done, here are pictures, here’s how everything went. We show them all the money we spent. And then the grant reimburses all that back to our organization.”

    The Foundation currently has two grant-funded trails in the works: one on schedule to be completed by June 15, 2022 and another trail that will break ground this summer with a target completion of fall 2022 or summer 2023.

    Supporting Wasatch Trails Foundation’s mission of creating, supporting, and preserving a sustainable, non-motorized trail system in our community is simple and customizable.

    1 Become a member

    Membership levels include: business/corporate for $200/year; couple for $60/year; household up to 6 people for $110/year; and individual for $35/year. A sustaining member is $15 every month, ongoing.

    2 One-off donations

    Make a donation to Wasatch Trails Foundation in any amount (one-time, monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, or annually). You can also choose a campaign (i.e. Winter Grooming) to dedicate that donation to.

    wasatchtrails.org

    A FIRST FOR UTAH STATE PARKS

    When asked what project has been closest to the heart for members of the Foundation, House says the Pike Canyon Bike Park comes to mind first.

    Considered a big feather in their cap, the Pike Canyon Bike Park was not only the first bike park facility in Wasatch County, but it was also the first in a state park in Utah. Generously supported by local donations and a grant supplied by the Utah Office of Outdoor Recreation, the project set a precedent for using grant funding to build high-quality projects that not only benefit the Heber Valley community, but also help advance Utah state parks into a modern era of supplying the state park’s clientele and visitors with the amenities they’re now looking for.

    “[Pike Canyon] has the mountain biking and hiking experiences and all these things that the modern recreationalist is looking for. That project was extra special for the group.”

    TO INFINITY (SALT LAKE COUNTY) AND BEYOND

    Last year, the Foundation was awarded grants for the BO to WOW Connector: a project with the goal of connecting the upper part of the WOW Trail into the Bonanza Flat Loop, which is in the Bonanza Flat Open Space. It’s a 1200 acre parcel of open space owned by Park City and under conservation easement with Utah Open Lands. Currently, Mountain Trails Foundation is building hiking trails, biking trails, and multi-use trails up there. Wasatch Trails Foundation is building a 3 to 4-mile section of trail that will connect into the Upper Trail System to the top of the WOW Trail.

    “Once that 4 mile piece of trail is in, you have a true single-track route where you can leave from Wasatch County and ride all the way up and over the Wasatch Crest and into Salt Lake County. You’ll pass through Wasatch, Summit, and Salt Lake Counties and you’ll never really have to ride on a road, other than crossing a road to connect into another piece of trail. It’ll be a full single-track connection from valley to valley. It’s really a special piece of trail,” shared House.

    COMMUNITY OUTREACH

    Wasatch Trails Foundation has an incredibly bright future as it continues to work every day to improve and expand on the unmatched outdoor recreation opportunities for everyone that visits and calls Wasatch County home. The Foundation sees the local community as an integral piece of its past, current, and future successes. But, building a strong, passionate trails community requires hearing the voices and desires of all involved.

    House said, “One of our main focuses of 2022 is community engagement . . . and trying to listen to and figure out what our community wants. Where does our community see a need and how can Wasatch Trails Foundation meet that need? We don’t want to sit in our own echo chamber, thinking we’re the only ones with good ideas, assuming we know what everybody wants. We want to hear from our community.”

    The Foundation hopes to expand its donation base to help bring in the additional funding needed to go after bigger grants to expand our trail systems, maintenance programs, and provide better trail connectivity. House states that “As we work through the next 5, 10, 20 years, we have a lot of potential for big projects in Wasatch County. But without the support and engagement of the community, it’s really hard to get those projects off the ground.”

    Next time you’re out enjoying one of our many wonderful trails, take a moment to remember the visionaries, volunteers, and donors behind Wasatch Trails Foundation and the incredible amount of work involved in creating the means for all to get out and explore the beautifully scenic space we call home.

  • Rebecca Proctor Fine Art

    Rebecca Proctor Fine Art

    A chicken, a dog, and a paintbrush – sounds like the perfect start to an art career.

    “It all got started when my dog killed the neighbor’s chicken,” artist Rebecca Proctor shares with a laugh. How could an art career bloom from this you may ask? Well, let’s back up a little and you will begin to see.

    Rebecca says it is likely that her mother has caveman drawings on her uterus. She says, “I have drawn since I can remember. All my Christmas gifts were always art, always craft stuff. I drew and drew and drew.” With all of that drawing, painting, and doodling, she began gifting her creations. In fact, she confesses that her art skills even helped her score well in a couple of her high school classes that she struggled in. A painted portrait of Bob Dylan for her math teacher solidified an A.

    Rebecca studied art at BYU-Idaho and BYU. After getting married, she and her husband moved to Logan. The art program offered at Utah State did not feel like a good fit for Rebecca so she decided to take a break — a long break. She would not pick up her paintbrushes for eight years while she worked to get her husband through school and began to have children. When Rebecca’s husband finished school, he turned to Rebecca and told her it was her turn to get going. With young kids and little time, Rebecca had a hard time finding the drive and motivation. And that is where the neighbor’s chicken comes in.

    When Rebecca’s dog killed the neighbor’s chicken, she knew she had to do something to try and make it right. She remembered how she had gotten herself out of tight situations in the past. People loved her paintings. Rebecca painted the chicken and took the painting, along with money as restitution for their loss, to her neighbor. She told them, “Here’s a chicken my dog can’t touch.” That’s all it took for her to find her artistic drive once again.

    From there, Rebecca took a deep dive into painting the masters. She spent a year studying and replicating their work. She learned all about color and value as she worked to re-create their pieces. “There’s so much they can teach you looking at their work,” Rebecca says.

    After that, Rebecca moved on to creating original pieces. She found a great mentor in Kathryn Stats, an incredible landscape artist based out of Salt Lake. Rebecca loves learning from her as they paint En plein air, completing pieces from start to finish outdoors. She has been an invaluable critic and teacher.

    Caribou in Pink
    Set In
    Hope

    Rebecca comes from a long line of artists. Her mother, Julie Jeppsen, is a professional artist, and also helps Rebecca perfect her projects. The two often travel together and display their work in some of the same shows. The best art advice her mom instilled in her is that: “It’s not precious. You can always repaint it.” Rebecca says, “When I get into the mentality that it’s [a painting] precious and I just have to make sure it’s perfect, I always mess it up.” Starting with this mentality gives her the freedom to be more adventurous and playful in her work. It leaves room for bright colors and experimentation.

    Rebecca’s husband also serves as a great support to her. He has no problem giving it to her straight. When he says, “Becca, how’d you get that color? By mixing mayonnaise and mustard?” she is not offended. She knows his opinions represent what the general public might see or think. Rebecca doesn’t shy away from some good criticism. She explains, “If you can take what they give you [and] swallow a little humble pill, it makes you so much better.”

    For three years now Rebecca has been back into the art scene and has been furthering her art career. “I am just constantly trying to find time to paint,” Rebecca shares. She tries to get 20 hours of work in during each week. Her challenge is the same for many of us; balancing family time and work time. Thankfully her husband provides a lot of support and will often take the kids out on the weekend to give her a day to create. She spends a lot of her time painting pieces for upcoming shows; and has a unique resource for obtaining reference photos for her artwork. Rebecca likes to peruse Facebook, looking for photos of dogs or horses that inspire her. When she discovers an image that moves her she will reach out and ask the owner if she can use their photo. Rebecca has had a lot of luck with this unusual approach.

    What is it that Rebecca hopes to accomplish through her art? Really it is about bringing people closer to their creator. Rebecca says, “I make art a matter of prayer. What was this dog like? How can I portray it in the best way?” She does this; recognizing the connection that can happen on a spiritual level with people and places or with people and their pets.

    Rebecca also uses her gift to help others. Last year when she found out her co-worker’s son was diagnosed with cancer, she knew she wanted to do something to help. She got to work painting a picture of Mount Timpanogos. She started adding horses to the picture, but they just didn’t seem right for this painting. Instead, Rebecca felt inspired to create a fictional stream in the foreground. When her co-worker, Sunni Provost, saw the painting, she was touched because she recognized the stream as one her kids used to play in as young children. Rebecca titled the piece “Wyatt’s Hope” and used Facebook to invite others to buy prints, with all the proceeds going to benefit Wyatt, who has a family of his own and wasn’t able to work due to treatments and his illness. Rebecca was amazed by the response: “I felt like it was a really good cause and I was amazed at this valley. I had clients that bought my art and contributed to the family that didn’t even know the family — such generosity and such kindness. It blew my mind how giving people were.”

    Rebecca has some meaningful guidance for other creatives out there: “My advice would be, to be honest with yourself in your creation process. When you’re honest with yourself and you paint or create whatever it is that makes you beyond excited, that’s going to be your best work every time.” Success doesn’t come overnight and Rebecca knows that you have to be persistent, putting the time in. She reminds us all that, “Over time, consistency turns into mastery.”

     

    To see more of Rebecca Proctor’s artwork visit: RebeccaProctorArt.com

  • Heber Valley Business Launch

    Heber Valley Business Launch

    Jakob and Brodie Kahler have always been close. Close in age, close in proximity, and now close in business.

    When I say close, I’m referring to being near each other in time and space; to be fair — the two brothers were like most siblings — fighting, arguing, and not fully appreciating each other until later in life. Fortunately, for brothers and best friends, Jake and Brodie, their ‘later in life’ happened during High School.

    KNIT TOGETHER

    Growing up, Brodie was content to let Jake take the lead. He shared, “As the older brother, Jake has always set the way, and been a good example for me to follow. I’ve learned a lot from him.” Last year — their roles flipped — with Brodie taking the lead.

    While Jake was away serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Brodie was ‘chilling’ in his room sketching the amazing designs running through his imaginatively talented head. Brodie graduated from high school right around the same time Jake came home from his mission, and the two soon headed out to Provo for school and work. Jake decided to take a summer job selling solar panels in California and wanted Brodie to come along with him. “I’ve always wanted Brodie to be a part of everything I’m doing, and when I got the sales job, I wanted him to come with me. I thought it would be a good opportunity for him to develop a lot of good skills.” But Brodie had other plans.

    While working at Smash Athletics, a screen-printing business, Brodie thought, “I like to draw, and I like to create stuff. I might as well put them [the drawings] on some clothes. I have a book where I write down my ideas, and I started drawing things I thought would be fun. Eventually, I was like, I want to try and create a clothing business because I’ve always really liked fashion and clothing and the idea of designing and having my own fashion line.”

    Brodie shared his idea with Jake, and, like any good big brother would do, he jumped at the opportunity to join his little brother on this new adventure together — and Kujoh was born! Well, according to Brodie, it took a lot of tries and a few weeks to come up with a name he loved and could envision what he wanted the brand to represent. Brodie shared, “I was eating dinner one day, and it just came to my head: Kujoh. It [this particular spelling] doesn’t mean anything in any language — I looked it up — but I really liked it.”

    Both Brodie and Jake have been looking things up, researching, and doing their homework as they’ve worked together creating their brand and business. The two complement each other perfectly. Jake explained, “Brodie is a very talented kid, very artistically talented. He has a lot of gifts in drawing, and just being able to see something, and I am not at all that way. I’m good at seeing the whole picture and helping to organize and structure a lot of things. I’m good at seeing a process through, taking an idea, creating a finished product, and getting it out to people.”

    Jake is very much an extravert, while Brodie is more of an introvert — which works out quite well. While Jake networks, makes connections with various companies, and creates the marketing plans; Brodie goes to his room, turns out the lights, lights some candles, gets out his book, and goes to town creating. Brodie also decides on all the merchandise and does the screen printing for each piece. Jake stated, “Brodie is for sure the heavy lifter in all this, and I’ve just sort of helped map it out. My purpose is to help Kujoh get exposure so Brodie can concentrate on creating clothing that not only he will wear but that others will want to wear too.”

    Jakob Kahler | Brodie Kahler
    Kujoh

    After speaking with both boys, I have to say I was very impressed with how evenly matched they are. In my opinion, they are both heavy lifters — just in different ways. When asked how they were funding their business endeavors (I assumed their parents were helping out financially. Well . . . you know what they say about making assumptions), Jake modestly shared, “I was the one who funded the business to get us on our feet and get started, get our website set up and help us create the test products. We haven’t had to reach out to anyone for help or take out any business loans.” He explained how that was possible, “What I made during the summer we put into the business and whatever we make from sales will go right back into the business. We want to make sure that we can stay on top of everything without ever getting behind or ahead of ourselves. So, that is where I stepped in and started the ball rolling on the business side, making sure that I got all the funding taken care of for everything,” pretty impressive for a 20-year-old.

    For now, Smash Athletics is allowing Brodie to utilize their equipment. “I get to go in the shop and set the screens with my design, I choose the colors, and everything — it’s nice.” However, Brodie said that as their need for larger quantities grows, they plan on acquiring their own equipment. The brothers hope to eventually have a production/merchandise warehouse, in addition to a storefront where people can not only purchase their clothing but also come and hang out and have fun, “maybe watch a football game or participate in an activity.” More like a café meets sports club meets merch vibe — Kujoh is not necessarily about a lifestyle but about experiences.

    Brodie shared that, “. . . throughout Instagram we will be posting photos where our clothing drops are more like events you can come to. I really want to make the brand a kind of interactive thing. It’s not just clothing; it’s deeper than that. I’m just really excited to be able to explore that in the future.”

    What do Jake and Brodie hope for the future of Kujoh? Well, for now, they are looking forward to introducing their brand — Kujoh went live Sunday, February 20th! Pictures of their base layer: a hoodie, a crew neck, and a hat — just for starters — were posted on social media beforehand. If all goes well, which I have no doubt they will, the brothers hope to create fun pop-ups around the country, and eventually nationally. In conjunction with their pop-ups they would also like to start their own non-profit or collaborate with an existing one to share their brand and help others. Brodie explained, “I’d like to do these little pop-ups for a few months at a time in different places where we can get to know other people and immerse ourselves in their culture and help where we can. I also want to collaborate with different brands and companies. I’ve already looked into starting my own charity and what that would take, but it might be easier to work with one that already exists. I want to do a lot of charity, that is important to me. For now, though, we are just concentrating on getting our brand out there.”

    Remember earlier when Brodie said that they want their brand to be more about experiences than about clothes — to be deeper? Well, Brodie is already working on a second clothing line called Kujoh and Kin. He said, “I really like the idea of kin being family.” Jake and Brodie shared that they couldn’t have done any of this without the support of their family and friends throughout this entire experience. They both laugh when Jake shares, “Our parents are our best clients right now — they’re wearing all the stuff!” Jake also shared that many of their friends have jumped in with both feet helping with photography, photoshoots, getting the word out, etc., etc.

    Kujoh is truly about the experiences we share with our family and friends, and above all else, it’s about two brothers celebrating each others’ unique gifts and strengths; doing their part to make the world a better place by bringing people together through shared experiences!

  • Ice, Ice, baby

    Ice, Ice, baby

    The popularity of outdoor cold-water exposure surges in the Heber Valley. Are you ready to take the plunge?

    My history with intentional cold-water exposure began the summer of 2009 while growing up in Midway. My older sister and I would fill a 10-gallon bin with cold water from the hose in our backyard. We would squeeze into the container — squealing and giggling we’d stay in as long as we could stand it — we called this activity ‘cold bravery’. As I got older, my family and I continued to get in cold water wherever we could find it; in the Uinta Mountains, Zion National Park, Yosemite National Park, and in the Provo River here in Heber Valley. I knew that these experiences connected me to nature and generally felt great but beyond that I never thought much of it. That is, until I began to notice people in the Heber Valley community mindfully and regularly swimming, standing, sitting, and dunking in the Provo River entrance across the street from Legacy Bridge.

    I’ve discovered that quite a few community members take part in this activity year-round, especially during the winter months. Some go solo, others in pairs, and many in large groups of fifteen or more people. These cold-water experiences range from frantic polar plunges to mindful, meditative dips. The practice of the latter initially piqued my curiosity. As it turns out, a calm dip in cold winter water is not an uncommon or new phenomenon for humans. According to Heber Valley resident, Yoga Therapist and meditation teacher, Elise Jones; calmly submerging oneself in a frozen body of water and slowing the breath is an ancient yogic practice, modernly referred to as ‘cold hydrotherapy’. For many people, myself included, mindful, outdoor cold hydrotherapy has become a ritual, and an important component in maintaining physical, mental, and spiritual health. I spoke to a few residents about how they started and what keeps them coming back.

    Cindy Eggertz is a nine-year resident of Heber Valley, and an avid enthusiast of outdoor cold-water exposure. It wasn’t a health article or Instagram post that instigated her first river dip, but a prompting from God. “I have always struggled with depression, but around January of 2019, the thought of living seemed impossible. I prayed to God again and again, asking for this burden to be lifted. One night, I was kneeling there listening, and God told me I needed to get in the river.”

    Without any prior knowledge of cold hydrotherapy, this felt like a strange answer to Eggertz. But she promptly reached out to her circle of girlfriends. With deep snow on the riverbank, this group of women timidly plunged in the cold winter waters of the Provo River. This first experience consisted of getting in and out of the water as fast as possible, shrieking, giggling, and running back to the comfort of blasting car heaters — a common response to one’s first polar plunge experience. After a few more frenzied attempts, the group of women considered the benefits of taking a slower, more mindful approach. Among this group was Sheena Jibson, who continues to practice consistent river dips. Jibson shared that these experiences have profoundly deepened her connection with her friends, nature, and herself. She has also experienced a newfound sense of steadiness. “When you’re in that situation and you’re in freezing cold water and it’s taking the breath out of your body, you have to focus on your breath, and then you settle down your body and mind and realize you are okay. I try to apply that to everyday life, coming back to my breath and finding that ‘okayness’ within.”

    Cold water meditation has become popularized in recent years by a Dutch man named Wim Hof, a motivational speaker also known as “The Iceman”. He is best known for calmly withstanding extreme cold temperatures and developing the Wim Hof Method, a meditation technique characterized by specific breath patterning, cold water exposure, and mindful focus. Hof asserts that increased energy, better sleep, a stronger immune system, reduced stress levels, heightened focus, and increased mental control are benefits of meditative cold hydrotherapy1.

    “Something about the cold water resets my system, and I just feel clear again every single time.”

    In developing a consistent practice of this ritual, Wasatch County river-goers have chiefly experienced the mental benefits. Eggertz shared what three-years of consistent cold water hydrotherapy has done for her: “It pulled me from the darkness. Something about the cold water resets my system, and I just feel clear again every single time.”

    Scott Whitaker, Heber Valley resident of 32 years, gets in rivers all around the valley. He immerses himself weekly and has noticed clarity of thought and heightened physical sensations that make him crave the cold water.

    For me [Elle Taylor] personally; Both my mother, Joni Taylor, and I have found consistent river dipping to be an anchor through the challenges of life and a connective force to nature and each other. My mother, Joni, explained, “I have noticed a significant difference in my reactivity, there is something about having to control my response and knowing that I can get through something difficult over and over.” She and I, like Whitaker, feel a physical and mental craving for the river, and have engaged in this ritual dozens of times in the past year.

    Jibson described a kind of post-river euphoria, marked by an intense sensation of heat and exhilaration. It turns out the science behind cold water exposure supports this description. When getting in extremely cold water, the initial cold shock releases stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, kicking on the body’s ‘fight or flight’ response. As the shock subsides, the body then releases endorphins and serotonin; chemicals that stabilize mood and increase feelings of happiness. The recommended time frame to stay in extremely cold winter water is between 5-10 minutes. This range is considered to be an adequate amount of time for these processes to safely occur. These chemical releases lead to the post-river euphoria and craving, similar to the rush one feels after intense exercise2.

    Photo Courtesy of Cindy Eggertz

    Mindful, outdoor cold hydrotherapy has become a ritual, and an important component in maintaining physical, mental, and spiritual health.

    For Whitaker, getting in water outdoors has always felt instinctual. “Growing up, if there was water, I was gonna get in it,” said Whitaker. He has translated this mindset into his relationship with his wife and three boys, and considers water to be a central piece of their memories together. “Water is a great teacher, and it teaches you something new each time you get in.”

    Our biological need for water innately connects us to it, but these days, we are not all instinctually connected to natural water like Whitaker and his family. According to the 2021 Valuing Water Initiative, “Our profligate use of water as a resource, along with our technological membrane that separates us from the outdoors, keeps us out of touch with the deep connections available to us in nature. Across countless religions and cultures globally, humans have historically held ritualistic, spiritual relationships with bodies of water3.” Mindful, intentional outdoor cold-water experiences have the potential to reconnect people with the sacredness humans have previously found in relationship to water and nature.

    The overwhelming consensus, among the Heber Valley river-goers I spoke with, was that there is something special and important about breathing through things that we naturally resist. Whitaker describes each river dip as a “mini-death,” and feels empowered by the feelings of overcoming such a thing. Jibson has come to see the presence of discomfort in our lives as fundamental stating that, “Everything in our lives right now is so comfortable. In the winter, we can sit in our houses by the fire, turn up the heat, put our socks on — and I do. But it’s in uncomfortable moments that you feel alive, and I think we’re meant to feel alive.”

    1 Wim Hof Method, n.d.   2 Straight Line Swimming, n.d.   3https://valuingwatrinitiative.com)

  • Putting Growth and Education to the Test

    Putting Growth and Education to the Test

    Wasatch County residents have earned what seems like a doctorate in dealing with growth, but channeling change is a never-ending process that seems to be as challenging as the teenage years. Just like that awkward, formative, and stressful stage of life, Wasatch County has a lot of current issues: traffic, taxes, affordable housing, water, air quality, the airport, public safety, and on and on and on. (Take a deep breath — it’s going to be okay.) With growth being the proverbial issue on every local campaign, and education always being a high priority to the community, the Wasatch County School District School Board has set out to develop a 10-20 year master plan while pursuing citizen involvement. This planning process has been named “Future Schools Project” (FSP). In 2021 WCSD held a multi-step interview process in hopes of hiring a consultant team. With an impressive presentation and an exceptional resume of projects and values, GSBS Architects, in Salt Lake, was selected to direct this process of determining educational goals, assessing the facilities, and recommending future options.

    Last fall, 489 registered voters responded to a community survey issued by Y2 Analytics. All results can be found on the FSP website (futureschoolsproject.com). The question is not if we will need more schools, but why, where, when, and most importantly how. One key finding from the survey showed that Wasatch County residents find fiscal responsibility (91%) and transparency (87%) “very important”.

    According to the FSP website, “The Wasatch School District administration and Board of Education are committed to a master planning process that prioritizes listening to parents, students, and community members. Our Master Planning Goals are: Be innovative and forward-thinking as we plan for growth, Ensure that students reach their personal goals and become productive contributing members of society, and create solutions that are efficient and financially responsible.”

    The FSP is a simple concept yet has detailed steps and multi-involved phases that have been taking place since September 2021. Phases include: gathering information, generating options, reviewing with the public, and finally the master plan draft presentation at the school board meeting on April 21, 2022. As part of community engagement, three committees were formed to help consult, frame, and direct this process; an educators committee (teachers and administrators), an advisory committee (elected officials of local jurisdictions and leaders of community organizations), and a steering committee (constituents selected by school board and district administrators). The FSP team has tried to give the community as many opportunities as possible to voice opinions, share ideas, and ask questions. There have been surveys, neighborhood meetings, and a special website with a place to “join the conversation”. It is always possible to email or call board members and district personnel. Contact information can be found at wasatch.edu.

    Part of the process also included an assessment, completed in December-January, of current school buildings and facilities. The project team analyzed safety and maintenance issues; and explored whether or not buildings were meeting the education visions gathered from the prior input of the committees.

    Building “Bridges” to Future Schools

    This project comes on the heels of the 2019 bond failure.  It was an emotional campaign with frustration and passion from both proponents and objectors. The final outcome showed 57% voting against and 42% in favor.

    Superintendent Paul Sweat explains, “The Future Schools Project is the Board of Education’s response to the community asking to be more involved in the planning process, as well as to the rapid growth that we are experiencing in Wasatch County and within the District. Based on continual updates from District Staff, they know our buildings are at — or over — capacity, and we are in need of a long-range plan to address the growth, which shows no signs of slowing down, based on data from local agencies gathered by our demographers, Davis Demographics.”

    Findings from the community survey referenced above, show how growth and education are perceived in the valley. 67% believe that the county is growing “much too quickly” along with 82% agreeing that public education is “very important to the health of a community”. Community involvement is also “very important” to 67% of those who participated in the survey.

    Sweat reflects, “It’s been eye-opening to see the engagement and enthusiasm for the process from within our District and throughout the community. We’ve long heard that our constituents want to become involved in our District; now they are actively participating in the process through committees and community meetings. Our visits to school staff meetings were very productive in gathering information for us to share with our consultant team, GSBS Architects, and allowed teachers and staff to candidly share their thoughts and concerns.”

    April: Enroll in Civil Engagement 101

    Although much has happened in the past six months, the next two months are even more crucial and exciting. All the effort and hard work will culminate at a public open house on April 7th. A final master plan draft will be shared at the school board meeting on April 21st. Look for details to be announced soon on the district website (wasatch.edu) or the Wasatch County School District’s Facebook page.

    “The Open House on April 7th will provide the public with an opportunity to view the recommendations from GSBS, which will incorporate the information they’ve gathered during their months-long process. It will be a chance for folks to weigh in on the possible next steps in addressing growth within our District,” says Sweat.

    Lindsey Ferrari, the public outreach consultant for GSBS Architects, explains, “This master planning process is designed to identify the public’s vision and values for education through a set of guiding principles; assess how the district’s facilities and buildings are performing now and how they will perform with future growth projections; then give the public some options for addressing growth based on the public’s vision.  Those options will be presented to the public for feedback at the open house in April and through other various methods such as the District website and smaller group meetings.  It’s important for residents to get involved in April and let the school board and consultant team know which options they want to accept as a community.” Ferrari continued by stating, “I’d also like to add that the master plan will not dictate where and what a new school or expansion might look like, but rather when the board should consider taking action based on pre-determined milestones regarding growth or building condition. So the public should be on the same page as to when and how the District will address growth.”

    Just like a high school graduate that made it through those tough and fun teenage years, the future holds many possibilities and educational options for Wasatch County. Now is the time to take the opportunity to be a part of the vision and decision-making process for future schools. The next few weeks will advance the goal of addressing and managing growth and education in positive and intentional ways.

    Sweat concluded by stating, “It’s crucial for our community to know we are working diligently to ensure our learning environments will provide the best possible achievement outcomes for the students of Wasatch County. Whether that takes the form of updated or new buildings will be determined by the FSP process and our much-anticipated Facilities Master Plan.”

    Learn more and get involved FUTURESCHOOLSPROJECT.ORG

  • Creamayre Brook Farms

    Creamayre Brook Farms

    To be successful in business, “Find a need that’s not being met and meet it better than anyone else.” This is the mantra of Wayne and Kathy Buell, co-founders of Creamayre Brook Farm, located on Highway 40. From a sunny dining room overlooking their beautiful gardens, and what one might call a Five Star Equestrian Center, Wayne and Kathy share humble, but profound, wisdom learned over three decades of running the facility from their family farm.

    For so many businesses, the past two years have been challenging. Many know the reality of needing to pivot, adapt, or change industries completely. While Creamayre Brook has seen nothing but growth and stability as a business, the response to COVID 19 across the world caused a ripple effect that is bringing change to the property.

    HISTORY OF CREAMAYRE BROOK FARMS

    Having grown up working the family farm in Heber City, Wayne brought Kathy back to Heber Valley in 1981 with their young family. Returning to a rural community was a way for Wayne to make good on a promise that they would one day have a place for her to enjoy horses again. Kathy had to sell her pride and joy, Sundance, a retired race horse she bailed out of the slaughter house years earlier as a horse-smitten teenager.

    Named for the Creamery that had once been located on the stream running through the farm, Wayne and Kathy invested in Morgan horses shortly after finishing their home in 1983. Kathy emphasized that the main reason for building the business was so their children would learn how to work and have a way to earn money working together as a family. It didn’t come without sacrifice. Sheridan, a beloved Morgan gelding was polished up in his training for the Utah State Fair. Along with his winnings, he won the attention of a buyer who paid $5,000 — just the amount needed to purchase the first ten, custom, stall fronts for the new barn. The barn filled immediately, and soon they expanded to 22 stalls; with more stalls added as their business continued to expand.

    Wayne’s dedication to impeccable stalls and a precise feeding schedule earned the trust of two local investors. They agreed to finance a deluxe indoor arena worthy of Grand Prix level horses — a must in Utah climates for competitors who want to ride year-round. Wayne’s commitment to top quality amenities like a cross country course, rubberized arena footing, and top trainer Hillary Howe on the property easily keeps the clientele full year-round.

    In Kathy’s words, “Wayne is the machine that makes it work. He harrows the arenas every day. Every. Day. And then he waters the arenas every day, spring, summer, and fall, so that the footing is nice and moist, and its soft and puffy. Not too deep. Just right. Then this past year, we added on 20 new stalls and 8 welded pipe corrals for daily turnout pens. Wayne tries really hard to accommodate people’s needs in how to take care of their horses.”

    Wayne added, “In business, the number one thing is that the customer is always right. “With a 27 year dual career as a teacher, Wayne’s days have started early with 6 am feedings, a full day teaching 6th graders, and an evening of more chores. “That’s why we would eat at 9 or 10 o’clock at night,” adds Kathy, “and he was one of the teachers that didn’t want to bring his schoolwork home with him to grade papers. He wanted to get it all done there. So he’d come home at five, hurry and change his clothes, go out and do all his chores — that means the feeding, the graining, the watering, the dust control, the harrowing; it’s a lot! Seeing what we do, others have bought an arena or a barn, thinking it would be fun, but it doesn’t usually last very long because it is a lot of work. You are responsible for other people’s pets. This is not for everyone. Many don’t realize how much work it is.”

    The grounds are another story. While walking through the property, one admires the extensive landscape design created by Kathy over years of planting, to which she humbly replies, “Don’t look at something like this and think, oh it’s too much work. We built this one fence post at a time. One tree at a time.” The attention to detail and the pure love of land and animals make the property a true oasis from a technology-saturated world — a world that changed quickly in March of 2020, bringing with it new changes to the farm.

    A WHOLE NEW DEVELOPMENT

    Wayne and Kathy’s daughter, Lyndsey, and her husband, Diego Vazquez had been living in Brooklyn and working in Manhattan, New York City, for the past six years; with very successful careers in both fashion and restaurants. And then COVID hit.

    Diego explained, “I was opening restaurants for a company called Roberto’s and I was supposed to leave for Chicago to open a restaurant. The day before I was supposed to leave, the world shut down. They tried to transition me to warehouse supervisor, but when everyone kept getting sick, I said, ‘I’m sorry,’ and I decided to quit.” Lyndsey was across the river in New Jersey preparing to open an H&M store when the announcement came that the trains were shutting down. If she didn’t get back into New York, she’d be stuck. She left immediately, marking the beginning of the end.

    “So, we ended up in our little tiny apartment in Brooklyn for three months with no jobs — and then we came back to Utah to stay with Wayne and Kathy.” While Diego and Lyndsey explored their options for work, Kathy and Wayne had observed that every time they needed to board or groom their dog, there was a waiting list and simply not enough providers filling the need. Always ready to spot a gap, Kathy saw an opportunity, and the idea for Creamayre Brook Kennel was born.

    CREAMAYRE BROOK KENNEL AND GROOMING

    When asked what they each bring from their prior experience, Diego explained, “We’re excited to join the dog community. I feel like Lyndsey’s the creative one with vision and knowing the actual layout of the plan. Then I’m way more like the business manager. I can open things and run it.” Fully embracing the change as a newly-certified dog groomer, Lyndsey laughs easily with a quick smile, “Life changes quickly and you have to roll with the punches.” Lyndsey is already open for grooming with a long list of clients happy to have her sense of design and artful grooming as they await the remodeling of the full facility which will include: a check-in lobby, indoor dog kennel, pet grooming, doggie daycare, an indoor play area with canine grass, indoor/outdoor dog runs, sub-divided field with dog turnout areas, and a clothing boutique curated by Lyndsey.

    Change is inevitable, but no matter what happens, the business will stay in the family. Kathy stated, “We started the business so that our kids would learn how to work. Somebody from our family will always run it.” Wayne added, “When they work here, on this place, they understand the work. They have a vision of the work. They’re not vacant landlords. Our son Sean, [who passed away when he was 10] started working here when he was 5 or 6. He could barely push the wheel barrel, and he was cleaning stalls. And it wasn’t because we asked him. He asked us. He wanted to get money and be a part of it.” Wayne continued with pride, “He wanted to be part of the whole operation and if you handle it the right way, there’s a sense of camaraderie, pride, and community in your family when you’re working together for the same goal. There’s a work ethic that our kids developed, and that is just an example of why we built our barn. It’s not about money.”

    Both Kathy and Wayne agree that running a family business is a lot like a marriage. “You need to have good communication; you need to know how to compromise. You can’t say ‘it has to be this way.’ You need to be able to work things out with some compromising. Then you can make it work — the hard work is worth it.”

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