Heber Valley Life

Tag: Wasatch

Wasatch Women Defending The Wasatch’s Back

WITH THE SEEMINGLY ENDLESS COVERAGE OF PROTESTS, RIOTS, CIVIL UNREST AND VIOLENCE IN THE MEDIA, HAVE YOU STOPPED TO WONDER How Safe Are We?

Having traveled through much of the United States and living in Italy for almost two years; I’ve always considered the Wasatch Back to be a comparatively safe area to live, but modern living means I can’t stay in the community 24/7. I also work in various cities all across America, so where exactly is “safe?”

Each year the FBI issues a report of the Safest Cities and Towns in America. Utah wasn’t in the top ten states and I couldn’t find any of the cities I frequent on the list. Heber City didn’t make the cut for the Salt Lake Tribune’s list of Safest Cities either.

While technology has expedited the speed and flow of information, individuals are still vulnerable to all the same violence and dangerous behaviors common to history. Your perception of safety can change in a fraction of a second when you become the victim and the effects can be devastating for years. It’s often simply the result of being in the wrong place at the wrong time or in the way of someone with ill intent.

This last year, I’ve met several women who feel that protecting their families, businesses, and lives now requires a more proactive approach.

8 Million Have Taken Action

A simple Google search will reveal multiple articles and reports on Americans breaking records for Gun purchases in 2020/21. Firearms have always been popular with the 2A crowd, hunters, and sportsmen. However, 40% of firearm sales in 2020 were made by Americans purchasing a firearm for the first time — to the sum of 5 million new gun buyers. As of July 2021, that number has soared to 8 million. While numerous businesses went under due to economic shutdowns, the firearm industry is booming and multiplying with retailers struggling to keep products on their shelves.

Pandemic-related lockdowns, riots, civil unrest, and media coverage of violence in America’s streets have caused many to re-evaluate self-defense.

A Heber Valley Women’s Gun Club is Born

Several months ago a casual post on Social Media asked if there were any women who would be interested in learning more about firearms, self-defense, and training together. In just a few hours over one-hundred-and-fifty women answered with a very affirmative —yes!

The interest in not only learning better self-defense but also having a low-key, supportive group of women with various skill levels was an immediate hit. A casual, but committed group was formed and named Women with Weapons. I asked a few of them what their motivation was to join the group and work on personal defense skills. Some names have been changed to protect privacy.

Donna explained, “Our group is a way for us to all get together, learn about gun safety, how to shoot, and look for ways to give back to our community. I think it is important for women to feel empowered to protect themselves and their family, safely, and confidently. I feel it is more important than ever with the current state of the world.”

When asked why she is getting started in her fifties, Laurie answered, “I learned to shoot some rifles as a kid but didn’t have any real training and with my job being in large cities across the nation, I felt like I should be more prepared to defend myself and others in the event of an attack. I’ve deliberately studied online and with dummy ammunition in my firearm before ever loading it with live rounds. Once I had spent enough time on drills and practicing at home, I was ready to go to the range with my first-ever semi-automatic pistol. I now understand what a fun sport, discipline, and skill it [shooting] is to have — a sport that may also save a life, if necessary.”

Another answered, “I wanted to meet up with other women and it is very important to me that I learn how to be safe with my firearm and have the confidence to do what I need to do if the time ever comes. I have met new friends and feel much more confident.”

The Responsibility to Train Regularly

I was pleasantly surprised to find that newbies can easily find a community of very helpful, systematic, and disciplined people in the 2A [Second Amendment] community nationwide. Many professional trainers have made this training very accessible by creating YouTube channels and social media dedicated to teaching safety and preparedness.

I’ve studied hours of training online as well as taken classes from experts in the area including Don Fulton, a Range Safety Officer at the Big Hollow Shooting Range in Heber Valley. Although he grew up hunting and fishing with a lot of gun safety training he says, “I also realized the necessity of striving to be more self-reliant. And part of that was protecting myself, my family, and my neighbors. I then started attending professional training to better my skills and abilities.”

Don encourages regular and high-quality training for everyone who owns a gun. Considering the lethal power of a firearm, it behooves all who consider buying one to keep up with ongoing education and habits; especially if that firearm will be kept around family. Don has applied his decades of experience in VIP protection services to helping new gun owners and those who want more tactical skills.

Don, along with other instructors, have encouraged me in training for situational awareness, which includes many habits such as paying attention to people around me, knowing the available exits, watching people’s eyes and hands, understanding how to assess a rising threat, and making it a practice to not zone out on the phone while in public. The ability to relax; using your breath to continue to engage the thinking part of the brain rather than the reactive, irrational part of the brain, is just as important as being aware and prepared.

Protecting Rights of Self Protection

While not all will choose to own a firearm personally, this year saw many who’d previously been neutral to the discussion get more involved with those who’ve been lifelong Second Amendment Supporters. On May 20, 2021, Wasatch County Council members voted 5 to 2 in passing the 2nd Amendment Sanctuary County Ordinance.

Passing the 2A Sanctuary Ordinance was paramount in protecting the Second Amendment rights of Wasatch County citizens. Having this protection is the end result that began with a group of women who were willing to do what it takes to protect Wasatch County. They created Defending Wasatch Back and inspired others to step forward, get involved, and voice their values in support of Sheriff Rigby’s 2A Sanctuary County movement, and individual rights to keep and bear arms.

While many don’t grow up familiar with firearms; this year has seen the trend in both America and locally for people to get informed, involved, and take action politically, addressing the issues of state and local rights versus federal mandates.

Meghan Bliss, a community member and 2A supporter, shared, I am “Pro 2A, pro-gun safety, and knowledge. I think a lot of people choose to not be aware as it’s scary or an unknown, or they didn’t grow up around firearms. That’s how I was at first. I’ve spent time with my husband learning the safety of guns, having a plan, and being prepared. Growing up, we didn’t hunt or have guns. It wasn’t until I was in my 30s that it became a thing for me.”

Being new but willing to try was a common sentiment shared at the first Women with Weapons club meeting held in early 2021. While many women were entirely new to firearms and safety, many felt compelled to get more informed and involved because of open violence nationwide including some demonstrations that turned to riots in Utah.

Support Groups and New Friendships

Regardless of the level of interest in guns themselves, women in Heber Valley are joining with women in surrounding areas to discuss options, share tips, and training tools as well as teaming up to share booths at the local gun ranges. The consensus among women of all experience levels is that educating yourselves and becoming more proactive in the community is important. Listen and be open-minded as you talk with neighbors and others. Overall, I’ve found everyone to be very supportive and helpful all along the way as my skills progress.

Together, it’s possible to protect the rights to self defend and bring more unity and understanding of those values when the conversation remains open. We have friendly and helpful trainers with world-class experience right here in our community. Come and join in!

The Second Amendment of the United States Constitution reads:

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

Read more about Wasatch County as a 2A Sanctuary.
September 1, 2021
500 Hours Outside This Summer
Many parents are aware their kids are spending too much time indoors using electronic devices. A recent study by the Kaiser Family Foundation found that the average eight to eighteen year old spends 7 hours and 38 minutes of electronic screen time per day.

Let’s go outside! Outdoor play time helps to balance a child’s day and provide mental and physical health benefits. Did you know that most experts agree that 4-6 hours of playing outside each day is optimal for child health?

Here are 25 fun ideas to get you going!
1. Ride your bike
2. Visit all the public parks in the valley
3. Street hockey
4. Join a nature hike at Wasatch State Park
5. Swim at the lake
6. Build sand castles at Jordanelle or Deer Creek
7. Take Fido to the dog park or offer to walk your neighbors dog
8. Clean up the river banks
9. Grow a garden
10. Try stargazing
11. Take bread to the duck pond at Wasatch State Park
12. Visit the Market on Main in Heber or the Midway Farmer’s Market
13. Play pickleball or tennis at one of the Wasatch County Recreation courts
14. Learn to fish
15. Make a lemonade stand
16. Get artsy, and create sidewalk chalk art
17. Paint in nature
18. Try geocaching
19. Visit each of the area’s lakes and reservoirs
20. Drive to the Uintah Mountains and walk around Mirror Lake
21. Hop on a scenic train ride. Did you know Monday night is family night?
22. Visit the friendly animals at Rundown Ranch
23. Gather up the neighbors for a game of Capture the Flag or Kick the Can
24. Grill outdoors
25. Discover outdoor picnic spots
June 4, 2021
Heber City Tabernacle

When Heber City Main Street’s Tabernacle Was Facing Demolition, a Community Banded Together to Protect Their Heritage.

As a resident of this beautiful valley, and an admirer of anything local, I have a deep appreciation for all the history we share and all the beautiful, historical buildings and homes that are still standing. One of my favorite buildings is the Heber City Hall, or as it was originally known, The Wasatch Stake Tabernacle. As I gaze at or walk its corridors, I find it easy to wonder about the past. If only those red sandstone walls could talk — what stories would they tell? As most of the history in our valley, I’ve always known it comes from the endurance of the first pioneer families. However, once I started finding out more about the Tabernacle’s history, I was amazed by everything this strong, simplistic landmark building has endured. Yet, it still manages to inspire, one way or another, anyone that comes across it.

“The crowning jewel” of the Heber Valley was directed to be built for the Wasatch Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by Abram Hatch, and construction began in 1887. After two years of hard work, sacrifice, and commitment, the new building was dedicated on May 5, 1889. The architect and designer, Alexander Forte, worked alongside Elisha Averett, a master mason, and Hatch, who served as project superintendent. Materials cost $30,000, and the building was constructed – stone by stone – entirely through donated labor! Families, including the little children, contributed by saving their pennies and nickels and donating them to the project. From the red sandstone walls quarried from the Lake Creek area east of Heber to the large bell tower that rang announcements for church time and other gatherings, it was the heart and pride of the community and could seat 1,500 in its pews. Over the many years, it was the center for community events that included concerts, theatrical productions, graduations, and even the high school until the first high school was built a few blocks south. On summer nights in the 1920s, 30s, and 40s, crowds gathered to the Tabernacle to hear the high school band play. The property even held the county fair for a few years. The community loved their accommodating building and put it to great use!

By the 1960s, the 75-year-old building was in sad condition. Because of the cost of renovations and the building itself being impractical to continue to use for the local leadership of the LDS church (due to a lack of meeting rooms), the future of the treasured landmark became uncertain. At this point, a young and newly appointed J. Harold Call served as the stake president. While he was initially interested in renovating the building after the bid came in at $70,000, he decided not to move forward with renovation plans. In 1961 when the news came out about stake leaders considering demolishing the building and replacing it with a new stake center, a local dairy farmer and former clerk to president Call, named Mark Crooke, gathered a petition of 250 signatures and was successful in delaying the decision for three years. However, in 1964 Call shared that after careful study and consultations with church leaders, he decided it was best to demolish and replace the Tabernacle. After the surprising announcement, as you can imagine, local church leaders were bombarded with letters pleading them to reconsider “the destruction of one of Heber City’s proudest structures.”

In a time of questioning the roles of gender, a group of remarkable and determined women stepped up with great energy to help save the landmark building. Ruth Witt, a widow and natural leader from one of the oldest families in the valley, was fiercely passionate about saving the building that she felt symbolized her family’s Pioneer Heritage. Barbara McDonald, a mother of six small children, when considering whether or not to get involved, asked for advice from her mother and when her mother unwaveringly replied, “if not you, then who?” Barbara knew she had to get involved and later described the experience as a “defining moment” in her life. Sisters Hope Mohr and Beth Ritchie, who had family ties linking to the Murdoch family, one of Heber’s founding families, made up the unrelenting group fighting to save the Tabernacle. This group of women proved to be tenacious by challenging and questioning church leaders even without their husbands present, something that was unheard of in those times.

To make a very long story — filled with heated debate and interesting viewpoints, shorter — this group of women were vital in the effort to save the Tabernacle which involved Mormon church leaders and townsfolk alike. Blood ties ran deep on both sides of the movement and created a stir locally and elsewhere in the state. The fight to save the Tabernacle confronted roles of gender and faithfulness, causing a strong division between keeping or tearing down the building. The story is fascinating, and I can all too easily imagine the familiarity of the divide that the conflict caused in this day and age.

The saving of the Tabernacle depended on hundreds of people coming forward in many different ways, including time, money, willingness, and sacrificing to ensure the Tabernacle would be a part of the community once more. It brought an awareness of the value of architectural heritage and was a turning point in the story of historic preservation in all of Utah. The city of Heber bought the building from the LDS church, and the Tabernacle was remodeled to serve as the City Hall.

In these fast-paced times and with the exploding growth here in Heber, I am grateful for all the glimpses of what life used to be like in the valley. They remind us of our ties, ties that grow more and more fragile with every passing year. Those that came before us have shown that we can revere the buildings of old by weaving them into our present and repurposing them with future value in mind. Today, our valley has an iconic, tangible reminder of the dream a small group of pioneers envisioned and achieved because of a community coming together, dedicated to preserving that legacy for the future for us. We, too, can be a strong, united community inspired by lessons and people of the past. I look at The Wasatch Stake Tabernacle and am hopeful the future of our town continues to preserve accomplishments from our incredible history.

My favorite quote by James Jenkins Jr. shares my sentiments: “I have always attached a certain sacredness to things that are irreplaceable. I can’t help believe that heritage is one of the last remaining gifts we can give.”

The tabernacle originally seated 1500!
June 4, 2021
Emergence Art Contest

Inspired by Our Home Town

The majestic and varied landscapes of Wasatch County have inspired artists from across the globe since the early pioneers first settled here. Today our valley’s mountains, rivers, fields, farms, and skate parks are inspiring a whole new generation of young artists.
The year 2020 brought about a lot of change for everyone — in Wasatch County, a group of PTA presidents representing the district’s elementary, middle, and high schools, decided to change things up a bit too. After much deliberation and discussion, it was decided that Wasatch County would break away from the Parent-Teacher Association and create their own Wasatch Parent Network — the only thing holding them back was the PTA Reflections program. For those unfamiliar with Reflections, it is a nationally recognized art contest. The WPN wanted to make sure that students in Wasatch County could continue to participate in art competitions. So they rolled up their sleeves and went in search of ways to offer challenging opportunities for K-12 artists.
During a district meeting, it was mentioned that the Wasatch Center for Advanced Professional Studies (CAPS) was creating a website for their art contest — Emergence. Emergence’s goal is to help, “Grow Young Artists.” The contest’s art categories include 2D drawings, paintings, graphic designs, and photography in addition to 3D works like pottery and sculptures. This seemed like a perfect match. Angie Neuberger, President of the Wasatch High Wasatch Parent Network shared, “It really came down to the Wasatch County School District, the CAPS program, the Wasatch Parent Network, and Heber Valley Life Magazine, working together to create this amazing art contest. The hardest part was that each student could only enter one category — so they had to decide if it was going to be a painting or a photograph or whatever they liked best.”
Once submission and contest rules were decided things began to move fast. Open to all students in grades K-12 in Wasatch County School District the contest was announced in March with all entries being due just after Spring Break in April. Angie laughed as she shared, “We had 175 entries this year — our first year — which was just great and kind of a crazy time too. It was a bit tricky trying to find judges but we were really thrilled with the response from the students and those who volunteered to judge. We had six judges; all from the community and all involved with art in some way.”
The judges had a blast and said that it was really difficult to choose; however, they all mentioned that their favorite part of the process was reading the descriptions of the artwork. The theme for the 2021 Emergence art contest was “My Home Town”. The artists’ works, words, and how they related to the theme puts into perspective just how unique and amazing our home town is.
Angie explained that “I feel like with Reflections we couldn’t do anything like this, each school was always on their own – with this [Emergence] we all came together and we made it better.” Angie also shared that, “the way the Wasatch Parent Network, Wasatch County School District, the CAPS program, and Heber Valley Life came together to highlight the arts was just so amazing. I am so appreciative of the support everyone has given us to do our own thing. I love the name Emergence and everything that it encompasses . . . I just think the kids were so great with creating artwork that they are passionate about

TOP WINNER – GRADE 9-12

HANNAH BERRETT

Spring by the Stream

Hannah Berrett loves creating art with graphite, but when it came time to decide which of her pieces to enter in the Emergence art contest, she decided not to play it safe.
“I had already been working on a landscape painting, my first, and I put so many hours into it, and I was just super proud of it. I loved the story about how it was of one of my really good friend’s backyard here in Midway — and that it fit so perfectly with the theme.”
Hannah is Wasatch High School’s Visual Arts Sterling Scholar; during her interview, she was able to talk about what a privilege it was to represent Wasatch High School, her community, her painting, and the Emergence art contest. Hannah says that she is grateful her art teacher told her about the contest and how honored she was to win and be able to present and be recognized by the school district. “I’ve done Reflections before, but it was always a little confusing; I think that this [Emergence] was awesome. It was really cool that it was more personal, and they focused more on the talent within our community instead of being a big competition.”
Hannah developed a love for art while drawing with her grandpa, Kay Watson, who is most famous for his artwork created for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Hannah seems to be following in her grandfather’s brush strokes as she recently started a business painting all sorts of things like movie posters, album covers, and whatever people want on their shoes. The most unique thing she has been asked to paint was a skateboard deck.
Hannah loves creating for others and shared, “My favorite part of doing artwork is when people ask me to do commissions because I love being able to not only work on the artwork but work with the people in my community. I love being able to learn more about them and being able to express something that they want into a piece of art, and it’s just amazing seeing their reactions. I get videos and pictures, and I just love it.”
Moving forward, Hannah plans to become an Art Therapist and will be attending the University of Utah next year, where she will double major in Psychology and Visual Arts.

TOP WINNER – GRADE 9-12

LILY CHILD

A Kid in the Park

As an eventer in the world of Equestrian sports, Lily picked up her mom’s Pentax and started snapping photos of horses and people riding — and something happened. She found a new talent and a new passion. Completely self-taught, Lily has been experimenting with all types of photography for the past six years. This year she enrolled in film photography — her first time taking a photography class.
Lily’s recent obsession has been photographing her friends who skateboard. When she heard about Emergence, she knew exactly what she wanted to do. She explains, “. . . with the theme ‘My Home Town’ I wanted to highlight this little community we have here in Heber Valley. We all see the skateboard park as we drive by, and there are always lots of little kids there during the day, but at night all the big kids come out to play, and it’s so fun! We’ve got some seriously good skaters here . . . everyone is so nice and supportive of each other no matter their level . . . it’s such a fun vibe!
Her photo titled, A Kid at the Park represents one of the more important parts of ‘My Home Town’ for Lily. “This picture is of Crew, who I’ve been best friends with since second grade. So that was just really cool that it won.” She continued, “I really enjoyed Emergence. I feel like it’s more community-centered and that the students get a little more recognition for their work and for whoever won. I think that it is cool that they are putting us in the newspaper and the magazine and that we got to go to the district office. I thought that it was really awesome that they did that for us.”
So, what does Lily want to do next? Well, she’s got some pretty big plans. Lily says it best, “One of my all-time dream jobs would be to be a photographer for National Geographic or an outdoor adventure brand like Patagonia or The North Face. It would take me to cool places and give me the opportunity to meet such cool people and to be able to capture it all with my camera . . . it would just be awesome.”

TOP WINNER – GRADE 9-12

KATIE HENDERSON

Simple Elegance

Katie Henderson moved to Heber when she was in 8th grade and was not too excited about living here. Katie loves to ride horses and housed her horse at a barn in Northfield. Katie shared, “I was going out to Northfield five days a week, and one day there was this blizzard, it was the coolest thing. It was so simple but so beautiful, just the prettiest thing you could ever see.” She captured the moment on film and knew it was the photo she wanted to enter for Emergence.
“I’ve done photography all through high school and fell in love with it, so I took every single photography class there was offered at Wasatch. I’m in AP studio art right now for photography, I saw the fliers up at school, and my photography teacher told me that he thought it would be perfect for me. I take photos of Heber all the time. I probably have 100 sunset photos of Timpanogos alone. I just take photos whenever I can, and I just thought it [the photograph] fit so perfectly.”
When asked if she used any type of sepia or grayscale filter, Katie said, “No, I didn’t use anything. It was just contrasted that morning; it was crazy cool how black and white it really did look.”
“I’ve done Reflections throughout my life, and the thing that I loved about this contest is that it was very community-oriented and I saw that this was something special we could do close to home, and it was personal to every single person in the valley. I thought that was cool.” She also enjoyed presenting her artwork to the school board, “It was really special getting that extra boost of ‘Yay!’ from the Principle and Vice Principle and board members.”
Katie’s photograph titled Simple Elegance represents more than just a beautiful day in our valley. Katie explains, “I’ve come to adopt that theme myself – My Hometown. Because starting from not wanting to move here to this being my favorite place in the world. I think that it is really special that I found that simple elegance about Heber that I find so amazing.”
Katie will be attending Utah State University in the fall and shared, “I would love to at least minor in photography and get a good base there and see where it takes me.”

TOP WINNER – GRADE 6-8

CICILY LARSON

It’s a Good Life

This painting represents how I live a good life and the beauty we all can enjoy as we slow down in life to look up. Looking up at the sky brings perspective on where we stand. One of my favorite parts about living in the Heber Valley is God’s canvas is all around me! I love how the mountains draw a line in the canvas separating the Earth from the Heavens. I love how climbing the mountains makes me feel closer to the sky as well as the Son.”

“Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.”

Thomas Merton Tweet

TOP WINNER – GRADE 6-8

NAOMI HANSEN

Natural Beauty

“Many people like to see the attractions of a town. I, on the other hand, choose to illustrate the sights that cannot be man-made. Midway is a natural wonder and I want people to realize that through my drawing.”

TOP WINNER – GRADE 3-5

MILLIE TAYLOR

Coming Home

“This is a picture of my home town with the most beautiful tall mountains. I like coming home to Midway because it has pretty scenery and sunsets. The painting represents how I feel when I come home after being gone.”

TOP WINNER – GRADE K-2

MACKENZIE HOWARD

Rainbow Ice

“I did a picture of my family at the Ice Castles in Midway at night time. My favorite thing to do in my home town is to visit them every winter. They are so pretty at night with the rainbow colors all over them. I really like going on the slides, walking through all the tunnels, and seeing the new things they can build. It’s a special thing about our town because people come from all over to see it, even my cousins and grandma and grandpa.”

Every child is an artist, the problem is to remain an artist once they grow up.

Pablo Picasso Tweet

A huge shout out to our Judges
Jordan Daines
Colby Larsen
Ella Ballsteadt
Justin Bowen
Quinn Calder
Liz Sprackland

Huge Congratulations
top winners

K-2         | MACKENZIE Howard
3-5          | MILLIE Taylor
6-8          | CICELY Larsen
9-12       | HANNAH Berrett
9-12       | KATIE Henderson
9-12       | LILY Child

The top seven winners in each category will have their artwork on display for one year at the Wasatch County School District’s Office located at 101 E 200 N, Heber City.

June 4, 2021
Fireworks to Celebrate Utah on January 4th!

Wasatch County and the State of Utah will celebrate together on Monday, January 4^th. The event, Thrive 125, commemorates the 125^th anniversary of Utah’s statehood.

The festivities include a televised event called “Thrive125: A Utah Celebration.” The 30-minute special will play on all of Utah’s network affiliates at 6:30 p.m. on the evening of the 4^th. There will also be a repeat showing on PBS Utah at 8:30 p.m. that night. The show will feature performances from notable Utahns and celebrities. There will be music and dance, along with a celebration of the state’s “artistic heritage, cultural diversity, and scenic wonders,” according to the website.

Following the original broadcast, at 7:30 p.m., fireworks will fill the sky in all 29 counties of Utah. Wasatch County’s fireworks will originate from the top of Memorial Hill in Midway.

In a video message, Heber City Mayor Kelleen Potter said, “We want everyone to watch them, but to just be socially distanced from wherever you are.” The Thrive 125 website states, “It is important that this celebration is COVID safe. People are encouraged to watch from a distance, in their cars, and in their front and back yards. The fireworks will be an exclamation point on a day of celebrations and in most counties will last 3-4 minutes.”

Utah became a state on January 4, 1896. State leaders applied for statehood seven times before receiving approval. The complicated process lasted 48 years. Utah finally became the 45^th state to join the United States of America.

The Utah Department of Heritage & Arts created the Thrive 125 initiative, with support from Utah’s Governor and Legislature. More information about the event and Utah’s road to statehood is available on the Thrive 125 website: https://thrive125.utah.gov/january4th-event/. The site also includes a 12-minute historical video and additional resources for educators.
December 31, 2020
Things to Do in 2021

Covid restrictions may change the way we gather and participate in events, but that shouldn’t stop us from living our best lives in 2021. When in doubt, get outside!

It’s never been more important to support our friends and neighbors that operate small businesses. Not sure if they are open to the public or holding that special event you like to attend each year? Check in with them to see what requirements they may have for attendance. After all, we’re in this together. Let’s show each other how much we care.

Best selling author, Gretchen Rubin and her sister and screen-writer, Elizabeth Craft, offer tips on being happy in their top-rated podcast “Happier.” Years back, this witty twosome offered up a whimsical way to celebrate goal setting and living your best life throughout the year. They challenged listeners with a fun spin on a bucket list and New Year’s resolution. The approach was this, create a list of things you would like to accomplish in the upcoming year — or conveniently check the boxes here that interest you. When you write it down you become more committed. I have had these yearly lists for awhile now and have to admit, they have stretched me in my adventures.

I hope to become a runner, purchase a few pieces of jewelry symbolic to me, begin my Masters program, take more walks, carefully consider nature and my surroundings, and take more one-on-one outings with my children.

The world we live in today may feel a bit different than it did just a year ago. Lucky for us, we live in an amazing place!

Now go get started!

Family-Friendly Things To Do

Eat Out:
or eat in with curbside pickup. Try a new restaurant monthly or even weekly. There are more than 52 places to eat in the Heber Valley!

Bowl A Strike:
visit holiday lanes for a game night out.

Take A Hike:
did you know that we have year-round beginner, intermediate, and expert hike and bike options all around the valley?

Ice castles:
Bundle up and celebrate the magic of glowing ice sculptures and structures.

Small Town Christmas:
The holidays get festive each year with Swiss Christmas, The Creche, and the Christmas Festival for the Children.

Ice Skating:
Visit Midway’s small-town outdoor ice rink and sip a cup of hot cocoa.

Light Hunting:
Kick-off holiday seasons in the warmth of your car and see festive light displays.

Ride The Rails:
Themed train rides on the Heber Valley Railroad are always a big hit with the family or visitors from out of town.

Local Flicks:
Enjoy a night out at the movies with real movie theatre popcorn. We have two historical theatres here in Heber.

Friday Night Lights:
Attend a local high school sporting event. Go Wasps!

The Show Must Go On:
Theatre productions happen year-round in the valley. Check out Timpanogos Valley Theater and High Valley Arts for their schedule.

Sleepover In The Outdoors:
You don’t need to travel far to spend the night in the great outdoors. Visit one of our local campgrounds and be sure to reserve in advance.

Stargazing:
Celebrate our dark skies at Wasatch Mountain State Park.

Visit A Working Dairy:
From autumn hay mazes and pumpkin patches, to cheese making classes and baby animal days, there is always something engaging happening at Heber Valley Artisan Cheese.

Heber Market On Main:
Thursday evenings all summer long you’ll find friends and neighbors at the Heber City Park for live music, vendors and food.

Boots, Chaps And Cowboy Hats:
The Wasatch County Fair, Demolition Derby, and Rodeo are some of the biggest events in the valley each August. No cowboy hat required.

Swiss Tacos Anyone?
Midway’s Swiss Heritage is celebrated each Labor Day weekend with Swiss Days. Pageants, craft booths, food, live music and a parade.

Sheepdogs:
K-9 athletes and competitors flock to the valley each Labor Day weekend for the Soldier Hollow Classic Sheepdog Competition.

Salmon Run:
Did you know that we have Kokanee salmon in our local Strawberry Reservoir? In the fall, you can see them spawning right next to the board walk at the north end.

Cascade Springs:
Take the short drive up to a natural spring. There is a beautiful hiking path, boardwalk and tons of photo ops!

Wagon Or Sleigh Ride:
Haunted wagons and horse-drawn sleighs are so much fun with the whole family.

Service-Minded Things To Do

Yard Cleanup:
Help out a neighbor in need. Rake their leaves, mow their lawn, shovel their snow. You never know how much it may matter to them.

Take Out The Trash:
A full trash bin can be extremely heavy for an injured or elderly neighbor to move. Lend a hand and take it out to the curb and/or back in from the street.

Share Your Love For Nature:
Invite a friend or neighbor to go for a walk along the river and breathe in a little fresh air and perspective.

Donate:
Some of our incredible opportunities include: Sub 4 Santa, Shop With A Cop (Christmas).

Food Drive:
Hold a food drive and donate to the local food pantry to help fight hunger in our community.

Read To A Child:
Open their world to new possibilities through literature.

Get Involved:
There are plenty of good causes to affiliate with in the valley. Choose one!

Perform:
Play an instrument or read for the elderly in our local rest homes or care facilities and scatter a bit of sunshine.

Write A Thank You:
Heartfelt thank you cards, written to local service providers can bring joy in an otherwise stressful day.

Foster Or Adopt:
Our local shelter, Paws for Life is a no-kill shelter and is always looking to find fur-ever homes or temporary homes for their animals.

Babysit:
Volunteer to babysit for a young couple so they can get out on a much-needed date night.

Relief Supply Drive:
Gather and donate materials for a Native American community. (Lynn Epperson: 435-671-5839).

Beautify:
You don’t need to adopt a highway to clean up trash along a road or street. See something? Take action.

Climb:
Hike Memorial Hill and pay respect to those who sacrificed in service of our country.

Give Blood:
Sign up with the American Red Cross and donate at a local blood drive.

With A Friend Or A Date

Moonlight Snowshoeing:
There are organized hikes throughout the winter. Check out Friends of Wasatch State Park for a schedule.

Romantic Train Rides:
Hop aboard one of Heber Valley Railroad’s finest cars and revel in the Chocolate Lover Train or Hot Summer Night Ride.

Staycation:
You don’t have to go far to feel like a tourist. Spend a night at one of our local resorts, get room service and sleep in.

Horseback Riding:
Local outfitters offer riding opportunities year-round. Saddle up and take to the trails.

Treasure Hunting:
Rise early and scour yard sales and thrift shops for treasures.

Visit The Library:
Discover a great novel, movie, or a magazine, get hot chocolate on the way home and cozy up in your favorite blanket.

Break Out The Lederhosen:
Bottoms up at the annual Oktoberfest hosted by Heber Valley Brewing Company.

Paddle Into The Sunset:
Pick up a paddle board, canoe or rental boat and head to our local reservoirs for a day out on the water.

Namaste:
Perform sun salutations in the fragrance of sage brush hills with an early morning yoga trek.

Hot Air Balloon Ride:
Elevate your perspective and see Heber Valley from 4,000 feet. It’s amazing!

Plein Air Paradise:
Feast your eyes at the summer’s most beautiful event, hosted by the Midway Art Association with a painting contest, art exhibition, and sale.

Sunrise On Timp:
Set out early to summit Mt. Timpanogos and watch the sun come up over the grandeur of our little valley.

Adventure Junkie

Soldier Hollow Biathlon Experience:
Discover the thrill and challenge of firing a precision rifle on an Olympic-calibre range. Private group sessions are available, winter and summer.

Mountain Bike:
Spin your wheels on one of our year-round trails! Rentals and sales are available at local outfitters.

Fly Fishing:
The fish eat all year so the fishing’s on! Book a local guide to show you the sweet spots.

Tee Time:
With over 90 holes of golf in the valley, you have no excuse but to get out and hit a few balls.

Ski/Snowboard:
New to winter? Take a lesson and learn to enjoy one of Utah’s most popular winter sports.

Snowmobile:
Safety first! Learn how to get outside and enjoy winter in the Wasatch with one of our local guided tours.

ATV/RZR Rides:
Go for a drive on a back country dirt road to explore our local mountains.

Rock Climbing:
A dangerous sport in the outdoors, or you can keep it safe and visit our indoor climbing wall — The Crag.

Scuba Dive:
The only warm U.S. destination to dive is right here at the Homestead Crater. Learn to dive and get certified!

A River Runs Through It:
Provo River is a great place to raft. We recommend a local outfitter for safety’s sake.

Tubing:
Snow is a fast, slippery surface for rocketing down the hill. Visit Soldier Hollow for rope-towed access to the best slopes in the valley.

Ready? Aim. Fire!
Big Hollow Shooting Range is open to the public at no charge. They specialize in pistol and rifle range shooting.

Zipline:
Glide through the fresh air on Zipline Utah at Deer Creek State Park.
November 20, 2020
Avalanche
Avalanche, it’s a sleeping giant in the snow, waiting below the surface like a troll under the bridge. Be on top of your game this winter. Avoid avalanche danger at all costs, and be prepared.

You need to be “street smart” and “snow smart” in the backcountry. Tyler St Jeor, professional Ski Patrolman and current patroller with Wasatch County Search and Rescue filled me in on the conditions that lead to avalanches. What happens is this; the snowpack gets grumpy with rapid temperature change. Strong winds can also move tremendous amounts of snow, stripping it from windward slopes and depositing it on the mountain’s leeward side, forming dense, stiff slabs of snow. Imagine a precarious stack of folded laundry or a house of cards. The wrong shift of weight or misplaced addition, and it all comes toppling down!

Some of the most likely days for avalanches to occur are those following heavy snowstorms. The snow needs time “to become comfortable in its own skin.” St Jeor understands waiting can be challenging. “As an individual who enjoys snowmobiling, I realize how tempting those beautiful days following the big storms are. The air is crystal clear, and the snow looks amazing. However, consider the new weight load the snowpack is trying to adjust to. Be smart and give it a little time.”

Early season snow or infrequent storms also lead to potentially unstable layering; as thin snowpacks tend to be structurally weak, the snow turns into a pile of sugary crystals, or what avalanche experts call facets. The slope angle defines avalanche terrain. Slopes 30°- 45° are considered avalanche territory. As the slope increases, so does the danger. The gravitational force increases with the slope (Weed, T. (n.d.) Steepness. Utah Avalanche Center. utahavalanchecenter.org/blog/16386). Don’t forget, the area below these slopes is not always safe either; they may be connected to other dangerous slopes above or adjacent to where you’re riding. Having the ability to identify avalanche terrain and the knowledge to travel through that terrain safely becomes imperative to survival in the backcountry, even on a “low danger” day. There is always danger in certain areas. Avoiding those areas entirely on high hazard days becomes the best practice for survival and safety.

How can you learn to identify avalanche terrain? The best and most responsible level of instruction is hands-on, intensive training held right on the mountain. The most responsible thing to do is to spend time with a professional on-site. To find local offerings check the utahavalanchecenter.org.

Craig Gordon has been a forecaster with the Utah Avalanche Center for 20 years. He explains, “Avalanche accidents don’t happen randomly; it’s not like getting struck by lightning. There’s a great deal of science involved . . . before loading up your gear, check-in with the Utah Avalanche Center and get the latest forecast. Remember — avalanches are incredibly violent events, and nearly 1 in 4 people are killed by trauma — getting slammed into trees or carried over cliff bands. Even if you’re prepared, if you trigger a slide and need to use your rescue gear, it means you screwed up. If you’re caught and buried, you can’t just pop out of the snow because avalanche debris sets up like concrete in just a second or two; you can’t even wiggle your fingers. That means you’ve got to have all the rescue gear, and you have to know how to use it. It’s the only chance to find your partner under the snow.” Gordon continued with, “Let’s face it, even the best rescues have sad endings. So your best offense is a good defense; simply avoid getting caught in the first place. Your local avalanche forecast gives you all the tools you need to safely navigate the mountains and get a great day of riding in. But avalanche avoidance — that’s the big-ticket item.” Before heading to the backcountry, always ask yourself this question; what is today’s avalanche forecast in my area? And discover the answer first before going out on your winter excursion.

Take someone with you! Four is a good, reliable number. If the group gets too big, risks increase, and communication becomes difficult. Buried alone, you won’t stand a chance. Be smart and take a partner or two that are trained. Remember, in the event you end up on the bottom of the pile, you’re entrusting your life to your buddies. Choose wisely.

Absolute MUST HAVES:
- Shovel
- Avalanche Transceiver
- Probe
It is IMPERATIVE that you wear these items ON YOUR BODY. The avalanche transceiver must be worn under your coat, close to your chest. The shovel and probe should be in a sturdy backpack. Too often, snowmobilers will store their gear in their tunnel compartment. During the event of an avalanche, they may become separated from their sled. At that point, the tools are of no use.

Avalanche Transceiver: A transceiver, also referred to as a beacon, is a device worn on each person in a party that continuously emits a radio signal. If an individual becomes a searcher, they switch their transceiver to the receiving setting. This action stops their transceiver from emitting a signal, and it now becomes a receiver for radio signals of victims in the vicinity. Transceivers should be checked for functionality, both as receivers and emitters, before every ride. Be sure to change out your transceiver’s batteries once they reach 50%. The transceiver’s search function drains batteries fast. Lithium batteries are an absolute NO GO! Only alkaline batteries should be used. Extra batteries should be part of your avalanche essentials included for every ride.

Shovel: This is an essential tool with multiple options. Consider the style of your shovel as you invest. It should always be metal. St Jeor is emphatic that plastic isn’t allowed on the hill with his Search and Rescue crew. They break. It’s like trying to dig yourself out of jail with a plastic spoon! Shovels must fit entirely in your pack. If it is not a good fit, you risk losing it during your ride; especially in case of an avalanche, this life-saving tool could be torn from your pack (Delatado, N. (2020, January 13). The Best Avalanche Shovels for Portable Use. Retrieved October 09, 2020, from backyardboss.net/best-avalanche-shovel-reviews). You may feel that a shovel is too cumbersome and heavy to haul with you. However, the weight range is generally between 1-2 pounds, not a considerable burden at all when the cost of saving a life is in the balance (evo (n.d.). How to Choose an Avalanche Shovel. Retrieved October 10, 2020, fromevo.com/guides/how-to-choose-avalanche-shovel).

Probe: This is the tool that determines the exact location of an avalanche victim. According to the Utah Avalanche Center, the most popular length is 279 cm long. This also happens to be the minimum length of probe you should ever invest in. Probes come in various lengths and are either aluminum or carbon. Remember, speed is the most critical factor. Be sure you can use your probe effectively (evo. (n.d.). How to Choose an Avalanche Probe. Retrieved October 16, 2020, from evo.com/guides/how-to-choose-avalanche-probe).

Good to HAVES:
- Air Bag
- Personal Locator
- 2-Way Radio
- Basic First Aid Kit
- Food
- Water
Wear appropriate outdoor winter clothing! Shovels, probes, and beacons may save you if you’re buried, but they won’t protect you from the elements of the winter climate. The cold is real. The cold and wet may be unrelenting, and hypothermia can become your next problem, avalanche or not.

Airbag: This handy device has a ripcord attached to a pack. If you hear that unmistakable rumble, the airbag can be deployed. Large airbags help bodies stay near the top of the rubble. St. Jeor compares it to being a “big chip in the bag.” Just as the big potato chips stay close to the surface of your chip bag, you stand a better chance of rising to the top of the debris and chunks of snow when attached to a deployed airbag.

Personal Locator: Personal locators have direct locator technology and are a much faster and more reliable way of signaling for help than making a phone call. Pushing the SOS button sends an exact geo-tagged location directly to local search personnel.

2-Way Radio: Good old walkie-talkies may be the best way to communicate with your party. Communication is paramount when working together in locating and accounting for your crew.

Basic First Aid Kit: Knowledge of basic first aid skills and a simple set of first aid tools come in handy in countless situations. Materials for splinting are important must-haves as breaks and fractures are common. The top medical needs to address in avalanche rescues are airways and bleeding.

Food and Water: Calorie boosting foods and water are always vital to have on hand when traveling or participating in outdoor recreational activities. Remember, once victims are secured, keeping them in the best condition possible for retrieval and travel is essential. This includes being well nourished and having sources of hydration.

If you hear that distinct whoomph and the earth feels like it’s falling away from you — you’ll only have a nanosecond to do some quick thinking. Instantly, you are at the mercy of Mother Nature. Ideally, you have a game plan playing in your head before you even step foot on the slopes. Trees can be your best friend or worst enemy, depending on the stage of the game you encounter them. If you’re lucky enough to be next to a tree, immediately grab a hold. It is very likely to secure you through the slide and save your life. However, if you are moving with the avalanche and come in contact with a tree at the force of the slide, that tree is likely to be your demise. Experienced riders may be able to “ride it out” or make it to the side, out of the avalanche’s path. St Jeor says to deploy your airbag at once and do everything in your power to stay on top. “Fight like hell, swim, keep your head on top of the snow.”

Here are the facts:

In the event you’re lucky enough to escape the destruction yourself, you should know that right away, a clock begins to tick. In most cases, without an air pocket, you have about 10 minutes of survival time to save individuals buried.
1. One person take charge.
2. Get a headcount. How many searchers and how many victims do you have.
3. It now becomes a “resource management game.”
Searchers MUST switch their transceivers to search mode. Otherwise, their signal emission will interfere with the search, and they cannot receive a signal for the victims.

Use your personal locator now! DO NOT go call for help. The ugly truth is that unless rescuers are on the mountain with you, they will not make it in time to retrieve a live body. You are the rescuer! Search and Rescue can help get you off the mountain once you have located and unburied the victims. They will not be there in the crucial 10 minutes you have to find survivors.

Quickly scan the area for visual clues. You may see a glove, a ski, a sled. Check to see if any of the items are still connected to a person. If the person is not with the item, leave it where it is to document the scene. Keep searchers paraphernalia from cluttering the search area. Items not belonging to the victim can confuse the hunt.

Be aware that avalanches flow like water. Follow the “flow line” after the last seen point to find your victim. Immediately begin a beacon search to pinpoint your person. If the area to search is small, have others in the search party ready probes and shovels. If you have a vast area to cover, get several transceivers in a pattern to search simultaneously. Systematic searches where muscle memory can kick in and searchers are familiar with their gear are far more successful than unpracticed searches, which is why it is imperative to have training and practice. Practice keeps you prepared. Practice saves lives.

Once the beacons do their job, it’s time for probes. Begin probing until you have a strike. When you have a strike, LEAVE THE PROBE IN and get shoveling. Shoveling is the most time-consuming step. Once your buddy’s out, if they are unconscious, the first thing you need to check is that you are in a safe location, preferably out of the snow, then check their airway. If they are wearing a helmet, get it off, and clear their mouth of any snow packed in by the force of the slide. Breathing and bleeding are going to be your top priorities to address — in that order. CPR is a back-pocket skill you may need. At this point, it is time to make that phone call, if you didn’t already push a button on a personal locator. Remember, your friend will probably be in shock and need to be kept as warm and dry as possible.

Be on top of your game this winter and remember: Prevention is paramount. Get trained. Get supplied. Get a plan. Then, get out there and have fun!
November 20, 2020
Taste The World At Global Grill

In a time when people are traveling less, the Heber Valley has a new little gem providing a huge variety of worldwide flavors. Global Grill is just that — a global food experience unmatched in the area. Their slogan “Come Taste the World” says it all.

The unique menu is listed by the type of food, but also by origin. Patrons can order a bowl from Japan, India, Indonesia, or Cuba. Pasta dishes are available from Italy, Argentina, Thailand, and Mexico. Burritos are listed from four different areas of Mexico: Cancun, Zacatecas, Michoacán, and Sonora. Burgers celebrate ingredients from Korea, America, Mexico, and Persia. And there is a variety of multicultural kids’ meals and desserts too. There are even daily specials to add a little more flavor, from Polynesia, Greece, and the Gulf Coast!

Owners, Rick and Elizabeth Moreno created the concept, and the menu, specifically for the Heber Valley. They looked at what was already available in the area, and they decided to create something entirely different. “I created the menu this way because I can see people two to three times a week,” explained Rick Moreno. “Today, you may want an authentic Mexican burrito, but tomorrow you may want Indian food.” The same idea applies to an office lunch setting. “They come in, and they can get a burger, and they can get pasta, and everyone’s happy,” said Moreno.

The Moreno’s are well-versed in the restaurant business. “I’m a chef,” said Rick. “My background is in restaurant executive management. My family has had restaurants since 1951 back in California.” Moreno also worked for large companies, such as Hilton Corporation, to gain even more experience. He also created restaurants, menus, and bars for casinos in Montana before moving here.

Elizabeth has been working in restaurants since 1999. She was a sous-chef at the former Mayan restaurant in Sandy. In fact, that’s where they met. Rick was creating recipes and consulting for the massive, cliff-diver restaurant.

“[The Mayan] could seat a thousand people, and had three levels of kitchens,” Rick recalled.

One night, Elizabeth was the kitchen supervisor over multiple cook lines. The restaurant was so big that they had eight cooks for each line, so 24 cooks total. The servers were complaining that the food service was getting slow. Finally, Elizabeth went to the cook line, moved all the cooks out, and started preparing the food by herself. Rick shared, “The servers were saying, ‘tell her to slow down. We can’t keep up with her!’”

“They needed their food right away, so that was my mission,” laughed Elizabeth. Originally from Sonora, Mexico, Elizabeth learned from Rick’s mother, who ran a restaurant in California, and shared her recipes with Elizabeth. She has also worked for Chevy’s and Café Rio.

The couple lived in Utah during the 2002 Olympics, and during that time, Rick created the restaurant Guru’s Cafe with two partners in Salt Lake. They eventually had four locations. His original recipes were used at the restaurants. The Food Network even did a show on Guru’s, where they showcased one of Rick’s recipes.

Recently, the Moreno Family was living in Montana until they unexpectedly relocated to the Heber Valley last year. They had planned to move to Texas, moved their RV there, and then went back to Montana to pack. The couple’s older daughter was already living in the Heber Valley, and they decided to stop for a visit on the drive back to Texas. While visiting here, the Moreno’s found their current restaurant location and decided to stay. They created the Global Grill, opened in December 2019, and then the COVID pandemic hit. While it has slowed down the business, Global Grill is going strong. The food is full of variety and flavor, and the portion sizes are huge. Rick explained, “I did [large portion sizes] purposely because I wanted to make sure that, everyone’s getting the value for their money. And most people take part of it home.”

He continued, “We also have family meals. People can call us every day and ask for an Indian family meal, burrito, or whatever. We have two sizes; small is for four to six people, and large will feed ten to twelve.”

“Just like our portions for our bowls,” Rick said, “We made sure that our family meals are huge.” Value for the money is a priority for the Morenos. “I hate to go somewhere and get a little disappointed with the food portions.”

It’s not only the portion sizes that keep bringing people back. The food is all made fresh, in-house. And many of the recipes can be modified for those with dietary concerns. 90% of the menu can be served gluten-free, and 50% can be made vegan. They will also have alcohol available soon.

The food variety found at the Global Grill is unmatched. “Besides our core menu, we feature other countries as specials,” Rick explained. “We do Russia one day, and we do stroganoff, and then we do Swedish meatballs. On Saturdays, we do Polynesian. Every Tuesday is Taco Salad, and Thursdays is the Greek Gyro Platter…Fridays is the Captain’s Platter.” said Rick.

In addition to the meals, the Global Grill has two core desserts; tiramisu and tres leches cake. However, they also have other desserts available, such as chocolate tres leches, cheesecake, carrot cake, and tropical bread pudding. “The main ones are always tres leches and tiramisu, but I change sometimes,” explains Elizabeth. One day, Rick suggested that Elizabeth offer to make whole cakes, and “now she makes so many of those cakes!” said Rick. “It’s like a bakery too!”

The Global Grill also does catering, but not just this menu. “Because of my background in large casinos, I can do anything. Literally, we can do carving stations or whatever. We can do any country and anything that they want,” Rick explained. “I’ve catered from 15 people to 1000 people.”

The Global Grill fills a niche that the Heber Valley has been missing. And the Morenos are confident that the concept would be a success in other places too. They are preparing to create additional locations for the unique restaurant. Rick shared, “Right now, we’re ready to license them. If someone wanted to do one in Park City, or somewhere else, they could.”

“We’re still trying to do that uphill climb because of COVID, but we see the light at the end of the tunnel,” said Rick. “We are very thankful for the support they’ve given us here in Heber. Everyone’s responded really well to the food, and the locals here have been good to us. They keep coming in and supporting us, and we want to say thank you. We appreciate that. Especially being the new guys.”
November 20, 2020
Holiday Traditions

The crisp fall air brushes against our mountains, painting them with vivid oranges, yellows, and reds. Cornstalks rustle, and the nutty smell of squash, burning ditches, and cinnamon awaken our senses. Autumn arrives, ushering in anticipation for the Holidays — and the foods that come with them.

Food sustains life and nourishes our bodies, but food also sustains cultures and nourishes our identities. Food is generally at the center of all we do. Foods are symbolic in our religious rituals and associated with specific celebrations. Our food preparation can be sacred, an exact science, a lesson in chemistry, or just some good ole’ fashioned fun — with a pinch here and a dash there! Creating delicious dishes binds friends and families together — or, if you’re on a cooking show, it can turn into a hellish-battle!

Conversations, stories, history, and heritage are shared — traditions are passed down, and new ones are created — all while we gather around food.

As we prepare to enter the Holiday chaos, it might be fun to learn a bit about the foods used in celebrations around the world. We invite you to sit back, relax, read for a moment — or two — then take a deep breath, exhale, and prepare to dive into whatever your Winter season looks like (don’t forget to pack a snack).

While some people carve pumpkins for their October 31 celebrations, residents of Oaxaca, Mexico, are preparing to celebrate Noche de Rabanos (Night of the Radishes). This tradition takes place on December 23 and has been practiced for over a century. Large radishes (upwards of six pounds) are grown and harvested specifically for the event. The radish artists can spend days creating and carving their masterpieces, many of which display nativity scenes, animals, or Mayan imagery. The best radish carver can receive a cash prize worth thousands of pesos (hundreds of USD).(https://www.wvpublic.org/news/2018-12-20/holiday-food-traditions-are-as-much-about-connection-as-eatin)

The week-long celebration of Kwanzaa (December 26-January 1) is full of dancing, singing, gift exchanging, and culminates in a large feast. Catfish, collards, macaroni and cheese, jerk chicken, gumbo, and accras (Caribbean fritters), have become traditional foods used during the festivities. (https://www.africa.upenn.edu/K-12/Kwanzaa_What_16661.html)

The Feast of the Seven Fishes is a Southern Italian tradition celebrated on December 24. Whether you’re celebrating in North America or Italy, you won’t find seven specific types of fish being served. Think of it more as a seafood celebration. Typical fish used include: baccala (salt cod), frutti di mare (shellfish), capitone (eel), calamari (squid), scungilli (conch meat) and vongole (clams). Fried vegetables are also a popular accompaniment to the fish. Traditionally, the feast takes place in the morning’s early hours, after midnight mass. “Then it’s time for dessert, which may include biscotti, panforte, pandoro, and panettone.” (https://www.italiarail.com/food/feast-of-the-seven-fishes)

Worldwide, it is Jewish tradition to eat matzah on Passover, and apples dipped in honey on Rosh Hashanah. During Chanukah (Hanukkah), eating traditional oily foods such as latkes (fried potato pancakes) topped with applesauce or sour cream, and sufganiyot (deep-fried doughnuts) or other kinds of fritters, is in homage to the miracle of the oil that burned for eight nights instead of one. (https://www.chabad.org/holidays)

Midnight snacking takes on a whole new meaning if you are celebrating New Year’s Eve in Spain. Apparently, eating one dozen grapes at midnight isn’t just a tradition — it’s a serious superstition. On Noche Vieja (Old Night), it is customary to stay at home until the clock strikes twelve. Families and friends gather around their bowl of lucky grapes (uvas de suerte) and wait to hear the chimes ringing from the Real Casa de Correos in Madrid (broadcasted via television across the country). The bells toll twelve times — one for each month. With each chime, you ‘pop’ a grape into your mouth — and probably try not to choke — or laugh. If you eat them all, you will have good luck in the new year. (https://www.donquijote.org/spanish-culture/holidays/nochevieja/)

This next dish sounds delish! Lechón (Spanish for roasted suckling pig) is one of the most popular dishes in the Philippines and many Latin American countries. The pig is usually stuffed with lemongrass, tamarind, garlic, onions, and chives; it is roasted on a large bamboo spit over an open fire. Lechón is traditionally served whole on a platter at celebrations like weddings and Christmas. It is often served with a thick, rich liver sauce cooked with sugar, fresh herbs, and vinegar. (https://www.tasteatlas.com/lechon) I don’t know about you, but all this talk of food is making me hungry!

If you need to stop reading and make a food run — go for it — I get it! There are a few more unique victuals to share, but then I think we should go to work on creating our own traditional cuisine and get some food in our bellies!

Onward — we go!

In many European countries, you will see processions of girls dressed in a white dress with a red sash, wearing a wreath with candles upon their heads, singing, and carrying Saffron Buns in celebration of St. Lucia on December 13. In Greece, many fast before the holidays, and when Christmas arrives — they go all out — after they break their fast. One of the more popular traditional foods served is Melomakarona, a sweet, honey-soaked cookie topped with ground walnuts. Of course, there’s always the traditional Plum or Figgy Pudding from the UK, Danish Kransekake or Almond Wreath Cake, and all the marzipan, chocolate, red cabbage, and roasted goose from Germany. In Australia, Christmas and New Years are smack dab in the middle of Summer! They celebrate by throwing whatever they feel like on the barbie (grill for the rest of us mates) and enjoying seafood, cold cuts, alcohol, pavlova, and trifle, just to name a few, along with a challenging game of cricket. Here’s an interesting tidbit. According to BBC, for 40 plus years, many Japanese families have gathered around a KFC ‘Party Barell’ for some finger-licking-good chicken as part of their Christmas celebrations — bet you didn’t see that one coming.

Food is an extension of who we are. Regardless of culture or religion, food is an integral part of life celebrations across this beautiful globe we call home. Food unites. Where ever you are in the world, and whatever you celebrate or don’t celebrate, whether you’re honoring a generations-old tradition or creating new ones; this winter season, we invite you to come, gather — eat and enjoy!

Gather your kids, friends, and family to discover different cultures and the food they eat. Try out a few new recipes, and prepare them together. Participate in a festivity you’ve never celebrated before. Eat new foods. Share and create a new tradition!
November 20, 2020
Wasatch High to Allow Fall Sports

Sports fans will be pleased to know that Wasatch High School is planning to have cross-country, golf, soccer, tennis, volleyball, and even football this Fall. Some accommodations will be made to allow the sports to go forward.

Ryan Bishop, Assistant Principal, said that a baseball program was held this summer with 30-35 participants. Protocols included extra sanitizing and cleaning, among other things, and there were no issues with Covid. The football team has also been holding drills and practices with very limited issues. Recently, the Utah High School Activities Association released a “Best Practices” document detailing adaptations to allow fall sports to go forward.

“If everyone will participate and help with masks and social distancing, that will help keep this going so we don’t see what happened last [time] when everything was shut down,” said School Board President Blaik Baird. “Let’s follow the guidelines in August, so we can continue to play,” said Bishop.

All sports will have new signs to inform the public about game protocol. For players and coaches on the sidelines, masks will be highly recommended. Fans will be encouraged to wear masks when unable to social distance. There will be no hand shaking before or after games. Also, players must not be sick when engaging in practices or games. Additionally, each sport will have specific guidelines to increase safety.

Cross Country will create spaces to avoid congregating at the finish line, use fully automatic times when possible, spread out courses, and use mountain or park courses. Golf will limit matches, courses, and people. Soccer and volleyball will encourage observers to socially distance and wear masks, and Tennis will limit region matches. Many other accommodations will also be made.

Because of the probable large crowds, football will use a digital ticketing system. This will allow for contact tracing, if necessary. Face coverings will also be encouraged. “If we want to stay open, the key is wearing our masks. . . . [Otherwise], we would have the rest of football games with no spectators,” suggested Superintendent Paul Sweat.

According to Bishop, “We want our kids to be able to participate. We’ll follow any guideline we can. We’ll sanitize, we’ll come early, we’ll stay late, we’ll do whatever we can to keep them healthy, so that our kids can participate at the high school level. . . . That’s our goal.”

To see the full document from the Utah High School Activities Association, click here:

https://uhsaa.org/news/uploads/UHSAA%20Return%20to%20Play%20Document.pdf

July 28, 2020

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