Fall 2026

FALL 2026

COVER STORY

Lower Family Foods: Five Generations, One Family Legacy

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Little Lambs Teen Ambassadors Make a Difference

Building Your Child's Emotional Toolkit

Raising Happy Kids: Simple Habits Make a Big Difference

Thank You, CACHE VALLEY! VOTED BEST AUTO CARE 2026 BEST OF CACHE VALLEY

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Songbird Children’s Choir

BIG NEWS! We’re excited to introduce Melody Francis, our new Songbird Director. Melody is a Utah State University graduate and certified public school teacher. She sings with the Tabernacle Choir, and is trained in the Kodály and Orff methods for young singers. She brings many years of children’s choir experience and a strong passion for teaching.

Starts September 2nd

Ages 6–12

all skill levels welcome, no experience needed

Wednesdays at 4pm

Logan Music Academy Recital Hall 3002 N Main in North Logan

Call 435-265-6691

loganmusicacademy@gmail.com

4 | Fall 2026

2026 Best of Cache Valley Winners BEST BREAKFAST

HERM'S INN BEST LUNCH

MORTY'S CAFE BEST DINNER

BEEHIVE GRILL BEST BURGER

MORTY'S CAFE BEST FAST FOOD

BEST MEDICAL SPA

YOUNG SKIN CARE BEST FAMILY DOCTOR

CANYON MEDICAL BEST DENTIST

LOGAN PEAK DENTAL BEST PEDIATRIC DENTIST

CACHE VALLEY PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY BEST ORTHODONTIST

BEST PLUMBER

LEE'S PLUMBING BEST ELECTRICIAN

KENDRICK ELECTRIC BEST ROOFER

PACE QUALITY ROOFING BEST GARDEN CENTER/NURSERY

ANDERSON'S SEED & GARDEN

CHICK-FIL-A

THOMSON FAMILY ORTHODONTICS

BEST PIZZA

FIREHOUSE PIZZERIA

BEST OBSTETRICIAN

NATHAN BERTOLDO, MD, MPH

ELEVATE PEST CONTROL

BEST ETHNIC FOOD

BEST EYE DOCTOR

DISCOUNT TIRE

TANDOORI OVEN BEST DESSERT

DAVID SMITH, O.D., SOUTH VALLEY EYECARE

BEST COOKIE

BODY BALANCE CHIROPRACTIC

FIREHOUSE PIZZERIA CRUMBL

BEST COFFEE SHOP

WESTSIDE COFFEE COMPANY

BEST CHIROPRACTOR

BEST MEDICAL CLINIC

HEALTH WEST BEST PHARMACY

BEST BAKERY

REED'S PHARMACY

BEST ICE CREAM

ANNIVERSARY INN

LE CROISSANT AGGIE ICE CREAM BEST FOOD TRUCK

POLLO AZTECA

BEST HOTEL

BEST BANK OR CREDIT UNION

AMERICA FIRST CREDIT UNION BEST LIVE ENTERTAINMENT

BEST PEST CONTROL

BEST AUTO CARE

BEST CAR WASH

JUDGE'S CAR WASH BEST CAR SALES

WILSON MOTOR BEST CHILDREN'S PHOTOGRAPHER

KYLEE ANN STUDIOS

BEST FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHER

HEATHER PALMER PHOTOGRAPHY BEST WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER

KYLEE ANN STUDIOS BEST VIDEOGRAPHER

BEST SODA SHOP

FOUR SEASONS THEATRE COMPANY

MIKE JOHNSON PHOTO + FILM

BEST FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT

FOUR SEASONS THEATRE COMPANY

BEST LITTLE KID ENTERTAINMENT

BEST SALON/SPA

WHIPS

K SALON

BEST NAIL SALON

POLISHED BY KIAH

BEST DATE NIGHT VENUE

UTAH THEATRE BEST MUSEUM

BEST TANNING SALON

NORA ECCLES HARRISON MUSEUM OF ART

BEST BARBERSHOP

CACHE THEATRE COMPANY

SILVER LINING SALON BONEYARD BARBERING BEST HEALTH AND FITNESS CENTER

SPORTS ACADEMY

BEST GYMNASTICS/TUMBLING

HIGHTPOINT TUMBLING & GYMNASTICS BEST DANCE STUDIO

TUELLERS SCHOOL OF DANCE BEST FLORIST

PLANT PEDDLER FLORAL BEST EVENT VENUE

LOGAN DEPOT BEST CATERER

OFF PREMISE CATERING BEST MORTUARY

ALLEN MORTUARIES BEST EMPLOYER

LEE'S MARKETPLACE BEST GROCERY STORE

LEE'S MARKETPLACE BEST PEDIATRICIAN

PRIMARY CARE PEDIATRICS BEST DERMATOLOGIST

ROCKY MOUNTAIN DERMATOLOGY

CACHE VALLEY FUN PARK BEST BIG KID ENTERTAINMENT

THE RUSH FUNPLEX

BEST BIRTHDAY PART Y VENUE

BEST SUMMER CAMP

CACHE VALLEY FUN PARK

BEST SPORTS CAMP

THE RUSH FUNPLEX

MANNY MARTIN SOCCER CAMP BEST MUSIC PROGRAM

LOGAN MUSIC ACADEMY BEST CHILDREN'S PL AY PL ACE

THE JUMP ZONE BEST PRESCHOOL

BEST RAINY DAY FUN

BEST APPAREL

ROOLEE

GIFT SHOP

LOCALS

BEST BOOKSTORE

LITTLE WONDERS LEARNING CENTER

THE BOOK TABLE

BEST CHILDCARE CENTER

BEST HOME DECOR

LITTLE WONDERS LEARNING CENTER BEST PET CARE

HERITAGE ANIMAL HOSPITAL BEST SPORTING GOODS STORE

AL'S SPORTING GOODS BEST REALTOR

KW UNITE

BEST HOME MORTGAGE

GUILD MORTGAGE

BEST INSURANCE AGENT/AGENCY

BULLOCK AGENCY BEST HOME BUILDER

OLO BUILDERS

BEST CARPET CLEANER

CHEM-DRY OF NORTHERN UTAH

LOCALS

BEST CHILDREN'S STORE

KID TO KID

BEST FURNITURE STORE

U&I FURNITURE

BEST ANNUAL EVENT

SUMMERFEST

BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE-DINING

ANGIE'S

BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE-RETAIL

LEE'S MARKETPLACE

BEST COUNSELING/MENTAL HEALTH PRACTICE

WHOLEKIDS EMOTIONAL WELLNESS

Congratulations to the 2026 Best of Cache Valley winners, and many thanks to our readers who participated in the voting process.

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Publisher & Editor in Chief

EMILY BUCKLEY Copy Editor

TARA BONE Cover Photography

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

KIERSTEN MUNK, COURTSEY OF LOWER FAMILY FOODS Layout Design

ELISE EGBERT, ELISE CREATES, LLC Contributing Writers

MARK ANDERSON LAUREN BERTOLDO

PAGE 22

IN EVERY ISSUE

Serving Beyond Themselves: Little Lambs Teen Ambassadors Make a Difference in Cache Valley ... pg 7 COVER STORY

Five Generations, One Family Legacy ... pg 24

HAYLEE BLADEN

EDUCATION UPDATE

BETH BLAKE

Cache County School District: The Benefits of Bike Busing ... pg 28

TARA BONE EMILY BUCKLEY

Logan City School District: Raising Happier Kids: A Few Simple Habits That Can Make a Big Difference ... pg 29

VALERIE DAINES SHANNON DEAN KIM JACKSON KATE NEELEY CARI PHILLIPS, MS

More Than Mom: Why Girls’ Trips Matter ... pg 10

FRANK SCHOFIELD MIKE WILSON

Cache Valley Family Magazine is a free, trusted resource designed to inform, serve, and enrich local parents and families throughout Cache Valley. Material in this publication is copyright 2026, Cache Valley Family Magazine. All rights reserved. Reproduction without permission of the publisher is prohibited. The views expressed in the magazine are the views of the writers and do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher.

Fall Beauty Reset: Simple Ways to Refresh Your Routine for the New Season ... pg 13 Building Your Child’s Emotional Toolkit ... pg 15

Prepared for the Moment You Hope Never Comes ... pg 22 FEATURED ARTICLES

Please send all editorial correspondence to info@cachevalleyfamilymagazine.com or by mail to PO Box 6831, North Logan, UT 84341. All correspondence is sent on a non-confidential basis and Cache Valley Family Magazine shall be free to reproduce, publish, edit and/or use any such communications. All materials become property of Cache Valley Family Magazine.

PHONE NUMBER

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MAILING ADDRESS

PO Box 6831 North Logan, UT 84341

Logan Cemetery — a Lively Dwelling Place for the Dead ... 35 The Miracle of Music: Why Children Who Make Music Thrive ... 39

30-Minute Fall Home Checklist ... 45

WEBSITE

cachevalleyfamilymagazine.com FACEBOOK

/cachevalleyfamilymagazine YOUTUBE

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@cachevalleyfamilymag TO ADVERTISE

A New Chapter for Lee’s Plumbing: More Ways to Serve Cache Valley ... pg 32

Your Guide to Fall Treats and Harvest Fun in Cache Valley ... 42

EMAIL

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call (435) 764-0962 or email ads@cachevalleyfamilymagazine.com

Two Traditions On One Halloween Stage ... 19

PAGE 24

PAGE 35

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MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Serving Beyond Themselves:

Little Lambs Teen Ambassadors Make a Difference in Cache Valley TARA BONE

contributing writer

Youth in Cache Valley are discovering that serving others can change more than the lives of those they help. Through the Little Lambs Foundation’s Teen Ambassador program, local teens are gaining confidence, perspective, and a deeper desire to make a difference in their communities. For Lily Condos, a senior at Sky View High School from Richmond, that experience began when she was 11 years old. When her school wasn’t holding its annual food drive during COVID, Lily decided to organize one herself, collecting donations out of her family’s home. She donated everything she gathered to Little Lambs and that’s how she first learned about the ambassador program. Now, six years later, Lily says her ongoing involvement as a Little Lambs Teen Ambassador has changed the way she sees the world. “I’ve really loved serving; it’s definitely given me a lot of perspective,” she said.

“It’s made me more empathetic as a person and has given me a drive to help in situations wherever I can.” Little Lambs began by helping children entering foster care. Founders Ted and Stephanie Chalfant started by providing Comfort Kits, consisting of backpacks filled with items such as blankets, stuffed animals, and books for children who had to leave their homes without personal belongings. The organization has since grown into Utah’s only direct-service diaper bank, providing diapers, wipes, hygiene products, clothing, Comfort Kits, and other essentials to families throughout the state. In 2025, Little Lambs distributed more than 2 million diapers and served more than 725 families each month. The Little Lambs Teen Ambassador program started when Shauna Thorpe, the program’s founder and adviser, was seeking an opportunity for her youngest son to serve. She began involving her

son and his friends in service projects through Little Lambs and realized there was an opportunity to create something more. That first year there were 12 teens involved and since Shauna estimates approximately 60 teens have served over the years. Today there are 28 teens serving, ranging in ages 12 to 18. Shauna says the program is designed not only to help Little Lambs but to empower young people. “Little Lambs is providing opportunities for these kids and it’s empowering them to want to serve and give back in their community,” she said. Shauna has watched that empowerment build confidence in teens who initially struggled to speak with adults. She recalls instances when ambassadors who started as shy and scared grew into confident 17 years old who weren’t afraid to advocate for other youth in need. ...continued on next page

Shauna Thorpe leads Little Lambs Teen Ambassadors in serving children and families in the community.

8 | Fall 2026

to go out of my comfort zone and talk to people.” Lily said the experience also showed her how willing people are to help. An encounter during another donation drive has stayed with her. She recalls how a mother initially told her she couldn’t afford to donate but later returned with a handful of quarters.

Teen Ambassadors at the annual Little Lambs Foster Family Christmas Party

continued from previous page... Lily experienced a similar transformation. One of her first projects involved standing outside Walmart, handing out flyers and asking shoppers to donate school supplies. The response was overwhelming.

“She handed them to me and she said, ‘I’m so sorry. This is all I can afford right now. I’m about to go through rehab and I don’t know when I’m going to be able to see my daughter next, but I want to help this cause any way that I can,’” Lily said. The moment taught her a life lesson.

DINE IN.

TAKE OUT.

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“Someone who had so little and was facing so much adversity, was still willing to give everything they had,” she said. “That’s always stuck with me, if she can be brave and can be kind and generous in such a rough patch of her “We filled my mom’s entire car, with the life, then why can’t I, when I’m feeling seats down and floor to ceiling full of donations,” Lily said. “I was a pretty shy good or when I’m feeling down?” That perspective has influenced what kid, and I think that’s another way that this has impacted me is, it’s forced me Lily wants to do after high school. She

plans to attend Utah State University and hopes to participate in AmeriCorps VISTA, where she can work for a nonprofit while attending college. For Lily, the biggest reward of serving is knowing that small actions can have a lasting effect.

“...it's so cool to be a part of something bigger than yourself.” “The biggest benefit is the sense of internal satisfaction, knowing that I’m helping as many people as I can,” she said. “Even donating one pack of diapers can impact so many people’s lives and it really is all those little, small acts that add up to make something so much bigger and it’s so cool to be a part of something bigger than yourself.” Teens interested in becoming Little Lambs Teen Ambassadors can contact Shauna Thorpe at shaunathorpe22@gmail.com or apply at littlelambsofutah.org/get-involved.

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10 | Fall 2026

More Than Mom:

Why Girls’ Trips Matter LAUREN BERTOLDO

contributing writer

For busy moms, the idea of taking time for a girls’ weekend getaway can feel almost impossible. There are kids to get to practices, meals to plan, laundry to fold, work responsibilities to manage, and a never-ending to-do list. But sometimes, the most important thing we can do for ourselves, and our families, is step away for a little while. A girls’ weekend isn’t selfish. It’s an opportunity to reconnect with the women who know you best, laugh until your stomach hurts, have conversations that don’t involve homework or schedules, and remember that you are more than just “Mom.”

else that friendships get pushed to the bottom of the list. A weekend away gives you the chance to slow down and have a conversation that lasts longer than five minutes before soccer practice. You won’t necessarily catch up on sleep, but you will come home with a few new memories, a lot of laughter, and, hopefully, a reminder of who you were before your calendar became filled with everyone else’s activities.

WHY GIRLS’ TRIPS MATTER

There’s something special about traveling with girlfriends. You can dress up for dinner, stay up too late talking, explore a new place, sit by the pool for hours, or simply spend an entire morning doing absolutely nothing.

Motherhood is incredibly rewarding, but it can also be exhausting. It’s easy to spend so much time caring for everyone

HOW TO ACTUALLY MAKE IT HAPPEN

The hardest part of a girls’ weekend is often getting it on the calendar. If you wait until everyone is “less busy,” you will never go. 1. Put the date on the calendar first. Choose a weekend several months ahead, or even a year in advance, and commit to it! Once it’s on the calendar, everyone can plan around it. Just having a date to look forward to can help immensely when you are in the trenches of motherhood. 2. Keep it simple. A girls’ trip doesn’t have to be an international vacation. A nearby hotel, a cabin a few hours away, or even a one-night stay can be enough. The goal is time together. It doesn’t need to be a bucket-list destination. 3. Choose the right group. You don’t need 10 people. Sometimes two or three close friends make the perfect trip. Choose women you can laugh with, relax around, and be completely yourself with. 4. Divide the planning. One person doesn’t need to carry the entire trip. Let one friend find the hotel, another plan dinner, another research activities, and someone else book transportation. Planning together can be part of the fun. 5. Leave room for nothing. Resist the urge to plan every minute of the trip. Some of the best memories happen sitting around the hotel room in pajamas, talking until midnight, or wandering around a new town without a plan.

Lauren and friends on a recent girls trip to Texas.

6. Make it affordable. Money shouldn’t be the reason you never get together. Set a budget everyone is comfortable with. A memorable girls’ weekend can be created without spending a fortune.

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Splitting the hotel room or rental car between friends makes it much more affordable, or choose a location you can drive to. It really doesn’t matter where you go. It’s all about who you go with.

GIVE YOURSELF PERMISSION TO GO For moms, guilt can be our biggest obstacle. You may worry about leaving your kids.

know all the chapters of our story. You may feel like there are too many things to do at home. You may wonder So, send the group text. Pick a date. whether your family will survive without Book the room. Plan the trip! you for a few days. Don’t wait for life to slow down. They will. And they may appreciate you Your girls’ weekend is worth putting that much more when you get back! on the calendar — and you are worth taking the trip.

Sometimes we think we need a vacation because we are exhausted. But sometimes what we really need is a weekend with the friends who make us laugh, remind us of our strengths, and

Follow Lauren on Instagram at @jetsetterpointcollector for tips and tricks to save big on your next girls’ weekend or family adventure.

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The Cache Valley Civic Ballet-School offers comprehensive training in classical ballet to students of all ages and skill levels. The School is dedicated to providing strong ballet training in a positive, encouraging environment where students can grow in both their skills and their love of dance.

For class schedules, registration and more, visit: cvcballet.org

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Fall Beauty Reset:

Simple Ways to Refresh Your Routine for the New Season KIM JACKSON

owner, K Salon and Spa

There is something about the change of seasons that makes us want a fresh start. As summer winds down and cooler weather arrives, fall is the perfect time to take a look at your beauty and selfcare routine and make a few simple adjustments. After months of sun, heat, swimming, travel, and busy summer schedules, your skin and hair may be ready for a little extra attention. But a fall beauty reset doesn’t have to mean completely reinventing yourself or adding a dozen new steps to your routine. A few thoughtful changes can help you head into the new season feeling healthy, hydrated, polished, and refreshed.

REFRESH YOUR SKINCARE ROUTINE REPAIR SUMMER HAIR DAMAGE Cooler, drier weather often means your skin needs a little more moisture than it did during the summer months. As the seasons change, take a few minutes to reassess what is — and isn’t — working in your routine. • Switch to a richer moisturizer as cooler, drier weather arrives. • Add gentle exfoliation to remove summer buildup and dullness. • Reassess your cleanser and avoid anything that leaves your skin feeling tight.

Summer can be hard on our hair. Sun exposure, swimming, heat styling, and busy days can all leave hair feeling dry by the time fall arrives. • Schedule a trim to remove dry, split ends. • Add a weekly deep-conditioning or repair treatment. • Consider a gloss or toner to refresh color and shine.

RESET YOUR SCALP Your scalp deserves some attention, too. ...continued on next page

14 | Fall 2026

continued from previous page...

GIVE YOUR HANDS AND FEET SOME LOVE

A healthy hair routine starts at the scalp, and fall is a good time to clear Hands and feet are easy to overlook, away summer buildup and give your hair especially as sandal season comes to an a little extra care. end. A little extra care can help keep them feeling polished and moisturized • Remove product buildup with a as the weather gets cooler. clarifying treatment. • Focus on scalp hydration and healthy • Repair dry hands with a nourishing cream and cuticle oil. hair growth habits. • Transition to fall-inspired nail • Give your hair a break from excessive colors. heat styling when possible. • Consider a pedicure or relaxing foot treatment. UPDATE YOUR BEAUTY LOOK Fall is also a fun time to make a few DON’T FORGET BODY CARE simple changes to your makeup and The seasonal transition is also a good color palette. You don’t need a complete time to refresh your body-care routine makeover to make your everyday look and add a little extra moisture where feel more seasonal. you need it. • Transition from summer’s lighter • Exfoliate away dry summer skin. shades to richer fall tones. • Add a nourishing body butter or oil • Think warm browns, berries, soft to your routine. plums, and deeper neutrals. • Book a waxing or sugaring • Refresh your makeup bag and toss appointment to stay smooth expired products. through fall.

MAKE IT A SELF-CARE RESET Perhaps the most important part of a fall beauty reset is simply making time to take care of yourself. Fall can get busy quickly. School begins, schedules fill up, and before we know it, the holidays are around the corner. Use the change of season as a reason to slow down and make self-care part of your routine. Schedule a facial, massage, or spa treatment if you need a little extra time to recharge. Just as importantly, create a simple beauty routine at home that is realistic enough to maintain through the busy fall season. The goal isn’t to completely reinvent yourself. It is to head into the new season feeling healthy, hydrated, polished, and refreshed.

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Building Your Child’s Emotional Toolkit HAYLEE BLADEN, LCSW

founder/clinical director, WholeKids Emotional Wellness

One thing I have learned both as a therapist and as a mom is that helping kids with their emotions is hard work.

Everyday conversations are a great place to start. When you’re reading a book or watching a movie together, ask: “How do you think she is When they’re anxious, frustrated, or feeling?” “What makes you think melting down, we want to make things that?” better, often while trying to stay calm Use more feeling words at home, too. ourselves. Instead of only happy, sad, and mad, But emotional health isn’t about introduce words like disappointed, being happy or calm all the time. Our worried, frustrated, left out, and kids are going to feel anxious, angry, overwhelmed. disappointed, jealous, embarrassed, Sometimes simply being able to say, and overwhelmed. Instead of trying “I’m disappointed,” instead of yelling to take difficult feelings away, we can or shutting down is a huge emotional help them build the skills they need to skill. move through them. I like to think of these skills as an emotional toolkit. GIVE PERMISSION TO FEEL

START WITH THE BASICS: NAME THE FEELING

FEELINGS

One of the most important things we can teach our kids is that all feelings Before children can regulate their emotions, they have to recognize what are OK. they’re feeling. That doesn’t mean all behaviors are

OK. I can be angry, but I can’t hit someone. I can feel nervous and still move forward. Sometimes we unintentionally teach children that uncomfortable feelings need to go away: “Don’t be sad.” “There’s nothing to worry about.” “You’re fine!” We say these things because we want our kids to feel better. But sometimes they simply need us to acknowledge what they’re feeling: “It makes sense that you’re disappointed.” “I can tell you’re nervous.” One of my daughters told me her anger felt “as big as a house.” We worked through it until it felt the size of a marble. That’s a win. The goal isn’t to prevent the storms. It’s to give our kids tools for what to do when one comes. continued on next page...

16 | Fall 2026

continued from previous page...

TEACH THEM WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THEIR BRAIN In The Whole-Brain Child, Dr. Daniel Siegel and Dr. Tina Payne Bryson describe an upstairs brain, which helps us think and use self-control, and a downstairs brain, which is more reactive. When a child becomes overwhelmed, angry, or scared, we sometimes say they have “flipped their lid.” It becomes harder to access thinking and problem-solving skills. When your child is dysregulated, it probably isn’t the best time for a lecture. Connect first. Help their body calm down. Then talk about what happened. Once everyone is regulated again, ask: “What could we try next time?”

HELP KIDS NOTICE THAT FEELINGS COME AND GO

can feel, and three things you can hear.

I often tell kids that feelings are like waves in the ocean. Sometimes they come in big and strong, but eventually they go back out again. Feelings aren’t permanent.

Each child will have different skills that help. One may love deep breathing. Another may need quiet, movement, or connection.

Instead of immediately trying to make a big feeling disappear, get curious. We want kids to recognize, “I’ve felt this before. It was uncomfortable, but it passed.”

FIND WHAT HELPS THEIR BODY FEEL SAFE AND GROUNDED When emotions are really big, sometimes we need to work with the body before we work with our thoughts. Try coloring, music, time outside, snuggling with a pet, or noticing five things you can see, four things you

IS YOUR CHILD EXPERIENCING ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, BEHAVIORAL, OR SELF-ESTEEM ISSUES?

The goal is to help your child discover: “When I feel this way, here are a few things that help me.” That’s their toolkit.

KEEP PROOF THAT THEY CAN DO HARD THINGS One of my favorite ideas from our Emotional Toolkit program is Conquer Cards. Every time your child does something difficult or courageous, write it down. Over time, the cards become evidence: “I’ve done hard things before. I can do hard things again.” Confidence comes from helping

| 17

children recognize that children who never they can handle hard things struggle or experience when they happen. big feelings. It’s to help them build the skills to LET YOUR KIDS SEE YOU understand themselves PRACTICE, TOO and know what to do when Our kids learn much about those feelings come. emotions by watching Over time, we want our us. We don’t need to be perfectly regulated parents. kids to know: “I know what I’m feeling. I know some Let them see you work through your own emotions things that can help. This feeling won’t last forever. in healthy ways: “I’m I’ve done hard things getting frustrated, so I’m before, and I can do hard going to take a minute things again.” before I respond.” Or, perhaps most importantly: “I didn’t handle that very well. I’m sorry. I’m going to try again.” The goal isn’t to raise

That is what we’re really putting inside their emotional toolkit, and those are skills they can carry with them long after childhood.

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| 19

Two Traditions On One Halloween Stage BETH BLAKE

contributing writer

There are many special traditions to be found in Cache Valley in the fall: Center Street’s Giant Pumpkin Festival, Boo at the Zoo, and the Historic Downtown Logan Ghost Tour, to name a few. This year, Valley Dance Ensemble and Cache Valley Civic Ballet (CVCB) are combining two of their own traditional performances for a brand-new Halloween experience.

Vivian Taylor dancing in Cache Valley Civic Ballet's Dracula in 2006.

Valley Dance Ensemble’s beloved Under the Bed production was originally a tale about a child afraid to go to sleep for fear of what monsters might lurk under the bed. The child eventually decides to confront that fear head-on and discovers a land of friendly monsters and other creatures. Under the direction of Katie Anderson, current executive director, the story has morphed over the years into more of a Halloween theme, with classic characters such as witches and goblins instead of monsters.

it herself years ago. “We have historically done Dracula, I believe, four or five times in the past, but it hasn’t been done in about nine years,” Vivian said. “It’s been highly requested by the public and by company members alike but is always so difficult to fit in with our Nutcracker rehearsals. Assigning that to our Ensemble Company came naturally because of the maturity level needed to dance the roles in Dracula.” CVCB was founded in 1982 by Sandra Emile. The Ensemble Company is a new division of the ballet as of this year and is for dancers ages 18 and older. It provides performance opportunities and master classes for adult dancers, while also expanding the number and variety of performances CVCB presents each year.

While it is perhaps best known for its annual Nutcracker Under the Bed is performed by performances, CVCB offers two to children from kindergarten on up, three productions each year and is with some pieces featuring Valley divided into four divisions — the Dance Ensemble’s adult company Apprentice, Junior, Senior, and as well. It has been a Halloween Ensemble Companies. The CVCBtradition for the ensemble for many School provides classical ballet years. training for aspiring dancers ages 3 The performance will have a special through adult. second act this year, when CVCB Vivian is excited about the takes the stage for its performance collaboration with Valley Dance of Dracula. Vivian Taylor, the Ensemble and the opportunity for CVCB’s Associate Director of the two organizations to perform Adult Ballet and the Ensemble together. Company, is excited to bring back the production, as she performed in ...continued on next page

20 | Fall 2026

continued from previous page... “I’ve always admired Valley Dance Ensemble and their inclusion of adult dancers within their company,” Vivian said. “Wanting to perform in a venue together and collaborate came naturally.” Tessa Evans, artistic director for Valley Dance Ensemble, is also enthusiastic about the two companies working together. “We’re really excited about this collaboration,” Tessa said. “We’re incorporating the CVCB Apprentice Company into Under the Bed as part of our story, and then they’re incorporating our adult company into their telling of Dracula. It will be a great collaboration between two very distinct styles that complement each other very well.” Founded by Marion Anderson in 1983, Valley Dance Ensemble is

Cache Valley’s only modern dance company. It began as an adult performing company and eventually branched out into a school for all ages. “Our company is really founded on the idea that dance is for everyone, that every body is capable of expressing itself through movement, and that dance can be a beautiful form of expression for everyone,” Tessa said. “We really strive to make that realistic and possible for people who don’t feel like they’re dancers or don’t feel that their bodies are the typical body of a dancer. We try to offer a range of performance opportunities or just opportunities for taking a class.” The two companies have also engaged in a guest teacher swap this year, and it was Vivian who suggested the collaborative effort for the fall show.

“It was something that Vivian suggested as a way to help both small nonprofits put on a bigger show,” Tessa said. “I was really excited because I love ballet.” The performances will be Friday and Saturday, October 23 and 24, at the Ellen Eccles Theatre. Tickets are available at cachearts.org or cvcballet.org. “I may be biased, but there’s nothing like being able to go to the beautiful Ellen Eccles Theatre and enjoy a live performancd,” Vivian said. “It's a beautiful, historic building, with companies who have been involved in the valley and performing here for 35-45 years ... what a treat.” For more information about either company, visit cvcballet.org or valleydanceensemble.org.

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22 | Fall 2026

Image Credit: Ernesto Lopez

Prepared for the Moment You Hope Never Comes After a wildfire forced his family to evacuate their Logan home, Logan’s Mayor and local business owner, Mark Anderson, reflects on preparedness, first responders, and a community that stepped up when it mattered most. MARK ANDERSON

owner, Anderson's Seed and Garden

You always think you are prepared until the moment comes that you prepared for, but always hoped would never happen. When the phone call came at 10:50 p.m. telling us to evacuate our home in Logan because of a nearby wildfire, my first thought was to not panic and to keep everyone calm. Then I started wondering, “What do I grab?” Cash, keys, critical documents, water, key electronics, kids, pets, and vehicles were our top priorities, not necessarily in that order. Believe me, you can gather all of that in about 10 minutes. That’s when the police knocked on our door and explained that it was time to go.

We quickly set our sprinklers to run (we have secondary irrigation, so it wouldn’t impact the city’s ability to fight the fire), closed the house, and left. As we drove away, one question stayed in my mind: Would it still be there when we came back? Fortunately, we had many friends who generously offered to let us invade their homes temporarily. Instead, we chose to move to higher ground and watch what was happening. It’s scary to stand and see flames glowing in the darkness just a block away from your home. It’s even scarier to think that your friends’ and neighbors’ homes and businesses are already in flames. But to me, it was

truly terrifying to watch firefighters put their own safety at risk to save those friends and neighbors, their homes, and their property. I stood mesmerized, watching the fire unfold from our vantage point at the park on Cliffside, hoping and praying that no one would get hurt. I had already accepted that a lot of property had been damaged. Those police officers and firefighters deserve so much credit. Their priorities were clear: first, keep our residents safe; second, protect private property; and third, protect our city. When I found out that no one was injured and no homes were lost, I knew it was a miracle. Of course, there were

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vehicles and other property damaged, but it was so much less than it could have been. Watching the fire move, jump, and destroy with such intensity gave me a real understanding of how hard those men and women worked to keep us all safe — and just how fortunate we were. With the wrong conditions and a little bad luck, that fire could have continued across the hillside all the way to Merlin Olsen Park, taking homes, property and potentially lives along with it. Around 2:30 a.m., I went to the emergency shelter that our emergency team, along with so many volunteers from around the valley, had set up. It was gratifying simply to visit with my neighbors and other residents who had been displaced from their homes. Think about how much had to come together in such a short amount of time: a place for people to go, resources for those who needed them, and a leadership team sharing as much

information with the public as they could as the situation developed.

about emergency preparedness and the Ready, Set, Go! program.

In the coming months, you’ll see more information from cities and towns throughout Cache Valley about what each of us can do personally to prepare for a moment like the one my family and I just experienced. There is a lot we can learn from this unfortunate event, and those lessons can make us better prepared for the next one. With the help of Utah State University, And even after the flames were out, the the State of Utah, and Logan City, work wasn’t done. we can also take the next steps to revegetate the damaged hillside, City and emergency crews have reduce the risk of future disasters and continued monitoring the affected help ensure our residents are better area for flooding and mudslides and prepared. working to prevent additional damage through brush and tree clearing, It will take work. But if there’s one sandbags and other support. thing I’ve seen already, it’s that our community is more than ready to take Our emergency notification service on that challenge. worked, but not as well as we would like. Many residents didn’t receive the A special thanks to everyone who early warning, while some who weren’t helped with Logan’s wildfire response. affected did. We need to do a better job When you consider what could have of educating residents across the valley happened that night, what did happen We have amazing people living in our valley who jumped in at a moment’s notice to help Logan residents displaced from their homes. I’m so grateful for our first responders, fire crews, Emergency staff and all the people from outside Logan who came to our aid. It was a powerful reminder of just how many people simply wanted to help.

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24 | Fall 2026

EMILY BUCKLEY

FI V E G EN ER ATI O N S,

editor in chief

O N E FA M ILY LE G A C Y EMILY BUCKLEY

editor in chief

Nearly 100 years after a young Smithfield entrepreneur began processing meat to make a living, Lower Family Foods is feeding more than a million people a day while remaining rooted in the family, work ethic, and Cache Valley community that built it.

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here are businesses you drive past for years without fully realizing what is happening inside. Lower Family Foods may be one of them. Tucked in north Cache Valley, in Richmond, the family-owned company employs approximately 425 people and sends its products throughout the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii. Its meats are served in restaurants across the country, and the company estimates that, based on serving sizes, more than one million people may eat something produced at Lower Foods each day. Yet, if you ask the Lower family about what they have built, they are much more likely to talk about the people who built it alongside them. “We’re kind of the quiet doers in the back,” Lee Lower, vice president of Lower Foods, said. “We just put our heads down and go to work.” That understated approach has been passed down for nearly a century.

FROM THE BEET FIELDS OF SMITHFIELD

Three generations of Lowers: Alan and Laura Lower along with Lee and Courtney Lower and their children Natalie, Lacey, Brookie, and Russell.

The Lower Foods story reaches back to Smithfield in 1927, when Russell Lower, a young man with deep Cache Valley roots, began what would eventually become the business it is today. Russell lost both parents while he was young and learned early how to make his own way. While thinning sugar beets, backbreaking work familiar to many Cache Valley families of the era, he watched men

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nearby trading cattle and realized they could make more in a day than he was making after weeks in the beet fields. He saw an opportunity. What he didn’t have was money to get started. That’s where Smoot Westover, a farmer from Lewiston, became an important part of the story. Smoot allowed Russell to take animals, process them, sell them, and pay him back after Russell himself had been paid, essentially extending the young entrepreneur the credit he needed to begin. Eventually, the family built a small processing facility on the east side of Smithfield. The original one-room structure still exists today, although the plant was expanded around it many times over the years. It was the beginning of a family business that the next four generations would continue to build.

LEARNING TO SEE WHAT’S NEXT Russell’s son Larry Lower grew up in a very different Cache Valley than the one his grandchildren and greatgrandchildren know today. In the 1940s, families commonly raised their own animals, and because home freezers weren’t yet commonplace, meat was often cut and stored at local “locker plants.” Lower Packing would pick up an animal, process it, and take the meat

to a locker plant, where it could be cut, wrapped, and stored until the family needed it. Larry saw an opportunity to do more. During World War II, he volunteered to work in a military kitchen so he could learn meat cutting. After returning home, he married Marilyn Tibbitts, and together they helped move the family business beyond simply processing animals into cutting, wrapping, and freezing meat. As home freezers became more common and locker plants began to disappear, the business was ready to change with the times. And for the next generation, responsibility came especially early. Larry suffered a serious heart attack when his son Alan was only 12 years old. Suddenly, Alan found himself taking on responsibilities most seventh graders couldn’t imagine. Two years later, Larry came to him with a decision that would shape the family’s future: Someone was interested in buying the business, and he needed to know whether Alan intended to continue it. At 14 years old, Alan committed to stay. He has been part of moving the family business forward ever since and today serves as president of Lower Foods.

AN IDEA AHEAD OF ITS TIME The family continued experimenting and looking ahead. They began smoking hams and bacon and eventually invested in larger smokehouses. By the early 1980s, changes in the dairy industry were threatening a major part of the Lowers’ business. A federal dairy termination program paid dairy farmers to leave the industry, and many of the small dairies that had long been Lower customers disappeared. The family needed to find new ways to keep the business moving forward.

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field P 's Smith

They were already experimenting with convenience foods, including a French dip meal kit with sliced roast beef, rolls, and au jus — long before today’s mealkit trend. There was just one problem: Their Smithfield facility was state inspected, meaning they couldn’t sell the product

Lower's Richmond loc ation in 1987, where they began their focus on fully cooked deli meat s. outside Utah. When they took their ideas to distributors, there was interest, but the inability to cross state lines limited how far the products could go. In 1987, the family purchased the building that became the foundation of its current operation and worked toward federal inspection. That opened the door for Lower Foods products to eventually move far beyond Cache Valley. The original Smithfield business continued alongside the new operation until it was sold in 1994. It was a demanding period for the family, but it laid the groundwork for what Lower Foods would become.

GROWING UP AT THE PLANT For Alan’s sons, Lee and Chad, going to work with Dad was simply part of growing up. “I don’t know anything any different,” Lee said. When the boys attended North Cache Middle School nearby, they could walk to the plant after school. By around 11 or 12 years old, the boys were helping with sanitation. “We cleaned the plant every night,” Lee said. “We were depended on.” ...continued on next page

26 | Fall 2026

“When we say it’s a family company, we have a lot of family members here outside of just ours,” Lee said. Lee and Chad now represent the fourth generation of the business. Lee serves as vice president, with product development and formulations among his primary responsibilities, while Chad works in sales. Both grew into their current roles after years of doing the jobs that keep the plant running. “That’s what’s helped me succeed,” Lee said. “I’ve worked in every position.”

“WE’RE RAISING KIDS, NOT COWS”

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Chad Lo Lee, Alan, &

Now a fifth generation of Lowers is growing up much the same way. Lee and his wife, Courtney, have children who already work alongside employees at the plant. At home, the family raises beef cattle and participates in 4-H, not to supply Lower Foods, but in large part to give their children responsibility and opportunities to work together. “We’re raising kids, not cows,” Lee joked.

Russell "Pop" and Larry Lo

wer

continued from previous page... Summers meant production work during the day and sanitation afterward. There were sacrifices. Sports and other activities often took a back seat to work. But there was something gained, too. They grew up alongside parents, grandparents, siblings, friends, and longtime employees. Many of those childhood friends stayed. Some left on LDS missions and came back to work for the company. Others simply kept working and built careers there. Today, some Lower Foods employees have been with the company for 30 or 40 years.

Courtney, who married into the Lower family, has a unique perspective on that legacy.

“You hear these stories, and you hear the history, and it’s amazing — the work ethic and their ability to look into the future and figure out how to get there,” she said. But what seems to impress her most is simpler: “These guys are some of the hardest-working, most humble men I’ve ever met.” Now she and Lee are trying to pass those same values to their children. The cattle give the kids jobs that can’t simply be ignored until tomorrow. They learn to care for animals, fix fences, work with siblings, and keep going when something is difficult. Courtney said working with the animals also requires the children to be a team. No matter how frustrated they may get with each

other, the job still must get done. And it’s clear their children are learning those lessons. The Lower children are up with the sun, voluntarily planning their days around the chores and work that need to be done.

GROWING BEYOND CACHE VALLEY Lower Foods today looks dramatically different from the small Smithfield operation of 1927. Its products are distributed throughout the United States and include roast beef, corned beef, pastrami, pot roast, smoked brisket, barbecue products, and carne asada, among many others. According to Alan, Lower Foods is also the country’s largest processor/cooker of Certified Angus Beef. Lee develops many of the company’s product formulations and recipes and barbecue products. This includes smoked brisket, which has become one of its biggest sellers. Despite the scale of the operation, there is something surprisingly familiar about the way the food is made. “We are pretty rooted in our tradition,” Lee said. Recipes rely on ingredients you would recognize from your own kitchen — salt, garlic, pepper, onion, and vinegar — while modern equipment allows the company to reproduce traditional cooking techniques on a scale Russell could hardly have imagined. It’s also a business that has changed along with the way American families eat. Generations ago, preparing Sunday dinner might have meant spending much of Saturday getting ready. Today, families often need to put dinner on the table between work, school, and activities. Lower Foods does much of that time-consuming preparation while trying to preserve the flavors and methods of home cooking. In many ways, it brings the company full circle. Generations ago, the Lower family helped Cache Valley families prepare and preserve meat they raised themselves. Today, they help families and restaurants across America put meals on the table.

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MORE THAN ONE FAMILY For all the focus on five generations of the Lower family, family members are quick to redirect credit toward the approximately 425 employees who have helped build the company with them. One of the clearest examples came during a serious fire at the plant. The fire struck a critical area housing controls, computers, and servers. There was extensive damage, and at one point portions of the roof were open to the night sky. Still, Alan and Lee were determined the plant would run the next morning. Employees showed up. Local contractors came. A technology company from Richmond responded. People worked through the night repairing what they could while the emergency response was still unfolding. And the next morning, the plant ran. For the Lowers, the story isn’t really about saving a day of production. It’s about who showed up. That loyalty goes both ways. As Lower Foods has grown, the family has intentionally worked with local contractors, electricians, plumbers, tradespeople, and businesses. Some of those relationships stretch back decades.

them. Even as Lower Foods has grown into a company that sends products across the country, the family has chosen to keep its roots firmly in Cache Valley. “We like living here,” Lee said.

LOOKING TO THE NEXT 100 YEARS Lower Foods will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2027. Inside the facility, the family is preparing a timeline that will help visitors see where the company came from. Old photographs and signs preserve the story of the generations who built it, while new equipment and expanded cooking capacity point toward what comes next.

That part of the story will belong to future generations. But there are already hints that another generation is paying attention. Lee and Courtney’s son Russell carries a name that has traveled through the family before him. He’s still a child, but Lee and Courtney smile when they say he already refers to Lower Foods as “my plant.” It’s a small comment, but for a family approaching 100 years in business, it means something.

Nearly a century after the first Russell Lower stood in the sugar beet fields of Smithfield and realized there might be another way to make a living, and That includes a new on-site restaurant after a Lewiston farmer named Smoot where employees, their families, and Westover trusted him enough to help community members will be able to sit him get started, the buildings are larger, down and enjoy the food Lower Foods the equipment is more sophisticated, produces. and the food travels farther than either “People can try our food and then, if they man could have imagined. like it, they can head over to the outlet to But much of what built Lower Foods buy it to take home,” Courtney said. remains remarkably unchanged: Ask the family what the next hundred years will look like, and they don’t pretend to know.

“Put your head down. Take care of your people. Make something you’re proud of.”

The company has also invested in healthcare resources for employees and their families, including ownership of High Creek Pharmacy and involvement with Sterling Medical. “You’ve got to take care of your people, or you’ll be here all by yourself,” Alan said. That commitment extends to the community around

Larry & Alan Lower

Lee &Courtney Lower Family

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E D U C AT I O N U P D AT E

The Benefits of Bike Busing CARI PHILLIPS, MS

communications specialist, Cache County School District

Once a week, the streets of Hyde Park and Smithfield echo with a joyful cacophony of noise: the pings of bells, the squeals of brake pedals, and the ticktick-tick of coasting wheels. And above it all are the happy voices of children on their way to school. These are Cedar Ridge and Birch Creek Elementary’s “Bike Buses,” beloved programs that allow students to make friends, travel to and from school together, and enjoy some fresh air. The concept of bike busing is gaining popularity worldwide, with nearly 500 registered programs.¹ Picture a standard busing system. Children wait at designated “stops” for the “bus” to arrive. The first thing they hear is music coming from a speaker. The next is chatter and laughter. Then they see their friends riding a small armada of bicycles. Supervising parents wearing neon safety vests flank the group, helping ensure safe transit to and from school. Researchers from Barcelona’s Institute of Environmental Science and TechnologyUAB concluded that bike busing made normal days feel “inspiring … especially on streets [otherwise] packed with vehicles and traffic.”² Local bike bus initiatives are designed “for anyone who envisions a future where children can cycle safely and playfully in our cities.” Birch Creek Elementary’s Bike Bus program is intended to benefit students, parents, and the community alike. Students “enjoy exercise, start the day right, and make friends.” Parents experience less traffic congestion, help their children develop healthy habits, and save time and money on transportation.

Biking is also environmentally friendly and supports a thriving community.³ Jake Hanks, who has led Cedar Ridge’s Bike Bus program for several years, describes the experience as building “core memories.”

benefits. Riding increases heart strength, builds muscle, boosts brain power, helps children sleep better, and releases endorphins that promote well-being.⁴

As students return to school, we invite you to help your children explore the joy “It’s really worthwhile,” he shared. “I of consistent physical activity. Whether love seeing the smiles and energy the kids bring. Seeing the improvement week riding a bike to school, walking to the park, or playing catch in the yard, you are after week really makes it worthwhile.” your child’s best model for developing Bicycling to and from school offers a healthy habits.⁵ range of physical and emotional health Sources: 1. Bike Bus World Map: https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=1v4E8Me9O6-okJuTWz6sBeoxr_b4eJ8&femb=1&ll=16.001656865124886%2C-6.505185950000026&z=3 2. “A Global Survey of Bike Bus Initiatives”: https://bikeportland.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Aglobal-survey-of-BikeBus-initiatives.pdf 3. Birch Creek Bike Bus: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeHct2FcgKGi5DTa5tD9NLNvnX2iY aowHihENsyZnRvy2d7rA/viewform 4. National Library of Medicine — National Center for Biotechnology Information: https://pmc.ncbi. nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10546027/ 5. National Institute of Health — News in Health: https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2018/07/shape-yourfamily-s-habits

Bike Bus 2026

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E D U C AT I O N U P D AT E

Raising Happier Kids:

A Few Simple Habits That Can Make a Big Difference FRANK SCHOFIELD

Logan City School District Superintendent

Parenting young children can sometimes feel like an endless exercise in managing the next problem: the spilled milk, the forgotten homework, the sibling argument, the meltdown in the grocery store, the soccer practice we are already late for. We spend so much of our energy trying to help our children become successful, responsible, and resilient that it can be easy to overlook a more fundamental question: How do we help our children become happy? According to Dr. Dave Schramm, family life extension specialist at Utah State University and author of Happy Hacks: 100 Science-Backed Ways to Boost Happiness, Reduce Stress, and Have a More Meaningful Life, happiness isn’t simply something children experience when everything goes their way. It is something families can intentionally cultivate through everyday habits, relationships, and choices. Dr. Schramm’s work draws on research in positive psychology and offers a surprisingly practical message for parents: We don’t have to create a perfect childhood for our children to help them develop greater well-being. Instead, we can help them develop habits that allow them to experience connection, gratitude, purpose, optimism, and resilience — even when life isn’t perfect.

HAPPINESS BEGINS WITH CONNECTION One of the most important ideas in Dr. Schramm’s work is also one of the simplest: children need connection. Connection includes emotional responsiveness, openness, and support,

The Happy Hacks series of books is written by Dr. Dave Schramm, Family Life Extension Specialist at Utah State University. Happy Hacks and Happy Hacks for Teachers are available on Amazon now. Happy Hacks from Moms releases on October 20.

but it also includes fun, recognition, compassion, empathy, kindness, and love.

HELP CHILDREN DISCOVER THEIR STRENGTHS

Sometimes, connection looks like sitting on the floor while a 4-year-old explains an elaborate Lego creation. It may mean putting down the phone and listening to a child’s story about what happened at school, or it could mean laughing together over something that isn’t particularly funny.

Another of Dr. Schramm’s recommendations is to focus less on constantly correcting weaknesses and more on identifying and developing strengths. For parents, this could be as simple as paying attention to what your child naturally does well.

Dr. Schramm makes the point particularly powerfully with the phrase “all-in attention.” Children crave our undivided attention, and a lack of attention can lead to a loss of connection. So, when we are with our children, there is enormous value in occasionally being fully with them. Ten minutes of genuine attention may be more meaningful than an hour in the same room while everyone is looking at a screen.

Maybe your child notices when someone is being left out. Maybe she can spend hours drawing. Maybe he asks unusually thoughtful questions. Maybe your child is persistent, funny, curious, compassionate, organized, or exceptionally patient with younger siblings. When we notice those qualities and give children opportunities to use them, we’re doing more than complimenting them. We’re helping them develop an understanding of who they are and what they can contribute. ...continued on next page

30 | Fall 2026

continued from previous page... To help children recognize qualities they can intentionally use and develop, try replacing “You’re so smart” with something more specific: “You kept working on that even when it was difficult. You’re really persistent.”

TEACH AND DEMONSTRATE GRATITUDE Research suggests that gratitude can help people cope with everyday stress, as well as major losses and difficult experiences. Fortunately, gratitude doesn’t require an elaborate family program. Dr. Schramm offers several simple “gratitude hacks,” including naming three good things, identifying favorite people or experiences, writing a gratitude letter, thinking about positive experiences, and practicing “mental subtraction” — imagining what life would be like without something we currently appreciate. For young children, these can become simple family rituals. • At dinner, ask: “What was one good thing about today?” • At bedtime: “Who did something kind for you today?” • In the car: “What’s something you’re looking forward to?” And since children often learn more from our example than from our directions, let your children hear you express gratitude.

LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO BE KIND Another encouraging finding in the research is that acts of kindness can produce an immediate increase in well-being, which gives parents another simple strategy: Look for ways for children to serve.

Help a sibling. Draw a picture for a grandparent. Take a neighbor some cookies. Let someone go first. Pick up litter at the park. Write a thank-you note to a teacher. These don’t need to become major service projects. In fact, small acts may be particularly valuable because they help children see that they have the ability to make someone else’s day better.

their time mentally wandering rather than being fully engaged in the present moment.

TEACH CHILDREN TO FOCUS ON WHAT THEY CAN CONTROL

We don’t need to turn every moment into a “memory-making” experience. We simply need to notice some of them.

Every parent has watched a child become overwhelmed by something completely outside their control.

For parents, it is helpful to remember that childhood is happening while we’re answering emails and making dinner. It is happening in the back seat of the car, during bedtime stories, and while we’re waiting for the microwave to finish.

• Look up from the phone. • Listen to the story.

The weather ruined the outing. A friend didn’t invite them. Someone said something unkind. The referee made a bad call. A sibling got something they didn’t.

• Notice the sunset.

Dr. Schramm offers a useful framework for difficult times: Our time and attention are best given to things that both really matter and are within our control. This can become a powerful family question:

• Give your child your eyes and your attention.

“Is this something we can control?” If the answer is no, we can help children acknowledge their disappointment and then redirect their attention. If the answer is yes, we can ask, “What can you do about it?” This question doesn’t dismiss children’s feelings. Instead, it teaches them that feelings are real but don’t always have to determine their next action.

BE PRESENT FOR THE ORDINARY MOMENTS Perhaps the most practical lesson for busy parents is simply to pay attention to the present. Dr. Schramm highlights research indicating that people spend a substantial amount of

• Laugh at the joke. • Ask the follow-up question.

Those ordinary moments are where connection is built.

HAPPINESS ISN’T ABOUT BEING PERFECT Perhaps the most encouraging message for parents is that none of these ideas requires a perfect home, perfect children, or perfect parents. Raising happy children isn’t primarily about making childhood easy. It’s about helping children develop the capacity to find goodness, build meaningful relationships, contribute to others, recognize their strengths, and keep moving forward when life gets hard. And perhaps the best place to begin is with something remarkably simple: Put down the phone. Look your child in the eyes. Give them your attention. Then do it again tomorrow.

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A New Chapter for Lee’s Plumbing: More Ways to Serve Cache Valley MIKE WILSON

creative director, Any Hour Group

For more than 25 years, Lee’s Plumbing has been part of Cache Valley. Lee and Amber Draper built the company around a simple idea: do quality work, take care of people, and treat customers the way you want your own family treated. Over the years, that approach turned a small plumbing business into a name generations of Cache Valley homeowners know and trust. That trust was recognized again this year when Lee’s Plumbing was voted Best Plumber in the 2026 Best of Cache Valley Awards, for the fifth year in a row, an honor determined entirely by votes from the community. For Lee and Amber, the recognition means a lot, particularly as the company they built enters a new chapter.

A DECISION ABOUT THE FUTURE For most of the history of Lee’s Plumbing, Lee and Amber worked side by side but filled very different roles. Lee focused on the plumbing — serving customers, solving problems, and working alongside the company’s technicians. Amber handled much of what happened behind the scenes to keep the business running. Running a small business that way is rewarding, but it also requires an enormous commitment of time and energy. When an unexpected health challenge forced Amber to step back, the Drapers began thinking differently about the future. Amber

was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer that led to liver failure and a life-saving liver transplant. Through it all, Lee and Amber wanted more time to focus on their family and Amber’s health, but they also felt a responsibility to the employees and customers who had helped make Lee’s Plumbing what it was. So, finding the right partner wasn’t simply a business decision. Lee and Amber wanted to know that the people taking responsibility for the company would care about their employees, their customers, and Cache Valley. They wanted a company whose values aligned with the ones they had spent decades building into Lee’s Plumbing. That search eventually led them to Any Hour Services.

THE SAME PEOPLE, WITH MORE BEHIND THEM For homeowners, perhaps the most important part of the partnership is what isn’t changing. Lee isn’t leaving. He continues to work in the business and lead the local team doing what he has always enjoyed most:

helping people and helping his technicians succeed. The people and relationships behind Lee’s Plumbing remain right here in Cache Valley. What is changing is how much that local team can offer. For 25 years, Lee’s Plumbing specialized in plumbing. With the support of Any Hour Services, homeowners can now turn to the same team for plumbing, heating, cooling, and electrical services. The partnership also brings greater availability. Where Lee’s Plumbing previously operated primarily during traditional weekday business hours, homeowners can now schedule service later in the day and on Saturdays. Phones are answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week, giving customers a place to turn when they need help, even if it’s after normal business hours. It means fewer numbers for homeowners to keep track of and fewer companies they have to research and trust. One call can now connect a Cache Valley homeowner with help for the major systems that keep a home running. The partnership also creates opportunities behind the scenes. Lee

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The Draper family rallied around Amber as she battled cancer.

different, but the goal isn’t to erase what Lee and Amber built. It’s to give the team they built more resources and more ways to serve the community. That distinction matters in a place like Cache Valley. Lee’s Plumbing has supported local organizations, sponsored community A FAMILIAR TEAM WITH A NEW events, and spent decades building NAME relationships one customer at a time. Over the coming months, residents A new name doesn’t change where will begin seeing another change: the those relationships were built — or Lee’s Plumbing name will transition the people responsible for them. to Any Hour Services. Being named Best Plumber in the 2026 Best of Cache Valley Awards is The trucks and signs may look has long believed that his employees are one of the most important parts of the business. Joining Any Hour provides the team with expanded benefits, including health and dental coverage, retirement benefits, and additional opportunities for training and career advancement.

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a fitting reminder of that legacy. The award came directly from the people who have invited Lee and his team into their homes for more than two decades. The next chapter simply gives that team more ways to help. Lee is still here. The team is still here. The commitment to Cache Valley is still here. And now, when a neighbor needs help with their plumbing, heating, cooling, or electrical system, they’ll have even more people and resources ready to answer the call.

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Logan Cemetery — a Lively Dwelling Place for the Dead KATE NEELEY

contirubting writer

With all due respect to those who have gone before us, their lives — and what they have left behind — can remind us of the reasons to connect more deeply with the life we have left to live. Logan Cemetery, a Cache Valley landmark, is one of those places where tenderness, intrigue, beauty, peace, and legend all exist within the same boundaries. It’s quite a mix. And, for a resting place of those who have died, there is something wonderfully ironic about the fact that so much life is lived there. People walk the cemetery for fresh air and exercise, following its winding paths beneath enormous shade trees. Some come alone. Some are simply looking for a quiet place to think. Others come for something more personal. They pause beside the headstone of a parent, spouse, child, friend, or ancestor, sometimes bringing flowers or simply standing quietly for a few minutes. A cemetery marker may be little more than a name and

two dates carved into stone, but to the person standing in front of it, those few words can represent an entire universe of memories. Especially tender is the little section of the cemetery known as Babyland — an area in the Logan Cemetery where babies rest whose lives barely kissed the surface of mortality. There are 42 “Unknown Pioneers” transferred from Logan’s original graveyard more than a century ago. The first cemetery was located near what is now 500 North and 700 East. Charlotte Eynon is believed to have been the first person buried there, but no one knows exactly where her remains rest today. Her husband, John R. Blanchard, has a marked plot in the Logan Cemetery with an empty space next to him. There is also the ordinary work of tending to the grounds. City employees mow the grass, tend the trees, maintain the grounds, and keep the cemetery looking cared for. Seasons move across the landscape — spring blossoms,

summer shade, autumn leaves, winter snow — while the names beneath them remain. And then there are the people who pass by living life. College students routinely travel past or through the cemetery on their way to class, basketball games, apartments, dates, jobs, and the myriad activities that make up college life. For many of them, the cemetery is simply part of the landscape, a familiar stretch of green and stone they have passed hundreds of times. But every so often, the cemetery becomes something else entirely. A group of college students may head through the gates after dark, armed with a flashlight, a few stories, and just enough curiosity to get spooked. They’re there to explore a little folklore. Because Logan Cemetery has stories. ...continued on next page

36 | Fall 2026

continued from previous page...

between history and imagination. The Have you heard of the weeping woman? people buried there are real. Their lives were real. Their marriages, tragedies, Julia Amelia Cronquist lies beneath the accomplishments, disappointments, prominent monument. One version illnesses, children, occupations, and of the legend claims that, under a full ordinary Tuesday afternoons were all moon, tears appear on the statue’s once part of the living world. face as she mourns her children. Other versions of the story have been passed But as generations pass, those lives become stories. down through generations of Utah State University (USU) students. A name carved into stone invites The haunting legend has roots in a very questions. Who was this person? What did they do? Who loved them? What real tragedy. Julia and her husband, Olof Cronquist, lost five of their eight happened to them? Why did they die so young? Why is their monument so children, several to scarlet fever, and elaborate? And, perhaps, what stories Julia was known to visit their graves have accumulated around them since and grieve deeply. She died in 1914, their deaths? and Olof commissioned the striking monument, which was erected in 1917. One unique headstone in the cemetery So while there is no evidence that even faces a different direction than the stone actually cries, the sorrow it the rest. Logan’s conventional burial represents was very real, and perhaps arrangement is with the head of the that is what has allowed the legend to grave on the west and the foot on the endure for more than a century. The east. Jamshi Maghami’s grave, however, USU folklore collection documents is oriented northeast toward Mecca. many versions of the story. Originally from Iran, he’s buried Like many aged cemeteries, the Logan according to Muslim burial tradition, a detail that reflects something Cemetary occupies an unusual space

important about the man who lived from 1949 to 1974. That is where a cemetery can become a kind of open-air history book, and occasionally, a playground for the imagination. Other headstones preserve much happier pieces of a person’s story. Kathryn “Kay” Andrews left behind one of Logan Cemetery’s sweetest memorials. Engraved on the back of the headstone, which she shares with her husband, Wade, is a recipe for “Kay’s Fudge.” Kay was known for making fudge and sharing it at gatherings and with friends and neighbors. When her family asked what she wanted represented on her side of the monument, she chose the recipe. Today, visitors can read the ingredients and instructions right from the stone, ending with the cheerful direction to “cool & beat & eat.” It's a small but memorable reminder that sometimes the things we share with others, even something as simple as a piece of homemade fudge, become a part of the

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story we leave behind. Logan Cemetery is particularly interesting because of its place in the history of Cache Valley. The grounds contain generations of people who helped build the communities surrounding it. Farmers, business owners, educators, religious leaders, immigrants, children, mothers, fathers, soldiers, artists, politicians, and ordinary people whose names may no longer be familiar all share the same quiet landscape. History books tend to record the people who made headlines. Cemeteries record everyone. A cemetery is not only a place where lives have ended. It is a place where the living come to remember them, wonder about them, tell stories about them, and occasionally be reminded of their own brief place in the long procession of human lives. Logan Cemetery is quiet, but it is hardly silent. Stay long enough, and you might even find yourself thinking a little differently about your own life. Because beneath the enormous trees, among the weathered stones and the names of people who came before us, Logan Cemetery offers a rather profound reminder: We are all, eventually, part of the landscape. But for now, we are still living in it.

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The Miracle of Music:

Why Children Who Make Music Thrive SHANNON DEAN

contirubting writer

Most parents have witnessed a fussy baby calmed by a lullaby, a toddler who can’t resist bouncing to a beat, or a preschooler inventing songs with hilarious lyrics. But beyond the joy and entertainment, there’s something remarkable happening inside those little brains. Music isn’t just fun. It’s foundational to how children learn, think, and grow.

abilities that support success in school, emotional regulation, and social development.

Recent research confirms what parents have long suspected: Music is a powerful tool for cognitive development.

The long-term evidence is equally compelling. A study drawing on data from one of the largest investigations of brain development found that children who consistently participated in music training scored higher on multiple cognitive and language tasks. Remarkably, the study also suggested music’s potential as an equalizer: Musicians across socioeconomic backgrounds demonstrated similar gains, indicating that music training can serve as a “cognitive enrichment tool” that transcends economic circumstances.

A comprehensive meta-analysis published in Frontiers in Psychology analyzed 46 studies involving 3,530 children and found that musical training significantly enhances executive function. These are the mental skills that help children plan, focus, remember instructions, and juggle multiple tasks — the very

Even the youngest children can benefit. In a randomized controlled trial of 3-year-olds, children who participated in music programs developed greater neural efficiency. Brain imaging showed that their brains processed information more efficiently to achieve the same results as their peers — a finding that

THE SCIENCE OF SOUND: HOW MUSIC BUILDS BETTER BRAINS

speaks to music’s ability to shape how the developing brain processes information.

WHY CHILDREN ARE NATURAL MUSICIANS So why does music feel so instinctive to children? The answer is partly biological. Research on musical ability has found that children’s musical skills continue to develop without formal training until around age 12. This natural development is closely tied to the brain’s growing capacity to hold and process sounds, even in young children. Beloved children’s musician Raffi captures this beautifully: “The first instrument the child is hearing is a parental, loving, caring voice.” He describes a child’s earliest experience of music as being connected to the feeling of being loved and safe in a parent’s arms. ...continued on next page

40 | Fall 2026

continued from previous page... Because music activates multiple senses simultaneously, it naturally engages the developing brain in ways that feel like play. And, as developmental experts have long noted, play is how children learn best. When music feels like play, children aren’t just having fun. They’re building neural pathways that can serve them for life.

children develop the sensory skills that later support cognitive abilities.

PRACTICAL TIPS FOR MUSIC AT HOME

All of this science is encouraging, but it can also feel daunting. Some parents assume they need formal training, a natural ear, or expensive instruments to expose their children to music. That isn’t the case. LONG-TERM BENEFITS The beauty of music is that it’s The benefits of music aren’t fleeting. already woven into the fabric of daily They can compound over time. life. You just need to know how to A landmark 12-year study of children spot the opportunities. receiving music lessons found that Lisa Huisman Koops, a music making music physically changed the brain, regardless of natural talent. The education professor, encourages parents to think about “musicking,” more music the children played, the a term that encompasses every form greater the activation in key regions of music-making, from listening and of the brain. composing to singing in the car and Anne-Marie Seither-Preisler, an banging on pots. author of the study, encourages The goal isn’t perfection. It’s parents to give every child a playful participation. introduction to music, noting that making music and singing can help Here are some simple ways to weave

music into your family’s life: 1. Show them with your actions. Modeling music-making as parents is key. When children see the adults in their lives enjoying music, they learn how to joyfully incorporate it into their own lives. Sing along to the radio, tap a beat while cooking, or dance in the kitchen. Your enthusiasm can be more contagious than any lesson. 2. Try simple activities. The most powerful musical moments are often the simplest. No sheet music required.

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Kind, compassionate care to help bring your little one safely into the world.

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• Kitchen Band Jam: Pull out pots, pans, wooden spoons, and sealed containers. Tap, bang, and scrape to discover different sounds. Try a rhythm circle where one person sets a beat and everyone follows. • Freeze Dance: Play upbeat music and dance. When the music stops, everyone freezes. This builds listening skills, selfcontrol, and body awareness. Better yet, giggles usually follow.

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• Body Percussion: Clap hands, snap fingers, stomp feet, or pat knees. Start with simple patterns and have children echo them back, then switch roles. • Sound Sorting: Gather everyday objects, such as keys, bells, paper, and spoons, and explore how each sounds. Sort them by loud and quiet, high and low, or long and short. Hide an object behind your back and let children identify it by sound alone. • Nature’s Music Walk: Step outside and listen. Record sounds like birds singing, wind rustling, and leaves crunching, then play them back as a “sound quiz.” 3. Make it a ritual. Establish designated music time, whether it’s a weekly family music night when everyone shares a favorite song or a daily dance break after dinner. These rituals create lasting memories and signal that music matters in your family — not as a chore, but as a shared joy.

A GIF T THAT LASTS A LIFETIME The research is clear: Music builds brains. But perhaps more importantly, music builds connection. Whether you’re singing in the kitchen, dancing in the living room, or simply pausing to listen to the birds outside, you’re offering your child something precious: the chance to grow, learn, and thrive through the miracle of music.

THE 5-MINUTE MUSIC BREAK Short on time? These simple activities require zero prep and are perfect for busy families. ECHO ME: Clap or sing a pattern and have your child repeat it. Increase the complexity each round. SONG SWAP: Each family member picks a song to play. Then everyone guesses why they chose it. MOOD MUSIC: Play 30 seconds of different genres, such as classical, jazz, rock, or a lullaby. Ask: How does this music make you feel? NAME THAT TUNE: Hum or clap the rhythm of a

familiar song and see who can guess it first. BEDTIME WIND-DOWN: End the day with one slow,

quiet song.

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42 | Fall 2026

Fall Treats & Harvest Fun You r Guide To

In Cache Valley VALERIE DAINES

contirubting writer

F

all is arguably one of the best seasons in Cache Valley. The trees show off with their deep reds, bright oranges, and soft yellows. The air turns crisp, the mountains beg to be explored, and the fun fall OLD GRIST MILL: Start with a pumpkin square topped festivities begin. with cream cheese frosting, or grab a loaf of chocolate I love this time of year because traditions really start chip pumpkin bread. to bloom — or are created for the first time. In my ZOLLINGER FRUIT FARM: Enjoy a caramel apple, family, that means exploring local pumpkin patches a cider slushie, or a cup of fresh apple cider for the and searching for the perfect gourd to bring home perfect taste of fall. and decorate. We also love the seasonal treats that STONEHOUSE BAKERY: Pick up an apple pie or their are essential for this time of year. Did someone say Gingerbread Spice Pound Cake for a cozy fall dessert. pumpkin bread? HERM’S INN: Stop by for one of their famous Cache Valley has plenty of ways to make the most of cinnamon rolls, available Saturdays and Sundays. this season — whether you’re ready to slow down,

follow the Cache Valley Treat Trail

spend time outside, and enjoy this beautiful valley we live in, or you’d rather grab your friends or kids and race to see how many activities you can squeeze in and how many treats you can try. Either way, let’s go!

LE CROISSANT: Grab a delicious pastry, and keep an eye on their menu for fun seasonal flavors.

Ready to make the most of fall? Start with the pumpkin patches and harvest fun to choose your adventure, then follow this Cache Valley Fall Treat Trail for a delicious way to explore the valley one decadent bite at a time.

BUSSIN BREAD: It’s officially soup season! Grab a loaf of Alaskan sourdough to go with your favorite soup, or try their cinnamon roll focaccia for something sweet.

WESTSIDE COFFEE COMPANY: Warm up with a cozy drink, and try something from their seasonal menu.

PETRA’S BACKSTUBCHEN: Find Petra’s delicious German bakes at the Farmers Market through October 17. Her strudel and cookies are personal favorites! CAKE IT EASY: Try a dairy-free pumpkin bar or one of their other gluten-free treats. SWEET SWEDE CANDY: Pick up some authentic Swedish candy to share — or keep all to yourself! JOHNNY-O’S SPUDNUTS: Watch for their seasonal apple cider donuts, and call ahead to find out when they begin offering them.

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Pumpkin Patches and Harvest Fun NORTH LOGAN PUMPKIN WALK: A beloved community tradition with creative, themed pumpkin displays (and it’s free!) is October 15-17 and 19-20. FALL FESTIVAL AT AWHC: Enjoy the Fall Festival at American West Heritage Center with a corn maze, hay activities, a train ride, and pony rides October 9-10. CACHE VALLEY STRAW MAZE: The Cache Valley Straw Maze has a pumpkin patch, straw maze, and fun activities for all ages. Opens September 11. GIANT PUMPKIN FESTIVAL: Center Street’s Giant Pumpkin Festival includes a vendor market, fresh food, and the “orange carpet” photo experience on October 3. GREEN CANYON FARMS or CACHE VALLEY GIANT PUMPKINS: Pick your own pumpkins for carving and decorating! LITTLE BEAR BOTTOMS CORN MAZE: Little Bear Bottoms hosts a corn maze, pumpkin patch, spooky barn ride, and the Redneck Ride of Terror. Opens on September 18.

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The first line of defense is to cleanse regularly and use over the counter medications that can be found at any pharmacy. If this approach is not effective, you should schedule an appointment with a Dermatologist. Uncontrolled acne is a medical condition. A consultation with a trained dermatology provider will put you on the right track to managing the condition, and, contrary to popular opinion,

treatment plans are safe, effective and in most cases, covered by insurance.

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30-Minute Fall Home Checklist EMILY BUCKLEY

editor in chief

There is a particular excitement that comes with the first cool days of fall. In Cache Valley, we know that those fall days have a way of turning cold quickly, sometimes leaving only a short window to get our homes ready for the season ahead. The good news? You don't need an entire Saturday to get started. Set aside 30 minutes and tackle these six simple checks. A little time now may save you time, and trouble when winter arrives.

5 MINUTES: TEST YOUR SMOKE AND CARBON MONOXIDE ALARMS

Walk through your home and press the test button on each smoke and carbon monoxide alarm. The National Fire Protection Association recommends testing smoke alarms at least once a

month and replacing smoke alarms when they are 10 years old. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recommends carbon monoxide alarms on every level of the home and outside sleeping areas. Smoke alarms should be installed on every level, inside bedrooms, and outside sleeping areas. Fall is a good time to check them as furnaces, fireplaces, and other fuelburning appliances return to regular use. While you’re there: Look at the manufacture date on older alarms and follow instructions for battery replacement. If your alarms use replaceable batteries, note when you change them so you don't have to rely on memory.

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5 MINUTES: CHECK YOUR FURNACE FILTER

The U.S. Department of Energy recommends cleaning or replacing filters in furnaces, air conditioners, and heat pumps as part of regular home energy maintenance. If the filter looks dirty or clogged, replace it. If you don't remember the last time you changed it, that's probably a good reason to check it now. Write the installation date on the edge of the new filter before putting it in. Next time you check it, you'll know exactly how long it has been there. This is also a good time to make sure nothing has been stored against your furnace and that heating vents ...continued on next page

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46 | Fall 2026

The American Red Cross recommends removing, and draining outdoor hoses throughout the house aren't blocked by and closing interior valves that supply furniture, rugs, or other items. outdoor hose bibs when applicable. Changing a filter is an easy DIY task, Put away sprinklers, watering but servicing the furnace is different. attachments, and other warm-weather The CPSC recommends having home items you don't want to discover heating systems, including chimneys buried beneath the first snowfall. and vents, professionally inspected/ serviced annually. 5 MINUTES: TAKE ONE LAP AROUND continued from previous page...

THE HOUSE

5 MINUTES: HUNT FOR DRAFTS Walk around exterior doors and windows. Can you feel outside air coming through? Is weatherstripping missing or loose? Can you see daylight around an exterior door? The U.S. Department of Energy recommends caulking and weatherstripping as simple ways to reduce air leakage. You don't have to fix every draft during your five-minute inspection. Make a quick list of the places that need attention and add weatherstripping or caulk to your next hardware-store run.

5 MINUTES: DISCONNECT GARDEN HOSES Before freezing temperatures arrive, disconnect garden hoses, drain them, and store them for winter.

Head outside and take a walk around your home — don't forget to look up. Are leaves or debris collecting in the gutters? Is a downspout disconnected? Are tree branches touching the roof ? Is outdoor furniture still sitting where snow will soon pile up? You aren't trying to finish every fall maintenance project in five minutes. You're simply looking for the things that will be much easier to take care of now than after the snow starts falling. Make a short punch list: clean gutters, move patio furniture, repair a loose gate, empty flowerpots, or schedule a professional if you spot something that needs more than a simple fix.

5 MINUTES: GET READY FOR THE FIRST REALLY COLD NIGHT Finally, think about what you'll need when the first hard freeze, or first snowstorm, arrives. Do you know where the snow shovel is? Do you have ice melt? Are your flashlights easy to find and working? Do you know where your home's main water shutoff is? Take a few minutes to locate winter necessities and make a list of anything that needs replacing. If your home has pipes in especially cold or unheated areas, check them. The American Red Cross recommends insulating exposed pipes in areas such as basements, crawl spaces, garages, and under cabinets when they are vulnerable to freezing.

DONE IN 30 Thirty minutes won't replace major home maintenance or professional inspections, but it is enough time to catch some of the little things that are easy to put off until cold weather forces the issue.

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