Neighbors Of Park City July 2025

COVER PHOTO BY DEB DEKOFF - PARK CITY

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EXPERT CONTRIBUTORS

DAY SPA EXPERT CONTRIBUTOR

Allie Vacanti

Spa Manager • Align Spa 1792 Bonanza Dr., Building C, Ste 130 Park City, UT 84060 435.647.9300 • relax@alignspa.com

WELLNESS & ESTHETICS EXPERT

Dr. Giselle M. Batcheller

Wellness And Esthetics wellnessandesthetics.com 1816 Prospector Ave., Suite #203 435-631-2113

CLEAN LIVING EXPERT

Dana Grinnell Free Living Co. dana@freelivingco.com 208-869-6866

DENTAL WELLNESS EXPERT

Dr. Ryan Osorio Rise Wellness 1800 Prospector Ave., Park City, 84060 435-214-0544 risedentalwellness.com

PSYCHOTHERAPY AND COACHING EXPERTS

Ashley Montague, MA, AMFT, ACMHC Tracey Dwyer, LMFT (805) 319-1870 StillPointUtah.com

EDUCATION EXPERT

Jennifer Billow Vice President of Advancement Park City Education Foundation (435) 615-0235 pcef4kids.org

COLOR AND STYLE EXPERT CONTRIBUTOR

Julie Hickam House of Colour Julie.Hickam@houseofcolour.com 435.315.2258

REROOFING EXPERT

S and S Roofing

Emergency Repairs & Free Estimates Utah’s #1 Roofing Company 435-658-4344

AESTHETICS AND PLASTIC SURGERY EXPERT

Dr. Renato Saltz

Saltz Plastic Surgery and Spa Vitoria 1441 Ute Blvd. Suite 140, Park City, UT 84098 435-216-9876 | saltzplasticsurgery.com

EARLY PREVENTION MEDICAL EXPERT

Dr. Spenser Reed Park City DEXA pcdexa.com info@pcdexa.com

INSURANCE EXPERT

Bryan R. Daybell

Bryan R. Daybell Insurance Agency, Inc. 1960 Sidewinder Dr, Park City, 84060 bryan@bryandaybell.com 435-649-9161

RENOVATION & CONSTRUCTION EXPERT

Jenn Lewis, Owner Ghigau Construction | (801) 941-4508 www.ghigauconstruction.com jenn@ghigauconstruction.com

REAL ESTATE EXPERT

Annett Blankenship

Keller Williams Real Estate 693 Main St., Park City, UT 84060

annett@parkcityinvestor.com 435-602-9976

EVENT EXPERT

Tom Brazill Elevate Event Bartending 801-477-4452

tom@elevateeventbartending.com elevateeventbartending.com

WINE EXPERT

Pamela Wood Park City Wine Club info@ParkCityWineClub.com ParkCityWineClub.com

WELLNESS OPTIMIZATION EXPERTS

WOW Clinics

435-800-6969 info@wowclinic.com wowclinic.com

INTERIOR DESIGN EXPERTS

Franky & Tam

Studio Interiors & Co. franky@studiointeriorsutah.com tam@studiointeriorsutah.com 435-214-6951

FINANCE AND TAX EXPERTS

Danielle M. Meister, CFF®, CDFA® Madrona Financial & CPAs 833-673-7373 daniellem@madronafinancial.com

HOLISTIC AND INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE EXPERT

Autumn Bear M.S., L.AC, DIPL AC Autumn Bear Wellness Collective 5532 Lillehammer Lane, Suite 102 Park City 84098 | autumnbear.com

NATURE PRESERVATION AND EDUCATION EXPERT

Emma Lowe Swaner Preserve and Eco Center 1258 Center Dr.,Park City, UT 84098 swanerecocenter.org | (435) 797-8940

LOCAL NEWS EXPERT

KPCW

Spencer F. Eccles Broadcast Center PO Box 1372 | 460 Swede Alley Park City | UT | 84060 | kpcw.org 435) 649-9004 | (435) 655-8255

PLUMBING EXPERT

Jonathan Cheever Team Cheever Plumbing & Heating www.teamcheever.net 435-252-7697

ANIMAL HEALTH EXPERT

Dr. Carl Prior Park City Animal Clinic 1725 Sidewinder Dr., Park City 84060 435-649-0710

PET NUTRITION EXPERT

Heide Fowler, Owner Healthy Pets Summit County 435-214-7963 healthypetssummit@gmail.com

ANIMAL WELLBEING EXPERTS

Stephen Jones, MVB, MS, DECVS 5373 UT-224, Park City, UT 84098 barkcityvet.com | 435.200.2160 info@barkcityvet.com

Molly Uhlig

Pete’s Adventure Pack petesadventurepack.com petesadventurepack@gmail.com 404-550-5633

WOMEN’S WELLNESS EXPERTS

Erin Seamons Earthy Erin earthyerin.com | 435-200-5778 info@eathyerin.com

Rachel Friedman Stoke Coach stokecoach.com rachel@stokecoach.com

BETSY DEMANN Publisher

bdemann@bestversionmedia.com

JACQUIE SYMES

Content Coordinator

jacquie@bestversionmedia.com

MITCHELL OLSEN

Account Executive molsen@bestversionmedia.com

JARED DEMANN

Account Executive

jdemann@bestversionmedia.com

EMILY REZIN Designer

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Meet theTeam!

Natalie Taylor

Natalie Taylor is a regular contributor to Neighbors of Park City/Heber and writes the monthly “Rad in the Wasatch” column. She leads a writerly life and relishes poeming in her garden. She has lived in Utah most of her life, surrounded by the majesty of the Rocky Mountains. One of her favorite memories is sitting under the porch on a rocking couch with her grandmother, listening to stories, and gazing at Mount Olympus. Considering herself fortunate, she’s been able to explore some hidden crannies of the state as well as those well-known gems. She’s not finished exploring yet.

Natalie earned a BFA in English with a creative writing emphasis from the

L. COOK

University of Utah. She is the author of the poetry chapbook, Eden’s Edge and has been published in notable poetry journals and anthologies. She served as a managing editor for Utah Bride & Groom and as an assistant editor for Utah Style & Design and has written for many local publications, including Park City magazine and ParkCity Style magazine for years.

In addition to writing, she is a yoga teacher and sound practitioner. She teaches three nights a week, in a variety of formats, from power vinyasa to restore and offers monthly public sound

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

baths as well as private events. When she’s not writing, practicing or teaching yoga or participating or leading in sound medicine events, you can find her hiking, skiing, camping, soaking hot springs or just enjoying the views with her daughters and beloved pooch.

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

KIRSTEN KOHLWEY

MICHELLE DEININGER

PHOEBE ZANIELLO

TIFFANY WICKES

RICHARD ELLIS

SANDY GELDHOF

NATALIE TAYLOR

ISABELLA VENEGAS IZZY CRANDALL

MARITZA ROÑO REFUERZO

ERIC RAMIREZ

AIMEE

MELISSA FIELDS

OWEN CRANDALL

DEB DEKOFF

DANA KLEIN

KRISTEN PIERCE

LEXIE LARSON SARAH SEVERSON

AT BLACK ROCK MOUNTAIN RESORT

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S C A N T O L E A R N M O R E

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* D i s c o u n t d o e s n o t a p p l y t o a l c o h o l i c b e v e r a g e s a n d c a n n o t b e c o m b i n e d w i t h o t h e r p r o m o t i o n s o r s p e c i a l s .

HUGO SPRITZ The

The Hugo Spritz is an exciting addition to the spritz family. It is a bright and sassy alternative to the slightly heavier and bitter Aperol Spritz. The Hugo Spritz was created by Italian bartender Roland Gruber in 2005. Made with Prosecco, Elderflower Liquor, Soda Water, and Mint. The end product has a naturally sweet flavor with herbal notes, while the mint adds a fresh, zesty essence to the finish.

Sweet, bubbly, and refreshing. The Hugo Spritz is the perfect drink to sip on while lounging by the pool or, really lounging anywhere and pretending you are by the pool.

Prep time 5 minutes

INGREDIENTS*:

• 1 ½ oz Elderflower Liqueur

• 2 oz Prosecco

• 2 oz Soda Water

DIRECTIONS:

• 6-8 Mint Leaves

• Lime Wedge for Garnish

• Mint Sprig for Garnish

Start by adding ice to a wine glass. Add Elderflower Liqueur. Then add mint leaves. Stir gently for about 10 seconds. Add both the Prosecco and Soda Water. Stir again making sure to bring the mint leaves up from the bottom. Garnish with a Lime Wedge. “Smack”** the mint sprig between your hands and place in the glass. Sip and smile!

**Bartenders Trick: Smacking the mint releases the essential oils which contains the flavor and scent of the mint.

If you tried this and liked it…. Tag me on Instagram @elevateeventbartending

BY SANDY GELDHOF PHOTOS BY LEXIE LARSON

SAY CHEESE!

Park City Creamery Delivers Curated and Award-Winning Fromage Infused with the Mountains (Literally!)

When it comes to her craft Corrinne Zinn brings passion, knowledge and a whole lot of Altitude

For true connoisseurs of finely curated, homemade cheese, Park City Creamery is a hidden gem unlike any other in Utah. Their offerings are not only infused with the unique essence of the local mountains, but each bite comes with a heartwarming story so delightful, it feels like something straight out of a classic Shirley Temple film.

Born in a small town near Brussels, Belgium owner and fromager Corrinee Zinn remembers running in the fields among cows at her family’s small farm. Nearby, her aunt made small batches of cheese for family and friends in her basement. But it wasn’t until many years later

when fate brought Zinn to Connecticut, and then to the mountains of Colorado, that her true calling took root.

Following a flight in the days after 9/11––“We put everything in the truck like new pioneers and moved west”, she remembers––Zinn found herself living among local vineyards and wineries. Recognizing that her new life offered an opportunity rooted in family tradition, Zinn connected with a local French cheesemaker who offered her a few tips. “I thought, I like to

In the west we don’t talk about it very much but in France it’s defining, every region has its own terroir.

cook, maybe I can come up with something just for myself, so I bought some milk from a local farmer.” Her idea was just to make a little for herself and her family, but after a local vineyard sampled her product, ”He got so excited to have some local cheese with his wine,” says Zinn, “that’s how everything started.” Her initial foray with one winery quickly branched out to include many wineries and local farmers’ markets in Aspen and Crested Butte, whereby her local resource for milk advised her to purchase a goat to help her keep up with the

demand, leading Zinn to purchase one goat, which eventually turned into fifty. “I had never milked a goat before and the eight-year-old daughter of the farmer who sold me the goat had to teach me,” she laughed.

In 2012, Zinn moved to Utah where she worked as a consultant for a farmer in Midway who purchased her goats looking to start a cheese business. It was then Zinn established Fromage without Borders. “My idea was to help U.S. farmers to create a more European-style cheese,” she said. “In Utah, you can find a lot of cheddar and Swiss cheese but not the type of cheese we are making, which is called softripened, and a brie-style of cheese.”

After Deer Valley Resort started purchasing her cheeses, the executive chef offered her a kitchen at Silver Lake where she finetuned her craft over four years. “It was a dream come true. I was skiing in the morning and making cheese in the afternoon,” she said.

Following the resort’s sale, Zinn rented a kitchen in Salt Lake City and started experimenting with different recipes. In 2018 she found a warehouse near Hideout, Utah and the Park City Creamery was born.

With a staff of four, including a cheesemaker from France, the creamery focusses its craft on two unique processes: altitude and terroir, described as “taste of place,” the idea that the

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flavor of the cheese is influenced by its place of origin. “In the west we don’t talk about it very much but in France it’s defining, every region has its own terroir. The terroir in Utah will be different than in California, and it even differs in seasons here in Utah. It depends on what the cows and goats are eating,” says Zinn.

With the unique flavors and boutique process that go into her products Utahns have been supportive. The creamery sells its products at local farmers markets and in retail groceries including The Market at Park City, Copper Moose Farms, Fresh Market, Macey’s, Heber Valley Farm,

Our cheese cave will smell like pears or bananas, sometimes apricot, it’s a very unique experience.

Dan’s Foothill, Harmons, and Caputo’s in Salt Lake City. Fine dining restaurants have also “paid homage to the fromage” including Creamery cheeses as part of their menu offerings at Montage, Deer Valley, Le Depot, Courcheval, and High West, among many others. The creamery has also earned impressive accolades in the industry, and annual recognition from international audiences.

Each month the creamery teams up with the Park City Wine Club for an intimate gathering of wine and cheese pairings they call Table for 12. “We love the public to come and learn about the process and enjoy a wonderful evening with great wine and cheese.”

From the mountains of Colorado to the curated tastes of the Wasatch Back, the Creamery has made an impact and continues to attract national attention. Zinn is in the process of working to expand the business to the palates of New York and California through distribution. And, when asked if she could recommend her favorite, Zinn laughed. “They are all my babies; I could never pick just one.”

RESIDENCE CLUB

Just minutes from Deer Valley’s new East Village ski lifts, Ameyalli Residence Club boasts serene views of the majestic Wasatch Mountains.

The Club’s four-bedroom, four-and-a-half-bathroom homes offer like-minded families a seamless blend of pampered living, real estate co-ownership, and wellbeing programs curated by one of the world’s most respected longevity experts.

BY AIMEE L. COOK

PENDRY PARK CITY BRINGS ELEVATED ALPINE LUXURY TO UTAH

Pendry Park City stands out as a destination for those seeking a luxurious yet approachable, family-friendly escape. This modern alpine lodge offers the perfect blend of sophistication and casual comfort, making it a must-visit spot for families, outdoor enthusiasts, and anyone craving a taste of elevated mountain living.

A RETREAT FOR EVERY SEASON

With 175 beautifully designed guest rooms and suites, Pendry Park City combines the natural warmth of its mountain setting with a sleek, modern aesthetic. Floor-to-ceiling windows and contemporary furnishings create a soothing ambiance that mirrors the beauty of the outdoors. Whether you’re visiting for ski season or a summer getaway, the accommodations pay homage to the surrounding landscape in a way that feels both timeless and fresh.

And it’s not just about relaxation. Pendry’s Adventure Guides at Compass Sports are at the ready to ensure you get the most out of everything Park City has to offer. From bike and premium gear rentals to guided mountain tours, they make it easy to explore the stunning Utah terrain, no matter the season.

“Compass Sports is our year-round outfitter, and as we get into the warmer months, we offer mountain biking, guided tours, E-bikes and hiking,” says Chris Lawing, director of sales and marketing for Pendry. “We also partner with UPPAbaby and provide baby-jogger-type strollers.”

Need some adult time to go exploring? There’s Paintbox, Pendry’s signature children’s club, where kids ages five to 12 can enjoy various activities, lunch, or dinner, depending on the session time. Pendry’s focus on balancing family-friendly conveniences with standout experiences ensures that every family member is well taken care of.

For those seeking relaxation, the signature spa is the ideal place to unwind and find inner peace after a day of adventure. Treat yourself to a rejuvenating treatment or just relax in the herbal steam room.

DINING WITH A VIEW

Pendry Park City’s culinary offerings are just as dazzling as its surroundings. Head to The Pool House, the rooftop dining space open to the public, to experience casual yet refined creations paired with panoramic views of the mountains. To add a touch of fun, there’s even a DJ spinning during summer weekends, perfect for those laid-back afternoons in the sun.

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Kita is the place to be for a higher-end dining experience that’s still wonderfully approachable. Specializing in dishes with Japanese influences, Kita offers the kind of meals that stay with you. And here’s a sweet bonus for families or guests with a sweet tooth: After dinner, you can enjoy complimentary s’mores kits, with which you can toast marshmallows by one of the three outdoor firepits, as well as savor the simple pleasures that set the Pendry experience apart.

Dos Olas Mexican restaurant will also reopen during the summer months, and the Après Lounge is always open for dining, snacks, cocktails, and such.

PLAN YOUR VISIT TO PENDRY PARK CITY

Whether you’re drawn in by the unparalleled dining, familyfriendly amenities, or the call of the mountains, this modern alpine retreat ensures your time in Park City is nothing short of exceptional. Chris shares an insider tip for locals: The 10-person Sunrise Gondola in Pendry Plaza is slated to open for the 2025–2026 season!

For more details and booking options, visit Pendry Park City’s website today. Its staff will be waiting with a s’mores kit (or two) just for you!

Website: www.pendry.com/park-city/ Facebook: /pendryparkcity • Instagram: @pendryparkcity

INDULGE IN CULINARY ELEGANCE

Transform your dining experience with our exclusive Private and Personal Chef Service! At Culinary Elegance, we bring your gastronomic dreams to life, whether it’s an intimate dinner or a grand celebration.

Let our talented chefs weave their culinary magic at your table, delivering a luxurious dining experience that knows no bounds.

Your exquisite journey starts here. Discover a new standard in fine dining with Culinary Elegance! 435 655 1449 thymetodinecatering.com

chefakeenoclarke@gmail.com

AKEENO

BY AIMEE L. COOK

WASTELESS SOLUTIONS BRIDGES THE GAP BETWEEN EXCESS AND ACCESS

WasteLess Solutions, a Utah-based nonprofit dedicated to fighting food waste and hunger, has a simple goal: rescue surplus food and make sure it feeds people, not landfills. With Dana Williamson stepping down as founder and president, WasteLess Solutions has announced, as of June 2nd, Alexx Goeller as its new director.

“It has been such a passion and joy building this organization. I have been in awe of how the community has gotten behind the cause and really helped us grow and make such a difference,” says Dana. “WasteLess is in a great place, and it is time to hand it over to a new leader. A leader who is passionate about making a difference, about supporting our volunteers, about growing our staff and building our funding so WasteLess can accomplish all that we envision. It is an honor to pass the reins to her [Alexx]. I am excited to see where she takes the organization.”

With more than a decade of experience in the nonprofit and public sectors, Alexx has passionately dedicated her career to creating lasting social impact. Her journey began in 2012 with two years of service in the US Peace Corps, followed by influential work with Utah’s diverse refugee community. Most recently, Alexx led the philanthropy and community engagement team at a children’s museum, where she expanded access for underrepresented communities, fostered key partnerships, and launched creative initiatives, including organizing unique fundraising events and establishing a Young Professionals board.

“I have a lot of ideas to grow the organization; there is so much potential,” Alexx shares. “I

want to dive into all the partnerships and look at ways to possibly monetize what we are doing. I am really excited and honored to be in this role.”

WasteLess Solutions partners with local businesses to rescue edible, surplus food that would otherwise go to waste. Thanks to its volunteers—a.k.a., “food rescuers”—these perfectly good items are swiftly delivered to organizations like Boys and Girls Club, YMCA, and Rescue Mission, where they’re distributed to those in need.

A grant from Whole Foods now allows the organization to operate a fully refrigerated electric van, launching the Mobile Market project. In May, the Mobile Market completed its first delivery, bringing fresh, nutritious food directly to its partners at Comunidades Unidas. This new initiative allows Mobile Market to reach even more communities, expanding access to healthy food and strengthening the commitment to reducing food waste.

SUMMIT COUNTY EXPANSION

With support from the Park City Community Foundation, WasteLess Solutions has recently expanded into Summit County as part of its Zero Food Waste initiative. This included hiring area director Julianne Rosen-Carone, stepping closer to the goal of diverting all food waste from local landfills by 2030. Recently, Julianne and her team rescued 250 pounds of produce and dairy items from the Legacy Lodge at Park City Mountain Resort.

“Eventually, I would love to see a WasteLess in every country,” Alexx says. “I want it to be a household name.”

ALEXX GOELLER

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WAYS TO GET INVOLVED

Becoming a volunteer food rescuer is one of the fastest, most impactful ways to make a difference. The streamlined rescue app, powered by Food Rescue US, allows volunteers to complete pickups and deliveries in less than 30 minutes. All it takes is a quick glance at the app to see where you’re needed.

“The volunteers are the heartbeat of the organization; they are what the organization is,” Alexx says. “I want to make sure we are [acknowledging] them and nominating them for various recognitions.”

How can one help expand resources and sustain operations? Give money. Have extra fruits or vegetables from your garden? Sending those surplus produce items is a fantastic way to contribute. Additionally, if your organization or community program could benefit from rescued food, consider becoming a food receiver to help distribute these valuable resources to those who need them most.

Mark your calendar and plan to attend the annual Second Chance Dance, where six local chefs transform rescued food into gourmet dishes, judged by attendees and celebrated experts. Monday, August 25, 2025, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., at The Grandview at Millcreek Common, 1354 E Chambers Ave, Millcreek, 84106. Tickets are $100.

“WasteLess Solutions’ Second Chance Dance is not only a night of great food and drink—it’s a celebration of sustainability, creativity, and community impact,” says Heather King, head of the Chefs’ Committee for Second Chance Dance. “I’m passionate about getting healthy food to those who need it most and in the process of keeping unused and ‘ugly’ food from being discarded needlessly. With top-tier chefs from Manoli’s, Bambara, Riverhorse on Main, Franklin Avenue, Arlo, and Brighton Resort transforming rescued ingredients into culinary masterpieces, this event proves that reducing food waste can be both delicious and inspiring.”

MOBILE MARKET

ALEXX & FAMILY

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Behind the Scenes with Jacqi Tewksbury at Stein Eriksen Residences

BY AIMEE L. COOK

PHOTOS BY DEB DEKOFF

If you’ve ever stayed at Stein Eriksen Residences in Deer Valley, chances are Jacqi Tewksbury had a hand in making your visit unforgettable. Since 2016, Jacqi has been a driving force behind the seamless daily operations of the prestigious property, proving that resort management is as much about dedication and precision as it is about creating extraordinary guest experiences.

As Resort Manager for the residences, a separate property from the lodge, Jacqi oversees the 54 residences, half of which are part of a rental pool. From coordinating repairs to ensuring the most minor maintenance details are handled flawlessly, she’s always one step ahead to ensure the property runs like a well-oiled machine.

“My job entails maintaining the guest experience from the moment they book until they have made it home,” Jacqi explained. “I assist housekeeping and engineering managers and their teams with anything that they need as well. I also handle owner relations, which for many owners is their second home.”

THE STEIN ERIKSEN WAY ALWAYS

Stein Eriksen offers a unique blend of luxury and natural beauty. Guests enjoy the stunning alpine views, world-class dining, and thoughtful amenities designed for relaxation. Whether you’re stepping onto the slopes in winter or soaking up the serene summer atmosphere, the property’s charm lies in its ability to balance elegance and warmth.

Jacqi’s role oversees this balance, ensuring that even the most routine repairs, like owners having a working vehicle onsite, align with the resort’s high standards. Her attention to detail and love for the community keep Stein Eriksen Residences running smoothly year-round.

Jacqi describes her work as a blend of problem-solving and relationship-building. “Hospitality is a 24/7, 365 thing, and we are managing high expectations for owners and our guests,” she explains. “It means being available around the clock and managing things from start to finish.”

“I enjoy getting to know the owners organically,” Jacqi added. “The non-Google approach, I call it. Interactions with the people and sharing those with the team are really key. Even though I don’t work in the kitchen, it doesn’t mean I don’t assist the chef by sharing feedback for his team.”

Jacqi moved to Park City from California in 1997 and has loved Park City ever since. She met her now-husband, Dan, through mutual friends while he was working at Cole Sports in 2014. Later, Dan would begin his career at Stein’s as a concierge in 2015. The couple married in August of 2018 and welcomed their first child, a son, in December of 2020. You might say working for Stein Eriksen is a family affair.

“I love Park City, I had a great childhood here, “Jacqi shared. “I am welcoming of some of the changes in town, we [Stein Eriksen] are part of some that change, so by embracing what we have here, I want to portray the best parts of town so people who come have the best trip possible.”

When she’s not busy with resort tasks, you’ll find Jacqi alongside Dan and their son, exploring the beauty of the local area.

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SUMMERY WINE COCKTAILS AND SPRITZ’S

Things are heating up as we enter the height of summer. Let me offer some wine cocktails and spritzes to help you cool down and enjoy!

Of course you should still enjoy your favorite light wines but here are a few cooler options. Enjoy these fun easy wine recipes for hot days with your friends or simply for yourself - cheers!

AlFresco - four simple ingredients: lime, simple syrup, cucumber, & Chardonnay.

Make a simple syrup by combining equal parts water and sugar. Heat the mixture in a pan until almost boiling, then stir until the sugar is completely dissolved. Let it cool. Or you can buy simple syrup.

In a shaker, add 3-4 slices of cucumber, 3-4 lime slices, and 1.5 oz of simple syrup. Muddle. Then, add 4 oz of Chardonnay, add ice, shake, and pour. Garnish with a half-lime slice, and if the taste is too tart, add a small amount more of simple syrup to taste. Make it even more fun by serving in a martini glass.

Patriotic Palate - also only four ingredients. Use four inch bamboo skewers and alternate raspberry and blueberry. Put skewers in freezer for 20-30 minutes. Time to serve with chilled Sauvignon Blanc, put a berry skewer directly into the wine - if desired you can put a star fruit on top of the skewer for even more flair.

White Wine Lemonade Spritzer or Tinto de Verano - Both very simple and oh so refreshing!

For a White Wine Lemonade

spritzer, simply pour a glass (4 oz) of dry white wine, usually Pinot Gris/Grigio, Albariño or Sauvignon Blanc, add small amount of ice or frozen wine ice cubes, some chilled lemonade, sparkling water or lemon tonic and you’re ready to enjoy. Garnish with lemon if so desired. Tinto de Verano, “red wine of summer.” Put ice ( or wine ice) in a glass, fill 50% with Spanish red wine (I use a Rioja CrianzaTempranillo) and 50% lemon soda, give a stir, garnish with lemon slice and enjoy.

A Pinot Punch, aka Summer Solstice Wine cooler - Muddle some fresh cherries and peach slices, add a light Pinot Noir and top with a cold shot of fizzy blood orange Italian soda. This is oh-sogood and incredibly refreshing! There is of course the traditional Aperol Spritz, which has the look of summer sunsets and so very easy - 3 parts, Aperol, Prosecco and Club soda over ice with a orange slice in the glass or there is the Negroni, with a slightly bitter taste as it’s made from Gin, Vermouth Rosso (this is an aromatized wine) and Campari over ice.

And don’t forget it’s better and more tasty to use wine ice cubes vs regular ice.

Whatever you choose, enjoy, stay cool and enjoy all summer has to offer - Cheers!

Visit Parkcitywineclub.com for some fun summer events including Rose/ Frose on July 10th with Park City Creamery and more.

Pamela Wood, CWE, AWE

Certified Sommelier ParkCityWineClub.com, Director of Education,

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Summer Pizza Box Concert Series

@Este Pizzeria 1781 Sidewinder Dr, Park City

July

DATES TO REMEMBER:

WE LOVE SHARING LOCAL HAPPENINGS!

To feature your event in a future issue, email jacquie@bestversionmedia.com.

Just be sure to send it in by the 13th of the month before your event date

Featuring a variety of talented local musicians every Friday & Saturday evening from 6-9pm on our beautiful patio, weather permitting. In case of inclement weather, the music will continue indoors, ensuring a great time no matter the forecast. Indulge in our famous seasonal pizzas and other fare, including vegan and gluten free items! With family friendly vibes, it is the perfect opportunity to connect with the community while enjoying live music and delicious food. Come for the music, stay for the pizza and create unforgettable summer memories with us!

Time: 6-9pm • Cost: Free Website: www.estepizzaparkcity.com/

Poetry Event: Walking and Writing Into the Living World

@Kimball Art Center

1251 Kearns Blvd, Park City

Join poets Rebecca Brenner and Nan Seymour for an evening of poetry, conversation, and community connection. Through shared poems and moderated discussion, Brenner and Seymour will explore how writing can become a practice of walking beyond concepts—into the heart of what is real, alive, and urgently felt.

The evening will open with a presence practice and walking meditation, offering participants an opportunity to arrive fully in their bodies and tune into the land around them.

Following the session, Brenner and Seymour will reflect on how their creative work connects them to the living world, their ancestors, and ecological and social justice movements. The program will conclude with a Q&A and space for audience reflections.

Time: 6-7:30pm • Cost: Free

Website: kimballartsstg.wpengine.com

Park Silly Sunday Market

@Main Street, Park City

Park Silly Sunday Market is back and we couldn’t be more excited to kick off the 2025 season with all of you! Join us on Historic Main Street in Park City for a day full of local flavor, live music, one-of-a-kind finds, and seriously silly fun.

• Eco-friendly open-air market

• Local + regional artists, makers, and crafters

• Live music & street performances

• Gourmet food vendors

• Vintage, antiques, and totally unique treasures

Bring your friends, your family, and your market bags and come see what makes Park

© Best Version Media

Silly one of the most beloved summer traditions in Utah.

Time: 10am-5pm • Cost: Free Website: parksillysundaymarket.com/

Opera on the Patio

@Park City Library 1255 Park Ave, Park City

Back for its second season, Opera on the Patio is a free outdoor performance at the Park City Library. Bring a picnic, your family, and even your dog for an evening of beloved opera set against the backdrop of a summer sunset. Enjoy great music in a relaxed, welcoming setting—no tickets required.

Time: 6:30-8pm • Cost: Free Website: https://www.parkcityopera.org/

Last Friday Gallery Stroll

@Historic Main Street, Park City

Hosted by the Park City Gallery Association, the Last Friday Gallery Stroll, is a fun (and free) monthly community event dedicated to highlighting artists and special exhibits at art galleries throughout town. Park City’s art scene continues to thrive, offering a robust variety of unique art collections from local, national, and international artists. On the last Friday of each month, nineteen of our art galleries open their doors for visitors and locals alike to enjoy light refreshments and to admire their latest art installations. It’s the perfect way to explore the Park City art scene while enjoying scenic Historic Main Street and our beautiful alpine evenings.

Time: 6-9pm • Cost: Free Website: parkcitygalleryassociation.com/

Pie and Beer

@Deer Valley Cafe 1375 Deer Valley Dr, Park City

Indulge in a unique culinary experience with Deer Valley's renowned pastry chefs as you learn the art of making pies from scratch. Savor the flavors of local beer while discovering the secrets to achieving perfection in every pie. This hands-on class offers a delightful blend of baking expertise and beer pairing, promising a memorable and delicious adventure for all participants. This is a 21+ class.

Time: 3:30pm • Cost: $78 per ticket, register online Website: https://www.deervalley.com/

Kimball Art Fest

@Kimball Art Center 1251 Kearns Blvd, Park City

The Park City Kimball Arts Festival is one of the nation’s top-ranked art festivals and a cornerstone program of the Kimball Art Center. Each year, this three-day, open-air celebration showcases the work of jury-selected artists and draws visitors from across the country. Widely regarded as one of Park City’s signature events, the festival brings the community together in a vibrant display of creativity and culture.

Time: Fri., 5-9pm Sat., 10am-8pm, Sun., 10am-6pm Cost: Adults $25, Kids 5+ $10, Kids under 5 Free Website: kimballartsfestival.org

Summit Land Conservancy’s Blue Sky Bash

@Blue Sky Ranch Wanship, UT

If saving land sounds even better when paired with heavy pours, tasty grub, and a rowdy auction, round up your buckaroos and join us for the 2025 Blue Sky Bash—the biggest hoedown (and showdown) this side of the Weber River! Because yes, saving land should be fun. Early bird tickets are $500 for a limited time, so don’t lollygag—giddy up and saddle up today! Prices rise on July 12.

IT'S THE BUZZ

BY AIMEE L. COOK

Time: 5:30-10:30pm • Cost: See website for details Website: https://www.wesaveland.org/happenings

DISCOVER THE ULTIMATE BIKE ADVENTURE WITH SKIS ON THE RUN

Planning to explore the stunning trails of Park City or Deer Valley on two wheels? Skis on the Run brings biking adventures to a new level with our premium bike rental delivery service. Whether you’re a local enthusiast or a traveler eager to soak up the mountain air, they make it easier than ever to hit the trails. Imagine your ideal bike delivered directly to your door, perfectly tuned and ready to go. It doesn’t get better than this!

Skis on the Run is about blending convenience, quality, and personalized service into every ride. They bring the bike to you and pick it up when you finish your 2-wheeled adventure.

Available bikes include a full-suspension mountain bike, a comfort e-bike, an electric mountain bike, a hybrid bike, a kids' bike and even a kid hauler, the Chariot.

https://skisontherun.com/

SUMMER ESCAPES AT MONTAGE DEER VALLEY

Independence Day

July 4

Celebrate July 4th with a poolside BBQ by Slope Stream, a lively pool party, and axe throwing, guided by the Compass Sports team.

Labor Day Weekend

August 30 - September 1

Enjoy an action-packed Labor Day weekend featuring familyfriendly fun. Saturday brings a festive pool party with complimentary toys and an Animal Show at Compass Sports. Sunday offers face painting and balloon art in the Lobby, and Monday wraps up with a guided hike to explore the great outdoors.

Taste of Montage

| May 23, June 13, July 11 & August 29

Savor the return of the second-annual Taste of Montage, a culinary event held on select Fridays. Sample light bites from signature dining spots like Apex and Burgers & Bourbon, sip specialty cocktails, and enjoy stunning mountain views and local activations.

Star Party | August 13

Witness the wonder of the Perseid meteor shower alongside Utah Valley Astronomical Club experts. Delight in gourmet bites from Slope Stream and sparkling refreshments from the Veuve Clicquot Après Lounge under the starry sky.

www.montage.com/deervalley/experiences/

© Best Version Media

UPCOMING EVENTS AT THE PARK CITY LIBRARY

FOL Book Sale

July 3–4, during open hours

Join us for a book sale.

Charlas en la cocina

July 9 at 10:00 AM

Make traditional Latinx dishes and discuss mental health.

Utah Mushrooms Workshop

July 11 at 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM (registration required)

Learn what mushrooms you can find in the varying habitats of Northern Utah while making a deck of identification flashcards to take home and study.

Movie on the Patio: Paddington in Peru • July 11 at 8:45 PM

Enjoy a free, outdoor movie on a big screen, with free popcorn, on the Library’s patio.

Summer Slide • July 13 at 11:00 AM

Slip and slide, make huge bubbles, play with yard games, and get free books.

You Were “MINT” to Be a Homeowner (with Utah State University Extension) • July 14 at 6:00 PM (registration required)

Learn about homeownership and enjoy Aggie Blue Mint ice cream.

Film Screening and Q&A for “Travis: True Story of Travis Walton”

July 15 at 3 p.m.

Join us for a screening of a documentary about Travis Walton’s 1975 UFO abduction. A Q&A with film director Jennifer Stein will follow the screening.

Managing My Mortgage (with Utah State University Extension)

July 16 at 6:00 PM (registration required)

Learn more about your options for paying off your mortgage.

Writing Group • July 19 at 3 p.m.

We meet monthly to give writing advice and share our writing. Please bring printed copies of your work.

Intro to Guitar • July 22 at 4:30 p.m.

A class to help aspiring guitarists of all ages with basic knowledge and techniques to get started with the instrument.

Local Speaker Series: Art Bell

July 23 at 4:00 PM

Join us for our Local Speaker Series with Art Bell, a former television executive and author.

Opera on the Patio

July 23 at 6:30 PM

Enjoy opera on our outdoor patio.

One Book One Community Final Event: Author John Vaillant

July 29 at 7:00 PM

John Vaillant will speak on his book Fire Weather. There will be a book signing after the presentation with books available to purchase, provided by Dolly’s Bookstore.

From Zero to Tango

July 31 at 5:30 PM

Spice up your week with movement at a free tango class.

THE LOCAL

COMMUNITY NEWS FROM KPCW

Welcome to The Local, your source for community news from your friendly neighborhood public radio station. KPCW is the only nonprofit source of daily news across Summit and Wasatch counties. Tune in to our new podcast, “The Community Campfire,” Fridays at 9 a.m. We showcase your stories, live music, witty Campfire Kids and much more.

KPCW has hand-selected recent articles that reflect the happenings in our vibrant, eclectic and engaged community. Read–and listen–like a local at KPCW.org.

Summit County expects ‘increased wildfire risk’ from forest service cuts

By Connor Thomas

The latest estimates are that the Trump administration has reduced U.S. Forest Service staffing by 10%. Politico reports 75% of USFS staff are trained in firefighting, so cuts elsewhere reverberate through the agency.

“It's not that they're targeting the wildfire funding. They're targeting the support staff,” Summit County Lands and Natural Resources Director Jess Kirby said at the June 4 Summit County Council meeting.

She told the council that federal partners have reached out to inquire about administrative help or help closing roads because those employees may need to be on the fire line instead.

According to a county staff report, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s cuts and policy changes spell “increased wildfire risk,” at least in Summit County.

Historic Park City Centennial House to be rebuilt

By Parker Malatesta

Known as the Centennial House and Durkin Boarding House, the landmark historic site at 176 Main Street was built in the early 1900s.

A report on the physical condition of the home lists issues including black mold, animal carcasses and “alarming signs of structural distress.”

Under plans approved by Park City’s Historic Preservation Board June 4, the new owner will be allowed to deconstruct the building, salvaging as many historic materials as possible.

The owners intend to construct a new foundation and build a new single-family home using salvaged and replacement materials to reflect the 1907-style of the former boarding house.

Community bids farewell to Treasure Mountain Junior High

By Kristine Weller

Dozens of former and current staff and students from Treasure Mountain Junior High said goodbye to the school June 4; the school is closing and will be torn down in the fall.

The Park City School District hosted a farewell event to celebrate the decades of memories made there.

Brian Schiller, Treasure’s first principal, is now in his 70s and remembers many of the original staff including school cook Billy Wilma Larimore, who made chocolate sheet cakes using grapefruit, a favorite among students. Also, Judy Holt, the best school counselor Schiller said he ever worked with.

Schiller bid the school farewell saying the building is just an edifice; the people who walked the halls are what’s important.

Get your Park City and Summit County local news in your email inbox every morning for free. Subscribe to “The Local” from KPCW. Sign up at kpcw.org.

Local News in Summit County

The KPCW News Team brings you daily news on the radio, online, and directly to your email inbox with our free newsletter:

Local Scan here to subscribe – it’s FREE!

Public radio stations like KPCW play a vital role in connecting communities through fact-based reporting, local storytelling, and civil discourse. We’re community-powered and committed to serving the Wasatch Back, but we can’t do it without your help!

Donate now at www.KPCW.org.

SOUGHT-AFTER AND SERENE:

A LISTING TO LOVE IN THAYNES CANYON

THAYNES CANYON – WHERE NATURE MEETS LUXURY

Nestled on the hillside behind the iconic McPolin White Barn along Highway 224, Thaynes Canyon is one of Park City’s most exclusive residential neighborhood. This serene community stretches from the iconic White Barn toward the Park City Municipal Golf Course, offering residents a rare combination of privacy, in-town convenience, and natural beauty. With easy access to skiing, hiking, shopping, and dining, Thaynes Canyon is a sought-after neighborhood that truly captures the essence of Park City living.

FEATURED LISTING: 2570 ASPEN SPRINGS DRIVE, PARK CITY, UTAH

Located in the desirable Aspen Springs Ranch community of Thayne’s Canyon, 2570 Aspen Springs Drive is a beautifully remodeled, south-facing home. This spacious residence features five bedrooms, a dedicated office, two large living areas, and a home theater—offering ample space for everyday living and entertaining.

Enjoy sweeping views from PC Hill to Jupiter Peak, including direct sightlines of the Park City and Deer Valley® ski runs. The large, fenced backyard is perfect for entertaining, with a patio already wired for a hot tub. A partial wrap-around front porch and cozy fire pit complete the outdoor living experience.

Inside, you’ll find thoughtful upgrades throughout, including a new kitchen with modern appliances, hardwood flooring, fresh paint, new windows, updated doors, fixtures, and lighting. The oversized 3-car garage includes epoxy floors, built-in storage, and a workbench—ideal for gear or hobbies. All just minutes from downtown Park City, Iron Mountain Trail, and the White Barn.

List Price - $4,980,000

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VOLCANOMAN

CANOMAN

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G. BRAD LEWIS STANDS ON HIS DECK, OVERLOOKING BRIGHTON ESTATES, THE PLACE HE CALLS HOME AND WHERE HE HAS PROBABLY TAKEN A MILLION PHOTOS.

The “ski cabin” was part of a lifelong goal, accomplished through persistence and communication, fulfilled after a 20-year exchange with the former owner. When ski resorts open, Brad can ride a snowmobile from his cabin to Deer Valley, and every day, he catches the first chair. Growing up with skis on his feet, a camera in hand, and an unfettered passion for the natural world, he has created a photography career in a peculiar, stunning setting.

He is known as “Volcanoman.”

“This is the second-largest aspen forest in the world,” Brad points out. “Next to Pando, in Fish Lake National Forest. And fall up here is amazing.” Now 67, he’s loved photography since he was five. Compelled by the art, he invested materially in film and paper, giving away photos and prints to friends and family.

In his late teens and early twenties, Brad traveled the world. “I started getting images that were quite compelling and popular when I gave slideshows,” he says. “I thought to myself, ‘This would be fun as a profession.’”

Brad’s success in photography came from the previous experience gained through personal fascination. He learned to understand volcanoes and navigate the landscape, even in its molten form. Where could he set up safely? Where could he capture the right image? He became the world’s premier volcanic photographer, finitely capturing the timeless nature of living earth.

ALASKA

After graduating from Park City High, Brad attended college in Salt Lake City. He admits, “I was so naïve about college. I was at the University of Utah, but I had no idea it was about employment! There was no job in English and psychology [his course of study] that I wanted,” he says. “I was 19, had a few credits to go. I left. I went to Alaska. My whole life just opened, even though I only had 50 bucks to my name.”

“On my first day there, I met someone who knew my grandma, and they offered me a job cutting jade in the Brooks Range,” Brad continues. “I took the job, I panned for gold, went hiking, and took tons of photos.”

On the second day in Alaska, a series of events led him to buy a house in Homer. The wilderness and the beauty drew him in. And Brad could call it home. Always a skier, He was ready for adventure right out the door.

While he was cutting jade, a precious stone, he says, “An exploration company was passing through the area. They needed a cook. I said, ‘I'm a cook.’” So Brad hopped on their crew.

With the exploration company, he learned to fly planes and helicopters, and before he knew it, he was airborne over the most remote, and stunning, part of the state, and taking photos all the while.

“A big part of my photography career developed because I stayed in outrageously beautiful places,” Brad explains. He enjoyed the field work; however, he saw the typical upward ladder ending in an office instead of the field. He preferred the field.

“In ’79, I did a winter ski ascent on Denali. So, we skied from the train depot 110 miles to the mountain, breaking trail for Jeff King,

who did the dog-mushing with 800 pounds of food. I don’t know anybody who’s ever done that.

“We skied to the Muldrow glacier. And then we stashed our skis, spent another 35 days on the mountain. We were going to catch a bus at Wonder Lake to go home. It was still winter, and the bus wasn’t running yet when we arrived. We had to ski out 100 miles after all that. I turned 21 on the mountain.” Their trip took 50 days.

HAWAI’I

Taking a break from 1983’s Alaskan winter, Brad went to Hawai’i. When he discovered its volcanoes and the “liquid light” characteristic of their lava, he realized it was something special. It was among the most amazing scenes he had ever captured, where he witnessed a 2,000-foot fountain erupting on the Big Island.

In his quest to be a career photographer, Brad had previously sent query letters to major magazines, like Life and National Geographic. “I was in my mom’s house writing a letter to Life magazine on a typewriter she gave me. My company was Omjolla Images. They remembered that and reached out to me during the eruption,” he remembers. Photographers were being sent to capture the event, but Brad was encouraged to submit his photos.

The publication did not run any photos from their in-house photographers—Life had published those taken by Brad, a freelancer. “The first photo was a lava flow crossing the highway, a double-page spread inside the cover,” says Brad.

“For that shot, I had to get on the other side of the police. I took my six-by-seven [medium-format] camera and walked past them like I was supposed to be there. I walked on the lava flow, each step flames [shooting] out around my shoes. On the other side, I took two frames. Then I packed up, went back across, and went home.”

The world saw Life’s spread of the photo, and Brad’s telephone never quit ringing. “In one week, I had 10 agents,” Brad says. They were all ready to buy his photos.

After capturing pictures of an eruption that would continue for the next three decades, Brad found himself living in the islands. Even though his heart was in Alaska, Hawai’i presented an opportunity. And that serendipitous timing led him to his first break into the big magazines.

“I wanted to be a full-time dad. In Alaska, all the work was bush work. I’d be gone two months at a time, so being there couldn’t really meet my future goals,” Brad concludes, calculating the opportunity into his life. “I think I need to be ‘Volcanoman,’” he had said to himself. “Volcano photography paid off. And it was a lot of fun. I’d be camping weeks at a time on the volcano.”

Living in Hawai’i, Brad successfully found his career, became a father, and was able to adapt his work life to meet his daughter’s needs and be fully present. The volcano had presented Brad with that golden opportunity to fulfill his life goals.

BEING A DAD

To provide his daughter, Heather, with a proper education and unique learning environment, Brad and some other community members created a charter school in a town called Volcano, near Kīlauea. Brad notes that Kīlauea is currently erupting. “It’s a 2,000-foot lava fountain, and it’s a mile from my house in Volcano,” Brad says, with Heather witnessing it firsthand.

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Volcano was perfectly placed for Brad to continue his unique work and still be authentically present for his growing daughter. Heather could continue at the charter school until she was in eighth grade. Reminiscing, Brad says, “I’m the only parent on the planet [whose] kid burned her fingers on hot lava. ‘Don’t touch the stuff,’ [he would say to Heather]. And I just thought, this is so classic, her experience of doing that kind of thing is unique.”

The curiosity for a kid can be overwhelming, but part of parenting is to let them experience the world.

“Her little world was my little world. I think she was eight years old when she told me, ‘Dad, I just realized that nobody else goes out on a snowmobile part of the year.’ She finally got it that her world, being my daughter, was unique. We knew we’d be in Alaska, then Utah, then Hawaii. Glaciers and bears and the volcano and lava and skiing and desert,” Brad says, thinking back. “Unique” may be an understatement—however, Heather was coming around to the realization that she had a special situation in life. And she embraced it.

After Heather’s eighth-grade year, Brad decided to move to Park City so that Heather could attend high school there. They leased a house close to Park City High, allowing her to walk to school—rather than snowmobile from Brighton Estates—and during the day, he caught the bus to ski. A couple years in, Brad started selling some prints in Park City galleries as well.

When Heather was a freshman, in 2013, it was Brad’s first year holding a season pass. It never got old. Heather thrived in Park City, graduated from high school, and saved her earnings as she worked, enabling her to take her own early-adult life adventures.

VOLCANOMAN

Brad pulls out a few books and older magazines, containing photos that sold more than his other work. “I started out in the film days. You can’t manipulate anything; it’s got to be perfect in camera. Some of my bestselling photos I shot on film,” Brad says.

It was before the era of different-speed films, or more sensitive film. Because lava has its own light, it behaves differently than what cameras and film of the day were designed to capture using traditional settings.

If you take one look at Brad’s stunning photos, it’s easy to see why his work was wildly popular. Lava has a characteristic glow amid contoured blacks found nowhere else. The deep orange-red flows, emerging into spouts as they pour into the ocean, tell Earth’s story. Brad was bringing that story to the world.

© Best Version Media

Knowing that Brad logged the necessary hours experimenting with exposures, apertures, and shutter speeds to capture lava correctly, one might say he cracked the code. As early digital cameras came to market, he kept using film.

“Digital could not capture the same dynamic range at the time,” says Brad. Dynamic range describes the difference between the darkest and lightest parts of an image reproduced on the film, or the digital camera’s sensor. Since photography was his career, he had to use what he knew would work.

The artistic draw—what caught the eye and captured attention—had to do with how Brad photographed people among the elements. That is what told the story he was trying to convey. Storytelling with images, especially still images, is no easy feat. There is one moment to capture the event—and before anyone even realizes it’s gone. A professional photographer doesn’t miss that opportunity. To be prepared for such moments, the gear investment is substantial. While 256-gigabyte memory cards have replaced film, cameras are still expensive, but not as expensive as missing the shot. Brad explains, “You get the best gear. It’s like skis. We need the right tools, and so you invest.”

Brad says he spent about $45,000 per year on film.

Developing film was a slow process. Brad sent the film to New York for processing, then waited two weeks to get it back. Never idle, he was headed into the field to capture more “liquid light.”

“I would be limited with how many rolls of film I could carry into the field. I had 100 rolls of 35-millimeter, 50 rolls of 220, or medium format, or six-by-seven. I’d have two tripods. I’d be in the field with a 100-pound pack. When I was shooting, I had two tripods set up, because every 20 shots, I had to change my film! I always wanted something recording while I was changing film,” Brad explains.

Being a camera in Brad’s pack meant a short, hard life. Highly acidic volcanic fumes ate apart his lenses and camera bodies. He sent a Pentax medium-format body back to have it serviced, and he was told, “This is as bad as if you dropped it in seawater.”

Brad insisted that Pentax work with him because he was constantly exposing cameras to corrosive elements. “That one [medium-format] Pentax lasted through five Nikons,” Brad had told them.

Then, a Pentax camera ad featuring Brad working among volcanos landed in mailboxes and on newsstands. His name and face found their way on to every photography magazine worldwide. “I couldn’t have paid for an ad like that,” he admits. He was everywhere.

EXPOSURE

“The volcano schtick was fun. I was hanging out with Matt Lauer on Good Morning America,” Brad recounts. “It was fun to have that kind of exposure. I went on to have the cover of Life magazine, the cover of National Geographic, and the cover of every magazine I ever wanted to work for. That was cool.”

“But being so well-known got old. At heart, I’m a low-key ski bum.” Brad found himself signing up for press events less often and getting back to the field, and sometimes

© Best Version Media

Heather would join him.

As the stock-photography market changed, a major revenue source, Brad watched single-image values plummet from $1,200 to $2.50. “I started selling prints in galleries. But at the time, no one was selling photos in Hawai’i. I talked them into trying it,” Brad says, describing gallery owners’ hesitance to committing. “By the time I got home, there was a message: “Hey, we already sold four prints.”

“I sold prints to 50 galleries in Hawai’i,” adds Brad.

He hosted photography workshops. Photographers joined him on a ship for instruction and shooting around Maui, Big Island, and Lanai. “And it was fun,” says Brad. “They got to eat five-star food and were all keen photographers.” However, Brad still mostly resonated with being solo in the field.

A perfect place for solo field work and also home, Alaska and its natural elements have also become his subjects. “Recently, I’ve been photographing bears. I’ve just been hanging out with the bears,” Brad muses.

Alaskan brown bears make exceptional subjects; in Brad’s latest photos, they’re snapping salmon midair as both creatures navigate waterfalls.

Alaska calls him back each summer. After his spring desert visits, Brad flies north to Kachemak Bay, fishing, sailing, and being with the bears. Opportunities had aligned in such a way for him to travel to his dream locations, be a father, and, in effect, photodocument a precise moment in geologic time from beginning to end. The 36-year eruption of Pu’u Ō’ō is the basis for Volcanoman’s stunning work. He was there in 1983 for the first eruption and viewed, from a helicopter, the final eruption in 2018. It was over. Geologically, the event that made his career and defined his understanding of nature had closed.

“If every human could see hot lava, we would understand the earth a little better. We’d be a little bit more respectful that we’re on a living planet. It’s shifting and moving and breathing and pulsing. It’s such a deep, rich feeling,” Brad says, sentimentally. He expresses deep reverence for volcanoes, citing that the Hawai’ian volcano goddess Pele is the basis of local faith.

Volcanoman conveys what it was like to be near the eruptions. “I’m humbled like I’m in a cathedral. It’s the creation of the islands. They are there only because of these volcanoes that have been doing this for millions of years, one flow at a time.”

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• Residential Renovations

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OTHER SERVICES OFFERED:

• 3rd Party Construction Management

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“We would highly recommend Ghigau Construction! We have worked with them and on two different projects now and the attention to detail and communication are excellent. Also they use a great online portal to help you monitor and review the status of each project.

When Ghigau is on the job they truly manage every element of the project (even unforeseen events) in a way that inspires confidence when you are out of town. We have trusted Ghigau Construction with our high end projects and continue to find more work for them to do for us.”

- Gerry & Jenny S. - Homeowners

© Best Version Media

EXPERT CONTRIBUTOR

BY JENNIFER BILLOW, VICE PRESIDENT OF ADVANCEMENT, PARK CITY EDUCATION FOUNDATION

Congratulations to the Bright Futures Park City High School Class of 2025!

“My Bright Futures experience has been phenomenal! They’ve provided me with the necessary tools to overcome life's obstacles and answered questions about various college majors and programs offered at my university. Bright Futures has changed my life!”

- Brian Rea, PCHS Class of 2025

25 BF students will receive their hard-earned high school diplomas on June 6th. CONGRATULATIONS, graduates - we are so proud of you!

© Best Version Media

This is the 9th year of Bright Futures, which started in 2015/2016. Next year, the Bright Futures program will expand its impact even further.

“Bright Futures has given me knowledge about my options post-high school. It has also given me a community and guidance, which has helped me greatly in decisions about my future.”

- Garrett Moreno, PCHS Class of 2025

Congratulations, graduates!

Carla Alejo

Anneliese Carreto

Summer Carter

Cassandra Castro

Javier Chavez

Miriam Colmenero

Nathan Contreras

Isabella Cocqueo

Santiago Infante

Maliliani Leonardo

Amy Nava

Millie Palabrica

Joselyn Pelaez

Paola Perez

Hero Quick

Sam Ramirez

Valeria Ramirez

Alan Rea

Brian Rea

Gabriela Rodriguez

Stephani Santos

Alan Soberanis

Gabe Villanueva

a quote today

Josh Villarente

Garrett Moreno

I've had a very good experience being part of Bright Futures. It has taught me things about college and career readiness while encouraging me to keep my grades up.

- Santiago Infante, PCHS Class of 2025

Many of the students in the Bright Futures PCHS Class of 2025 shared what they have planned next:

• Anneliese Carreto → Salt Lake Community College

• Summer Carter → Salt Lake Community College

• Cassandra Castro → Psychology BA @ The University of Utah

• Miriam Colmenero → Salt Lake Community College

• Nathan Contreras → Sciences & Biomedical @ Wheaton College, MA. Swimming

• Isabella Cocqueo → Salt Lake Community College

• Santiago Infante → Business SA @ Salt Lake Community College

• Maliliani Leonardo → Salt Lake Community College

• Amy Nava→ Utah Tech University to study Radiology and work in a pediatric office as a CNA.

• Millie Palabrica → Salt Lake Community College

• Joselyn Pelaez → Salt Lake Community College

• Paola Perez →The University of Utah

• Hero Quick → The University of Utah

• Sam Ramirez → The University of Utah

• Valeria Ramirez → The University of Utah

• Alan Rea → Weber State University

• Brian Rea → Major in Physiology or Social Work with Minors in Nutrition and Spanish at The University of Utah. Work as a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) and work toward becoming a Licensed Bilingual Therapist, with the end goal of attending medical school to be a psychiatrist.

• Gabriela Rodriguez → Social Work @ The University of Utah for 2 years, then a flight attendant program

• Alan Soberanis → Accounting @ Utah State University

• Gabe Villanueva → Computer Engineering @ The University of Utah

• Josh Villarente → Pre-Nursing - Psychiatry @ The University of Utah

• Garrett Moreno → Film @ The University of Utah All of this is possible because of generous donations from our community. Thank you for your support!

Bryan R Daybell Ins Agcy Inc

Bryan Daybell, Agent

1960 Sidewinder Drive, Suite 105 Park City, UT 84060-7361

Bus: 435-649-9161

bryan@bryandaybell.com www.bryandaybell.com

Se Habla Espanol

Bryan Daybell, Agent

Bryan R Daybell Ins Agcy Inc Get a quote today

Bryan R Daybell Ins Agcy Inc

Bryan R Daybell Ins Agcy Inc Get a quote today

Bryan R Daybell Ins Agcy Inc

Bryan Daybell, Agent

1960 Sidewinder Drive, Suite 105 Park City, UT 84060-7361

State Farm Bloomington, IL

Bus: 435-649-9161

1960 Sidewinder Drive, Suite 105 Park City, UT 84060-7361

Drive, Suite 105 Park City, UT 84060-7361

bryan@bryandaybell.com www.bryandaybell.com

Bus: 435-649-9161

Bus: 435-649-9161

1960 Sidewinder Drive, Suite 105 Park City, UT 84060-7361

bryan@bryandaybell.com www.bryandaybell.com

SHAKE IT OFF, LEAVE A TRAIL, AND FIND THE JOY

Hey, graduates! This one’s for you.

My own kids are relatively young, almost 16 and 12 1/2, in comparison with the offspring of friends around my age—those who range from having already reached grandparenthood to worrying about financial aid applications for their college-bound. Among my dearest of girlfriends, who attended UC Berkeley with me in the late ‘80s, we are a diverse bunch: a retiree (at the age of 39!) whose son finished high school in three years; an elementary school teacher of 30-plus years with seven interviews lined up to fulfill her dream of becoming a principal; a widowed mother of four, in her mid-fifties, who’s busting her a** making ends meet as a life and grief coach and an environmental health and safety public speaker; and a dentist who just helped her oral-surgeon husband sell his practice and is about to embark on a path she calls “less traveled.”

“Less traveled”? What exactly does that mean? Are we embracing individuality and nonconformity by going on “The Road Not Taken” (still my favorite poem by Robert Frost), making that black-sheep choice, straying from roads traversed by so many? Or––for those who may have read “The Garden of Forking Paths,” a short story by Jorge Luis Borges––does each life decision we make forge a new path, and do the outcomes of those decisions create more opportunities for choices that split into their own paths?

I just did a few searches on you guys (in case you forgot: You’re graduates! Congrats!), one of which provided me with this online statistic: Seventy-five percent of high school grads feel unprepared to make important decisions about their futures. WOW—and I’m wowing because I thought the percentage would be closer to 90! At age 17, all I knew was that I wanted to go to UCLA to be with my friends and stay close to home, and that my dad was convincing me to choose “Cal” (Berkeley), which I’d never heard of until I read in the sports section one morning that an NCAA tennis player from “Cal” had beaten some guy from USC.

Back to my Cal Berkeley girlfriends mentioned above: two were pre-med, the other two in the undergrad business program. None became physicians, and the two entrepreneurs run a nonprofit and serve as the controller at EO Products, respectively. Entrepreneur #1, who is a self-proclaimed

I LEAVE TO VARIOUS FUTURE TIMES, BUT NOT TO ALL, MY GARDEN OF FORKING PATHS.

Jorge Luis Borges

tiger mom, texted me recently about her son’s straight-A-student classmates not being accepted to any of the UC schools, also telling her ninth grader, “Screw it all—just find the joy in life!”

Full disclosure: As of late, I hadn’t been able to find much joy in my life because I was regretting so many decisions I’d made over the years. What if I had gone to UCLA? What if I hadn’t veered from my pre-law path and instead, manifested my dad’s dream of having a corporate-attorney daughter? What if I hadn’t held down fifteen different jobs since graduating from Cal and instead stayed at the first company I worked for?

Where the heck am I going with all of this? Fellow contributing writer Ashlyn Frost—who at 23 is much closer to a high school graduate’s age than I am—said it best in last month’s issue, in her story about “adulting”: You don’t need to figure it all out right now! And, I’d like to add: or ever. If you had told 17-year-old me that someday I’d open up a reading lounge and write for a magazine for a small mountain town, I would have heehawed in my own face, as well as yours. Just the other evening, Pops and I got into a heated discussion about his grandsons’ activities. As in, there are way too many. It’s a fact—people have commented to me, “Your kids do so much sh**,” but not many know that they love every single thing they do, despite having to manage impossible schedules of schoolwork, concert band, jazz

ensemble, soccer, swimming, speed skating, figure skating, and rock band. Their father and I are not self-proclaimed tiger parents: These kids-who-do-so-much-sh** of ours quit piano on their own (to my dismay); the younger one might not be continuing with drum lessons; and our older dude is considering dropping a sport (to my relief). And, guess what: It’s all okay. Oh, they also don’t get straight A’s.

Son #1 went from wanting to be a video game designer, to planning to major in music technology, to now possibly pursuing architecture with a minor in Spanish. (My prediction: He will become a physician.) Son #2 is an actual video gamer who could very well end up being a video game designer, and whose former passion was paleontology and the Blue Angels.

To wrap up this rambling opinion piece, I’d like to share that my best friend never went to college and worked for one single company for 36 years before retiring comfortably here in Summit County. I’m only six years his junior, and I’m just barely getting started with that reading lounge! I’m also hoping to continue working on my third novel and may never retire…

Whether it’s now, after your gap year(s), or in 30 years, forge your path, less- or more often traveled—and create multiple ones, because life is fickle, fragile, and freaking fabulous. And don’t forget to screw it all, leave a trail behind, and enjoy every ride.

Join the Waitlist Today for Future Enrollment Opportunities at PC Tots

BY AIMEE L. COOK

PC Tots, a vital nonprofit organization in the community, provides high-quality early childhood education and care, ensuring that all families, particularly those in the local workforce, can access exceptional learning opportunities for their children, regardless of their financial circumstances.

If you’re searching for affordable, high-quality early education, now is the perfect time to join the waitlist to enroll your child in PC Tots. Their programs are thoughtfully designed to meet the unique developmental needs of each child, focusing on creativity, building social skills, and promoting a lifelong love for learning. All of this takes place in a safe and inclusive environment, led by a team of professional educators who are passionate about helping every child thrive.

PC Tots is licensed by the Utah Office of Child Care and follows the state’s established child-to-teacher ratios by age group. Classroom sizes are capped according to state regulations, ensuring the highest quality of care and attention for every child.

Children are placed on the waitlist according to the date their application is submitted. Siblings of already enrolled children are given priority on the waitlist. To enroll at PC Tots, families must live or work in Summit County. Openings are filled as soon as they become available, following the waitlist order. If an opening occurs in our Toddler room and no currently enrolled infants are ready to transition up, the next family on the waitlist whose child meets the required age criteria will be notified. That family can either accept the opening—starting their child immediately or paying full tuition until they are ready to begin—or decline, in which case we will proceed to notify the next family on the list who fits the age criteria.

To support Park City’s diverse community, PC Tots proudly admits children from families who qualify for the Utah Department of Workforce Services Childcare Assistance Program. They are also dedicated to easing the financial burden on families in need by securing donations to fund scholarships, which are prioritized for children whose parents cannot afford full tuition. Children are required to attend a minimum of four days per week. This policy ensures continuity

of care and helps build strong, trusting relationships between children and their teachers.

By enrolling their children in PC Tots, parents are joining more than just a school; they’re becoming part of a community that believes in investing in children. Beyond daily care, PC Tots provides classrooms with enriching materials and continually trains and supports their dedicated teachers. Every penny invested in PC Tots strengthens not only the children in the program but also the community as a whole.

“At PC Tots, our mission is to provide high-quality and affordable childcare to workforce families,” said Katie Madsen, development & marketing manager. “In order to make this happen, we offer tuition scholarships to families based on their household income. This means our families who receive scholarships pay as little as $400/month up to $1,500/month per child depending on income and the age of the student. If interested, please get on our waitlist and we can discuss what your monthly tuition could be!”

Visit the PC Tots website to apply for enrollment at PC Tots and join the waiting list. PC Tots currently has three locations, including two centers in the Prospector District of Park City and a third at the Park City Library. By joining the waiting list, your family will automatically be included for all three centers.

PC Tots also offers tours of their facilities, available Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. To schedule a tour, please email parkcitytots@gmail.com.

PC Tots

1850 Sidewinder Drive Ste. 410, Park City 84060 (435) 731-8860

PC Tots Too

1881 Prospector Ave, Park City 84060 (435) 731-8203

Reading With Neighbors: © Best Version Media

A Q&A WITH COMIC BOOK AUTHOR DOUG WAGNER

On June 3rd, Lectura Lounge hosted local comic book writer Doug Wagner during Witty Writers Workshop, a writing program that launched last summer—partially funded by a grant from Summit County’s Recreation, Arts & Parks (RAP) Cultural Tax—and plans to host a guest author on every first Tuesday of the month during its regularly scheduled weekly gathering, from 6:30 to 8:00 pm. Doors open at 6:00 for a social half-hour, and a light meal is always served.

I had the chance to spend time with Doug at two recent local author events at Park City Library and was inspired by the number of books he’s written, as well as the cool neon-green, custom-printed tablecloth he had draped over his author table (making the rest of us authors very envious!). His graphic novels include Beware the Eye of Odin, I Was a Fashion Serial Killer, Plastic, Plush, and Vinyl. If you missed seeing Doug last month and want to know more about this mensch of a prolific writer, Reading With Neighbors (RWN) has the lowdown:

RWN: You’re known for your dark comedy horror…what were some of your favorites as a teen?

Doug: Well, this is going to give away my age a bit, but there wasn’t a lot of dark comedy horror when I was growing up. There was plenty of amazing horror, but dark comedy didn’t really start hitting mainstream until the mid- to late ‘80s. As a kid, I leaned more into horror. Stuff like the Universal Monster movies. You know, Frankenstein, The Wolf Man, Creature from the Black Lagoon, and of course, ANYTHING that starred Vincent Price. I still revisit those movies to this day. Dark comedy horror really didn’t reveal itself to me until Evil Dead II came out, which is still one of my top five of all time. After that, I was hooked. Now, there’s just so many great ones out there: Tucker & Dale vs. Evil, The Babysitter, Zombieland, Shaun of the Dead, The Voices…the list goes on and on.

RWN: Goes to show you how much I know about comics! If you could create a guide (ha, for me!) about making comics, what would you want it to include?

Doug: That’d be a long list! First and foremost, I’d start with story structure. I run into a lot of young creators who seem to think you don’t need to know the basics because “it’s just comics.” Oh, how wrong they are. I’d do a deep dive—the basics of three-act structure, the Hero’s Journey, and Blake

Snyder’s Save the Cat [two beat sheets that are popular frameworks for structuring stories], just to name a few. Although I do believe storytelling is mostly intuition, I’m also a disciple of structure being in the core of your bones. It’s the foundation to everything. And the wonderful thing is whenever you find yourself stuck, which is inevitable, story structure will always lead you out of the darkness. After that, I’d want to jump into reminding writers that comics are a visual medium first, talk about pacing through panel count and dialogue word count, and sum it all up with teaching writers not to be lazy by using headshots. As one of my mentors once said, “If you’re not telling the artist what the character is doing (other than talking) you’ve missed the point of visual storytelling.”

RWN: I’ve always wanted to tell a story visually. When you’re working with an artist, does s/he follow your lead, or vice-versa?

Doug: Comics books work very similar to screenplays. The writer creates a page-bypage, panel-by-panel script describing everything that transpires—every action, every emotion, every word of dialogue. So, to answer your question, the artist follows my lead. I write a script and hand it off to the artist to make it come to life. I always try to give them the freedom to add or subtract panels, as long as it serves the story.

RWN: What’s one thing you wish more people understood or appreciated about making comics?

Doug: In America specifically, I wish there wasn’t the stigma that comics are just for kids. In every other country on the planet, comics are known to be for, and welcomed by, every, any, and all ages. For some reason, Americans just can’t seem to embrace comics unless they’re turned into a movie or TV show.

RWN: I need to get you a one of those “The Book Was Better” shirts! A friend of mine who’s big into comics, told me recently that he dislikes the modern way of comic-book-tofilm adaptations, where he feels the main characters are just franchises. What are your thoughts on this?

Doug: I wouldn’t say I dislike it, but your friend’s not wrong. Especially when you look at characters like Superman and Batman. I mean, how many reboots with a new actor can they come up with for those two? That said, as a fan of comics since I was a kid, it’s pretty spectacular that characters I thought I’d never see onscreen have made it there. How cool is it that there are millions of people out there who are fans of X-Men, Deadpool, and The Avengers now? To me, that just means I have more friends in the world.

Lectura Lounge looks forward to making more friends like Doug! You can follow him on X at @Doug_Wagner or on Instagram at @doug.wagner13.

© Best Version Media

WITTY WRITERS WORKSHOP

Hear ye, hear ye, read all about it! Read all about what, you ask? Witty Writers’ anthology, that’s what! You will be wowed by this compilation of works from our writers, ages 8 to 86 (who happens to be shooting for age 95 because she has more stories to share!). Stop by the Lounge to pick up a copy ($20 each, all proceeds going toward Witty Writers Workshop/Lectura Lounge) during our program hours from Monday to Friday, or you can purchase one here: https://store.bookbaby.com/ Book?bookurl=neither-here-norfrom-there

In this book, you’ll have the opportunity to learn more about the people of Park City and its neighboring communities, how they got here, and enjoy their miscellaneous musings about life, death, belonging, sacrifice, donkeys in Mexico, zany adventures in skiing and mountain biking, eating mice, loss, love, and so much more. Be prepared to crack up and/or cry, with plenty of Kleenex to bury your faces into... Bravo to our scribes for their hard work and bravery in sharing a piece of themselves. Check out a few photos above of their first spoken-word performance, held on May 13. Thanks a gigaton to our community for supporting the art of storytelling!

READING BUDDIES/ COMPADRES DE LECTURA

GUEST AUTHORS EVERY FIRST TUESDAY!

Witty Writers Workshop will be hosting a guest author every first Tuesday of the month, during its regularly scheduled session at 6:30 p.m., starting June 3rd. I had the pleasure of meeting comic book writer Doug Wagner at two recent local author events at Park City Library (our author tables were either in close proximity or next to each other), and he is quite the mensch—and had quite the story to share.

¡DIVERTIMOS! AND DIVERTIMOS VIAJANDO!!

I always look forward to updates from our Friday Divertimos Viajando!! activity leader, Elsa Lavín:

In our class, we traveled without leaving Lectura Lounge! From the Voladores de Papantla to the Guelaguetza, passing through cempasúchil flowers, Las Posadas, Día de Muertos, and Independence Day, in our last class we discovered how Mexicans celebrate, how we greet one another, and everything that makes our fascinating Mexican culture so admired around the world.

LECTURA LOUNGE

SUMMER SCHEDULE

ALL PROGRAMS FREE TO THE COMMUNITY!

READING BUDDIES

Monday and Thursday, 5:00 – 6:15 p.m.

READING INSTRUCTION WITH SERENA Monday at 3:45 p.m.

$5 a class; RSVP @ 435–565–1509

WITTY WRITERS WORKSHOP Tuesday, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.

The origins of our name, Lectura Lounge, stem from the Compadres de Lectura program that continues to thrive at Dolores Huerta Elementary in San Francisco, where my older son Marco spent his kindergarten–4th grade years, and my little one, Emilio, his kindergarten year. In October 2023, I flew to the Bay Area to witness reading magic in the school’s library, after feasting on some yummy Chinese food in the staff lounge, already envisioning Lectura Lounge. My gratitude goes out to Maureen Sullivan, Vrinda Deshmukh, and Marissa Evenson for showing me the ropes that evening, allowing me to set the wheels in motion for our labor of love in Park City.

We learned that México’s cultural richness comes from the fusion of pre-Hispanic civilizations like the Mexicas and the Mayas with Spanish culture—and that today, it is what it is thanks to that beautiful blend of history and heart. Thanks to a generous donation from Don Pedro’s Family Mexican Restaurant, located in Heber, we enjoyed delicious Mexican food!! That’s how we learn—traveling with our hearts and all five senses!

Wednesdays with Marcela and Mayra:

Two hours filled with games, storytime, and conversation from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. will help your Spanish Dual Language Immersion student or those wanting to learn a second (or third or fourth) language! RSVPs aren’t required but are very much appreciated (it helps with the food orders! Really!). As previously mentioned, ¡Divertimos! will wrap up on May 28 and resume during the second week of July (Wednesday, 7/9). Be there, or be that boring shape that no one wants to be: square!

BREAKING THE MENTAL HEALTH TABOO

Our “Break the Mental Health Taboo” discussion on May 12th not only broke the stigma, challenging negative beliefs in both Latino and Filipino cultures, but also broke down a barrier, empowering the male members of our audience to share their truths. What an incredible evening! A heartfelt thank you to Emma Zavallos from Peace House for leading this invigorating event, as well as to Utah Humanities for funding our speaker series.

¡DIVERTIMOS! Wednesday, 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.

DIVERTIMOS VIAJANDO!! Friday, 4:30 – 6:30 p.m.

DROP-IN HOURS BY APPOINTMENT ONLY CALL 510-386-1009 CONTACT US Address: 1960 Sidewinder Dr., Suite 106 Park City, UT 84060

Email: info@caseyandcharleys.org

Website: caseyandcharleys.org

BY PHOEBE ZANIELLO, YOUTH WRITER

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY MADDIE REDDY

MaddieReddy

Maddie Reddy is a recent graduate from Park City High School’s class of 2025. Her next school year will be at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California, where she plans to major in sustainable architecture and engineering. This interest in architecture and engineering has emerged through time, a melding of her experiences and inspirations.

Throughout high school, Maddie participated in almost every Advanced Placement (AP) math and science class offered. Therefore, it was no surprise that she chose engineering as a primary interest. However, engineering did not incorporate her passion for art. After growing up in a household that cultivated a love for art, Maddie now has a love for art of all kinds, including black and white ink drawings, paintings, and digital. The summer before her senior year, she started an architecture internship, describing the industry as “basically structural engineering with art.”

For this internship, Maddie worked for WRNS, a sustainability-focused architecture firm founded in San Francisco where she gained experience in a wide range of skills and tasks. Maddie took client notes, participated in design meetings, organized their material library, created slideshows, designed presentations, and went to on-site visits. At this internship, she was on call with structural engineers, mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, contractors, and architects. Through this experience, Maddie felt like she had found the perfect combination: architecture and engineering.

As for the sustainability aspect of her major, Maddie states that, “every building needs a sustainable aspect or two.” From something as simple as putting solar panels on the roof or a complicated

© Best Version Media

system of saving rainwater, Maddie wants to make a difference in her designs. She also portrays the importance of sustainable foundations, advocating for a shift away from concrete, which contributes to about 8% of global carbon emissions, and towards naturally occurring foundations instead.

Amidst her academic intrigues and college applications, Maddie is an impressive athlete. Her main sport is soccer, something she has been playing since her first word was “ball.” She plays center-midfield, meaning she takes on both an offensive and defensive role in gameplay. In this position, Maddie needs constant awareness of everything around her, and she’s responsible for coordinating between different players. In playing soccer, she has developed skills for communication and coordination as she shares and receives information from her teammates as a midfield player.

In the spring of junior year, Maddie tore her MCL the day before her birthday, cancelling her soccer season in a single moment. Without soccer practices to go, Maddie entered the internship that has now defined her college interests.

Going to Stanford next school year, Maddie reflects on the teachers and programs that made this dream possible. She credits her interest in STEM (Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) to an elementary school teacher, Ms. Earl, who taught her a problem-solving mindset through challenging mathematical problems. Maddie says, “She'd give us a Rubik's cube without the formula and say, ‘solve this’. And we'd have to think, asking ‘how would we even begin to solve this? What are the steps?’”

Fast-forward to her senior year in high school, and Maddie enrolled in PCCAPS Engineering and Architecture, a project-based learning program offered as a class at Park City High School. After cultivating an interest in architecture over the summer, Maddie was eager to apply her knowledge and experience to a project of her own. With a partner, she designed a study module that is implementable in her high school, complete with a cost analysis, material list, and furniture. She and her partner worked with the VCBO architecture firm in Salt Lake City, with the goal of giving their project to clients at the firm.

Now entering college, Maddie signed up for a variety of new clubs and activities at her college. She also looks forward to the in-depth people and academic rigor of college next year. As she enters a new stage of her life, Maddie is both excited and determined to make a difference.

© Best Version Media

SMALL WONDERS

As snow slowly melts from mountain peaksallowing the world around us to bloom into vibrant colors and lush habitats - we encourage you to slow down and zoom in! There are many small wonders to be found in the broad landscapes we inhabit here in Park City. When my responsibilities seem endless and the world a bit too big, one of my favorite things to do is take a few minutes to go outside and zoom in on a piece of nature around me. Breathing deeply while observing the small wonder of a tiny beetle exploring a plant’s leaf nourished by the complex soil below reminds me to be curious, focusing my thoughts and bringing calm to my day.

Research has shown that mindfulness and time spent in nature enhances mental clarity, creativity, focus, and attention to detail in addition to reducing stress and stress-related illness. Want to learn more about practicing mindfulness in nature? Sign up for Summit Land Conservancy’s Therapeutic Thursdays. Swaner has teamed up with them for one of these events for lovely evening of nature journaling on July 22 from 6 – 7:30 PM. Another of my favorite ways to experience the

small things in nature this time of year is by looking for fireflies! Although Utah is the second driest state in the US, these tiny but bright insects are often found in wetland habitats across the state. Fireflies like to lay their eggs in moist soil with lots of decomposing plant matter to keep their babies (or glow worms) covered. In the warmest part of the summer when the days are long, fireflies will begin to rise and shine over wetlands, calling to mates with their unique, blinking dance we love to watch.

To see fireflies in action, take a walk on the trails surrounding Swaner Preserve just after dusk during the first few weeks of July. You can also look for them at the Swaner EcoCenter during Firefly Frenzy event on July 3 from 8 –10:30 PM. Sign up soon – the spots are limited! Another great way to learn about fireflies close to home is by checking out the Natural History Museum of Utah’s Western Firefly Project. This community science project collects data on fireflies and their habitats in the Western US. You can submit sightings or view a map of where they’ve been spotted at nhmu.utah.edu/ citizen-science/fireflies.

Baltic Rush’s Tiny Bloom: The intricacy and beauty of these tiny flowers found on the side of this plant’s stem can only be spotted when making close observations.

Firefly: This bioluminescent insect was found perched in the grasses during a

Slug: This little wetland inhabitant was spotted while observing a small inlet to a pond at Swaner Preserve.

firefly walk at Swaner in 2019.

© Best Version Media

BY AIMEE L. COOK

Outdoor Family-Fun Adventures

PIXAR PUTT

Mini golf has never been this imaginative. Pixar Putt at Mountain View Village (13303 S. Teal Ridge Way, Riverton) brings your favorite Pixar movies to life with 18 holes of challenging, themed fun. This pop-up mini-golf experience touring the country is perfect for children of all ages and adults who are kids at heart. Each hole is intricately designed with themes from some of the most beloved films, like Toy Story, Up, and Finding Nemo, making it an Instagram-worthy adventure that is fun for the whole family. The course is more challenging than it looks, so be prepared to hone your short-game skills.

“We are delighted to bring the magic of Pixar Putt to Utah for the first time, right here in Riverton. Featuring beloved childhood characters and endless adventure, this interactive pop-up exclusively at Mountain View Village is for our guests and community to experience and enjoy,” shares Heather Nash, general manager of CenterCal Properties.

The course will be open Monday through Friday from 3:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. (closing at 10:00 p.m.), and Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Prices start at $25. Beginning on June 9th, Pixar Putt will be open at 10:00 a.m. daily. Tickets are now available at www.pixarputt.com.

TAKE IN A BEES GAME AT THE NEW BALLPARK AT AMERICA FIRST SQUARE

Nothing says summer quite like the crack of a bat and the roar of a crowd. The Ballpark at America First Square is the newly imagined hotspot for family memories, offering a classic baseball experience with elevated food offerings. With a stadium capacity of 8,000 fans, The Ballpark offers a variety of seating options, including open-lawn, premium, club, and field-level seating, ensuring there’s a perfect spot for every fan.

The new amenities place The Ballpark at America First Square among the best in Minor League Baseball facilities, rivaling even some Major League venues. Fans can enjoy locally inspired concessions and a convenient grab-and-go market enhanced by smart technology from Amazon Go. For families, kids’ play zones provide even more fun, and an expansive video board keeps everyone engaged with the game. The sights that everyone enjoyed at the former stadium remain, offering great views of the Wasatch Mountains.

Getting to the game has never been easier—a new TRAX stop at centerfield makes The Ballpark and America First Square more accessible, while increased walkability and bikeability, along with sufficient parking, ensure stress-free arrivals. Gamedays are now even more exciting with curated experiences designed for fans, creating unforgettable memories for every baseball outing.

Unique seating features also set this venue apart. Fans seated behind home plate in the new field suites will be closer to the batter than the pitcher. Berm seating in right field adds a relaxed and familyfriendly vibe, while seats in left field provide a prime view overlooking the field, as well as new MLB-style bullpens.

The Ballpark at America First Square is state-of-the-art fun for every type of baseball fan. Tickets can be purchased at https://www.milb.com/salt-lake.

Looking for fun ways to spend quality time with

your family? Whether you’re in the mood for outdoor exploration or a lively sports experience, you can find it nearby.

SWANER PRESERVE AND ECOCENTER

For families who love the great outdoors, Swaner Preserve is a must-visit destination. With more than 1,200 acres of protected wetlands, this space offers plenty of opportunities for exploration and learning.

The Swaner EcoCenter adds an educational twist, featuring interactive exhibits on local ecology and sustainability. Plus, its kid-friendly workshops are a hit for curious minds eager to learn about the environment. Family Butterfly field trips are a popular outing, taking families to Neffs Canyon to search and learn about Utah’s native butterflies.

Ongoing programming for families includes Sunday Craft, where children of all ages will enjoy creating a nature-themed craft, and the Wetland Climbing Wall, which is an indoorclimbing activity for all ages, offered on Saturdays and Sundays. Climbers must weigh at least 30 pounds to participate.

Check the website often for updates on monthly family activities and special events.

© Best Version Media

SNAPPED: CAPS, CHEERS, AND A BRIGHT FUTURE PARK CITY HIGH’S CLASS OF 2025 GRADUATION

PARK CITY, Utah – With cheers, flying caps, and a sea of red gowns, Park City High School’s Class of 2025 celebrated its graduation at Dozier Field on Friday, June 6. This year, 401 seniors crossed the stage—marking the end of one chapter and the start of another, with the vast majority – 85% – planning to continue on to higher education.

The Class of 2025 stood out for its myriad achievements. Outgoing principal Roger Arbabi, who delivered the commencement address, noted that 63% of graduates participated in 24 sports across 52 teams, with another 48% competing in sports outside the high school. Academically, the class posted an average ACT score of 23.3, well above the national average of 19.4. Among the graduates were 39 first-generation college-bound students—more than half of the 17% whose parents did not attend college.

Here’s a look at the moments that captured the spirit of the day.

SNOW WHITE (1937) MOVIE REVIEW © Best Version Media

Apparently, some people thought that the original Snow White (1937) movie was good enough to make a live action version. I am here to squash that idea underfoot, and grind it into the concrete. There are so many problems with Snow White I can’t even begin to list them all. So, I decided to cover some of the biggest issues here, for your convenience.

First: Snow White’s logic is so messed up. Like when Snow White decides to make a random cottage in the middle of the woods her home. She’s like, “Oh, I know! I’ll break into their house, move all their stuff around, have the forest critters to lick the plates clean, and maybe, just maybe, they will let me stay.”

Second: Snow White is actually so dumbed down. I mean, the fact that the creators named the seven dwarves after their dominant emotion or pastime gives you the first hint. Well, let's see. The one over there is short, smiling, and jumping up and down for joy. I think I’ll name him…Jeff. Yeah, that sounds about right. There was no such creativity involved.

It’s the same thing with the character design. Just look at Snow White. They couldn’t have thought of some backstory to explain her goofy odd looks? Her appearance makes absolutely no sense.

• She is pale as heck. That makes no sense, because in the movie she goes outside regularly. Or, of course, she could be albino, but that doesn’t make any sense either. She has dark hair and eyes, and I doubt they had eye-color changing contacts back then (what was it, the 16th century?). Even if they did, it wouldn’t be on Snow White. Her irises are absolutely massive, and she would have to use like four fingers to stick 'em in.

• Her lips. They are big and red and full. That has zero correspondence with her skin, because (I already ruled out albinism) the only way she is that pale is because she spent her entire life indoors. And if she did spend her life as a hermit, Snow White’s lips would be chapped as heck, super thin, probably a grayish-blue color from the lack of sunlight exposure, vitamin D, and moisture in the air. I mean, seriously?

• Snow White was laying in that glass box for about a year, right? So the sunlight, magnified by the glass, should have given her a considerable burn—or at least a tan. But nope, she retains the skin tone of a first degree flash-bang. And aside from the tanning thing, why didn’t she decompose? Or at least starve to death? The prince kissed her on like day 318 post-death. And what kind of messed up person kisses a (un?)dead person? What would you

qualify as when you have been in an appleinduced coma for nearly a year and haven't eaten since you went under? A zombie, perhaps? Suffice it to say that she is 50% dead, 3% alive, and 100% confusing.

Speaking of questionable decision-making, let’s talk about this Evil Queen who is so bad at being evil. She’s jealous, sends the Huntsman to go kill Snow White because she is pretty, and says to bring back her heart. The Huntsman chickens out and brings back a pig’s heart. The evil queen is satisfied until she finds out Snow White is actually alive, and by that time, it’s been what, a day or two? If the Evil Queen was smart, she would have asked for Snow White's head or something. You know, something that you couldn’t just cut out of a pig and pretend it originated from a fourteenyear-old princess. Of course, the evil queen was anything but smart.

So what does this dimwitted queen do instead? She tries to kill Snow White with a poisoned apple. That was actually really dumb. I mean, the spell could have gone wrong (which it did), Snow White could have refused the apple, and any number of other things could have happened. Clearly she didn’t learn her lesson from last time: Verify your kill! For example, she could have taken one of the dwarfs' pick axes and just gotten to it. She also could have gone the arson route and burnt the dwarfs’ house to the ground. Or, using her special witch powers, she could have created a lightning bolt to fry Snow White.

But then, Snow White isn’t too bright (unless you count her skin) either. What kind of person lets in creepy old ladies, with or without apples? I mean, stranger danger, right?

Last thing: The closing of the movie has got to be the most unrealistic part. It’s like, Yawn. Oh wow, look at that! The creepy lady with the apples is gone, and this complete HOTTY prince is here. Dang! I’m hearing wedding bells!

I mean, come on.

Well, this ends it. If by any chance you were thinking about seeing the new Snow White, just don’t. I wouldn’t wish that on anyone. However, if you are having a bad day and you need to have some belly laughs from pure stupidity, try turning on SNOW WHITE (1937). It's quite enjoyable.

A MEDIEVAL LOVE

BY ISABELLA VENEGAS

The universe has begun to spin much too quickly, how the world should be beautiful, not just pretty.

The pettiness of life has overcome her patience; the glass beyond her eyes has no luminescence.

The sun is of a modern sight that hides the heart, if only her love could be sweet and no longer tart.

She shuts her brown eyes and swallows her tears, for as she does, an olden age of time draws near.

The world is full of rolling hills, greenery, and flowers; there are columns of gray stone and castle towers.

The stream blossoms with purple under her sword: a sharp mirror, a silver blade of beautiful craft forged.

Her blinding white dress flows from her shoulders; her hair floats in the wind, air that is much older.

She might be a queen, a princess, a maiden; she will fight, and her bravery is never fading.

She smiles and lifts her hair up to look above; in another life, she will have this medieval love.

The Saga of Ninja Steve

HOW TO QUICKLY (AND CONSISTENTLY) DISMANTLE BRAND TRUST.

One of the first things I learned about SS Public Relations, my first source of ghostwriting clients, is that SSPR did not turn down clients. Ever. (Today, they’re known as NextPR, and they have higher standards.)

That led to me writing for companies I can’t discuss here without violating this magazine’s “family friendly” content rules. However, I can talk about Turing Space Industries, originally known as QSα (pronounced “QSAlpha”).

In 2013, QSα was preparing an Indiegogo campaign to launch Quasar IV, “The World's First Self-Authenticated Cipherphone Designed To Protect Your Digital Identity.” The Quasar IV supposedly ran on a “military-grade encryption” system called the “Quatrix.”

I don’t think a Quasar I, II, or III was ever released. The name Quasar—a type of massive black hole found at the bright center of a galaxy—gave off a futuristic, space-age vibe.

But the phone, said QSα, took its “…design inspiration from one of the world’s most recognized symbols of secrecy, supernatural ability and stealth: the art of Ninjutsu.”

Oh yes—the company’s founder claimed to study ninjutsu, the art of the ninja, the spies of medieval Japan. His name is Steve, so we’ll call him Ninja Steve.

To launch Quasar IV, Ninja Steve needed some cash. So, he launched an Indiegogo crowd-funding campaign (I might have helped…). In the intro video to the campaign, Ninja Steve is seated with his face next to the handle of a ninja sword, with ninja-ish music playing in the background. The Indiegogo page had another video of a human ninja (not Steve—unless it was a brilliant ninja disguise) doing ninja-y things with a ninja sword. Near the end, this ninja does a cartwheel and then starts throwing ninja stars (excuse me, shuriken) towards the camera.

If you contributed to the campaign, boy oh boy, were you in luck! €174 got you a Ninja Jacket and 195 QuaCoins to spend in the QuaStore, which offered mobile apps for QuaOS (have you caught onto the naming scheme yet?). For just €17,815, you could get ten phones “… carved with our Ninjutsu Saizo, Togakure or Soke clan logos.”

I know what you’re thinking. This “unhackable” phone (QSα’s words) sounds a bit…suspicious. Well, you’re not alone. The Indiegogo campaign was supposed to raise €2,850,401 but managed €87,931. Thankfully, Ninja Steve knew what to do about it. If ninjutsu didn’t inspire trust in the world’s most secure phone, QSα would use even more powerful symbols.

After a PR smoke-bomb-cartwheel (Quasar? What Quasar?), QSα reemerged in a new guise in 2015 as Turing Robotic Industries, which would eventually become Turing Space Industries, which involved neither robotics nor space.

Like Tesla, named for inventor Nikola Tesla, Ninja Steve hitched his brand to another famous genius: Alan Turing, a founder of modern computer science. Presumably, he’d work some Turing motifs into the

branding

Wrong. In 2015, Turing announced its flagship phone, the Dark Wyvern—named for the two-legged beast usually referred to as a dragon (but don’t say anything that ignorant on Reddit if you value your life). The Dark Wyvern was made of “Liquidmorphium™, Turing’s signature composite that is tougher than titanium,” because Marvel wouldn’t sell them any Vibranium.

If you weren’t ready to drop $999 on a Dark Wyvern, you could buy the lesser Cardinal (not a dragon), Pharaoh (also not dragon-related), or Beowulf (dragon-adjacent poetry). Or, if you really wanted to ball out, you could reserve the Dark Wyvern Glaedr, with a body featuring “…24K gold highlights that tell the ancient tale of a fire-breathing dragon.” Nothing says military-grade security like Glaedr, a dragon from The Inheritance Cycle youth adult fantasy novels.

The Dark Wyvern was mired by delay after delay after delay. People who pre-ordered it became a bit suspicious of Ninja Steve, and more so when Turing filed for bankruptcy in 2018 shortly after announcing another upcoming phone: the Appassionato (which, I assume, is also a type of Nespresso pod).

Turing was doing fine, insisted Ninja Steve, when the press asked him about the bankruptcy. That year, Turing also announced the $2,749 HubblePhone, which, naturally, would run on KeplerianOS. Ninja Steve had come full circle, back to outer space.

The fate of the HubblePhone and Ninja Steve is unclear. On Facebook, Turing promised refunds for HubblePhone pre-orders. The last sign of Ninja Steve was a three-question Q&A in an online blog that stopped publishing in 2020. There, he talked about “neuromorphic” computing.

Ninja Steve seemingly went out of his way to undermine trust in his phones—surely, a strategy grounded in ninjutsu. Yet people couldn’t help giving Ninja Steve money and attention. Maybe one day he’ll cartwheel out of the shadows and throw some more ninja stars at our ever-vulnerable credulity.

of the new phones, right?

© Best Version Media

SOMETHING KIND IS COMING TO PARK CITY When Small Gestures Add Up to Something Big

In a town that’s growing fast and constantly evolving, the most meaningful parts of the community don’t just happen—they’re intentional. The culture of our community is shaped by our values, and that’s the heart of Kept Kind™ – a weekend-long campaign of connection, generosity, and small acts of kindness happening July 25–27 across Park City.

Whether it’s a free lemonade stand run by kids, a handwritten note for a stranger, or a simple hello on the trail, Kept Kind is about amplifying the goodness that already exists here. It’s a moment to slow down and honor what already works so well in our community, and to shine a light on it.

The campaign was created and produced by Caren Bell, founder of Kept Current, Park City’s trusted weekly guide to what’s happening around town.

As Park City grows, one thing hasn’t changed: people still care deeply about this place, and the kind of town we’re building together. As Bell puts it, “Park City has so much heart. There’s a reason we have 150 or so nonprofits in this town,” Bell says. “People care.”

Presented by Weedon Family Ranch, Kept Kind is about participation like, one neighbor surprising another, one business doing something

unexpected, one shared moment that sparks the next. All it takes is a little intention, and a willingness to look up and look out for each other. Simple, everyday gestures may seem ordinary, but they quietly shape Park City’s identity and bring its values to life.

At its core, Kept Kind is an open invitation. Parkites are encouraged to dream up their own ways to brighten someone’s day—whether as individuals, families, businesses, or groups of friends. The gestures can be small. The impact won’t be.

Bell brings years of experience to the effort, having led communications for global brands like Nike, Tommy Hilfiger, Live Nation, and the UFC. But Kept Kind isn’t a brand campaign—it’s something far more personal. It’s rooted in her love for this town, and her belief that community, connection and kindness are Park City’s greatest strengths.

Through Kept Current, she’s built a platform that helps locals engage more deeply with where they live. With Kept Kind, she’s inviting them to build on that connection—and shape what comes next.

“Kept Kind is my love letter to Park City. But it’s not mine alone — it’s something we get to create together.”

HOW TO GET INVOLVED

Volunteer with Us:

Join our community volunteer days before the event to write kindness notes, make mini art, and help us create surprise moments to place all over town. This is a chance to co-create the experience, one handmade detail at a time. See details on keptkind.com/volunteer

Support the Campaign

We’re not a nonprofit, but every dollar donated goes right back into making Kept Kind bigger, brighter, and more joyful for the community. Think: more surprises, more art drops, more magic. You can help fund fun surprises for the community.

https://KeptKind.com/donate

Do Your Own Thing

Plan your own kindness activation— as a family, friend group, club, or organization. Whether it’s a popsicle stand, trail snacks, thank-you notes, or chalk messages, we’d love to hear about it and help you spread the word. Please reach out at CBell@keptcurrent.com.

Follow Us

Get ideas, updates, and inspiration by following @Kept_Current_ParkCity and @KeptKindpc on Instagram.

Go to our https://KeptKind.com for more details, and sign up for the Kept Current newsletter to get the weekly entertainment scoop delivered to your inbox. #KeptKindPC

© Best Version Media

BY NATALIE TAYLOR

RAD IN THE WASATCH

GOOD VIBRATIONS

Joy Brinkerhoff Patten: Mechanical engineer, mountain biker, and mom

Talking to Joy is a little like talking to a ray of sunshine. The enthusiasm is palpable.

“I drive to the middle of nowhere and fix things,” says Joy Brinkerhoff Patten, technical services product support manager at Solar Turbines. By the middle of nowhere, she means dirt roads in Montana, Colorado, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada and the southwest. She moved to Park City from California 13 years ago for the gig. Back then, she was the first and only female regional field engineer. She’s been analyzing the vibrations in Solar’s gas turbines for more than two decades. Now, her current position takes her around the globe looking at Solar Turbines’ 11,000 engines— some low emission and eco-friendly.

“I love vibrational analysis,” she says. “We look at 2-, 3-, or 4,000-pound engines rotating at huge speeds—15,000 RPMs. And to discover what’s happening in the engines, I study movement about the thickness of a human hair. So, it’s very precise. You have to be very open minded with vibrational analysis because you never know what it could be. It’s like looking at tea leaves. It’s an interesting job.”

Joy earned a BS degree from California Polytechnic Institute and certifications in both vibration diagnostics and rotordynamics. Very few women work on engines in the field, nearly 99% are men. But her work is so specialized, she’s earned a lot of respect from her male counterparts.

“I fix a lot of problems thanks to my technical expertise. I was in the Czech Republic to watch an engine assembly,” she said. “When we have complicated issues, we get together to problem solve and troubleshoot. Solar is very conservative, we want to keep people and the environment safe, so we try to do the right thing. Sometimes, I have to have hard conversations with customers and tell them we’re not comfortable with changes. It’s hard, but never dull.”

Imagining anything dull in her life is a far stretch. When she’s not designing bearings or fixing giant engines, she’s racing down a mountain on her bike. Joy grew up in northern California and started racing cross-country in 1999 for the Cal Poly Wheelmen (while attending college) in San Luis Obispo, eventually earning a professional license for downhill mountain bike racing. “The very first hill I went down was so fun,” she says. “I’m 5’9 and a bigger human, so I can go down hills really fast. I accelerate quickly. I was bad at mountain biking for 10 years but I loved it and figured out how to get better.” She went pro in 2009 and raced cross country, downhill, dual slalom, 4X, and Enduro. Most recently, she was named Queen of the Showdown after a second-place finish in Sundance Mountain Race.

“As I went on, I saw friends struggling,” she says. “I wanted to help them get faster, so I developed a bunch of

© Best Version Media

physics-based drills. They were so effective that in 2007, I created Joyride MTB, now Joyride Mountain Bike LLC.” After earning her certification for mountain bike coaching, she coached for many different local organizations including AndShesDopeToo, Dirt Series, WomenMTB, Momentum, Woodward PC, and more.

She also teaches technical riding skills to all levels of riders and hosts riders at AndShesDopetoo Retreats. The clinics cover a range of topics from braking, cornering, jumping, drops and switchbacks to steep descents.

“The sport of mountain biking has given me more than I can ever repay,” she says. “I want to help other women find that. I want more people to find their path, find their voice, and get more confident. What you learn on the bike can be applied to life.”

Joy is mom to two kids, an 18-year-old son and 5-year-old daughter. “We bike,” she laughs. “My son is really good. I’ll tell him to hit that drop and he does it. My daughter is great too.” So how does she balance it all? “My husband is super supportive and has always been. He’s an incredible artist and we have a lot of fun together. My mom helps too.”

Wondering if there’s anything she can’t do? “I’m afraid of heights, so I don’t climb,” she says.

“My husband taught me how to snowmobile 10 years ago. I snowboard, backpack, and hike. I like to be outside but you won’t find me bungee jumping or jumping out of planes.”

TO RIDE?

We would love to hear from you! If you have any ideas for nominating a member in our community for this column, please reach out to Jacquie Symes at jacquie@bestversionmedia.com Thank you!

HOW SUMMIT LAND CONSERVANCY IS WORKING TO SAVE LAND AND WATER FOR

Since its founding in 2002, Summit Land Conservancy (wesaveland.org) has had a hand in preserving some of Park City’s most beloved and defining open spaces; places like the 120 acres of pasture surrounding the McPolin Barn, Round Valley, Bonanza Flat, and Treasure Hill. And while, historically, the reasons for placing land in conservation easement have ranged from recreation and ecological preservation to aesthetics and maintaining a way of life, Summit Land Conservancy recently highlighted another, perhaps less intuitive but even more urgent reason for preserving land along the Wasatch Back: saving Great Salt Lake. “The three rivers that rise on the Wasatch Back–the Weber, the Provo, and the Bear–are the watershed for Great Salt Lake,” says Caitlin Willard, Summit Land Conservancy vice president of communications. “If we don’t work to save the remaining undeveloped land around these rivers, they will be developed,

and the water feeding these rivers will be sucked into municipal water systems instead of flowing downstream to the lake.” There’s been much said and written about the toxic particles lying at the bottom of Great Salt Lake that, if the lake is allowed to dry up completely, could easily become airborne. But this is not a threat exclusive to those living in the Salt Lake valley. According to the Utah Division of Water Resources, it would take just one hour for winds traveling at 25 miles per hour to carry dust from the lake to Park City–wind speeds common on the leading edge of cold fronts. The lake also provides critical habitat for 10 million migratory birds and helps increase wintertime precipitation all along the Wasatch Front and Back. Furthermore, the lake supports thousands of jobs in mineral extraction, fertilizer, and brine shrimp industries. All told, the lake provides $2.5

UTAHNS

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billion in direct economic activity annually in the state of Utah.

For all these reasons and more, in 2023 Summit Land Conservancy launched its For the Future Fund, a five-year effort to raise $10 million from individuals to protect 36,000 acres of Great Salt Lake Watershed in four counties across the Wasatch Back. What this means is that every dollar donated to the conservancy through May 2028 will be used in two ways. The first, is to leverage contributions from landowners, foundations, and government grants. “Donations from individuals are crucial to what we do,” Willard says. “Without support from individuals, we would not be able to access the federal dollars that make these transactions possible. Each dollar donated to our For The Future fund is leveraged about 10 times.”

The For the Future Fund is also providing Summit Land Conservancy with cash on hand to act quickly when a critical watershed property comes on the market. “When you have a willing landowner, the process of putting a piece of land into a conservation easement takes about two to five years to complete, which is too much time in regard to saving Great Salt Lake watershed lands” Willard explained. “The For the Future Fund allows Summit Lands to be more nimble, using the funds to purchase land outright, swiftly taking the land off the market when necessary, then raising the funds after to replenish our fund.”

Earlier this year, Summit Land Conservancy’s annual Conservation Breakfast, CEO Cheryl Fox reported that the conservancy is already well on its way to meeting its goal to protect 36,000 acres in the Great Salt Lake Watershed by 2028. “Summit Land Conservancy already protects more than 19,000 acres in total, of which 3,600 acres are in Park City,” she said. Fox went on to explain that the Conservancy now has signed contracts with landowners willing to protect an additional 25,000 acres. It is also amplifying its impact by partnering with other land trusts, like the Ogden Valley Land Trust and Bear River Conservancy, lending their expertise and knowledge to help prevent Great Salt Lake’s collapse, which she described as a “looming threat to all life in northern Utah.” There are plenty of ways for individuals to get involved with Summit Land Conservancy’s efforts. There’s weekly events held on lands preserved by the conservancy, like the Hops Hunters Hikes, Moon Shine Adventures and Nature Bathing Hikes, as well as hands-on land maintenance projects like Tune-Up Tuesdays and Stewardship

Saturdays. (For more info, visit wesaveland.org/happenings.)

One of the most impactful ways people can support Summit Land Conservancy’s efforts, particularly those focused on preserving lands within the Great Salt Lake Watershed, is by attending the annual Blue Sky Bash, coming up on August 8, 2025, an event aimed at saving land paired with “heavy pours, tasty grub, and rowdy auctions.”

©

© Best Version Media

Olga Hegner MAKERS SERIES:

Olga Hegner was surprised when she discovered that painting is what she always wanted to do in her life. She did not paint or draw when she was growing up but did take regular trips to museums. She earned her Juris Doctor in Moscow, and her Master of Law degree at the University of Illinois. She was a successful lawyer, but times changed, and she was looking for something that would really occupy her time and be interesting. She decided to learn how to draw, so she took some programs in local schools and at the Kimball Art Center.

“Drawing skills are very important to me. I would like to have a good drawing as a basis for my paintings, and I am willing to take the time and effort to develop and perfect this skill,” says Olga. “An online classic drawing course was offered in perfect time for me, and I am enjoying every minute, or hour, of it, although it is not an easy one.”

Olga believes everyone should keep learning. She started her path towards being a professional artist in 2010. She loves painting outside and painting from life. While she does take photographs of scenes she wants to paint, she is not a fan of photorealistic painting. She believes a good photograph is art in itself. However, some subjects—animals, for example—are difficult to paint without the use of a photograph.

She also remembers a photoshoot of cowboy scenes in Wyoming some years ago. She was not very enthusiastic about taking photos and wanted to paint from life, but the photographs she took became an important source of her later paintings of cowboys, horses, and dogs.

Olga considers herself to have been incredibly lucky when she joined Create PC’s artist community. “They help the artist community financially, emotionally, and are part of the vibe in Park City,” she says. While she has now moved to her own space one floor above Create PC’s artist spaces, you can still find her work in the Create PC Gallery at 1500 Kearns Blvd, Space F110, in Park City. If you would like to see more of her work, email her at olgahegner@gmail.com.

Olga Hegner paints and draws from the life that surrounds her. She has found her own style, which includes still-life images and scenes from real life with a hint of abstract elements. If you visit her studio, you will see walls full of her images presented salon-style. You might even imagine you are in a museum.

PHOTOS BY DANA KLEIN

MUSIC SERIES: Lena Goldstein, Benjamin Beckman, and Lisl Wangermann of Park City Opera

Take two sopranos and a pianist, and what do you end up with? Park City Opera. Lena Goldstein had previously spent considerable time in Park City, then during covid as an intern, while she was an undergrad, for the Park City Arts Council. When the world shut down, she was looking for ways to be involved locally with her community. During that time, she discovered a lack of classical music and, in particular, opera in Park City.

Lisl Wangermann grew up in Dallas, Texas, and attended an arts high school. When she was a

kid, her parents had to bribe her to go to the opera. She wanted to pursue musical theater but discovered that the “really awesome people were involved and loved opera,” so she gave it a try and loved it.

Benjamin Beckman’s musical life began at a very young age with piano. Once he started composing, it became a really important part of his identity. He says, “I wanted to be a professional pianist, until I wanted to be a professional French horn player, until I wanted to be a professional composer, until I found

myself a professional singer, and now all of that has just been totally scrambled.” He has since added conducting to his skillset.

At Yale University, the three cofounders of Park City Opera led the Opera Theater of Yale College, which was the undergraduaterun opera company that produced four or five chamber operas a year. All three also attended classes by Richard Lalli, now one of Park City Opera’s four board members. Lalli curated a course every semester at Yale on the art song repertory. The actual class name changed from

ARTICLE & PHOTOS BY KIRSTEN KOHLWEY

© Best Version Media

semester to semester along with the repertoire, so one semester, it would be Art Songs of Schumann and Brahms, and another semester, the Black American Art Songs.

Lena just finished her Master of Music (MM) degree in Vocal Performance at San Francisco Conservatory of Music, while Benjamin is completing his MM in Composition at USC. Lisl completed her MM in Voice Performance at the Cleveland Institute for Music and just graduated with an additional Artist Diploma. She has done a lot of work with nonprofits in Cleveland and discovered just how special their experience at Yale was. Everyone contributed intellect and ideas to the operas, which isn’t the case everywhere.

Park City Opera came to life in 2024. After having tested the waters, Lena, Lisl, and Benjamin plan to present a full season of operatic performances this summer. When Neylan McBaine heard about the endeavor, she joined Park City Opera’s board of directors. “She was the original founder of the Opera Theater of Yale College, and when she saw that we were doing this in Park City, she reached out,” says Lena. “She lives in Salt Lake City, so that was a really happy coincidence, and stars are aligning that this is the correct path, and that this was a good idea.”

On July 31st at 7:00 p.m., you can attend Summer Songs at the Park City Greenhouse, located at 4459 Highway 224. Benjamin, along with local singers, will be performing. A spoken narrative is featured in all of Park City Opera’s concerts; between songs, the vocalists talk about the music and what it means to them and to the world.

More than 40 local singers and musicians have reached out to Park City Opera, and all who are chosen for a performance are paid. Park City Opera hopes to become a Park City

LEARN MORE ABOUT DEXA SCANS WITH DR. SPENSER

mainstay. Lena says they chose an opera that appeals to people who are new to opera, as well as to people who love opera and are really experienced with it. “The Barber of Seville is one of these gateway operas that are really approachable and understandable for people who are coming into it without any experience or knowledge with opera. So that was one of our reasons for picking it,” Lena explains. “And the other element of what makes The Barber of Seville so great is that the humor still translates to the modern era. Some of the jokes are still very funny, even though they have a sense of a different time they can easily be understood and enjoyed. We wanted to make sure that what we created for the first impression…was something that everyone will enjoy, something that made people laugh, and something that

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made people want to come back for more. We hope to ease that barrier of trying something new by doing it in spaces that are familiar to people, like the Park City Library, that’s really a community center that people spend their days at and bring their kids to. We hope that people bring their families to that performance.”

Tickets are available now for the August 24th performance at 2:00 p.m. at the Santy Auditorium, and for those 21 and older at Premiere Park City, located at 268 Main Street, on August 29th and 30th, both at 7:00 p.m.

Website: www.parkcityopera.org

Email: admin@parkcityopera.org

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MEET YOUNG ARTIST

EvaSwinkler

Eva’s back is curved, her eyes—just inches from her drawing paper. Intensely focused, her pencil moves in micrometers.

Eva is a middle school art student, engrossed in creating faces both famous and familiar—Taylor Swift, a copy of the Mona Lisa, or a scribbly likeness of her grandmother on a scrap of paper no bigger than her thumb. Her workspace is scattered with odd treasures: a pen snagged for free at a

Fear Factory booth, a page torn from her sister’s school booklet, and a sliver of printer paper swiped from her mom’s office. These are her favorite tools—small, simple, often stolen. The smaller the canvas, the more alive her details become.

For a long time, Eva didn’t think much of her art. Drawing felt more like habit than passion. That changed when she discovered Dragon Ball. Something about the energy and the characters unlocked a new motivation. The first real push came from a joke: she drew a character from the show just to make fun of her dad. But the joke became a spark—and the spark became a fire.

Now, her sketchbooks are full of anime figures and carefully rendered portraits. Her lines are cleaner. Her confidence, sharper. “I used to look back at my old drawings and cringe,” she says. “They were so... sloppy. Now I see something better. Stronger. Sometimes I can’t believe I made it.”

A major influence on her growth has been her art teacher, Ms. Dekoff. “She pushed me to try

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different things—and never really bugged me about the pieces I didn’t turn in, because she knew I was busy making art that took time.”

Looking ahead, Eva has her sights set on realism. She wants her portraits to feel alive—to capture the flick of an eyebrow, the light in someone’s eye, the exact shape of a jaw. Whether her work leans toward anime or inch-perfect realism, she’s chasing that next level––where art feels not just good, but professional.

And in the meantime?

You’ll find her hunched over a tiny scrap of paper, eyes narrowed, pencil in hand—turning the smallest surface into something unforgettable.

© Best Version Media

JULY 24-26 PCSC

JULY 24-26

JULY 18-20 PCSC Kick Off Camp

UTAH OLYMPIC PARK

More information on Hiking, Biking, Fly Fishing Call 435-658-4200 for more info

▶ Extreme Tubing

▶ Zip-line Tour

▶ Alpine Slide

PARK CITY RECREATION

Flying Ace Freestyle Shows

& More

Visit the online program portal at parkcity.org to register for the following featured programs available to both adult and youth recreators!

▶ Softball Kickball

▶ Pickleball Line Dancing

▶ Tennis Aquatics

▶ Basketball and more!

Mountain

Biking

JULY 28-AUG 01

Game On! Sports 4 Girls Summer Camp

AUG 04-08

Game On! Sports 4 Girls Summer Camp

BASIN RECREATION

435-655-0999 Main Number

▶ Adult Biking

▶ Swimming Fitness

▶ Youth Baseball, Softball and Basketball

▶ Youth Soccer, LaCrosse and Summer Camps

▶ Yoga

▶ Drop-in Soccer

▶ Spring Rookie Soccer

▶ Water Aerobics

▶ Toddler Swim School

Ultimate Frisbee

BY IZZY CRANDALL, YOUTH WRITER

ATHLETE OF THE MONTH:

AddiLundberg

Meet Park City local Addisyn Lundberg, a high school junior excelling in mountain biking.

Addi, as her friends and family call her, grew up with an outdoorsy family that valued spending time together, whether it was river rafting, hiking, skiing, or mountain biking. When Addi was around three, she started riding her bike with her parents in Colorado. In 2011, the Lundbergs moved to Park City, wanting to provide their family with the greatest outdoor opportunities. Here, surrounded by an abundance of trails, Addi’s love for mountain biking grew.

Addi began racing at the age of 10 with the Summit Bike Team. Many of these early races, such as the

Intermountain Cup series, were just for fun.

The Lundbergs would make a weekend out of it, traveling to the race venue and camping. Despite Addi’s early success at these races, where she won in the Junior High category, she didn’t see herself as a competitor—at least not yet.

In the summer after her 6th-grade year, Addi joined the Park City Mountain Bike Team, embracing the opportunity to ride with kids her own age. She won in the Advanced Girls category for both of her Junior Devo years. Just as she was flourishing in these Junior races, her father, Wil, passed away unexpectedly. Wil lovingly supported Addi on and off the bike, and his memory lives through WILS, a family foundation built on Wil’s love for the outdoors. For more information, please visit www.wilsfoundation.org.

The following season, Addi began envisioning a future in bike racing. She joined ACCEL, a national-level youth development team geared towards race preparation outside of the high school season. With ACCEL’s support, she competed at Nationals in

the 13–14 category at Winterpark, Colorado. The high altitude was challenging, particularly for the East Coast athletes, but Addi was able to place 7th among the top competitors in the nation, which was an eye-opening experience for her in the world of competitive bike racing.

Throughout the remainder of summer, Addi would continue to train with the Park City Mountain Bike Team. That fall, for Addi’s freshman season at the high school level, she petitioned to skip the Freshman category and go directly to Junior Varsity A (JVA), a move fairly uncommon in the bike-racing world. In JVA, she won all four of the regional races, allowing her to line up front row at States with a points-leader jersey. Two laps later, she found herself with an impressive 3rd-place State finish.

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The following winter, Addi continued to put time into crosstraining with Skimo, or ski mountaineering, on the indoor trainer bike. That summer, she continued to race nationally with ACCEL and petitioned again for her 2024 high school season. As only a sophomore, she was placed on Varsity, the highest category for high school. For her junior year, she found early success at her first regional race at Soldier Hollow, where she placed 2nd in Varsity, then won the following three regional races. Again, she was front and center with the points-leader jersey, finishing 3rd against the strongest girls in Utah.

Following her successful freshman, sophomore, and junior seasons, Addi geared up this last winter with even more motivation to train to her fullest potential. During off-season, she rides twice a week with the Max Testa program, as well as on her own, to keep her legs moving through the winter. She also implements strength training at Park City Hospital with Andrew Fast, whom she partly credits to making her more explosive off the start line. This season is Addi’s first time participating in the 17–18 category, which offers a more competitive field and UCI points—and which can qualify racers for the Junior World Cup, along with prospects at the collegiate level and beyond.

Motivated by creating the strongest version of herself, Addi’s dedication to training has increased this season. She explains that unless she becomes ill, she sticks to the plan provided by her coach,

riding six to seven days a week. She also has dialed in her nutrition and recovery routine, making sure to rest her legs before the next training session. To see if the work she’d been putting would translate to placement, she competed in Puerto Rico this past February. While snow was still flying in Park City, she took advantage of heat training by spending time after rides in saunas and steamshowers. She placed 5th at both the XCO (cross-country) and XCC (short-track) disciplines, and she took 6th place on the second day of the XCO. A few weeks later, she raced in Temecula, California, and achieved her best placement ever, 3rd, for the short-track discipline, and landed another 6th-place finish in the XCO.

she was able to work with fellow athletes and coaches to improve climbing and descending skills, as well as compete in a practice race. With more confidence coming off the Team Camp, she was able to enjoy her best UCI race yet in Wisconsin, placing 2nd at the XCO and 3rd at the XCC, even while being positive with Flu B.

As Addi was preparing for another race in Arkansas, she was invited to the US Junior Team Boot Camp, after having placed in the top five in the 17–18 category. She went on to race in Arkansas with a 7th-place finish in XCO and XCC, and she came in 14th on the second day for the XCO. She explains that the competition here, with athletes across the globe, is potentially what she can expect with racing outside of the nation. For four days at the US Junior Team Camp in Bentonville, Arkansas,

summer CAMP at

Addi’s 2025 breakthrough season isn’t done yet, with more UCI races across the United States this summer. Also, the work she’s put in is paying off beyond the podium; recently, she was given the chance to train in Europe, in the hope of preparing for what her future could potentially look like. She is scheduled to leave mid-August to race in France and Switzerland and will return to the States in early September.

This amazing opportunity, sadly, is at the same time as the high school fall season, so Addi will most likely be missing her last season. But, as a captain on the Park City Mountain Bike Team, she plans to support her teammates when she can, as well as continue being a leader by example. From simply riding with her family to being invited to race internationally, Addi Lundberg is the next generation of cycling.

WASATCH TRAILS AND ADVOCACY:

With Mia Yue, WTF’s Executive Director

“Backcountry trail use isn’t always 100% inclusive or accessible,” explains Mia Yue, executive director of Wasatch Trails Foundation (WTF). “When we held our strategic-planning session, we had accessibility and inclusivity as a couple of our core values.” Keeping its core values, the foundation is taking on urban and backcountry development, even though its very existence is due to mountain-trail user efforts.

WTF takes a broad approach to defining trails. Bike paths connect the community; they facilitate functional bicycle riding, like commuting to work or getting coffee, for example. Hence, planning new backcountry trails, pump tracks, and bike paths are all part of its vision.

“Groundbreaking for Southfield Park’s new asphalt pump track will be after Wasatch County Fair Days. It will accommodate all wheels,” adds Mia. “It will be a place for scooters and BMX bikes. It will be perfect for groups that don’t have transportation to a trailhead or don’t necessarily have interest in mountain biking on trails.”

Next, Mia discusses the Heber Halo project, which “will aim to connect all of the backcountry trails around the valley, not necessarily so somebody would ride the entire thing.” Mia clarifies, “So wherever you are in the community, it’s easier to access trails.” Likely, that would be a five-to-10-year endeavor.

Backcountry trails around Heber Valley thaw quicker than most of the

higher-elevation Park City trails. Locals use them later into fall, even in early winter, without walking or riding on snow. With user days in Heber Valley growing, the trails need us more than ever. Mountain bikers, hikers, runners, and equestrians visit from all over, often from outside Heber Valley. With all that use, it’s becoming increasingly

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important to build WTF memberships.

“We have roughly 175 miles of singletrack here. Memberships are growing, currently sitting around 270. We have four trail crewmembers this year, up from three members last year. That’s 40 extra hours a week on the trail,” Mia enthuses. Wasatch County and surrounding-area trail users stand to benefit enormously.

With more trails coming, such as Springer Hollow, WOW-BLT (Bonanza Loop Trail), and restorative work in Dutch Hollow, volunteer trail days will be one of the easiest ways to support WTF. Becoming a member funds the foundation directly, but both memberships and volunteer hours facilitate additional grants to sustain it.

backcountry trail maintenance,” Mia explains. The funding represents a massive success in trail advocacy and development in Wasatch County and has been a worthwhile goal, but also an uphill journey for Mia and WTF.

“I’m so excited that the community realizes trail management is a real thing, and that people are moving here because of trails, for access to the outdoors,” continues Mia, highlighting the significance of these accomplishments. And by “outdoors,” this means not only backcountry trails.

A key indicator used in seeking grants and other funding is volunteer hours. “When someone donates one hour of work, the foundation can receive additional monetary funding,” Mia says. “A lot of people don’t know that. It’s incredibly helpful when community members volunteer because we wouldn’t be able to get grants without volunteers.”

Trail advocacy comes in many forms and can vary from community to community. In Heber Valley, WTF needs members, volunteers, and word-of-mouth marketing. Mia laments that sometimes people aren’t always clear about Wasatch Trails Foundation and Mountain Trails Foundation being distinct entities—and this is only one of the challenges she has faced as executive director.

For the first time ever, the WTF trail crew will be funded entirely by the TAP (Trails, Arts & Parks) tax. “This is the first year that Wasatch County, Heber City, and Midway City are taking an active role in

Building its presence is the next step, if you will, to be a household term. The work that WTF is doing is what many of us have long awaited. “Wasatch Trails Foundation is a functioning organization making meaningful steps towards preserving, protecting, and building the trail system in the Wasatch,” Mia says. “Most people probably don't realize the state park trails are viewed the same as campgrounds and rely heavily on volunteer maintenance. The reality is the state park doesn't have that budget, so that’s where we come in.” In addition, WTF supports Ken McCarthy, trail builder and manager at Jordanelle Ridge, Blue Sage Ranch, Big Pole, and other public trail areas.

Mia expresses gratitude for the support from Mountain Trails Foundation, whose executive director, Lora Anthony, she cites as the best mentor in her circle, backed by an incredible board of directors. Looking at the progress WTF has made, we cannot overlook the shepherds that have nudged and provided resources to get it here. Heber Valley and surrounding areas stand only to gain from what Wasatch Trails Foundation is doing.

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BY KIRSTEN KOHLWEY

FLY-FISHING ALONG THE MIDDLE PROVO RIVER

After we receive instructions from Fish Heads Fly Shop in Heber City on what to bring, as well as where to buy our fishing licenses well in advance, the day finally comes. The weather is gloomy, but when we arrive at 8:00 a.m., Curtis Lindley, general manager/ head guide, greets us with enthusiasm and introduces us to our guide, Kris Clemons. They proceed to outfit us with waders and boots. The waders have attached waterproof sock feet; I feel like a hobbit. The socks stick out two inches past my feet, which prompts Curtis and Kris to bring me bigger boots—that way, they fit without cramping my feet. I imagine this is what astronauts used to feel like. When my straps are adjusted properly, we head back to our cars and follow Kris to the fishing area. Driving with my giant boots, surprisingly, isn’t a problem. The rain starts shortly thereafter.

Only one other car is parked at our destination. Kris grabs the poles and net along with his other gear and leads us on the trail to Provo River. When he spots a line already in place at his intended spot, we loop back and hike farther down the river. The mountains peek out of the clouds in the distance, and wildflowers are blooming. We can hear the birds squawking and chirping over the sounds of the rushing water. Provo River is flowing quite fast today; along the way, Kris explains where the trout and the native mountain whitefish like to hide.

When we arrive at our fishing spot, a large, well-established beaver lodge flanks the opposite river shore. Kris explains that on a sunny day, we’d be able to see Mount Timpanogos from here, but we’re here on a rainy day with 44-degree temperatures. Kris puts weights and fake worms on our poles and leads us into the river to show us how to cast. Walking in my giant boots requires concentrated attention to placing my feet. The casting steps aren’t hard—you

position your hand with a finger on the line as a brake, twist the pole, raise it, and cast it to the other side of your body, which works most of the time. Neighbors photographer Deb says she did it once before as part of a breast cancer–recovery event. After waking up the next day, I understand why they pick fly-fishing; I can feel muscles I haven’t consciously exercised before.

Standing in the river observing nature is calming. Canada geese, mallard ducks, sandhill cranes, and a bald eagle fly overhead. The first fish that pulls my line jumps in the air, shortly after Carl catches an eight-inch-long trout. Kris and Carl don’t hear me shout to them over the rush of the water, so by the time I remember to reel the fish in, it has already freed itself. Along the way, I have to free three twigs from my line. The rain picks up, and I can feel myself getting colder in the water, despite long underwear and warm clothing. I hook another fish and start reeling it in. I see it as I reel in the line, but before Kris can get to me, it also has freed itself. Carl manages to reel in two fish.

Soon after that, I discover that I have made a tactical error—the rain jacket I’m wearing has cloth lining inside. I feel something tugging on the back of my jacket, and the lining gets wet, the chill spreading faster through my body. One more fish nibbles on my line before I leave the river.

Even though I have more warm clothing in a dry bag, Kris offers me a down jacket to wear back to the cars. Combined with the exercise of hiking back, I warm up quickly. Two young moose watch us from the other shore. Kris suggests another spot for more fishing, but I choose to call this outing good enough. Kris is full of knowledge on the Middle Provo area, its history, wildlife, and fishing. I thoroughly enjoy this adventure and may return when better weather is likely.

Website: fishheadsflyshop.com

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BY ISABELLA VENEGAS

Mental Journey of the LGBTQIA+ Community in Utah

“I feel that in every stepping stone of life, it’s always about exploring and overcoming new things.” These words are spoken by Morgan Noel, a 19-year-old from Utah. Living in the mountains, they thoroughly enjoy doing outdoorsy things, such as winter sports, spending a day at the lake, and hiking. They also are a lover of singing, dance, fashion design, and binge-watching shows. Morgan is part of the LGBTQIA+ population in Utah. We will explore their mental journey as being part of this amazing community.

Pride, to Morgan, translates to a few things. “It means freedom, free expression, and having pride in who you are,” they tell us. They also describe pride as being energy, something that doesn’t necessarily have a face or a personality. It, instead, is liberation.

When asked to describe some experiences of being an LGBTQIA+ individual in Utah, Morgan opens up further, sharing that they have met a lot of supportive people who identify with and welcome differing orientations. “I’ve had people empathize with me with challenges I’ve faced in Utah,” adds Morgan, emphasizing that this community is a positive thing to be involved with. “If I didn’t have these people, I wouldn’t be who I am today.”

Along with the positives come some of the downsides. Morgan says that Utah has a limited vision, seeing things through a binary lens— meaning male or female. Oftentimes, Morgan is viewed through this lens. “Sometimes, your mental health can be greatly affected by this lens because in reality, there is a spectrum of identity that is often overlooked here,” they tell us. Morgan proceeds to mention things that

people have told them, such as, “Well, your car has pink in it, so you are girly,” or “You’re a beautiful girl,” which to Morgan is very invalidating because Morgan’s pronouns are “they/them.” Another negative stereotype that Morgan faces from others is the false idea that people with this particular pronoun are not attractive. “In reality, nobody is ugly, nobody is worthless, and everyone has wonderful aspects to them,” Morgan says passionately, acknowledging that it’s unfortunate if one does not fit into the binary lens of “beauty,” they are often dismissed, leading to a spiral in their mental stability. Morgan says that when they are validated in gender identity, they feel a sense of self-love. Friends have been able to help Morgan through their journey, especially having those who let them explore their side of possibly being transgender and affirming them with the proper pronouns.

I pose this next question to Morgan: “How have your beliefs and lifestyle impacted your mental health?” Morgan replies, “I would say now that I’ve come to terms with my beliefs, they have impacted my mental health in a lot of positive ways.” Morgan also speaks of becoming the “right version” of themselves, which they describe as embracing what you feel inside, as well as the way you live. Their lifestyle, says Morgan, is not “in line” with others in Utah, due to being secluded from “city life”; however, in exploring their own isolation, Morgan adds, “I live far away from people, and the people I click with usually live an hour away or over. But on the bright side, I feel a lot more grounded with these people, even though some of my biggest supporters live farther away. The support goes a long way.”

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Morgan has overcome many challenges with their LGBTQIA+ identity. One aspect of this is overcoming social judgment, which creates a lot of anxiety. “I was told that I needed to stick to a certain way of representing myself my whole life,” Morgan tells us. Once they started to get to know people who were comfortable in their identity, they also began to accept parts of themselves. “I haven’t unmasked it fully; it’s a process,” Morgan continues. “There is still time. I have come so far to a point I didn’t even know was possible.”

Like with all mental journeys in life, it is important to Morgan to have support in their own journey. “Honestly, the person who supports me the most is myself,” Morgan says. “It all starts with you; it has to come from within.” Of course, they have other supporters as well, including their friends, which Morgan has made many of during this chapter of their story. There is also help online.

“We all come into this world to be whoever we were meant to be, to be anything,” says Morgan. “With that mindset, life is pretty awesome.”

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Keep kids safe around vehicles, windows and water this summer

Soak

up the sun with these essential summer safety tips

Summer brings long days of play and adventure, but staying vigilant about children’s safety around windows, vehicles, and water is crucial.

“Accidents can happen in an instant, and precautions can prevent tragedies,” said Susan Petersen, MD, an Intermountain Health family medicine physician at St. Vincent Regional Hospital in Billings, Montana. “Always supervise kids near water, ensure windows are secure, and teach them about car safety – and never leave a child unattended in a car.”

Intermountain Health treats children for injuries from falling out of open windows at their homes, for heatstroke after being left alone in cars on hot days, and for near-drownings in swimming pools, lakes and even bathtubs every year.

WINDOW SAFETY: OPEN 4 INCHES OR LESS

Each year, thousands of children are injured from falling out of home windows in the United States

Windows open more than 4 inches can be a hidden fall hazard for children, as window screens can pop out even with a little bit of pressure from a child’s hand. The best way to keep children safe from window falls is to remember the 4-Inch rule. We should open our home windows no more than 4 inches to prevent falls.

NEVER LEAVE A CHILD IN A CAR – EVEN FOR A SECOND

The temperature inside a vehicle can heat up by 20 degrees in 20 minutes and become deadly on summer days.

Every year, nearly 40 children across the country die after being left in a hot vehicle. Many more have suffered heatstroke and other injuries in close calls. A child’s body temperature can increase 3-5 times faster than an adult’s. Cracking a window has very little effect on the temperature inside the car.

“A child’s body temperature can increase 3-5 times faster than an adult’s,” explained Dr. Petersen. “Cracking a window has very little effect on the temperature inside the car.”

Hot car tragedies often happen when an unattended child gains access to a vehicle, or a caretaker forgets a child is in the car, often due to fatigue or change of routine.

Here are ways you can prevent hot-car injuries:

• Always look in the back seat before getting out of your vehicle.

• Keep vehicles locked and keys out of the reach of children so they can’t get inside.

• Never leave your child alone in a vehicle – even for a few minutes.

• Keep a visual reminder that a child is with you, like a stuffed animal, in the seat next to you.

• Place something you’ll need when you arrive at your destination, like your phone or bag, cell in the back seat. That way, when you reach for the item, you’ll likely see the child.

• If a child is missing, quickly check all vehicles, including the trunk.

• Call police or 911 if you see a child left alone in a car.

WATER SAFETY: BORROW A LIFE JACKET AND APPOINT A WATER-WATCHER

When it comes to keeping kids safe in water, nothing compares to adult supervision, Dr. Petersen said. Fitting children with a Coast Guard-approved life jacket at the pool or open water is the next best thing to prevent accidental drowning.

Here are some ways keep young children safe around water:

• Never leave a child unattended in a bathtub, even for a second.

• Appoint a “water watcher” to supervise children without distraction. Take shifts and create a visual cue, like a lanyard or silly hat, so everyone knows who’s watching.

• Fully drain kiddie pools and buckets and turn them upside down when not in use.

• Ensure the whole family learns to swim.

• Have children wear Coast Guard-approved life jackets – not water wings, which can deflate or fall off a child’s arms.

• Enclose pools and hot tubs with self-closing and locking gates.

• Teach children to stay away from water while hiking or camping.

• If a child is missing, always check nearby water first.

• If a child falls into rushing water, call 911. Don’t jump in after them.

• Learn CPR.

“Ensuring proper supervision and teaching children about safety can prevent tragic incidents,” said Dr. Petersen. “By taking these precautions, we can help ensure a happy and safe summer for all.”

For more information, visit primarychildrens.org/safety.

All Intermountain Health hospitals in Montana are equipped to care for a variety of traumatic injuries, including head injuries, broken bones and injuries caused by accidents or violence. Additionally, St. Vincent Regional Hospital is proud to be verified by the American College of Surgeons as a Level I Trauma Center, demonstrating its commitment to providing the highest level of trauma care in the state.

BY TIFFANY WICKES, ON BEHALF OF WOW CLINIC

PHOTO BY DANA KLEIN

How Wasatch Optimal Wellness Is Doing Weight-Loss Medications the RIGHT Way

“If you take a GLP-1 to lose weight, you’re basically cheating.”

That’s how the conversation has often been framed over the past year, as GLP-1 medications have surged in popularity. But simply using a supplement to lose weight isn’t the full story.

The version most people hear involves dramatic weight loss, muscle depletion, hair loss, “Ozempic face,” nausea, and more. Yes, these things can happen—but they usually happen when it’s done wrong. The other side of GLP-1 use—the safe, supportive, scientifically grounded side—is rarely discussed. I’m here to change that.

If you’re experiencing those symptoms, something is off. Either you’re not being properly guided, or your provider isn’t giving your journey the attention it deserves.

MEET DEENA THOMPSON

Deena Thompson is a Certified Nutrition Specialist at Wasatch Optimal Wellness (WOW), helping clients in the Wasatch Back lose weight, rebalance key health markers, and reclaim their vitality through WOW’s medically guided weight-loss program.

Experience Wellness Like Never Before

In the picturesque surroundings of the Wasatch Back, Wasatch Optimal Wellness (WOW Clinic) is redefining healthcare by blending the wisdom of conventional medicine with the insight of holistic healing approaches.

• Cold Plunge

• Dry and Infrared Saunas

• Full-body DEXA Scan

• Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

• IV Therapy

personal

started when she became mysteriously ill—dealing with unexplained symptoms that traditional medicine couldn’t solve. She eventually found validation and healing through a functional medicine practitioner, which sparked a lifelong commitment to self-advocacy and holistic care. Now, she brings that same dedication to WOW, where she supports the nutrition pillar of the program.

• RMR

• VO2 Max Testing

• Weight Loss Management

• Joint Injections

• Nutritional Counseling

“It’s important to lose weight slowly,” says Deena. “Rapid loss— more than two pounds per week—can lead to sagging skin, nutrient depletion, and almost guarantees muscle loss.”

WHAT MAKES WOW DIFFERENT

WOW’s program is anything but one-size-fits-all. Every client undergoes DEXA scans, VO2 Max testing, comprehensive blood panels, and customized dosing protocols. Clients work closely with both a physician and a nutrition specialist to:

▶ Hit fiber and protein targets

▶ Stay hydrated

▶ Choose whole food options

▶ Move their bodies effectively

▶ Maintain or even build muscle mass while losing fat

“There is a wrong way to do this,” Deena explains. “That’s why we oversee our clients throughout their six-month minimum commitment—adjusting calories, monitoring symptoms, and finetuning medications as we go.”

From the start, clients meet regularly with Deena to learn how to eat in a way that naturally supports appetite regulation. With enough protein, fiber, and hydration, clients feel full and satisfied—without

Deena’s

health journey

needing to rely on willpower alone. These habits, grounded in research, help ensure that weight loss is sustainable.

“We also monitor carbohydrates based on each client’s blood-sugar profile,” Deena adds.

Many people struggle to lose weight due to undiagnosed blood-sugar issues—like insulin resistance or insulin deficiency. At WOW, these conditions are identified through lab testing so that the program can safely and effectively be tailored to your unique metabolic needs.

“We dig deep: blood work, body composition, cardiovascular health— we use VO2 Max testing to track improvements that directly tie into longevity,” Deena says.

The WOW difference also lies in how clients transition off medication. “We practice a respectful and targeted exit strategy,” Deena adds.

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In

Just as doses are slowly ramped up to find the minimum effective dose, they are gradually tapered down with close attention to the following: returning appetite, gained muscle, increased lifestyle activity, and caloric needs for weight maintenance.

This deliberate off-ramp gives clients the tools—and confidence—to maintain their weight on their own. “The problem with how most people use GLP-1[s] is that they just eat less—they don’t eat differently. Then they’re shocked when they regain the weight. Our approach is different because we educate them and guide them every step of the way.”

WOW’s weight-loss program isn’t just about medication—it’s about transformation. It’s customized to you, backed by labs, grounded in science, and overseen by a team that genuinely cares about your longterm success.

BETSY DEMANN •

BY DEB DEKOFF

RENATO SALTZ

THE DOWN-TO-EARTH SURGEON FOCUSED ON RESULTS AND SAFETY

Renato Saltz is a seasoned plastic surgeon with over 30 years of experience, and he’s not the type to chase after viral fame or social media hype. Based in Park City, Saltz is known for his straightforward approach—he’s all about delivering safe, natural-looking results while sticking to ethical standards. For him, it’s about genuine patient care, not fleeting trends.

He jokes that he’s not the guy doing TikTok dances, “I don’t dance on TikTok,” he says with a grin. But what he does do—day in and day out—is deliver genuine, reliable results. What has kept him successful all these years is his focus on skill, honesty, and making sure his patients feel confident and safe. His reputation is built on a long history of satisfied patients and a dedication to results that last.

Saltz’s journey began in Brazil, where he helped out at his parents’ small store near the Argentine border. Those early days taught him values like hard work, good customer service, and integrity—things that still guide his work today. After finishing medical school, he moved to the United States to pursue top surgical training. He completed a general surgery residency at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami during the 1980s—a wild time in Miami history—and then specialized in plastic surgery at the University of Alabama. Later, he practiced in Georgia before making Utah his home.

In the late ‘90s, Saltz decided to open his own clinics, and today he runs two busy centers—one in Salt Lake City and another in Park City. His practices offer everything from facelifts and body contouring to hair restoration and noninvasive treatments like Botox, fillers, laser skin resurfacing, and radiofrequency skin tightening. He’s always looking for new ways to improve and stay ahead of the curve, which is why he has a team of talented aestheticians, nurse injectors, and wellness specialists. These services help his patients look and feel their best, blending

surgical and non-surgical options.

Saltz emphasizes the importance of maintaining high standards and ensuring patient safety. He was even part of creating the very first course on safety in aesthetic medicine—an effort to help the industry set strict standards and reduce risks. He’s quick to warn patients to be careful about whom they trust. Choosing boardcertified surgeons and reputable clinics isn’t just a good idea—it’s life-saving. He’s seen the dangers of unqualified practitioners, especially with procedures like fat injections, which can sometimes turn deadly if done improperly. His message is clear: do your homework, ask questions, and report bad practices.

Outside the operating room, Saltz places a lot of importance on relationships—his family, staff, and industry partners. His wife and daughter are actively involved in the practice, and he believes that a well-trained, caring team makes all the difference for patients. He also collaborates with device companies and injectable brands to introduce the latest innovations into his clinics, providing his patients with access to the most advanced treatments available.

Looking ahead, Saltz sees a lot of changes coming to the industry—larger mergers and big corporate groups. He notes that building an independent practice is becoming increasingly expensive, and many young surgeons are opting for hospital jobs instead. Still, he stays passionate about surgery. He says, “If you don’t love being in the operating room, then you’re in the wrong business.” For him, surgery is more than a job—it’s a calling.

All in all, Saltz’s career proves that honesty, safety, and a genuine passion for helping people will always make a difference in cosmetic surgery. He’s a reminder that doing things the right way is what really counts.

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Actively Harnessing the Power of the Autonomic Nervous System EXCERPT

FROM UNLOCKING YOUR WELLNESS

By Dr. Giselle M. Batcheller, DDS, NMD, IABDM, Owner of Wellness and Esthetics + CARE Esthetics Utah

Our body is a complex system. From the core of us, there is an electrical current running through our body. This current is constantly sending signals.

The nervous system operates in two modes, often referred to as “fight or flight” and “rest and digest.” Each of these modes is meaningful for our survival, and our wellbeing.

The “fight or flight” mode references our sympathetic nervous system. This system is in place to protect us in the case of an emergency. It exists so that if we were to encounter a bear or a lion, we could be in the best position possible to save our own lives by either fighting the animal, or running away from it – with our greatest energies given to perform the actions of fighting or running.

The “rest and digest” mode is the opposite of the “fight or flight.” The functions of resting and digesting reference the function of the parasympathetic nervous system. This system is in place to help our bodies do what is needed most often – rejuvenate and receive nourishment. When the parasympathetic nervous system is activated, we are in a state of calm. This calm, rejuvenation mode is where we are meant to spend most of our lives, though many of us spend too much time in “fight or flight” which isn’t supporting our optimal wellness

Too many of us believe that life is just happening to us, that we don’t have control over the bear heading towards us. This simply isn’t true. You actually have all of the control. Everything you need is inside of

you. You get to decide how to act. You are not simply existing to be

Actively activating the parasympathetic system is simple, it is the most accessible strategy in my book, Unlocking Your Wellness, and the benefits of doing so are some of the most profound benefits of all of the strategies I describe.

So, how do you activate the parasympathetic nervous system? How do you choose to position yourself in the space of rejuvenation, peace, and calm? You intentionally slow down your breath. Your breathing rate is the key to unlocking access to your parasympathetic nervous system. And, by practicing a slower pace of breathing, or breath work, you will open a whole new opportunity for every cell in your body to become healthier and better nourished by

DR. GISELLE M. BATCHELLER DDS, NMD, IABDM

In the upcoming articles, with excerpts from Unlocking Your Wellness, we’ll discuss more researched and science-backed strategies for calming inflammation, boosting immune function, improving gut health, and bringing vitality into your daily life. What I have to share has proven powerful to improve many lives, and I hope that you will use this knowledge to improve yours.

Dr. Giselle Batcheller is Utah’s pioneering figure in Light Therapy and PRF. She is a proud Parkite and a member of the international faculty of PRF experts at PRFEDU. Since 2018, Dr. Batcheller has been training doctors in advanced lasers, light therapy, PRF, and regenerative medicine. This article is taken from her pocket sized book “Unlocking Your Wellness” which offers the most powerful and accessible strategies for health and vitality. Her books are available for purchase on DrBatcheller.com along with links for Dr. Batcheller’s social media.

© Best Version Media

CALL IN YOUR DREAM PARTNER

There is nothing more powerful than a successful businesswoman who knows exactly the kind of partner she desires, heals the deep wounds holding her back, and confidently calls in the man of her dreams; manifesting her partner into her life with unwavering certainty in her choice!

Coming out of a relationship and/or stepping into the possibility of a new one can be scary…but many women enter into incredible ones—especially when they do these two things: 1. they’re certain of what they truly desire in a partner, and 2. They heal their deep wounds from previous relationship(s). If not, studies show that you’re bound to repeat past relationship problems, just with a different person. When a woman gains clarity about what she truly desires in a partner, that’s when the real transformation begins. As a successful businesswoman, you already know you have the power to create what you want and eliminate anything holding you back from it. So why wouldn’t the same approach apply to your romantic life?

If you’re unsure or don’t yet have a clear vision of what this kind of romantic relationship would even look like, I’d like to share some helpful tips to guide you. And by the way, healthy relationships are not only possible—they’re absolutely real!

STEP ONE: CREATE WHAT YOU DESIRE! CREATE YOUR LIST OF 100

1. List 50 Characteristics and Attributes You Want in Your Partner: What qualities do you admire in others—whether it’s a hot celebrity, a close friend’s relationship, or someone you look up to. What attributes do they have that you value? Compassion, ambition, humor, loyalty? Write down 50 characteristics and attributes you desire in a partner. This exercise will help you clearly define the type of person you want to call in and manifest into your life.

2. List 25 Experiences You’d Like to Share with Your Partner: Consider the experiences you dream of having. This could be traveling to specific places, trying new activities, or sharing life’s milestones. By identifying these experiences, you not only visualize a future full of adventure, but you also open yourself up to exciting opportunities—whether you manifest a partner or not.

3. List 25 Things You Want to Become with Your Partner: Think about the person you want to evolve into—individually and within a partnership. Do you want to be more adventurous, kinder, healthier, more creative? Defining these personal growth goals will help you recognize if a potential partner aligns with the person you aspire to be. You’ll have a clear vision of who you want to become and can actively work toward that vision—on your own or with someone by your side. This will make you more fulfilled, regardless of your relationship status.

This exercise gives you a clear, well-rounded vision of what you truly desire in your ideal partner. But before you start calling him in, there’s one more crucial step to take… STEP TWO is healing your deepest wounds that are holding you back from having your dream partner. And the good news is—it’s much easier than you think! I’d love to invite you to watch the video “Call In Your Dream Partner” by scanning the QR code to get started. Imagine how it will feel when you’ve healed your deepest wounds, leaving the past behind you, knowing that you are inherently worthy, loveable and more than enough; that the void within you is filled with pure self-love as you confidently call in the man of your dreams; manifesting your partner into your life with unwavering certainty in your choice!

I’d be honored to guide you into calling in your dream partner. Feel free to reach out. I’m here for you.

.

I’m Camilla Peterson.

As a Master Practitioner and Trainer in Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) and Time Line Therapy®, I’ve helped hundreds of individuals break through the limits of their mind and get unstuck in their business and careers. Through my work, I’ve discovered a powerful connection between professional success and sexual fulfillment, as well as the relationship one has with themselves and their partner.

I’ve had the privilege of working with founders, CEOs, and professionals— helping them overcome trauma, depression, anxiety, sexual trauma, and more. My clients have reclaimed their power, finding greater freedom, joy, and intimacy in both their personal and professional lives.

My mission is to guide you on a transformative journey of selfdiscovery, unlocking deeper pleasure, purpose, and fulfillment in every area of your life. I’d be honored to support you as you take a quantum leap toward your fullest potential!

If you’ve ever been told by friends or family to “just relax and it’ll happen,” you’re not alone. Many people trying to conceive wonder if stress could be affecting their fertility. While stress alone isn’t usually the sole cause of infertility, we know from both research and patient experience that there is a connection between emotional well-being and reproductive health.

Trying to conceive can be stressful. And ironically, that stress may make it harder to conceive, creating a cycle that feels difficult to break. High levels of chronic stress can impact hormones like cortisol and disrupt the delicate balance of reproductive hormones such as LH and FSH, which play a key role in

ovulation and sperm production.

In some cases, stress may even affect menstrual regularity or sperm parameters. But the relationship is complex; not everyone experiences fertility changes due to stress, and not all stress is harmful. What matters most is how you manage it.

It’s important to acknowledge that infertility itself is stressful. The emotional rollercoaster of hope, waiting, and disappointment can lead to anxiety, depression, or feelings of isolation. This emotional toll deserves attention and care, just like the physical aspects of fertility. At Wellnest, we take a different approach: patients have access to counseling, support groups, guided

meditation, acupuncture referrals, and other mind-body resources as part of their care. These services are here to support you, not just in treatment, but in the emotional journey as well.

You’re Not Alone

If you’re worried that stress is affecting your fertility, talk to a specialist. We can help rule out underlying causes, support your reproductive goals, and connect you to resources that support your overall well-being. Have a question about stress, fertility, or anything in between? I’d love to answer it in a future column.

Email me at hello@wellnestfertility.com.

Free Living Co SMALL TOWN STORIES

Gratified. Mission-driven. High energy. These words pop to mind when talking with Dana Grinnell of Free Living Co. These and the exploding laundry detergent story.

“Routine grocery trip, family of five, and the detergent blew up in the back of the car,” she remembers. “It was labeled ‘Number one dermatologist recommended’ but blasted radioactive purple everywhere. I couldn’t believe it.”

A new mission crystallized for the former healthcare executive: a local business to help Parkites wade through the toxins and other disruptors “none of us asked for,” she says. “It’s confusing and exhausting to try to decode it, so I can help.”

Dana’s store on 1476 Newpark Blvd #100 (behind Cupla, in front of Newpark Resort) and her website, freeliving.co.co, are packed with thousands of products, from skincare to wallets, backpacks to blankets, all tested and approved by the Grinnell family as safe, clean and good for the planet. “My kids love it,” she says of her three children

and husband Frank, who help vet potential offerings. “Moving my warehouse off our property will help my inventory since I suspect they ‘shop’ without my knowing,” she laughs. Working with over 150 brands, Dana’s site recently exceeded 2,000 products.

“You’ll notice I love grunge and 90s hip hop,” Seattle-raised Dana says of the ambiance at her Newpark Blvd. store, which opened just two weeks ago. “I’m always up for a pop-up dance party.”

The family lived throughout the West during her healthcare career, settling in Park City just a few years ago. “We fell in love,” she recalls.

“I was born in Salt Lake, so maybe it was in my blood to return.”

“I’m so grateful,” she says of running an exciting new business that advances a less toxic life. “Parkites care about their health, the planet, and supporting entrepreneurs.”

Have ideas for Dana? “We’re open to adding products and meeting new suppliers,” she says. “Stop in to chat or visit our site!”

WILDFIRE PROTECTION FOR YOUR HOME & HEALTH

As flowers bloom and hillsides turn from white to green, we shift from mud to wildfire season. J.M. McComb, Emergency Manager for Park City, warned of increased temperatures and below-average precipitation, predicting a season prone to wildfires.

PROTECTING YOUR HOME

Images of the Palisades fires remain vivid and unsettling. Understanding the threat and mitigating risks early is essential. Outside, create defensible space, plant fire-resistant landscaping, and trim bushes. For your home, use fire-resistant roofing and siding, store flammable materials safely, and protect vents and eaves. Prepare emergency kits, evacuation plans, and stay informed. More details are available at nfpa.org/education-and-research/ wildfire/preparing-homes-for-wildfire.

THE HEALTH RISKS

Regardless of risk level, wildfire smoke degrades air quality and can harm health, especially for vulnerable populations like the elderly, children, and those with pre-existing conditions. Extreme conditions challenge our body's detoxification and respiratory systems.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Monitor air quality via weather apps or AirNow.gov. Heed poor air warnings—exercise indoors or rest. Unlike normal times when ventilation is beneficial, during wildfires, keep windows and doors closed.

FILTERING YOUR AIR

Seal your home against drafts—inspect weatherstripping and replace as needed. Remove window AC units if possible. Set your HVAC to recirculation mode; avoid “auto” or

“economy” settings. Change filters regularly— aim for MERV 13 or higher. Consider portable air filters from providers like Austin Air (available at freelivingco.co/collections/ austinair) or Air Doctor. DIY options include attaching a MERV 13 filter to a box fan. Avoid ozone generators and swamp coolers that draw in outdoor air.

AFTER THE FIRES

Continue using portable filters and replace HVAC filters as recommended. Clean AC units and ducts. If you experience respiratory or cardiovascular symptoms, rest and consult your doctor.

Let's hope the warnings are cautionary and wildfire sparks stay at bay. Preparedness remains key. Stay safe and healthy, Park City!

Dana Grinnell is the founder of Free Living Co, offering non-toxic, sustainable products to support health. Visit us at 1476 Newpark Blvd Ste 100 or online at freelivingco.co.

NEW FRONTIERS: WHY THE SECRET TO GROWTH LIES BEYOND COMFORT

When facing challenges and change, we often avoid discomfort. Venturing outside our safety zone can be intimidating, as the ego constructs roadblocks to keep us comfortable and prevent growth. Challenging ourselves is essential for transformation, despite the costs involved, and rewards await those who take risks.

THE COMFORT ZONE TRAP:

Our ego employs tricks to keep us within familiar boundaries:

▶ Staying busy or distracted, citing lack of time

▶ Blaming others or external factors—kids, work, weather

▶ Forgetting commitments or justifying why we can't pursue certain experiences

▶ Using excuses like expense, timing, or self-identity to avoid new opportunities

CONSEQUENCES OF AVOIDANCE:

Yielding to ego’s tactics hampers growth and prevents breaking old patterns. Change demands self-awareness and a desire for more. It requires accountability and courage to let go of limiting beliefs, habits, or people.

UNDERSTANDING THE EGO'S ROLE:

The ego's primary function is to keep us safe by resisting change, warning of potential fear or pain. But progress depends on stepping into uncertainty and taking risks—an essential part of personal development.

RISKY BUSINESS:

As the saying goes, “No risk, no reward.” Listening to our inner voice and embracing the unknown allows us to reach our true potential. Growth comes from challenging comfort, self-examination, and risk-taking. Avoiding discomfort stunts growth and limits potential. Embracing change—though tough—unlocks new skills, fulfillment, and alignment with our authentic selves. Let’s set aside the ego and commit to this transformational journey, knowing the rewards outweigh the initial discomfort.

SKY FULL OF STARS GREEN RIVER FLOAT EXPEDITION

July 27-Aug 1

Feel the magic of Mother Nature on the river in a community of strangers turned soul sisters .

5 days unplugged. Adventure, sisterhood, and transformation in the red rock desert.

Amid the serene river flatwater, rugged terrain and contrasting beauty, explore your connection to nature and yourself in a whole new way: through sound, somatic movement, breath, NLP writing workshops, creativity, silence and awe.

There’s a spot for you around the campfire with women like you—dynamic, compassionate, curious adventurers seeking empowerment, self-discovery, and the freedom to just BE.

DETAILS: wildwomentribe.net/float-retreat

IS YOUR

BODY

READY FOR SUMMER? YOUR HIPS AND BACK MIGHT DISAGREE

REMEMBER WHEN YOUR BODY JUST WORKED?

Do you recall hiking Bald Mountain when it didn’t leave you limping, or tennis and golf didn’t cause lingering pain? There’s a moment in your 40s or 50s when discomfort starts to feel like the norm. You ice. You stretch. You push through. But what if pain isn’t just age catching up with you? What if it’s a signal that your body’s natural movement system— your core, hips, back, and breath—has lost its coordination? That’s where Personal PT comes in.

SUMMER ACTIVITIES ARE NO JOKE FOR YOUR HIPS + BACK

Park City summers are full of movement, hooray! Mountain biking, hiking, golf, pickleball. All great for your body. But also demanding. When tightness shows up, most people stretch, foam roll, or get a massage. And yet the stiffness returns. Or worse, a nagging pain sets in. Here’s what most people miss: your muscles aren’t just tight. They’re compensating for something deeper.

THE ACCUMULATION FIX: DEEP CORE COORDINATION

A sprained ankle years ago, a jammed hip from skiing. These injuries change the way we move and create our compensations. I see this daily - patients in their 40s, 50s, and 60s, start to feel the accumulation of these compensations. Patients frequently complain of tight hips (“hip grip”) and back pain (“back hinge”). Translation: overworking hips are compensating for an uncoordinated core. Their body has fallen out of sync. Sound familiar? Then you need the accumulation fix: hip mobility, deep core coordination, and a rib flare correction. But don’t be fooled by the internet! Pulling your belly button toward your spine and traditional core work will NOT do the trick. Use these resources to assess if you are in or out of sync.

IS YOUR BODY OUT OF BALANCE?

Visit the website below to view these videos you can try today. physicalactivist.com/hipandback

These signs indicate your hips may be overworking due to an imbalanced deep core.

GOOD NEWS: IT’S FIXABLE—AND FAST

By activating your deep core (creating a connection between your pelvis and ribs), you create a stable foundation for your hips to move freely. At Personal PT, we help active adults reconnect these systems—not just to feel better, but to perform better. No cookie-cutter programs or waitlists; just personalized, effective strategies. Whether preparing for golf, mountain biking, hiking, or simply enjoying summer without pain, syncing your hips and core is essential.

THE ACCUMULATION FIX: 4 DRILLS TO POWER UP YOUR SUMMER

Access a free video on my website that guides you through four simple drills to unlock your hips and awaken your core.physicalactivist.com/ hipandback

Start trusting your body again—movement should feel good, and summer is calling.

Joanna Kahn, MPT, is the founder of Personal PT in Park City. She helps active adults improve movement, enhance performance, and stay pain-free using a science-based, highly personalized approach to physical therapy.

THERE’S A NEW WAY TO HEAL THE GUT (HINT: IT’S BETTER THAN A FECAL TRANSPLANT)

If you’ve ever struggled with chronic digestive issues or had a hard time finding real answers about your gut health, you’re not alone. As a holistic nutritionist specializing in gut repair, I work with patients who’ve been dismissed, misdiagnosed, or told “everything looks normal” — even when they feel far from it.

One of the most talked-about procedures for gut health is the fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) — a process where stool from a healthy donor is transferred to a patient’s colon to help restore a healthy gut microbiome. Sounds wild, right? It’s actually incredibly effective… but here’s the catch: FMT is only FDA-approved in the U.S. for treating recurrent C. difficile infections, a life-threatening condition that doesn’t respond to antibiotics. So unless you’re in that very specific category, this option is off the table.

But here’s the good news: there’s a smarter, safer, and more accessible way to rebuild the gut using next-generation postbiotics.

I’m a certified provider of ThaenaBiotic®, a professionally dispensed supplement made from the sterilized, bioactive compounds found in stool from ultra-healthy donors. It may sound similar to a fecal transplant, but instead of using live bacteria (which can be risky), ThaenaBiotic® captures the postbiotics — the powerful signaling molecules that gut bacteria naturally produce. Think of them like text messages from your microbiome telling your body how to function, heal, and thrive.

This is not your average probiotic. In fact, research shows that postbiotics are more important when it comes to reducing inflammation, restoring gut balance, and even influencing mood and immunity.

As a gut health practitioner, I use advanced stool testing (like the GI MAP), paired with customized nutrition and targeted supplements, to help my clients finally feel better — often after years of frustration.

If you’ve tried probiotics, cut out foods, or been told nothing’s wrong — yet still feel bloated, anxious, or stuck — it might be time for a new approach. Healing your gut isn’t about guesswork. It’s about using the right tools with expert guidance.

Curious if this is right for you? I’d love to talk. Schedule a Discovery Call on my website, and let’s get you the answers your body has been waiting for.

Emilie Davis is the founder of Whole Essentials Nutrition in Park City. She helps adults and children struggling with gut issues, food sensitivities, and chronic symptoms get back to feeling good again using functional testing, nutrition coaching, and personalized care.

Acupuncture for Long COVID Recovery

If you’ve been grappling with lingering symptoms months after recovering from COVID-19, or experiencing post covid symptoms, you’re not alone. Many individuals continue to experience persistent issues such as:

• Dizziness or a sense of imbalance

• Chronic fatigue and brain fog

• Shortness of breath or chest tightness

These symptoms can be deeply frustrating, especially when standard labs and exams come back “normal.” However what you’re experiencing is real—and you deserve support that looks at the whole picture.

I See You, and I’ve Been Treating You

In my clinic, I’ve worked with too many patients who’ve felt dismissed or stuck in limbo—told there’s nothing more that can be done. They’ve cycled through appointments with their PCPs and specialists, often without relief. But when we begin working together—through acupuncture, targeted herbal support, intentional lifestyle shifts, and something as simple (yet vital) as daily electrolytes—I consistently see improvements.

Sometimes they’re subtle at first: a little more energy, a steadier breath, a clearer head. But over time, these shifts compound. The body remembers how to heal when we give it the right support.

The Role of Inflammation in Long COVID

Recent research points to chronic inflammation as a key driver of long COVID symptoms. This ongoing immune activation affects multiple systems—respiratory, neurological, digestive, and emotional— leading to the symptoms that linger long after the initial infection has cleared.

How Acupuncture Can Help

Acupuncture, rooted in the wisdom of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), is a powerful tool to help your body recalibrate. It works to:

• Reduce systemic inflammation: By regulating the immune response and modulating inflammatory markers, acupuncture brings down inflammation that may be fueling your symptoms.

• Support immune function: Acupuncture

helps the body maintain a balanced immune state—neither under- nor overreactive.

• Enhance respiratory health: Treatment often includes points to open the chest, nourish Lung Qi, and improve oxygen flow, easing shortness of breath and fatigue.

• Clear brain fog and dizziness: By supporting the Liver, Spleen, and Kidney systems, acupuncture helps clear the mental haze, support cognitive function, and restore balance. In Chinese Medicine, the Kidneys are seen as the root of vitality and brain health—especially after long illness—making their support essential in long COVID recovery.

Healing Your Nervous System

One of the most transformative aspects of acupuncture is its ability to calm the nervous system. Many long COVID patients are stuck in fight-or-flight mode, leading to anxiety, restlessness, and poor sleep. Acupuncture activates the parasympathetic system restoring a sense of safety, deepening breath, and allowing your body to move into a state of rest and repair.

A Holistic, Personalized Approach

Each patient’s journey is different. When you come into my office, we’ll look at your full picture—what you’ve been through, how your body is functioning now, and what kind of support it needs to find balance again.

This may include:

• Acupuncture

• Herbal formulas

• Nutritional and lifestyle recommendations

• Daily electrolyte support to rehydrate and restore cellular energy

• Emotional and nervous system regulation

There Is Hope

If you’ve been living with these or other related symptoms and still don’t feel like yourself, please know that healing is possible. You’re not broken. Your body just needs the right environment to remember how to heal. It would be an honor to support you on your journey.

With warmth and care, Dr. Kallie Harrison, DACM, LAc, LMT, RN

Dr. Kallie Harrison

• Doctor of Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine (DACM)

• Licensed Acupuncturist (LAc)

• Registered Nurse (RN)

• Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT)

• Certified Psychedelic Therapist

With over two decades of experience in the healing world, I hold a doctorate in Chinese Medicine specializing in acupuncture and I am also a registered nurse, licensed massage therapist and certified psychedelic therapist. My commitment to healing extends beyond conventional methods, aiding individuals in preparing for and integrating transformative psychedelic experiences.

What sets my approach apart is the culmination of my diverse training and experiences. I blend acupuncture, cupping, gua sha, bodywork, energy work, tuning forks, sound healing, breathwork, and guided meditation into personalized sessions. I also offer guidance in supplement selection, herbal remedies, and nutrition planning to support holistic well-being. My philosophy centers on meeting each individual where they are on their healing journey and providing tailored support for their unique path to wellness.

www.kallieharrison.com

2078 Prospect Ave., Suite 2 Park City, UT 84060

(Inside The Prospect Executive Suites) Cell: (801) 703-5280

Niles Andrus, City Park, and More

It’s easy to take for granted Park City’s City Park, which wasn’t acquired by chance. Part of a land deal for mining rights elsewhere, and[1] brokered by United Park City Mines (UPCM) general manager, Niles J. Andrus, City Park—along with the Park City Historical Society—owes Niles and his family a little thanks for its existence. Although Niles was a mining engineer by education and training, he was a community-first kind of person.

According to his obituary in the May 6, 2006, Park Record, Niles was born in Holladay and was the sixth child of nine. [2] He graduated from Granite High and studied at the University of Utah. He and his wife, Constance Mae Cox (who went by Connie), raised their own family of eight while moving, following his professional career to different mining locations around the west and South America.

When they first landed in Park City in 1964—Niles had been recruited by Jim Ivers of United Park City Mines (UPCM)—the family lived off-site. Typically, the general manager lived in company housing, but the manager's house in Empire Canyon was occupied. So, the mine put them up in Keetley, since it maintained company and bunkhouses near the drain tunnel there. After that first year, they moved into the “Judge Mine superintendent’s house in Empire [Daly] Canyon, right next to the old Judge Mine facilities,” Mahala Ruddell wrote in the July 19, 2016, Park Record article, “A Landslide Brought It Down.”[3]

Before taking on management of United Park City Mines, Niles had been managing uranium mines in Moab, then in New

Mexico. During the time, Niles and Connie had the opportunity to meet Charlie Steene in Moab, the prospector who uncovered extraordinary uranium wealth at the Mi Vida Mine[4] and changed Moab’s fortune forever.

While living in Daly Canyon, the couple was plagued by landslides and deep snow, evidence that can be seen today. The landslide rubble filling the canyon has been graded, as well as one of Old Town’s water tanks stands, where a family car was carried and partially buried during the first slide. Upstream from the tank on the western hillside, the footings that once held this old house still poke out of the earth.

Chris, one of the Andrus children, had been given a 1950s Ford by his uncle, garaged until he was old enough to drive. He even had fresh snow tires installed on the front end. After the landslide, the front of the car was hanging out over space. The next morning, Chris came out to find that someone had stolen the wheels and new tires.

During the second slide, Chris was home, not feeling well and resting, when he heard two of his sisters screaming from the front yard, a terrace downhill from the house. He looked outside and saw the slide. “This one was bigger than the first. I remember how quiet it was except for some rocks clacking together. It carried so much speed, it folded the retaining wall below the house,” Chris recalls.

The house was moved to Thaynes Canyon, far away from the geologic hazards quaking in Empire Canyon. At some point, local mountain bikers created a trail segment weaving through the foundation’s remains.

© Best Version Media

Lori Andrus, Niles and Connie’s daughter, was still young when they lived there. She says her parents wanted to build up the community; the land swap that gave the city its park is one example. However, Connie had been watching as people were randomly dumping or selling what should have later become historical artifacts.

Motivated, Connie began calling upon city council and citizens to create a museum. The challenge lasted years.

Establishing the Park City Historical Society, a chapter of the Utah Historical Society,[5] Connie became the first president, working with a host of concerned locals. She suggested they use the old jail for the museum, and the city eventually made it happen.

That old building remained as the museum, and even after modern renovations, the address is still Park City’s museum today. Thank you to Connie Andrus—who had a place to capture history as it happened, a remarkable vision during a time we all romanticize. Truly, history was in the making.

On April 15, 1970, Anaconda Company and partner American Smelting and Refining Company leased all United Park City Mines’ mining rights. The endeavor to uncover more valuable deposits was called Park City Ventures (PCV). Niles managed the entire operation, which included updating Ontario Shaft No. 3 and new mill construction.[6]

Niles wanted to get deeper into the shaft; however, PCV didn’t, which led to problems.

While the mine was expanding underground, the surface was being developed by lessee Greater Park City Company, which had ambitions of expanding recreational facilities across the lease’s 10,000 acres.[7] Overextended by 1971, Greater Park City sold the rights to Edgar Stern. He was notably responsible for changing the name “Treasure Mountain Resort” to “Park City Resort” and recruiting Stein Eriksen to the area.

Operations between Anaconda and Niles were strained. Due to Anaconda being an outside investor, the group had a less-thanthorough understanding of Park City’s underground deposits and water channels. Niles’ concern was if they did not drive deeper into Ontario No. 3, they would run into flooding.

Park City was a wet district. Underground rivers and bodies of water frustrated mining efforts from the beginning. Anaconda’s decision not to go deeper led to more problems.

In 1975, Niles left UPCM for other opportunities. During his 11-year tenure in Park City, a period of diminishing mining yield, waning market, and government interest, he also saw a transition that would usher in the ski era on which we thrive today. It was during this time that Nicolas Badami purchased Park City Resort from Edgar Stern.

Niles and his family still did their part to contribute to the Park City we know and love today. His next management role took him to Casper, Wyoming, for a dozen more years. Afterward, he and Connie moved to Cripple Creek, Colorado, to run a gold mine. Upon retirement, he returned to Park City and built a home in Silver Springs, where he entertained his grandchildren. Like many legends of Park City, sadly, he is no longer with us. On the fourth of May in 2006, we said goodbye to him one last time.

[1] https://newspapers.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s6pg2v9p/8132338, Park Record October 5, 1968

[2] https://www.parkrecord.com/2006/05/06/obituary-31/

[3] https://www.parkrecord.com/2016/07/19/a-landslide-brought-it-down/

[4] Raye Ringholz: Uranium Frenzy

[5] https://newspapers.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s66t6g32/29831854, The Park City Coalition, Feb. 20, 1974

[6] https://newspapers.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s6wy8c9a/30837456, The Salt Lake Tribune, Sept 30, 1973

[7] https://utahrails.net/mining/united-park-city.php,

Instagram: @aerialrendition

BY MICHELLE DEININGER

BY DANA PERRY AND MICHELLE DEININGER

The Local’s Local: OG Parkite Dana Perry

LANDSCAPER, SNOWBOARDER, RESORT WORKER, MUSIC LOVER, AND EPIC STORYTELLER SPINS

TALES OF UTAH’S PAST AND PRESENT

It takes time for Park City newcomers to become locals. How long? That’s up for debate, but few in town will top Dana Perry’s credentials. A fifth-generation Utahn, Perry learned to ski in 1979 at what was once called Park West, now known as The Canyons.

Coming up on her 29th consecutive year working on the mountain, she’s now a lifetime passholder––a reward for her decades of contribution to the seasonal workforce.

“I earned it, that’s for sure,” she says. “From ‘97 to 2011 I worked in lift ops, then I spent two years in rentals, and I’ve worked at pretty much every lodge at Park City and Canyons.”

She’s still at it, though now she primarily works at the resort for fun and to fill in staffing gaps at the beginning and end of the season. “I have to snowboard four miles to work; that’s why I have to get my knee replaced.”

It probably goes without saying she sports the unofficial Park City tattoo––a scar from ACL surgery. But Perry’s a local’s local. Her life revolves around the seasons, and she wears multiple hats in the community. Besides resort work, she rents rooms in her Prospector home to J1 Visa workers and when the snow melts, she’s in charge of resort beauty through her busy landscaping business.

Those flower beds and large-scale potted arrangements that

add bling to Canyons Village all summer? Perry and her crew of four full-time and four part-time employees maintain those. Canyons is the largest of her clients, which keep her hopping spring through fall. “I love the variety, and making things more beautiful,” she says. “I love to watch things grow over the years.”

Her clients include private, commercial, and HOA properties. After so long in the business, some original clients have left or passed; when Perry is out and about and sees new people in a yard she cared for, she stops to explain the landscaping and offers to help or consult.

Anyone who’s been in Park City for a while will talk about change. There’s no getting around it, but long-timers who adjust are entitled to their laments. Perry says she misses the days when life was more affordable, along with the vibrancy and locals scene Main Street used to offer.

“There are no locals anymore,” she says. “It used to be you could walk into any bar on Main Street and know people.”

That doesn’t mean you won’t find her there. Shabu is her favorite restaurant (The Boneyard and Fuego are close behind).

Perry’s stories about life in and around Park City are many, and fun. Did she find Jason Momoa lost in an alley and try to give him directions? Yes. Did a friend at Alberto’s text her to let her know Keanu Reeves was there eating a breakfast burrito, leading her to scurry over immediately and end up discussing the “I feed Park City” shirt she was wearing with Reeves and his burrito date Norman Reedus? Yep, it happened.

Does her grandson Skully personally know his doppelganger, The Dead’s Bill Kreutzmann, and have a hilarious separated-at-birth picture with him? Yes, but that’s a whole different story involving Hawaii, where her daughter lives, and where she may partly retire. She already visits five or six times a year and

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has a room in her daughter’s home. But Perry won’t retire in one place. Maui is too remote to offer enough of what she loves doing most in her free time––going to concerts.

She won’t pick a favorite musical genre, saying that’s like choosing a favorite child, but admits she can’t handle jazz. “I love everything,” she insists. “I’ll always be a punk rocker at heart.”

(Punk fans take note, the iconic Sundance film SLC Punk! was based on real-life characters, most of whom were Perry’s friends.)

Get Perry talking about Teasdale, in southern Utah, where Brigham Young sent her great-great-great grandfather for reasons lost to history, and where her extended family still has a home, and another world of stories and love of place open up.

“I feel very blessed to have the three greatest places on earth as my home,” she says. “How did I get so lucky?”

Perry is hard to miss, a happy blonde sporting skulls and shells and bead jewelry zipping around in a many-stickered black Jeep. And if you happen by her yard, near Grub Steak Restaurant, feel free to check it out.

“Tourists walk around my yard and take pictures,” she laughs.

“My yard looks like a lady who has a landscaping business.” And Whenever people get rid of stuff, Perry plants it (instead of throwing it away). “I feel like it gives me good karma.”

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UTAH DIAPER BANK

Diaper Banks are essential to many communities. They provide a crucial resource to families in need, helping to ensure the health and well-being of our children. Many families, especially in today’s economic climate, struggle to afford hygiene-related products, which are not covered by government assistance programs like WIC or SNAP. Without a sufficient supply, children risk infections and emotional stress for both children and parental figures. Diaper Banks fill this gap, allowing families to focus their limited resources on other necessities such as rent, food, and transportation. Victor Velivis, the Founder and Executive Director of the Utah Diaper Bank (UDB), identified a need in Utah and decided to take action.

Victor began distributing diapers on his own in 2012. After some research, he discovered that only 35 states had diaper banks at the time — Utah wasn’t one of them. “I called a few friends, informed corporations, and applied for a 501(c) (3) status,” Victor recalls. The Utah Diaper Bank was officially recognized as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization on March 14, 2013. The work primarily fell to Victor and his long-time friend, Tom Coburn, UDB’s current operations manager. Both men volunteer their time daily.

Victor’s mission was simple: supply diapers to low-income families across Utah. UDB’s first significant effort was with the Family Services Organization. “They came on television and were offering free babysitting services. However, because neither they nor their clients had access to diapers, they could not take advantage of this service.” Victor explains. That realization was the catalyst. “In thirteen years, they have never run out of diapers since we have been involved.”

Victor worked in various computer industry roles before retiring, all of which, he says, prepared him in unexpected ways. For the first five to six years, UDB staff physically packed and delivered diapers to partnered

organizations. Today, partners pick up packed orders twice a month. Additionally, once each quarter, UDB packs 26 pallets of diapers for the Utah Food Bank, which distributes them throughout the Wasatch Front. “We actually get to 19 cities in addition to the 45 partners that we distribute to up and down the Wasatch Front,” Victor adds.

UDB also works with the Park City Community Foundation and several local food banks, clinics, and government agencies to ensure broad coverage across the valley. “Typically, when people ask me why we started doing this, I talk about WIC and SNAP not providing diapers. There is nobody who delivers or provides diapers for low-income families. That's why we exist.” Victor said.

About 250 diaper banks operate in the United States. In Utah, UDB serves as a consistent source of support for families in Salt Lake, Utah, Davis, Morgan, and Weber Counties. They serve an estimated 50,000 to 60,000 families annually, aiming to provide 50 diapers per month to each family. This year, UDB is on track to distribute 2.1 million diapers, bringing their total to 10 million since they began.

So, where do the diapers come from? Kimberly-Clark, a major hygiene product manufacturer, donates a truckload or two of diapers each year. UDB pays for shipping and handling, which keeps the costs low. UDB also has a master purchase agreement through the National Diaper Bank Network. “When I buy diapers in those kinds of volumes, we get a discount through the national network, so usually I can stretch people's dollars farther than what they can afford buying them through retail,” Victor says.

Local diaper drives are also essential. News and radio stations, IKEA, America First Credit Union, and HomeAid (a nonprofit housing developer) have all supported UDB’s efforts. The organization is always seeking volunteers, including individuals, youth groups, and companies. Volunteer opportunities include wrapping and packaging diapers, assisting with distribution, or serving at outreach events such as farmers’ markets and fairs. Those interested can reach out via info@ utahdiaperbank.com.

Victor has been intentional about keeping the mission simple and sustainable. “We don't even buy wipes, by having just one product, we

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grow at about 20% a year, which has been working out for us.” The Utah Diaper Bank is entirely funded by corporate grants and private donations. Until two years ago, they operated rent-free out of a donated facility. Last year was the first time they had to pay rent. “It’s a gorgeous facility, but with how much we have grown and expanded, we needed a space for us to be able to continue to grow.”

“People want to help when they find out kids aren't getting diapers.” While UDB does not distribute directly to the public from their warehouse, information about where to find help is available on their website: utahdiaperbank.org. “The majority of organizations we give

diapers to are ones that serve the public. We try to pick organizations in different areas along the Wasatch Front and across the state, so we have some presence in each area.”

The Utah Diaper Bank plays a vital role in strengthening Utah’s families by addressing a basic but often overlooked need. “We chose the indirect distribution method so we can successfully deliver the kind of volumes we do,” Victor adds. With continued support through donations, volunteerism, and awareness, UDB can help ensure that no family is forced to choose between diapers and other essentials of everyday life.

CHRISTIAN CENTER OF PARK CITY STORES: BACK 2 SCHOOL BASICS

As summer winds down in the Wasatch Back, one of the most impactful programs of the season quietly springs into action: Back 2 School Basics, a beloved initiative by the Christian Center of Park City (CCPC). Designed to support local students from low-income families, the program ensures that every child starts the school year with the essentials—and the confidence—they need to succeed.

Held annually in early August, Back 2 School Basics transforms a local retail store into a shopping haven for over 1000 students from Summit and Wasatch counties. Each child receives a $100 gift card to pick out brand-new clothing and shoes—items they choose

for themselves, reflecting their style and personality. The experience empowers students while easing the financial burden on their families during the backto-school season.

But the support doesn’t stop there. Students also receive backpacks and age-appropriate school supplies, donated by generous individuals, local businesses, and community groups. Each student receives the necessary tools for academic success, from pencils to binders.

“This program is about more than new clothes or school supplies,” says Lisa Griffeth, Programs Manager at CCPC. “It’s about dignity, confidence, and giving every student the opportunity to start school on equal footing.”

Thanks to dozens of volunteers and sponsors, Back 2 School Basics embodies the spirit of community. It’s a reminder that when people come together to care for their neighbors, students don’t just show up on the first day of school—they shine.

Find out more about this program and how to get involved at: ccofpc.org/back-2-school-basics/.

There is a lot more going on at CCPC. To keep up on the latest happenings, you can follow our social media here: facebook.com/ChristianCenterofParkCity or our website here: ccofpc.org

BY RICHARD ELLIS

TAP WATER, PLEASE

ARGUABLY, PARK CITY’S WATER HAS NEVER BEEN SAFER—BUT PUBLIC OPINION CHANGES SLOWLY

Anyone who’s moved to Park City over the last 15 years surely has had “the water talk.” A local gravely warns the newcomer not to drink water from the taps. It’s a historical mining town, goes the spiel, and heavy metals leach out of the old tunnels. Some locals remember 2007 and 2010, when brown water contaminated with heavy metals did, in fact, plague homes near Thaynes Canyon.

That event originally brought Michelle De Haan to town—and led to her role today as Water Quality and Treatment Manager for Park City Municipal Corporation.

A chemist by training, De Haan previously managed water treatment for Scottsdale, Arizona at a key turning point. “EPA had just come out with a huge laundry list of new contaminants that water systems had to monitor for,” De Haan says, referring to a 2001 regulation from the Environmental Protection Agency. Among other things, the agency set the first-ever limits for lead and copper in drinking water and reduced the acceptable level of

arsenic from 50 micrograms per liter to 10.

Municipalities weren’t sure how to comply and needed specialists like De Haan to figure it out. She piloted new arsenic testing techniques that landed her a consulting job serving municipalities across the country.

One of those municipalities was Park City. De Haan was part of the team that sorted out the 2007 and 2010 contamination events (which had to do with metals stuck to the pipe walls).

PC Municipal Corporation’s Public Utilities Director, Clint McAffee, asked De Haan what staff Park City would need to hire to ensure the water remained safe. “And so I had the opportunity to write my job description,” she says.

Since 2011, De Haan has helped orchestrate a $150 million overhaul of Park City’s water system, including $82 million to

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build the 3Kings Water Treatment Plant. She leads this reporter and photographer on a tour of 3Kings to illustrate how it works. Anyone concerned with Park City’s water quality (76% of locals, according to a Utah State University survey) ought to do a tour.

3Kings is impressive on many levels. The architecture, inspired by the mining era, blends with the high-end homes on Three Kings Drive. Its micro-hydropower system converts incoming water into emissions-free electricity, covering 30 percent of the plant’s needs. The control room, resembling something out of a spy thriller, continuously monitors operations and water quality. The laboratory, meanwhile, looks like the world’s cleanest bar with its beer-style taps for 13 different water sources.

The multidisciplinary water treatment operators, part scientists and part “glorified janitors,” as De Haan puts it, are equally impressive. They learn how to do every task required to keep our taps flowing. No matter who is sick or on vacation, our 3Kings operates seamlessly.

In the lab, De Haan shows a sample of raw Park City water at its worst. It’s brownish red from metals. Eight heavy metals do run out of them-thar-hills: arsenic, cadmium, lead, zinc, antimony, thallium, iron, and manganese. 3Kings removes them all. No other facility known to De Haan handles that many.

As water flows from the Spiro and Judge Tunnels into 3Kings, the plant adds its

housemade chlorine, raises the pH, and introduces an iron-based coagulant. The goal is to thicken the particles so they will settle to the bottom, allowing easy removal. The remaining, uncooperative particles get caught in filters.

From there, 3Kings lowers the pH to trap antimony in a pricey titanium dioxide adsorption media. At the last stop before distribution to Park City homes and businesses, 3Kings adds more chlorine for disinfection, blasts the water with the UV light to kill any remaining pathogens, and raises the pH to 7.8. No water is wasted. All that remains are cakes of dry, brown waste cakes that get trucked to landfill.

What about the chemical family PFAS, leached from fluorinated ski wax? That wax is now banned in town but found in our snow nonetheless (and used, I assume, by the same people who bike muddy trails and leave grocery shopping carts in parking spots).

Luckily, we have three water treatment plants serving our town of roughly 8,500 full-time residents. Water from 3Kings, which is PFAS-free, gets blended in tanks with water from the Creekside Water Treatment Plant (which contains some PFAS) until the concentrations are below EPA limits.

“The quality of the water that we put out is top notch,” De Haan says. The well-intended “water talk” no longer corresponds to reality. Nevertheless, “There's still a heavy portion of the public that has a preference towards bottled water. And I think that's not just in Park City. That's all over the United States.”

We conclude the tour with a tasting of 3Kings drinking water. It comes out of a beer tap at a crisp 45° F. “I love being my own customer,” De Haan says.

Your Trees What They Need to Thrive

Through laboratory soil tests and a visual inspection of your property, SavATree’s professional arborists can assess the unique condition of your trees and the soil they grow in. Armed with that information, they can recommend the nutrient and soil enhancement regimen to help them thrive.

“Outstanding service. Ed’s team comes to meet you at a location of your choice (at your home, office, etc.) The team arrived on time, and in only 2hrs, my BMW looked fresh off the lot. Thanks so much, DetailParkCity! You’ve got my business!” - Jamie R.

“Ed was great. He quickly returned my initial contact (rare in Park City) and quickly had us on his schedule. He spent all day detailing our two cars, which are in like new condition. Couldn’t be happier.” - Andrew N.

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KEY TO A HAPPY RETIREMENT?

FINDING YOURSELF

Embracing your identity and purpose in life, especially in retirement, can help you avoid negative behaviors that thwart your happiness, joy and well-being.

Retirement is a significant milestone that can bring a mix of emotions. For some, it’s a longawaited freedom to pursue passions and dreams. However, retirement is not just a change in routine; it is a transition in identity. Many individuals have built their sense of self around their careers, job titles and achievements. Some folks delay their retirement date for fear of not knowing who they are or what they will do.

Therefore, when the time comes to bid farewell to the workplace, they are left questioning who they are beyond their professional or caregiving roles. It is crucial to recognize that retirement is a journey of self-discovery, where individuals are forced to confront the question: What makes me me?

External factors, such as jobs and societal expectations, often shape our identities, especially when we are younger.

The Workaholic. Individuals who define themselves solely by their work become stagnate if they don’t find a purpose for their energy. One challenge is that such individuals may have used work to escape their relationships at home.

The Caregiver. If all you do is take care of others, you neglect yourself and burn out. Giving to others starts with having a personal boundary and learning how and when to say “no.”

The Perfectionist. This is a miserable way to live because you can’t let go. Practice the 80% rule: Get things done to 80% good enough. After that, it’s diminishing returns.

The Materialist. Keeping up with the Joneses or being “the richest man in the graveyard” does not create happiness; just a lack of fulfillment.

As we transition into retirement, our identity determines our purpose. The fulfillment we experience stems from living out our purpose. The core drivers of identity and purpose are:

• Connecting: our innate drive to connect and attach to our community.

• Learning: the constant drive to learn, grow and change.

• Authenticity: discovering our true, best and authentic selves.

• Structuring Daily Life: mindfully designing routines, events and action items that supports our authentic selves.

Retirement is not just a time to stop working; it is an opportunity for self-discovery and embracing a new identity, while addressing and removing dysfunctional patterns and behaviors. Embracing our true identity and purpose in retirement allows us to find happiness, joy and wellbeing in this new chapter of our lives.

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TRAFFIC AND THE COBRA EFFECT

WHY POLICIES TO REDUCE TRAFFIC AT BONANZA FLAT WILL BACKFIRE

In Heber and Park City, there is widespread concern about traffic according to recent surveys. And there is endless conflict about how to address it. In Park City, for instance, people decry the pace of development while complaining about traffic that comes mostly from commuters who can’t rent or live anywhere in or near town without further development.

Wanting something is different from coming up with policies that achieve it. Plus, there is always a risk of perverse incentives.

Which brings us to Delhi, India. According to what is likely an apocryphal story, the British colonial government was struggling with an infestation of deadly cobras. So, they offered a bounty for cobra skins. Locals began to hunt and kill cobras for money, but the cobra supply ran low—and hunting them one-byone was inefficient anyway. Entrepreneurs began to breed and farm the snakes. When the British recognized their miscalculation and canceled the bounty, cobra farmers released their now valueless stock, making the infestation even worse than it was prior.

That story inspired German economist Horst Siebert (1938-2009) to write a book about perverse incentives titled Der KobraEffekt. It was never translated into English— probably because it’s a dry tome about how Germany’s social safety net encourages wasteful spending. Still, the American commentariat adopted Siebert’s coinage, The Cobra Effect, to describe when incentives worsen the problem they are intended to solve.

I thought about these incentives during a trip to Brighton Ski Resort in February. It was a Saturday powder day, and there were no parking spots available to book. So, a friend and I drove to the Park & Ride at 6200 S Wasatch Blvd to catch the free bus. We arrived at 6:45 am, assuming that would be plenty early.

The buses pick up at the Midvale Ft Union Station, 6.5 miles west, before they pick up at 6200 S. A bus arrived at about 7 am, mostly filled, and left the majority of people in line behind. The next bus arrived from Midvale completely full around 7:30 and took no one. We finally caught an 8:30 bus, which had been sent empty to 6200 S, bypassing Midvale, because the line at 6200 S had

become so long.

Paid, reserved parking and free buses were supposed to incentivize bus usage and reduce traffic into Big Cottonwood Canyon (BCC). In practice, it had several unintended consequences.

First, skiers were incentivized to drive in the opposite direction of Brighton to catch a bus back towards Brighton, burning more fuel than they would have otherwise. Second, skiers eager to avoid bus waits and parking fees began to circle Brighton’s parking lots just before noon, when there are no more fees or reservations required. That has resulted in standstill afternoon traffic, which creates headaches for BCC locals and danger for everyone recreating. Ambulances and search-and-rescue vehicles can’t get in and out of the canyon in a timely manner. New traffic pattern, new cobras.

This summer at Bonanza Flat Conservation Area, will paid parking reduce traffic? Or spawn cobras?

KPCW’s Parker Malatesta reports that spots at Bloods Lake, Bonanza Flat, and Empire Pass Trailheads will cost $5 per hour on weekdays and $8 per hour on weekends. Residents of zip code 84060 can get a permit to park for free. Park City Transit’s purple line will visit Bonanza Flat trailheads Friday through Monday when demand is highest. Transit to Trails, which contracts private transportation to shuttle folks to Bonanza Flat for free, may expand service.

Let’s put ourselves in the mind of a Bonanza Flat visitor with dogs. They used to drive up BCC to Guardsman Pass on hot summer days because dogs aren’t allowed in the BCC watershed. Dogs aren’t allowed in Park City buses either unless they’re in a carrier. This recreator doesn’t have a great alternative to paying for parking.

A hiker without dogs still wouldn’t be thrilled to drive an extra 15 min down to

Old Town, pay for parking at China Bridge, bus back up, then bus down after their hike or ride. Likewise for a mountain biker who drives up Pine Canyon Road from Midway. They have a limited window to ride, limited funds to spend, and a demand for highelevation terrain with cooler temperatures.

Most likely, visitors from BCC and Midway will find the nearest unpaid parking (just above the Montage on Marsac Avenue) and create massive traffic and crowding headaches there. We will still get cobras— just down the road where there is even less parking and less space to expand it.

Paid parking at Bonanza Flat will not stop demand. It will just ensure that Rivians, Teslas, and Range Rovers fill the parking spots instead of Subarus, Toyotas, and Fords. So much for making public lands accessible to the public.

Policies designed to reduce traffic don’t always have that effect. They just create new breeds of cobras.

BY KIRSTEN KOHLWEY

LOGAN TO GARDEN CITY

A DEEP DIVE INTO NATURE

Heading to Logan, we stop for a meal at Angie’s, “Where the Locals Eat.” Serving Logan at 690 Main Street since 1983, this clean, basic diner with room for large groups has reasonably priced American food. Impressive is the page of gluten-free meals, while locals swing by tables to chat with others who happen to be eating at the same time.

From here, we head down Logan Canyon, a National Scenic Byway. Almost as soon as we enter the canyon, we stop at the parking lot for Stokes Nature Center. While it wasn’t open when we were there, a fairly flat hiking path leads to it, as well as past it, along the river. This is just the first of many hiking trails in Logan Canyon.

Stokes Nature Center is open from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Just driving through Logan Canyon is a feast for the eyes and ears. Aspen groves shimmer yellow in the sunshine, the river gurgles along the road, and steep cliffs with cave entrances hidden either behind gates or high up near

the tops of the cliffs are visible from the road. The large gate on the entrance to Logan Cave protects Townsend’s big-eared bats, which breed and hibernate in the cave. Even though the gate originally became necessary due to vandalism, it is even more important now to prevent the spread of White Nose Syndrome, which was originally detected in 2007 in New York. Utah bats had been spared this disease until it was detected in Canyonlands National Park bats in 2024.

So far, the disease has not been detected in the northern parts of Utah. If you are not up to hiking, don’t miss the scenic overlook as you drive down out of Logan Canyon towards Garden City. The view of Bear Lake highlights the turquoise-blue color of the lake and its large north–south span.

Garden City is known for its raspberry shakes. Opinions vary as to which place has the best ones; Zipz definitely had the longest line. So far, LaBeau’s is my winner, but even better is the raspberry jam you can buy in town. We

• Landscape Design & Installation

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• Park Strip Flips • Sprinkler Start-Ups

• Block Walls and Pavers/Patios

PHOTOS BY KIRSTEN KOHLWEY AND CARL HENDERSON

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stayed at the Ideal Beach Resort; relaxing and sitting at the end of the piers, you can even see pelicans fly by. Bear Lake has many rest areas and state parks that provide beach access— within Garden City, this access is rare. The resort itself is a bit dated but makes up for it with a heated pool, spa, and sauna.

If you choose to stay here, bring your own food. The resort’s little store has prices that surprised even my already heightened awareness of rising costs. We brought our paddleboard—and we should have brought our pickleball gear. You can also rent boats and lake toys here.

With Wyoming to the east and Idaho to the north, we drove 45 minutes to Fossil Butte National Monument to check out the remains of Fossil Lake. The visitor center has extensive displays of fishes, stingrays, and other animals found in the Fossil Lake formation. New fossils continue to be added as new species are found. Just down the road is Kemmerer, Wyoming, the location of JCPenney’s very first store. It still features the original wooden shelves and layout, with just minor upgrades to the lighting and the addition of dressing rooms. Driving another 30 minutes northwest of Kemmerer,

we satisfy a new passion of ours—we visit Fossil Lake Safari and find some lovely fish fossils. The staff member showing us how to split rock gets very excited about the fossilized turtle poop that I find. I can’t say I have quite the enthusiasm for that one, but it is…different.

Back in Garden City, we head to the Pickleville Playhouse and pick up our tickets to Trouble in Hunky Dory, a melodrama, at Will Call. The packed theater fills with laughter at the jokes, and the audience plays along with the prompts being displayed to either boo or cheer. The cast is confident in their roles and delights everyone with its musical performances. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is on the schedule for this summer.

Garden City is suffering from a lack of workforce at the moment. Several restaurants are closed because of this, so expect lines or longer wait times at the remaining ones. Surprisingly, prices are reasonable. The size of a 36-inch “Monster” pizza at Firehouse Pizza is incredible to behold, its box requiring to be slightly tilted for it to fit through the doorway.

We see plenty of people walking and jogging on the path that leads basically all the way

along the main drag through town. Garden City is a great spot to plan a vacation around, with easy access to sightseeing in northern Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming.

BY SANDY GELDHOF

FROM HIKES TO MOUNTAIN BIKING, TREKKING WITH YOUR FURRY FRIENDS CAN BE SAFE AND REWARDING

Since 2021, Pete’s Adventure Pack has been guiding owners with a full curriculum of training classes through many channels––including an online membership portal, one-on-one sessions, and private lessons. In addition to basic dog training, Molly offers training in Trail Etiquette, Recall, Understanding Trail Rules, and Structured Fulfillment.

TRAIL ETIQUETTE

Molly says the most important thing when hiking with your dog is to avoid letting your dog rush other dogs, and knowing how to respond when another dog rushes you. “In a situation where an off-leash dog approaches you, I always advise to keep your dog moving. Step off the trail to let the other dog pass. If it approaches you to sniff your dog, turn your dog around and retreat in the other direction, but keep moving.” This practice, she says, helps your dog understand that they don’t need to be in charge of the situation, or get into a protection mode. “If you stop, that gives your

dog more time to fixate and kind of load up,” she continues. “If you keep them moving, you keep them working, and not focused on engaging the other dog.” She added that by turning your dog away from the approaching dog you’re avoiding a head-to-head encounter, which is where conflict can start. “By presenting your dog’s booty to the other dog you’re presenting less of a threat to the other dog, and in most cases, they will get in their sniffs and move away.”

RECALL

Recall starts with working with your dog inside your home where there are fewer distractions. A longer leash is ideal where your dog can get some distance, and starts by calling their name and then reeling them in like a fish––repetition is key. Molly also advises avoiding using food as a reward as there will be times when you’re adventuring with your dog in real-world situations where it’s less convenient to access treats. “When I’m skiing or biking with my dog, I’m not going to pay-it-out

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every time, and when the food doesn’t become the reward anymore, the system fails,” says Molly. “Try to use affection as the motivator, whether praise or physical touch, dogs love a good scratch or rub.”

UNDERSTANDING TRAIL RULES

One of the most important things any dog owner can do is to fully understand the rules of the trail when encountering mountain bikers, other hikers, and horses, all of whom frequently share the public trails. Some trails in Utah, like many located throughout Mirror Lake Highway, have designated days of the week that allow dogs, and this was designed to allow for more enjoyable trail use for the public.

“As a responsible dog owner, it’s your job to always

AND URGENT CARE

be paying attention, and to move yourself and your dog off the trail when encountering bikes and horses,” says Molly. “They have the right of way, and knowing this will help you avoid accidents and potentially stressful encounters.”

STRUCTURED FULFILLMENT

Finally, Molly is adamant about owners ensuring that their dogs, especially working breeds prevalent in the community, get the right type of exercise, which includes both physical and mental stimulation. For active breeds like heelers, Australian Shepherds, German Shepherds, Border Collies, and Huskies (and even doodles) a leisurely stroll will not suffice. “A lot of classic behavioral issues with working breeds comes down to frustration due to pent up energy and

Urgent Care: Saturday & Sunday: 10am-8pm Specialty Care: Monday-Thursday: 8am-6pm

Bark City Veterinary Specialists and Urgent Care offers Urgent Care services on Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 8pm and a Veterinary Specialty practice Monday through Thursday. We are an easily accessible, walk in Urgent Care, for when your regular Veterinarian is unavailable. Our Urgent Care treats urinary tract infections, wounds, lacerations, vomiting, diarrhea, ear issues, broken bones, broken toenails, and many more common non-life threatening, but urgent medical concerns. We have x-ray, CT, in house lab, and Quick Scan ultrasound capabilities offering state of the art care for your pet when they need it most.

lack of fulfillment,” Molly says. “If you’re mountain biking and your dog is zipping up and down the trail 900 times, that is all adrenaline. There is no mental work going into that. Though it looks like they’re having the time of their life, it’s actually a lot of stress. If you’re exercising them within the guidelines of trail etiquette, then they’re working their brains more.”

Dog owners who are interested in learning more about the full curriculum of training options for adventuring with their pets can visit www.petesadventurepack.com.

Website: www.petesadventurepack.com Instagram: @petesadventure pack

Meet Bubba! Meet Lucy!

Bubba, oh, Bubba. I am truly blessed that I get to work with and photograph dogs. There is no doubt about that. Sometimes you get a little extra sprinkle of the magic, the blessings and gratitude come in tenfold when I get to hang out with a dog like Bubba. You may have seen his photos a few times throughout this publication, that’s because he is still waiting for the perfect family to show up and take him home. A gentleman like Bubba might not stick out to a family wanting to adopt, he isn’t overly friendly, jumping all over like many other dogs. He isn’t a young young puppy who is all wiggles. He is steady, he is loyal to his people, he is a shadow that never fades even in the darkest of days. At 5 years old, he is no spring chicken, but he’s also no December duckling.

I just completely made that up, but you get my point. A 5-year-old Shepherd mix is a dog in their prime, you get to miss out on the hellish puppy phase that we all know and love. Bubba is a steady, easy-going fella. He does tend to move more slowly when warming up to new people, which can be discouraging but I promise, if you give him time, meet him more than once, you will see his personality shine. It’s such an amazing feeling when you get to witness the goofball emerge from him, and oh man, oh man, this dog is goofy. He loves living at fetch and the amazing people at fetch love him. But what he would love even more is a home to call his, a place that is all about Bubba. Maybe it’s you, you might be his biggest fan. You just haven’t met him yet. #Teambubba.

Please reach out to Tori with Fetch to meet him, you won’t regret it! 540-383-7522

I have never met a more bodacious, booty rockin’, voluptuous dog than Lucy ell. Lucy is an 8-year-old English Sheepdog, who is oh-so-ready to find her forever home. She has had two previous homes, but due to the families’ personal reasons they were unable to care for her. Lucy currently lives with a wonderful foster. She has done well living with three other dogs, two English Sheepdogs and a Sheep-a-doodle. She is an easy going gal but does need slower introductions when it comes to meeting other furry friends. She loves humans, I can attest to this. She snuck a few kisses in when I wasn’t paying attention.

We got to walk around her neighborhood and fawn over the wildflowers. There aren’t many things better than a dog in a patch of wildflowers. With the love and care of her foster family Lucy’s confidence has grown. Working with a local dog trainer, her leash manners and overall well being have flourished. Lucy is waiting for her future family and it might be you. Please take the time to reach out to Ahmi Bryant (801) 550-2049 even just to chat about her, maybe to even go on a little stroll through the flowers. You won’t regret it!

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Discover the difference with our owner-operated pet care services, led by a certified Canine Dietitian dedicated to your pet’s health and happiness. Our team includes two gentle, highly skilled groomers with a combined 25 years of experience, ensuring your furry friend receives the best care.

We’re here to support you in finding local walk/hike groups, sitters, trainers, daycare, and boarding options—making pet care easier and more convenient. It’s our pleasure and commitment to help you and your pets live your happiest, healthiest, and worry-free lives.

Explore our offerings:

• Quality, healthy, and sustainably sourced foods, treats, and supplements

• Safe and stimulating toys

• Grooming aids

• Seasonal outdoor gear

• Custom pet and people gift baskets Let us

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ABOUT US

The Ripple Effect of Your Shopping Spree

When you shop at Park City’s ReStore, you’re doing so much more than scoring great deals, you’re participating in a community-wide effort: supporting local sustainability and strengthening the community and improving lives through home ownership. The proceeds from your purchases go directly to fund Habitat for Humanity’s local home building initiatives, so you’re personally contributing to the construction of affordable homes in Summit and Wasatch Counties.

You’ll delight in the joy of discovery and the surge of satisfaction from finding that perfect piece of furniture, décor item, or appliance—at an incredible discount. Every ReStore patron has a story about their favorite find. From the antique armchair that now sits by the fireplace, to the retro lamp that’s become a conversation starter, these items transform a house into a home, and a space into your personal sanctuary. Each visit to ReStore is a unique experience, and what you find can often surprise you with its functionality, beauty, and value.The ReStore stocks hundreds of both new and used items in our boutique and home goods store, including furniture, artwork, lighting, electronics, home décor, building materials, housewares, appliances, and so much more.

Our inventory is refreshed daily so you never know when you might find the occasional antique or simply the perfect piece to complete a room’s look. Everything is 50% to 90% off retail prices and always a shopping adventure!

WAYS TO DONATE

• SPRING CLEANING

• MAKEOVERS

• DECONSTRUCTIONS

• CORPORATE

PARTNERSHIPS

PICK UPS

The Park City ReStore now offers two convenient options to have your new and gently used furniture, artwork, home décor, and building supplies picked up: Standard Pickups & Priority Pickups

DROP OFFS

We may accept new and gently used furniture, artwork, home décor and building supplies. Store team members have final say on what donations we will accept. Drop Offs available – Mon-Sat 10-4:30

6280 SILVER CREEK DR., PARK CITY, UTAH 84098 (Just beyond Home Depot by Silver Creek Village)

We are a short drive from Heber, Midway, Kamas, Coalville, Salt Lake City, and Evanston.

OPEN HOURS: MON – SAT 10AM-7PM

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August 14-16, 2025

The Park City Song Summit is a vibrant and evolving event that highlights music and the well-being of artists and attendees.

Since its inception, the Song Summit has grown into a platform for cultural and wellness exchange, featuring diverse activities. Attendees are treated to intimate sessions that address mental health, enhancing the overall experience with thoughtful wellness activities like sound baths, yoga, and massages.

The Song Summit celebrates a wide array of musical talents, providing a unique opportunity to see artists such as Larkin Poe and Mavis Staples perform in intimate settings. It offers diverse musical experiences, ranging from gospel harmonies to high-energy performances. Programs like Summit Rising demonstrate a commitment to nurturing emerging artists, with structured mentorship and performance opportunities that emphasize healthy creative practices.

Returning to downtown Park City, the summit will infuse City Park and the local library with events, allowing for rich interactions in these iconic venues. With the Main Stage and the Foundation Stage offering a mix of established and emerging talents, the event promises an immersive, educational, and entertaining experience.

Whether reconnecting with favorite artists or discovering new ones, the Park City Song Summit provides a dynamic environment to enjoy music and support young talent while promoting health and wellness.

Join us and be part of this special, one-of-a-kind event in our beautiful mountain town. Experience the magic of music, creativity, and community right here at home!

© Best Version Media

ALL IN FOR YOU.

Ways to Win with the Hudgens and Harrison Team... We are passionate about the people of Park City and want to help you find “Ways to Win” with your real estate goals in 2024. If you would like to know what your house is worth or what your buying power actually is - we would love to meet with you!

Gretchen: Over fifteen years in the global luxury hospitality industry, Gretchen takes a concierge-style approach to work with discerning clients worldwide. Her extensive and diverse experience in hospitality and marketing, coupled with 10 years in Park City real estate gives her a unique perspective and knowledge. Gretchen sits on the Board of Directors for the Board of Realtors, the Legislative Committee, the RPAC Committee, and the Affordable Housing Committee. You can find her enjoying the mountains when she’s not working with clients.

Lacy: With personable and attentive service at the forefront, Lacy is known for her expertise, professionalism, industry knowledge and ability to deliver big results for her clients. Lacy has a unique ability to connect with the most discerning clients, having worked for the NFL for 15 years in marketing, specializing in negotiations internationally. Lacy also owns the small business, PEAK|45, a luxury boutique Lagree fitness studio here in Park City. You can find Lacy, her husband and two little girls skiing the slopes in the winter or biking in the summer and are proud to call Park City their forever home.

Jessie: After establishing a successful business in Park City, Jessie transitioned to real estate, fueled by her passion for interior design. She leverages her design skills to create beautiful, functional spaces, assisting clients in all facets of real estate, including home preparation for the market. When not working, Jessie enjoys skiing, hiking, and spending time with her two children.

Gretchen Hudgens 435-901-1015

Insta: @gretchenhudgens

Email: Gretchen@winutah.com

Jessie Lannings 858-952-4742

Insta: @jessielanningrealestate Jessie@winutah.com

Lacy Harrison 858-525-3434

Insta: @lacykharrison

Email: Lacy@winutah.com

Lacy

Gretchen

Jessie