Payson & Santaquin Connection Magazine

HAPPIESTof holidays

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

May your holiday season be full of yummy food, lots of time spent with loved ones, and acts of service. This time of year tends to bring out the best in people, so let it! Be willing to do something kind for someone else while also letting people do service for you. Spread Christmas cheer wherever you go!

Everyone has special traditions that they participate in, some silly and crazy, others heartwarming and

along with baking, caroling, decorating gingerbread houses, going to see holiday lights, and Christmas pajamas on Christmas Eve.

time to do service for someone in our wonderful community. Enjoy this Holiday Edition of the and Happy Holidays!

KJ Productions Publisher

Yass Creative Design

Kristina Wesemann Editor

Josh walker Editor

Dustin Grady Manager

For More Information Contact: KJ Productions • kjproductions50@gmail.com

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About the Publishers of the Utah County Connection Magazines. Their partnership has proven to September 2018. success, relevance, and professionalism because of the ingenuity, talents, commitment, and work ethic that they each possess. Kristina brings with her an innate ability for strategic development and plan execution and has valuable insight into the historical operations of the industry as well as years of experience in advertising and marketing. They look forward to continuing to help make connections in the communities they serve for years to come.

Mayoral Traditions

MAYORS at home

THE HOLIDAYS ARE A FESTIVE TIME OF YEAR when we share special moments with our

spirit of giving.

relationships that warm our hearts, shelter that keeps us safe, and nourishment that fuels our bodies. The spirit of the season invites us to cultivate and express our gratitude for all we have and for the traditions we share as family, friends, neighbors, coworkers, and with all the other important people in our lives.

BRAD FROST American Fork Mayor

TRADITIONS ARE SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART OF IDENTITY, and following

nighttime ritual on the cold December nights was to read the daily story out of the “Christmas Book”. Each story taught an important Christlike trait we should want to emulate while sharing a heart-felt message about the meaning of Christmas. The

Nativity. This has carried on over the years, and now some of our kids have kids of their own. When I asked my adult kids about their most memorable Christmas experiences, they both said reading the stories out of the Christmas Book. I love that we have maintained the tradition of reading the stories as it helped our family get ready for the true meaning of Christmas. Yes, presents are nice, but the true meaning of Christmas is the way He would. May we all be blessed with the spirit of Christmas this season

CARLA MERRILL Alpine Mayor

IN THE ANDERSEN HOME, Christmas is the favorite Holiday of the year. We love to decorate the house from top to bottom, with themes in each bedroom and gathering space. (When I say “we” I mean me.) I love to gather friends and family for parties and meals and to be surrounded by festive beauty and cheer. Christmas Eve is usually spent with extended family, sharing old family stories and our traditional dollar store gift exchange. Christmas morning always involves a huge breakfast followed by Christmas gifts, and the be at home with my family, and we have built our family Christmas traditions around that very ideal.

ONE OF MY FAVORITE CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS

help local churches or other organizations deliver Sub for Santa gifts.

but was one of those types of families that would never ask for help. The leader recently had a job change and was now under-employed and also doing odd jobs to make ends meet. The members in the ward had noticed that them. I remember showing up at the door dressed in my red suit, with gifts in my Santa bag. I noticed the shock and surprise on their faces and the tears in their eyes when I presented them with gifts, coats, and a gift card from a local hardware store where they could buy the plumbing supplies needed. They asked several times about who

KURT OLSTER Highland City Mayor

DENISE ANDERSEN Cedar Hills Mayor

A Christmas Carol 11/26 - 12/23/22

Hale Center Theater

$16.50 - $17

Christmas Around the World 12/2/22

Marriott Center, BYU

$16 - $21

Sounds of the Season 12/2/22

Noorda Center for

$5 - $10

Celebration of Christmas 12/2 - 12/3/22

Hall, BYU

$18 - $20

things todo

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever 12/2 - 12/17/22

COME! The Christmas Concert by Timpanogos Chorale 12/3/22

$6 - $10

A Christmas Story: The Musical 12/2 - 12/17/22

$12 - $14

Christmas Concert with Wasatch Winds & Timpanogos Chorale 12/3/22

Utah Santa Run - Provo 12/3/22

Riverwoods $40

Here We Come A-Caroling by the Timpanogos Singers & Youth Choirs 12/6/2022

The Valentine $3 - $5 Mariachi Los Camperos 12/8/22

Noorda Center for $15 - $49

Dancing a Winter Wonderland by UVU Ballroom Dance Company 12/9 - 12/10/2022

Varies $10 - $17

The Nutcracker 12/10 - 12/21/22

Covey Center for the

Varies

$47 - $124

Celebrate Christmas with the American Fork Symphony 12/12/2022

High School

$5 - $8

White Christmas the Musical by Regalo Theater Company 12/17 - 12/23/2022 Skyridge

$8 - $12

Crescent Christmas by Caleb Chapman’s Soundhouse 12/19 - 12/21/2022

$12 - $14

The Forgotten Carols 12/19/2022 UCCU Center, UVU

$62.40 - $108

YOUR help makes

AN IMPACT

By Marisol Valadez

Susan is a single mom of three who left a domestic violence situation about a year ago and had to start over. She needed and applied for every welfare program she

Every time Susan came in, she would be in tears because she only made enough to cover rent. She took the bus here because she had no money for gas. Susan’s understanding, love, and open arms. Soon she met another woman her age in a similar situation and that made things easier.

this would be the last time she would be coming in. Susan had secured a better job and could now make ends meet on her own.

Tabitha’s Way currently helps over 300 families in the area with about 30 new families applying for assistance every week.

Donate Time

Volunteers are the heart of Tabitha’s Way. Whether it’s just one up as an individual, as a family, or as a small group.

Holiday

Drives through

Donate Food & Supplies

needed,

connectionmagazinesut.com

the Season of Service

WHAT are you doing

for others?

Courage Reins Equine-Assisted Therapies

Courage Reins helps improve the lives of individuals with physical, mental, or emotional challenges through its inception. They strive to make their services available to all who seek alternative therapy, no matter their income or ability to pay. Because of this, Courage Reins relies heavily on donations in order to create additional funds to continue supporting Utah’s children, individuals, and families.

• Sponsor a horse

• Sponsor a session

• Volunteer your time (ages 14+) - groups and individuals welcome

Calvary Food Bank

Calvary Mountain View Church recently opened up a food pantry and has call 801-756-0095 or email info@calvarymv.com.

Children’s Justice Center

• Commit to one 2-hour shift, once a week on the same day and time (shifts

•

• Submit to a BCI background check and pay the applicable fee

• Commit to volunteer for at least four months please email Gabby at GabrielaH@utahcounty.gov to select a shift that works with your schedule and to set up an orientation date and time.to select a shift that works with your schedule and to set up an orientation date and time.

•

• Submit to a BCI background check and pay the applicable fee

• grateful for Spanish speaking mentors

• Spend meaningful time with children for 1-2 hours a week, for a six month period

• Commit to be a mentor for at least six months after completion of training how to apply and current availability.

Where to Go

SNOWshoeing

White Pine Trail LITTLE COTTONWOOD CANYON

There are few ways to enjoy the winter scenery as much as you can while snowshoeing. This activity is recommended for most ages and skill levels, and there are places for everyone!

The trail starts out nice and wide, and it’s usually packed down from other snowshoers, skiers, and an option to check out Maybird Gulch if you want more of an exploratory adventure.

Sundance Nordic Center

If you want to enjoy winter but are not sure where to go or what to bring, visit Sundance’s Nordic available from December to the end of March.

Big Spring Hollow Loop

elevation is fairly low, so mid winter when the snow pack is good will serve you best. Usually there are a couple trail variations that head out from the parking lot, but they all basically head up the hollow. The trail loops back from the spring for a comfortable day jaunt. The trail also connects to

Skill levels:

Details:

Details:

Destination: WINTER Wonderland

This holiday season, you don’t need to look much further than Midway, Utah for a complete winter

“getting away” from it all, yet it isn’t so far away that traveling without reindeer becomes a burden. Dana Graham excitedly told us about a diverse array of winter activities to plug into your itinerary this holiday season. Prepare your young ones for an unforgettable weekend by bringing your snow tubes, ice skates, AND your swimming suit! Yes, you heard that right - your swimming suit too.

Midway Ice Rink

Dana suggests starting things out at Midway’s scenic outdoor ice skating rink. It was built largely by volunteers and by obtaining drastically discounted items from the 2002 heating hut). It is estimated they built their rink for less than half the typical cost of a commercially-built rink, but it holds to the same professional standards and enjoyment. Give their ice a twirl.

Soldier Hollow Tubing

Then head up to Soldier Hollow for a bouncy dash down their slopes. They boast the longest tubing lanes in Utah with 1,200-foot snow slides. Don’t worry - there is a again too.

Homestead Crater

time to soak and swim in the Homestead Crater. The geothermal spring’s mineral water constantly stays between 90-96 degrees within a beehive-shaped, limestone cavern (a the only warm scuba diving destination in the continental U.S. There is a self-guided tour through the tunnels with custom-built decks overlooking the crystal-clear mineral water. If you want something really unique, there’s even a paddleboard yoga class!

Ice Castles

built into Midway’s impressive award-winning Ice Castles! The impressive ice carved slides and tunnels. This is quite a sight to see at night. Who wants to bet your

North Pole Express

Enjoy hot cocoa, Mrs. Claus’ cookies, and the animated liveliness of singing and dancing have gifts to give too, of course). The 90-minute round trip utilizes beautifully restored coaches from 1913 to modern day.

return trip home, while visions of sugar plums dance in their heads.

Local Holiday Activities

MERRY things to do

Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown Exhibit Christmas Lights in The Orchard

Festival of Lights

Santa’s Family Holiday Market

AF’s Shop & Mingle on Main Street

Santa’s Village at University Place

$28.99

Luminaria 2022: Experience the Light Rudolph’s Red Nose Ranch

Pond Town Christmas Lighting Holiday Magic at the Park

Peteetneet Christmas Boutique

SCERA’s Christmas Maker’s Market and Cookie Contest

Aurora: Festive Holiday Experience Saturdays and 12/21/202212/23/2022 Grove Peaks Ice Arena Ice Skating

2022 Breakfast with Santa at Thanksgiving Point

Dip

Spice up Your Spices

• Toast your spices before using them. Throw them in a sauté pan for a quick minute on medium heat or pop them in the oven for a few minutes at 300350 degrees. You’ll smell the aromas as they come alive

Gingerbread Cookies

• To give a subtle and noticeable lift to the dried ginger, add ground black pepper to the dry recipes, use 1 to 1 1/2 tsp of fresh ground black pepper

3/4 cup milk

1 tsp. salt

3 tsp. vanilla • 1 tsp. lemon

3 tsp. baking powder

Ingredients • 1 cup butter

1 tsp. clear vanilla

4 cups powdered sugar

Most are too sweet, too hard, or not crumbly enough. This old fashioned recipe came from Gramma Maxine Berry, and if you follow it just right, you will become a sugar cookie expert.

Directions mix in. In a separate bowl, mix dry ingredients together and gradually add to the thick). Gramma always did ¼ inch, but I like the thicker ones! Cut into desired shapes and place on cookie sheet.

For harder cookies, add 1-2 minutes in the oven.

Directions

Christmas Tree

Ingredients

• 1 lb. refrigerated pizza dough

• Egg wash (1 egg whisked with 1 tbsp. water)

• 7 mozzarella sticks

• 1/4 cup melted butter

•

• 1 tbsp. Thinly sliced basil

• 1 tbsp. chopped parsley

• 1 tbsp. chopped rosemary

• Marinara, warmed (for serving)

Directions

parchment paper. Cut mozzarella sticks into 1 inch pieces and set aside.

Stretch and roll each piece of dough into a long rectangle, then cut dough into 2” squares (you’ll need 33 total).

Wrap a dough square around each piece of mozzarella,

on the baking sheet in the shape of a Christmas tree (they should be touching). Brush egg wash on dough balls and bake until golden (15 to 20 minutes).

Meanwhile, whisk together melted butter, parmesan and herbs. Brush on baked cheese balls. Serve warm with marinara for dipping.

Tarragon Quick & Easy

PULLaparts DEVILEDHOLIDAY

Ingredients

• 6 hard-boiled eggs

• 1/4 cup mayonnaise

• 1 tbsp. minced gherkins pickles

• 1 tbsp. minced shallots

• 1 tbsp. Dijon mustard

• 1 1/2 tsp. minced fresh tarragon

• Salt and pepper to taste

• Microgreens and bacon to garnish

Directions

Remove shells from eggs and slice open lengthwise. Remove the yolks and place into a small bowl and save the whites for later. Using a food processor or blender, blend together yolks and remaining egg whites and garnish. Chill for 30 minutes. Serve and enjoy!

For 1 Gallon:

eggs punch

• 1 - 6 oz can frozen orange juice (3/4 cup)

• 1 - 6 oz can frozen lemonade (3/4 cup)

• 3 quarts water

• 1 1/2 cups sugar

•

•

Directions

Mix all ingredients together.

water with club soda or sparkling water and top with orange slices.

AMERICAN FORK

Hold in the HEATthisWinter

A lot of people enjoy the snow and fun holidays that come with it, but sometimes the cold comes into the house and makes everyone inside

1. Lock Your Windows and Apply Weatherstripping weatherstrips that should work with your windows.

2.

Weatherproof Your Exterior Doors

Even the smallest gap in doors can bring in a lot of cold air. You can add door sweeps to the bottom of your doors and weatherstrips along the sides.

3.

Reglaze Loose Window Panes

If you have old wood window panes, check for chunks missing or loose

4.

Layer Your Window Treatments

Hanging sheer curtains and heavy drapes will provide great protection for every type of weather. When it is frigid outside, keeping everything closed will help keep the cold from coming in.

5. Check for Gaps in Windows

that you can choose from.

6. Temporary Caulk

You can buy some temporary caulk to seal cracks. It comes in a tube like regular caulk, so make sure to look

Stay cozy!

poinsettia

The signature plant of the Holiday season is the beautiful red poinsettia. By the third week of December, most people have killed this beautiful plant. Not too many people know that the color of the poinsettia has an impact on the life of the plant. There is such a variety of colors available. Red is the most durable with white being the placed in a basin of water with at least 2” of water and then letting the plant soak the water up from the bottom. This is the best way to water the plant every 2-3 days, depending on how dry your house is. Remove any damaged leaves and debris on the soil level. Make sure the soil is moist to the touch, but never allow it to become soggy or completely dried out. Display your poinsettia in a bright part of your home but not in direct sunlight. Keep your plant away from all heat sources, especially heat vents.

safe to resume a normal watering schedule. You can move your poinsettia plant outdoors when the nighttime direct sunlight. Bring your plant back in when the temperature drops in the fall. If your poinsettia becomes to December 1, your poinsettia requires a strict light/dark regimen to bloom. In the morning, move the plant to allow eight hours of indirect sunlight.

Use these tips on how to care for and keep your poinsettia alive this year so you can see it rebloom next year.

Snuggle up with a GOODbook

Children can learn so much from reading and they can learn valuable lessons from several of these great children’s books. Make extra time this holiday season to read to your children or grandchildren. It will create great memories for them to hold onto for years to come. 1. Bear Says Thanks 2. The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

How to Catch a Turkey

Llama Llama Gives Thank

Taylor the Thankful Turkey by Sonica Ellis 6. The Snowman’s Song 7. Little Blue Truck’s Christmas 8. How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss 9. The Cool Bean Presents: As Cool as It Gets 10. Snowmen at Night by Caralyn Buehner

1.Follow the QR code at the right or go to 2. Watch the 13 minute video about the causes and treatment of tinnitus 3.Answer the questions attached to the video and we will contact you to set up a complimentary consultation!

Donate November 1st to December 31st and we’ll make sure your donation goes toward helping people in our local community.