The Live Like Sam Foundation likened people to plants during a presentation at the Wasatch County Library.

“Does anyone have a sad house plant?” asked Programs Director Jessica Parker on Thursday.

A few people gathered in the meeting room — mostly adults — raised their hands. Parents, guardians and other trusted adults had come with their kids for “Bonding Better Together,” a new, free program by Live Like Sam providing activities for intergenerational bonding.

Parker and representatives from the library, Wasatch County Health Department, Wasatch Community Foundation and Wasatch Behavioral Health explained some of the vital components needed for a plant or person to thrive. 

The pot is the support system, providing structure and protection. The sapling sprouting from a little seed represents each person’s inner strength. Soil represents family, and water represents daily, healthy habits. Finally, just as external environments shape a plant, a person’s ability to weather a storm builds character. 

As the speakers explained this, each adult and child pair painted flower pots before filling them with soil and a plant to nurture.

Mother Valeria Cruz came to “Bonding Better Together” with her 15-year-old daughter, Valentina. Valeria is a gardener, and Valentina is currently taking a floriculture course at Wasatch High School.

“We love our plants and spending time out in the garden. It gives you hope in the spring, especially when the weather doesn’t make up its mind,” Valeria said. “It feels really good to be among our peers and neighbors and do something fun.”

Of the two, Valentina was the artist, painting a neon tiger on the side of her flower pot. Valeria, meanwhile, was a self-styled “imitator” who used a stencil to color flowers on the side of her own pot.

The mother and daughter typically bond through conversations on the way to school, whether they be about books, friends or TikTok videos. But the pair weren’t always so close. 

Valeria explained that she used to have more of a mother-knows-best mindset, which she’d inherited from her parents. As Valeria took parenting classes and read books, she realized the road to mutual respect was being receptive to her kids’ critiques.

“The fact that I’m older doesn’t necessarily make me wiser. Even though that’s been hard to admit, it’s also what our relationship needed,” she said. “When I want to improve on something, I rely on their feedback, and I encourage that. And it’s not always easy to hear it, but it’s what makes me connect better with them. And it’s totally worth it. I can leave my ego aside and be like, ‘OK, girl. Give it to me straight.’” 

Like her mother, Valentina also adopted that mindset.

“I felt like I was always right, even though half the time I was wrong. But it didn’t feel good hearing that,” she said. “I think it’s good to just sit down and get your criticism because all your parent really wants to do is help you.”

Valentina said she feels grateful to have the mother she does — it’s one of the healthiest relationships she has.

Valeria’s advice for other parents is simple: “All you have to do is keep them alive, teach them a few skills and then watch them become, because they’re already their own person. As long as you can respect that, I think things flow pretty (well).”

While Valeria acknowledged parenting can be tricky, it can also be fun.

“Moments like today make it all worth it,” she said. “We’re going to go home, and we’re going to have our little memory of what we did and the time we spent together. … She’ll take (the flower pot) to college. I’ll make her.”

“Bonding Better Together” will be held seasonally at Wasatch County Library and will eventually come to Park City Library, according to Parker. Activities will be listed at livelikesam.org/events.

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The Park City Library is set to host its Health Fair this Saturday from 2 to 4 p.m., a family event which aims to connect community members to organizations that provide low-cost and free health services. It will also act as the grand opening for the new telehealth room in the “You Work” section of the library’s first floor. 

The soundproof room is small but provides users all of the necessary equipment to communicate with their health provider, take proctored tests, or anything else where people may need video connection. 

“It’s a great resource,” said Flor Santa Maria, the library’s Spanish services librarian. She explained that scheduling an appointment is simple — community members just need to call the front desk to check availability.

To meet the needs of some appointments, the library offers a kit at the front desk that includes tools like a blood pressure cuff, stethoscope and thermometer — basic equipment needed for physical health appointments.

“We’re also opening it for mental health counseling and other stuff. Anything that can be done in a private setting virtually can be done in there,” said Santa Maria.

She said both the library and the city are enthusiastic about the telehealth room launch because it meets a community need. Having a private, accessible space is often not an option for those with limited technology access at home, busy households or those who may feel uncomfortable visiting hospitals or crowded events. Plus, the new rooms addresses a multitude of needs, Santa Maria said, not just health appointments, but tests or important phone calls, too.

As awareness grows, staff hope more people will take advantage of the resource for healthcare needs.

In addition to showcasing the new telehealth room, Saturday’s event will feature local organizations offering information on everything from health insurance and mental wellness to sports and nutrition. Attendees can explore booths, ask questions and take part in short workshops — including a “Health Insurance 101” session at 1:30 p.m. led by the University of Utah Health Plans team, prior to the fair’s scheduled start time.

Hope Alliance will also be on-site hosting a vision clinic on the library’s third floor where community members can receive an eye exam. 

Throughout the event there will be opportunities to win raffle prizes and receive giveaways. Santa Maria acknowledged support from local partners, including Deer Valley Resort, Utah Olympic Park, Lucky Ones Coffee and Park City Film, who contributed items for the event’s giveaways. Their sponsorship, she noted, helps make the health fair possible.

For Santa Maria, the goal of the health fair is simple — connecting people with the resources they need.

“That’s the whole point,” she said, emphasizing that even people who feel healthy should consider attending. “Come to the vision clinic. If you have all your other services covered, take advantage of this resource.”

She added that often people tend to avoid preventative care unless something feels urgent: “We’re like, ‘Oh, unless I’m dying, I’m good.’”

With services ranging from blood pressure and diabetes checks to reproductive health information, Santa Maria said she’s most excited to see people engage with the organizations and leave more informed.

For more information about library resources visit parkcitylibrary.org or call them at 435-615-5600.

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From bestselling novels and historic maps to a digital camera and a 3D printer, the Park City Library has a diverse collection to explore. It’s a hub of discovery for curious minds of all ages with more than 350,000 books, movies, magazines and creative tools.

And the collection of offerings only continues to grow.

Spanish Services Librarian Flor Santa Maria transitioned to the role last year in an effort to improve the Spanish and bilingual options at the library. Now, there are weekly events designed to bring the community together such as opportunities for educational classes like language learning in addition to relaxed gatherings focused on reading.

“I enjoy having the possibility to grow the collections and come up with new programs and events and things to cater to the Latino community a little more,” said Santa Maria. “I’m trying to do more and even expand popular programs that we already offer, to offer them in Spanish as well.”

The Park City Library provides a variety of Spanish and bilingual programs for both children and adults including story times for young learners throughout the week. Santa Maria said it’s a perfect opportunity for people starting their Spanish learning journey. The sessions incorporate early literacy tips, sign language, songs, and interactive learning. 

The librarian has seen significant progress among many language class attendees, including native Spanish speakers looking to practice their English and native English speakers wanting to learn more Spanish.

The adult English-Spanish Conversation Club also recently expanded to being held from 6 to 7 p.m. every Monday. The club provides an informal space to practice both languages through discussions and guided prompts. While not a formal language learning class, the program encourages language development and cultural exchange. 

Santa Maria noted some classes also include individuals with other native tongues, such as a Deutschlander who speaks English and joined the English-Spanish Conversation Club with a desire to improve their Spanish. Santa Maria said the individual has since made great strides.

On Tuesdays from 10 to 11 a.m., there’s Bilingual Baby followed by a Bilingual Story Time from 11 a.m. to noon.

Starting in March, the library will also introduce “Chats in the Kitchen,” a gathering held in partnership with Latino Behavioral Health Services at 10 a.m. on the second Wednesday of each month.

This program fosters community connection through conversations about mental health while preparing simple meals together. This program is primarily held in Spanish, but it’s open to participants of all language levels.

While Santa Maria has made great strides in revamping various programs, she envisions an even broader range of offerings in the future. She encourages community members to get involved and share their needs and suggestions because she wants to know what they would like to see available at the library.

“We try as hard as we can to accommodate everybody. If you really want a book that we don’t have here, you can request it,” Santa Maria said. “There’s a form on our website to request that we purchase a book, and if we don’t purchase it, we’ll still contact a different library to see if we can borrow it from them to give it to people here.” 

Fridays feature fully Spanish sessions, beginning with Spanish Baby time at 10 a.m. and Cuentos y Cantos at 11 a.m., which includes storytelling and interactive songs. All language levels are welcome and the sessions are a great opportunity to build on Spanish language skills, Santa Maria said. 

A Bilingual Story Time also takes place every Saturday at 10 a.m. for children of all ages.

As the programs continue to expand, the need for volunteers — especially bilingual or Spanish-speaking volunteers — is more present than ever.

Those interested in volunteering can reach out to Santa Maria directly via email at florencia.santamaria@parkcity.org. The library will review inquiries and coordinate the next steps. Volunteers are asked to commit to at least five hours per month.

Additional availability is always welcomed, said Santa Maria, especially for bilingual or Spanish-speaking volunteers who can assist at community events, such as health fairs or bilingual programs. 

Santa Maria encouraged those with ideas for community programs that may lack the space to implement them to reach out. The Park City Library always welcomes new initiatives that help meet the community’s needs.

“We try to be a space that everybody can utilize, a safe space,” said Santa Maria. “If you need books, or if you need just a quiet place to study, or if you need somewhere to watch a movie, you can even do that. We’re a great free space for the community to utilize and explore.”

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On Saturday, Holy Cross Ministries will finish out an educational series of events on substance abuse prevention and mental health. 

The programming, which so far has included workshops and group hikes, has drawn over 100 people.

It all began with Rodrigo Coloma, a community needs analyst at Holy Cross Ministries, and the ministries’ counseling program.

“We started working and were awarded a grant last year from Park City Community Foundation for a project aimed at preventing alcohol and drug use among Latino youth and their families in Summit County,” said Coloma.

While they knew that these topics are generally covered in schools, they wondered how they could make the information be more pertinent to both adults and their youth. 

In order to design the most effective curriculum, they got to know the true needs of the community. Coloma said that through visiting other organizations, local businesses, churches, tabling at events and talking with many people, they surveyed over 100 community members. 

They learned that while many parents were interested in classes on substance abuse prevention, kids were not as keen. They did, however, find that kids, along with their families and adults who work with youth in Summit County, were all interested in learning more about mental health. 

“We offer mental health services, including therapy services, both group therapy and individual therapy, and that is our strength,” said Coloma. “So when it comes to understanding the prevention of alcohol and drug use, we always approach it from a mental health perspective.”

By emphasizing mental health, the Holy Cross Ministries counseling team has produced a series of popular community events.

“Over 50 individuals attended workshops led by the team,” said Coloma, “such as ‘How to Understand the Teenage Brain,’ ‘Managing Stress,’ ‘Anxiety and Depression’ and ‘Substance Abuse Prevention: Risk and Protective Factors.”

Along with these workshops, they held two hiking events called “Safe Steps: Hiking for a Healthier Life,” which were a direct result of community feedback showing high interest in outdoor recreational activities such as family hikes for parents and kids to connect with each other and nature. 

The hikes proved successful with 100 participants, according to Coloma.

They collaborated on the events with other community organizations and focused on connecting the perspectives of adults and their kids, which Coloma said added to the success of the program.

“The workshops are held in parallel for both the youth and their parents,” said Coloma. “Whether separately or together, we cover the same content, and we generally come together to do activities.”

The final event of the series, a wellness festival titled “Steady Steps Toward a Balanced and Fulfilling Life,” is scheduled at the Park City Library from noon-3 p.m. Saturday 

It will be an afternoon full of activities, including yoga and meditation, for the whole family to participate in physical and mental exercise.

“The goal is to provide tools to people, to families, so they can work on prevention and strengthen their mental health,” said Coloma. “We hope to continue, and that the Latino community stays motivated, keeps participating and that they have the tools (to do so).”

Coloma said that they have recognized this need exists in the community and that families are interested in participating.

He explained that when conducting their surveys, they asked both program staff and families about barriers to participation. While staff working with youth claimed that families were not interested, the families they spoke to expressed their interest but highlighted challenges such as time constraints due to multiple jobs, language barriers and not feeling welcome.

“It is very difficult for a parent who (only) speaks Spanish, who has their Latin traditions, to feel comfortable in a place where the schools may or may not hold things in Spanish,” said Coloma. “Or maybe it’s an event that families feel embarrassed to attend, or they feel ashamed because they don’t feel like they belong.”

Holy Cross Ministries is applying for grants in hopes of continuing the project and expanding its offerings.

“Prevention is extremely important; it starts at home, but it also starts in the community,” said Coloma.

To learn more about ongoing events held by Holy Cross Ministries, visit their website hcmutah.org.

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Lucky Ones Coffee signed their lease for five more years in the space connected to the Park City Library, bringing a revamp to the aesthetics of the space and functionality of the barista area. 

The coffee shop is set to reopen Wednesday and has an official ribbon cutting for the renovated space set for a tentative date later in July. 

“Hopefully, we will be functional on the 3rd — work out some kinks. We’ll be open on the 4th because it’s always one of the busiest days in here,” co-owner Katie Manhart said. She explained there will be additional finishing touches over the next few weeks leading up to the ribbon cutting. There are plans to work with the library and an interior designer to bring in new furniture and revamp the overall space. 

“Initially, when we ripped everything out we were like, ‘We’re doing it in a week,’ so cute and naive,” Manhart said.

Hitting a couple snags with redoing plumbing, which required shutting the water off in the entire library, and shipments that included tracking down a misplaced fridge in a Salt Lake warehouse, Manhart and the crew are excited to reopen. 

Lucky Ones Coffee’s mission is to employ and empower individuals with disabilities. They started with 10 staff members when they opened six years ago and now have a second store in Kamas with a total of 29 staff members. 

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The Park City Library’s held a picnic from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. for the public Monday, August 21, 2017. The event offered free eclipse kits, snacks and prizes (while supplies lasted). (Tanzi Propst/Park Record)

Link to full gallery here: https://parkrecordphoto.smugmug.com/PHOTOS-Solar-Eclipse/https://parkrecordphoto.smugmug.com/PHOTOS-Solar-Eclipse/

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The Christian Center of Park City and the Park City/Summit County Arts Council put on the Latino Arts Festival at the Park City Library Saturday evening, June 3, 2017. The festival featured an afternoon full of live music, food, and more, as well as a free screening of the Sundance Film Festival’s film “Cesar’s Last Fast.” A variety of traditional dances were performed near the end of the celebration. (Tanzi Propst/Park Record)

Link to gallery here: https://parkrecordphoto.smugmug.com/PHOTOS-Latino-Arts-Festival/

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The Park City Library hosted a Star Wars Day party for children and their parents to attend Thursday afternoon, May 4, 2017. Attendees were treated to snacks, crafts and a screening of the movie “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” (Tanzi Propst/Park Record)

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The Park City Library hosts a Cafe Open Mic Night every Tuesday evening beginning at 7 p.m. for all ages. The free event offers a space for attendees to play music, recite poetry or play a board game while enjoying small snacks. (Tanzi Propst/Park Record)

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Local dog owners and their furry friends took to the Library Field Wednesday afternoon, March 1, 2017.  (Tanzi Propst/Park Record)

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