Sabina told North Summit News, “There is beauty and greatness in everyone, if we have eyes to see it. I love painting historical photos, especially of the overlooked or everyday moments: unnamed people relaxing in the shade on a hot day, a man playing a banjo, a soldier tightly gripping a flag, or an old man playing a fiddle on a creaky front porch swing at dusk.”

The artist also paints from historical photos of her own family. Although Morrey wishes she started with oils years ago, her artistic background has allowed her to believe that nothing is too hard, too messy, or too expensive. She encourages others to make regular time for their art and hobbies, giving them something to look forward to every week. She says that if you enroll in an art class, it helps to hold you accountable by giving you regular feedback and the much-needed social interaction with other artists.

Sabina believes that “ ’God left the world unfinished for man to work his skill upon. He left the electricity in the cloud, the oil in the earth. He left the rivers unbridged, the forests unfelled, and the cities unbuilt. God gives to man the challenge of raw materials, not the ease of finished things. He leaves the pictures unpainted and the music unsung and the problems unsolved, that man might know the joys and glories of creation.' ² There is absolute joy in creating anything, whether that's organizing a chaotic room, designing a house, raising good children, writing a book, building a new machine, or any other form of creation.”

2.Quote attributed to Thomas S. Monson.

The artist said that studies indicate that creating, in whatever way suits you, has tremendous benefits for mental health. To demonstrate this, she noted that while attending Susan Richins’ psychology class at North Summit High School, students journaled about beautiful artwork they had created. She said they looked forward to recording their experiences with the joys of artistic creation.  

Photos: Sabina Morrey

North Summit Unite Wants Your Input

Non-profit to Release Mid-January Survey to North Summit News Readers

By Shaun Powis, North Summit News Editor

North Summit Unite is conducting a mid-January survey to help us shape a community-driven, informed vision for our non-profit's future. We value your role in this process and want you to feel empowered to influence our community's direction.

We are about the arts, agriculture, education, historic preservation, community events, and small businesses. Your feedback will help us improve our mission. From partnering with the Smithsonian and Utah Humanities to preserve our rural heritage, hosting outdoor movies, celebrating the Latino community with Fiesta Fridays, hosting book reviews with local authors, creating artwork portraying railroad history, to sponsoring community theatre and regional news, NS Unite has actively involved community members in shaping our North Summit identity.

We'll send the survey link directly to your email in a few weeks, and we encourage you to participate. Please help us gather valuable feedback for upcoming projects and activities.

Entrepreneurial Siblings Sweep the People's Choice Awards

Park City Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau Honors Battersby Family Siblings

By Shaun Powis, North Summit News Editor

The Park Record’s 2025 publication of Park City's Best^® honored siblings Ryan, Tyler, and Ashley Battersby: Ryan “Zoo” Battersby for Best Local Artist, Tyler Battersby for Best Gear Shop, and Ashley for Best Personal Trainer and Best Yoga Instructor. Discover how this talented and entrepreneurial family became the best at what they do.

Coalville Artist, Zoo Battersby, Transforms Raw Steel into Timeless Works of Art

Steel Ranch Welding Specializes in Custom, Large-scale Artwork Fabrication

At Steel Ranch Welding, Zoo doesn’t just create art; he uses his skill set to bring people together. He has donated several custom installations, believing he could use his craft as a tool for connection, creativity, and growth. Always putting people first, he has collaborated on several public art installations with local non-profit organizations right here in Summit County, Utah.

Ryan earned a Welding Fabrication & Inspection Degree from Salt Lake Community College, which prepared him for a career in welding engineering, manufacturing, and fabrication. He now uses his artistic imagination, combining the strength of welding, the artistry of custom fabrication, and the precision of CNC machining. This manufacturing process uses computerized controls to systematically remove layers of material from a piece of metal stock. 

More About Zoo

Zoo said, “Custom work is at the heart of what we do. It allows us to blend creativity with craftsmanship, engineering with artistry, and imagination with steel. We take pride in listening closely, understanding the story behind each project, and shaping it into a lasting piece that is both personal and enduring."

Photos: Steel Ranch Welding

From custom ore carts that pay homage to the area's mining history to business and address signs or privacy panels for landscaping, each piece is individually crafted to reflect individual style and stand up to the elements.

Ryan's focus on custom work emphasizes his craftsmanship and ability to tailor each project to the client's needs. With options for size, finish, and design details, no two signs are ever alike, ensuring one-of-a-kind solutions for every project.

Custom Builds, Expert Detailing — The Neighborhood Gun Range Reinvented

The Journey of Ty Battersby's Summit GunWorks of Coalville, Utah

In a recent interview with North Summit News, Ty Battersby said he was honored to be recognized by the Park City Chamber and Visitors Bureau. He operates a private gun range in Coalville, sells discount ammo, and builds custom, ready-to-shoot firearms at affordable prices. He even cleans and details his customers’ guns. He’s often said, “Not everyone loves cleaning their guns, but we do! It’s a necessity to keep your firearm running reliably, accurately, and safely.” At Summit GunWorks, they carefully disassemble your weapon into basic components, inspect it, and thoroughly clean any size firearm. They use both dry vapor and ultrasonic methods to ensure the gun looks as good as new and functions smoothly and safely.

Image sources: Ty Battersby Facebook and summitgunworks.com

Ashley Has It All: Champion Skier, Yoga Teacher, and Results-Driven Personal Trainer

Meet Ashley Battersby

Photo: ashleticsllc.com

Ashley is the second of four children who grew up in Chicago. She has always been an avid skier, putting on her first pair of skis at just 18 months old. Growing up, she was involved in gymnastics, track, and cheerleading. In her youth, she was seen sliding down handrails and gapping stairs in downtown Chicago. Her active youth and quick adaptability to new activities helped shape a distinctive skiing style.

She left the Windy City and the surrounding Midwest ski resorts and moved to Park City, Utah, in 2002. Each winter, she skied for at least 50 days and later attended the Winter Sports School, where she spent more days on snow. Additionally, she enrolled in Aviation at Westminster College, then transferred to the University of Utah to study Exercise Science for Athletic Training. She continued skiing in Park City and became a force to be reckoned with on the women’s slopestyle competition circuit, showcasing fluid, technical rail skills, progressive jump tricks, and a determined attitude. As a team rider for Park City resort, Ashley spent most of her time on the slopes, training for national and international events. Ashley skis year-round and has traveled all over the world to compete, train, or film in places such as New Zealand, France, Austria, and many more.

She likes to stay in shape by working out at the gym, trampolining, rollerblading, cycling, and doing yoga. Ashley has undeniably inspired many people to ski and to push themselves in the sport, especially women.

Unfortunately, after multiple knee surgeries, she made a life-changing decision to retire from professional skiing and begin a new chapter. In Feb 2019, after 11 months of rehabbing an old building, she opened a yoga and fitness studio in Coalville, Utah. She started as a one-woman operation, teaching up to 42 classes a week, including her own studio, other gyms in Park City, and private sessions across Utah. 

In 2024, Ashley decided to close her brick-and-mortar studio to pursue online and in-person training sessions. Ashley will come to your home and give you a workout using the equipment you have access to. She is available for corporate or private yoga events and is now honored to be considered one of the best personal trainers and yoga instructors.

Photos: Courtesy of Ashley Battersby

Behind the Scenes, Staying out of the Spotlight: A Math Teacher's Journey into Music and Theatre

How Henefer's Bryan Stephens has helped transform North Summit's students' love for the performing arts

By Shaun Powis, North Summit News Editor

Photo: Microsoft Stock Images

Bryan Stephens, who grew up in Henefer, is a dedicated local educator whose deep roots in the community foster a sense of pride and inspire others to support local talent. With 20 years of teaching at North Summit High School and Middle School, he has committed his career to shaping students' futures and strengthening community bonds.

In an interview, Bryan conveyed the contributions of so many people who've given their efforts to the performing arts at North Summit. His list included: Kathy Chappell, Russ Judd, Kami Ruf, and Marla Garfield.

"The reward is watching the kids perform," he said, "It's a lot of work getting there, but when they're on stage performing for the people, it's the payoff." Bryan often works behind the scenes with music, lighting, and production, mostly staying out of the spotlight. His off-stage efforts reflect his dedication and humility, which the community can admire.

In his youth, Bryan's mom was a pianist, and he grew up participating in music throughout high school; he played the trumpet, piano, and guitar. He also played both tenor and alto saxophone.

In college, he studied Communications at Weber State, then pursued a teaching career in English and other languages. Later, he became a math teacher.

Mr. Stephens is also the Summit County Mosquito Abatement District Manager. He manages 13 geographical areas with more than 20 employees when school is not in session. His job is to keep mosquitoes at bay every summer. His commitment to public health and community well-being motivates his involvement in this role, showing his dedication to serving the community in multiple ways.