North Summit Unite is excited to introduce this inaugural edition of North Summit News, a valuable new resource for informing residents about area events, happenings, and history. By keeping residents informed, we hope to foster a sense of community.

It started in 2023 when Coalville hosted the Smithsonian traveling exhibit Crossroads: Change in Rural America at the Ledges Event Center. The program provoked fresh thinking and sparked conversations about the future and sustainability of our rural communities. Residents and elected leaders met and expressed the need for better local communication; they hatched the idea of a bi-monthly newsletter. NS Unite aims to help inform residents about heritage, arts, and culture programs.

Our board contacted Jennifer Wesselholfe of the Park City Chamber Bureau, who advised us of a grant to help ensure the community's and economy's long-term resilience. Grant money will be used to produce this publication at no cost to subscribers every two months. Enjoy, and please share!

Van Kelly jogged past a Coalville historic building and noticed a sign for a realty company in the window. After discovering that the property was for sale, he and his wife, Missy, decided they could transform it into a drive-through soda and coffee shop. This building, which had previously served as a blacksmith shop and later as a butcher shop and meat locker dating back to 1915, was about to undergo a remarkable change.

Summit County Historian Joe Frazier notes that Thomas Ellis Moore purchased an earlier wooden structure—a blacksmith shop—in 1906. He reportedly borrowed a substantial $106 from his parents, who were already successful ranchers from Castlerock in Echo Canyon. Moore had just graduated from the Agricultural College of Utah, which later became Utah State University in Logan, where he studied blacksmithing and veterinary medicine. Mr. Moore also sold tires and gasoline. As his business prospered, he built a new cement block structure in 1915, which still stands today and has become Mix’ Place. Frazier said that it’s great that we can save these old buildings and reuse them.

The building has housed several successful businesses, including Raymond's House of Meats, a butcher shop. It has also been home to an insurance agency and a dentist's office.

The Kellys have now significantly renovated it, and they are all about giving back to their community and finding ways to fill business niches. Mix’ Place had to have a drive-through window for those wanting coffee and sodas on the go, which many in the community felt was needed. Missy calls it “Our drive-through with a little bit of happiness!” They've also invested significantly in restaurant equipment, menu development, and customer experience initiatives.

Mix’ Place got its name from mixing sodas, mixing coffees, and mixing people (a gathering place where people can mix and mingle). “We’re a business of networking,” says Van. He went on to say that their businesses are more than a career; they are a calling and a joy.

Van Kelly is a Midway, Utah native who now lives in Coalville with his wife, Missy; they first met while she was working at the iconic Homestead Resort in Van’s hometown. The couple is a dynamic pair involved in custom building and recreational rental businesses.

Sources: Van & Missy Kelly, Joe Frazier, Russ Judd, Jerrold Richins, Denice Wheeler (Special to the Tribune, 8-10-1977, Family Search: Thomas Ellis Moore).

When most people hear the letters FFA, they think of Future Farmers of America. While this is true, the national organization promotes agriculture literacy through classes at high schools, but its mission is to cultivate the next generation of leaders.

The North Summit FFA is a student-run organization led by an officer team of eight members. They attend events and compete in contests throughout the year, which helps them develop their career and leadership skills that foster personal growth and self-confidence. These experiences prepare them for future success in their academic and professional lives.

This year, they dedicated themselves to the Career Development Event Invitationals (CDE) across Utah, a testament to their passion and commitment to agriculture. The invitationals feature a range of contests, from horse judging to dairy cow evaluation and management. Students select contests that align with their interests and take charge of their preparation, from holding practices to gathering supplies.

These experiences teach students to judge a horse, market a steer, manage a team, and work collaboratively. Their growth and learning are a source of pride for their chapter.

FFA members compete at state CDE contests; first-place winners move on to represent Utah at the national convention in Indianapolis, Indiana. Last spring, the North Summit Farm and Agribusiness Management and Agricultural Sales teams won at state events. They spent months practicing and preparing to compete; in October, the chapter took twelve members to Indianapolis for national events.

While only seven were competitors, other members attended workshops, volunteered at extemporaneous public speaking contests, and attended convention sessions to listen to keynote speakers and national officers.

The farm and agribusiness team ranked silver in the nation, and the agricultural sales team ranked gold. At the end of the competing week, students traveled home to Utah with new friendships and knowledge they could teach others at home.

In November, they attended the Area 5 Leadership Conference (ALC) with ten chapters from their area and met to hold a conference. After choosing two members for additional training, they began selecting a theme and planning for workshops. Their chosen theme focused on the FFA Creed, a five-paragraph statement of beliefs that every member memorizes.

Britlyn Diston and Nora Jane Pace centered a seminar on “Exerting an Influence." Twenty-three members attended five workshops at the November conference and walked away with leadership skills they could implement in their chapter back home.

The North Summit FFA chapter takes pride in educating members about agriculture and equipping them with lifelong skills long after they hang up the FFA blue jacket.

Guys and Dolls is a popular Broadway musical that combines romance, humor, and memorable songs in a lively, fast-paced story. Set in the bustling streets of 1940s New York, this musical will take the audience into a world of gamblers, chorus girls, and unexpected love stories.

The musical is centered on the lives of two very different couples.

Sky Masterson is a charming and daring gambler who, out of the blue, falls for Sarah Brown, an earnest missionary. There's also Nathan Detroit, another gambler, and his long-time fiancé, Miss Adelaide, a club singer who wants a stable life. Meanwhile, she finds out he's still gambling and trying to organize a dice game.

This show includes famous songs like Luck Be a Lady, Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat, and Adelaide's Lament. It's loaded with witty dialogue and larger-than-life characters! 

Watch North Summit's Guys and Dolls for its capturing and laughable array. The thrilling energy, unforgettable characters, and exemplary Broadway appeal make it perfect for anyone and everyone seeking a fun night out filled with laughter, romance, and adventure. Whether you're a fan of musicals or not, Guys and Dolls promises to leave you humming the songs long after the curtain falls.