Cache Community Connections
A Civic and Interfaith Council
Photo: Levi Portillo
About Us
Cache Community Connections (CCC) is composed of a group of interfaith religious and civic leaders….
Events
See what the Logan Tabernacle Interfaith Events Committee is planning.
Connecting Neighbors
Watch our community interview series.
Connecting Neighbors: Farrell Edwards
Ninety years old means different things to different people. For Farrell Edwards it means there’s a lot of work yet to be done. When he was about 83 years old, Farrell was going to retire from the Physics Department at USU, but he had his own conditions. He wanted to retire and keep his office and have his own lab for his research. And he got it!
Every day he goes to his lab and continues to work with his team on research for the possibility of containing ionized gas. The goal is to use the ionized gas for thermonuclear fusion. This theory has been patented. His hope is that his mind will stay sharp as he continues toward having this theory become a way of life for us and future generations.
Farrell and his wife Ann have raised ten children. When asked what their secret to staying happily married for so long, Farrell says, “You have to find the right one!” He shares how he did that in his video interview. Ann chimes in, “I almost missed out with another close second.” I’m guessing if she would have missed out, they both would have missed out! These two have walked through life hand-in-hand for 66 years and counting.
Connecting Neighbors: Deserae Turner
On February 16, 2017, Deserae Turner became a victim of a brutal scheme planned by two boys she knew from school. After luring her to meet them at an irrigation ditch behind their school, the two carried out their predetermined plan to kill her because they “thought she was annoying.”
After hanging out with the boys for a while she said she had to go home. One of them told her he had dropped a ring and wanted her to help him find it. When she bent down to look for it, the other boy pulled out a gun and shot her in the back of the head. After the brutal attack, the two walked away and left her to die in the ditch, thinking she would never survive—but she did.
Even after experiencing the darkest side of humanity, this young girl’s story magnifies the courage and perseverance she has found to redefine and rebuild her life. Deserae continues to work hard through an extensive recovery process as she adjusts to a body that will never be the same. One thing is for sure, her will is stronger than ever, and she is determined to find new happiness in her life.
Deserae lives by what she believes: “Life still holds good and pleasant surprises. Be willing to do things that are hard—you can’t wait for life to be easy. To be happy you have to make your own happiness, do what you love and do it often.”
While recovering in the hospital a comment was made to her that she was “one tough cookie.” Her reply was, “No, I’m tougher than a bullet.”
Connecting Neighbors: Clare Ahn
Clare Ahn, with her husband, Professor Yong Kim, came to the United States from South Korea. After attending the University of Iowa, they settled in Cache Valley in 2002. Living in the valley was an easy transition for Clare, her husband and their two boys. Raised a Catholic, she has been thankful for the community her faith has given them. Also, Cache Valley people have always made them feel welcome and safe.
At USU, Clare’s husband is a professor in the Department of Data Analytics and Information Systems. Their boys were born here and attended K-12 schools. Their oldest son, David, recently graduated from Notre Dame, with a major in pre-med. Their youngest son, Daniel, attends the University of Utah majoring in computer science.
Clare has the beautiful gift of music, playing both piano and organ. She shares that gift most Sundays at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church. A great addition to her beautiful performance, she is often accompanied by her boys who both play violin.
When asked what people can do to foster good relationships in their communities, Clare remarks that bad experiences shouldn’t define our opinion of those who can be identified with those negative experiences. We are all different and should not be labeled. People should all seek out those with common interests, including sports, hobbies, or joining organizations that offer common goals. This can be a start to helping provide positive interaction, which results in growing healthy relationships.