Yoga for People - December 12

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The good people at Yoga for People are doing a fundraiser to support free yoga for domestic shelters, treatment centers, prisons and schools in the area on December 12, 2012. The event will be held at 12 yoga studios in the area with a $12 suggested donation that buys yoga at all 12 locations for 12 consecutive hours. 

Where:  Trolley Square,  602 East 500 South, Salt Lake City; and Several satellite yoga studio locations.  When:  December 12, 2012 Drop in any hour from 8am-9pm

  Cost: $12, no pre-registration

The event brings Utah´s growing yoga community together for a chance to practice for a cause. 12 of Utah´s most influential yoga instructors are donating their time and resources to this event. With more than 12 satellite yoga studios participating on 12.12.12, people have the convenience to practice near their neighborhood.

Trolley Square Schedule

• 8:12 a.m. Collective Yogis Unite - Jen Hecht
• 9:12 a.m. Release the Spine - Corena Hammer
• 10:12 a.m. Trauma Sensitive Yoga - Yael Calhoun
• 11.12 a.m. Beginner Yoga - Stef Charlesworth
• 12.12 p.m. Slow Flow and Restore- Monica Hambleton
• 1.12 p.m. Falling for Inversions - Linda Black
• 2.12 p.m. Journey into Power - Kerry Armstrong
• 3.12 p.m. Dharma, Karma and Seva - TIffany Wood
• 4.12 p.m. Kalari - Nicole Gleave
• 5.12 p.m. Bhakti Yoga - Nicole/Arron
• 6.12 p.m. Yoga - Garrick Peters
• 7.12 p.m. Beautiful Mind, Beautiful Body: An Intuitive Vinyasa Practice - Mica Scholes
• 8.12 p.m. Closing Celebration/Presentation/Class/Kirtan - Cynthia Wand and Leraine Horstmanshoff

Satellite Studios hosting same-day charity events

• Infusion Yoga - Bountiful
• Shakti Devi Yoga Center - Sugar House
• The Yoga Center - Holladay
• Salt Lake Power Yoga - Downtown
• Krishna Yoga Center - Murray
• Local Yoga - Murray
• Wasatch Mountain Yoga and Wellness - Brigham City, UT
• Breathe Yoga Studio - Draper/Sandy
• 3B Yoga - Orem/Provo
• Tadasana Yoga Studio - Park City
• Local Yoga - Murray
• Mudita - Be Joy Yoga - Sugar House
• Yoga Central - Sugar House

For more information about Yoga For People and the 121212 fundraising event, contact founder Santosh Maknikar at 801-999-8479 or yogaforpeople.org@gmail.com, or visit the nonprofit online at www.yogaforpeople.org.

The Blue Sage Band - A Cowboy Christmas @ Utah Cultural Celebration Center, Dec 3

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The Blue Sage Band - ACowboy ChristmasDec 3:  7:00 p.m. FREE  Forget theholly... the Cultural Center will deck the halls with sage and cedar thisholiday season in preparation for a special cowboy themed concert featuring theBlue Sage Band! This heartwarming concert will take you back to a simpler timeas you hear the sound of banjo, fiddle and mandolin breathing new life intoholiday favorites, old and new.  
Utah Cultural Celebration Center1355 West 3100 South WVC, UT 84119www.culturalcelebration.org801-965-5100

RDT's Winterdance 2013 @ Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center, January 2-4, 2013

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RDT's Winterdance 2013A workshop for intermediate & advanced dancers January 2-4, 2013 9:00 am - 3:00 pm Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center 138 West 300 South, SLC UT 84101

Stay in shape over winter break with a three day winter intensive from Repertory Dance Theatre. Workshop participants can expect to receive Modern Dance Technique, body conditioning, RDT repertory, and personal performance coaching from RDT company members. Requirements Intermediate/Advanced dancers with extensive dance experience Must be 18 years of age or older

Registration & Payment
Cost of workshop: $150
Participants must register prior to the start date. Registration may be done online or by e-mailing Lynne Larson at lynne@rdtutah.org.

BELOVED CHILDREN’S BOOK NOW PLAY “CLICK CLACK MOO: COWS THAT TYPE" @ SALT LAKE ACTING COMPANY: DEC 14 - JAN 5

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                              News ReleasePRESS CONTACT: CYNTHIA FLEMING · 801 363 7522 · CYNTHIA@SALTLAKEACTINGCOMPANY.ORGTHE BELOVED CHILDREN’S BOOK “CLICK CLACK MOO: COWS THAT TYPE” COMES ALIVE ON THE SALT LAKE ACTING COMPANY STAGE
“Power to the poultry!”
Salt Lake Acting Company is excited to present our 4^th annual children’s play, CLICK CLACK MOO: COWS THAT TYPE based on the popular children’s book by Doreen Cronin with pictures by Betsy Lewin. The Caldecott Honor book has been adapted by James E. Grote, with music by George Howe, into a delightful song and dance show for families to come and enjoy this holiday season from December 14^th to January 5^th.
“Farmer Brown has a problem. His cows like to type. All day long he hears click, clack, moo. Click, clack, moo. Clickety, clack, moo.” And thus begins the beloved tale of what happens when cows use the power of the written word to improve the conditions in the barn. Funny and enlightening, the story of cows and hens staging a peaceful uprising will be sure to make children and adults alike laugh and smile.
Director and Choreographer Penelope Caywood says, “This funny musical will show little rebels-in-the-making the power of standing up for your rights and the art of negotiation and compromise. Don’t be surprised if your kids come home and demand a raise in their allowance.”Musical Director, Darrin Doman says, “The musical score to CLICK, CLACK, MOO: COWS THAT TYPE has something for everyone.  I was hooked from the very beginning when a cow starts her day singing like I imagine cows might sing, ‘Moo, moo-moo-moo Moo...’Cows that dance and sing?  It's just a recipe for a hit show if you ask me.”Salt Lake Acting Company is proud to provide outreach to and partner with local charitable organizations in conjunction with CLICK CLACK MOO: COWS THAT TYPE, including the following:
SLAC is offering Title I schools free performances of CLICK CLACK MOO for their K-2 students, complete with a study guide, pre-play warm up and post-play discussion with the actors. This program is a way to merge arts and education and to offer schools that often lack access to the arts the chance to experience the joy and excitement of live theatre.
The Salt Lake Education Foundation will have a presence in our lobby, accepting art supplies and monetary donations in order to strengthen the educational opportunities of students in the Salt Lake City School District.
SLAC is partnering with Intermountain Therapy Animals for Saturday and Sunday performances, offering children a chance to interact with animals and audiences a chance to donate to the organization which offers animal-assisted therapy in the areas of physical, occupational, speech and psychotherapies, as well as special education.
The cast of CLICK CLACK MOO will be reading and performing at the following area libraries: Draper Library, Sandy Library, West Jordan Library, West Valley Library, Sprague Library and King’s English Bookstore starting at the end of November and throughout December.
Art inspired by SLAC’s production will be on display in the Green Room Gallery during the run of the show. It has been created by youth at the Visual Art Institute. The Visual Art Institute provides visual art programs to elementary through high school students in an effort to encourage students to integrate their creativity into every aspect of their thinking, education and life.
FACT SHEET
SLAC PRODUCTION                                     CLICK CLACK MOO: COWS THAT TYPE
ADAPTED BY                                                            James E. Grote
MUSIC BY                                                     George Howe
BASED ON THE BOOK BY                           Doreen Cronin
PICTURES BY                                                Betsy Lewin   
DIRECTOR                                                     Penelope Marantz Caywood
MUSICAL DIRECTOR                                   Darrin Doman
CHOREOGRAPHER                                       Penelope Marantz Caywood
CAST                                                               Shelby Andersen, Austin Archer, Randall Eames, Camille Van Wagoner, Kalyn West
SET DESIGN                                                   Keven Myhre       
COSTUME DESIGN                                        K.L. Alberts
SOUND DESIGN                                           Josh Martin
EDUCATIONAL CONSULTANT                   Dani Kauerz Sloan
DATE                                                              Opening: December 14, 2012                                                                        Closing: January 5, 2013
TIMES:                                                            Friday, Dec 14: 7pm                                                                        Saturday & Sunday, Dec 15 & 16: 12pm, 3pm                                                                        Friday, Dec 21: 7pm                                                                        Saturday, Dec 22: 10am, 12pm, 3pm                                                                        Sunday, Dec 23: 12pm, 3pm                                                                        Thursday & Friday, Dec 27 & 28: 12pm, 3pm                                                                        Saturday, Dec 29: 10am, 12pm, 3pm                                                                        Sunday, Dec 30: 12pm, 3pm                                                                        Wed, Thur, Fri, Jan 2, 3 & 4: 12pm, 3pm                                                                        Saturday, Jan 5: 10am, 12pm, 3pm
PRICES                                                            Full Price: Kids $15 – Adults $25Groups (10+):  Kids $10 – Adults $20Subscribers: Kids $12 – Adults $22
For tickets call 801-363-SLAC(7522), visit www.saltlakeactingcompany.org, or come to the box office at 168 West 500 North, Salt Lake City, Utah 84103. Student, Under 30, Senior and Group discounts available.                                               SLAC is a not-for-profit 501(c) in 1970 and is dedicated to producing, commissioning and developing new works and to supporting a community of professional artists.  SLAC has been nationally recognized by the Shubert Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Pew Charitable Trusts and the Edgerton Foundation, among others. SLAC operates under a STP Actors Equity Association contract. SLAC is a Constituent Member of Theatre Communications Group, a national organization for non-profit professional regional theatres, and the National New Play Network.

________________________________________________Cynthia FlemingExecutive ProducerSalt Lake Acting Company801.363.7522www.saltlakeactingcompany.orgwww.nowplayingutah.com

CERAMICIST STEVEN SCHAEFFER @ SUU'S ART INSIGHT'S (CC: DEC 6)

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 26, 2012
Michael FrenchMarketing & Public Relations CoordinatorCollege of Performing & Visual ArtsSouthern Utah University435-865-8667michaelfrench@suu.edu

FOR CALENDAR EDITORS: ART INSIGHTS, STEVEN SCHAEFFER, CERAMICIST & SCULPTOR
WHAT:              A prolific artist who works as ceramicist and sculptor, Steven Schaeffer has exhibited his art nationally and internationally. Schaeffer shares insights on his career and technique during his presentation for SUU’s Department of Art and Design’s weekly lecture series, Art Insights.
WHO:               Art Insights, Southern Utah University, Department of Art and Design
WHEN:             Thursday, December 6, 2012
TIME:               7:00pm
WHERE:           Centrum Arena, Section K, Southern Utah University, Cedar City, UT
TICKETS:         Phone: Arts Hotline: (435) 865-8800 or visit: www.suu.edu/arts
PRICES:           Free and the General Public is encouraged to attend.
SUU’S ART INSIGHTS TO FEATURECERAMICIST AND SCULPTOR STEVEN SCHAEFFERDECEMBER 6, 2012
Southern Utah University, Cedar City, Utah: A prolific artist who works as ceramicist and sculptor, Steven Schaeffer has exhibited his art nationally and internationally. Schaeffer shares insights on his career and technique during his presentation for SUU’s Department of Art and Design’s weekly lecture series, Art Insights, on Thursday December 6, 2012. The lecture begins at 7pm in the Centrum Arena, Section K. Admission is free and the general public is encouraged to attend.
Steven Schaeffer was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and began his education in art at an early age. He studied with masters in the field of ceramics in Philadelphia’s thriving art community as well as in Flagstaff, Arizona. He received in his Masters of Fine Arts degree from Ohio University. Schaeffer’s work has been seen in over 70 national and international exhibitions and is in permanent collections across the United States and is included in the Jingdezen Ceramic Institute in Jingdezen, China. In 2007, his ceramic sculpture was accepted to the Fourth Ceramic Biennial International Competition in Korea and the NCECA Clay National Biennial Exhibition at the Museum of Art and Craft in Louisville, Kentucky.  In 2009, Schaeffer traveled to Florence, Italy, where his work was included in the Florence Biennale, where at the conclusion of the event, the art became part of the permanent collection in Sienna, Italy. More recently, he served as curator for “Across the Divide” that was displayed at the Coconino Center for the Arts in Flagstaff, Arizona. Schaeffer is Professor of Practice in Ceramics at Northern Arizona University.  
A special feature of Steven Schaeffer’s appearance at SUU will be a workshop that includes a hands-on demonstration that showcases both sculptural and wheel-thrown vessel techniques. The workshop will be held on December 6^th and 7^th in Centrum 203 from 9am-4pm. The public especially local high schools students are invited to attend, though a lunch break is tentatively scheduled for noon.
Art Insights is a weekly program hosted during the fall and spring semesters by SUU’s Art and Design faculty. Students and community members meet weekly to experience presentations and discussions by visiting artists and art educators from around the nation who share their work and insights and attend gallery openings. Admission is free, and the general public is invited to attend.
Discover the art of Steven Schaeffer by attending his Art Insights presentation. For more information on the SUU College of Performing and Visual Arts events, please call the Arts Hotline at (435) 865-8800, or visit www.suu.edu/arts.
ABOUT THE COLLEGEThe Southern Utah University College of Performing and Visual Arts is comprised of nationally accredited departments of Art and Design, Music, Theatre Arts and Dance, as well as a Center for Shakespeare Studies and a graduate program in Arts Administration. The College offers 16 different degree areas, including liberal arts Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees; professional Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Fine Arts in art and theatre degrees; and a Master of Fine Arts in Arts Administration degree.  The Center for Shakespeare Studies offers a minor in Shakespeare Studies. More than 60 full- and part-time faculty and staff are engaged in teaching and mentoring over 550 majors in the College. Over 1100 students enroll each year in over 195 arts classes on the SUU campus. The College presents 100 performances, lectures, presentations, and exhibitions each year.  The College’s affiliate organizations include the Braithwaite Fine Arts Gallery, American Folk Ballet, Utah Shakespeare Festival, and the SUU Ballroom Dance Company. For more information about the College of Performing and Visual Arts, contact the Office of the Dean (435) 865-8561, or by e-mail at cpvamktg@suu.edu.

Utah Well Positioned for 'Robust Expansion' if Economic Recovery Accelerates

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In a slow recovery, any sign of improvement is welcome.

More Americans felt financially secure in 2011 than they have since 2005, according to a report released by the Economic Security Index in October. Yet despite the surge in economic security the report notes that nearly 20 percent of Americans still experienced a significant loss of revenue in 2011.

The Economic Security Index is a publication by the Institution of Social and Policy Issues at Yale University.

For the past 25 years ESI has measured household economic instability by tracking Americans who experience a 25 percent or greater loss of household resources. This could be because of the loss of a job, but it also takes into account resources after paying for medical care and financial debts.

The percentage of people in the United States that feel economically insecure dropped from 20.3 percent in 2010 to 18.9 percent in 2011.

Craig Israelsen, a family finance professor at Brigham Young University questioned the validity of ESI because employment is the largest factor of economic security.

"This is just another way of coloring the number of people who have experienced job loss or wage reduction," Israelsen said. "Because savings, most people don't have savings, so it's kind of a none issue. It really comes down to their current income."

Juliette Tennert, chief economist and deputy director of the Governor's Office of Planning and Budget Demographic and Economic Analysis said that ESI is trying to combine economic factors. Read more: Deseret News

How Do Utah's Largest Metro Areas Stack Up in Terms of Economic Competitiveness?

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When evaluating the 100 most populous metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) in the U.S., how do Utah's major metros stack up in terms of economic competitiveness? Very well, in fact.

A report out earlier this month on NewGeography.com says the Provo-Orem, Salt Lake City and Ogden-Clearfield metro areas all rank in the upper third of the top 100 metros in terms of competitiveness. Provo-Orem actually ranks fourth, behind San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX, and Bakersfield, CA, while the Salt Lake City metro ranks sixth. Ogden-Clearfield ranks 29th.

Of the Provo-Orem metro, NewGeography says: "This metro area just south of Salt Lake City has seen surprisingly large job gains in professional, scientific, and technical services; administrative and support services; specialty trade contractors; state/local government; and computer and electronic product manufacturing.


NewGeography.com says its goal with the rankings was to see which metros are becoming more competitive (gaining a larger share of total job creation) and which are losing their share of the jobs being created. Hence, all 100 metros were ranked based on the overall competitive effect and what percentage of jobs (from 2010-2012) are based on competitive effects.

To determine the competitiveness rankings, the organization analyzed data from Economic Modeling Specialists Intl (EMSI) using a method called "Shift-share." The analysis focused on overall job change from 2010-2012 in the 100 most populous metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) in the U.S.

As NewGeography.com explains, Shift-share analysis can also be referred to as "regional competitiveness analysis." It helped the organization distinguish between growth that is primarily based on big national forces (a rising tide lifts all boats) and local competitive advantages. The primary components of NewGeography.com's Shift-share analysis are:

• Industrial Mix Effect -- Representing the share of regional industry growth explained by the growth of the specific industry at the national level.
• National Growth Effect -- This explains how much of the regional industry’s growth is explained by the overall growth of the national economy.
• Expected Change -- This is simply the rate of growth of the particular industry at the national level (equals the sum of the industrial mix and national growth effects).
• Regional Competitiveness Effect -- This explains how much of the change in a given industry is due to some unique competitive advantage that the region possesses, because the growth cannot be explained by national trends in that industry or the economy as whole.

"To generate our ranking, we summed the overall competitive effect for each broad 2-digit industry sector (e.g., agriculture, manufacturing, health care, construction, etc.) and added them together to yield a single MSA-wide number that indicates the overall competitiveness of the economy as compared to the total economy. We calculate the competitive effect by subtracting the expected jobs (the number of jobs expected for each MSA based on national economic trends) from the total jobs.

"The difference between the total and expected is the competitive effect. If the competitive effect is positive, then the MSA has exceeded expectations and created more jobs than national trends would have suggested. It is therefore gaining a greater share of the total jobs being created. If the competitive effect is
negative, then the MSA is below what we would expect given national trends. In this case the MSA is losing a greater share of the total jobs being created," NewGeography.com explains. Utah Policy

Brigham City Seeks Input on Economic Strategies

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The Brigham City Community and Economic Development Department – with support from Box Elder County – has been conducting a study in order to develop strategies that will help to grow four distinct business clusters in the community that are comprised of the aerospace and composites, structural steel, shooting sports and agricultural areas of concentration.

Box Elder County’s economic development director, Mitch Zundel, said that while this is primarily a Brigham City driven project, the county is following along closely since the scope of the cluster analysis will impact the county as a whole.

Through grants from the U.S. Department of Commerce and other federal, state and local agencies and businesses, Brigham City Corporation has hired former Ogden City Mayor Matthew Godfrey’s consulting firm to draft this industry cluster analysis. Box Elder News Journal

College Dropouts Struggle to Pay Off Loans

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Student loans may become harder to pay off for college dropouts, who now earn 37 percent less than those who graduate, according to an article in the Wall Street Journal.

In 2005 there were 1.8 million borrowers of student loans. Of those, 58 percent have not yet graduated, and 59 percent have already defaulted or are delinquent on their loans.

It's not that those who graduate are promised wonderful prospects. Some 1.9 million college graduates were unemployed in October, according to the Department of Labor. That's about half of young graduates.

But college graduates have a lower unemployment rate of 4.1 percent compared to those who drop out, which is 9.8 percent.

"Students who don't graduate with some sort of credential or degree, they are the ones who are having the most problems repaying," Alisa Cunningham, one of the study's authors, told the Wall Street Journal. "It doesn't even have to be a really high amount of loans. It's just that they get in trouble because they have their daily lives they have to pay for." Deseret News

Avenue Twin Peaks, Wasatch Foothills, Utah Nov 2012

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I feel regardless of your affiliations and beliefs, holidays are time to be spent with family. I spent the whole weekend with my family, including hiking with my daughter on her first ascent of a peak. We have, after instant winter, begun to experience a high pressure ridge that is just keeping out all of the storms. Plus we have been upper 50's during the day, so just really unseasonable weather. We started on the Bonneville Shoreline Trail, and headed up the trail. This has some good climbs without it being too steep. We climbed and climbed, taking a few breaks so my daughter would not be worn out, and finally reached the ridge. After a few snacks, we continued on and made the final push for the top. Avenue Twin Peaks are 2 miles to the peak, and it is about 1100 feet of elevation gain to the top. So it is a great workout. I think this was a great experience for my daughter, she really was loving being up there. We crossed over from the north peak to the south peak and had a full panoramic view of the Salt Lake valley. After soaking it in for a while, we made our way down, just having fun all the way to the car. I am very proud of my daughter, she did so well and never quit. This was by far the latest in the year I have ever gone hiking here in the Wasatch. By this time I usually have switched to just winter activities at this point. But when life hands you lemons, you make lemonade. I love hiking, and it was a treat to be on trail this late in the year. The only bummer was looking at the inversion that was in the valley, realizing that when the adventure was over, we had to go down in that gunky soup. I hope you all had a great holiday.

Mapleton Couple Wins Utah Farm Award

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Jake and Sara Harward of Mapleton and Kelby and Kathie Iverson of Hurricane are winners of the Utah Farm Bureau Young Farmer and Rancher Excellence in Agriculture awards.

The Harwards’ came out on top in a competition that recognizes young farmers and ranchers who have excelled in their operations and developed leadership abilities. Contestants were evaluated on farming operation growth, financial progress and participation in organizations, including the Farm Bureau.

Jake and Sara Harward began managing ten roadside stands selling sweet corn in 2001 and since have expanded to 31 stands. They also expanded by growing tomatoes, watermelons and cantaloupes.

In 2005, they started growing pumpkins to sell to grocery stores throughout the western United States. They also opened a U-pick pumpkin patch, and have added a petting zoo, corn pile, straw maze and hay rides.
Both couples will compete at the American Farm Bureau annual convention against award winners from across the nation.

The Iversons and their four children own and operate Western Legacy Farm and Ranch, which boards horses, offers riding lessons and sponsors a summer kids camp, Easter egg hunts, cattle drivers and other agricultural activities.

The Utah Farm Bureau claims more than 28,800 families as members. It is affiliated with the American Farm Bureau Federation, the world’s largest general farm organization, with more than 6.2 million members in 50 states and Puerto Rico. Salt Lake Tribune

Consumer Advocates Offer Advice for Safe Cyber Monday Shopping

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With record online sales projected for this holiday season, Internet shoppers are being warned to be aware of potential danger in cyberspace.

The Utah Division of Consumer Protection released its annual list of shopping tips for Cyber Monday to keep consumers safe when buying this year's latest holiday gifts.

According to the National Retail Federation, 2012 holiday retail sales are expected to hit about $586 billion, a 4.1 percent increase over last year.

"Consumers will be flooded with offers as retailers send out emails to your smartphone and computer," said Francine Giani, executive director of the state Commerce Department. "Make sure your holiday game plan includes protecting your credit information, using reputable merchants and checking the terms of sales twice before completing a purchase whether it's in-store or online."



According to digital tracking firm comScore Inc., "Cyber Monday" continues to grow in popularity as consumers spent $1.25 million online in 2011 during the Monday after Thanksgiving.

The National Retail Federation estimates that more than 52 percent of consumers will purchase a holiday gift online this year. Shop.org projected a 12 percent increase in online holiday shopping with $96 billion in cyber sales between November and December 2012.

"Internet fraud is our division's top consumer complaint," explained Traci Gundersen, director of the Division of Consumer Protection. "Don't forget to read the fine print, such as the return policy and product warranty, before you cross that gift off your list." Deseret News

Utahns Ready to Savor a Trader Joe’s of Their Own

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You’ve heard of rabid fans standing in line to buy the next iPhone or to see the newest "Twilight" movie. But have you ever heard of anyone waiting in line to be the first inside a new grocery store?

That’s what’s expected to happen when manic followers of the cult grocery chain Trader Joe’s arrive for the chain’s first opening ever in Utah. The doors open at 8 a.m. Friday for the grand opening in Salt Lake City at 634 E. 400 South (inside The Family Center at East Downtown).

The 54-year-old Southern California grocery chain operates 381 locations in 34 states, but Trader Joe’s will finally arrive in Utah to introduce residents to its off-kilter, high-seas décor and its well-known organic, one-of-a-kind specialty foods.

So what are these delirious devotees clamoring for? How about Trader Joe’s Belgian Butter Waffle Cookies. Or the Trader Joe’s Carrot Cake Cookies. There’s also the Trader Joe’s Puffed Wheat Cereal Sweetened with Organic Agave Syrup as well as Trader Joe’s Hofbrau Brats.

Sure, they have the regular eggs, cheese and produce you can get at any other grocery store. But fans say Trader Joe’s fruits and vegetables are all organic, while still available at reasonable prices.


"There are a lot of unique products," said the new store’s manager, Rory Violette, who is called the "captain" (middle managers are called "mates," while employees are called "crew members.") "Anything under the Trader Joe’s label is free of artificial colors and preservatives. It’s kind of like a food scavenger hunt every day. We have new items every week."

The Trader Joe’s concept aims to replicate the small neighborhood grocery store vibe. The Salt Lake City store will cover 12,700 square feet, the average size of a Trader Joe’s but just a fraction of much bigger grocery stores operated by Smith’s or Dan’s.

Jack Plunkett, CEO of industry analyst group Plunkett Research Ltd., estimates that Trader Joe’s will make $9.5 billion in sales this year, or about $2,000 per square foot of space the company owns. That puts Trader Joe’s in the upper echelon of a list of retailers that includes Apple stores, certain jewelers and the shopping plaza at the Circus Circus Las Vegas Hotel & Casino, he said.

A big part of that success, he added, can be attributed to Trader Joe’s-branded food. More than 80 percent of what the grocer sells is specialty foods, from Trader Joe’s Honey Nut O’s Cereal to Trader Joe’s Garbanzo Beans and Trader Joe’s Chicken Mole with White Rice.

A private label also creates more customer loyalty. So much so that there are Trader Joe’s fan pages on Facebook. One was created specifically for Utahns’ craving for the first store in the Beehive State. Salt Lake Tribune

Disability Insurance is in Trouble as More Americans Apply for Benefits

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The pot of money the Social Security Administration uses to cover disability insurance is projected to run dry in 2016. This means that the more than 9 million out of work disabled Americans, plus their spouses and children, who also qualify will see their benefits shrink considerably. Incoming payroll taxes only cover 79 percent of the benefit, which means families' monthly checks will decrease by 21 percent, according to an article in Bloomberg Businessweek.

America is in this situation, according to a report the Congressional Budget office, because since the program's inception the amount of money paid out in benefits has increased nine-fold, while money put into the program has only increased five times. Part of the reason more benefits are being paid out is that the percentage of Americans applying for the program has dramatically increased. In 1970, about 1.3 percent of working-age adults —individuals ages 20 to 64 — were receiving DI worker benefits. In 2011, that fraction was 4.5 percent. At least some of this increase is due to more women entering the workforce, according to the report, although it doesn't account for all of it.

As the Social Security Disability Insurance caseload has grown, the employment rate of disabled workers fell by one-half. This occurred despite the fact that the Americans with Disabilities Act created new employment protections for disabled workers, jobs became less physically demanding and the health of the working-age population remained stable, according to a September 2012 report by the RAND Corporation.

In its report, RAND researchers argue that the structure of the SSDI program is a major force behind the decline in employment and accompanying program growth. In the mid-1980's there was an expansion in program eligibility — this combined with a rising benefit-to-earnings replacement rate made going on social security benefits a more attractive option than working.

RAND argues that recipients of benefits who are on the margin, meaning they could accept benefits or work because their disability is not severe, actually would be better off if they worked. RAND suggests that "marginal" applicants account for 23 percent of total applicants for disability insurance. Persons with marginal disabilities would earn $3,800 to $4,600 more per year on average in the absence of SSDI benefit receipts than in the present system. Deseret News

Farmington Letter Firm on West Davis Corridor Interchange Option

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As the Utah Department of Transportation presses forward with the environmental study for the West Davis Corridor, Farmington’s elected officials are taking a hard stance about which option they want.

The city recently sent UDOT a detailed letter, outlining their preference for the Shepard Lane interchange option.

The letter, dated Nov. 20, was signed by Mayor Scott Harbertson and all five city council members.
If the West Davis Corridor gets built, it will include an interchange off Interstate 15 that connects to the road in Farmington and southern Kaysville.

The state will build the interchange at either Glovers Lane or Shepard Lane.

Farmington leaders say the Glovers Lane option spells disaster for their city.

Harbertson said the city has already based many of its future businesses and transportation plans on an interchange at Shepard Lane.

If UDOT chooses the Glovers Lane option, Farmington says, it will divert potential revenue away from the Station Park retail center.


The Glovers Lane option would create corridor exits in Kaysville and Centerville instead of Farmington.

The city also says that having no exits off the road for 10 miles, which is what the Glovers option would do, is a safety issue because it would limit the areas where emergency responders can get off the highway.

The letter also points out that, in the next three years, a new elementary school is set to be built in the area, which will require an access road to and from Glovers Lane.

That access road would be impacted if an interchange is built at Glovers Lane.

The Davis School District has also informed Farmington that it is attempting a bond cycle that would bring a new high school to the city in 2018.

City officials say a high school would significantly impact west-side transportation patterns and that the Glovers Lane alignment would significantly restrict opportunities for road connections in the area.

Finally, the city says that the Glovers Lane option would cost taxpayers more money because it would require an additional connector road between I-15 and the corridor.

Harbertson said the city submitted the letter in hopes that the concerns would be addressed before UDOT finishes its draft Environmental Impact Statement.

WDC Project Manager Randy Jeffries said all information from project stakeholders is valued and seriously considered.

A decision has not been made on the road, Jeffries said, and the state will choose the option that best serves the entire Top of Utah region.

UDOT hopes to complete the draft EIS on the road by the spring.

Once the EIS is complete, UDOT will submit the report to the Federal Highway Administration.
A final route decision is expected in spring 2014. Standard Examiner

Clint Gardner Wins 2012 NCPTW Maxwell Leadership Award

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Clint Gardner, Student Writing Center Coordinator for Salt Lake Community College, has won the 2012 Ron Maxwell Award for Distinguished Leadership in Promoting the Collaborative Learning Practices of Peer Tutors in Writing.

The award was presented at the 29th annual National Conference on Peer Tutoring in Writing (NCPTW) in Chicago.

The award recognizes a professional within the NCPTW organization for dedication to and leadership in collaborative learning in writing centers, for aiding students in together taking on more responsibility for their learning, and, thus, for promoting the work of peer tutors. Its presentation also denotes extraordinary service to the evolution of the conference organization.

Gardner received a plaque bearing a quote by educational philosopher Paulo Freire that has informed his career: “There is, in fact, no teaching without learning.”

A selection committee of eleven previous award recipients was “constantly amazed,” as one member put it, by Gardner’s service to NCPTW; by his efforts to help the NCPTW organization collaborate with the International Writing Centers Association(IWCA); and by his contributions to his own peer tutors, to peer tutors around the world, and to the writing center community.

Gardner was IWCA President 2007-2009.

“Gardner has made it his business to take on leadership roles at NCPTW and in the inter/national conversations on peer tutoring in writing,” said a committee member. “He has done more in recent years than anyone I know to promote collaborative learning in the  form of peer tutoring. He is a champion who will continue to be at the forefront of all things peer tutoring in the years to come.”

One organizer of a previous conference appreciated the way Gardner “stepped up early and often” during the preparation stages and at the event. Another conference organizer praised Gardner’s “vital if unheralded” leadership as an “unofficial tech expert and videographer. He has taped many sessions and made them available as podcasts.”

Organizing flash mobs is a frequently cited example of Gardner’s contribution to conferences, “an activity that brings tutors together in a way they can relate to and enjoy.”

One supporter remembered other ways Gardner’s contributions benefited her: “I’ll never forget how he made all the technology arrangements for the Las Vegas [joint 2008 NCPTW/IWCA] conference, or his presentations on how to make a case for the value of writing center work by filming exit videos with tutors.”

Gardner’s blog Peer Centered “provides opportunities beyond conferences for peer tutors to collaborate and learn from each other,” a supporter noted. Another supporter added, “His work on Peer Centered alone is worthy of recognition because it demonstrates his commitment to collaborative learning practices among peer tutors while heightening the profile of the work peer tutors do among professionals in the field.”

As a member of the award committee summed up, “Clint values and fosters cross-institutional communication, not only between tutors, but between directors and members of the community. He typifies the kind of active participation in NCPTW, the writing center field, and the world that the Maxwell Award is designed to recognize and reward.”

Company Expands to Help Connect Construction Industry, Workers Across U.S.

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The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) in Cedar City, Utah has selected Construction Monitor as a successful business to highlight for the business’s sustained growth and contributions to the community. The company’s co-owners David Mineer and son David Mineer Jr. are leading Construction Monitor on a nationwide expansion that began this year with a goal to reach all major U.S. markets by the end of 2013. The expansion is a significant milestone for the 23-year-old business, which has been a job lead source for contractors and other professionals in the construction industry in the Western U.S. and Texas.

With a subscriber base of more than 3,500 clients, Mineer’s goal for the expansion is to add at least 1,000 more subscribers each year. Through weekly reports and 24/7 website data access, subscribers have access to important building project information that details the latest building permits that have been filed. The information that CM provides is extracted from public records in building department offices throughout the country and packaged in a convenient and comprehensive report for industry professionals.  

Mineer’s decision to expand CM to all major U.S. markets came on the heels of an offer that he received in the fall of 2011 by a highly successful corporation in Silicon Valley to purchase his business. Though the offer initially sounded strong, Mineer wanted to do some research to determine the true value of Construction Monitor. After the offer was made, Mineer contacted the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) in Cedar City, a resource for entrepreneurs and business owners looking for advice, mentorship and training.

Following several counseling sessions with SBDC Director Craig Isom, Mineer determined that the Silicon Valley offer did not fully recognize the true value of CM and also discovered that there was a significant opportunity to grow the business by reaching out to all major U.S. markets.  “Having the information from the SBDC has helped me as a business owner make more intelligent decisions,” said Mineer. The work that Mineer and Isom did to assess CM’s value ultimately led Mineer to the decision to expand the company. Now, Mineer uses SBDC consultants as a sounding board for decisions he makes regarding CM’s growth.

Construction Monitors’ (CM) expansion has opened new markets including New York City, Chicago and Miami, which have boosted the company’s employment rates. In just three months since CM started its national expansion, Mineer has hired (and continues to hire) an average of two to three new staff a week, including independent contractors throughout the U.S. and additional staff for the headquarters office in Cedar City. The company is nearing 100 employees (including independent contractors) and expects to expand the headquarters office in Cedar City in the future.

The UT SBDC provides consulting, training and other resources to emerging and existing small business owners in partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), the Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED), the Lead UT SBDC Center at Salt Lake Community College, and other colleges and universities in the state. To learn more about the UT SBDC program, please visit www.utahsbdc.org. For more information about Construction Monitor visit www.constructionmonitor.com or call 435-586-1205.

SLCC, Utah SBDC Help Utah Company Launch News Source Mobile App

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Scott Ellenson, co-founder of Stronger SE, LLC will be launching the company’s first mobile app called “Reach” in May 2012.   Reach is the first in a suite of apps designed for mobile professionals.

Reach solves an issue for business professionals that need to stay current on subjects that they care most about. With current technologies, professionals can spend a great deal of time on the internet searching social networks, blogs, company websites, and web-based search engines to stay informed. Reach streamlines a users search through a high-powered news curator that delivers information directly to an iPad.

“Our Reach iPad App delivers news articles and blogs based on our customers unique keywords. From the iPad, users can enter topics, companies, and people that they care most about,” said Ellenson. “Our Reach Curator App then filters out the noise of the Internet delivering news and blogs based those specific keywords.”

While Reach is designed for business professionals, the app can be an informative tool for just about anyone.  “Our Reach cloud based Curator App provides access to over a 1,000,000 news articles and blogs from 75,000 sources,” said Ellenson. The information  collected in the curator includes 55 data categories—everything from technology, finance, health, and entertainment to global issues, politics, the environment and Fortune 500 companies. Reach offers nearly every kind of news, even the most self-indulgent: including frequent updates on 'Beast', Mark Zuckerberg’s dog.

Stronger SE’s Reach App stands out from other newsreaders because it is the first tablet-based app that delivers news and blogs based on a customer’s unique keywords.

Reach marks Ellenson’s first major milestone as an entrepreneur and first-time business owner.  Ellenson’s extensive background in business, technology and software development has poised the company to be a highly successful venture.  “Reach is going to change how people do business by making information more available than they have ever had before” said Andrew Willis, Director of the Small Business Development Center in Kaysville, Utah.

Prior to building Reach and launching Stronger SE, Ellenson contacted the Small Business Development Center  (SBDC) in Kaysville in May 2011 to transform his innovative idea into a reality. Counselors at the SBDC, Andrew Willis and Brent Meikle provided Ellenson with a broad scope of business advice and support including marketing strategies, legal structures, market research and helped Ellenson build a financial pro forma. “We have learned under the guidance of the SBDC how to focus on: lean startup principles, minimum viable product and social media marketing tips that have become the foundation of our company,” said Ellenson. While working with the SBDC, Willis and Meikle also helped Ellenson pitch Stronger SE to investors—an opportunity that provided him with invaluable feedback for the company.

In addition to the Reach App, the Stronger SE team plans to release additional apps to form a suite of business solutions for mobile professionals, including task & opportunity management apps that will begin development this year. Ellenson’s goal for the future is to expand Stronger SE apps to Android and Windows mobile devices.

To learn more about Reach or to be notified on the Apps’ launch date visit: www.stronger.pro.

The UT SBDC provides consulting, training and other resources to emerging and existing small business owners in partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, the Lead UT SBDC Center at Salt Lake Community College, and other colleges and universities in the state. To learn more about the UT SBDC program, visit: www.utahsbdc.org.

SLCC Fashion Institute Students Hold Benefit Show

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Students’ Original Designs Sold to Benefit American Cancer Society

Salt Lake Community College Fashion Institute students are taking part in a benefit fashion show in support of the American Cancer Society. The event will take place on Saturday, December 1, at 2:00 p.m. at the McCune Mansion, located at 200 North State Street in Salt Lake City. Students in the program have submitted their original designs for the show that will also feature clothing and accessories from The Children's Hour, one-of-a-kind hand-painted silk scarves and hand-woven wool/silk shawls by Sandra Ence, and hand-crafted jewelry by Brianna Chamberlain. Appetizers and beverages will be served. Advance tickets are available for $25.00 from smithtix.com or by calling (801) 467-8499. Tickets can also be purchased the day of the event for $30.00 at the McCune Mansion. This benefit event has been underwritten by The McCune Mansion & The McCarthey Family Foundation. For more information, contact Mojdeh Sakaki at: (801) 957-4311.

Auditions for Death of a Salesman at The Grand Theatre

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The Grand Theatre, located at 1575 South State Street, Salt Lake City, will hold auditions for Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman on Saturday, December 1, 2012. The auditions will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and will be held in the Annex, located at 1610 South 250 East, in the South-East corner of Salt Lake Community College's South City Campus. Mark Fossen will direct the production, which will run from March 7-23, 2013 at the Grand Theatre. Rehearsals will begin in December.


Those interested in auditioning can schedule an audition time by calling the Grand Theatre box office at: (801) 957-3322. Each actor will have a 3-5 minute time slot. Each person who auditions should select a monologue from a modern drama such as O’Neill, Williams, Miller, or a side from Death of a Salesman. Memorization is encouraged, but not necessary. Actors of all ethnic backgrounds are encouraged to audition. The Director is seeking women and men between the ages of  20-65.

For a list of roles and more information, including sides, please visit the Grand website at www.the-grand.org.

NEWS: All aboard the Downtown Jingle Bus!

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Jingle Bus7 days a week, FREE.  5 PM – 10 PM Through Dec 28.All aboard the Downtown Jingle Bus! Holiday season visitors to downtown can hop-on and off the FREE holiday themed ride circulating between The Gateway, Temple Square, Gallivan Plaza & City Creek Center. Shoppers will find service especially useful to connect downtown’s two malls, as well as sightseers enjoying the abundant holiday lights and storefront window decorations. View a map at downtownslc.org/jingle Holiday Market at Gallivan CenterFridays and Saturdays 11 AM – 8 PM Through December 22The Downtown Holiday Market at Gallivan brings holiday charm to Salt Lake's urban center with a focus on local and handmade goods.  You'll find unique, one-of-a-kind items, perfect for children or that hard-to-shop for person on your list as holiday food and drinks just a snowballs throw from the ice skating rink.See the vendor list at downtownslc.org/christmasmarket   Holiday Lights & Window WonderlandAnytime!The holidays bring an amazing array of light arrangements to downtown as well as elaborate storefront decorations. Make sure to see the lights at Temple Square and the window displays at Macy’s – to name a few.  You can vote for your favorite window display online.Visit downtownslc.org to vote now

NEWS: SALT LAKE ACTING COMPANY’S NEW PLAY SOUNDING SERIES PRESENTS A READING OF DEVIL DOG SIX BY FENGAR GAEL

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SALT LAKE ACTING COMPANY’S NEW PLAY SOUNDING SERIES PRESENTSA READING OF DEVIL DOG SIX BY FENGAR GAELSLAC’s New Play Sounding Series presents a free reading of DEVIL DOG SIX, by Fengar Gael and directed by Alexandra Harbold, onMonday, December 3, 2012 at 7:00pm. DEVIL DOG SIX tells the story of a young woman jockey who falls from a horse and the process of her recovery leads her to a radical transformation of body and soul in her quest to conquer the sport of kings.Devon Tramore doesn’t let the fact that she is the only female in the locker room of horse jockey’s keep her from pursuing her passion, in fact she uses all her faculties and qualities as a woman to compete, fight and win. When she has a horrific accident during a race, an investigation into her career, her personal life and the sport is launched. While details of the accident emerge, Devon’s recovery progresses with some unexpected and bizarre side effects.Director Alexandra Harbold says, “Fengar’s script is a kinetic rush – physical, outrageous, full of raw ambition and incredibly muscular hope. It’s going to be a wild ride!”The New Play Sounding Series is a part of SLAC’s outreach programming which provides an essential testing ground on which playwrights can see their work in progress and receive insightful feedback from the audience in a post-play discussion. We thank the Jarvis and Constance Doctorow Family Foundation for their support of this vital program.The reading will be followed by a post-play discussion with the playwright, the director and the cast. Audience members will be invited to ask questions and share insight regarding the development of the production.
FACT SHEET

SLAC NPSS reading                                      DEVIL DOG SIX           

PLAYWRIGHT                                             Fengar Gael
DIRECTOR                                                    Alexandra Harbold
CAST                                                              William Ferrer, Nell Gwynn, Bijan J. Hosseini, Paul Kiernan, Nicki Nixon, Josh ThoemkeDATE AND TIME                                         Monday December 3, 2012 @ 7 PM
The audience does not need a ticket in advance to attend this reading. The building will open one hour prior to the performance when general admission tickets will be distributed, and the theatre will open half an hour before the performance.
Salt Lake Acting Company is located at 168 W 500 N, Salt Lake City,Utah, 84103.For more information call 801- 363-7522 or visitwww.saltlakeactingcompany.org
NOW PLAYING:MANNING UP by Sean Christopher Lewis, with Lanny Langston and Jesse Peery.
DATES                       Opened:          November 7, 2012                                    Closing:           December 9, 2012
TIMES                        Regular:           Wed – Sat: 7:30 p.m.                                                            Sun: 1:00 p.m. & 6:00 p.m.
SLAC is a not-for-profit 501(c) in 1970 and is dedicated to producing, commissioning and developing new works and to supporting a community of professional artists.  SLAC has been nationally recognized by the Shubert Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Pew Charitable Trusts and the Edgerton Foundation, among others. SLAC operates under a STP Actors Equity Association contract. SLAC is a Constituent Member of Theatre Communications Group, a national organization for non-profit professional regional theatres, and the National New Play Network.

________________________________________________Cynthia FlemingExecutive ProducerSalt Lake Acting Company801.363.7522www.saltlakeactingcompany.orgwww.nowplayingutah.com