On Wednesday, the House Revenue and Taxation Committee unanimously (13-0) moved closer to creating a new $2,500 tax credit (HB47), which would encourage the purchase of electric cars. Meanwhile the Senate Transportation Committee approved SB139 (2-1), which would triple the registration fee for those electric cars, as well as hybrid and natural gas vehicles. The SB139 … [Read more...]
Archives for February 2014
Same-sex marriage advocates rally at Equality Ball
Valentines Day has a few stories as to its origin. One of the most popular, and certainly one of my favorites, tells of St. Valentine who was a Roman priest during the third-century. An Emperor called Claudius believed that unwed men fought better because they didn’t worry about what would happen to a wife and children if they died. Emperor Claudius put an edict on marriage … [Read more...]
PoshPaws: A Pet Boutique for Smaller Dogs
Looking for a fun and stylish way to outfit your canine friend? Then look no further than the smart and chic pet boutique, PoshPaws located in the popular 9th & 9th district of Salt Lake. Owner, and equestrian science graduate, Courtney Green, started PoshPaws after adopting her chihuahua, Daisy, and realizing she couldn’t find a single backpack carrier small enough to … [Read more...]
Folksinger Tom Bennett Sings for Utah and Clean Air
Six years ago, Tom Bennett was an apostate return missionary drug dealer playing in punk bands in Salt Lake dive bars. Living out his own version of SLC Punk, Tom’s non-stop party days came to an end when he was busted on Trax by undercover narcs. His first offense, Tom was let off easy and when I met him in 2006, and he had just landed a job in a Boys and Girls Center. He was … [Read more...]
Especially For You: A Flowery Downtown Staple
Marci Rasmussen is okay with being called “the flower lady.” She has, after all, been a colorful downtown fixture for 27 years as the owner of the Salt Lake floral shop Especially For You. Rasmussen opened her store on Main Street in 1987. After moving to the Peery Hotel and then to Broadway, she bought a building on 400 South to accommodate expansion and make the business a … [Read more...]
Millcreek Cacao: Rare Chocolate for Valentine’s Day
Enterprising activity fills the small space at Millcreek Cacao Roasters. Steven Brewster is overseeing the roasting process and packaging. Mark DelVecchio heats and molds the chocolate, and Dana Brewster moves from station to station explaining the whole operation. In the bright space, the enticing aroma of chocolate is everywhere. “Farm to bar,” is how Dana describes their … [Read more...]
University Vet
Owning and operating your own business is a dream for many, but owning and operating a successful business with your spouse can be even more rewarding. Working side by side for the last 15 years, Jim Ack and Lynn McCarron have provided quality animal care in Salt Lake City with University Veterinary Hospital and Diagnostic Center. Both Ohio natives, Jim and Lynn met while … [Read more...]
Airstream Trailers: Classic Americana Restored
In the 1970s, Gene Magre started restoring Salt Lake City Avenues homes. Having marked success, Gene then moved to San Diego and restored homes there for many years. He restored homes for celebrities. He doesn’t like to drop names, “but the most famous celebrities.” Gene adds casually, “I earned enough money to do what I want, where I want, how I want. So it worked out pretty … [Read more...]
The Legend of Ed “Big Daddy” Roth
Charley Hafen met the celebrated artist Ed “Big Daddy” Roth in 1996 when Roth was hawking his signed silkscreened drawings at a car show. “I thought, ‘Whoa! That’s Ed Roth!’ when I saw him,” recalls the Salt Lake City jeweler. Hafen owns Charley Hafen Custom Jewelers and has known of the Big Daddy and his artwork since he was a boy. Like Roth, Hafen’s specialty is custom … [Read more...]
What’s That Living in Your Gut?
How to Starve Your Bad Gut Flora and Feed the Good for Better Health Beauty salons are true educational institutions. Every time I have my hair done, I learn something new. This time it was GAPS (Gut and Psychology Syndrome). Not many of us know this syndrome, but we all are very familiar with feeling sluggish and with a mental fog that makes us lose focus and forget where … [Read more...]