Trade schools balance need to train in-demand skilled works with pandemic restrictions Nicholas Labrum had already made a career change when the Covid-19 pandemic sent him searching for yet another option. Labrum had a degree from Utah State University in Sociology and had worked as a social worker with troubled teens before changing direction and going to to work for the … [Read more...]
Moab Woman Keeps 100-Year-Old Farming Tradition Alive
Her curly, vibrant red hair betrays her sensitive skin, but Mary Engleman just puts on her long-sleeved flannel shirt and wide brimmed hat to protect her from the unrelenting desert sun. To those who work in a climate-controlled office, the thick clothing would seem to only trade a burn from the sun for a slow, insulated roasting. But farm work weeds out the weak, and for … [Read more...]
Recovering from Substance Abuse in Isolation
HEBER VALLEY ― This May, Maggie Talucci will celebrate four years of sobriety. And she credits Wasatch Crest Treatment with giving her a solid foundation for continued recovery. “The ‘Crest’ taught me how to live life substance-free and still have fun, and part of that was through their outdoor excursions. We did a lot of hiking, a lot of physically active activities,” … [Read more...]
A Visit to Utah’s Largest Medical Cannabis Farm
Two years ago there were 80 hopeful applicants vying for the coveted “golden ticket” to be one of ten of the official medical cannabis growers for Utah’s medical cannabis program. Only eight were chosen, one provisionally. The capital requirements disqualified 90% of applicants. Indoor-growing using hydroponics disqualified many more. To produce a consistent product, an … [Read more...]
No Hiding the Homeless: Pandemic pulls back the curtain on SLC homelessness
Next to the Geraldine E. King Women’s Center sits a cluster of tents and homeless individuals leaning against a nearby building. The Center, at 700 South and State Street stands witness to one of dozens of encampments scattered throughout the city, highlighting the persistent issue of homelessness that has become even more visible amid the pandemic. “There have been more … [Read more...]
Stocking Up On Fabulous Foods From Our Favorite Markets
When I moved to Utah in 1992, specialty food stores were few and far between. Liberty Heights Fresh was still a year away from opening and Granato’s was about the only gourmet game in town, selling imported Italian foods, hot and cold sandwiches, kitchenware and such. Thankfully, much has changed in the nearly 30 years since then, and SLC and its environs are … [Read more...]
Striking Gold in Ogden: A 45-Year Professional Jewelry Maker Relocates to Ogden’s 25th Street
Carl Cox, of Alaskan Gold Connection, has spent the last 25 years living in Fairbanks, Alaska. After Nevada, Alaska is the second most productive gold-producing state in the country. Cox moved there with a jewelry-making background and decided he wanted to get more acquainted with the raw and natural gold specimens as they were mined from the mountains. Gold is usually … [Read more...]
Seventy Years of Family and Flowers: The Art Floral
If you’re near the corner of 600 East and 300 South in downtown Salt Lake City around 3pm on any given day, you’ll probably see a tall Greek woman with a mane of curly black hair herding a flock of chickens to their coop. An 11-year old terrier is always by her side. The terrier is named Artie, and her name is Stefanie. But no, she doesn’t own a chicken … [Read more...]
How is it to be a Black-Owned Business in Utah during Pandemic?
When the Utah economy shut down in March, national conglomerates received billions of federal dollars in bailout funds, but small businesses were left out in the rain with no umbrella. At a quaint location on State Street in Orem, Texas-born Joe Hicks serves comfort food with a Southern flare. Black-owned businesses such as Joe’s Cafe cite that their clientele numbers have … [Read more...]
Running a Restaurant in a Pandemic — Spoiler: It’s Not All Bad News
Restaurants worldwide are facing huge challenges as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Thousands and thousands have closed permanently and many more are hanging by a thread. Others are doing better but have had to adjust the way they do business significantly in order to survive. Whoever thought Log Haven, for example, would be doing takeout curbside meals? Sadly, in SLC … [Read more...]