Ogden Connection January - February 2022 by Connection Media Co. - Connection Publishing

CONNECTION

IN THIS ISSUE

OLYMPIC'S 20-Year Anniversary GAME DAY EATS Winter Events

HAPPY NEW YEAR! January-February 2022 Provo UT 84606 PERMIT NO 313

OFFICIAL OGDEN CITY MAGAZINE! www.ogdenconnection.com

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+ F R O M T H E M AY O R

Dear Ogden Residents,

Ogden Connection is published quarterly by Connection Publishing© www.ogdenconnection.com ryan@connectionpub.com | (801) 721-3762 PUBLISHER Ryan Spelts GRAPHIC DESIGN Kristina Case AD DESIGN Robert Dodd Abigail Rigby Crystal Rappleye WRITERS Mayor Mike Caldwell Sarah Langston Brandon Garside Jenny Goldsberry Mike Slater Haille Van Patten David Sawyer Will Farr Hailey Minton EDITORS Hailey Minton Brittany Carroll Kassie Baker

CONNECT WITH US! News, contests, photos from readers and lots more! We love hearing from you! ogdenconnection

CONNECTIONPUBLISHING

Connection Publishing www.connectionpub.com If you'd like to advertise in our publications that reach over 30,000 homes in Ogden, please contact Ann Park at 385-206-2301 or ann@connectionpub.com for ad rates and to receive a media kit.

Disclaimer: The paid advertisements contained within the Ogden Connection magazine are not endorsed or recommended by Connection Publishing or Ogden City. Therefore, neither party may be held liable for the business practices of these companies. The City is also not responsible for any content in the magazines except for that which they directly submit for print.

hope this letter finds you all in good health and spirits with the new year in full swing. I’m very excited about the positive outlook we have for 2022 and all of the possibilities that it brings. The new year brings refreshing hope and optimism that recharge us all in our own unique ways. 2021 was an eventful and productive year in Ogden! When I reflect back on the year and think of our accomplishments, I’m always very proud to serve the Ogden community. Since being recognized by the Milken Institute as one of the best performing cities in the United States, our undeniable momentum has continued to spur growth and headway.

"When I reflect back on the year and think of our accomplishments, I’m always very proud to serve the Ogden community. "

We completed several major infrastructure and roadway projects that will ultimately lead to major community improvements such as Ogden Express (OGX) and notable development under the Make Ogden plan. Our community development team either built or repaired more than a dozen homes under the Quality Neighborhoods program, with several more builds and repairs underway. More than 30 individuals were able to become homeowners in Ogden with the support of the Own in Ogden down payment assistance program. Ogden also supported start-up and growth of businesses for 789 individuals during 2021 through resources available at the Business Information Center. Furthermore, Ogden was one of only 3 major metropolitan areas to experience positive job growth from March of 2020 through March of 2021, reporting the creation of more than 700 new jobs during that period. It has been a remarkable year for our city!

We would like to welcome Ken Richey as the newest member of the Ogden City Council. I applaud his desire to serve the community and look forward to working with him. I would also like to invite you all to consider joining our team at Ogden City. We are always looking for individuals to come on board and help with our efforts to serve Ogden residents, while enjoying a fulfilling career in a dynamic and productive environment. The current job opening link can be found easily on the Ogden City homepage. Wishing you all and your families a happy and successful 2022, Mike Caldwell Ogden City Mayor

@ogdencityutah January-February 2022 | ogdenconnection.com 3

in this issue

JANUARY -FEBRUARY

The Connection Publishing Team We asked the CP team this question:

WHAT IS A GOAL YOU HAVE FOR 2022? Ryan Spelts Owner/Publisher Melissa Spelts Owner Rhett Long Sales VP Vy Trinh Sales Leadership Robert Dodd Graphic Design of Roy Connection, and Ad Design

Consider taking a CPR class

“Take piano lessons & visit a national park on my bucketlist.”

Kristina Case Graphic Design

Abigail Rigby Ad Design

CONTENTS 5

CITY NEWS

Crystal Rappleye Ad Design

Try one of our delicious wing recipes for the Superbowl!

Hyrum Rappleye Ad Design Scott Jones Sales

COMMUNITY Events

ON OUR COVER

HISTORY Bernard Devoto-Ogden's first Pulitzer Prize winner 28 RECIPES Game Day Eats

12 Calendar of Events 16 Olympic's 20-year Anniversary 28 Game Day Eats

CONNECT WITH US! ogdenconnectionutah

Questions or comments? Would you like to advertise in our magazine? Please contact Ann Park at 385-206-2301 or ann@connectionpub.com for ad rates and to receive a media kit.

www.ogdenconnection.com 4 ogdenconnection.com | January-February 2022

Ann Park Sales & Writer

Diane Liberator Sales Hailey Minton Writer Jenny Goldsberry Writer

Special Advertisement Pages Bank of Utah

Kendal Rae Jensen Sales

“Relax, live in the moment, and hug more trees.”

Jaycee Gray Writer Brittany Carroll Editor Kassie Baker Editor Emma Poulson Marketing Intern

“To journal the important events from my life while I still remember them.”

Kim Crook Media Manager

City Updates

Connect with us! @ogdencityutah

Council Member Q&A

Newest member, Ken Richie, is a lifetime resident of Ogden BY BRANDON GARSIDE

What does it mean to you to represent Ogden residents on the council?

to effectively address challenges and concerns of the community. Over the next four years, I know I have a lot to learn, and I have appreciated several of the current council members’ efforts to reach out and help me get up to speed. My goal is to look for ways to build on common ground and help make decisions that will be good for all of Ogden.

As a lifetime resident of Ogden, it is truly an honor to represent my fellow citizens on the council. I enjoy being involved in the community and have done so in many ways over the years. Working in this new capacity is exciting, and I know that I have a lot of learning to do. I love the sense of Ogden pride that is developing over the years and expect to see great things as we continue to work together.

What’s your favorite thing about Ogden?

There are many things about Ogden I love. We live in a beautiful area with access to parks, trails, rivers, and all kinds of outdoor recreation. We have a wonderfully diverse population with so many good people who are generous, passionate, and willing to work for the betterment of Ogden. The business community is welcoming, with a diverse economic base represented by various kinds of business. As a graduate of Weber State University and lifelong fan of the Wildcats, we enjoy top tier sports programs right in our own backyard. We routinely see championship-caliber teams in all sports. #GoWildcats

What do you like to do with your free time?

Family is number one on my priority list, and I have enjoyed supporting each of my children in their interests. As a family, we try to get out on some kind of adventure as often as we can; backpacking, climbing, hiking together, or canoe trips to Causey are some of our favorites. In

I love the sense of Ogden pride that is developing over the years and expect to see great things as we continue to work together. addition, we always enjoy supporting Weber State Athletics and the Ogden Raptors.

What do you hope to accomplish in your time on the council?

First and foremost is getting to know the other council members and learning how we can work together as a body

What do you think are the biggest strengths and challenges for Ogden?

We have many strengths with our exceptional history, people, and community partners. At the top of the mind for many are the challenges with responsible growth and development, housing, protecting water resources (especially in light of current drought conditions), and the future of the Marshall White Center. We have challenges related to public safety with a shortage in labor supply for officers, which is putting a strain on our excellent police department. The pandemic has changed many things about the way we interact, and we will continue to encounter new challenges as we adapt to a new way of doing things.

stay connected

Learn what is happening in your city! City Council Meetings @ City Council Chambers every Tuesday 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.

www.ogdencity.com

January-February 2022 | ogdenconnection.com 5

+ CITY NEWS

SUPPORT LOCAL

LOCAL JOBS

SHOP LOCAL, SHOP SMALL, SHOP OGDEN BY HAILLE VAN PATTEN

Buying local

helps create Ogden’s independent spirit began more than 150 years ago when employment the town was first settled. Nestled along the Wasatch Mountains, Ogden is home opportunities to more than 200 locally owned and independent businesses. In Ogden, you can expect to find award-winning shopping and dining, as well as world-class arts, culture, and community events.

Now more than ever, it is important to recommit to spending local and coming together in support of Ogden’s locally owned and independent businesses. As we bid adieu to 2021 and cheerfully welcome 2022, consider adding “supporting local” to your list of new year’s resolutions. The Ogden Downtown Alliance, in partnership with Local First Utah, has published the top ten reasons to shift your spending to support Ogden’s locally owned and independent businesses. Check them out below!

Did you know when you shop local…

More Info

For more information about supporting local and where to #ShopOgden, visit www. ogdendowntown.com/ shopogden or follow us on Facebook and Instagram @ OgdenDowntown.

6 ogdenconnection.com | January-February 2022

•

55% of every dollar you spend stays right here in Utah. Every cent counts. Make every cent count for Ogden!

•

You embrace the character of Downtown Ogden.

•

You help create local jobs.

•

You reduce your carbon footprint and the amount of waste in our landfills.

•

You show how much you love your neighbors.

•

You help keep the American Dream alive.

•

You benefit from the passion and expertise of Ogden’s own.

•

You keep your tax dollars working in Ogden.

•

You encourage innovation and product diversity.

•

You help keep Ogden a world-class destination.

•

No matter the season, there is always a reason to shop local, shop small, shop Ogden.

EARLY AND EFFECTIVE CPR BY MIKE SLATER, DEPUTY FIRE CHIEF

Classic Vanilla Cupcake follow us on facebook ! and instagram www.facebook.com/menchieson24th

Being a public servant is a great privilege, working for the residents of Ogden is a bonus. Our community

is one of the most caring and generous in the nation, and our fire department also upholds our community standard. Being a member of “O-town” is something we should all be proud of. Every year, your fire department responds to over 20,000 calls for service; calls such as structure fires, vehicle accidents, river rescues, and medical emergency calls happen on a consistent basis. Many of these calls require specific training and equipment to resolve. On many occasions, our community can help, and in some cases, save somebody’s life with just a little training and willingness to help. Imagine walking down the street on a warm summer day when you witness your neighbor fall to the ground while mowing their lawn. What can you do? You call 911, but seconds may feel like hours, and you feel helpless. Did you know that when someone goes into a cardiac arrest, their heart stops beating, and every minute CPR is not done the chance of survival decreases by 10 percent? Did you know that more than any medication, quality CPR and early defibrillation saves lives? I personally had an experience while on vacation in Bear Lake with my family. During our stay, we heard commotion from the people in the neighboring home. They were screaming for help, and as we entered their home, we saw that, during dinner, Grandma had fallen to the ground in cardiac arrest. Having none of my equipment, the only thing we could do was early and effective CPR. Being in the mountains, it took some time for EMTs to arrive, but due to the early CPR, grandma was saved. A week later, she was back at home with her family. We all have people we care about who could be saved by a total stranger, and that stranger who could make an impact could be you! The Ogden City Fire Department understands the importance of early and effective CPR from you, our community. We ask that you find time in your busy schedule and take a day to learn and even get certified in CPR. Ogden Fire encourages businesses and individuals to reach out for training opportunities to help us save one life at a time.

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801- 479-7717 HELP SAVE A LIFE! You can inquire about CPR by visiting our website at www. ogdencity.com/326/CPR or by calling us at 801-629-8074.

1479 East 5600 South A, Ogden, UT 84403 mariasmexrestaurant.com January-February 2022 | ogdenconnection.com 7

+ CITY NEWS

Momentum You Can Feel – Ogden City Community and Economic Development Driving Positive Change BY DAVID SAWYER

Everybody is talking about it – the positive community momentum and energy that is enhancing our city’s economic vitality – making Ogden a better place to live, work, and do business! One only has to review some of the city’s recent and ongoing community and economic development initiatives – combined with numerous commercial growth announcements – to get good a sense of what is going on. Below are a few key contributing factors:

“Make Ogden” – Downtown Development Projects The Make Ogden plan was adopted in 2020, establishing a 25-year vision to guide the growth and development of downtown Ogden (https://ut-ogden.civicplus.com/ DocumentCenter/View/17312/Final-Ogden-DowntownMaster-Plan). Work on key projects related to “Episode 1” of Make Ogden have already started!

• 26th Street Corridor Improvements between Washington and Wall, including new utility infrastructure, sidewalks, bike path, lighting, and paving. Starting earlier in 2021, this important improvement project is almost complete and will dramatically enhance the functionality and attractiveness of the area and increase our capacity to support additional business and residential development along the important downtown corridor. • New Wonder Block Mixed-Use Development, located at the former Hostess site, along 26th Street between Grant Avenue and Lincoln Avenue. With construction planned to start in early 2022, the new downtown development will provide a mix of needed housing, retail, commercial, parking, and unique outdoor spaces. • Enhanced Public Transportation System, with the BRT’s soon to be completed new bus route and stops between UTA’s FrontRunner station, through downtown and along Harrison Boulevard, to Weber State University and McKay-Dee Hospital. • Planning for the Union Station Area is underway, including restoration of the station and mixeduse development in the adjacent areas. • Electric Alley Redevelopment Plans (coming soon) will provide a unique offering of remote work-hub housing options and enhanced parking solutions for the downtown area.

Community Improvement Projects – Arts and Entertainment Activities

In addition to the Make Ogden related projects, Ogden Community and Economic Development has been engaged in several other key improvement projects to enhance our community. Additionally, Ogden City Arts and Events continually supports arts and culture efforts that build community and drive economic growth. Examples of both types of activities include the following: • Riverbend Ogden Enhancements, with continued growth of the mixed-use development along the Ogden

8 ogdenconnection.com | January-February 2022

River and improved river access for recreation. • Ogden Business Exchange Development, including extensive redevelopment of the former Ogden Stockyard as a new business park, featuring outdoor recreation amenities. • Nine Rails Creative District Additions, featuring the new Dumke Arts Plaza at 25th and Ogden Street (just opened in December) and beautiful new art murals added along Grant Street and other locations this past summer. • Continuous Art and Entertainment Events that bring Ogden together and attract visitors to enjoy our great community. You can check out all of the Arts and Events activities at ogdencity.com/696/Arts-Events.

Airport Improvements

• Expanded Flight Service. In case you haven’t heard, flight service through the Ogden-Hinckley Airport has expanded, and you can now fly in and out of the Ogden-Hinckley airport to the Phoenix area as well as the Hollywood/Burbank area. Check out the details at ogdencity.com/1916/Flight-Information. • Infrastructure Improvements. To accommodate additional flight activity, as well as increased commercial demand to be located near our airport, extensive infrastructure upgrades are currently in process, with completion expected within the next two years.

Accelerating Housing Development

• Increased Housing Options. To meet our community’s growth needs, private development of multifamily housing has dramatically increased, with last year seeing a single-year record for the number of new units permitted in Ogden. • Housing Updates. In addition, our Community Development Team continues to implement our unique renovation and new infill housing projects that create a balance of housing types and affordability levels in our community.

Business Development Activities/Successes

The pandemic certainly impacted our community, particularly small businesses and disadvantaged populations; however, overall business sales revenues have remained strong, and the unemployment rate in our area is just 2.8% (April ’21). In fact, Ogden is one of only three metro areas in the region with positive job growth from March 2020 to March 2021, with nearly 700 new jobs announced during the last year. Our Business Development Team heads up our ongoing recruiting efforts to bring new businesses/ employers to Ogden and works with existing businesses to help them succeed and grow. Now you know a few of the key contributing factors from the city’s Community and Economic Development group that help keep the positive community momentum going in Ogden! With our community’s innovative mindset, stunning location, and undeniable momentum, Ogden is the perfect place for business and home. Visit ogdenbusiness.com to learn more about Ogden – city on the rise!

WSU Badge Up Program

you’re unable to land that job or go for that promotion because you’re missing a couple of vital skills, Weber State University’s Badge Up program is here to save the day. The low-cost, online, noncredit program is dedicated to providing quick skills through badges such as Communication in the Workplace, Document Creation, Workplace Writing, SQL Beginner, and Reacquainting Yourself With Work. In addition to upskilling, you can use an e-portfolio to show employers the completed work behind the badges.

Update your skills with classes through WSU

This new program is meant for anyone who does not yet have a degree or those who have a degree and need to gain additional skills. “Badge Up is meant to help you quickly upskill or retool your talents, abilities, or technical skills,” said Beth Rhoades, WSU’s Director of Non credit Programs and Professional Learning. “Each badge is meant to be short enough that you can implement knowledge immediately and demonstrate what you learned.” Learn and prove you know your stuff.

“Badge Up is meant to help you

Scan the QR code to get started.

quickly upskill or retool your talents, abilities, or technical skills.” -Beth Rhoades, WSU

Project “Don’t Let It Idle” Preventing auto thefts AND improving air quality BY LT. WILL FARR - OGDEN CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT, PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER

The Ogden Police Department will be out again this year working with the community to help prevent auto thefts. Each winter season, an increase in the number of reported vehicle thefts come to our attention as the cold weather begins. This rise in vehicle thefts is often due to opportunistic criminals taking advantage of vehicles left running and unattended in driveways and vehicles to warm them up. Project “Don’t Let It Idle” has been created over the last few years to help with this crime, which can, at times, be preventable. The goal of project “Don’t Let it Idle” is to prevent the victimization of the members of our community who may not be aware of this nefarious activity. To achieve this goal, officers will be conducting extra morning patrols for vehicles left running unattended and/or possible suspicious persons in the area. Throughout the previous few years, we have made this one of our priorities during the cold weather months, resulting in lowering the numbers of vehicles being stolen. We ask our community to be mindful of the Utah State Code 41-6a-1403 and Ogden City Ordinance 10-7-5.

Another positive side effect of project “Don’t Let It Idle” is better air quality throughout our community. Inversion is an environmental factor that often affects the Wasatch Front. According to Utah Department of Environmental Quality, inversion represents a layer of the atmosphere in which temperature gets warmer the higher you go. During the winter in Utah, snow-covered valley floors reflect rather than absorb heat. This reflection prevents the normal mixing of warm and cold air. The pocket of warm air above traps the colder air below. When the colder air can’t rise, pollution accumulates near the ground, leading to higher pollution concentration. Emissions from vehicles are one of the primary causes of poor air quality due to inversion during winter months.

For more info on inversions, go to deq.utah.gov/air-quality/inversions

January-February 2022 | ogdenconnection.com 9

+ CITY NEWS

Ogden City Recreation YOUTH CLASSES ARE IN FULL SWING AT THE MARSHALL WHITE CENTER.

We start our third session on January 3rd, with various classes, including pottery, jr. chef, and boxing. For only $10, your kids will get six weeks’ worth of classes, as well as experiences they will never forget. There are also adult classes, including our newest class, Hawaiian dance. Come and stay active with us at the center; with classes like Zumba, yoga, boxing, and Hawaiian dance, you are guaranteed to get a good workout in. If exercise is not what you are looking for, we also have our monthly adult pottery class. We have fun for the whole family at Marshall White Center! Check out these classes and more or find them online on the Marshall White Center website. *Some class fees may vary

Rocks boxing has moved to Monday and Wednesday nights: Youth 6-7 p.m., adult 7-8 p.m.

RECREATION BASEBALL

Registration for the 2022 Baseball and Softball season is now open at https://ogdencityrecreation.sportsiteslabs.com/Player. We offer instructional leagues for our younger participants that emphasize learning core skills and promote player development while learning the game. All ages, pre-K to Jr. High, and all skill levels are welcome. Ogden City provides the following divisions:

Rookieball (T-Ball) – Coed 3-4-year-olds and Kindergarteners; cost is $40. Games are Mondays and Wednesdays. Rookieball (T-Ball) – Coed 5-6-year-old and Kindergartener; cost is $40. Games are weekdays after 5 p.m. Pee Wee (Machine Pitch) – Boys 1st/2nd grade; cost is $25. Games are weekdays after 5 p.m.

Girls Coach Pitch Softball – 1st/2nd grade; cost is $25.

Games TBD.

Minors Baseball (Kid Pitch) – Boys 3rd/4th grade; cost is $30. Games are weekdays after 5 p.m.

Yoga has moved to 6:15 p.m. on Thursdays

Majors Baseball (Kid Pitch) - Boys 5th/6th grade; cost is $30. Games are Mondays and Wednesdays, 5 p.m., 6 p.m., or 7 p.m. Fast Pitch Girls Softball – Grades 3rd/4th and 5th/6th; cost is

$30. Games TBD.

Fast Pitch Girls Softball – Grades 7th-9th; cost is $40.

Games TBD.

Boys Prep Baseball – Grades 7th-9th; cost is $40. Games

TBD.

Pee Wee Chef class

Lots of other classes available!

For more information about any of our programs, events, or facilities, you may visit our website or call the Recreation Office at 801-629-8253.

ogdencityrecreation.com

+ GOLDEN HOURS SENIOR CENTER UPDATE New Wildcat Room Open Soon

Golden Hours Senior Center, in partnership with Weber State University, will soon be opening the Wildcat Game Room at the senior center located at 650 25th Street. The room features Weber State memorabilia, a pool table, game table, seating area, and television. This room will be open and ready to Senior Center patrons soon. In the meantime, we would like to encourage all senior community members to check out the newly remodeled active aging center. Classes and activities can be found at www.ogdencity.com/325/Golden-Hours.

10 ogdenconnection.com | January-February 2022

Facility Info Marshal N. White Center

801-629-8346 www.ogdencity.com/330/Marshall-White-Center

Golden Hours Senior Center 801-629-8864 www.ogdencity.com/325/Golden-Hours

Key Community Contacts MAYOR AND CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER Mike Caldwell – Ogden City Mayor: 801-629-8111

Mark Johnson – Chief Administrative Officer: 801-629-8111

CITY COUNCIL

Ben Nadolski: 801-643-4593 Angela Choberka: 801-388-0031 Bart Blair: 801-388-1517 Richard Hyer: 801-782-2865 Luis Lopez: 801-686-5685 Doug Stephens: 801-393-9796 Marcia White: 801-829-1350

GENERAL & CITY SERVICES General Information: 801-629-8000

January’s Primary Birthstone

Arts & Events: 801-629-8703 Business Development: 801-629-8910 Business Licensing: 801-629-8687 Fire Department: 801-629-8069 Human Resources: 801-629-8730 Justice Court: 801-629-8560 Police Department: 801-629-8056 Public Services: 801-629-8337 Recreation: 801-629-8253 El Monte Golf: 801-629-0694 Golden Hours: 801-629-8864 Lorin Farr Pool: 801-629-8186 Marshall White Center: 801-629-8346 Mt. Ogden Golf: 801-629-0699 Union Station: 801-629-8680

10% OFF all pieces Freeforms & Top Polished Crystals

15% OFF

Fluorite Pieces and Stone & Crystal Carvings

10% OFF Cathedrals

15% OFF Buy 2 Palm Stones, get one 1/2 Price These deals are exclusive through Jan. 2022 Mix and Match Items are allowed, if applicable for BOGO items. Full price to be paid for the item of greater value

326 Washington Blvd., Ogden

801•399•2838 • BrysonsRock.com January-February 2022 | ogdenconnection.com 11

+ COMMUNITY

JANUARY-FEBRUARY EVENTS JANUARY

Jan 22: Free 11th Bi-Annual Art and Craft Supply Swap @ The Local Artisan Collective 12-2 p.m. Masks Encouraged.

Jan 3-31: Open Skate - Registration Required @ Weber County Ice Sheet Mon-Sat 12-2 p.m. Jan 3-31: The Great Ogden Art Hunt - Monthly Art Scavenger Hunt @ Various Local Ogden Art Galleries and Businesses. (Search, submit your Guess, and win $100 AND the hidden artwork! More Info: https://ogden4arts. org/the-great-ogden-art-hunt.html Jan 5, 12, 19, 26: Country Dance @ Union Station 8:30 p.m. $5 Admission

Jan 22-Feb 26: Winter Market by Farmers Market @ Ogden Union Station 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Jan 27-29: Golden Spike Dog Obedience Club Agility Trials - FREE to the public @ Golden Spike Events Center 8 a.m.

FEBRUARY

Jan 7: First Friday Art Stroll @ 25th Street 6 - 9 p.m. Jan 7-8: Dancing Through The Stillness @ WSU Allred Theater 7:30 p.m. - Free admission Jan 7-29: Northern Utah High School Art Competition - Works on Display @ Eccles Art Center 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Jan 10-15: Audition Week for Monty Python’s Spam-A-lot - School Edition (Ages 13-18) @ Ziegfeld Arts Academy (More info: www.zigartsacademy.com/) Jan 11: Open Riding - Free to the public @ Golden Spike Events Center 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. Call 801-399-8798 for more info. Jan 12: Jazz at the Station: Free Concert @ Union Station 7 - 8 p.m. Jan 15: Wasatch Audubon Field Trip - Free for adults, members @ Ogden Nature Center 7:30 a.m. Contact Mike Hearell (801) 529 8693 Jan 17-21: Audition Week for Peter Pan Jr. (Ages 5-12) @ Ziegfeld Arts Academy (More info: www. zigartsacademy.com/)

LIBRARY EVENTS Main Library 2464 Jefferson Ave Ogden 801-337-2632

ALL EVENTS ARE FREE

Special Announcement: Adult Winter Reading Program Jan 1-Feb 28: during operating hours

12 ogdenconnection.com | January-February 2022

Jan 22-Feb 26: Winter Market by Farmers Market @ Ogden Union Station 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Feb 2, 9, 16, 23: Country Dance @ Union Station 8:30 p.m. $5 Admission Feb 7-28: The Great Ogden Art Hunt - Monthly Art Scavenger Hunt @ Various Local Ogden Art Galleries and Businesses. (Search, submit your guess, and win $100 AND the hidden artwork! More Info: https://ogden4arts. org/the-great-ogden-art-hunt.html Feb 4: First Friday Art Stroll @ 25th Street 6 - 9 p.m. Feb 8: Open Riding - Free to the public @ Golden Spike Events Center 1:303:30 p.m. Call 801-399-8798 for more info. Feb 9: Jazz at the Station: FREE Concert @ Union Station 7-8 p.m. Feb 12: Light-Up Paper Circuit Valentine Heart craft - Free @ Main Library 2 p.m. Feb 14: Happy Valentines Day! - Make Valentines and express love for friends and family

All Library Locations Read or listen to a book, write a fiveword review, and enter to win a gift basket Jan 1-31: Weber County Candids Contest, ages 12-18. Jan 6: Mini Houses, ages 18+ @ 6 p.m. Jan 11: Brick Building for Adults, ages 18+ @ 7 p.m.

Share the love February 14th! Feb 17: Teen Scene: Art Club Nebula Jars - Free Arts and Crafts @ Main Library 4 p.m. Feb 19: Wasatch Audubon Field Trip - FREE for adults, members @ Ogden Nature Center 7:30 a.m. Contact Mike Hearell (801) 529 8693 Feb 21: Hairy Horse Show @ Golden Spike Events Center 9 a.m. www. goldenspikeeventcenter.com/eventdetails/hairy-horse-show-5

Golden Hours Senior Events Golden Hours Senior Center 650 25th St Ogden, UT 84401 (801) 399-5230 Weekly Senior Activities Monday: Pottery - Clay $3 per pound Wednesday: Dominos - Free | Chair Yoga - Senior $2 or Adult $3 Friday: Open Pickleball @ 11:30 a.m. (Senior $2 or Adult $3)

Jan 13: Bad Art Night, all ages @ 6:30 p.m. Jan 15: Dungeons & Dragons, ages 1218 @ 3 p.m. Jan 17: New Year, New You, ages 18+ Jan 18: LEGO WeDo Robotics Lab, grades 3-5 @ 6 p.m. Jan 19: Cyanotype Printing, ages 18+ @ 6 p.m.

Monday Sewing @ 9 a.m. BINGO @ 12:30 p.m. Tuesday Crochet/Knit @ 9 a.m. Open Art Studio @ 10 a.m. Balance & Fitness @ 3 p.m.

Chair Yoga @ 3:30 p.m. Silversmithing @ 5 p.m.

Chair Yoga @ 3:30 p.m. Lapidary (open lab) @ 4:30 p.m. Wednesday Hair Cuts (by appt 4th Wed) @ 9 a.m. BINGO @ 9:30 a.m. Vet’s Group @ 10 a.m. Bridge (Duplicate) @ 12 p.m. Ukulele @ 6 p.m. Guitar Jammers @ 6:30 p.m. Healing Waters (fly fishing 1st & 3rd Wed) @ 6:30 p.m. Thursday Open Art Studio @ 10 a.m. Tai Chi @ 10 a.m. Pinochle @ 12 p.m. Stamp Collecting (2nd Thurs) @ 12:30 p.m. Newcomers Bridge (1st & 3rd Thurs) @ 12:30 p.m. Balance & Fitness @ 3 p.m.

Join us for lunch

Friday Pickleball @ 8 a.m. Crochet/Knit @ 9 a.m. Sewing @ 9 a.m. Line Dancing (Intermediate) @ 10 a.m. Pottery Class (Session #1 thru Jan 21; Session #2 thru Feb 11) @ 2 p.m. Grandparents with Open Arms (2nd & 4th Fri) @ 6 p.m. Jan 11: Diversity Seminar (Commissioner Betty Sawyer) @ 11:30 a.m. | Seminar -- “So, What Are the Rules?” @ 5 p.m. Jan 13: General Legal Services (by appt. only) @ 1:30 p.m. Jan 17: MLK day - Center CLOSED Jan 20: Wellness Check @ 11 a.m. Jan 26: Ogden HIstorical Society Lunch & Learn @ 11:30 a.m. Feb 21: Presidents Day - Center CLOSED Open Activities: Exercise area, board games, puzzles, computers, visiting with friends, and more!

Enjoy all these activities for a suggested donation of $5 per month. Open: Mon-Fri 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.

We are back OPEN!! Marshall White Center 222 28th Street Ogden, UT 84401 801-629-8346 Business Hours Monday - Friday: 6 a.m. - 8 p.m. Saturday: 7 a.m. - 3 p.m. **Taking registration for the below classes for kids ages 3-17. • Arts and Crafts • Boxing • Cheer/Dancing/Tumbling • Music • Pottery • Jr. Chef

Lunch every Monday/Wednesday/Friday (pre order). Suggested donation of $6 for 60 and below or $3 for 60+

stay connected

Learn what is happening in your city! The Ogden City Council regularly meets on the first and third Tuesdays of each month at 6:00 p.m.. There is a link to the meetings at www.ogdencity.com/1203/Live-Stream-Meetings

www.ogdencity.com

Jan 20: Coffee Filter Snowflakes, ages 12-18 @ 4 p.m.

Feb 8: Brick Building for Adults, ages 18+ @ 7 p.m.

Jan 22: Dungeons & Dragons, ages 12-18 @ 3 p.m.

Feb 12: Light-Up Paper Circuits, ages 10-18 @ 2 p.m.

Jan 27: Ogden Memories, all ages @ 4 p.m.

Feb 17: Nebula Jars, ages 12-18 @ 4 p.m.

**Call 801-337-2639 or 801-337-2632 for more information or to register for classes.

Feb 19: Dungeons & Dragons, ages 12-18 @ 3 p.m.

Feb 3: Ceramic Vases, ages 18+ @ 6 p.m.

Feb 21: Bingo Night, all ages @ 6:30 p.m.

Feb 24: Ogden Memories, all ages @ 4 p.m. Feb 26: National Read Across America Day, all ages @ 2 p.m. Feb 26: Dungeons & Dragons, ages 12-18 @ 3 p.m. **Call 801-337-2639 or 801-337-2632 for more information or to register for classes.

January-February 2022 | ogdenconnection.com 13

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+ A LOOK BACK

The First Pulitzer Prize Out of Ogden: BERNARD DEVOTO BY SARAH LANGSDON

ernard Augustine DeVoto was born on January 11, 1897, to Florian and Rhoda DeVoto in Ogden. The family lived on 25th Street and Monroe Boulevard. Florian was a bonded and licensed abstractor who had an office at 369 24th Street in the Eccles Building. Bernard went to Sacred Heart Academy during elementary school, which was on 25th Street and Quincy Avenue. He attended Ogden High School and was part of the ROTC. He graduated in 1914 and spent one year at University of Utah before transferring to Harvard as part of the class of 1918.

The Overland Limited stops at Ogden for fifteen minutes. The tourist, a little dizzy from altitude but grateful for trees after miles of desert, rushes out to change his watch and see a Mormon. He passes through a station that is a deliberate triumph of hideousness and emerges at the foot of Twenty-fifth Street. Beyond him are the peaks, the Wasatch at more than their usual dignity, but in the foreground are only a double row of shacks far gone in disintegration.

With the outbreak of World War I, DeVoto enlisted in the Army and was commissioned as a second lieutenant at Camp Perry in Ohio. Following the Armistice that ended the war, DeVoto returned to Harvard and graduated in 1920. He returned to Ogden and taught junior high school for two years before leaving to teach at Northwestern University. While there, he met his wife Avis and was married in 1923.

DeVoto went on to publish numerous books and columns in magazines such as Harper’s. His novel, Across the Wide Missouri was published in 1947 and won the Pulitzer Prize for history in 1948. He became interested in America’s assault on public lands and wrote twenty articles promoting the conservation of natural resources. It was during this time that he became friends with Chester Olsen who worked for the United States Forest Service in Ogden. They had many discussions about land conservation, watershed management, and water in the west.

In 1924, he published his first novel, The Crooked Mile, which was an unfriendly portrait of a western town very much like Ogden. He continued his unfavorable view of Ogden in 1925, when he penned an essay “Ogden: The Underwriters of Salvation” in The Taming of the Frontier. He wrote:

DeVoto continued to write, including a historical trilogy that included The Course of Empire that won the National Book Award. His 241 columns from

HISTORICAL WINNER

The Pulitzer prize winning book in 1948 by Bernard DeVoto is the best

known of his studies in American history, examining the rise and fall of the U.S. fur dynasties in the 1830s.

Ogden's First!

Celebrate the 125th anniversary of Bernard's birthday! January 22, 2022 a cocktail party will be held at The Monarch. Check www.weber.edu/ devotocommemoration for more events and information.

Harper’s were compiled into a collection called The Easy Chair to mark the 20th anniversary of the column. In his later life, he retracted his earlier opinions of Ogden and said they were just youthful indiscretions. On November 13, 1955, he traveled to New York to appear on a television program. After the recording, DeVoto suffered a ruptured aortic aneurysm and died. His ashes were scattered over Clearwater National Forest by Chet Olsen. January 2022 marks the 125th anniversary of his birth. Ogden will be celebrating its Pulitzer Prize-winning author throughout the year. On January 22, 2022, the first annual “The Hour” cocktail party, named after DeVoto’s musings on the happy hour, will be held at The Monarch on 25th Street. January-February 2022 | ogdenconnection.com 15

the art scene brought to you by Cache Valley Bank

ARTIST BIO

Corie Franchi BY HAILEY MINTON

Corie Franchi took best of show in the Holiday Traditions Ogden Community Art Show with her painting, Krampus. She sees artistic talent as something genetic. Her mom passed it on to Corie, and now Corie is seeing this talent emerge in her own children. After the show, her three kids were enthused and got to work with paper and colored pencils. Corie told them it’s one thing to create a piece for the upcoming youth art show in March, but if they really want to win, they would be wise to put more thought into it beyond creating something in one day. “Remember how much time I spent on

mine? You have to sketch out your ideas, plan it, and work on it.” Corie’s high school art teacher recognized her talents and gave her the freedom to work on what interested her for assignments. Later, she started having babies when she was 21, so that put her artistic endeavors on hold for a time. Now that their children are a little older and Corie has space for a studio, she has been committing more time to her passion. It really started with her involvement in 801 Rocks, a group that paints rocks and hides them around the community. Since then, she has done commissions and started painting on large canvases. She enjoys painting monsters like the ones from the X Files, Futurama, or in this case, for the Ogden Community Art Show, the darker counterpart to Santa, Krampus. As Corie prepared for this show, she noted that most non-western cultures have a darker character who punishes children who aren’t on the nice list. She had the makings of a Krampus

costume left over from Halloween, so her husband dressed up as him earlier this last December and chased their kids around the house. “They thought it was great,” she laughed. They’ll probably do it again next year. This was Corie’s first time entering the show, and she is very appreciative of Ogden’s support of the Arts. “What Ogden is doing for the arts has inspired me to do more.”

UPCOMING EVENTS Jan 2-31: Teen Scene: Weber County Community Teen Photography Contest @ Main Library (call 801-3372639 for more info) Jan 7: First Friday Art Stroll @ 25th Street 6 - 9 p.m. Jan 7-29: Northern Utah High School Art Competition - Works on Display @ Eccles Art Center 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Jan 13: Bad Art Night - FREE @ Main

Library 6:30 p.m. Jan 22: FREE 11th Bi-Annual Art and Craft Supply Swap @ The Local Artisan Collective 12-2 p.m. Masks Encouraged. Feb 1-28: The Great Ogden Art Hunt - Monthly Art Scavenger Hunt @ Various Local Ogden Art Galleries and Businesses. (Search, Submit your Guess, and Win $100 AND the hidden

artwork! For more information, visit ogden4arts.org/the-great-ogden-arthunt.html Feb 4: First Friday Art Stroll @ 25th Street 6 - 9 p.m. Feb 12: Light-Up Paper Circuit Valentine Heart craft - FREE @ Main LIbrary 2 p.m. Feb 17: Teen Scene: Art Club Nebula Jars craft - FREE @ Main Library 4

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20 year

SALT LAKE

OLYMPICS Twenty Years Later BY JENNY GOLDSBERRY

inter sports weren’t represented in the Olympics until 30 years after Athens’ first games in 1896. However, at the time, figure skating was a part of London’s summer games in 1908. Viewers were at first adverse to the idea of a Winter Olympics. So, when Chamonix, France, hosted them, they performed a rebranding of the winter sports. As a result, the first winter games weren’t called the Olympics, but the Chamonix International Winter Sports Week instead. Eighteen other cities hosted these Winter Olympics before Salt Lake City got the chance. Three of those cities hosted twice. The ten host countries included Switzerland, Germany, Norway, Italy, Austria, Japan, Canada, Yugoslavia, and, of course, France. America had only hosted the winter games three times before, in Squaw Valley, California, in 1960, then in Lake Placid, New York, in 1932 and 1980. The Wasatch Front population at the time was more than eleven of the other host cities’ populations combined and then some. In addition, Salt Lake Airport had the largest airport with 21 million visitors a year in the late 90s. At the time, the airport also boasted that it was the first airport in the country to screen bags for explosives. Consequently, it also had the most hotel rooms at 35,000. So, it came as no surprise that it sold a record number of tickets: 1.6 million. According to the Utah Department of Transportation, roughly 2.2 million visitors came to the state during the Olympics. The games came to Utah 20 years ago. Some Utahns were happy to welcome them, and others not so. To commemorate the anniversary this year, this article will examine the influence the games had in our neck of the woods.

Traffic Flow

For most people, the number-one concern was the traffic the games would bring. In anticipation of the traffic, local leaders opted to expand Highway 89. At the time that the Olympics selected Salt Lake, the federal government had allotted Utah $89 million dollars to build the necessary infrastructure. It’s federal law that U.S. cities hosting the Olympics receive this federal funding. Since Highway 89 led right to one of the Olympic venues, Snow Basin, some of that funding went to expanding the road. Many homes in South Weber and Ogden that bordered the highway got the short end of the stick on that deal. Instead of trees between their homes and the highway, the lanes stretched right up to their properties. Then, some were impacted twice by a massive Olympic park-and-ride lot only yards away. While the trees used to block wind from Weber Canyon and dirt from nearby sand pits, now the wind and dirt strikes those homes directly. Mitch Shaw, Senior Communication Manager for the Utah Department of Transportation over Weber County, claimed the department achieved all its goals. They also improved interchanges and added new access roads. One of their goals was to reduce background traffic by 20%. As a result of all their efforts ahead of the Olympics, they met that goal. It took some studies to shorten delays and reduce congestion. “The last thing you want is people to be stuck in traffic for the Olympics,” Mitch said. While the work came ahead of the Olympics, it has come in handy for our population. Over the past 20 years, Utah’s population increased by a million. Improvements done in 2002 continue to benefit drivers today.

Photo by Lara Hatzell Finley

18 ogdenconnection.com | January-February 2022

UDOT’s goal is to improve quality of life by improving mobility. When the growth in the state skyrocketed, traffic needed an update. Our state is the fastest-growing state in the nation, so it will forever need more infrastructure to facilitate the growth. Meanwhile, Mitch says some of the updates are actually “somewhat obsolete today.” “It’s safe to say that the Olympics were the accelerant,” Mitch said. These updates came when they did because of the games, but according to him, they were inevitable. We all dealt with the unavoidable three years of construction and “road closed” signs. Plus, a significant chunk of funding came from the federal government instead of the state’s budget. Today, Mitch says more work is on the horizon. Construction workers sprinkle the highway, working on more interchanges. Neighbors to the north are advocating for a roundabout between the highway and local roads. There will likely always be something to improve about our highways.

Venues & Events

First, there was the Ice Sheet in Ogden. It features four sheets of ice that are 15 feet by 145 feet. This was ideal for men’s and women’s curling. As far as spectators, it fit 2,000. Today, it still hosts curling events, only now for the amateurs. This April, it will see its 23rd Annual Rocky Mountain Bonspiel. April will also be the first time that participants can camp and curl at Buenaventura Park. The Ice Sheet has more than curling to offer. Now, it is also used as the Ogden Mustang’s arena: Weber County’s first and only junior hockey program. It’s such a successful team that their games often fill the seats just as full as the Winter Olympics once did. More than 50 former 'Stangs committed to play NCAA Hockey. Sixteen teammates have represented 10 different countries at World Championship tournaments. Just last October, player Jake Meure

scored his fourth career overtime game-winning goal, marking him the all-time franchise leader. While they keep the arena full during their hockey season, they also host hockey camps for aspiring players during the summer. This season, the team is playing its 11th season. Sean and Kimberly Wilmert took ownership of the team in 2020 as longtime supporters of the Mustangs organization and Ogden residents. Ever since then, the 'Stangs have also competed as members of the United States Premier Hockey League. There will be four home games this month. If you can’t catch any of those, be advised that their last home game will be on February 26th. Next, there’s Snowbasin Resort in the Wasatch-Cache National Forest. Swiss Olympic Downhill Champion Bernard Russi designed it himself in the late 1980s. Over a hundred years ago, it was known as Utah’s largest rendezvous site for trappers and traders like Jim Bridger, Kit Carson, and Jedediah Smith. When a flash flood on August 13, 1923, destroyed the area, locals decided to turn it over to the Cache National Forest. Ogden City, Weber County, the Ogden Rotary Club, and the Ogden Chamber of Commerce combined to buy the land from its previous owners and conserve it. Then, some Forest Service employees scoped out the area, attempting to ski in order to establish the area as a potential ski resort. They inevitably enjoyed the area’s powder. As a result, they held a contest to name the future resort. Geneve Woods won with her entry, “Snow Basin,” in 1938. On November 27, 1940, the Mayor of Ogden declared the “Ogden Snow Basin winter playground” officially open. Ogden native, John Paul Jones,

learned how to ski at Snow Basin. Jones went on to serve his country during World War II. He consequently lost his life in the Battle of Belvedere in Italy. Still, his 10th Mountain Division prevailed and was the first Allied unit to cross the Po River. The John Paul lift at Snowbasin was named after him. Before the games, there was also a lodge built in his honor. Then, the Holding family purchased Snowbasin in 1984 and still own it today. To prepare for the Olympics, there was yet another exchange of land between the resort and the federal government. They transferred 1,377 acres of National Forest System lands at the base of the resort to Snowbasin and 11,757 acres of private land in northern Utah to the WasatchCache National Forest. Today, 60% of Snowbasin is still in the National Forest. Bernard Russi designed a 9,311-foot summit with a 2,890 drop. Those who competed as Super-G skiers would fly down that drop and turn through 30 to 35 gates, while those who participated in the Giant Slalom event had fewer turns, but longer courses. Today, there are still many visitors to Snowbasin, so much so, that, according to Director of Marketing Michael Rueckert, there are plans to expand. The resort plans to expand lodging, parking, and chairlifts. As recently as this past year, you might have noticed some of these improvements. “We see visitors from all 50 states and several countries, each year, looking to experience our Olympic heritage,” Michael said. These updates have been necessary to facilitate a growing number of visitors. To hear Michael tell it, the Olympics put Snowbasin on the map.

AT A GLANCE Feb 8, 2002 – Feb 24, 2002 Athletes: 2,399 Nations: 78 Events: 78 US Medal Total: 34 Motto: Light the Fire Within

January-February 2022 | ogdenconnection.com 19

Tell your story belliston jewelry BY DEAN BELLISTON

n 1969, I was attending Weber State College, where I chose Business Management as my major with marketing as my minor. I became interested in the trade as a jeweler and started working in a jeweler repair shop. We did the work for many stores, and I was able to see the quality and prices of jewelry that was being sold. I saw that they weren’t priced as they could be. That’s when I decided that Ogden needed a better store. So, in November of 1973, I put college on the back burner, and my career as a jewelry store owner began. Of course, my thoughts as a new business owner were consumed by, “If I could sell a certain number of diamonds, how much money could I make?” I soon learned that was not the business approach that I wanted to take. It was not about me. I remember a time when a rough man and his wife came to the store. He told his wife to take off her ring and then handed it to me. He asked, “Could you put a little bit of a bigger diamond in it?” The wife then responded, “I don’t need a bigger diamond. I like my diamond.” A few days later, they came back, and he paid for the ring and handed it to his wife. She just sat down and cried. It was then that I finally understood the purpose of my business. Jewelry is a unique business. It is not necessarily as much of a need, but it is a feel-good, a reward, or a special gift to appreciate and to celebrate special times in people’s lives: special days like Christmas, weddings,

anniversaries, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, birthdays, etc. During the process of purchasing jewelry, both the giver and receiver can feel something. The giver feels the pride and joy of giving, and the receiver feels the love, happiness, and memories that can last for more than a lifetime. I have learned that my business and my job is more of a service to help people celebrate those special times and to help make special memories. My employees know that they are hired by me, but they work for the customers to help them find the right gift for them. We, like most jewelry stores, have our 100-200 wedding sets in our store to choose from, but we go way beyond that. We also have over 2,000 sample rings to try on and help customers decide what they like the most. With all the ideas we provide, we can also custom make the perfect ring for them. I appreciate all the thousands of friends whom I have come to know by serving this community for over 48 years. I have enjoyed helping friends to celebrate their special times in their life. You have provided much joy and happiness to me. I am looking forward to serving the community for years to come.

"I appreciate all the thousands of friends that I have come to know by serving this community for over 48 years.”

1155 36th St. Ogden, UT 84404 bellistonjewelry.com / 801-394-4814

Tell your story R Marketing Department BY ANN PARK

hat is the one thing new companies need help with? Marketing!

Steve Reich has many friends throughout Weber and Davis counties. He worked as Vice President of Marketing for Associated Food Stores for 21 years. He left that position to create R Marketing Department in 2011. He has been so successful in his work, he is asked to speak all over the US on the topic of marketing and sales. That led him to meet the original author of Guerrilla Marketing, and eventually become a co-author of one of the books in the best-selling series. Steve has been nominated for several awards for helping small businesses through COVID-19, and for being a mentor in the community. “I’m excited to work with more businesses in the Ogden area,” Steve says. “We love to get to know local business owners. Our community grows as we help each other. Today, it’s all about word-ofmouth. That is what is believed and trusted. Every business should have a word-of-mouth plan.” You can hire him to do your marketing, but Steve also loves to teach entrepreneurs how to promote on their own. He provides many different kinds of classes and training related to marketing. He and his team have a vast pool of knowledge and creativity. They work and teach from a place of fun, creativity, and dramatic growth. Their goal is to help create communications that will really resonate with your audience. One of their services, R Team Huddle, is a mastermind and accountability group that meets weekly to talk about

marketing and sales. They work on specific topics and discuss how to apply them to each specific business. Steve’s files contain five years’ worth of weekly topics. The point of Steve’s pieces of training is to teach people to really connect with their audience in a meaningful way. He can help teach you to present information in a way that causes people to take action. He loves to share products and services in fun creative ways. “It’s Steve’s passion to watch businesses grow and to help them succeed,” says Sarah Brock, one of the R Marketing Team members. They also love to share marketing advice on their Facebook page, so if you follow them, you can receive daily tips. The R Marketing Team focuses on using proven strategies to create growth. They will help you, support you, and fight for your business growth. Their team is created of entrepreneurs who have already proven themselves in the marketplace. Here are some key areas they can help with: positioning and market strength finding, audience profiling and targeting, word-of-mouth or influencer-focused marketing options, social media, event planning, marketing funding and grants, direct mail, email, shared mail, calendaring, and implementation. Get in touch with Steve today!

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earing Improvement Center, located on the south side of 12th Street, between Washington Blvd. and Monroe, has been a staple of the Ogden community for nearly 30 years. This family business was originally established by Ross Western in 1987. After years of providing superior service to the people of Ogden, the fish in northern Utah began calling to Ross, and he retired in October of 2011. It was at this time the ownership of the company was passed to his son, Jesse Western, who had been working alongside his father since 1993, first as a technician, and then as a licensed professional. Jesse now operates the business along with his sister, Jenalee Dalebout. The siblings work closely together to maintain their father’s legacy of superior customer care. Hearing Improvement Center’s services are not limited to established patients. They can service, repair, and make adjustments to most hearing aid brands at far below the cost of having the aid sent back to the manufacturer. PAID ADVERTISEMENT

there isn’t time to send their hearing aids to the manufacturer to repair. After coming to us, and experiencing our service, they become our customers for life,” Western said. Most people would be surprised to learn how high-tech hearing aids have become. Models are now blue tooth capable, as well as TV adapters. Most hearing aid manufacturers now offer loss and damage warranties on their products. Western and Dalebout realize that, with all the new options available, you may not know what would work best for your lifestyle; this is why Hearing Improvement Center offers free trials. “We want to make sure that what you get is exactly what you want and need. If, after trying one type of hearing aid, you find that it’s not what you want, we are happy to fit you with another one to try. Often, it takes a few trials to find just the right one.” “We know the cost of hearing aids can be high, but our patients aren’t paying for just hearing aids. They are buying us. We clean and adjust the hearing aids as well as clean your ears at no cost for the life of the aid. You are buying our service.”

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Improvement Center, located on the south side of 12th Street between Washington Blvd. and Monroe, has been a staple of the Ogden community for nearly 30 years. This family business was originally established by Ross Western in 1987. After years of providing superior service to the people of Ogden, the fish in northern Utah began calling to Ross, and he retired in October of 2011. It was at this time the ownership of the company was passed to STREET, OGDEN his son, Jesse Western, who had been working alongside his father since 1993, first as a technician, and then as

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Tell your story thinkbig sites BY ANN PARK

ThinkBig Sites is a growing digital marketing agency intended to support the growth of other businesses by building outstanding websites and providing marketing strategy and support. The Ogden community supports a thriving group of entrepreneurs and exciting small businesses. We are surrounded by creative minds working hard to come up with great new ideas and products. Many of these businesses need support in website design and digital marketing. Lawrence Trujillo of ThinkBig Sites expanded his business because of his passion for marketing and mentoring other businesses. Many business owners need help with web design, ecommerce, SEO, or online marketing. The talented team at ThinkBig Sites can design and build an outstanding website. Once the site is completed, they can help you develop your plan for improved traffic to it. If you don’t happen to be a marketing expert, you might need some help making your great idea available to everyone. They are experienced with strategy, branding, marketing, and setting up products for sale online. How is your business doing now? How would it be doing if your website was more functional? How could your product sales improve if you had assistance to gain exposure with the correct target market? Does your branding need a little touch-up to look sharp and more current? ThinkBig Sites is a great place to start for brainstorming and input if you need some help. Working with the team at ThinkBig Sites, one business improved their Amazon listings and went from $15,000 in

monthly sales to $60,000 in monthly sales in less than two months. Another company expanded from $20,000 to over $80,000 in monthly sales within a year’s time. These improvements "If you don't are achieved happen to be with careful a marketing evaluation and implementation expert, you of design and might need product changes.

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Their experienced team understands the mysteries of ecommerce. They use marketing practices and e-commerce improvements to improve the data for your products. Preparing a product for online sales requires much time and effort. The ThinkBig Sites team does the extra work to update images and product descriptions for improved searchability. Lawrence explains, “We want our content to be clear, concise, and consistent.” The goal is to gain exposure for your product so your business can grow. ThinkBig Sites can help reduce the challenges business owners face with the increased complexity of digital marketing. The ultimate goal for ThinkBig Sites is to form long-term partnerships and to grow with the businesses in our community.

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