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Division of Air Quality Incentive Program: Charge Your Yard

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Division of Air Quality (DAQ), in partnership with SLC, is launching a new exchange program today for lawn care businesses to replace their gas powered leaf blowers and string trimmers with electric. Each lawn care business may receive between $500 and $3,000 to be used toward an online purchase of electric equipment; that value is dependent on the number of gas powered units recycled ($500/unit). Below you will find details of this new incentive program.

Charge Your Yard application period: April 6 – 24

Rank and selection week: April 24 – 28

  • See chargeyouryard.utah.gov for priority and eligibility criteria

  • A minimum of 375 lawn care businesses will be invited to participate

Selected lawn care businesses will be notified during the week of April 24th with an invitation to participate. They have 48 hours to accept the invitation by submitting an RSVP form; spots not claimed after 48 hours will be given to the next business in line. No invitations will be sent beyond Friday, April 28.

Only gas leaf blowers and string trimmers can be recycled for credit; recycling any other equipment will not yield credit

  • Recycling must be completed by May 21, 2023

  • Recycling gas powered leaf blowers and string trimmers will yield $500 credit per unit recycled. Lawn care businesses may recycle multiple units and combine credits up to a maximum of $3,000 per business. More than 6 units recycled will only result in $3,000 credit

  • Credit will be given in the form of a coupon code to be used toward an online purchase of electric leaf blowers and string trimmers at the retailer of their choice

  • Recycling must take place at one of 12 eligibility recyclers, mapped on chargeyouryard.utah.gov
    • Wilkinson Supply is an eligible retailer that is also operating as an eligible recycler for this program

  • Only electric leaf blowers, string trimmers, and associated batteries and chargers are eligible for this program

  • Purchases must be made from one of 7 eligible retailers
    • Ace, Home Depot, Lowe’s, Redback, Cutler’s, Al’s the Chainsaw King, or Wilkinson Supply

    • A coupon code to one of these retailers will be provided to the participant by DAQ

    • The last day to use the coupon code is May 31, 2023.

  • Only lawn care businesses that have an active business license and operate in one of the five ozone non-attainment counties may participate

  • Lawn mowers are not eligible for credit

You can help shape the future of high-speed internet in Weber County. Is your internet service slow, nonexistent or too expensive? Your input is needed! Here’s how you can help get all of Utah online:

  • Take the 60-second Utah Internet Speed Test at speedtest.utah.gov. Information gathered from the tests will impact where broadband expansion occurs. At least 3,618 more speed tests are needed in Weber County by Friday, April 28. The testis available in English and Spanish. If you don’t have internet, please share your input by calling (435) 264-8880.
  • Share your story by taking the High-Speed Internet Survey at allonline.utah.gov. The survey and website information is also available in Spanish.
  • Encourage your family, friends, neighbors and colleagues to take the speed test and survey. The more you help spread the word, the greater impact it will have on the future of high-speed internet in your community.

Connecting Utah, an initiative of the Utah Broadband Center, is helping to make high-speed internet available, accessible and affordable for every Utahn.

To learn more about Connecting Utah and other ways you can help, visit allonline.utah.gov. For questions, contact a Connecting Utah representative at (435) 264-8880 or connectingutah@utah.gov. Translated materials are available upon request.

There is also funding available now through the Affordable Connectivity Program to help those who qualify access high-speed internet. This program provides eligible households $30 off their monthly internet bill. Visit acp.utah.gov for more information.

OGDEN, Utah – Weber State University and Ogden City are making contemporary art exciting and accessible to the local community with new, video game-inspired sculptures and a video exhibition at the Dumke Arts Plaza.

The plaza will celebrate this new exhibition with a Season Kick-off on April 7 from 6-9 p.m. at 445 25th Street. The exhibition is curated by Weber State’s Mary Elizabeth Dee Shaw Gallery and features art from Utah artists.

An arts-focused community space, the Dumke Arts Plaza represents a special collaboration between WSU and Ogden City. The Shaw Gallery and a committee of Weber State faculty work to develop the plaza’s programming, taking into consideration artistic practices, technologies and ideas of contemporary artists.

“On behalf of Weber State University, and with the support of the Matthew S. Browning Center for Design, it’s been a pleasure for the Shaw Gallery to lead curatorial programming efforts at the Dumke Arts Plaza,” said Lydia Gravis, director of Art Exhibitions & Public Programs at the Shaw Gallery. “We’re pleased to continue a strong tradition of programming world-class art right here in Ogden.”

Created by Michael Whiting over the course of 15 years, the plaza’s newest free-standing exhibition “Level Up” features sculptures inspired by the pixelated art of retro video games. The sculptures are constructed using steel and automotive paint, and are placed throughout multiple levels of the plaza.

The plaza will also host “Cauldron,” a video exhibition curated by Tyrone Davies that includes 10 short works by eight video makers.

Gravis said the Shaw Gallery is excited to showcase the work of talented artists so close to home.

“As we continue to bring visibility to public art in Ogden, we invite the community to join us in celebrating the creative energy of this dynamic outdoor space,” she said.

Matt Choberka, director of Weber State’s Matthew S. Browning Center for Design, said it’s rewarding to be involved in a project that brings the university and community together.

“The city has been very ambitious in the establishment of the Nine Rails Creative District, recognizing that the arts not only enrich and educate, but are also major drivers of economic development and community revitalization,” he said. “The plaza is in the heart of Nine Rails, and so provides a focal point for creativity and community.”

Choberka said the curation committee is working on bringing a “very exciting range of art experiences to the plaza.”

“I’m looking forward to seeing how the plaza and Mike Whiting’s new pieces interact,” he said. “I think much of the public has yet to really see how much the plaza can offer and how much of a true public space it has become.”

The plaza also represents the continuing philanthropy of the Dr. Ezekiel R. and Edna Wattis Dumke Foundation, the main funder of the project. Since its founding, The Dumke Foundation has gifted over $40 million toward the betterment of communities in the Intermountain West.

“Weber State and Ogden City have benefited enormously from the vision and generosity of the Dumke family,” Choberka said.

The Foundation, Ogden City, RAMP, Weber State and Ogden Contemporary Arts, along with community stakeholders, collaborated closely to develop the vision for the Dumke Arts Plaza.

Friday’s kickoff event will feature performances by Tribal Love and Infusion Rock, and is part of Ogden’s monthly First Friday Art Stroll.

More information on the upcoming exhibit is available on the Shaw Gallery website and more on the Dumke Arts Plaza can be found on Ogden City’s website.

Jessica Kokesh

Social Media Editor

FORT HALL, IDAHO – The Shoshone-Bannock Casino Hotel is excited to announce that Dustin Lynch will perform live on stage at our outdoor concert venue on Saturday, July 8, 2023.

Dustin Lynch has “built one of the most consistent recording careers in modern country music” (Billboard), achieving eight #1s, four Top 5 albums, ten gold, and platinum-certified singles, and tallying over 4.04 billion global on-demand streams. Recently releasing slow burner “Wood On The Fire” and wrapping the expanded Party Mode Tour, Lynch’s fifth studio album, Blue in the Sky, features platinum, six-week #1 “Thinking ‘Bout You (feat. MacKenzie Porter),” Top 15 neon-buzzed single “Party Mode,” and “Fish In The Sea.” “Dustin Lynch’s new music will have you embracing the Party 24/7,” hails E! News, as the good time follow-up to Tullahoma – which delivered consecutive platinum chart-toppers: “Ridin’ Roads” and “Good Girl,” in addition to gold, Top 5 hit “Momma’s House.” Since his platinum “Cowboys and Angels” breakout in 2012, Lynch headlined packed venues and toured with Country’s biggest names like Luke Bryan, Florida Georgia Line, Brad Paisley, and Kane Brown this spring. Likewise, the Tennessee native has earned industry recognition as a Grand Ole Opry member and high-profile nominations for the American Music Awards, Billboard Music Awards, iHeartRadio Music Awards, and CMT Music Awards.

All Dustin Lynch concert tickets will go on sale Friday, March 31, at 10 a.m. All event tickets and information can be found at shobangaming.com.

About Shoshone-Bannock Casino Hotel
Shoshone-Bannock Casino Hotel is home to an 85 thousand-square-foot gaming operation, 156 hotel rooms, the largest ballroom in the region at 15 thousand square feet, full-service Cedar Spa, six food and beverage outlets, and High Stakes Bingo Hall.

The Shoshone-Bannock Tribes owns and operates three gaming properties, including the Shoshone-Bannock Casino Hotel, Sage Hill Casino and Travel Center, and Bannock Peak Casino and Truck Stop. The Economic Growth Plan continues to evolve for the health and benefit of the Tribal membership and the Eastern Idaho Region.

OGDEN, Utah – The community is invited to celebrate the Dumke Arts Plaza Season Kick-Off on Friday, April 7, from 6-9 p.m. The venue is located at 445 25th Street, on the corner of 25th Street and Ogden Avenue.

The event which is curated by Weber State University will serve as the plaza’s second exhibition launch, featuring selected work by renowned Utah artists Michael Whiting and Tyrone Davies. Performances by Tribalovedancer and music by Infusion Rock will showcase the versatility of programming in this space. Speakers will provide remarks at 6 p.m. Performances will immediately follow for the duration of the evening in conjunction with Ogden City’s First Friday Art Stroll.

The Dumke Arts Plaza serves as a venue to share world-class art exhibitions with the community in an outdoor civic space. Weber State University’s Mary Elizabeth Dee Shaw Gallery and the Department of Visual Art & Design proudly curate exhibitions at the Dumke Arts Plaza. A selection of work by renowned Utahn sculptor Michael Whiting and Utahn filmmaker Tyrone Davies will be displayed during the exhibition. The exhibition includes LEVEL UP by Whiting, and Davies’ curated video installation, CAULDRON.

LEVEL UP is a 15-year retrospective of Whiting’s distinctive style characterized by steel minimalist pixelated abstract sculptures inspired by early video games.

The highest level I’ve ever gotten on Ms. Pac-Man is level 12. It is the fourth maze and just a couple of mazes after the cutscene of a stork bringing a baby Pac-Man to Ms. Pac-Man and Pac-Man. Early video games were all about High Scores, and with each level, you went up and things got harder. You, the player, had to “level up” your playing ability to keep going. My work explores the visual connection between minimalism and early video games. The sculptures in the Plaza represent animals, figures, and objects as pixelated abstractions. I limit my image-making to the same constraints that governed early pixel-based technologies. I use a minimal number of squares to create an image. The works I create are constructed using steel and automotive paint- materials traditionally used to build the minimalist sculpture. The pixelated sculptures have been placed in the Plaza on multiple levels. They are the digital made physical. And the viewer can move up and down the levels to interact with them – more like Donkey Kong, but without a giant gorilla throwing barrels at you… I like seeing them together. It feels like leveling up. – Michael Whiting.

Davies’ film curation CAULDRON is an amalgamation of various video styles by an array of U.S. and international artists. Davies states:

This collection is an international mix… that includes ten short works by eight video makers: Tony Gault (Denver, CO), Elizabeth Henry (Denver, CO), Van McElwee (St. Louis, MO), Tim Sullivan (San Francisco, CA), Rosa Menkman (The Netherlands), Carlos Castro (Bogota, Columbia), Ryan Wylie (San Francisco, CA), and Timothy David Orme (Marina, CA). From art jokes to deep transcendental projects, each maker offers something very different. The best way to appreciate this program is to stand (or sit) still, watch, and listen.

For more information about the Whiting and Davies exhibitions presented by Weber State University, please visit https://weber.edu/shawgallery.html. These exhibitions will be on view to the public from April 7, 2023, through August 4, 2023. The exhibitions are presented in partnership with Ogden city and is made possible by the generous support of the Dr. Ezekiel R. and Edna Wattis Dumke Foundation, the Matthew S. Browning Center for Design, and the Telitha E. Lindquist College of Arts & Humanities.

The Dumke Arts Plaza is an arts-focused community space, a dynamic outdoor gallery, and an intimate performance venue. It was designed to inspire creativity, elevate diverse perspectives, and anchor Ogden as a hub for contemporary art featuring major art installations, as well as community-led arts programming ranging from small concerts, to dance performances, to video art. The evening’s presentation of dance company Tribalovedancer and Latin Rock band Infusion Rock will showcase this versatility and serve as creative fodder for future community-led programming.

For more information about the Dumke Arts Plaza, please visit ogdencity.com/DumkeArtsPlaza. Ogden City encourages community members and organizations interested in hosting arts programming and events at the Dumke Arts Plaza to attend this event and/or visit the website for more information.

Haynie & Company is proud to announce that we have been recognized by Accounting Today as a Top 100 Firm for the second consecutive year. This year we are ranked 84 in the nation, from 93, and the second-largest CPA firm in the Mountain Region. There are over 46,000 public accounting firms in the United States, ranging in size from small local accounting practices to large international CPA firms. Joining the Top 100 makes us part of an exclusive group.

Exceeding Expectations
Being named Top 100 for the second consecutive year will continue to be a goal for Haynie & Company for the years to come. There are several key reasons growth is a primary goal for our firm. Growth allows us to offer extended services for our clients. It also allows us to retain and attract top talent, tools, and resources. We are here to exceed expectations for our clients. Offering diverse services and an exceptional staff allows us to do that.

Firm Highlights
Haynie & Company has experienced a significant increase in revenue growth of nearly 23%, which can be attributed to its focus on a new management structure toward “a one-firm-feel driven by line of business.” Haynie & Company has expanded its services by introducing new services such as R&D, fund accounting, and wealth management. We’re excited to stay on this trajectory by bringing in talented firms and team members who fit our unique culture.

Haynie Culture
Growing a firm is only as effective as the team members who make it happen. Our focus on employee retention translates into long-term, satisfied customers. We’ve found that focusing on relationships and showing people we care is a surefire way to run a happy and successful business. We value and appreciate each client and employee in the Haynie & Company family. Thank you to everyone who helped move Haynie & Company forward in 2023!

Learn more about Haynie & Company at www.haynieCPAs.com.

Julianne Gale

Marketing Coordinator

OGDEN, Utah – Among the thousands of seniors finishing their last semester at Weber State University this spring, another kind of senior is relaunching her educational journey – and gaining millions of followers in the process.

Sharon Barber, 79, is earning an associate’s degree at Weber State after taking a 40-year break to work and raise a family. She has five children, 16 grandchildren and recently welcomed her ninth great-grandchild.

“I’m a nontraditional student in every sense of the word,” Barber said. “When I first started classes, I was kind of an anomaly. I got a few strange looks. But I decided I’m going to go in there like any other student, with a positive attitude. Now I’m feeling like I’m in my element.”

Although she had some college experience, Barber spent four decades doing everything from sales to substitute teaching to starting her own publishing company. In the back of her mind, she always wanted to finish what she started.

She now plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in creative writing at Weber State after finishing her associate’s degree.

Barber calls herself a writer at heart, having written hundreds of poems and the beginnings of several books. She wanted “more guidance, more expertise, more instruction” from professors and chose Weber State because it was already in the family. Two of her sons graduated from WSU.

“When you haven’t been to school for 40 years, everything is hard,” she said. “But I have just met the most amazing, kind, considerate, helpful students that have helped me on this journey.”

At first, Barber wondered what fellow students would think of her, not only because of her age, but because she has spasmodic dysphonia, which causes her voice to shake. To face that fear, she took a public speaking class.

“I thought, if I nip this in the bud, I’ll be able to do anything,” she said. “I met many friends in that class, and I got an A.”

Since then, Barber has become beloved in her classes, offering hugs and high fives to much younger classmates.

College isn’t the only realm where Barber is a bit older than her peers; she’s also gained more than 2.3 million followers on TikTok, where fans know her as “grandmagreat.”

Barber became interested in the social media platform in 2020 when her daughter and granddaughter recorded a TikTok video in her backyard.

“My daughter said, ‘Mom, you would be so good at TikTok. You love people, you’re funny, you’re spontaneous, you’re likeable, people love you. Why don’t we do a TikTok?’ And I said OK, and I created my platform.”

Since her first video, Barber has used TikTok to share encouraging messages and snippets of campus life as a “senior” at Weber State. She also hosts a cooking segment called “Simply Delicious,” where she livestreams from her kitchen.

With some videos racking up over 12 million views, Barber said she’s grateful to serve as a grandmother figure to what she calls her “TikTok grandchildren.”

She receives thousand of comments and messages each week and does her best to respond to all of them.

“There are so many people looking for someone to care, to reach out, to tell them they’re enough, to tell them that they can do hard things,” she said. “I don’t have any degree in psychology or sociology, but I have at least 50 years of good experience in dealing with life. And all I can offer is just what I know, what I feel.”

Barber is best known for her motto, “I can do hard things” – a message she’s proud to share with those who are struggling to believe in themselves. She ends most of her videos looking directly into the camera and saying, “I love you.”

“Love is an energy that you can put out there in the universe,” Barber said. “I believe that social media is a means of doing that. And I hope that ‘I love you’ resonates with whoever’s needing that.”

As for the future, Barber expects to earn her bachelor’s degree at age 84 and would also like to ring in her 80s by skydiving.

“I’m always looking for more challenges,” she said.


Bryan Magaña

Public Relations Director, bryanmagana@weber.edu

OGDEN, Utah – Weber State University will host its 14th annual Intermountain Sustainability Summit at the Ogden campus March 23–24.

This year’s theme, “Connect & Amplify Impact,” aims to highlight the importance of working together as businesses, non-profits, higher education and government sectors collaborate to solve climate challenges.

“The heart of the summit is inviting people to come together and find where we can support healthy thriving communities, economies and ecosystems,” said Bonnie Christiansen, Sustainability Practices and Research Center manager. “The energetic dynamic partnerships that come out of the summit have kept it going for the last 13 years.”

On March 23, the symposium will feature breakout sessions on topics ranging from global climate change to the Inflation Reduction Act. It will also feature two keynote speakers: Nalini Nadkarni, forest ecologist and creator of the Initiative to bring Science Programs to the Incarcerated, and Larry Confino, an independent documentary producer and director.

On March 24, participants can also attend two extra workshops. The first covers securing financing for energy projects and the second covers building electrification and energy savings.

Registration is required for the summit’s workshops and breakout sessions. For a full schedule of events, pricing and registration information, visit the Intermountain Sustainability Summit webpage.

The summit is Utah’s largest sustainability conference and has been held in Ogden since 2010. It has attracted hundreds of sustainability professionals and emerging leaders from business, government, nonprofit and academic sectors.

“The summit is unique because it creates a space where people are learning, building relationships and creating collaborative efforts,” Christiansen said.

Bryan Magaña

Public Relations Director, bryanmagana@weber.edu

Wildcat MicroFund expands with $1.2 million gift from America First Credit Union


OGDEN, Utah – Weber State University’s Wildcat MicroFund has received a $1.2 million gift from America First Credit Union to expand its services throughout Utah.

The Wildcat MicroFund focuses on serving socially and economically disadvantaged communities throughout northern Utah, offering cash grants of up to $3,000 and additional networking opportunities to Weber State students and area entrepreneurs.

The $1.2 million gift will allow the fund to expand its services to Utah communities beyond Weber, Davis, Morgan and Box Elder counties.

“We serve the next generation of entrepreneurs by giving them a platform to test their ideas in a real-world setting and bring brand awareness to their local communities,” said Catherine Holbrook Clark, manager of the Wildcat MicroFund. “The opportunities that this funding provides not only make a profound impact on the entrepreneurs themselves, but on their families and the community as well.”

Since 2018, the microfund has awarded over 300 grants to businesses in a variety of industries, including construction, education, outdoor recreation and tourism.

Ogden resident Tania Rodriguez is a recent recipient of a microfund grant. Rodriguez operates Los Churros del Norte, a traveling food stand that serves up churros, buñuelos and other Mexican food. SHe worked several different jobs before she decided to pursue her true passion – cooking. Learn more about her in the video below.

“My churros are made from scratch, by hand, and they taste just like a small piece of my beautiful country of Mexico,” she said. “Making churros gives me the opportunity to share something special.”

When the truck that transports her churro cart broke down, Rodriguez couldn’t afford to fix or replace it. A friend told her to apply to the microfund, and she received enough money to buy a new truck to keep working at local events.

America First Credit Union “could not be happier to partner with the Wildcat MicroFund,” said Tammy Gallegos, AFCU’s chief strategic engagement officer.

“The Wildcat MicroFund is an incredible opportunity for entrepreneurs to launch, build and grow their venture,” she said. “We’re thrilled that through this program we get to be part of the journey for individuals furthering innovation here in Utah.”

“The most fulfilling part of being a small business owner is that I’m a step closer to making my American dream a reality,” she said.



For more information, visit the Wildcat MicroFund website.

Bryan Magaña

Publice Relations Director, bryanmagana@weber.edu

Fiber Optic Network Coming to North Ogden All West Communications Expansion Welcomed by Mayor Berube


NORTH OGDEN, UTAH | February 22, 2023 – All West Communications today announced plans to expand its multi-gig fiber optic internet, streaming TV service, and digital phone solutions to the residents of North Ogden, Utah. The expansion will include more than 113 miles of fiber and duct and will provide services to over 7750 homes and businesses in North Ogden. All West Communications is constructing their network through private funding at no cost to North Ogden City.

All West President, Matthew Weller commented, “We are pleased to bring new fiber infrastructure to North Ogden. All West has a mission to deliver uninterrupted, accessible, and affordable 100% Fiber Optic Internet service that both handles today’s internet needs and anticipates tomorrows.” This new expansion highlights the company’s rapid regional development and growth plans for the future.

North Ogden City Mayor, S. Neal Berube stated, “We are thrilled to coordinate with All West Communications as they build a fiber network within the city. Having high speed internet available at each home and business will improve the quality of life for residents and benefit businesses. North Ogden wholeheartedly supports this project and appreciates All West’s commitment to our community.” All West Communication’s fiber internet enables symmetrical speeds that are essential for today’s applications. These include video conferencing, telemedicine, cloud computing, and multiplayer gaming. All West fiber is built for the future, using the best technology available – with speed tiers of up to 8 Gbps for residential and 10 Gbps for businesses.

All West also participates in the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), an FCC program that reduces the monthly cost of internet service for qualified households. To learn more about ACP, please visit www.affordableconnectivity.gov (Home – ACP – Universal Service Administrative Company).

All West will fully fund the $16M project, and engineering work has already begun. Construction will start in March 2023.

For more information on All West Communications’ fiber expansion and timeline, visit their website at https://info.allwest.com/north-ogden or call (833) 690-1296.

Emma Stitzer

Marketing Coordinator, emma.stitzer@allwest.com

Ogden-Weber Chamber of Commerce

(801) 621-8300
2380 Washington Blvd.
Suite 290
Ogden, UT 84401
Monday - Friday 8 AM - 4 PM
Because employees are often at off-site meetings and events, it is recommended that you verify the office is open prior to your visit.

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