Tag Archives: utah

SLC, pick your fee!

Did you know? Salt Lake City residents can choose their monthly garbage fee, depending on the size of their curbside bin.

There are three options available:

$21.00 a month for 90 gallon
$17.75 a month for 60 gallon
$13.50 a month for 40 gallon

If you are on the fence about downsizing, consider maximizing your curbside recycling and compost (yard waste) bins. The more waste you divert from your garbage bin, the more money you’ll save with a smaller bin & monthly fee!

Learn more at SLCgreen.com. Or check out our “cheat sheets” below.

Local Businesses to Host Mayor Becker for Four ‘Meet Up with the Mayor’ Visits on Saturday

Mayor Ralph Becker invites residents to join him on Saturday, Oct. 4 for a visit and chat at any of the four great local businesses he’ll be visiting for his “Meet Up with the Mayor” stops.

Ralph wants to hear from residents about anything that’s on their minds and will be joined by Community Council leaders from the different neighborhoods he’s visiting. Have a question about a current City project? Want to bend Ralph’s ear on a concern? Or talk Ute football.

Mayor Becker will be hosted by a great sample of beloved Salt Lake City businesses including Bruges Waffles & Fries in Sugar House, Harmon’s Emigration Market in Yalecrest, Hatch Family Chocolates in the Avenues and Publik Coffee Roasters in the Ball Park District.

Stop by one of these great locations Saturday and “Meet Up with the Mayor”:

Bruges Waffles & Frites
2314 S. Highland Drive
10-11 a.m.

Harmon’s Emigration Market
1706 E. 1300 South
Noon-1 p.m.

Hatch Family Chocolates
376 8^th Ave.
2-3 p.m.

Publik Coffee Roasters
976 S. West Temple
4-5 p.m.

Other great ways to stay in touch with Mayor Becker include connecting via social media, calling or dropping him an email. Here’s where to find Ralph:

Phone: 801-535-7704

Email: mayor@slcgov.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mayor-Ralph-Becker/67917736349

Twitter: https://twitter.com/slcmayorsoffice

Instagram: http://instagram.com/slcmayorsoffice

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/slcmayorsoffice

Register for the USGBC-Utah 2014 Sustainability Summit

Sustainable Building Summit: An Atmosphere of Change
Friday, October 3
The Leonardo (209 E 500 S)

This year’s Sustainability Summit includes world class keynote speakers who will be joined by local and national presenters. Speakers will share the best of today’s transformational sustainability, along with innovation and disruption for the future.

Keynote speakers are Elizabeth Craig, US EPA Director of Climate Protection Partnerships, and Mitch Joachim, architect and visionary. They will be joined by a bevy of innovative national and local sustainability speakers, including Salt Lake City Green’s own Tyler Poulson.

USGBC-Utah is extremely honored to be able to present Mayor Becker with the 2014 Craig Forster Lifetime Achievement Award for Sustainability.

Over 30 years ago, Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker was taken by the same allure that brought many residents to Utah’s Capital City, drawn by the area’s unique mix of geo-graphic beauty, metropolitan energy and year-round recreational opportunities.

Ralph earned two graduate degrees at his new home’s University of Utah – a Master’s in Planning and a JD – after completing undergraduate work at the University of Pennsylvania in 1973. He served as the Utah State Planning Coordinator under Governor Scott Matheson and then went on to launch his own Salt Lake City-based consulting firm, Bear West, specializing in community planning, environmental assessment, public lands use and public involvement before acting on his long-held desire to serve the public.

Elected to the Utah State Legislature in 1996, Ralph was a member of the House of Representatives for 11 years and battled for the issues most important to his Avenues constituents. He served in legislative leadership positions for most of that tenure, including five years as House Minority Leader.

In 2008, Ralph brought this considerable body of education, experience and engagement with local issues to his new office of Mayor of Salt Lake City.

In his first term, Mayor Becker has greatly expanded transportation options for the City’s residents and visitors, with a special focus on public transit, trails and bikeways. He also championed the state’s first municipal protections in the areas of employment and housing for the City’s LGBT community – an effort that has since been replicated by Salt Lake County and over a dozen local governments throughout Utah. Under Mayor Becker’s leadership, City government has become much more transparent, and new opportunities have been created for residents to engage and participate in the decision making process.

Mayor Becker is a leader who has made, and will continue to make, collaboration and partnerships an essential element in his efforts to see Salt Lake City as an even more vibrant, livable and sustainable community for its current residents and into the future.

Ralph is an avid outdoorsman who, when he is away from work, can be found backcountry skiing, river running or backpacking. He is also the proud father of two sons and a 19-year-old granddaughter.

I know there are many people who will want to see the Mayor receive his award, and they will also be eager to hear him give his lunchtime presentation on
his lifetime commitment to the natural environment, community sustainability and his service on President Obama’s State, Local and Tribal Task Force on Climate Change and Resiliency.

Register for the 2014 Sustainability Summit
Friday, October 3
The Leonardo (209 E 500 S)

Agenda

This Evening: The Future of our Wasatch Canyons

You’re invited to explore proposed development plans for the Wasatch Canyons at a special event this evening. Learn about the Mountain Accord and the future of our canyons for recreation, transportation, economy and environment.

Panelists include Laura Briefer, Water Resources Manager for Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities, Natalie Gochnour, Associate Dean, David Eccles School of Business, University of Utah, Will McCarvill, President, Wasatch Mountain Club, Jon Nepstad, Principal, Fehr & Peers, Transportation Lead for Mountain Accord and David Whittekiend, Forest Supervisor for the Uinta-Cache-Wasatch National Forest.

Mountain Accord Discussion
Thursday, September 18
6:30-8:30 p.m.
Tessman Auditorium, Main Library (210 E 400 S)

The evening is hosted by The League of Women Voters of Salt Lake.

You’re invited: Growing Cities Film Screening

Salt Lake City Green, in partnership with The Green Urban Lunch Box, will be hosting a film screening of Growing Cities in celebration of Food Day.

Growing Cities, a film about urban farming in America, examines the role of urban farming in our culture and its power to revitalize our cities and change the way we eat. Learn more at GrowingCitiesMovie.com.

The Green Urban Lunch Box will have their mobile greenhouse on site! Come tour this converted 35-foot school bus before the screening. Trust us, it’s not-to-be-missed!

Food Day is a nationwide celebration and a movement for healthy, affordable, and sustainable food. Learn more at FoodDay.org.

Growing Cities Film Screening, a Food Day event
Wednesday, October 22
Brewvies Cinema Pub (677 S 200 W)
Doors open at 6 p.m. Seating is limited.

There is a $5 suggested donation. All additional proceeds will go to The Green Urban Lunch Box to help support the SLC FruitShare program.

Watch the film trailer

[vimeo http://vimeo.com/42288661]

Utah Clean Air Fair this Saturday, Sept 20

The Utah Clean Air Fair (UCAF) is an opportunity to amplify community engagement and empowerment on clean air issues in a fun and educational atmosphere for the whole family.

Last year’s Clean Air Fair brought out 1,000 enthusiastic Utahns. And with winter right around the corner, this is the perfect opportunity to discover what you can do to improve our local air quality.

There will be local vendors, information booths, and live music. SLCgreen will be there, so stop by to say “hello!” and explore what we’re doing to reduce our impact.

Bring your family and friends, take part in your community, leave inspired and ready for a breath of fresh air!

Where:
Library Square
200 E. 400 S.

When:
Saturday, September 20
Noon – 5 p.m.

Cost:
Free!

People’s Climate March in Salt Lake City

[vimeo http://vimeo.com/104429713]

This Sunday, Utahns will gather at the City & County Building to show their support for local and global action on climate change. The event kicks off at noon.

The rally is part of a larger movement to spur meaningful action on climate change. The People’s Climate March will take place in New York City as world leaders gather for a historic summit on climate change. Their call to action is simple:

Together, we’ll take to the streets to demand the world we know is within our reach: a world with an economy that works for people and the planet. A world safe from the ravages of climate change. A world with good jobs, clean air, and healthy communities for everyone.

People’s Climate March: Salt Lake City
Sunday, September 21, 2014
12:00 p.m. to 2 p.m.
City & County Building (451 S. State Street)

More information is available at http://peoplesclimatemarch.org.

Volunteer to Plant Trees in Alta

Photo Credit: Lemon Jenny via Flickr.

Looking for an excuse to spend the morning in the mountains? Volunteer to help plant trees in Alta with Tree Utah!

Trees are vital not only to the beauty of the mountains, but to the health of our watersheds and the operation of resorts like Alta Ski Area.

Tree Utah invites you to discover a whole new side of Alta Ski Area by joining them to plant 2,000 trees on September 6th, 2014! Both rugged and rewarding; it will be a fun day to enjoy and give back to the beautiful Little Cottonwood Canyon.

When: Saturday, September 6th, 2014 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Registration is REQUIRED, so please reserve your spot!
Where: Albion Grill, Alta Ski Area

A light breakfast will be provided including donations of coffee and tea from Starbucks and bagels from Einstein Bagel. The Albion Grill will be offering 25% off food for volunteers to enjoy lunch after planting.

100 volunteers are needed, ages 14+, and online registration is required because as they need to know the hiking abilities of the volunteers. Some groups will ride lifts and some will hike to plant, but all will be in rocky mountain terrain.

What to Bring:

Sturdy close toed hiking shoes or boots
Clothing appropriate for conditions (long pants and quick dry materials that can get dirty and take wear and tear are suggested)
A backpack to carry your refillable water bottle, snacks or other needed items
Gloves if you prefer to have your own

RSVP and invite your friends on Facebook!

Challenge Yourself to Eat Local!

Get ready to eat local! Eat Local Week returns to Utah on September 6 and runs through September 13.

Eat Local Week celebrates the regional harvest, promotes local agriculture and the preservation of Utah’s agricultural heritage, and bringing people together.

Take the Pledge

The Challenge is simple — eat as local as you can! There are three levels to choose from:

Hardcore: This level will be a challenge-eating only food grown, produced or caught within 250 miles from where you live. This means cutting out some vices that might seem difficult to most. You may have to leave behind your coffee, chocolate, olive oil, booze and fine French cheeses, and you will have to do a little more label reading and research. But finding a deeper connection with your local food resources will make it all worth the effort.

Easy-Does-It: This challenge suggests selecting three vices – maybe coffee, chocolate, and olive oil (or French cheese, Spanish cheese and Vermont cheese), whatever it is you feel you can’t live without, but isn’t produced locally. We also suggest giving yourself a break at this level. We suggest three not-totally-local meal allowances in the week. Maybe you are out with friends or have a business lunch that you can’t skip, allow yourself a little more leniency so you can remain successful.

DIY: For newbies we suggest trying to eat one entirely local meal a day, or consider trying to use one or more local ingredient in every meal you eat for the week. Find something you eat a lot, maybe milk or tomatoes or a grain like wheat and replace your usual brand with a locally made product. Even small changes in your habits can have a huge impact on the producer, environment, economy, flavor, nutrients and you.

Take the pledge now!

Update us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter using the #eatlocalutah hashtag.

Find an Event

There are a lot of great events taking place during Eat Local Week. Here are a few highlights:

Taste Local Utah – Utah State Fair: Join Utah’s Own in celebration of more than 30 locally grown, processed and manufactured products, Sept. 4, noon to 8 p.m., in the Specialty Events Tent at the Utah State Fair.
21st Annual Tomato Sandwich Party: Help us kick-off Eat Local Week, and start you Eat Local Challenge off right at the Tomato Sandwich Party. Enjoy an afternoon at the Grateful Tomato Garden with friends and neighbors and sample our amazing heirloom tomato harvest. We will be serving unique varieties of heirloom tomatoes grown in our Youth Gardens, with pesto made from our homegrown basil, and fresh locally made bread. There will also be live music and fun activities for kids, so bring the whole family. Sept. 6, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Eating Alabama @ Brewvies: In search of a simpler life, a young couple returns home to Alabama where they set out to eat the way their grandparents did – locally and seasonally. But as they navigate the agro-industrial gastronomical complex, they soon realize that nearly everything about the food system has changed since farmers once populated their family histories. A thoughtful and often funny essay on community, the South and sustainability. Sept. 8, 7 p.m.
Quickle (Quick Pickle) at the Tuesday Harvest Market. Come make a quick batch of pickles that will taste like summer in a jar! Refrigerator pickles are a fast and easy way to preserve some of the abundant harvest to enjoy in the weeks ahead. We’ll help you make your creation at our booth after you’ve chosen your ingredients from the market. Jars and supplies provided.

Explore all events during Eat Local Week.

Data Competition Tackles Air Quality in Utah

Utah Geek Events, the Big Data User groups and many other groups have joined forces to learn more about the air quality in Utah. For the past two months, technologists, scientists, air quality experts, and experts from related fields have been gathering information and data with correlations to Utah’s air.

Air quality is a complex problem that influences many aspects of our lives, including our health, economy and quality of life. Part of that complexity is understanding the entire puzzle of our air — why is it bad and how does it really affect our lives?

Get involved!

Now that we have the information to start gaining answers, we need the questions. Teams will be breaking off to compete to create amazing results with the latest technologies in Big Data, but we need your help.

We are looking for ideas of what to look for from the public. We are open to all ideas and suggestions regardless of how far-fetched or mundane they may seem. Feel free to share this survey with others.

Take the survey.

The more questions we have, the more we can start to understand our air and help create a brighter future for Utah.

Learn more at BigDataUtah.org.

RSVP and invite your friends on Facebook!

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