Grand Opening Planned for Dumke Arts Plaza in Ogden
Construction is near completion on the Dr. Ezekiel R. and Edna Wattis Dumke Arts Plaza, located in Ogden, Utah. The Dumke Arts Plaza will be an arts-focused community space, a dynamic outdoor gallery, and an intimate performance venue. The plaza is designed to inspire creativity, elevate diverse perspectives, and anchor Ogden as a hub for contemporary art. The plaza will feature major art installations as well as community-led arts programming ranging from small concerts, to dance performances, to video art. It will be a space to engage with art in all its forms, but also a place for everyday gatherings — sharing lunch with a friend or enjoying a family visit.
The community is invited to celebrate the grand opening of the Dumke Arts Plaza on Friday, Dec. 3 from 6-9 p.m. at 445 25th Street, at the corner of 25th Street and Ogden Avenue. The event will serve as the premiere of the plaza’s inaugural exhibition, a selection of work by internationally renowned American sculptor Chakaia Booker, curated by Weber State University. Also on display will be the Beacon, a permanent sculptural piece that extends from the plaza over 25th Street. Invited speakers will make brief remarks at 6:15 pm and performances will take place throughout the evening. All are encouraged to attend and celebrate the Dumke Arts Plaza as a new arts-focused space for the community.
A unique collaboration among project partners and community members has shaped the Dumke Arts Plaza. The Dr. Ezekiel R. and Edna Wattis Dumke Foundation is the lead funder for the project. The Foundation’s gift of more than $2.2 million to support the Dumke Arts Plaza is intended to honor the legacy of its founders and their commitment to Ogden. Ogden City and Weber County RAMP also contributed major funding to the project. The Foundation, Ogden City, RAMP, Weber State University, and Ogden Contemporary Arts, along with community stakeholders, collaborated closely to develop the vision for the Dumke Arts Plaza. The plaza design was led by renowned firm, Sasaki Associates, working with Ogden-based firms IO LandArch and Union Creative Agency. Hogan Construction is now building the plaza.
The Dumke Arts Plaza represents the transformation of a blighted motel property into an innovative civic space that will bring the community together around art in Ogden’s dynamic Nine Rails Creative District. The plaza’s design, inspired by the region’s dynamic landscape, has the flexibility to support many types of art, from large-scale installations to small performances, and includes an LED screen for displaying film and video art. An elevated platform known as the plinth provides more space for arts programming, as well as a new perspective on the plaza and its surroundings. The Dumke Arts Plaza is a welcoming public space, with interactive play elements, unique lighting, benches, and waterwise landscaping. A major feature of the Dumke Arts Plaza is the Beacon, a new sculpture that extends over 25th Street, inviting visitors to explore the plaza.
The Dumke Arts Plaza creates an exciting opportunity 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 are proud to curate the inaugural exhibition at the Dumke Arts Plaza, featuring a selection of work by the internationally renowned American sculptor Chakaia Booker. The exhibition includes three major recent pieces by Booker. Booker’s distinctive approach to form and materiality, utilizing repurposed automotive tire rubber to construct complex and monumental abstract objects, speaks eloquently to themes of transformation, reimagining, and recontextualization. As such, her work is a uniquely fitting focal point for the public’s first opportunity to experience world-class public art at the Dumke Arts Plaza, itself a major initiative in the revitalization and reclamation of civic space for Ogden, the state, and the region.
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 visit the website for more information.
For more information about the Chakaia Booker exhibition presented by Weber State University, please visit https://weber.edu/shawgallery/upcoming.html. The exhibition will be on view to the public from Dec. 3, 2021, through May 15, 2022. The exhibition is presented in partnership with Ogden City and Ogden Contemporary Arts 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.
November 17, 2021
Petersen Inc. awarded Global Supplier by Bechtel
Bechtel awards Petersen Inc. 2020-2021 Supply Chain Excellence for their contributions to the Hanford Vit Plant project
Ogden, Utah – November 17, 2021 – Petersen Inc. announced today that Bechtel has recognized them with a Global Supplier Award for 2020-2021. Companies were evaluated on multiple factors including overall performance, ability to deliver quality services, and meeting or exceeding expectations of safety, performance, technical expertise, and environmental compliance.
“This is a tremendous recognition by Bechtel, and we are humbled and grateful to be acknowledged as a key supplier,” stated Rob Despain, VP Business Development for Petersen Inc. “We have a 20+ year partnership with Bechtel and look forward to continually strengthening that relationship and future opportunities in the years to come,” added Despain.
Petersen Inc. of Ogden, Utah and Pocatello, Idaho built two 300-ton melters to be used at the Department of Energy’s Hanford Vit Plant (Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant). The melters will safely process a portion of the 56 million gallons of radioactive and chemical waste generated during the Manhattan Project and Cold War. The process involves mixing silica and other glass-forming materials, heating to 2,100 degrees Fahrenheit, then pouring into stainless steel containers for disposal.
Designing and manufacturing the two melters included 1,200 engineering drawings and took nearly three years to fabricate, with a third melter in fabrication as a spare. Petersen Inc. is also currently manufacturing the stainless-steel containers used to dispose of the waste.
“The partnerships we have with our subcontractors and suppliers are fundamental in delivering projects to our customers,” said Tarek Amine, Bechtel’s Manager of Procurement & Contracts. “Collaboration with subcontractors and suppliers enhances our ability to align to our customers’ goals, achieve their objectives, and deliver a lasting positive impact in the communities where we live and work.”
November 11, 2021
The Biden Administration’s vaccine mandate became public under an Emergency Temporary Standard OSHA regulation on Friday, November 5, 2021. As a result, businesses must be in full compliance with the rule by January 4, 2022. However, as was expected, within 24 hours of the public filing, a federal appeals court issued a stay on the regulation citing ‘grave statutory and constitutional issues with the Mandate.’
Employers have compliance requirements within 30 days of rule publication and testing requirements within 60 days of publication marking the January 4 final deadline unless a court ruling overturns the regulation.
The COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) issued by OSHA sets in motion these requirements for companies with over 100 employees. The rule requires businesses to set up an assessment process to determine who is vaccinated and who is not, set guidelines on receiving proof of vaccination, and establish a record-keeping system containing this information. Important dates and information to consider include:
- By December 5, 2021 (30 days from publication), workplace assessment must be completed, and unvaccinated employees are required to wear masks until vaccinated.
- By January 4, 2022 (60 days from publication), vaccinations must be completed for employees. Booster shots are not required.
- Companies must provide 4 hours of paid leave to receive vaccination and 2 days paid for potential vaccine recovery if needed.
- Natural immunity does not count and those with exemptions must test in a clinic (Home tests are not acceptable, and employees must pay for tests.)
- Businesses should determine how they will handle religious exemptions in terms of attestation, ecclesiastical statement, or strong moral objection.
Required Documents to Share with Employees:
As part of the emergency regulation, it is required that employers distribute the following four documents to their staff by December 5, 2021, which explain the rights and responsibilities of each party.
- Information for Employees on Penalties for False Statements and Records
- Workers’ Rights Under the COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing ETS
- COVID-19 Vaccination and Testing ETS
- Key Things to Know About COVID-19 Vaccines
OSHA Rules for Submitting Comments:
OSHA has initiated a 30-day comment period for employers/business feedback on the ETS as it could become the permanent standard. Now is the time to voice your concern, opinion, or experience with this matter.
You may submit comments and attachments, identified by Docket No. OSHA-2021-0007, labeled “COVID 19 Vaccination and Testing Emergency Temporary Standard Rulemaking” electronically at regulations.gov. Follow the instructions online for making electronic submissions. All submissions must include the agency’s name and the docket number for the ETS (Docket No. OSHA-2021-0007.) When submitting comments or recommendations, commenters should explain rationale and, if possible, provide supporting data and information. Wherever possible, commenters should indicate the title of the person providing the comments and, when appropriate, include information about the type and number of employees at their worksites.
All comments, including any personal information you provide, will be placed in the public docket without change and, with the exception of copyrighted materials, will be publicly available online at regulations.gov. Therefore, OSHA cautions commenters about submitting information they do not want to be made available to the public or submitting materials that contain personal information (either about themselves or others) such as Social Security Numbers and birthdates.
All comments and submissions are listed in the regulations.gov index; however, some information (e.g., copyrighted material) is not publicly available to read or download through that website. All submissions, including copyrighted material, are available for inspection at the OSHA Docket Office. Contact the OSHA Docket Office at 202-693-2350 (TTY number: 877-889-5627) for assistance in locating docket submissions.
Utah Chamber Coalition
On November 10, 2021 the Ogden-Weber Chamber met with representatives from the Utah Chamber Coalition to address this issue to help ensure a greater collective voice of business within the state. The Salt Lake Chamber provided the information contained in this fact sheet for distribution.
This past week, five account managers from CrewTracks traveled to Las Vegas to attend the World of Concrete trade show and exposition. World of Concrete is the first trade show back in Las Vegas since CONEXPO closed a day early due to COVID-19 on March 13, 2020. We were there for that surreal moment in history, and 452 days later, we were there for the reopening of trade shows in Las Vegas. We were so happy to be with people again, talk face to face, join in on events, and see the world beginning to return to normal.
World of Concrete is one of the largest conventions held in Las Vegas with over 60,000 people in attendance. It is an event for concrete companies, masons, technology providers, equipment suppliers, and so many other companies to come exhibit. Along with the exhibits, World of Concrete offers showcases of new technology, an educational portion for those wanting to build their skills, and a world-class competition: the Spec Mix Bricklayer 500. It is a huge event, and people across the country look forward to attending.
“We love going to World of Concrete, it is a way to show off our service, meet new people and just get out in the community with people we probably would never get to meet otherwise. It is a great marketing tool for CrewTracks. Having our name associated with something so big and so well known within the concrete and masonry industry puts us on the map,” said Brett Fairbourn, VP Marketing.
Here at CrewTracks, we love traveling to these shows to show off our product. We get to provide live demos to people so they can go through the motions of using our software and seeing how it can work for them. We get to learn a little bit more about customers and people thinking of coming on as customers. It gives us insight into their company and how they are using, wanting to use, or even needing to use CrewTracks. We cannot wait for the next World of Concrete.
CrewTracks would also like to give a HUGE shout-out to Brian and Scott Tuttle of Quik Trowel Masonry in Clearfield, Utah for taking second place overall in the Spec Mix Bricklayer 500 with a total of 618 bricks. Congratulations and awesome work!
United Way of Northern Utah (UWNU) is proud to present “Branding on a Budget,” a free, five-part webinar training series focusing on marketing and communications, in partnership with KB Grants and Ogden Downtown Alliance. This professional development series aims to empower local nonprofit organizations, staff members, and volunteers by equipping them with essential skills and go-to tips in promoting programming.
Training seminars will be available via Zoom on the last Wednesday of every month at 2 p.m., from February to June. Each session will include 45 minutes of pre-recorded training and an interview with a local professional, followed by a 15-minute live question and answer period. All training sessions will include one suggested action item to complete between sessions, encouraging implementation of the covered topic.
February 24th | Simplifying Strategic Goals
Special Guest: Mike McBride, Ogden City Marketing and Communications Manager
Assess your marketing and communications plans’ status through specific evaluation tools and identify what can be improved upon to create attainable, complementary goals.
March 31st | Maximizing Digital Reach
Special Guest: Angel Castillo, Marketing and Publicity Consultant
Productively leverage social media channels, webinars, websites, digital influencers, donor campaigns, engagement tracking, Google/Facebook analytics, SEO, graphic design, and more.
April 28th | Utilizing Public Influence
Special Guest: Allison Hess, Weber State University Public Relations Director
Create and implement successful press releases, newsletters, email lists, and advertising partnerships with a cohesive and passionate organizational voice.
May 26th | Engaging Diverse Audiences
Special Guest: Stacy Bernal, Ogden City Diversity Commissioner, Published Author, Professional Speaker, and Founder of Awesome Autistic Ogden
Manage implicit bias, reach out to diverse communities, review materials for mindful and inclusive messaging, and engage audiences when public speaking.
June 30th | Inspiring Community Advocates
Special Guest: Clairesse Miljour, GOAL Foundation Operations Manager
Connect community members with your organizations’ mission, share your “why,” express appreciation, manage committed volunteers, and retain excitement.
All individual sessions are open to community members, and drop-ins are welcome. However, participants who attend all five webinars will earn a signed certificate of completion. Organizations are eligible for certification if at least one representative is present for all five sessions, offering further opportunities for organizations to share training topics with team members for whom it would be most beneficial.
For example, if one of your board members is taking the lead on managing your organization’s email list, they can join us in April. If, however, a staff member cannot attend a subsequent training, an intern or alternate staff member may join on behalf of your organization to learn and report back.
“I believe that, in working for a nonprofit, it is important to be adaptable and ready to wear many hats,” said Sara Mejeur, Development Director at YCC Family Crisis Center. “Strengthening versatile skills like marketing and communications is an invaluable experience. We are trying to budget and find new ways of promoting our organization during the pandemic, so this series could not have come at a better time! Our team plans on attending all of the training sessions so we can help support each other.”
Visit the Branding on a Budget Facebook event page for more details and register online today.
About United Way of Northern Utah
United Way of Northern Utah is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization located in Ogden, Utah. Its mission is to unite people and organizations to build a healthy, stable, and well-educated community where individuals, families, and neighborhoods thrive.
About KB Grants
KB Grants LLC is a small business with a big impact. Its mission is to help nonprofits, schools, and civic organizations increase their communities’ outcomes and opportunities. We are proud to have generated over $38 million in funding for organizations in northern Utah and offer a wide array of consulting services to create solutions for your tomorrow.
About Ogden Downtown Alliance
Recently awarded 2020 Best of State in Community Development, the Ogden Downtown Alliance is a 501(c)(3) committed to increasing economic vitality and community vibrancy throughout Ogden’s Central Business District. We support local commerce through placemaking, destination marketing, focused community programming, and events. We create and promote a dynamic epicenter for arts, entertainment, and cultural experiences in Ogden’s downtown.
