Comings and Goings, Regulars and Shorts

Comings & Goings: November 2006

By Pax Rasmussen

What's New Around Town. New Minister

The Salt Lake Center for Spiritual Living, an affiliate of the United Church of Religious Science, has a new minister, Rev. Elizabeth O'Day. She says she decided to move here from Orange County, California because while visiting Salt Lake, she was impressed by our large community of healers (which she noticed in CATALYST's Community Resource Directory!) and because of the "vibrancy and diversity" she found here. She happened to catch the August 30th rally at Washington Square and was impressed that we have a mayor willing to take a stand on controversial political issues.

The center will hold an open house to celebrate O'Day's installation on Nov. 10 from 6:30-8:30p. Ministers and spiritual leaders are invited to wear their traditional robes and take part in the processional (RSVP, please).

870 E. North Union Ave. (7150 S), 307-0481, www.spirituallyfree.org.

Ralfee wants your help

CATALYST astrology columnist Ralfee Finn is working on a project for which she needs to talk to some dedicated horoscope readers-men and women who read weekly, daily, or monthly sun sign columns in newspapers, magazines, or on the Internet. Would you like to participate in an in-depth (half hour) interview regarding your horoscope habits? She particularly needs more male participants. Email her if you qualify and are interested.

Ralfee Finn, admin@aquariumage.com.

Wil Dredge onboard

The Center for Transpersonal Therapy welcomes Wil Dredge, LSCW to the Center. Wil brings 20 years of experience working as a Therapeutic Recreation Specialist in psychiatric settings with children, adolescents and adults. He also has drug, alcohol and PTSD treatment specialties. He received his Master's degree in Social Work in 2003. He also does Shamanic Journey work.

CTT, 989 E 900 S, 596-0147.

Jack Mormon Coffee opens

For coffee converts or connoisseurs in search of the Celestial Bean, the E Street Gallery has been 'born again'! Cruser Rowland, Michael Madrid and Sandra Jensen have just opened the Jack Mormon Coffee Company inside the building once occupied by the gallery. They roast coffee by the pound (50 green coffee bean varieties), as well as offering the standard café fare.

Open 10a-6p. 82 E Street, 359-2979

www.jackmormoncoffee.com.

Westminster launches

sustainability challenge

Westminster College recently made the decision to purchase 11% of the campus's energy needs from Rocky Mountain Power's Blue Sky renewable energy program. The college also launched a challenge to Westminster faculty, staff and students, asking them to do the same in their homes. Their aim is that over the next six months, 11% of the faculty, staff and students at Westminster will sign up for Blue Sky.

Westminster's Blue Sky purchase amounts to the same environmental benefit as planting 176,775 trees or not driving 1,927,500 miles. If 11% of the Westminster community, 307 participants, enroll in the Blue Sky program at home for one year, the school estimates the environmental benefit will amount to an additional reduction of 736,800 tons of carbon dioxide emissions-the same as planting 72,360 of trees or not driving 789,297 miles.

Blue Sky Info: 800-769-3717,

www.rockymountainpower.net/bluesky.

Black Mountain reopens

Black Mountain Gemstone Gallery (left inset) is now open at the Artspace City Center two days a week and by appointment. They offer handcrafted gemstone jewelry, with stones selected for their healing energy and holistic properties.

230 S. 500 W. #140, next to Art Access, 359.6262, Friday and Saturday from 11a-9p and www.blackmountainbead.com.

New Poet Laureate

On October 27, Gov. Jon Huntsman, Jr., named Katharine Coles as Utah's new State Poet Laureate. Coles, an associate professor of English at the University of Utah, has published two novels and three collections of poetry. Coles has a long history of professional and community service, and has received numerous awards for her work. Her most recent collection of poems, "Fault," will be published (Red Hen Press) in 2008. Congratulations, Katherine!

HEAL Utah essay writing contest for high schoolers

HEAL Utah (the Healthy Environment Alliance of Utah) has announced an essay contest for Salt Lake County high school students. Here's an opportunity for students to apply their writing, research and problem-solving skills toward answering a question on the importance of civic engagement and safe, independent energy policy. The question to address is this:

Noted author Chip Ward wrote that 'there is a direct relationship between the vitality of a community's civic environment and the health of its natural environment.' In your opinion, should this relationship be reflected in our state's energy policy?

Deadline for submissions: January 31, 2007. Winning essay(s) will be published in Catalyst and the HEAL Utah newsletter and will be highlighted at a public reading.

HEAL Utah (the Healthy Environment Alliance of Utah) empowers citizens to stand up to the governmental agencies and private interests that have targeted Utah as a nuclear and toxic waste dumping ground.

HEAL Utah: 355-5055, www.healutah.org. SLCC Community Writing Center for essay-writing workshops: 210 E 400 S, Ste. 8, . 957-4992, www.slcc.udu.

Goodbye Susanne

We've lost a fierce fighter for women's rights, a tender-hearted advocate for animals, a beloved radio show host, and a dedicated champion of musicians. After a two-year ass-kicking from breast cancer, Susanne Millsaps died in October at the age of 53. She was honored with news-section obits in both daily papers and countless memorials on KRCL, as well as a major send-off at the Holladay Church of Christ, attended by hundreds of friends including many musicians who came from around the country to play for her memorial. Goodbye, Susanne.

New Quaker meetinghouse

The Salt Lake Quakers have made the historic move of obtaining the first Quaker Meetinghouse in Utah. They purchased a Methodist church building built in the late 1800s. They will host an open house to introduce their new home to the community on Saturday, November 4 from 4-6p.

171 E 4800 S, 281-3518, www.saltlakequakers.org.

Ecomoto moves

Business has been booming at Ecomoto, and to accomodate Salt Lake's newfound desire for electric and gas-efficient vehicles (thanks, high gas prices!), owner Jon Schlee has moved the shop from its location near the University of Utah to State Street. The new store is much, much bigger and soon they'll be offering fully electric cars (not hybrids) as well as the usual bike and scooter fare.

1050 S State St., 583-3390, www.ecomoto.com.

Personal Fitness Zone opens

Scott White, along with his partners Kathleen Leopardi-Anderson and Rachel Cieslewicz have opened Personal Fitness Zone, a holistically oriented gym. They say their mission is to facilitate the connection of the body, mind and spirit. They offer personalized training in walking, jogging/running, mountain. biking, road cycling, pilates (fully equipped studio), yoga, boxing/kickboxing, sports conditioning, functional training (balance, core & flexibility training), resistance training, wellness coaching, exercise & nutrition consulting, weight management, qi gong/bagua, and even healthy gourmet cooking classes and dance.

4022 S 2700 E, 556-5964, rccbsw@comcast.net.

This article was originally published on November 28, 2006.