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Show Features WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 12 2011 From design degree to bakery Former Wildcat owns Ogden cupcakery By Jerrica Archibald features editor I The Signpost Michelle Flowers didn't realize when she was graduating from Weber State University that she'd be using her bachelor's degree to help create her own cupcake company. "I went to school for interior design because I grew up in a vintage kind of antique background, and so that kind of transitioned into the Vintage Cupcake," Flowers said. "I love to decorate. I always wanted to have my own store, and I also just have this weird fascination with cupcakes. It all just came together like that. I didn't really even bake ever." Flowers graduated from WSU with a degree in interior design. Today, she is the owner of Vintage Cupcake Co., a bakery located in downtown Ogden that is centralized exclusively around cupcake creations and is now venturing into other gourmet desserts. "The artsy element is the most fun part - frosting the cupcakes and coming up with new flavors," Flowers said. "It's all a level of design within itself. I still do some design work for people, too." PHOTOS BY BRYAN BUTTERFIELD I THE SIGNPOST Above: Cupcake toppings at Vintage Cupcake Co. Below: Shaun lacovelli, Vintage Cupcake Co. co-manager, boxes up cupcakes. She opened VCC in May 2010. The team that helps run the shop mainly consists of her family members. She and her brother manage the store, and do most of the baking and frosting. Other family members help with tasks such as running the counter and balancing the finances. "Michelle asked me to come put in the floors and stuff, and I just never left," said former WSU student Shaun Iacovelli, who is part owner and Flowers' brother. Each week, Flowers and her team create new flavors for their customers to try and have daily special flavors, along with their regular flavors. The flavors range from double chocolate to cotton candy to lime ricky. "My favorite cupcake we do is peanut butter and jelly," Iacovelli said. "The cake is more of a cookie texture, and I'm not a chocolate cake fan." The VCC team asks for flavor suggestions and requests on its Facebook page every week. "I can't commit to a set menu, because then it takes away from some of the creativity," Flowers said. "I like to ask my customers every week what they want on our Facebook page. Everywhere I go, I Seeing the world Students offered credit to study abroad By Emily Freshman correspondent I The Signpost Brazil, Costa Rica, China, France, Guatemala and Cuba are places the Weber State University Language Department is taking students to study abroad this upcoming year. Many WSU departments offer study abroad opportunities, but the language department is the only "That is one that what is so requires students fascinating to study abroad. about "For traveling; us, it is just that, you never studycome back ing in a foreign the same." culture," - Alicia said Giralt Craig Trip director Bergeson of the foreign language department. "For some people, it is just a trip. For us there is always an academic component. So sometimes they are actually in a classroom for three or four hours a day. Then there are excursions and getting to know the culture. Most of our trips have the students stay with the families, so they can practice the language." Every trip will have its own unique culture and customs. Brazil offers three weeks study at the Universidade Federal da Paraiba, where students stay with locals and learn firsthand about the culture. In China, students will stay with local families to enhance the learning of customs and the practice of the language. France provides the chance to see Paris with sights such as the Louvre Museum, the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame. The studies will be taken at the University of La Rochelle for two weeks, also giving the chance to live with local families. Cuba is new to the department and a rare opportunity. The trip offers the culture of Cuba that most Americans are not aware of. Costa Rica offers studies of the language in the classroom, with the local families and in the streets. The housing is also with the local families. The Guatemala trip is a micro-credit trip; this trip is when students travel to third-world countries and teach the native women business and microfinancing concepts. "We go there and we help very poor Mayan women start small businesses," said Alicia Giralt, director of some of the trips. "The Guatemala program is really cool, because we have the humanitarian aspect, but we also go to the jungle and hike volcanoes. We do a major zip-line one mountain to another mountain." The students who participate in this study must have a good understanding of the language, with at least four semesters of study. Students get the See Abroad page 8 r THE LONI. HA11591f 1:: think, 'Oh, this could be a cupcake." On Oct. 1, the shop grew to include Endless Indulgence, which sells pinup-era clothing inspired by Bettie Page. "It's unique to Ogden; that's why I wanted to incorporate her with us," il,TVIi- 5N - Nle Flowers said. "It gives customers something to shop for while they're getting a good treat." Vintage Cupcake Co. is located at 470 24th St in Ogden. Those interested in See Cupcake page 8 Footsteps to Light friyTit• gt ° ST7C4'S STEWEJ Earruei B/FLIK 0 vons... c/kAf /vEriE& BUT UkTty./ kiams curpE.rP' )\ c)c v (Nlik PHOTO BY BRYAN BUTTERFIELD I THE SIGNPOST Shirts designed in Weber State University's Clothesline Project are displayed at the Footsteps to Light walk. YCC and Women's Center host awareness walk and speech to honor victims of domestic violence By Cindy Jones correspondent I The Signpost Ogden participants in the 14th annual Footsteps to Light walked from Lester Park to the Ogden Amphitheater last Thursday to honor not only those who have died from domestic violence, but also those who have survived. Your Community Connection of Ogden sponsored this event. "The YCC is a nonprofit, community-based organization that assists victims of domestic violence and rape," said Tallie Viteri, manager of YCC. Jane Bryant, a victim of domestic violence herself and author of He Never Hit Me, was the keynote speaker. Bryant described the years she spent in an abusive relationship and told how she was finally able to leave her husband. Bryant said her marriage was like "walking daily through a minefield, a volcano that erupted spontaneously .. . Women typically stay in abusive relationships because of fear - fear of being hurt or fear for the well-being of their children. But it is only a matter of time before they (the abuser) escalate into violence. Do not spend another five minutes in that relationship." She also advised women in abusive relationships to keep a journal. "It will document everything that happens to you. It will empower you. If you don't write it down, it is as if it didn't happen." Bryant told women who are in abusive relationships to get a protective order. "This will put them (the abusers) first on the list of suspects if anything happens to you." "Unfortunately, Jane's story is not uncommon," said Joel Brandley, Bryant's therapist. "Many women suffer from emotional and physical abuse. Jane's book will help other women evaluate if they are in a healthy or an abusive relationship." See Walk page 8 |