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Show Page 8 The Ogden Valley news Volume XX Issue X June 15, 2012 Valley Firewise Community Cleanup Zions Bank Utah Consumer Attitude Index: Nordic It is critical this year that residents take steps inventory of In-Kind Match; therefore, anyone Consumer optimism stays strong in Utah despite decline in May The Zions Bank Consumer Attitude Index (CAI) decreased 6.3 points to 79.0 in May. The U.S. Consumer Confidence Index® (CCI) decreased 3.8 points to 64.9, resulting in a 14.1 point difference between the two indexes. Utahns’ confidence in the economy came down from a 16-month high in April. No doubt, the high price of gasoline, the impending presidential election, and the European debt crisis are taking their toll on consumer confidence. Still, Utahns are more optimistic than the national average, and far more optimistic than they were six months ago; the Zions Bank Consumer Attitude Index is 11 points higher than it was in November of last year. Consumer sentiments toward housing prices, fuel prices, and general inflation are stabilizing. Trepidation about future economic conditions, particularly the employment outlook, affected the CAI considerably in May. The Zions Bank Expectations Index—a gauge of consumer confidence in the economy six months from now—decreased 6.7 points to 91.7, while the national CCI Expectations Index decreased 2.8 points to 77.6. The Zions Bank Present Situation Index—a measurement of confidence in current business and employment conditions—decreased 5.7 points to 60.1, while the national CCI Present Situation Index decreased 5.7 points to 45.9. Recent economic indicators suggest that the economy continues to gather momentum, despite Utahns having a difficult time fully regaining their confidence. Consumer attitudes toward the housing market remained optimistic in May. Seventy-nine percent of consumers believed that the price of homes similar to theirs would stay the same or increase over the next 12-months, that is 10 percentage points higher than six months ago. In April, the price of housing along the Wasatch Front increased by 1.0 percent as more consumers entered the market. Confidence in the local housing market reflects national trends, and indicates a rebound in U.S. home sales and prices. The percent of Utahns who believe gasoline prices will increase over the next 12 months is down 8 percentage points from April. Nationally, gas prices in May fell approximately 5 percent. Utah tends to lag behind the rest of the nation in gas price fluctuations, but prices have stabilized in recent weeks. Anxiety over fuel costs negatively influences consumer confidence, so as prices come down from their peak, consumer angst will likely subside. Inflationary concerns for Utah consumers decreased considerably from April to May. The percent of consumers who think interest rates will increase over the next 12-months fell by 5 percentage points to 45 percent. The percent of Utahns who think prices for consumer goods will increase over the next 12-months fell by 7 percentage points to 69 percent, its lowest point since January 2011. “May has been a perfect example of the strengths and challenges that exist for the Utah economy,” said Zions Bank President and CEO Scott Anderson. “Consumer confidence in the state is higher than the national average, yet Utahns are still hesitant to embrace the recovery fully. It is important that we recognize the considerable amount of good news we received in May: the housing market is showing signs of recovery, the labor market is stable, and gasoline prices have likely peaked. Economic recovery continues in Utah, and at a much faster pace than the rest of the nation.” Zions Bank provides the CAI as a free resource to the communities of Utah. The monthly CAI summary reports are released at a monthly press conference, coinciding with The Conference Board’s national CCI release date. The reports are available online at www.zionsbank.com/cai. Analysis and data collection for the CAI are done by The Cicero Group/Dan Jones & Associates, a premier market research firm based in Salt Lake City. The June CAI will be released during a press conference at a local business at 10:30 a.m. on June 26, 2012. Zions Bank is Utah’s oldest financial institution and is the only local bank with a statewide distribution of branches, operating 106 full-service offices. Additional information is available <at www.zionsbank.com> WOLF CREEK cont. from page 1 holds a lien. Following suit behind the other lenders, The Farm Bureau carried the top bid of $600,000 for Wolf Creek’s Pineview Lodge and the clubhouse. The only major successful outside bid came from Summit Series, who were the top winners of the auction, claiming about 1,400 acres of open space on the foothills above the resort for a mere $500,000, about the price of a less-thanone-acre lot in the neighboring subdivision at the height of the building boom. Bob Olson with Erklens & Olson Auctioneers. to mitigate fire danger. According to Governor Herbert’s monthly address prior to Memorial Day, the state had 120 wildfires in 2012; 118 of those fires were human caused. Dry vegetation caused by low precipitation levels has increased the risk of wildfires throughout the state this year. During the week of July 9, crews from the Division of State Lands, Fire and Forestry will be in Nordic Valley with a large chipper to dispose of cleared brush and dead trees. The work crew and the equipment are available through a grant from the Division that requires an “In-Kind Match” from local residents and community businesses. These grants are made available to neighborhoods that have a high risk of wildfires. Cleared trees and brush neatly piled next to the road will be chipped during the week of July 9. Please pile all branches and trees so that they are all facing the same direction. Mulch will be placed near the site of the wood pile unless the chipping crew is informed that the resident does not want the mulch. In that case, efforts will be made to try and find another site for the mulch. Previous cleanups have exhausted the wanting assistance in disposing of landscaping materials will be required to complete an “In Kind Matching Work Summary.” Matching work forms will be available by contacting any street captain or board member. Also, look for Firewise envelopes in your neighborhood. These plastic envelopes will serve as pick up points for the forms. Any yard work that mitigates fire danger to your property may be included on the matching work form. Many people mistakenly think that they only can include their efforts for the chipping project. Fire mitigation efforts include mowing, trimming and cutting trees, spreading mulch, spraying areas for weeds, replacing worn out roofs, etc. In order to have Firewise projects such as Fire Break Trail and chipping continue, please fill out a work summary and return it to a street captain, board member, or Firewise envelope. You can also turn in receipts for landscaping services or lawn equipment purchased. Call Nicole Householder at 745-1122 or Carolyn Daniels at 745-6135 if you have questions or would like a matching work form. FILM PRODUCTION cont. from page 1 of the Association of Film Commissioners International, more than 900 films and TV movies have been filmed in the Beehive state, which was first discovered in the 1920s as an attractive choice. Utah has been the backdrop for hundreds of films since that time, for films such as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Thelma & Louis, High School Musical, and John Carter. The film is being produced by seasoned writer, director, and producer Don Schain. the film, the assistant producer highlighted Utah’s great climate, diversity of available settings within close proximity (mountains, desert, etc.), attractive locations, readily available talent and production resources, and the warm reception by the Utah Film Commission. According to the Utah Film Commission, which is part of the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Development, and a member 1940 US CENSUS cont. from page 1 Utah, Vermont, Virginia, and Wyoming. “We believe that all people deserve free access to the 1940 U.S. census records so they can learn more about their family history, ancestors, and the past. With the help of the Community Project partners, and especially volunteer indexers across the nation, we’re halfway to our goal,” said Megan Smolenyak, spokesperson for the 1940 U.S. Census Community Project. “We didn’t expect to make this much progress only two months after the 1940 census records were released, so we’re excited and thankful to all of the enthusiastic volunteers.” Since April 2, Community Project volunteers have indexed more than 75 million records and this number continues to grow quickly as more than 7,000 volunteers sign up each week. The timely progression of making the census records freely searchable online is a direct result of the growing numbers of volunteers. Those interested in lending a hand can learn more and sign up to be an official 1940 U.S. census volunteer indexer at the 1940 census website (the1940census.com). The project will release free searchable records for individual states as they are completed. The 1940 U.S. Census Community Project is a joint initiative between the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), Archives.com, FamilySearch.org, findmypast. com, ProQuest and other leading genealogy organizations. Thanks to advancements in technology, online volunteers worldwide can lend a voice to countless untold stories of their ancestors living, working, and persevering as the “Greatest Generation.” “Volunteer indexers have the unique opportunity to step into the past and read through hand-written records captured by census enumerators as they walked from house to house,” said Joshua Taylor, spokesperson for the 1940 U.S. Census Community Project. “Through indexing, volunteers are essentially reliving history and helping provide others with the access they need to gain greater insights into the life and times of their own ancestors more than 72 years ago.” To learn more about the 1940 U.S. Census Community Project, track real-time progress of volunteer indexing efforts, or to become a volunteer, visit <the1940census.com> Coming Summer of 2012 Assisted Living in Ogden Valley Formerly The Red Moose Lodge in Eden. t t t t t Nutritional, Homemade Meals Prepared by our In-House Chef Loving, Personal Care from Staff 24-Hr. Medication Management and Help with Activities of Daily Living Level 2 Facility with CNAs on Staff Call Now for a Tour and to Reserve Your Room 2547 N. Valley Junction Drive When you come for a tour, We know you will say, “This is where I want to have my loved one.” Call 801-745-6667 or 801-541-3336 ~ www.beehivehomes.com |
