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Show Page 8 The Ogden Valley news Volume XXIV Issue VI April 1, 2017 Sustained Strong Housing Market Lifts Wasatch Front Consumer Price Index The Zions Bank Wasatch Front Consumer elementary and high schools increased Price Index (CPI) ticked upward for the second month in a row after a slight dip in December. The Wasatch Front CPI rose 0.2 percent in February and has increased 3.2 percent since this same time last year. The annual increase has been driven by steadily increasing housing prices over the past twelve months, as well as rising clothing prices. The national Consumer Price Index rose 0.3 percent from January to February and has grown 2.7 percent over the last year. The prices of other goods and services in Utah jumped the most from last month, increasing by 2.4 percent, while housing prices also rose 1.6 percent. Housing alone accounts for nearly 38 percent of the average Utah consumer’s expenditures, so rising housing prices have a significant impact on overall prices in Utah. “A strong housing market translates to a stronger overall economy throughout the state,” said Scott Anderson, Zions Bank President and CEO. “As housing prices rise, residents are more confident in the value of their homes. They then become more confident in their purchasing power, which has positive repercussions across the economy.” The rise in Utah’s overall CPI was also driven by higher prices in the following categories: · Prices for food at home increased 0.7 percent this month as apples, citrus fruits, lettuce, and seafood increased in price · Education and communication prices increased 0.6 percent as fees for some FR CUMMINS cont. from page 1 told, the only priest we know who has been a model in a J.Crew catalog.” Five years after his priestly ordination, Fr. Cummins came to the Salt Lake diocese where he served as the track and field coach for Saint Joseph Catholic High School, helping the students win three state championships and driving the bus to sporting events, Long said. “He was with the students and shared in their jubilation when they won; however, perhaps more importantly, he always had a consoling word and provided support and encouragement during those long drives home after a difficult defeat.” To benefit the wider community, Fr. Cummins joined with the Sisters of St. Benedict in Ogden to organize the annual Turkey Trot walk/run to help provide food for the hungry. “Like Christ the Teacher, Fr. Cummins models love for students, their parents and teachers while also providing support for Catholic education in Ogden, Utah,” Long said before Bishop Oscar A. Solis presented the award. After accepting the plaque, Fr. Cummins said he wanted to explain about asking to be in a movie. When he was assigned to St. Henry Parish in Los Angeles, the other priest was cast as an extra three times, so once Fr. Cummins spoke to the MGM casting director, who was attending Mass that day. “I said, ‘Al, I’ve got parents; they’d like to see me in a movie.’ And he said, ‘You don’t look like a priest. When I · Clothing prices increased 0.4 percent as prices for men’s and women’s apparel rose Utah’s price increases were slightly offset by lower prices in the following sectors: · Medical care prices decreased 3.4 percent as some medical care services and hospital services became less expensive · Food away from home dropped 1.6 percent as prices for both full service meals and fast food and snacks fell · Transportation prices decreased 1.5 percent despite rising gasoline prices as airfare, vehicle rentals, and car insurance prices declined · Utilities prices decreased 0.2 percent as sewer rates went down “We’re seeing price increases in the right places, like housing and clothing,” said Randy Shumway, Chairman and Partner at Cicero Group. “Prices are increasing at a relatively slow pace, which gives consumers time to adjust, but the pace is also steady, which gives businesses time to ramp up and plan for the coming months. Overall, things are looking good for Utah’s economy.” Analysis and data collection for the Zions Bank CPI and the Zions Bank Consumer Attitude Index are provided by the Cicero Group. The Cicero Group is a premier market research firm based in Salt Lake City. Additional information is available at <www.zionsbank.com> need a gunfighter, I’ll get you,’” Fr. Cummins said, as the gathered teachers and administrators laughed. “I’m still waiting for his call,” he added. On a more serious note, he said, “I think I was an OK teacher. I think I was an adequate coach. I thought I was a good bus driver. I always got them home safely.… But more important for all of us is that we were on the right path in this life.” Movie stars and athletes often make millions of dollars, but teachers and administrators “don’t make quite that much money, but you get much more,” Fr. Cummins said. “You’re guiding young people on a path through this thing called life. Even more so, you’re giving them a path toward eternity.” Friends of Fr. Charles Cummins are invited to attend his 80th birthday party being hosted by the St. Florence Catholic Community of Huntsville. The party will be held April 22 2017 at 6:00 p.m. at 7390 E. 200 S., Huntsville (the Former Ogden Valley Community Church). St. Florence will be providing hamburgers, hotdogs, and beverages. We appreciate donations of appetizers, salads, and desserts. Please RSVP to Nancy Waiss (tn3awaiss@q.com or 801845-9196) to help us plan for food and indicate if you can provide a dish to share. To donate toward a gift and for more information, contact Ann Zieve at aezieve@gmail.com or 801-6957787. Please RSVP by April 15. What Can We Learn from the Tiny House Phenomenon? important to you and leave the rest behind. By Nathaniel Sillin You may not have seen one in your neighborhood yet, but the tiny house phenomenon has spread across the country. For some, the move is driven by a desire to downsize and live a minimalistic lifestyle. Others see it as a way to decrease their impact on the environment. Economics are often a large part of the equation. Buying and maintaining a tiny home is relatively inexpensive, and the savings can help many people on their path towards financial freedom. Tiny-home living (often shortened to tiny living) isn’t for everyone. However, tiny living requires ingenuity and resourcefulness and we can all learn something from those who choose tiny. Freedom from debt is priceless. Living within one’s means is a foundational belief to many within the tiny living community. Between labor and materials, a tiny home could cost about $20,000 to $60,000 to build. By contrast, the U.S. Census Bureau found the median sale price for a new home in December 2016 was $322,500. The relatively low price gives you a chance to own a tiny home without having a mortgage that’ll take three decades to pay off. The ongoing savings in the form of lower utility, tax and maintenance bills also make it easier to pay off non-housing debts, such as student loans, and live a debt-free life. That being said, you can live in a larger home and still look for ways to lower your monthly expenses and fight lifestyle inflation (spending more as you make more money). A common tip is to allocate half of your next raise or bonus to your savings or use it to pay down debts. But why not challenge yourself and use your entire raise or bonus to build your net worth? Make room for things that are important. Moving into a tiny home can require major downsizing, but some view that as a feature rather than a disadvantage. It’s not about getting rid of things that aren’t absolutely necessary, after all sometimes “unnecessary” decorations turn a house into a home. Rather, from furniture to clothing, you have to decide what’s SNOWBASIN cont. from page 1 Snowbasin Resort to hold more races utilizing the Wildcat Lift and Wildcat Bowl, creating an overall better experience for racers and guests. “Snowbasin Resort is very excited to announce several improvements to the Wildcat area of the mountain that should greatly enhance the guest experience. With the addition of a new Doppelmayr six-passenger highspeed chair lift, we will be able to better utilize this area of the resort that was the original heart of the ski area. The new lift will service beginner, intermediate, and advanced terrain and include new snowmaking on Wildcat Blue Grouse, Herberts, Eas-A-Long, Speaking of Henry David Thoreau; his mind and spirit would not and could not be Bowl, Wildcat Traverse, and Stein’s. These improvecircumscribed by place or time for he knew that “the improvement of ages have had but ments will improve access to this wonderful terrain with earlier access and better conditions little influence on the essential laws of mans’ existence. Inspirational Thought It’s easy to fill a large home with clutter and then attempt to clean every spring. Perhaps a better approach would be to take a tiny-home mindset to the store with you. Don’t get bogged down by asking yourself if you can live without something—you can live without many things—instead, try to only spend money on things that add meaning and joy to your life. You have more space than meets the eye. Watch a tour of a tiny home, and you’ll see that great organization skills and original storage ideas are a must. Tables turn into benches and chairs double as shelves— everything seems to have at least two purposes. How could a little imagination transform your home? Might a new shelving system and selling items that aren’t important to you anymore give you more room? Inventiveness and thinking outside the box are keys to making the most of what you have. High-quality products are worth the investment. Many tiny-home owners are keenly aware of the waste they’re putting back into the world. Some even choose to live in a tiny home because it’ll reduce their ecological footprint. The savings that come from tiny living and this approach to life often lead to investments in long-lasting products rather than cheaper alternatives. Quality over quantity is certainly a worthwhile mentality to adopt. Put it into practice by looking for companies that offer lifetime warranties on their products. You might be surprised to find that from socks to power tools there are dozens of manufacturers that uphold this promise. How will you make use of these lessons? Simple living and conscious buying aren’t exclusive traits of tiny-home owners. Regardless of the size of your home, you may find that incorporating these principles and practices save you time and money. Two valuable resources that should never be wasted. Note: Nathaniel Sillin directs Visa’s financial education programs. To follow Practical Money Skills on Twitter: <www.twitter.com/ PracticalMoney> when Mother Nature is not as cooperative as we would like,” stated John Loomis, General Manager at Snowbasin Resort. With the immense history Wildcat Chairlift holds, Snowbasin Resort will have a gallery in the Huntington Room for the public to follow the Wildcat Chairlift through the years and will celebrate the final days of the current Wildcat Triple with events and giveaways throughout the spring season. The festivities start Saturday, March 18 with Weber State Appreciation Day and culminate Saturday, April 15 with a Last Chair Party where guests can join in for one last lift ride on Wildcat at 4:00 p.m., followed by a farewell toast at the top. Check our website for more information about other festivities what will be happening throughout the spring. For more information, please visit www. snowbasin.com or call 801.620.1000. |