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Show Volume IV, Issue VI THE OGDEN VALLEY NEWS Page 3 July 1, 2001 2Rivers Arts Festival: Bringing a community together Historically, the confluence of the Ogden and Weber Rivers has been important as a meeting place. Native Americans first used the site to gather, socialize, and exchange goods and gifts. Miles Goodyear, the first white homesteader in Utah, built a cabin near the confluence. Brown’s Fort, as it was called, was purchased by Brigham Young, and with the joining of the rails at Promontory Summit in 1869, the Ogden area enjoyed a special and international reputation as “Junction City,” the railroad hub of the West. The mountain man rendezvous is a historic event played out twice annually at the site at Fort Buenaventura State Historic Park. Later, in the late 1800s, chautauquas were an important feature of the local scene, providing entertainment and education to the community in the great outdoors. Finally, the idea of the confluence created by the rivers, the joining aspects of community identity through the arts, environmental education and recreation are being brought together in the First Annual 2Rivers Festival. It is scheduled for June 31 and July 1 at Fort Buenaventura State Park and Ogden’s Miles Goodyear Park. “We enjoy such a special place,” said festival planner Maury Grimm, “the confluence of the Ogden and Weber Rivers, Great Salt Lake and its basin, our mountains which rise magnificently to the east, the diversity and history, and the many artists that live and work here beg a festival that celebrates these attributes, a festival that compels appreciation of our strengths; the opportunities presented by becoming better stewards of our community.” 2Rivers, a non-profit corporation, is presently working with the Ogden Symphony Ballet Association, Ogden City, Weber County and Weber Pathways. “The concept for 2Rivers began last year when the city and county really became involved in cleaning the rivers and river corridors, creating the Ogden Whitewater Kayak Park,” said Grimm. “We began realizing the promise of this area in terms of recreation, the need to inculcate a more conscientious stewardship of our environment, and to celebrate our culture and creativity. It had the makings of a great festival.” Sponsors, donations and volunteers are still needed for the festival. For volunteer information contact Sarah Read at 393-3823. Request sponsor packages and other information at 627-2569 or maury@nuj.com. Donations can be sent to the Ogden Symphony Ballet Association/2Rivers, Inc. 638 26th Street, Ogden, UT 84401. Donations and sponsorships are tax-deductible. PUBLIC NOTICE The TV/Translator Board announces that the UHF channels will be changed in the near future. Look forward to more information. 2Rivers Run Through It: A confluence of community The First Annual 2Rivers Art Festival is happening June 30 and July 1 at Fort Buenaventura State Historic Park and Ogden City’s Miles Goodyear Park. The festival officially begins Saturday morning at 10:30 a.m. with a Weber Pathways, Weber County Health Department and Salt Lake Organizing Committee sponsored Gold Medal Mile Walk™. Olympic pins are available to the first 200 who complete the walk. Throughout the day, festival-goers can try out fly fishing, test mountain bikes, or take a canoe trip down the Weber River. The Wasatch Men’s Baseball league will be playing at Miles Goodyear Park at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday. Environmental displays will be set up and children under the age of twelve can obtain a passport which they can use to check through the environmental stations for some hands-on interactive learning. Upon completion of their passport, they may either take a free canoe trip or fly-fishing lesson. The Weber River Keeper is sponsoring an “Adopt a Duck” program for kids and families to race their rubber ducks down the Weber River. Ogden City will have some hands-on recycling activities, the Ogden Nature Center is planning to bring Chitters the owl, and Weber Basin Conservancy will provide insights into how we measure water quality. Other groups participating include The Bear River Institute, Utah Rivers Council, the U.S. Forest Service, Pineview Camp and more. In addition, there will also be plenty of music at two stages. The Fort Buenaventura Stage will feature an exciting array of music; Celtic Duo Maria Anthony and Megan Hurt will headline. The stage, which is sponsored by the Ogden Symphony Ballet Association, will be shared with Celtic Beat, Blue Sage, and Las Hermanitas Vega. The Jackson Street Junction Stage at Miles Goodyear Park will feature a battle of the bands as well as Chicago-based ska band Slim Jim Conspiracy, local performing artists Tanglewood and Hoo Ray Who? Sponsored by Jackson Street Junction, the stage promises to be rockin’ and hoppin’ throughout the festival. Local artists and artisans will also be at the festival. Many of the artists participating are members of the 2Rivers Artisans Cooperative located at Bartholomew Frame in Ogden and include local textile artist Roberta Glidden, Ceramists Craig Haaser and Suzanne Storer and Fused Glass Artist Cathy Cartwright. Artists and vendors who want to participate may call Lee Bartholomew at 801-334-7911. Throughout the day there will be raffle items with everything from a dinner for two, climbing lessons, season tickets for Ogden Symphony Ballet performances, Raptor games, and the 13th Annual Founders Title Company Folk and Bluegrass Festival. There will be an evening fish fry on Saturday featuring Caribbean-style trout sponsored by the Ogden Marriott and the Fly Tying Station. Noted Utah author Stephen Trimble will speak on his upcoming book as part of the 2Rivers Arts Festival literary series on July 19 at 7:00 p.m. at the Weber County Library, 2464 Jefferson, Ogden. For more information contact Bob Sawatzki. The 2Rivers Arts Festival is free and open to the public. There is a minimum charge for some activities at the festival. Be sure to bring sunscreen, bug repellent and a blanket and/or chairs. Camping is available for vendors and volunteers. 2Rivers Art Festival, Fort Buenaventura State Park (2450 Avenue “A,” Ogden), and Miles Goodyear Park, 801-627-2569. 2Rivers Arts Festival is being generously supported by Junction Magazine, Ogden City Corporation, The Ogden Symphony Ballet Association, Jackson Street Junction, The Dr. W. C. Swanson Family Foundation, Wasatch Paddle Sports, The Fly Tying Station, Bingham Cyclery, The Ogden Marriott, The Standard-Examiner, Downtown Ogden Inc, Weber Basin Water Conservancy District, The Ogden Raptors, the Musician’s Performance Trust Fund, Weber County, Snowbasin, La Prensa, The Historic Ben Lomond Suite Hotel, Weber County Library, a grant from the Utah Humanities Council, Weber Pathways, and Leavitt Mortuaries. Subscriptions available for out of area residents at $18.00 annually. Send payment with mailing address to: THE OGDEN VALLEY NEWS P O BOX 130 EDEN UT 84310 OPEN HOUSE at the Hearthside July 4th 1:00 - 5:00 p.m. Tours available & refreshments served Booking Fall & Winter Weddings 5612 East 2200 North Eden Call 745-4009 |