Price, businesses consider forming historical district

The Price Main Street program board, in cooperation with the downtown business community and the city, is considering becoming a historical district on the National Register of Historic Places.

According to the Utah Division of State History, the National Register of Historic Places is the official federal list of properties that are significant in American history, architecture, archeology and engineering. Primarily, the benefit of being listing on the national register is the honorary recognition of the historic or architectural significance of a property. However, historical designation also allows owners to qualify for federal and/or state rehabilitation tax credits or grants, when available.

“Price city is committed to the advancement of local businesses and assisting them in the most productive manner possible,” commented the community director. “Designation of the downtown area as a historic district may serve the business community for many years,” continued Tatton.

From the Sun Advocate 2/23/06
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Richfield businesses boost Picayune Mississippi’s revitalization efforts

Businesses from Richfield have contributed over $1,000 to Picayune Mississippi Main Street to help with the purchase of a new computer and replacement of benches destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.  According to Reba Beebe, Picayune’s Main Street manager, the donation answered her “hopes and prayers for a new computer,” as power surges during and after Katrina damaged the outdated computer that is used for the Picayune Street Fair twice each year.

The donation was spearheaded by Richfield’s Main Street Enhancement Committee through a Mardi Gras Fundraiser, with businesses from throughout the community contributing to this worthy cause.  As Reba Beebe notes, “Richfield Utah has a very special place in all of our hearts here in South Mississippi.”

Mt. Pleasant will apply for grant for veteran's memorial

The Mt. Pleasant City Council has decided to apply for a $500,000 grant from the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) to upgrade its veterans memorial, create a veterans memorial visitors center in the recreation center lobby, and make improvements along State Street from 100 North to 100 South.

Mt. Pleasant has had a veterans memorial on the lawn of its recreation center, located on the west side of State Street just north of Main Street, for many years. But the metal plaques containing veterans’ names became corroded and were vandalized. A while ago, the city removed them, leaving the stone placard to which the plaques had been attached.

Mayor Chesley Christensen appointed Ron Richmond, a nationally known artist who lives in Mt. Pleasant, to design a new monument. He has proposed a design that would be rendered in granite or marble and contain names of local veterans who served in all wars from the Blackhawk War to the war on terror. The estimated cost of Richmond’s design is $50,000. The city anticipates raising most of that amount privately, according to City Recorder Sally East.

From the Sanpete Messenger 1/18/06
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Window Decorations Brighten Downtown Storefronts

Downtown businesses in Price certainly got into the spirit during the holiday season by dressing up their storefronts with festive displays as part of Price's first window dressing contest sponsored by local radio station KOAL/KARB.

With a majority of downtown businesses participating, the judges faced a tough decision but eventually selected JC Penney as the winner. "Our employees were extremely excited about winning the contest," said Leslie Childs of JC Penney. "It meant a lot to them to think the community appreciated the way we tried to bring the Christmas spirit to downtown. They were also excited everytime (and there were many) that customers made comments on the windows."

According to Melanie Steele, Price's Main Street Manager, one of the contest's unanticipated benefits was the sense of camaraderie that it generated among downtown businesses.

Submitted by Melanie Steele 1/12/06
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Rewarding service brings more smiles

Provo Mayor Lewis Billings was in the hot seat Thursday night.

He was sitting in a dental chair surrounded by sterilized metal tools, bright lights and even a few dentists at a newly opened dental clinic in downtown Provo.

The difference is, the chair, lights and tools were donated, and the dentists, hygienists and other staffers volunteer their time to serve low-income, uninsured Utah County residents.

"Everything in this building's been donated," said Brent Crane, executive director of the Food and Care Coalition, motioning toward the equipment.

The clinic, which is open on Tuesdays for cleanings and Fridays for dental work, is a coordinated effort between the coalition and Share-A-Smile, a nonprofit organization Dr. Eric Vogel started in 2000. Vogel, after donating dental work in developing countries, returned to Utah and said "I just saw so much need."

"There's people that need our help in this community," Crane added. "Shame on us when we don't give them our best effort."

From the Daily Herald 1/6/06
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Courthouse charm: Historic building to open with renewed elegance

Though the Historic County Courthouse may look staid on the outside, the newly restored interior exudes pure modern elegance.

The downtown Logan building, scheduled to reopen next week, maintains many of its historical features after undergoing several technological advances during a renovation project over the past 16 months.

Leather couches, flat-screen televisions, an elevator system, crystal chandeliers and a spiral staircase leading to the dome are just some of the amenities.

“I am excited and satisfied with the quality of the building,” said Newel Daines, who has overseen all phases of development. “It’s beyond my original expectations.”

From the Logan Herald Journal 1/5/06

Osmonds throw New Year's party at Apollo Dance Hall

A New Year's Eve celebration Saturday night will be held at the newly renovated Apollo Dance Hall, 50 N. Center, American Fork.

The Osmonds -- Merrill and son Justin -- will entertain, along with comedian and impressionist Jason Hewlett.

From the Utah Valley Herald 12/28/05
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Nationwide, most small businesses fail within the first three years. In Tooele City the problem has a well known face along Main Street, with frequent upstart businesses and subsequent closures.

A new option for young businesses, called a business incubation center, may help.

The center at the southeast corner of Main and Vine provides low-rent office space, a shared fax and copy machine, phone lines, weekly consultation with an accountant and lawyer, an address and training.

From the Tooele Transcript Bulletin 12/13/05
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Candy windows sweeten the shopping experience

Provo Arts Council Executive Director Kathryn S. Allen would love to see more candy windows on display in the downtown district, but she also appreciates the immense amount of work a window takes.

"It's time consuming and can be kind of intimidating," Allen said. "We get our artists largely by word of mouth, and sometimes they don't realize what they're getting into."

This year — the fifth year for the sweet event — six windows are up, completely done in all kinds of candy, depicting beloved and familiar Christmas stories.

The windows were unveiled Monday and will remain on display for shoppers and browsers to check out through the holidays.

The winning window artist will be announced at the Winterfest First Night event, Dec. 31.

From the Deseret News 12/1/05
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Downtown shopping is better than ever

Looming ahead are the biggest and busiest shopping days of the year.

But, according to many business owners, downtown Tooele remains a largely untapped resource for unique, well-priced gifts.

So, the Tooele Transcript Bulletin decided to discover for ourselves if there was anything worth shopping for in downtown Tooele.

Our verdict: the most charming shopping experience in the county, downtown has a gift for every person on your shopping list.

From the Tooele Transcript Bulletin 11/25/05
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Preserving the past, building the future of Price

In any city, Main Street is the heart of town. This is a place where goods, services and government agencies typically can be found. Price is no different. That is why local government officials and business leaders have combined forces and formed a Main Street program which will focus on the growth and preservation of the downtown district.

In an effort to coordinate the program, Price city has hired Melanie Steele as the Main Street Executive Program Coordinator. Steele’s job is to unify the various programs and committees that work separately to improve local small business. By having a coordinator whom leaders and citizens can turn to, the community will benefit from the many different programs that focus on building a strong business district.

“My job is to keep everyone on the different committees on track,” explained Steele. “I am a secretary of sorts. A contact person who professionals and citizens can reach with ideas and concerns about the downtown area.”

From the Sun Advocate 11/24/05
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Building could house hands-on business school

Representatives from Mt. Pleasant City and Wasatch Academy are preparing to submit a proposal to turn the historic J. C. Penney store on Main Street into an educational facility. In correspondence with Kenneth Hick, president and merchandising officer of J. C. Penney Corp., City Councilman Monte Bona plans to propose that the building be re-opened as an independent store run by Wasatch Academy students to teach principles of retailing, incorporating original J. C. Penney ethics.

Vern Fisher of Wasatch Academy says, “We’re excited about the opportunity for the community as a whole and the possible partnership underway. We look forward to the options and potential of working with Corp. America as well as joint learning opportunity.”

From the Sanpete Messenger 11/16/05
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The Music School has American Fork grand opening

Fledgling Madonnas, Missy Elliots, Mozarts and Miles Davis' now have a place in Utah County to perform and practice. The Music School in American Fork, 350 E. Main, celebrated a grand opening Saturday. Officials at the school, known formerly as Crescent School of Music, showed off a new 16,000-square-foot facility.

The building was converted from an old gym to a music facility, complete with 25 practice rooms, recording studios and a performance hall. It is a far cry from the old location at 50 North Center Street in American Fork, where the school had 4,000 square feet and non-soundproof walls.

"There's not really any comparison," said Caleb Chapman, president and founder of The Music School. "This was designed as a music facility."

From the Deseret News 11/14/05
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