Commissioner LuAnn Adams to retire from
Utah Department of Agriculture and Food
SALT LAKE CITY (April 1, 2019) — Utah Department of Agriculture and Food Commissioner LuAnn Adams is stepping down after more than five years. During her time with the department, she has lead the agency’s efforts to regulate and promote farming and animal production, land conservation, food safety, lab testing, and economic development.
Governor Gary Herbert made the announcement in a statement Monday that Adams would leave April 16 and that Deputy Commissioner Scott Ericson would serve as Interim Commissioner until a new commissioner is appointed and approved by the Legislature.
Herbert tapped Adams in 2013 while she was serving her first term as Box Elder County Commissioner. Prior to that she had spent 16 years serving in positions as County Clerk, Recorder, and Surveyor at the same county.
“I am grateful to Commissioner Adams for her dedicated service to my administration and the people of Utah,” said Herbert. “She leaves a great legacy in her service to Utah’s agriculture producers. Her subject matter expertise and commitment will be greatly missed.”
Adams is the first female commissioner in UDAF history.
“It has been a wonderful life-changing opportunity to serve in Governor Herbert’s cabinet,” said Commissioner Adams. “This experience has been the highlight of my career, and I have been honored to work among amazing leaders.”
“I will dearly miss the friendships with my colleagues, staff and the great people in the agriculture industry. I am proud of my accomplishments as commissioner and the opportunity it provided me to promote the determination and grit of those living and working in the agriculture industry,” she concluded.
She departs having accomplished a number of internal reforms within the agency that have created efficiencies in processes, operations, and budgets.
Under her leadership, UDAF has also heightened administrative and public attention to food safety, and highlighted the recognition, work and importance of Utah’s 32 conservation districts.
======================
Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America Celebrates 25th Anniversary with its Longest Route Ever
For the first time in the Ride’s history, 250 riders will travel nearly 3,700 miles from corner to corner across the country, raising money to send kids to Victory Junction
CHARLOTTE, N.C., Mar. 5, 2019 – Former NASCAR driver and NBC Sports racing analyst Kyle Petty will celebrate the 25th anniversary of his annual Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America by leading the longest route in the Ride’s history. As one of the most successful and popular charity rides in the country, the Ride will travel a true corner-to-corner route across the United States – starting in Seattle, Washington, on May 3 and ending in Key Largo, Florida, on May 11.
On this milestone anniversary route, Petty will lead 250 participants, including more than 30 new Riders, through 11 states in nine days. Presented for the seventh year in a row by Manheim®, North America’s leading provider of used vehicle services and the host of two stops along the route at Manheim Seattle and Manheim Tampa, the Ride will travel nearly 3,700 miles to raise funds and awareness for Victory Junction – a camp dedicated to providing life-changing camping experiences for children with chronic or life-threatening illnesses.
Traveling from Washington to Florida, this year’s trek will offer a variety of incredible scenic views. From the beauty of the Pacific Northwest and the red rock terrain in Utah, to the Colorado hot springs and Rocky Mountains, to the North Central Plains of Texas and the Louisiana bayou, and onto the Everglades and sunny Florida beaches, Petty believes this 25th Anniversary Ride will be the ride of a lifetime.
“This year’s route is special because we’re bringing back a few of our favorite Ride stops from past years, like Glenwood Springs, Santa Fe and Childress, but we’re also adding in a bunch of new places that our Riders will love,” said Petty. “I may be biased, but I believe this year’s Ride will be the best ever! We’ve gone north to south and west to east, but never corner to corner. Seattle to the Keys is a bucket list ride and I can’t wait to knock it off my list and help our Riders do the same.”
Spectators along the 2019 route are encouraged to attend one of the Ride’s nine overnight stops or daily fuel stops to greet Petty and the riders, purchase memorabilia and make donations.
25th Anniversary Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America Schedule:
“We have loved being a part of the Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America for the last seven years, and we’re thrilled to be back again as a sponsor,” said Grace Huang, president of Manheim. “Giving back is at the heart of what we do, and our team members at Manheim Seattle and Manheim Tampa in particular are excited to welcome Riders and the community to their locations in support of this worthwhile cause.”
Because of the Ride, 8,185 children have attended Victory Junction at no cost to their families. Last year alone, the Ride raised $1.3 million and sent 100 children to Camp. Victory Junction has served as the Ride’s primary beneficiary since its establishment by Petty and his family in 2004 in honor of his late son, Adam.
Among the celebrities participating in this year’s Ride are NASCAR Hall of Famer and seven-time champion Richard Petty; NASCAR legends Harry Gant, Hershel McGriff and Donnie Allison; current NASCAR driver David Ragan; former Formula 1, Champ Car and NASCAR driver Max Papis; former NFL great and Heisman Trophy winner (1982) Herschel Walker; Heisman Trophy winner (1980) and Super Bowl champion (XXII) George Rogers; and NBC Sports NASCAR personalities Krista Voda, Rutledge Wood, and Rick Allen.
“It’s hard to believe it’s been 25 years since the Ride started. What started as just a few friends riding motorcycles to race tracks around the country has turned into something so much bigger than I could’ve ever imagined,” said Petty. “Because of our sponsors, fans and the people who participate in this Ride, whether they’re veteran participants or first-timers, so many deserving kids get to have the time of their life at Victory Junction each year.”
The 2019 Ride is made possible by presenting sponsor Manheim, as well as Coca-Cola, Harley-Davidson Motor Company, Dodge, Dodge Law, Racing Electronics, WinCraft Racing, FLUIDYNE Racing Products, Petty Family Foundation, Headbands of Hope, Piedmont Moving Systems, WileyX, Manafort Brothers Inc., Stock Car Steel & Aluminum, Inc., Blue Emu and Goody’s.
Keep up with Petty and the Ride on social media at the following accounts:
For more information about the Ride or to donate, please visit www.kylepettycharityride.com.
About Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America
Led by former NASCAR driver and racing analyst Kyle Petty, the Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America is an annual cross-country motorcycle trek that raises funds and awareness for Victory Junction. The Ride is one of the most successful and popular charity events in the country. Now in its 25th year, more than 8,400 riders have logged 12 million cumulative motorcycle miles and raised more than $18.5 million for Victory Junction and other children’s charities.
About Victory Junction
Victory Junction is a year-round camping environment for children, ages six to 16, with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses. Co-founded by Kyle Petty and his family in honor of their son Adam, the camp is located in Randleman, North Carolina. Victory Junction exists to provide life-changing camping experiences that are exciting, fun and empowering, in a safe and medically-sound environment, always free of charge. As a not-for-profit organization, the camp operates solely through the support of generous individuals, foundations, organizations and corporations to provide this experience at no charge to children and their families. Since the camp’s inception, more than 28,300 children and families have received not only a circle of support but experiences thought to only be possible by healthy children. Victory Junction is a member of the SeriousFun Children’s Network of Camps founded by Paul Newman, and is accredited by the rigorous guidelines of the American Camping Association. To learn more, please visit www.victoryjunction.org.
About Manheim (www.manheim.com)
Manheim® is North America's leading provider of end-to-end wholesale solutions that help dealer and commercial clients increase profits in their used vehicle operations. Through its physical, mobile and digital sales network, Manheim offers services for inventory management, buying and selling, floor planning, logistics, assurance and reconditioning. With its omni-channel approach, Manheim Marketplace enables wholesale vehicle clients more efficient ways to connect and transact business how and when they want. Approximately 18,000 team members help Manheim offer 8 million used vehicles annually, facilitating transactions representing nearly $58 billion in value. Headquartered in Atlanta, Manheim North America is a Cox Automotive™ brand. For more information, visit http://press.manheim.com.
===============================
Bandits of The Acoustic Revolution ft. Streetlight Manifesto
To Headline Radio City Music Hall,
The Dolby Theater and Chicago Theater this May
NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ - Bandits of The Acoustic Revolution will be headlining Radio City Music Hall in NYC on May 4, Chicago Theater in Chicago, IL on May 11, and The Dolby Theater in Los Angeles on May 18. Tickets for the shows are on sale now and can be found at www.acousticbandits.com
Bandits of The Acoustic Revolution or BOTAR, is a musical collective including influences from punk, classical, and eastern European music, with classically trained musicians performing entirely in an acoustic format. It is composed of current Streetlight Manifesto members, including Tomas Kalnoky, Chris Thatcher, Jim Conti, Karl Lyden, Matt Stewart, Pete Mccullough, Dan Ross, and Michael Brown alongside nearly 50 orchestral musicians from each of the cities the concerts are taking place in.
In addition to NYC, BOTAR will also be performing in Los Angeles at The Dolby Theater and in Chicago at the Chicago Theatre. This year's venues have been upgraded, as 2018's run of shows completely sold out.
"Essentially, I was raised around all kinds of music, with a good chunk of it being classical," Kalnoky explains. "That said, when I got a bit older, I wanted to rebel against the universe like every other kid, so I dedicated myself to punk rock and my interpretation of its ethics etc., but a part of me still wanted to bring something structured and "old world" into my newfound love of high energy rock and roll. . The realities of not having the resources (nor, at the time, the experience) necessary to put together a massive project like this, it was placed on the back burner for almost two decades. A few years ago, I felt like it was time to try my hand at organizing the project and trying to make it a reality. Streetlight's success over the years obviously helped make it even moderately feasible. So, it was always there, in the back of my mind, more of an inevitability than a daydream.
Putting these shows together include months of stress, something to lose all my savings on, and a twofold increase of my already debilitating insomnia. That, and to live out one of my musical fantasies, so it's an even trade"
2019 Bandits of the Acoustic Revolution Orchestra Shows
TICKETS ON SALE NOW
5/4/19 New York City NY / Radio City Music Hall - https://bit.ly/2Fp3dFt
5/11/19 Chicago IL / Chicago Theatre - https://bit.ly/2WcFaz6
5/18/19 Los Angeles CA / Dolby Theater - https://bit.ly/2Yc313u
More about Bandits of The Acoustic Revolution
Born as an unrealistic fantasy in a nondescript suburban basement in 2001, BOTAR was little more than a cult-like, rarely mentioned side project for then-nonstop-touring outfit Streetlight Manifesto. After the release of a 4 song EP that year, complete with handmade packaging and no real tangible plans for a future, BOTAR sat in hiding, gestating for about a decade and a half. In the summer of 2017, seemingly out of nowhere, a series of shows was announced for the following year, with a full orchestra replacing the rag-tag 16 piece band that recorded that EP many years ago. Part rock and roll band, part classical orchestra, BOTAR was reborn on the stages of the Beacon Theater and The Orpheum in NYC and LA in early 2018. Despite the sold out shows and feverish enthusiasm of the BOTAR crowds, the group has remained steadfast in its DIY roots and its adherence to the keep-your-head-down-and-make-music ethos of the punk rock word the men behind the band grew up with. BOTAR is ready for a new set of shows in 2019, in even larger venues with even more surprises up its ridiculously massive sleeves.
About Streetlight Manifesto
Streetlight Manifesto is an iconic ska/punk band from New Brunswick, NJ. The band's debut album Everything Went Numb garnered critical acclaim. The band recently toured the album on its 15th anniversary, with most of the shows selling out.
Social links
https://www.facebook.com/botarmusic
www.twitter.com/acousticbandits
https://www.facebook.com/SManifesto
https://twitter.com/SManifesto
========================
Easter Bunny Springs into Layton Hills Mall
Holiday Photos & Fun Await!
Layton, UT (April 1, 2018) – Flowers and spring showers are in the air, and that means the Easter Bunny is making his way down the bunny trail! Starting Saturday, April 6th, kids and adults of all ages will find the Easter Bunny hoppily nestled in the J&J Bunny Garden at Layton Hills Mall, ready for pictures and seasonal fun.
Hippity hop your way to the Bunny in your Easter best and choose from one of several photo options, all of which include a free $25 Shutterfly gift card. Visitors also receive an Easter Bunny coloring sheet you’ll want to hang on your fridge all season long!
For the full Bunny Experience, bring your furry friends and join us on Monday nights, April 8th and 15th from 6p-9p for Pet Photos with the Easter Bunny!
The Easter Bunny is egg-cited to see you, so stop by Layton Hills Mall to say hello to your favorite cottontail. The J&J Bunny Garden is located at Center Court Monday through Sunday during mall hours, from April 6th – 20th. Please note that Layton Hills Mall is closed on Easter Sunday.
Special Events and Dates:
For more event details visit https://www.facebook.com/pg/LaytonHillsMall/events/?ref=page_internal
For more information on photos, visit http://www.shoplaytonhills.com/content/easterbunnyphotos
About Layton Hills Mall:
Layton Hills Mall is owned and managed by CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. of Chattanooga, Tennessee, (NYSE:CBL). Layton Hills Mall features more than 100 great specialty shops and is anchored by JCPenney, Dillard’s, SeaQuest Interactive Aquarium and Dick’s Sporting Goods. Additional information can be found at ShopLaytonHills.com
