Right now, more than half a million students are Taking A Stand in History with a year long journey of exploration that could result in thousands of dollars in prizes and scholarships. The National History Day Contest welcomes participants from all fifty states, American Samoa, Guam, China, South Asia, Korea, and the District of Columbia. Students compete at local and regional contests, with top winners advancing to the next level. The best of the best advance to the Kenneth E. Behring National History Day Contest (read The Washington Post story about last year's contest) each June where they try for first place prizes worth $1,000 and three college scholarships available from Case Western Reserve Univesrity, the University of Maryland, and Chaminade University in Hawaii.
This is the 42nd year of this contest and we hope it is the largest yet. The release below explains the contest itself as well as highlighting some of the numerous resources available to students and teachers who wish to participate. Most of these resources are free. Our goal is to improve the teaching and learning of history in order to equip students with the skills necessary to be civic minded, successful, individuals.
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DENVER—In response to the House Public Lands Subcommittee holding its first and only hearing on Rep. Rob Bishop’s Public Lands Initiative bill, the Center for Western Priorities released the following statement from Executive Director Jennifer Rokala:
“The partisan rancor at today’s subcommittee hearing confirms everything we’ve suspected about the PLI—Chairman Bishop wrote a massive bill without making a serious attempt to build the bipartisan support a true compromise would require to pass both chambers of Congress. By waiting until late September to mark up his bill, Congressman Bishop chose to run out the clock on the PLI, knowing it has no chance of becoming law. Bears Ears is still in urgent need of protection, and it’s now obvious to everyone involved that the only way that can happen is through President Obama’s leadership.”
After today’s hearing, Rep. Bishop will have just 26 working days left in Congress to pass the PLI, assuming the House works through the end of September as scheduled.
For more information, visit westernpriorities.org. To speak with an expert on public lands, contact Aaron Weiss at 720-279-0019 or aaron@westernpriorities.org.
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Inspirational author Michael Ditton shares how he overcame great personal odds
SAN PEDRO, Calif. – In “Dreams, Goals and Adventure” (published by Balboa Press), Michael Ditton shares personally tested strategies for achieving financial independence and, ultimately, living a full and rewarding life. A new marketing campaign is all set to promote this book which was first published in October 2015. Ditton will be promoting “Dreams, Goals and Adventure” from Central to Southern California in the month of October 2016.
“Dreams, Goals and Adventure” is an inspirational how-to guide based on Ditton’s personal life and experiences overcoming great odds. After returning from Desert Storm, Ditton found himself mentally and financially bankrupt and divorced. With no job, no help and no hope, he clung to a few simple truths from his childhood: hard work gets results and it is okay to dream. This outlook would help him turn his life around and achieve personal goals he never thought were possible.
“Having a dream and setting goals launched me from poverty to a life I could not have imagined, and you can do it, too,” Ditton says. “My book will inspire you to dream big, work toward your goals, and live your life as an adventure every day.”
“Dreams, Goals and Adventure” features stories anyone can relate to, stories that illustrate how, even in times of adversity, anything is achievable as long as one perseveres.
“Dreams, Goals and Adventure”
By Michael Ditton
Hardcover | 5.5 x 8.5in | 148 pages | ISBN 99781504335904
Softcover | 5.5 x 8.5in | 148 pages | ISBN 9781504335881
E-Book | 148 pages | ISBN 9781504335898
Available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and dreamsgoalsandadventure.com
For calendar of events and locations, visit facebook.com/michael.ditton.1
About the Author
Michael Ditton is an entrepreneur, personal development coach and student of life. He has had a colorful career in various industries including restaurant businesses, sales and real estate. A Desert Storm veteran, he served in the U.S. Army and Army Reserve for 20 years, retiring in 2005.
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Myndee Joan Garrett shares her journey to ‘Sacred Light’
New book is about author’s mystical, spiritual journey through life
HERRIMAN, Utah – Leaving the religion of her childhood was very difficult for Myndee Joan Garrett. Finding her own spiritual path lead to the freedom she has been craving her whole life. Discovering the truth of who she is, her purpose in life and her authentic self is something she wanted to share with others as well and it prompted her in writing “Sacred Light: My journey from Mormon to Mystic” (published by Balboa Press).
This book is about Garrett’s mystical, spiritual journey through life. It is a book about faith, purpose, awakening, love, compassion, healing, joy and miracles. It details a strict, religious childhood, a special vocation for her life, a deviating “dark night of the soul” and a beautiful ignition of the “Sacred Light” within her heart which has forever transformed her life.
“Today, more than ever, we need people to wake up and to love each other,” Garrett says. “Healing this world begins with healing ourselves. My book is all about healing our wounded hearts, learning to love yourself in order to love others and realizing how amazing life can be when you are living it consciously, authentically and surrendering to your Sacred Self, the Sacred Light within you.”
Through the publication of “Sacred Light” Garrett hopes readers will realize they are more than just the body, the mind, their experiences in life, their past and their future. She would like to help them awaken to a beautiful truth about themselves, that they are truly powerful beings of light that can live their life authentically, genuinely and consciously if they choose. Her story hopes to ignite their desire to speak their own truth boldly, to live their life unapologetically and authentically, follow their hearts unashamedly and that they will have a deep desire to contribute to the healing of others who are also finding their own way through this marvelous journey called life.
“Sacred Light”
By Myndee Joan Garrett
Hardcover | 6 x 9in | 442 pages | ISBN 9781504356220
Softcover | 6 x 9in | 442 pages | ISBN 9781504356237
E-Book | 442 pages | ISBN 9781504356244
Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble
About the Author
Myndee Joan Garrett is a spiritualist, a Holy Fire II Reiki teacher and a Shamanic Reiki practitioner. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in family and human development. She is a certified Holy Fire II Karuna Reiki® Master Teacher and Practitioner. She has studied shamanism, self-realization lessons, Rosicrucianism and completed Inner Engineering with Sadhguru.
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Mountain West Hard Cider and Red Rock Brewing Celebrate 4th West Oktoberfest from September 30, 2016 to October 2, 2016
Salt Lake City, September 13, 2016 – Mountain West Hard Cider and Red Rock Brewing will be celebrating Oktoberfest together on 4th West this year. The celebration, officially titled “4th West Oktoberfest,” runs the weekend of Friday, September 30th to Sunday, October 2nd at 425 North 400 West in Salt Lake City, Utah and features Mountain West’s hard ciders and Red Rock’s craft beers. Although only those of legal drinking age will be allowed to consume these alcoholic beverages, all ages are invited to join in on the fun.
4th West Oktoberfest will include live music from local artists Candy’s River House, Tony Holiday and the Velvetones, Hectic Hobo, Talia Keys, and Michelle Moonshine. DJ Justin Godina will be spinning tunes in-between sets. “We have a great music lineup for this weekend that includes artists with different styles of music and of course, they are all local,” says Jeff Carleton, an owner of Mountain West Hard Cider.
Local food trucks Poutine Your Mouth, SPUDS, Tacos Don Rafa, Bumblebee’s KBBQ and Grill, and Shylo’s Mobile Café are scheduled to serve at the event. Ruby-mosas, a variation on mimosas based on Mountain West Hard Cider’s flagship cider, Ruby, will also be offered during 4th West Oktoberfest.
Games such as Cornhole, giant Jenga, and ring toss provide even more entertainment for festival-goers. And a children’s craft table stocked with coloring pages and crayons is available exclusively for the young ones to enjoy.
There’s more than just fun and entertainment at 4th West Oktoberfest. A part of the proceeds from the event will benefit the Utah Pride Center, a local non-profit organization advocating a thriving LGBTQ+ community in Utah. “We felt a need to support a local non-profit and after working with the Utah Pride Center for the release of Ruby’s Gay Hard Cider during Pride Month, it was an easy choice,” says Jennifer Carleton, an owner of Mountain West Hard Cider.
“After such a successful 4th West Fest event during St. Patrick’s weekend, we wanted to team up again with Mountain West and an Oktoberfest celebration was the perfect opportunity,” says Shantel Stoff, Sales and Marketing Director at Red Rock Brewing. 4th West Oktoberfest will be the second event jointly organized by Mountain West Hard Cider and Red Rock Brewing.
General one-day admission for the event is $7 and includes a limited edition mug. Children under the age of 12 are admitted free into the event. VIP passes are $50, or available at a discounted price of $45 if purchased before September 23, and provide indoor accommodations, full bar access, and a buffet catered by local restaurant, Garage on Beck, in addition to a limited edition mug. Three-day and non-drinker admission tickets are also available.
For more information and ticket sales, please visit http://www.mountainwestcider.com/4thWestOktoberfest.
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About Mountain West Hard Cider
Established in 2014, Mountain West Hard Cider is conveniently located in downtown Salt Lake City at 425 North 400 West. Mountain West Hard Cider, a proud member of Utah’s Own, sources only the finest local ingredients from the Mountain West region to craft every day, seasonal, and artisan hard apple ciders. The Mountain West Hard Cider tasting room and packaging agency are open for sampling and retails sales from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM, Monday – Friday, and 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Saturday. The Mountain West Hard Cider space is also available for event and venue rental. For more information, please call 801-935-4147 or visit www.mountainwesthardcider.com.
About Red Rock Brewing
Red Rock Brewing opened in March of 1994 in the heart of downtown Salt Lake City. From the very beginning, Red Rock set out to brew high quality craft beer and make delicious food and has earned a reputation as one of the most creative breweries in the country. Red Rock Brewing has been awarded Brewpub and Brewer of the Year by the Great American Brewers Festival as well as earned countless medals from around the world for its hand-crafted beers. In 2011, Red Rock expanded their brewing capacity and sales with a dedicated production facility and retail beer store located at 443 N. 400 W. in Salt Lake City. The Beer Store is open for bottle and growler sales from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM, Monday – Friday, and 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Saturday. For menus, directions, and additional information, please visit www.redrockbrewing.com.
