The UCB Buzz
A publication of
Utah Council of the Blind
January-February 2025
For the latest news updates, check out the website at utahblind.org and follow us on Facebook and/or join our email
list.
E-mail us at utahblind@gmail.com
For credit card payments, to make reservations, or for other business,
call the business office at 801-245-9264.
Disclaimer
Articles and announcements included in this publication
are presented for your information and interest. They reflect the opinions of
the respective authors and are not necessarily endorsed by the UCB.
In This Issue
Final Notice – UCB
Membership Drive
President’s Message –
Thriving Through Action
Stop the Bleed Workshop
Invitation
OAB (Ogden Association of
the Blind) Events
Dues payments were due on January 1, 2025. If you have not done so already, please renew your membership prior to the end of January in order to maintain your status. Following is a list of information for inclusion on a membership application. Please send the included information along with your check made out to UCB for the appropriate amount to:
Utah Council of the Blind
PO Box 1415
Bountiful UT 84011-1415
To pay by debit/credit card, please call the UCB office at 801-245-9264. Office hours are 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday-Friday.
Name
Address
Mobile phone
Birthdate
Preferred format for UCB correspondence (P = large print, B = Braille, A = audio cd, E = email)
Preferred format for ACB (national) correspondence (P = large print, B = Braille, D = digital cassette, E = email)
Vision Status (B = totally blind, L = legally blind, V = visually impaired, S = sighted)
Annual dues are $10.00 for adults or $5.00 for junior members under 18 years of age.
Lifetime memberships are available on a sliding scale as follows:
$250 for those under 50 years of age
$200 for those 50-59 years of age
$150 for those 60-69 years of age
$100 for those 70-79 years of age
$50 for those 80 years of age and over
Dear Members,
As I think about our logo, Utah, with a beehive and one single bee, I think about how we continue to grow and support each other within the Utah Council of the Blind. I am inspired by the example of the bumblebee and its hive. Each bee plays a unique role, working tirelessly and with purpose. From pollinating flowers to building and protecting the hive, bumblebees thrive through collective action. It’s a beautiful reminder that, together we can achieve so much more than any of us could alone.
The hive itself is a symbol of strength, unity, and purpose – a place where individual actions contribute to a greater whole. Just as the hive depends on each bee, our community depends on the contributions of every one of us. When each member shares their time, energy, and support, we create a space where everyone can thrive.
Despite their small size, bumblebees accomplish what seems impossible. They lift each other up, working through challenges and ultimately building a hive that provides for all. As we move forward together, let’s remember that our actions, no matter how small, create a ripple effect of positive change. Just like the beehive, our community can become a place of resilience, growth, and purpose.
Thank you for every effort you bring to this hive. Together, let’s keep buzzing with intent and thriving through action!
Anna
Jeffery,
President
Please join us for a unique and empowering event where you can gain critical life-saving skills with the Stop the Bleed program! This national initiative is designed to teach individuals how to respond to severe bleeding emergencies, equipping you with the knowledge and confidence to take action when it matters most.
In this hands-on workshop, you will learn:
How to identify life-threatening bleeding.
The proper use of tourniquets, wound-packing
techniques, and direct pressure.
Skills that can make a difference in saving a life during emergencies.
You will be able to practice all of these skills hands-on and come away from this activity more confident to act during an emergency.
When: Saturday, February 1, 2025
Where: Division of Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired, 250 N. 1950 W., Salt Lake City, UT
Time: 10:00 AM
Cost: NO COST!
Refreshments will be served.
Please call our office any time before January 29 to either talk to Kate or leave a message with your reservation so we can have enough material to practice with and of course enough refreshments.
When: Saturday, March 15th from 11 am to 2 pm
Where: DSBVI, 250 N 1950 W, SLC UT
What: Join us as we say goodbye to the winter blues and spring into a healthy mindset. Special Guest Speaker TBA
Free Lunch will be served, so RSVP to reserve your meal.
Games to follow.
Professional Massage available ($5 charge)
Don't forget to wear green.
By Cordie Weed
The party was a huge success. We started with the performance by the bell choir of youths from the Christ United Methodist Church Salt Lake City (christumcutah.org). They were amazing. Some of us were able to ask questions. While questions were being asked, the little children lined up to see Santa and Mrs. Claus, which was awesome.
The decorations were beautiful, featuring bells all around to go with the theme of Holiday Bells as well other decorations.
The food was catered by Cracker Barrel and was pronounced excellent from a lot of comments I received from the participants. We had chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans with bacon, and a biscuit. For dessert, we had brownies with peppermint ice cream with hot fudge sauce.
I would like to thank the following people who were on my committee for all of their help and ideas. They are Anna Jeffery, Julia Sorenson, Mindi Larson, and Cindi Vega. I would also like to thank the bell choir and Santa and Mrs. Claus, as well as Cracker Barrel for catering our food.
We dedicated this Holiday Celebration to our dear friend, Cindi Vega.
(October 22, 1927 –
November 1, 2024)
Ruth Elaine (Fort) Wheeler was born on October 22, 1927, in Salt Lake City, Utah. Her parents were Guy Earl Fort and Esthma (Harding) Fort. Recently Ruth predicted she would make it to her 97th birthday, but not too long after that, she passed away on November 1, 2024, at age 97 years 8 days.
After graduating from Granite High School, she entered nursing school at the L.D.S. Hospital in Salt Lake, becoming a Registered Nurse from the LDS School of Nursing, September 23, 1949. She continued her education at the University of Utah, receiving a Bachelor of Science Degree, August 13, 1957.
Ruth married Ivan Larrabee in the Salt Lake LDS Temple in June of 1949. Ivan suffered from diabetes and passed away at the end of 1952. Ruth met Jack Wheeler in 1953, and they were married that same year. The couple settled in Ogden, Utah where Jack worked for Hill Air Force Base for 35 years.
Ruth taught nursing at Weber State College and then at the University of Utah. Desiring more education, she went to UC Berkley in California for one year (1965-66), acquiring a Master of Science degree in Education.
Since Jack was legally blind his whole life, they dedicated much time to the Ogden Council of the Blind, with Jack serving as President and Ruth serving as secretary/treasurer for many years.
Always diplomatic, kind and patient, she was loved, honored, and admired by all who knew her, including 6 siblings, 36 nieces and nephews and innumerable extended family members.
Ruth lived a very long life in service to thousands of patients as a nurse, to thousands of students as a teacher and professor of nursing and she even taught children at the Blind School in Ogden. She served as a Utah State Rehabilitation Counselor for people losing their sight throughout the state. She served in many professional and civic organizations. She developed and published several university classroom curricula. Notably, she received Utah Nurses Association’s Nurse Educator of the Year Award in both 1978 and 1984.
Ruth is survived by her husband, Jack Wheeler and two brothers, Wayne H. Fort and Earl J. Fort. She was preceded in death by her parents, and four siblings, Marguerite Phillips, Edith Wabel, Lyle Fort, and Naomi Stout.
At Ruth’s request, no funeral services or burial services are planned.
March 4, 1971 –
November 24, 2024
Cindi Lea Vega passed away peacefully at her home in Cottonwood Heights, Utah, on November 24, 2024.
Cindi was born on March 4, 1971, in Ogden, Utah, to Gabriel and Lynda Vega. Later that year, her family moved to Salt Lake City. At the age of five, Cindi began attending the School for the Blind in Ogden before transitioning to the School for the Blind in Salt Lake City. She later attended public school and graduated from Brighton High School in 1991. Cindi went on to earn a Bachelor’s Degree from Weber State University in 1997.
Chidi dedicated her life to supporting the blind and visually impaired community. She began her career at Services for the Blind in Ogden, where she worked for five years, before serving at Utah State Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired for 28 years.
From the age of 12, Cindi read braille during Masses at St. Thomas More Parish. She was an active advocate for individuals with disabilities, serving on the Catholic Bishops’ commission of People with Disabilities, the UTA Accessibility Board, and the Utah Council of the Blind. She was also an avid ham radio operator (call sign: KJ7ZLJ).
Cindi had a unique ability to touch the hearts of everyone she met, leaving a lasting impression of love and kindness. She was often referred to as “God’s angel” for her unwavering faith, compassion, and service to others.
Cindi is survived by her parents, Gabriel and Lynda Vega; her sister, Angela (Jason Provstgaard); her brother, Adam Vega; her niece, Rachel; her nephews, Tristan and Isaiah Street; and several aunts and uncles. Cindi also shared her life with five guide dogs: Cameo, Galaxy, and Romey, and Seattle who preceded her in death.
Her loyal companion, Pringle, will remain with her family.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the following organizations in Cindi’s memory:
Guide Dogs for the Blind (http://www.guidedogs.com)
Utah Council of the Blind (http://www.utahblind.org)
Septo-Optic Dysplasia Foundation (http://www.sods.com)
A Rosary will be held on Saturday, December 7, 2024, at 11:00 AM at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 3015 Creed Rd, Cottonwood Heights, UT 84093.
Following the Rosary, a wake and celebration of Cindi’s life will take place in the parish hall.
By Cordie Weed
3 tablespoons cocoa powder (I use baker cocoa powder)
6 tablespoons butter
3 cups powdered sugar
1 cup evaporated milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
Melt cocoa and butter over low heat in a heavy saucepan, stirring constantly. Once melted, add powdered sugar and evaporated milk alternately. Bring to a boil at medium heat, stirring constantly; continue stirring for approximately 8 minutes until it becomes creamy. Add the vanilla.
Cordie’s note: You need to keep stirring to keep it from burning and from turning grainy.
From Cindi Vega
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F., rack in the middle position.
2 cups white (granulated) sugar
3 eggs
3/4 cup vegetable oil (not canola, or olive, or anything but vegetable oil)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup sour cream (or unflavored yogurt)
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons cinnamon (or 1/2 teaspoon cardamom and the rest cinnamon)
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 20-ounce can crushed pineapple, juice and all
2 cups chopped walnuts (or pecans)
2 1/2 cups flour (don’t sift – pack it down when you measure)
2 cups grated carrots (also pack them down when you measure)
Grease (or spray with Pam or another non-stick cooking spray) a 9-inch by 13-inch cake pan and set it aside.
Beat the sugar, eggs, vegetable oil, and vanilla together in a large bowl. Mix in the sour cream (or yogurt). Add the baking soda, cinnamon (and cardamom if you used it) and salt. Mix them in thoroughly.
Add the can of crushed pineapple (including the liquid) and the chopped nuts to your bowl. Mix them in thoroughly.
Add the flour by half-cup increments, mixing after each addition.
Mix in the carrots by hand. Grated carrots tend to get caught on the beaters of electric mixers.
Spread the batter in your prepared cake pan, and bake it at 350 degrees F. for 50 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted one inch from the center of the cake comes out clean.
Let the cake cool in the cake pan on a wire rack. When it’s completely cool, frost with cream cheese frosting while it’s still in the pan.
1/2 cup softened butter
8-ounce package softened cream cheese
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 cups confectioner’s (powdered) sugar (no need to sift unless it’s got big lumps)
Mix the softened butter with the softened cream cheese and the vanilla until the mixture is smooth.
Add the confectioner’s sugar in half-cup increments until the frosting is of proper spreading consistency. (You’ll use all, or almost all, of the sugar.)
If you’re good with the pastry bag, remove 1/3 cup of frosting and save it in a little bowl to pipe on frosting carrots and stems.
With a frosting knife (or rubber spatula if you prefer), drop large dollops of frosting over the surface of your cooled cake. I usually end up with somewhere between 6 and 12 dollops. The dollops are like little stacks of frosting – you’ll spread neighboring stacks together, working your way from one end to the other, until you’ve frosted the whole cake. (This dollop method prevents uneven frosting thickness and “tearing” of the surface of your cake as you “pull” frosting from one end to the other.)
If you decided to use the pastry bag to decorate your cake, mix most of the remaining frosting with one drop of yellow food coloring and one drop of red food coloring. Mix it thoroughly to make an orange frosting, and pipe little carrots on top to decorate your cake. You can save a bit of uncolored frosting to color green and dab green stems on the large end of the carrots.
(Dates and details are subject to change, so be sure to watch your newsletters for updates. Also, we’re always looking for help, so if you’d like to volunteer to serve on any of the committees for these activities, please let us know.)
February 1, 2025, 10:00
am – Stop the Bleed – DSBVI (Reservation deadline 1/29/2025) (Anna Jeffery,
chair)
March
15, 2025, 11:00 am – 2:00 pm – Emotional and Mental Resilience Activity – DSBVI
(Reservations required) (Sandy England, chair)
April
2025, Easter Egg Hunt and Easter Basket Fundraiser – watch for updates (Kate
Balzly, chair & Legacy Pioneers, sponsors)
May
10, 2025, Story Telling Activity – watch for updates (Kira Larkin, chair)
May
2025, Lunch in the Park, Ephraim – watch for updates (Dennie Clark, chair)
July
4-11, 2025, Dallas, TX, ACB National Convention – for more information check
out https://acbconvention.org
September
8 and 10, Utah State Fair – watch for updates (Kate Balzly, chair)
September
20, 2025, 9:00 a.m., UCB Annual Business Meeting, DSBVI
October
25, 2025, Time TBD, Spooktacular Halloween Party Fundraiser – watch for updates
(Kate Balzly, chair)
November
7-8, 2025, “Living a Happy and Satisfying Life” Statewide Training Conference –
watch for updates (Mindi Larson, chair)
November 26, 2025, History of the Blind –
watch for updates (Kira Larkin, chair)
December 6, 2025, Holiday Celebration, DSBVI
– watch for updates (Shelly Hendriksen, chair)
(Compiled by Karen Porter,
OAB Activities Chairperson)
February 8, 2025: Valentine's Party, Hope (Hillside Senior) Ctr, Roy
March 8, 2025: Meet with Dr. Robert Treft, ophthalmologist at Hope Ctr, Roy
April 12, 2025: Technology Meeting, Hope (Hillside Senior) Ctr, Roy
May l0, 2025: Craft Sale and OAB Meeting, Hope (Hillside Senior) Ctr, Roy.
May 14, 2025: Ceramics, Hope (Hillside Senior) Ctr, Roy.
June 14, 2025: OAB Barbecue, place to be announced later
June 18, 2025: Ceramics, Hope (Hillside Senior) Ctr, Roy (3-6 pm)
July 12, 2025: Swimming Party, Crystal Springs, UT (To be determined.)
July 16, 2025: Ceramics, Hope (Hillside Senior) Ctr, Roy (3-6 pm)
September 13, 2025: Training Classes/Crafts, Hope (Hillside Senior) Ctr, Roy
October 11, 2025: Halloween Bingo Party, Hope (Hillside Senior) Ctr, Roy
November 15, 2025: Thanksgiving Dinner, Golden Corral Restaurant, Ogden
December 13, 2025: Christmas Party, place to be determined
(Meetings and activities are held between 1 and 3 pm every second Saturday of the month.)
Members are invited to attend meetings of the Board of Directors. Meetings will typically be held on the first Thursday of selected months at 4:45 p.m. via Zoom. To be placed on the agenda or attend a meeting, email utahblind@gmail.com or call 801-245-9264.
March 6, 2025, 4:45 p.m.
August
7, 2025, 4:45 p.m.
October
2, 2025, 4:45 p.m. – Budget and Planning Meeting (by invitation only)
January 8, 2026, 4:45
p.m.
Anna Jeffery, President
Donni Mitchell, Vice President
Jeana Nielsen, Secretary
Vicki Flake, Treasurer
Sandy Ruconich
Sandy England
Dennie Clark
Kira Larkin
Shelly Hendriksen
Mindi Larson
Kate Balzly, Executive Director
The UCB Buzz is available in large print, Braille, audio CD, and by e-mail. If you would prefer to receive your newsletter in a different format (or an additional format), please call the UCB business office at 801-245-9264 or send an email to utahblind@gmail.com and let us know.
We always appreciate hearing from our readers and receiving your contributions. To submit materials for publication, email them to utahblind@gmail.com or mail to UCB Buzz, PO Box 1415, Bountiful, UT 84011-1415.
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