The UCB Buzz
A publication of
Utah Council of the Blind
November 2023
For the latest news updates, check out the website at utahblind.org
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
Winter Wonderland Holiday Celebration
UCB
Holiday Snowflake Boutique
Board
of Directors and Management
2023-2024
Meeting Schedule and Calendar
This is going to be a short
issue, but it contains all of the information you will
want to know about the UCB Winter Wonderland Celebration on December 2. Who
knows! I might even come! It’s going to be a celebration that will jumpstart
and boost your holiday spirits. Please come and bring your family and friends. We
would love to see a lot of people there.
There will be no Buzz for
December, since after the Holiday party, things will slow down, and I doubt
there will be anything going on to talk about. But all you
recipe-lovers, watch for Sandy’s Pumpkin Cobbler recipe in this issue.
I urge you, sincerely, to
look at the 2023 Calendar of Events and Board Meeting Schedule at the back of
the magazine. Actually, it’s more for 2024, because
the Board of Directors has tried to schedule out the entire year of 2024. But
be aware that much of the calendar is subject to change as the year progresses,
and so you should watch the UCB website and this publication to be aware of
updates that certainly will occur as the year goes on. The calendar is always
the very last thing at the back of the magazine so that it should be easy to
find in print and Braille, and on the audio CD it’s always the last track. Would
you believe? I’ve had people say to me, “Where is the calendar?” Well,
that’s where it is, and always has been.
In the meantime, have fun,
and we’ll see you in January.
Tom Mitchell
Our “Winter Wonderland” Holiday Celebration” will
be on December 2, 2023, from 11:00 am - 1:30 pm.
Cost is $8 per person. Come share a delicious holiday
luncheon with us and enjoy a performance by the Mountain Ridge High School
Madrigals, prizes, a photo area, singing, and a boutique. We will also have a
Santa for children ages 11 and younger. Reservations are required. If you are
bringing children, we need to know their ages and their genders. Lunch will be
provided by Jim’s Family Restaurant. If you have dietary restrictions, such as
allergies, please let us know when you are making reservations. Please call the
UCB office at 801-245-9264. Here’s
what’s going to be happening at this “winter wonderland” celebration.
This year you will find all
you want and need for that special holiday. We will have a Holiday Boutique on
December 2, 2023 beginning at 9 am to 11 am, and then after the party,
re-opening again at 1:30 until 2:30 pm. The boutique will showcase many
different things including:
*Ray Wright with his beautiful wood items (ball point pens and key
chains)
*Kira Larkin with her wonderful scrubbies and her pretty bracelets
*Mindy Larson with her table of fudge (sure sounds good*)
*Sandy England’s table with delicious jams, colorful beaded plant
stakes etc.
*Ceramics class will display and sell items from wood projects to
beautiful ceramics (this is their first time)
*Karl Smith will be back again with some of his great items such as
Hable Bluetooth keyboard, Victor Stream 3 with special pricing and more.
*Sarah Erb with Braille machine covers (sounds
great!*)
Note: All vendors will
handle their own financial transactions so it may be a good idea to bring cash.
Some will take credit cards or do Zelle or Venmo.
The UCB table will be full
of surprises and wonderful items for that special person. They will accept cash
or credit cards but no checks please.
If you would like to reserve
a table, it is not too late. Please call Sandy at 801-634-8002 and call Kate at
the UCB office to pay for your table ($5).
We will be having a bake
sale this year. Please show your support by bringing (and buying) baked goods. Did
you know that many baked items can be frozen and eaten later, and they will
still hold their flavor? Bring whatever you like to bake and share with others.
The bake sale will accept credit cards and cash but no checks.
So, bring your family, your
friends, neighbors etc. and “shop till you drop”.
Tickets sold at $1.00 each
or 6 for $5.00. You may prepay for your tickets or buy them at the Holiday
Party.
Teddy bears make the best
friends. They are always ready to give you a hug. They always love you … just
the way you are. Two jumbo bears are up for grabs:
1 3-foot bear with $20.00
Leatherby’s Gift Certificate
1 2-foot bear with $25.00
Black Bear Diner Gift Certificate.
First Name drawn may pick
a bear of choice. Must be present to receive item.
A special thanks to
Black Bear Diner and Leatherby's for their donations.
Though it’s not specifically
part of the party, we are having a Christmas Stocking Fundraiser. What a find! $15.00
each. Perfect gift for anyone, even your furry friends. Items/goodies will be
age-appropriate and gender-neutral. Please specify child, teen, adult, cat, or dog. Orders need to be in by
November 27th. Order yours today at the UCB office 801-245-9264.
Donations for this
fundraiser are appreciated.
By Sandy England
After my guide dog, Jet,
died I didn’t know if I wanted another guide dog. I called Guide Dogs for the
Blind in California (GDB) and talked to them a long time. They mentioned they
had a program that was fairly new. This program was
developed for young people just before they are at the age of getting a guide dog
to raise. This is to help them to know what it is to have a well-behaved dog
that has been trained that they would need to groom, feed, walk, and love. The
hope is that when these kids are ready for a guide dog puppy
they will have trained themselves with the buddy dog so they can be successful
as puppy raisers. As time went on GDB decided to expand the program to adults
who have decided they don’t want a guide dog but would like to have a
well-behaved dog in their home to love and take care of. One important thing to
know: The canine buddy dog does not have access to public places. The buddy dog
is a pet dog and can go only into places where pet dogs are welcomed. Please
remember that a K9 buddy dog is a pet companion dog and not a service dog.
You can apply for this
program by calling 1-800-295-4050 and ask for the K9 Buddy Dog Program.
I have one of these darling
dogs. She is a black lab named Purpose (they come with a name). She is gentle, kind
and loving. She is trained to sit, lie down, and to walk by you with a leash. She
comes with all that is needed to maintain her (all but her food). If she is on
a special diet they sometimes pay for 50 percent of
it. These dogs do not cost you any money. They come with measuring cups, a food
bowl, rug for the dog to lie on, leash, toys, and flea protection. GDB pays for
the vet bills. I’m sure I have left something out; however, GDB will be more
than glad to explain the program to you.
You must be legally blind
and have a place to relieve the dog. My dog loves her kennel and when we go places we put her in it. However, GDB will tell you how to
leave your dog at home if you are going to a place where the dog can’t go.
Any questions? You can call
me at 801-634-8002
Provided by Sandy England
Everyone who tries this
delicious dessert likes it better than ordinary pumpkin pie. The crust mixture
rises to the top during baking to form a rich topping.
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup evaporated milk
3 cups cooked mashed pumpkin or butternut squash
1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ginger
1/4 teaspoon cloves
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2
teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup white sugar
4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk
1
teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon butter
2
tablespoons white sugar
Preheat oven to 350 F.
In a large bowl, combine
eggs, milk, and pumpkin; add the rest of the filling ingredients, mix well, and
set aside.
Prepare the crust: Melt the
butter in a 9- by 11-inch baking pan. In another bowl, mix the remaining crust
ingredients until just combined and pour into baking pan on top of the melted
butter.
Spoon or slowly pour the
filling evenly over the crust batter in the pan. Do not stir. Dot the top with
the remaining 1 tablespoon butter and sprinkle with the 2 tablespoons sugar.
Bake 1 hour. Serves 8-10.
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, please call the UCB business
office at 801-245-9264 or send an e-mail to utahblind@gmail.com and let us
know.
We are always looking for
articles, book reviews, or interesting tidbits of information from our readers
or other interested persons. You may e-mail any articles you wish to submit to
tommit60@gmail.com; send Braille, print, or audio to UCB Buzz, PO Box 1415,
Bountiful, UT 84011-1415. Please allow extra time for processing Braille,
print, or audio.
Anna Jeffery, President, Skills Development Program Supervisor
Donni Mitchell, Vice President, Ceramics Board Liaison
Jeana Nielsen, Secretary
Vicki Flake, Treasurer
Sandy Ruconich, Director, Executive Director
Sandy England, Director, Awards Committee Chair
Kira Larkin, Director, Braille Committee Chair, Ceramics Class Liaison
Shelly Hendricksen, Director, Scholarship Committee Chair
Cindi Vega, Director, Election Committee Chair
Dennie Clark, Director, Skills Development Program Assistant Supervisor
Mindi Larson, Director, Holiday Celebration Committee Chair
David Jordan, Director Elect
Kate Balzly, Chief Operating Officer
Aunilie Hathaway, Membership Committee Chair
Tom Mitchell, Publications Committee Chair
Matt Barnhill, Adaptive Technology Committee Chair
JD
Seely, Community Projects Chair
Members are invited and
encouraged to attend meetings of the Board of Directors. Meetings will
typically be held on Thursday of selected months at 4:45 p.m. via Zoom. To be
placed on the agenda or attend a meeting,
e-mail utahblind@gmail.com or call 801-245-9264.
Thursday, November 2, 2023, 4:45 p.m. – Board Meeting
Monday, November 20, 2023, 5:00 p.m. – Reservations due for Holiday
Celebration
Saturday, December 2, 2023, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. – Holiday
Celebration at DSBVI
Saturday, December 2, 2023, 9:00-11:00 a.m. and 1:30-2:30 p.m. –
Holiday Boutique at DSBVI
Thursday, January 4, 2024, 4:45 p.m. – Board Meeting
Thursday, March 7, 2024, 4:45 p.m. – Board Meeting
Saturday, March 23, 2024, tentative – Annual Legacy Pioneers Easter Egg
Hunt – watch for updates
Saturday, April 13, 2024, tentative – Statewide Training Conference –
watch for updates
Saturday, May 4, 2024 – U of U Sunshine Symposium – watch for updates
Saturday, May 11, 2024, tentative – Art Stroll – watch for updates
Thursday, June 6, 2024, 4:45 p.m. – Board Meeting
Saturday, June 8, 2024 – Games Activity – watch for updates
July 5-12, 2024, Jacksonville, Florida – American Council of the Blind
Annual Conference and Convention
Thursday, August 1, 2024, 4:45 p.m. – Board Meeting
Saturday, August 10, 2024, tentative – Seaquest
Aquarium Activity – watch for updates
Monday, September 9, and Wednesday, September 11, 2024, tentative –
Utah State Fair – watch for updates
Saturday, September 21, 2024, 10:00 a.m., DSBVI – Annual Business
Meeting
Saturday, October 12, 2024, 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. – Budget and Training
Meeting (by invitation only)
Saturday, October 19, 2024, tentative – Halloween Spooktacular – watch
for updates
Saturday,
December 7, 2024, 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m., DSBVI, tentative – Holiday Celebration
– watch for updates
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THE BLIND
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