David Boyle

An award-winning author whose book was adapted into a Sundance film last year will be coming to Park City on Wednesday as the keynote speaker at the Park City Friends of the Library Luncheon on Wednesday at Silver Lake Lodge.

Peter Rock will be speaking in part about his book “My Abandonment” which was adapted into the film “Leave No Trace”. The story is based on real-life events. When in 2004, a man and his daughter were found by Portland police in a nature preserve where they had lived for four years.

Lt. Andrew Wright with the Summit County Sheriff’s Department says they’ve dealt with three cases involving down branches since the storm.

The Art and Science of Arachnids exhibit is now at the Swaner EcoCenter giving locals and visitors the opportunity to learn more about and maybe even overcome their fear of spiders.

The exhibit is here through December 9. Swaner Preserve and EcoCenter Executive Director Nell Larson introduces the exhibit.

Park City Newcomers is providing an opportunity for members of the community to learn about local nonprofits this Wednesday.

Carol Levine with the Park City Newcomers Club explains why the non-profit fair is returning.

“The newcomers did this fair three years ago, so we felt that it was time to do another one. It’s a very interesting process because Park City has so many non-profits that it’s difficult to choose. We tried to get newer ones that have not been out there but then we also took the old Christian Center, Peace House and all that.”

Wasatch School District was recognized at the Utah State Board of Education meeting last week.

The Wasatch County School District had an 11% gain in literacy proficiency according to assessments from the state. Superintendent Paul Sweat explained to the state board that after careful planning the district implemented several tools to increase literacy, including additional training for teachers.

A weekend power outage affected 1,600 people in Park City this past weekend. While many were concerned about homes and businesses the outage also affected local parking.

This weekend as power went out the arms on the China Bridge garage went up. Johnny Wasden with Park City Parking explains why.

“They’re designed to basically go up so that no one gets trapped in there. Not requiring payment or anything like that just because it’s no one’s fault. We just want to be able to get people out of there in the event of a power failure.”

The Kimball Art Center’s Senior Director of Marketing and Communications Amy Roberts says the event is a family friendly celebration of art and autumn. The event runs from 1:00 to 5:00 pm, among other things the event will feature ceramic demonstrations.

The Artique gallery in Kamas is opening a new exhibit. Local artist Tom Kelly’s showing is called Backroads Americana, he will be there with his work tonight at an artist reception from 6:00 to 9:00 pm.

Tom Kelly has long been a photographer although his return to the medium has him thinking about it more as an art form than before.

Judy Epstein lives on Meadows Drive in Park City. At the bottom of her family’s driveway sits a bronze bear.

“At the bottom of the driveway we have a couple of big rocks and our bronze bear drinking a cup of coffee." Epstein continued, "Has a black coffee mug in his hand, smiling sitting on the rock greeting people as they drive up and down the street. (It) has somewhat become known to everybody in Park City as the house with the bear. It was taken, stolen off this rock. It was bolted to the rock pretty securely but Oliver—who we have affectionately named our bear—was gone.

Jill Lesh with the Utah League of Women Voters explains what the league does.