? Homelessness Avoided + New African Restaurant + Ken Sanders – Patch.com

---

First, today’s weather:

Mostly cloudy with festive little snow flurries. High: 33 Low: 16.

Find out what’s happening in Salt Lake City with free, real-time updates from Patch.

---

Here are the top stories today in Salt Lake City:

1. Raise Up SLC, a direct assistance program, helped stem homelessness and hunger for Salt Lake families during the pandemic, benefitting nearly 8,000 people in need. Drawing from donations and federal CARES Act funding, the city distributed cash-loaded cards that mainly went to pay for rent to families who would otherwise face eviction, half of which were families with young children. (fox13now.com)
2. The resilient Eshete family of restauranteurs behind Salt Lake City’s first Ethiopian restaurant have endured a 5-year journey of relocating, remodeling, personal hardships, and a global pandemic to bring the Oromian Restaurant on State Street (near SLCC) to finally open its doors. Featuring classic sampler platters of various Oromian stews on budenna—the sourdough spongy bread also known as injera—the restaurant also offers a traditional Oromian coffee ceremony. (Salt Lake City Weekly)
3. An SLC-based lab has been fined for violating water pollution regulations and ordered to pay $2 million for ‘environmental crimes’ within 30 days. Cytozyme Labratories, Inc. “illegally discharged pollutants for years from their South Salt Lake facility into the local sewer system,” said the EPA’s Special Agent in Charge, and pled guilty to charges. (ABC 4)
4. The ‘man who loved books too much,’ Salt Lake’s very own Ken Sanders, along with his famed bookstore will soon find a new home at The Leonardo. The interactive science museum on Library Square will offer up a portion of 3 separate floors to Sanders, whose new digs will feature a children’s section, and a rare books “Kiva” in the basement. Sanders sees this as his last chance to reinvent himself while being forced out of his original space by developers. (Salt Lake Tribune)
5. The west side neighborhoods of Salt Lake aren’t known for their corner cafés and coffee shops, but there’s more brewing from Glendale to Rose Park than you might think. Here are five west-side coffee shops and roasters where you can get a cup of Joe and haul some locally roasted beans home as well. (Salt Lake City Patch)

Today’s Salt Lake City Daily is brought to you in part by our friends at Verizon. They’re building the fastest 5G network in the country. To learn how 5G is going to change life for you and your community — and to get access to this amazing technology — click here. And thank you Verizon for sponsoring this community resource in Salt Lake City!

Find out what’s happening in Salt Lake City with free, real-time updates from Patch.

---

Today in Salt Lake City:

• Salt Lake’s own Pacific Heritage Academy will delight the community with a Latin Heritage Performance at the Utah Cultural Celebration Center in West Valley. (3:45 PM)
• The venerated concert pianist Orli Shaham will join the Utah Symphony to delight audiences with Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 2 today and Saturday, at Abravanel Hall. (7:30 PM)
• Closing soon: the Utah Museum of Fine Arts’ Confluence exhibition explores the essential component of water in our daily life before it’s gone. (All Day)

---

From my notebook:

• Winter Weather: Snow is expected in Salt Lake City, with winter storm watches issued for much of Utah. (Salt Lake Tribune)
• Daily Bread: Utah Microbakeries deliver the goods and feed our growing obsession with homemade sourdoughs and rustic loaves. If you didn’t pick up the hobby during the pandemic, but crave those artful baked goods you see on social media, these tiny Utah bakeries have you covered. (Salt Lake Magazine)
• Real Estate Market: Home sellers are turning huge profits in Salt Lake City as home prices continue to rise at historic rates. For Utah’s capital, growing demand and low-interest rates fuel the surging home values. (24/7 Wall St. – Salt Lake City)
• Salt Lake City School District: “As we approach winter and the stormy conditions that come with it, Salt Lake City School District schools will be open on all regularly scheduled school days unless circumstances create health or safety issues. If a closure or delay is needed, we will notify parents as soon as possible via the local news media, the district website, our social media sites” (Facebook)
• The University of Utah: “Scientists are exploring how and why time in nature has such a beneficial effect. A new collaborative effort among various campus departments aims to bring researchers and practitioners together to explore the connection between nature and human health.” (Facebook)

---

From our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Events:

• Social Security Webinar (December 14)
• Add your event

---

Loving the Salt Lake City Daily? Here are all the ways you can get more involved:

• Send a friend or neighbor this link so they can subscribe
• Get your local business listed in front of readers
• Send me a news tip or suggestion at saltlakecity@patch.com

---

Now you’re in the loop and ready to start this Friday. See you all tomorrow for another update!

— Joseph Peterson

About me: Joseph is a writer and marketing communications strategist with a degree in Mass Communication and Public Relations from the University of Utah. He’s keen on city life, public libraries, national parks, and promoting events that build community.