Home Care In Leeds, UT

December 6, 2023

Leeds, UT—Farmstead Bakery is thrilled to announce a significant milestone in its journey towards expansion. With the recent purchase of a 5,000-square-foot warehouse in Leeds, Utah, Farmstead Bakery is poised for a remarkable evolution in its operations and reach.

“For about two years now, we’ve had the incredible opportunity to expand, turning down numerous offers in pursuit of the right path forward,” said Li Hsun Sun, COO “Our aim has always been to grow smartly and sustainably, and this acquisition marks a pivotal step towards that goal.”

This strategic move represents a substantial upgrade from the current 1,000 square foot kitchen to a facility capable of supplying 4-5 Farmstead locations. Nestled in Leeds, known for its abundant natural spring water—a crucial element in baking—Farmstead Bakery is poised to harness this resource to create our signature delicious baked goods on a larger scale.

Moreover, this expansion positions Farmstead Bakery as a significant employer in Leeds, Utah, with plans to hire 25-30 dedicated individuals at this warehouse facility. Leeds’ strategic location between thriving areas like Washington, UT, and ST. George, UT, primes Farmstead Bakery for continued growth and future expansion opportunities.

The new baking home, slated for completion by March/April 2024, signifies a transformative phase in Farmstead’s journey. While the warehouse will not be open to the public, expect exciting “coming soon” signs hinting at the brand’s continued growth and presence.

In tandem with this expansion, Farmstead Bakery will introduce FS COFFEE CO., poised to become the premier coffee shop in St. George located on Tabernacle and Main in the heart of downtown. Not only will it offer exceptional roasted coffee for future Farmstead locations, but it will also boast an array of diverse pastries, breakfast items, sandwiches, and Mediterranean-inspired salads.

“We are actively seeking exceptional individuals to join us on this exciting journey,” noted Chris Connors, CEO. Offering competitive starting wages of $21 per hour, full-time roles, and comprehensive health, dental, and vision benefits, Farmstead Bakery values work ethic, coachability, and good character in its team members.

For employment opportunities and further inquiries, please visit www.farmsteadbakery.com

or [email protected]

About Farmstead Bakery:

Founded with a passion for exceptional baked goods and a commitment to sustainable growth, Farmstead Bakery has been delighting patrons with its delicious treats since February, 2021. Renowned for its quality, Farmstead Bakery aims to craft not only great food but also a community around its offerings.

An environmental program manager argues voluntary cleanups overseen by the state meet the same rigorous standards as those conducted by the federal government.

Leeds • Can land atop former uranium mines in Leeds’ historic Silver Reef area ever be given a clean enough bill of health to be fit for residential development?

Gary Crocker, the principal owner of Silver Reef Investment Holdings, insists it can. In fact, he’s banking on it. He has spent $15 million to advance his plan to build 100 homes on 148 acres, part of which would be situated on land that was part of the Big Hill and Chief Chloride uranium mines.

Thus far, he has spent roughly $1 million of that to clean up waste rock and radioactive contaminants on the site as part of a Voluntary Cleanup Project (VCP) agreement signed with the Utah Utah Division of Environmental Response and Remediation (DERR), which could pave the way for him to construct 22 homes for the first phase of Silver Pointe Estates.

Critics of the VCP process doubt that developers will do a thorough job of cleaning up contaminants, especially when it involves radioactivity. But Bill Rees, environmental program manager of DERR’s VCP & Brownsfields section, argues voluntary cleanups overseen by the state meet the same rigorous standards as those conducted by the federal government.

“It’s in the best interest that the program … saves tax dollars so that a party is voluntarily stepping up to clean up [the land] as compared to the government having to pay to clean it up and then trying to cost-recover on the back side,” Rees said.

Under the VCP, state environmental officials say they work in concert with developers or others enrolled in the program and ensure their efforts to remediate contaminated land are thorough and meet agreed-upon standards.

Rees said there have been 126 applications filed from people wanting to take part in the program since 1997 and estimates DERR is currently overseeing about 50-plus VCP projects.

Opponents of Crocker’s project, however, say they have examined 1,750 VCPs in states in the Intermountain Area and attest they have failed to find one that addressed uranium or radium 226 contamination, especially on land where residential homes are planned to go.

Robin Anderson, a retired EPA Superfund remedy and regulatory compliance expert opponents of Crocker’s development have consulted with, said the reality is that VCP cleanups are not as closely scrutinized and do not meet the same standards as those done at Superfunds sites that are overseen by the Environmental Protection Agency.

“They may say they care about the surrounding community and can do a good job under the voluntary program, but that doesn’t mean it is meeting Superfund standards,” Anderson said, noting there is no requirement in the state’s voluntary program to comply with Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, or CERCLA — the federal law which created Superfund sites.

Lexi Tuddenham, executive director of the Health Environment Alliance of Utah, has also consulted with Silver Pointe Estates opponents. She said government oversight in VCPs can be lacking and adds that phase one of Crocker’s project has not “been remediated well.”

“The potential buyers, residents and the homeowners association that are going to inherit this problem really do need to know about the risks in a very informed way,” she said.

Trust – or, more precisely, the lack thereof when it comes to the government – is another issue.

Silver Pointe skeptics say people in southwest Utah are familiar with “downwinders,” the term given to people exposed to radioactive fallout from nuclear weapons testing, especially with respect to those carried out at the Nevada Test Site from 1951 to 1992.

Ralph Rohr, a retired surgical pathologist who lives in Leeds, notes the United States Atomic Energy Commission failed to warn Utahns about the dangers of nuclear bomb testing, resulting in many people who were exposed to the fallout becoming sick and dying.

“People here in southern Utah … are trusting and patriotic and were certain that their government would not lie to them,” Rohr said. “But they found out that they were lied to, and many of them paid with their lives or their health.”

Rohr and other opponents are anxious to avoid a repeat with Silver Pointe Estates.

Tuddenham echoes Rohr’s concerns, saying southwest Utah is on the front lines when it comes to being exposed to high levels of radioactivity — not only from nuclear testing but also from uranium mining.

“There are a lot of indigenous tribes who have dealt with this history of uranium mining and contamination and there are a lot of abandoned mines in the area,” she said. “And we’ve never quite dealt with that history. So we have to be cautious going forward.”

Two years ago, DERR provided Crocker and his development team with a “no-further-action letter,” which essentially says the cleanup benchmarks for phase one of his project have been met. Still, Crocker is waiting to receive town officials’ approval before beginning construction.

If that approval comes, Rohr worries about the consequences.

“No uranium-contaminated cleanup site has ever been approved for a new housing development in the United States,” he said. “Silver Pointe would be the first and set a dangerous precedent.”

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A new accelerator project has been launched to help researchers at the forefront of artificial intelligence discovery turn their work into start-up companies.

Teams of early career researchers (ECR) from the University of Leeds and three partner institutions can apply for places on the AI SuperConnector scheme, a six-month programme focused on developing the commercial potential of their innovations and addressing challenges inherent in this fast-moving area of science.

The project, led by Imperial College London, and in collaboration with the Universities of Leeds, York and Liverpool, will utilise their complementary research strengths across a wide range of AI sectors, from security to health, climate change, robotics and autonomous systems. It aims to help all regions benefit from AI – not just the south of England, as well as striving to address the under-representation of women in this field.

Exciting opportunities

Professor David Hogg, who leads the AI research theme in the School of Computing at Leeds, said: "The planned accelerator programme will build on our existing innovation activity and take this to a new level, bringing to Leeds the vibrant ecosystem that is growing rapidly in and around London.

"It will provide valuable opportunities for our PhD graduates and ECR staff to develop their knowledge and skills in translating research into projects with societal benefit."

The University specialises in multidisciplinary research on the application of AI for better healthcare and understanding changes in our environment. Its UKRI Centre for Doctoral Training in AI for Medical Diagnosis and Care is training PhD researchers to transform clinical practice through the application of AI - addressing early detection of disease, plus diagnosis, treatment and care.

"The planned accelerator programme will build on our existing innovation activity and take this to a new level."

The University of Leeds has created more than 110 spin-out companies since 1995 – including businesses that have created virtually waterless washing machines and medical devices for front-line patient triage for chest pain. There are also around 250 active commercialisation projects and more than 450 patents in its portfolio.

Many Leeds graduates have been successful in creating thriving businesses, such as Computer Science graduate Colin Needham, who founded the Internet Movie Database (IMDB) – the most popular entertainment website in the world; while School of Computing lecturer Dr Derek Magee used his 20 years' experience in digital image analysis and machine learning to launch HeteroGenius, which specialises in software solutions in areas including Digital Pathology and Medical Image Analysis.

Collaboration

Dr Martin Stow, Pro Vice-Chancellor: Business Engagement and Enterprise at Leeds, said: "We welcome the opportunity to collaborate with partner universities to help even more researchers to turn their ideas into next generation AI start-ups.

"Through Nexus, our community for innovators and entrepreneurs, we are backing the growth of new and established AI businesses, providing knowledge and support that enables them to develop technologies to tackle real world challenges."

Dr Simon Hepworth, Director of Imperial Enterprise at Imperial College London, said: "The AI SuperConnector will transform today's researchers at the forefront of AI discovery into tomorrow's startup and scale-up leaders.

"These researchers will already be experts in state-of-the-art AI and its application to societal challenges, but thanks to the AI SuperConnector they will become conversant in commercialisation and comfortable in ecosystems that span multiple business sectors."

The AI Superconnector project has secured nearly £1.5m from the Research England Development Fund, plus almost £300,000 from other sources.

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After years of rising momentum, Leeds exceeds enrollment goals and welcomes a class like no other.

It’s been years in the making—a momentum-fueled achievement reflected in this year’s incoming class, which surpassed every enrollment goal to become the most diverse and academically gifted in Leeds’ history, while reaching gender parity for the first time and becoming the largest class in nearly a decade.

Jessica McGregor, director of undergraduate recruitment and scholarships at Leeds School of Business, said, “Meeting all of our enrollment goals is incredibly exciting. It can be very challenging in the ever-changing admissions landscape to meet these benchmarks. To finally reach this point is a testament to years of work by everyone at Leeds who helps us recruit new undergraduate students.”

“Great students attract great students.”

Laura Kornish, Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs

This year’s incoming class is the largest Leeds has seen since 2014. The school welcomed 684 first-year students in the Class of 2027—increasing the student body to over 4,000 strong. Poised to succeed academically, the class entered with an average 3.94 GPA (including both weighted and unweighted GPAs) and higher standardized test scores than last year.

“Great students attract great students,” said Laura Kornish, associate dean of undergraduate programs. “Leeds has so much momentum. These enrollment numbers are just one example of that momentum.”

She also noted that retention and graduation rates have reached new heights. “As exciting as our enrollment numbers are, our 2023 4-year graduation rate is even more exciting. Over 80% of students who entered in Fall 2019 graduated within four years. This is a big deal.”

Also exciting is the fact that more students in this year’s class identify as coming from a diverse background (33%) than last year. The enrollment of students of color has been steadily rising over the past few years.

A surge of women

For the first time ever, Leeds welcomed more women (55%) than men (45%). This marks a monumental step toward the goal of achieving gender parity across the student body—an initiative started in 2017 called “End the Gap.”

McGregor offered her take on the influx of women: “It’s been six years of building a pipeline of female applicants through high school engagement, marketing campaigns, outreach efforts and special women’s programs. As a result, Leeds’ focus on gender equity has become more well-known.”

Zoe Cope is a first-year finance student who chose to attend Leeds after being selected for both Leeds Scholars and the Business & Engineering Women in Technology (BEWiT) program. Through her participation in BEWiT, she has learned that women are entering male-dominated industries at a higher volume than ever before.

“This program demonstrates the support system I have as a woman studying finance, and this would not be possible without the amazing programs at Leeds that support women,” said Cope, whose interest in finance came from watching her mother start an edtech company and search for funding.

MBA and MS on the rise

Graduate programs at Leeds also saw big wins this year:

The magic of momentum

Welcoming his first incoming classes as Leeds’ new dean, Vijay Khatri said, “It is so exciting to celebrate the staff’s tireless efforts to support students: from a promise made in recruitment to the retention and graduation rates that reflect a promise kept.”

When she tried to name the specific elements that went into this year’s recruitment successes, McGregor said, “I’m not sure that I could pinpoint any one factor–I think it’s a complex web of various factors, many of which have been building momentum for some time.”

But she was sure of one thing: “It took a Leeds village to get them here.”

A potential new approach to treating one of the most common and devastating forms of brain cancer in adults has been developed in a seven-year research project.

In a peer-reviewed study published by BMC Cancer, scientists show that a short chain of amino acids (the HTL-001 peptide) is effective at targeting and inhibiting the function of the Hox family of genes which are responsible for the growth of Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM).

The study was conducted in cell and animal models, but the HTL-001 peptide used in the study has undergone safety testing and is suitable for patient trials. These trials are now being considered in GBM and other cancers.

Targeting developmental genes could be a novel and effective way to stop glioblastomas growing and becoming life-threatening.

Professor Susan Short, School of Medicine

Co-author Susan Short, Professor of Clinical Oncology and Neuro-Oncology in the University of Leeds’ School of Medicine, said: "We desperately need new treatment avenues for these aggressive brain tumours. Targeting developmental genes like the Hox genes that are abnormally switched on in the tumour cells could be a novel and effective way to stop glioblastomas growing and becoming life-threatening."

Hox genes are responsible for the healthy growth of brain tissue but are ordinarily silenced at birth after vigorous activity in the growing embryo. However, if they are inappropriately ‘switched on’ again, their activity can lead to the progression of cancer. Hox gene dysregulation has long been recognised in GBM.

The project was led by the University of Surrey in collaboration with Leeds and the University of Texas, and HOX Therapeutics, a University of Surrey start-up company based on the University’s Surrey Research Park.

Low survivability

Hardev Pandha, project lead and Professor of Medical Oncology at the University of Surrey, said: "People who suffer from Glioblastoma Multiforme have a five per cent survival rate over a five-year period – a figure that has not improved in decades. While we are still early in the process, our seven-year project offers a glimmer of hope for finding a solution to Hox gene dysregulation, which is associated with the growth of GBM and other cancers, and which has proven to be elusive as a target for so many years."

James Culverwell, CEO of HOX Therapeutics, said: “HOX Therapeutics is excited to be associated with this project and we hope that with our continuing support, this research will eventually lead to novel and effective treatments for both brain and other cancers where Hox gene over-expression is a clear therapeutic target.”

Further information

HOX and PBX gene dysregulation as a therapeutic target in glioblastoma multiforme is published in BMC Cancer.