Local Free Concerts

No excuse to stay home every Friday night this summer! Here are some family-friendly concerts sure to be a fun date, group activity, or family fun night.

Get out to the Central Utah Gardens for entertainment that suits all ages.  Pop and soul singer Ryan Innes will be featured at a free concert on June 10th at 7:30 PM.  Celtic music group An Rogaire Dubh will perform on June 24th.  For more information, contact the Central Utah Gardens office (801-226-7136) or online http://www.centralutahgardens.org.


Once a month there are concerts at Provo Towne Square (see the post from April 27) and coming up this Friday will be Mindy Gledhill and Meagan Smith with Ryan Innes to start the show. The Rooftop Concerts are on  the first Friday of each month; click on the link above for the schedule of performers. Bring a lawn chair or a blanket or both. The show starts at 8pm.  There is also a market in the courtyard that begins at 6pm.
Provo Towne Square is on the northwest corner of the intersection of Center Street and University Avenue.  The market is in the courtyard (you can see it from the lot behind Central Bank) and the concert is on the top level of the parking structure (access to the top is on the east and west of the parking deck).

Now, get out and have a great time!

June 4th Festival washed out

The Utah Lake Festival described in an earlier post has been canceled due to dangerously high river levels.  Since the Festival draws families with young children, their safety was the concern that lead to the decision to cancel the Festival.  If it is rescheduled, I will notify neighbors on this  blog.

High Water Table

One of the great things about living on Grandview Hill is that we don't have to worry so much about the risks of floods.  I don't mean that we never need to worry about the water heater malfunctioning or the consequences of  leaving the bathwater running unattended.  But we are on high ground when there is record-breaking spring runoff and constant rain.

This year is being compared to the soggy years in the mid-1980's. The rains have saturated the ground. The cool temperatures have delayed mountain snow melt. And the resulting quick-thaw is creating havoc in some of the canyons, dangerous conditions on and around the swelling Provo River, and inconveniences on Provo's west side. 

Folks who live on the west side of Provo, now being called "the Lake District", are often finding their own personal lakes in the crawlspaces or cellars below their homes as the water table rises. In order to keep their homes from sinking into the mud, they must run sump pumps.

Word has come from the City Water Department that there is an increase in the amount of water coming into the water treatment plant and they suspect that sump pumps are discharging water into sewer lines.  This is problematic and, in fact, illegal. The Water Department is doing a little detective work to track down who is pumping water into the sewers.  If the guilty homeowners don't stop, they will be fined.

If you have friends or family in the western neighborhoods, such as Lakeview, Harbor Park, or the area near the Provo Airport, who are having to employ sump pumps these days, make sure they know that they must not run the water down a household drain.  They should send it out to storm drains, such as the curbside gutters.

And then, count among your blessings that your basement here on Grandview Hill is warm and dry!

Read Today and Read All Summer

The Provo City Library has a summer reading program each year and through incentives they provide, children are encouraged to keep up their literary skills during the summer when school is not in session.  Details at the library or on their website.

In addition, the Governor's literacy program, called Read Today is challenging kids to read all summer.  They are offering prizes to those who take the challenge.  They have printed a calendar with fun summer activity ideas, and coupons for discounts on treats. The calendar is available to download on the Read Today website or pick up a copy at Deseret Book stores.  Go to the Read Today website to take the summer reading challenge.

The summer reading program for Read Today is kicking off on Saturday, June 4th (my birthday!), at BYU's Wilkinson Center. This celebration is in conjunction with the Festival of Books and among the activities there, guest authors and illustrators will be on hand to sign books. Come and greet Brandon Mull (Fablehaven series), Obert Skye (Leven Thumps series), Keith Merrill, Dean Hughes, and many others.  There will be live music on stage, movies in the theaters,chefs in a dining tent, a storytelling area, and a teen tent. For more information, see the Festival of Books website.

New up date on sandbagging

See previous post: Like Sand Shoveled into Bags-- new volunteer times!

Bridge Across Utah Lake

The controversy continues regarding the building of a bridge across Utah Lake.  If you are unfamiliar with the story, you should get information, as it will undoubtedly affect residents of Provo.  A good place to start is at the Utah Lake Commission website. 
If you have an opinion about this proposed project, watch for your opportunity to let your voice be heard.  There will be a thirty-day public comment period and I will try to post when, how, and where to send your comments on this site as soon as I can. If you find this information before I do, let me know in the comment section or by email.
You can find more information about the process in this recent Tribune article. 

Memorial Day Service

You are invited to attend a Memorial Day Service at the Provo City Cemetary on Monday, May 30th, at 10 AM.  The following information is from the Facebook page for this event:

Please join us in remembering the sacrifices of those who have served our country. The hour-long service will include musical numbers by the Timpview High School Band, a flag ceremony by the Independence High School ROTC, remarks by America's Freedom Festival at Provo Executive Director Paul Warner, and a wreath-laying ceremony led by Provo Mayor John Curtis. It will end with a 21-gun salute by the Provo Police Department and "Taps." The event, which was planned by the Provo City Veterans Council, America's Freedom Festival at Provo, and American Legion Post #13, is free and open to the public. Thank you to Provo Florist for donating the wreath.

Was that Pie in the Sky? No, it was Cake!

You may be seeing the fireworks stands popping up earlier this year thanks to a new law passed by the legislature that allows sale of fireworks 30 days prior to Independence Day. This could create a whole new way to celebrate Flag Day and Father's Day.

This new law has also legalized a type of fireworks previously unavailable to residents in the state of Utah. It is commonly called "cake" and shoots 150 feet in the air! If past prohibitions have kept you from competing for the title of "Cul de sac of Fire", this may be your year.

But a word of warning: check out the risks of handling these pyrotechnical devices and take precautions. Those who sell these products are required to give warnings to those who purchase them but you can get information in advance. A May 10th article on KSL.com is a good starting place. Set down clear rules with your children about fireworks too. Let's hope we all enjoy happy and safe summer celebrations this year!

Ride a Bicycle this Week!

I just received this flier today.  The weather is cooperating for Provo's Bicycle Week starting Monday, May 16.

To Market, To Market!

The Provo Farmers Market returns to Pioneer Park on Saturdays starting on June 4th this year.  Pioneer Park is located between Center Street and 100 South and between 500 W and 600 W.  If street parking is hard to come by, parking is available in the lot east of the park, crossing at 100 South.  Besides fresh produce, skilled artisans and vendors of handicrafts bring their wares and you will also usually find informational booths.
Bring your appetite because there is sure to be interesting hot food items for sale as you wander the market.

The Utah Lake Festival

IMPORTANT UP-DATE:  Due to rapids and high river levels, the Utah Lake Festival has been canceled for June 4th.  I have not heard that it will be held later in the summer.  I will post that date if it is rescheduled.  The fear was that children would be drawn to the Festival and then to the banks of the rushing river.  The risks to young children was just too great.  So the original post, describing the planned Festival is now removed.

Green Construction

If you are interested in sustainable design and wise construction practices, you will be interested in a presentation by that name sponsored by Provo City.

                LDS Sustainable Design & Wise Construction Practices

Jared Doxey, Director of Architecture, Engineering & Construction for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, will be the speaker at the May meeting of the Utah Valley Earth Forum.

When: 7 PM on Thursday, May 19th, 2011

Where: Provo Library, Meeting Room 201. 

Mr. Doxey will speak about the energy efficient building standards adopted by the LDS Church and how cities and others can improve their own building projects in important ways. The event is free and open to the public.

Mr. Doxey's team recently designed five new prototype church meetinghouses that are projected as LEED Certified, with three being 100% Solar powered. These prototypes are testing how the Church can use new technologies and "Wise Construction" practices to reduce waste, pollution, and energy and water use while saving money, increasing self-sufficiency and providing environmental benefits such as reducing carbon emissions.

Mr. Doxey is a graduate of BYU with over 30 years’ experience in physical facilities operations including overseeing all meetinghouse construction in North America for the LDS Church.  His current assignment includes managing a team of 65 architects, engineers and construction professionals, on over 400 projects in North America plus providing technical support and training for over 200 design and construction professionals in 20 area offices worldwide.

Provo City will also have information at the presentation about the energy department’s new Switch It Provo Program, designed to help Provo City Power customers conserve energy. The program, a model for other cities, offers low cost home energy audits which can suggest cost effective ways to improve energy efficiency. It also offers rebates for those who purchase qualified appliances or dispose of old appliances.

Like Sand Being Shoveled into Bags

--So Are the Days of Our Lives!

If you missed the chance to fill sandbags a  week or so ago, you have opportunities ahead.  It is raining today and that is the exact condition that is making spring flooding more likely than ever.  Provo City's emergency preparedness office is calling for your help. Here is what they are saying:

"We need volunteers to help Provo City.

"Out of an abundance of caution, Provo City would like to have a few thousand sandbags pre-filled and ready to go for the spring runoff season. We're looking for volunteers to spend time over the next couple of weeks filling sandbags at our Public Works facility (1377 South 350 East).

"People can come anytime between 7:00 am to 6:00 pm, Monday through Thursday. Bring your own shovels." For more information, contact Janet Hurd or Shawna Miller at 801.400.9444."

AstroFest

Do you enjoy stargazing, rocket launching or just having fun with science? The Brigham Young University Physics and Astronomy Department, along with the BYU Astronomical Society, will host the 2011 Astrofest Saturday, May 14, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This free event is open to the public and will take place at the Carl F. Eyring Science Center, located east of the Spencer W. Kimball Tower.

For more information go to http://astrofest.byu.edu.

Watching Trucks

I love to watch trucks at work.  Big trucks. If you are curious about the work that big trucks are doing on the local interstate highway, check out the website of the I-15 Corridor Expansion (ICore).
If you would like to see some of their projects in action, you can find time-lapse video recordings on YouTube of such things as the moving of the Center Street bridge, which took place on April 14th (you have never seen road construction workers move so fast!).  [The comment to the post refers to the Lindon Bridge move.]
To get a bird's eye view of what is in store for the Center Street interchange by the time it is finished, check out the animated tour on YouTube. It ends with a view of the future roadway from a virtual driver's seat.  Amazing!

Road construction definitely has its drawbacks with dust, din, delays, and detours, so it is great to find something to enjoy about it!

Bus Rapid Transit

We are fortunate on Grandview Hill to have a local bus that provides public transportation to various locations in Provo and beyond. Eventually, this bus line will connect to other modes of transportation, such as Frontrunner, the commuter train that will take passengers to Salt Lake and to points as far north as Brigham City and as far south as Payson.

A bus rapid transit project is also in the planning stages that will serve Provo and Orem. According to an article in the Salt Lake Tribune, there will be an information open house regarding the Provo-Orem Bus Rapid Transit project on Thursday, May 5th.  Here is a link to the article.

The Environmental Assessment (EA) is already complete and available for public inspection.  Locally, you can see a copy of the EA at the City Engineers Office of Provo City and at the Provo City Library, as well as at the libraries at BYU and UVU.  The official comment period for this EA is from April 12, 2011 to May 13, 2011. For more details about the EA, click here.

Spring Runoff Reporting

There is continued concern about the level of spring runoff this year.  The wet weather and late arrival of warm temperatures are a recipe for flooding.  Here on Grandview Hill, our homes are not affected by high river or lake levels but local flooding may impact some of our activities.  If you are curious about the situation here in Provo or if you are interested in volunteering to fill sandbags, check the Mayor's website here.