Attend the New Recreation Center Groundbreaking

You are invited to attend the Groundbreaking Ceremony for the new Provo Recreation Center this Wednesday, August 24th, at 11 am. You will find it at 320 W 500 N, by the Veterans Memorial Pool.
You will have an opportunity to see the plans for the new center and meet those who are responsible for the plans and construction.  If you haven't already seen the drawings or heard about the new facility, you should definitely go. I think you will be pleased.
The park is close by; the weather should be nice; and light refreshments will be served! What more could you ask!

Bicycle to School this fall!

The Provo Bicycle Committee is planning to hold a Bike (or Walk) to School Week at all K-12 schools in Provo (and at BYU) the third week of September and they hope to find a parent at each school who is willing to organize the event at their particular school. If the school organizers want, Provo Bicycle Committee members can help them to organize bike rodeos, tune-ups, rides, etc.
Aaron Skabelund is looking for a volunteer to organize this event at Westridge Elementary.  If you or someone you know may be interested in doing this, contact him for more information.  Click on his name or call him at 801-857-1698.

More Conversation About our Fair City

If you are interested in taking part in conversations about the City of Provo, check out the new Facebook page called "Our Provo".
There is also a Facebook page that sprang up relative to the 40th Celebration of this Neighborhood.  If you haven't seen it yet, I recommend it.  It is an open group site as well.  Search for "Grandview South Community Celebration".

Both of these pages have interesting stories and photos of Provo in days gone by.

School bells and School buses

School starts next week and there are a number of new things to look forward to!

New principals at Westridge Elementary, Dixon Middle School, and at Provo High School may result in new policies.  Stay ahead of the game by watching the school websites :
Provo High School       Dixon Middle School      Westridge Elementary School
Click on the school name above and bookmark the site so that you can check in once in a while during the year.
If you know of school events or local students who are being honored for their achievements, send word to the webmaster so that we can note these items in our blog.
Join the PTA or PTO at your schools.  The more involved you are in your child's education, the more successful they will be!
Most of our neighborhood is fortunate to be within walking distance to their neighborhood schools but if you live near Lakeview Circle or know others who need information about school buses, pass the word that Provo City is hosting a website that shows the school bus locations and the times they pick up and drop off at these locations.
Good luck to all our Grandview South Scholars during this academic year!

Municipal Primary Elections

In order to vote in the Municipal Primary election, you must be registered a month in advance.  That means you must be registered by the end of this week! 
The Primary elections for City Council members will be held on September 13th.  You should take the time to get to know something about the candidates who are want to be your representative on the City Council.
Here are some websites with valuable information:  Click here to find out who all the registered candidates are. Click here to find the map of the Council Districts.  On the map site, click on the district drop down menu and choose District 4. 
Remember that the Primary election is only for districts that have more than two candidates.  The Grandview South Neighborhood is in District 4 and we will have a Primary election.

No Property Tax Increase

At the City Council Meeting last night, the Council members voted unanimously not to raise property taxes this year. 

Save the Date - New Recreation Center Groundbreaking

You will hear more in the future but for now, save the date if you would like to attend the Groundbreaking Ceremony for the new Provo Recreation Center.

August 24th, 11:00 a.m.

320 West 500 North: New Recreation Center Site - next to Veterans Memorial Pool

Street Closures

Perhaps I should be more positive about the Utah Bicycle Tour that will be going through Provo.  After all, it might be fun to go cheer on the riders as they pass by on Thursday, August 11th. Did any of you tune in to the Tour de France last month?  Five of the teams that participated in that race will be racing through Provo this week.
However, it will affect the accessibility of streets and while they are on the east side of Provo, you should be aware of the closures in case your plans for the day take you that direction.
Streets affected by road and driveway closures from approximately 1:30 to 3:30 are:
• South State Street from Springville going North to 900 East;
• all of 900 East and proceeding down 2230 North to University Ave;
• North on University to 4800 North; 4800 North to 300 West;
• Race finishes at the Vivint complex at 4931 North 300 West.

The Tour of Utah bicycle stage race begins today, Tuesday, and if you want more information, check out their website: http://www.tourofutah.com/

From Your City Council Representative

I am posting information from our City Council Representative, Sherrie Hall Everett. 

The Municipal Council will decide Tuesday Night whether or not to raise your Property Tax. I just posted a blog entry discussing the proposed property tax increase. [see it here]

In that post I talk about three reasons we are having this discussion. I want your informed decision about the level of services we offer in our city, the timing of these proposed increases and the reality of the city budget issues we are trying to help our citizens understand.

At the bottom of that post is a survey. I hope you will take it.
I hope you will get your neighbors to take it, too. It will provide me with some valuable insight as I work to make a decision for the community and for you.

I'm not anxious to raise taxes for a lot of reasons I cover in the blog. A paramount concern is the current state of the economy and the rates and fees that have already been adjusted in the budget. We've held multiple information meetings and have had some very good discussions with many throughout the city. I've heard from many of you that you have appreciated the transparency and effort. The audio from the Lakeview Information Meeting will be posted on the city website sometime this morning. <Note from Neighborhood blogger: I looked for the recording and couldn't find it Monday afternoon>

It is time for us to all understand and engage in the opportunity to decide together where we want to go as a city. Taking this survey and leaving your thoughts in the comment section will be a great help.
Here's a link to the information posted by the Council.

The final decision

You may also come to the public hearing on Tuesday, August 9th.

   Truth in Taxation Hearing
   Tuesday, August 9, 2011 at 6:00 p.m.
   Council Chambers
   351 West Center Street
 
Working to keep you informed,
   Sherrie Hall Everett

Crime Watch

I am forwarding this message to the neighborhood through this blog.  It comes from the Indian Hills Neighborhood Chair. If you know others you would like to notify, feel free to send them a link or copy the information and send it on.

Dear Neighbors:

I am very sorry to tell you that yesterday afternoon while the Young family

(3704 N. Foothill Drive) was at church from 1-4 PM, thieves found an open door and robbed their home.

The thieves took most of the *jewelry* they could find,* 2 flutes* and one * violin*, *cameras* and a *cell phone* (they left the laptop).

We wanted you to all know to increase our neighborhood awareness and vigilance.

Also, If you *happen* to have been in that area in the afternoon yesterday--or if you know anyone who may have been walking or out in that area yesterday afternoon, please contact me and I will get in touch with the Youngs and the police.

Kathy says she doesn't need help, *but they could use your prayers*, so I invite you to pray for the Young family and for this world we live in.

Please email or call me if you have any questions or information!  Also, please forward this info to anyone you feel would want to know.

Thank you so much,

Nancy Wilson, Indian Hills Neighborhood Chair, 801-471-0427

Also, a strange thing:  The thieves appear to have left a  wrapped up *Yamaha Digital Keyboard* in the Young's hallway--near their point of entry into the house.  Police speculate that perhaps they'd robbed it from somewhere else and then left it at the Youngs because they'd decided it was too bulky?  The Keyboard is large (the length of a full piano keyboard) and silver, it seems like a very nice one, and it looks like it may still have its factory wrapping on it--white-ish wrapping with blue shiny tape around it. The collapsible legs for the keyboard were with it, and they are covered by black garbage bag plastic.

 Again, please dont' hesitate to call me if you have any info or questions (Nancy  Wilson, 801-471-0427).