Trailer Missing from Church Parking Lot

Anyone who has information about the disappearance of a utility trailer that had been parked in the Church parking lot at 1100 Grand Avenue, is asked to contact the police department at 801-852-6271. The trailer was reported missing over the Thanksgiving weekend but no one is certain just when the theft occurred.

Attention Bikers!

The public is invited to attend the Provo City Bicycle Facilities Master Plan public open house tomorrow, November 29th from 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Provo City Library Ballroom (550 North University Avenue). This Plan, made possible by a $135,000 grant, will direct the future of bicycle infrastructure, policy, and programs in Provo. The public is invited to participate in interactive presentations held at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. During these presentations, attendees will have the opportunity to give real time feedback to the project team.

                                OR

if you cannot make it, please at least take a few minutes to complete this simple survey:

http://www.provobikeplan.com/provo1/input/

Save the Date -- December 10 -- A Neighborhood Cookie Social

Deon Turley is hosting a Christmas Cookie Social on Saturday, December 10th, from 3 to 5 PM at her home at 1481 W 1170 N, Provo.  Bring cookies to share (Potluck!), if you like. It will be a nice break from your Christmas shopping.

At this Neighborhood Meeting/Social, we will greet Kay Van Buren and congratulate him on his election to the Provo City Council. We can also thank him for his service as Neighborhood Chair.

Since Kay will no longer be serving as Neighborhood Chair, we need to elect his successor.  You may nominate candidates for Neighborhood Chair by sending names by email to Louise Jorgensen beforehand, or make the nomination in person at the meeting at 3 PM. Nominees must be present to be qualified candidates. More information about the election is coming to your door in the next week or so.  Watch for it!

In addition, we have invited Lt DeVon Jensen of the Provo Police Department to come so that you can meet the officer who is coordinating the Community Policing efforts in our neighborhood.

Please spread word to your neighbors about this Cookie Social/Election/Meet and Greet meeting on December 10th!  See you there!

Donate Blood!

To celebrate the newest sequel of the Twighlight series of movies, why not drop off a pint at the Red Cross Bloodmobile!

The Bloodmobile will be at the Provo City Offices, 351 West Center Street, on Tuesday, November 29th from 10 AM to 3 PM. Resident donors are welcome so schedule an appointment by calling Brittany Herbert at 801-634-2844 or send an email to herbertbe@usa.redcross.org.

Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 in Utah with parental permission), meet height and weight requirements (at least 110 pounds based on height) and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood.  Donors must not have given whole blood in the past 56 days or a double red cell donation in the last 112 days. You may not give blood if you have received a Red Cross notification asking you not to do so. Donors must provide ID prior to donating.  If you have questions regarding your eligibility to donate, please call 1-866-236-3276.

Bella will be proud of you!

Center Street Interchange is Open

UDOT has announced the reopening of the Provo Center Street Interchange at I-15.  If you want to preview the ins and outs of this new configuration before attempting to navigate it in your car, try out the animation found on youTube. 

Then try it out in person! Leave a comment to let everyone know what you think of the new roads. 

UDOT says that in the spring, crews will finish reconstructing the northbound I-15 on and off ramps at Center Street, as well as widening the freeway and placing new concrete pavement. So we can expect a few more short term closures at that time.

The Westside Connector

The expected increase of traffic to the Provo Airport and to new growth on the west side of Provo has motivated the City to consider construction of a connector road from the University Avenue exit of I-15, heading west  and north to the airport.  Click here to see a map.

Currently, the most common route to the airport, and the only reasonable route from points south of the Provo River, is on Center Street and then south on 3110 W (aka Lakeshore Drive).

The engineers are required to submit an Environmental Impact Statement and they have done so for four alternatives.  Public input will be received but only until November 30th (sorry I didn't get word out about this sooner).  You can get information about the Provo Westside Connector here and you can submit your feedback on the plan at that same website.

What's Up on Center Street?

If you are like me, you are continually surprised about what will be open or closed on Center Street near the Interstate Freeway. Well, here is the latest word:

o    Provo Center Street interchange reopening: As early as Nov. 20, the southbound off-ramp from I-15 to Provo Center Street and the Center Street flyover bridge are expect to reopen to traffic. Both directions of Center Street traffic will use the new bridge over the UPRR and UTA lines to travel between east and west Provo, as well as to access the northbound and southbound on-ramps. The reopening of all the movements at the interchange is weather dependent.

o    Provo Center Street construction: During the next several months, various construction activities will continue at the interchange. Drivers should expect periodic lane restrictions and nighttime road closures as work moves forward.

o    Provo Center Street to Independence Avenue access closed: The week of November 20, when the flyover reopens, the connection from Independence Avenue to eastbound Center Street is scheduled to close. Access from east Provo Center Street to Independence Avenue is currently closed while demolition occurs on the old Center Street viaduct and northbound on-ramp bridge. Motorists can access Independence Avenue from 1100 West or 500 North.

o    Provo Center Street animation: Take a preview drive of the new Provo Center Street interchange. This driver's-seat-view animation follows traffic as it navigates the different movements of the interchange. Provo Center Street Animation

o    Provo 1600 West intersection work: In early December, crews are scheduled to close the eastbound lanes at the intersection of 1600 West and Center Street for up to two nights from approximately 10 p.m. to 7:30 a.m. for installation of storm drain lines. Drivers can use 600 South and 820 North as alternate routes.

o    Draper Lane access closed: Through 2012, crews will be reconstructing the Draper Lane access. To connect to businesses in this area, drivers can use 900 West to 500 South. Signs and flaggers are in place to guide motorists. Alternate Routes

To Protect and to Serve

The new Police Chief in Provo City has established a strategy called Community Oriented Policing (COP). Specific officers are assigned to districts within the City and they become familiar with the  businesses, the residents, the unique concerns, problems, and strengths of their respective communities.

Our neighborhood is COP District 1 and Lt. DeVon Jensen is responsible for our district.  Working with him is Officer Sean Ellefsen.

One of the first projects of the officers has been to visit the hotels and motels in Provo and to build relationships with the owners and managers.  They are offering a certification to businesses that follow guidelines to prevent criminal activity. This certification may influence the fees for their business licenses.

Because of the recent Citywide Gang Project and dedicated work of the police department and Gang officer, there has been a 49% reduction in gang related crime in the past year.

One of the outward signals of gang activity is graffiti. Police officers are asking for our help.  If you spot graffiti, call it in to Police Dispatch as soon as possible. Call 801-852-6210.

Lt. Jensen reminds us that the majority of crimes committed in Provo are preventable. He encourages us to secure bicycles and vehicles and stow valuable items out of sight.  Also lock your homes, even when you are inside, and most importantly, report suspicious activity to Police Dispatch immediately. You can reach the police department for non-emergency calls at 801-852-6271. 

You can call Lt Jensen directly at 801-852-7242 but he noted that he works graveyard, so late night calls are welcome!

New Stop Signs

The City is considering installing 14 new stop signs at intersections along 1500 West (also 1550 W) between 900 North and 1500 North.  Two of these currently have yield signs that would be traded out for the new stops.  This would not stop traffic on 1500 West but would require drivers crossing or turning onto 1500 West to stop, instead of just yielding to 1500 West traffic.  The signs would be placed at literally every cross street on 1500 or 1550 West between the south end of Grandview Hill to the roundabout at 1740 North.

Why are they proposing this? 
There have been accidents when cars enter the intersections from the east or west and don't look for oncoming traffic from the north or south, particularly from 1000 North and 1050 North.  The traffic engineer said that they are including all other intersections along the street for the sake of uniformity.

What do you think about this proposal? 
Some have suggested that yield signs will be sufficient to alert drivers to the traffic on these intersections.  The City engineers have asked the local Neighborhood chairs to collect feedback and to let them know what you think. 

Please send word to Deon Turley (Vice-chair of the Grandview South Neighborhood) about whether you think this is a good idea or not, and if not, what you think is a better course of action.  Respond before the end of the month please!

Honoring and Recognizing our Police Officers

Police Sergeant Richard Dewey is retiring from the Provo Police Department and is being honored at a retirement party on Thursday, November 17th from 3 to 5 PM at the Police Department Training Room.  If you know him and want to attend, you are welcome.

In addition, Captain Dave Bolda will be retiring soon and his retirement party is scheduled for Tuesday, November 22nd from noon to 2 PM at the Covey Center.

The Annual Promotion and Awards Ceremony for our police officers will be held on Thursday, December 1st at 4PM at the Covey Center. This event, as well as the above mentioned retirement parties, are open to the public.

Your New City Council Representative

Congratulations to Kay Van Buren on his election to the Provo Municipal Council! 
Kay has been our Neighborhood Chair for several years and will now represent our section of Provo on the City Council.  Best wishes to our friend and neighbor!