Category: Orem City News

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Orem City News

Wasatch Contemporary Dance Company Brings Professional Dance to Utah Valley

Photo by Heather Young.
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By Zach Collier

This Saturday, Wasatch Contemporary Dance Company will present a new work entitled Chronology. True to their name, all of the works presented in the concert will be contemporary dance, except for a contemporary ballet number by Shani Robison, a former ballet professor at Brigham Young University. Chronology explores the different ages and stages of life through dance.

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Wasatch Contemporary Dance Company (WCDC) is a professional dance company that has been performing and teaching in the Utah County community since March 2010. The company explores unique elements that enhance dance, including dance film, immersive and site-specific dance, and the use of technology and audience involvement within performance.

“WCDC also strives to promote thought-provoking dance that helps our community think deeply on important topics of social and emotional importance,” says Jessica Heaton, Artistic Director of Wasatch Contemporary Dance Company. She cites Hayley Stoddard’s new work There’s Been a Study, which comments on women’s societal roles in the past and the present, exploring the ideas of women’s values and the value of a woman.

A still from Hayley Stoddard’s There’s Been a Study. Photo by @dancernerd.photo.
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“Our mission is to build a creative and compassionate community through dance,” she says. “WCDC is also committed to building the dance scene in Utah County, where a professional contemporary dance group had not existed previously in the history of the county before the creation of WCDC. Utah County residents deserve to enjoy quality professional dance close to home, and not have to drive all the way to Salt Lake to get it!”

Heaton invites everyone to come to the theater and enjoy the beautiful, the messy – and everything in between. She believes it all makes life an incredible gift. “With the arts scene growing in Utah County so much in recent years, we boldly suggest that if you haven’t seen what’s going on in the professional dance scene in Utah County yet, you’re missing a big part of the growth occurring in our community!”

Wasatch Contemporary Dance Company presents Chronology this Saturday, November 11 at 7:30 PM in the Orem Library Hall. Tickets are on sale at wasatchcontemporary.com.

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Orem City News

UVU Hosts The 3rd Annual Growth & Prosperity Summit

Photo by Jay Drowns.
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By Mike Romero

Last Thursday, nearly 500 people gathered at Utah Valley University for the 3rd annual Growth and Prosperity Conference. The conference aims to attract future-thinking people to address Utah’s rapidly increasing population and how it will impact transportation, education, air quality, infrastructure, workforce development, water, business, and economic development.

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Hosted in partnership with the Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce, UVU welcomed speakers from key areas, including US Representative and former Provo Mayor John Curtis. Having served Provo for 8 years, Curtis understands the importance of managed growth and the impact it will have. “Thank you for planning the future of my valley for my kids and my grandkids. It is incredibly important work,” he said.

Curtis Blair, president and CEO of the Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce, stressed the importance of planning ahead. “We are dealing with unprecedented growth. It’s not going away. You can view it positively, you can view it negatively, you can view it neutral, but it’s coming,” Blair said. “So, how we manage that growth, the stewardship with which we manage that growth, will really dictate the quality of life for years to come – and I am talking generational impact.”

Laura Hanson, from the Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget, explained that between 2010 and 2020, Utah was the fastest growing state in the nation at 18.4 percent – far outpacing neighboring communities and states. Hanson revealed that historically optimistic Utahns are finally feeling uncertain about the future.

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“Every seven years, they do a survey, and one answer has been consistent through that time period,” Hanson said. “‘Do you think growth will make Utah better or Utah worse?’ For the first time in the history of this survey question, in 2021, Utahns said, ‘We are not sure that growth is going to make Utah better.’ That is a big change since the last time that we asked it in 2014.”

Specifically, Utahns are feeling pressures around housing and resources. The surveys also showed that Utahns don’t want to stop growth. They just want to be more intentional about it.

“Education and workforce development is one of our key seven pillars of growth. You cannot have businesses thriving if you do not have a qualified workforce,” said Curtis Blair. “We want our children to stay here. We would love for them to work here, live here, play, and recreate here, and we want to keep our grandchildren close to us.”

Astrid S. Tuminez, President of UVU, stressed the importance of a college education. There’s a median income gap of $30,000 a year between someone who merely graduates from high school and those who receive a college degree.

A public service announcement from UVU President Astrid S. Tuminez.

Tuminez reported that UVU is playing a key role in creating a strong Utah workforce. 77% of UVU graduates stay in Utah and are fueling the economy ten years after graduation. At the conclusion of her keynote speech, Tuminez announced a formal agreement between UVU and Mountainland Technical College (MTECH). The agreement creates a pathway for MTECH graduates in HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and welding to earn an associate degree in business management at UVU – in half the time.

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While gathering to discuss these issues at all could be considered a success, what truly matters is how the event’s conversations and data sharing translate to future progress.

“All have come together to say these conversations matter,” Blair said. “We can’t do it in silos. We have got to figure out a way to partner and collaborate and bring this message down to the grassroots, and that’s our blocks and neighborhoods, our City Council, our mayors.”

For more information about the efforts being made by the Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce to plan for statewide growth, click here.

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Orem City News

Orem Utah Latter-day Saint Temple Begins Tours

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By McKinsleigh Smith

The Orem Utah Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints towers over the west side of I-15, overlooking Utah Valley University. It is the sixth Latter-day Saint temple in Utah County, joining the Provo, Provo City Center, Mount Timpanogos, Payson, and Saratoga Springs temples.

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With Vineyard expecting and planning for massive population growth in the coming years, the Orem Utah Temple will serve one of the most densely populated areas in the state, which includes housing for many Utah Valley University students. The facility will meet the spiritual and ritual needs of 57,000 Utahns who practice the faith and live in a geographical boundary Latter-day Saints call a “temple district.”

The temple will open for free public tours beginning this week. The first open house is Friday, October 27. Tours will run through December 16, 2023. Since Sundays are holy and considered a “day of rest” for Latter-day Saints, tours will not be held on Sundays. The temple will also close for the Thanksgiving holiday.

This temple is the 186th completed temple for the international Church. It was first announced in 2019 and sits on over 15 acres of land. The building itself is 70,000 square feet. Its unique stained glass windows were crafted by artist Tom Holdman, an Orem native.

You can catch a glimpse of the new structure in the video below, courtesy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

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Orem City News

Orem Invites The Public To Meet Their Candidates

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By Richard Provost

Orem is gearing up for election season! In 2023, 12 candidates are running for 3 available council spots. To help Orem citizens get informed about the candidates and their platforms, Orem City is holding a Meet the Candidates Night on Thursday, August 10 from 6-8 PM in Library Hall.

This is a unique opportunity to interact with fellow citizens running for office. There are few opportunities like this where all candidates are together in one room for open questions. The seats up for election in 2023 are currently held by Jeff Lambson, Terry Peterson, and Debby Lauret.

Candidates will address the audience for the first hour, explaining what they hope to accomplish on behalf of the city. The second hour will be an open house where the public can personally meet the candidates and ask them questions.

The 2023 candidates are: Crystal Muhlstein, Matt McKell, Greg Duerden, Chris Killpack, Jeff Lambson, Archie Williams III, Spencer Rands, Heather Fry, Jenn Gale, David Edward Garber, Mike Carpenter and Wade Sewell.

Ahead of the event, check out the videos Orem shot for each candidate here. You can see an example of one below.

Note: The inclusion of this candidate’s video does not indicate an endorsement, and is merely an example of what you can expect from the video series.

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Orem City News

When Will the Orem Temple Be Dedicated?

A rendering of the Orem Utah Temple.
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By Charlie G. Patreus

The Orem Utah Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will be dedicated on January 21, 2024, despite minor construction issues along the way. The dedication and open house dates were announced by the church’s First Presidency, along with the closure date for the Provo Utah Temple.

The Orem Utah Temple will have a public open house from October 27 to December 16, with exceptions for Sundays and Thanksgiving Day. A media day will be held on October 23, followed by invited guests touring the temple from October 24 to 26.

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The dedicatory sessions will be broadcast to all units in the Orem Utah Temple district, and more details about the dedication will be shared later.

The Provo Utah Temple will be closed starting from February 24, 2024 for reconstruction. During the closure, members are encouraged to attend other temples, and those seeking ordinances should contact nearby temples for arrangements.

Utah has a total of 28 LDS temples, including the Orem and Provo temples. The state is the global headquarters for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, with a membership of 2.2 million people. The Saratoga Springs Utah Temple will be dedicated on August 13, and the St. George Utah Temple will be rededicated on December 10.

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Orem City News

Utah-Made Glasses Allow for Safe Watching of Eclipses

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By Richard Provost

Within the next year, people around the world will have two opportunities to witness a solar eclipse. This is a rare experience which won’t happen for another two decades. That’s why Eclipse Glasses is releasing a special collection of shades designed to help you view this event safely.

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In August 2017, millions of people were excited about the eclipse, but many were unable to fully experience it due to a shortage of appropriate viewing glasses. Roger Sarkis, an earth science educator at Utah Valley University, recognized this problem and took action. He repurposed thousands of locally found eclipse glasses and sent them to schools in other countries, allowing students to view future eclipses. Now, Sarkis has expanded his initiative to make eclipse viewing accessible to everyone in preparation for the upcoming October and April events.

“Most solar eclipses only happen just a few times in our lifetime and if you’re of the older generation, this might be your last, so why shouldn’t they be able to fully experience it?” said Sarkis. “With so many counterfeit and overpriced glasses on the market today, I wanted to find a way for kids and adults alike to safely view the incredible partial phases of these eclipses and create a memory that will always stick with them.”

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To fulfill this vision, Eclipse Glasses offers a pack of five glasses with a variety of designs, catering to different face shapes. These glasses are professionally printed, designed, and made from materials sourced in the United States. Suitable for all ages, Eclipse Glasses are now available for pre-order until June 30, priced at $6.99 per pack. International shipping is available, and customers can enjoy a discount of up to 30% for larger quantities.

Shipping will commence in late August, with orders processed within one to two days. Sarkis also seeks partnerships with educational nonprofit organizations and corporations, offering special wholesale pricing. To learn more about the product or place an order, please visit eclipse23.com.

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Orem City News

Lindon and Orem Exploring Changes to Water Usage

Upper Provo River.
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By Mike Romero

Urban irrigation in Orem, provided by the Provo Bench Canal & Irrigation Company and the North Union Canal & Irrigation Company since 1862, is facing potential changes. Lindon City is considering diverting its canal shares into the Provo River Aqueduct, resulting in reduced water flow and utilization in the North Union and Provo Bench Canals. Permission from the canal companies’ boards is required before filing for the change application, with potential conditions to protect remaining shareholders.

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Currently, there are around 100 water users who practice open irrigation, and their options include continuing with potentially less water, selling shares, or submitting ideas for consideration.

Lindon City aims to tap water from the Provo River aqueduct to maintain six miles of open ditches, benefiting the Lindon irrigation ponds. The primary drivers for this change are the costly upkeep of aging canals and the push for water conservation efforts requested by Utah Governor Spencer Cox. The canals are currently facing issues such as garbage and broken bottles being discarded into the ditches, resulting in diminished water flow and potential water deprivation for end users. To address this, Reed Price, the maintenance division manager for Orem, suggests using the city’s culinary water for more effective drip irrigation, while Lindon currently relies on secondary water for irrigation.

The cost for Lindon to connect to the Provo River Aqueduct is estimated at $1.1 million, a more cost-effective alternative compared to canal maintenance expenses. A shareholders meeting was held, and Lindon plans to construct the tap in the upcoming fall, allowing farmers to observe the impact on canal operations. The complete transition is expected to take place by 2025, with Orem and the majority of stakeholders expressing support for the proposed changes.

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Orem City News

New Public Facilities Zone in Orem After City Council Vote

Sign for Hillcrest Elementary School in southeastern Orem, Utah, February 2017. Courtesy Wikimedia Commons.
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By Mike Romero

With discussions surrounding school closures, boundary changes, and the potential formation of new school districts in Orem, the Orem City Council took action on Tuesday by implementing changes to various zones, consolidating them into a single Public Facilities Zone.

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The vote in favor of the zone change was 6-1, with Council member Tom Macdonald casting the lone dissenting vote. Macdonald expressed concerns about the lack of communication and collaboration with the school district prior to issuing public notices about the proposed changes.

The purpose of the new zone is to safeguard public land for future educational institutions and parks. It also serves as a preemptive measure to prevent the Alpine School District from selling its land without obtaining approval from the Orem Planning Commission and City Council. Approximately 90% of Orem’s land is already developed.

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Council members emphasized their apprehension regarding future growth and land requirements, especially considering the possibility of private and charter schools being established in the city. This concern was heightened after the legislature approved $8,000 in funding for each student, regardless of the type of school they attend. This includes public, private, charter, or homeschooling—according to Ryan Clark, assistant city manager.

During the public hearing, questions were raised regarding whether the rezoning was intended to facilitate the sale of Alpine School District (ASD) properties at a lower price. However, it was clarified that the city had paid the appraised value for Hillcrest Elementary when it closed, and the same principle would apply to other schools. The city holds the first right to purchase any school property according to state law.

Council member Terry Peterson argued that ASD had closed Hillcrest Elementary, Geneva Elementary, and Polaris High School without any financial compensation being returned to Orem schools. Tensions between Orem city government and Alpine School District have run high in recent years.

“I think we can do more by working together,” Council member Jeff Lambson stated.

City attorney Stephen Earl recommended preserving the property, citing concerns about the irreversible loss of land if ASD were to sell it to developers. He questioned where schools would be built in the future if the need arose.

“As far as I’m concerned, regardless of ASD’s involvement, this is simply a matter of common sense,” Mayor Dave Young asserted. “We never anticipated school closures. Amidst all this uncertainty, we must preserve our lands.”

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