March for Kids

Come down to 150 East Center Street a@ Noon to walk 5 blocks to the City Center for Utah Foster Kids. For more information go to the Provo City Mayor's blog

Beautification Award Nomination

It is that beautiful time of year again to begin looking around our neighborhood for someone who has worked hard to beautify their yard and would qualify for the Neighborhood Beautification Award. 

This award is sponsored by the Provo City Neighborhood Program under the direction of the Municipal Council. Every year each Neighborhood Chair is encouraged to nominate a single home from their neighborhood that displays pride of ownership and contributes to the neighborhood’s visual beautification.

It's hard for me to see each home in our Neighborhood, so I'm asking you to please help me find someone in our neighborhood that I can nominate. Leave a comment below with the address of the home that you think would be a good candidate. I need to have the Nomination into the city by May 25th.

A Beginning and an Ending

Provo City Center Temple

Provo City is excited for the beginning of construction for the new Provo City Center Temple. The groundbreaking will be held this Saturday, May 12 at 9:00 a.m. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles will preside at the ceremony. Tickets will be required to attend at the site and will be made available through Church leaders within the new temple district. The ceremony will also be broadcast to surrounding stake centers.

Utah Valley Convention Center

Provo City is also excited for the ending of the construction for the new Utah Valley Convention Center. The Grand Opening Celebration will also be held this Saturday, May 12 from 10am – 4pm. The Event is FREE and open to the Public. Miss Utah, Lauren Tucker, will sign the national anthem and she will be on hand to sing autographs afterwards. There will be entertainment throughout the day. For more information go to the Utah Valley Convention Website

New Provo School District Superintendent

Press Release

Provo City School District

May 2, 2012

The Provo School District Board of Education voted today to name Keith C. Rittel as its next superintendent. 

Rittel currently serves as Deputy Superintendent of Clover Park School District in Lakewood (near Tacoma), Washington, a school district with a similarly-sized student population as the Provo School District.  Effective July 1, 2012, Rittel will succeed interim superintendent Robert Gentry and former superintendent Randall Merrill, who retired in January of this year.

“It’s a great honor to have been chosen to lead Provo’s schools,” said Rittel. “The community and its resources are ideal for developing students.  Parent support is excellent.  I share the District’s vision for the future, and exceptional and diverse programs are in place.  I look forward to getting to know the people in the community and working to develop a long-term relationship with the fine educators and staff in the schools.”

“Keith Rittel is a proven and successful leader of schools,” said Kristine Manwaring, school board president.  “He has a deep understanding about effective teaching and learning.  As a school board, we are delighted to welcome him to our community.” 

Prior to his current position in Washington, Rittel served 4 years as principal at Kamiak High School in Mukilteo, Washington and 7 years as principal at Anacortes High School in Anacortes, Washington.  In 2004, he was honored as Washington State’s High School Principal of the Year.

Before serving as principal, Mr. Rittel was an assistant principal at East High School in Salt Lake City and a teacher at Woods Cross High School in Woods Cross, Utah.  While at Woods Cross, he was the school’s nominee for the Davis County School District’s Teacher Hall of Fame recognition. Starting his teaching career in 1984, he also was a teacher in Prince George and Victoria in the Province of British Columbia.

“This has been an extensive and inclusive three-month process in reaching this decision,” said Manwaring.  “Our superintendent selection committee included more than 25 members selected from among our educators and community.  The finalists went through four sets of interviews, including open houses.  Board members conducted extensive interviews of references at the sites of the candidates.”

Manwaring noted that student achievement is Rittel’s first priority.  “He has led notable growth in student achievement in each of his leadership positions.  Teachers and administrators regard him as a highly-effective leader with strong instructional knowledge.”

Rittel received a bachelor’s degree from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, where he trained as a professional trombonist.  While working as an educator in Utah and completing a master’s degree in Educational Administration from the University of Utah, he performed frequently with the Utah Symphony and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.  He has children and grandchildren in Utah.  He is also currently enrolled in a doctoral program at Seattle Pacific University.

Downtown Provo Rooftop Concert Series is back

The Rooftop Concert Series located Downtown at the Parking Terrace on the corner of 100 West and West Center Street is back. The Kickoff concert will feature Peter Breinholt with Ryan Innes. The best part is the Concert is FREE.

Location: Provo Towne Square Parking Terrace Rooftop (on the corner of 100 West and West Center Street)
Date: This Friday May 4, starting at 8 pm.

Downtown Provo First Friday Art Chase

Enjoy the unique art and culture of Downtown Provo through First Fridays monthly Art Chase. Those who complete the Art Chase are entered in to win a Kindle. Pick up the scavenger hunt map at Covey Center for the Arts, the Window Box Gallery, Station 22 on Center Street or any other venue on Art Chase

Location: Center Street and University Avenue in Provo

Date: This Friday, May 4 from 6-9 pm.