Happy Arbor Day

Recently West Valley City was awarded Tree City USA status for the 15 consecutive year. We had a nice presentation from the State Division of Forestry as well as an update from West Valley Trees committee during our regular City Council meeting. Today I joined with other members of the City Council, WVC Parks Department, and kids from the Family Fitness center Kidz Kamp in planting some trees. The Eastern Redbuds were arranged around a grassy area at the circular end of City Center Ct, near the E-Center. These events are a great asset to the City as these tree will be enjoyed by visitors and residents for years to come. The significance of investing and improving your home and community is of utmost importance to the future of West Valley City. Participation in this Arbor Day event is small token of that commitment and I hope that many more will catch that vision.

Cultural Arts

It has been an eventful year for West Valley City Arts. The recently retooled Cultural Arts Board has their sights set high for programs and events throughout this year. Recently I received this summary of the cultural art events and exhibitions that the City has helped facilitate in one form or another. Even though I attended quite a few of these events, I was still amazed at the many quality events that I missed. Many of the events below are becoming yearly traditions, so if you missed something of interest last year look for an improved version this coming year.

15 Art Exhibits

International

Spark of Hope: Rwanda

Exit Saigon, Enter Little Saigon (a travelling Smithsonian Exhibition)

National

Day of the Dead

American Association of University Women: Celebrating the Diversity of Women

Retablo Exhibition by Jeronimo Lozano

Regional

Celebrating Fiber Arts: From the Past to the Present

Nine Muses

Adoption Exchange

Peace Flags Project

Local

Face of Utah Sculpture

Trees of Diversity

Brian Baity’s Easter Eggstravaganza (Artisan Eggshell Carvings)

Utah’s African History: Storytelling Through Art and Artifact

Arnold Friberg’s Entering The Valley Exhibition

30 Educational Programs

ArtRageous Tuesdays

ArtRageous Seniors

Urban Youth Tile Project

Vietnamese Language Classes (48 classes)

Shakespeare-in-the-Schools Presents: Twelfth Night

(Utah Shakespearean Festival)

14 Festivals, Concerts and International Exchanges

WorldStage! Summer and Winter Concerts

Fiesta!

International Summer Festival

Chilean Independence Day Celebration

Vietnamese New Year

Polynesian Reggae Festival

Winter Market

Humanitarian Services

International Film Screening

Taiwan Film Screening

(Sponsored by Utah Coalition of Sister Cities,

West Valley City Sister City Committee and

Salt Lake County Sister County Committee)

Gloria Film Festival

Fire Report

Tonight I received the 2009 annual report from the West Valley City Fire Chief and have spent some time this evening reviewing the contents. I am grateful that our City's Fire Department maintains a high level of service and has equally high standards of care and safety. Calls for service and the response times of the fire department were roughly the same as last year and the number of miscellaneous fires that were responded to were 285, with the fire at the Carpet Barn on Redwood road the most notable. Fortunately there were no civilian nor firefighter casualties due to fire this past year and only 10 fire related injuries (one firefighter and 9 civilian). The Fire Department also responds to rescue efforts and hazardous materials situations.

As springtime is now upon us there are some simple things that we can all do to keep our homes and community safe from fire including proper storage of flammable liquids and clearing out dry and highly flammable debris and grass.

Be Counted

Today is the deadline day for returning your census form and I just want to emphasize how important it is to our community that we get everyone counted in a complete census count. Census data is used in determining elected representation, roads, schools, libraries, hospitals, grants, emergency personnel, and many more important community staples. The census data by law is also kept private and cannot be usd by another government agency. If you have not taken the few minutes required to answer the ten census question please do so today.

Here is a Deseret News article regarding this very topic:

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700024515/Deadline-for-census-response-is-Friday.html

Police Involvement

Just wanted to take a minute a acknowledge the good work that members of the police department in addition to their regular important duties. They are constantly invovled in a good cause and recently I was able to participate in giving and receiving awards based upon the community involvement of our police force.

Recently acting for the Mayor at a City Council meeting I was able to recognize and present police and community partners for their efforts in the 2009 Giving tree program. Officers with help from the business community helped to organize the program of acquiring holiday gifts for underprivileged children. This past years giving tree was successful in helping a record number of families and all invovled should be proud of their contribution. Also acting as Mayor Pro Tem I represented West Valley City at an awards dinner hosted by the Utah Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve. At this dinner West Valley City was recognized with an award for the servicemen and women that serve in the armed forces and that are also employed by West Valley City. We have had a number of distinguished employees serve our country with honor and we applaud their efforts. West Valley was also nominated for the Secretary of Defense employer support freedom award. Next week the police will serve and clean tables at the West Valley Sizzler to raise money for the Cops for Kids program. This Dinner event will occur Wednesday the 21st from 4:00-9:00 pm.