Orem has finalized its agreement with Lindon for fire, emergency medical, and dispatch services -- an agreement that Orem public safety director Mike Larsen said is fair and beneficial to both parties.

Through the contract approved by the Orem City Council Tuesday, Lindon obtains fire, EMS, and dispatch services for its community, and Orem receives better coverage for those services in the north part of the city.

The agreement has Lindon providing a fire station that will serve its community and north Orem. Orem supplies staffing of 12 full-time firefighters/paramedics, three dispatchers and supervisors.

"[The staff] are our employees, and they operate under our direction," Larsen said. "The agreement defines the line of authority very clearly."

If all of Orem's fire service resources are taxed at any given time, the cities will rely on mutual aid agreements with other communities.

Lindon will pay an annual fee each fiscal year for the services. The initial amount for 2008-09, which includes start-up costs, is $1,177,955. The fee reflects a reduction this year, because Orem is closing its Fire Station #2 for remodeling, a circumstance that will require an increased service load on the Lindon Fire Station.

The contract states that only the cost of first-year employees is included in the annual fee, "even when Orem provides Lindon with veteran, more expensive employees to perform the services required by this agreement."

Larsen told the council that with the construction of Orem Fire Station #4, to be built over the next year, and the new contract with Lindon, Orem will have "very, very good coverage."

BRIEFS

Orem supports Lindon Hollow project -- Lindon and Orem are joining forces to purchase the property to maintain an historical drainage known as the Lindon Hollow ditch. The cities also plan to construct an urban trail through the area.

The 13-acre wetland area will be both a natural wildlife habitat and a pretreatment area for storm water along the ditch.

The Orem City Council approved a resolution June 24 expressing support from the city for Lindon's application for grant money for the project.

Summer intensive workshops for dancers of all ages -- Academy of Ballet presents summer intensive workshops July 7-25. Train with professional instructors who will help develop skills that will enhance your performance and technique. Participate in classes including Ballet, Pointe, Pointe preparation, Jazz, Contemporary, Irish, and Pas de Deux.

Workshops are for all levels, ranging from beginning classes for the youngest dancers, ages 5-7, through Advanced levels for teens.

Workshop classes are taught by Academy of Ballet faculty and guest instructors Mark Lanham, who has performed with Ballet West, San Francisco Ballet, and Canada's Royal Winnipeg Ballet; Stephanie Parker, who recently concluded a nine-month contract with Cirque de Soleil; Kim Pritchett, who has performed with Jose Mateo's Ballet Theater in Boston; and Kristen Wilkinson, a former soloist for American Folk Ballet, and a member of the Los Angeles based modern dance company, the Posthouse Dance Group.

All students in the Summer Intensive Workshops will have the opportunity to perform in the Pioneer Legacy Pageant, held in the beautiful outdoor Springville Arts Park, on July 24-26.

Workshops will be held in the Academy of Ballet studios, located in Lehi, Lindon, Orem, and Springville. For more information visit academyofballet.net, or contact Lynne Thompson, at 225-1775 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Twilight Tales --Twilight Tales is a free family story time held each Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. downstairs at the Pleasant Grove Library. No fee or registration is required. The themes for the month of July are:

• July 2: Barnyard fun

• July 9: The Orkin man (bug killer) is coming

• July 16: Bean Museum presentation

• July 23: Ice cream

• July 30: Magic

The Ultimate Combat Experience and addiction motor sports of Orem team up to raise money for BACA -- The Ultimate Combat Experience and Addiction Motor Sports of Orem teamed up to help raise money for Bikers Against Child Abuse. Addiction Motor Sports will be sponsoring a ride from their showroom in Orem to the E Center for the Ultimate Combat Experience event on Saturday.

The show will feature Former UFC World Heavyweight Champion Ricco Rodriguez. During the intermission, Addiction Motor Sports will be giving away a street-legal mini-chopper to the lucky winner of a raffle. Raffle tickets sell for $1 and are available at Addiction Motor Sports, Ultimate Combat Training Center, or at the E Center the night of the event.

BACA was founded in Utah, and is organized on behalf of victims of Child Abuse. The Ultimate Combat Experience, also a Utah-based company, and its partners at Addiction Motor Sports of Orem, have committed to raising money for this great cause.

For information about this event, contact Mike Stidham at (801) 755-7843 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it