Focus is on the Community in the New Year

The Del Rey Neighborhood Council plans to focus on activities in the new year that will help bring the community together.

Eric DeSobe, president of the board of the Del Rey Neighborhood Council, said one of the events topping the council’s 2013 agenda is an “expanded” Del Rey Day which has been an annual celebration in previous years.

“It’s kind of a staple for our year,” DeSobe said. “Basically a time to bring a lot of the community together in Glen Alla Park.”

The Del Rey Community Jazz Band as well as local school groups have performed at previous celebrations, and DeSobe said he hopes the council is able to plan another one for late fall 2013.

Some of the activities committee members will be championing include the Del Rey Art Walk, finding opportunities for local performances of the Del Rey Community Jazz Band and working on book drives at schools in the neighborhood.

“In the first quarter, I think we’re going to see a lot of action out of our committees,” he said. “I’m excited about the new committee chairs that have stepped up and want to lead the committees.”

DeSobe also expects collaborations with local businesses in the new year, including with the opening of the new Marina Marketplace. Having a dog show in Glen Alla Park in the spring or summer is another goal as well as continuing the Farmer’s Market in Glen Alla Park on Fridays.

“It’s been going on now for three months, and we’ve gotten a lot of positive feedback about it, so we’re working on getting the word out,” DeSobe said. “It’s a unique market in that it’s open up to 7 o’clock on Friday nights, so we really notice a lot of people taking advantage of that after work and really starting their weekend with us in Del Rey, so I’d like people to know that’s a great way to meet other community members.”

In addition to creating local programming, DeSobe said the council is serious about being a resource that locals can use to help them solve problems with the city.

“We’re supposed to serve as that go-between, and someone who can really hear concerns quickly and then help those concerns get to the people whether in the City Council office or other parts of the city to really fix everything possible from street lights being out to safety issues, all sorts of things,” DeSobe said.

If you’re looking for ways to get involved with the Del Rey Neighborhood Council next year, the council still has two, vacant seats. For more information about about getting involved, send an email to board@delreync.org.