By Jenner Smith

I’m pleased to announce that a few great new things are happening in our community this spring. We have organized a new outdoor concert series and are excited about a potential farmers market coming to the area.

The Allied Gardens/Grantville Community Council, along with help from the Kiwanis Club of Grantville/Allied Gardens, has been working to organize a summer concert series at the Allied Gardens Recreation Center, and we want everyone to mark their calendars for “First Fridays.” Our goal is to bring together neighbors and friends of all ages to celebrate summer in our community while supporting local music talent. We are planning a series of four concerts on the following “First Fridays”: June 5, July 3, Aug. 7 and Sept. 4 (the first Friday of each month) from 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. at the Allied Gardens Recreation Center.

Across the street, the Kiwanis Club of Grantville/Allied Gardens is also working on setting up a farmers market in the parking lot of the Allied Gardens Shopping Center, near the vacant Albertsons space. They have not set a firm date yet, however hope to announce it in the next few weeks. This will not affect the shopping center’s owner from continuing to pursue a new tenant to take over the Albertsons space. As Councilmember Scott Sherman’s office confirmed at the most recent “State of the Neighborhood” event, the center is still looking to lease the former Albertsons space to another local grocer.

Thanks to robust community support and donations, the new clock is up and running at the corner of Waring Road and Zion Avenue. We owe a big “thank you” to Kiwanis for spearheading this effort. In addition, we want to say a special “thank you” to Paving Stone of San Diego, who donated their services for the installation of the bricks and RCP Block and Brick, who donated the bricks themselves.

Once again, I’m proud to see so many members of our community come together to enhance its character. I encourage everyone in the community to join us for the First Fridays concert series this summer, and to continue to attend the quarterly Allied Gardens/Grantville Community Council town hall meetings. The next one is Tuesday, May 26 at 7 p.m. at Ascension Lutheran Church, 5106 Zion Ave.

—Jenner Smith is a member of the Allied Gardens/Grantville Community Council.