For many years, the Allied Gardens/Grantville Community Council has been the best means to obtain information from our government officials and to communicate our concerns to the Planning Commission and the City Council. In addition to this essential service, the Council organizes or supports events such as the Holiday Festival for the local grade schools and junior high school; the holiday decorations at the corner of Zion and Waring and on the flyover bridge; the First Friday Summer Concert series; and more.

Unfortunately, this good work is being hampered because the governing board of the Council is dwindling. Stalwarts who have done so much and so ably over the years are leaving in favor of new members, but several of those new members left the Council when they moved from the area. Our ability to continue these community activities is much diminished.

The future of the Council and its good works depends on renewed participation, particularly by those many residents of Allied Gardens and Grantville who grew up here and have returned to their home neighborhood to raise their families.

The Allied Gardens/Grantville Community Council next meets in public session on Tuesday, Jan. 26 at 7 p.m. at the Ascension Lutheran Church, Zion Avenue and 50th Street. Please join us and consider becoming a part of the governing board of this important institution.

For more information about the Allied Gardens/Grantville Community Council, visit alliedgardens.org.

––Shain Haug is a member of the Allied Gardens/Grantville Community Council.