The end of the year is always a time for celebration, and during its last regular meeting of 2023, the Beverly Hills Recreation and Park Commission on Nov. 28 summarized its successful fall events and previewed the festivities to come.
After Fall Fantastic on October 29th, which featured a pumpkin carving contest, Dia de los Muertos activities, and spooky storytime, the Beverly Hills Farmers Market will host a Holiday Craft Fair on December 29th. and comes alive again with holiday cheer for the Cookie Baking Contest. Recreation Supervisor Evan Doyle said Wednesday.
Doyle said bakers at the cookie contest compete for special categories and first prizes that include the best-tasting and best-looking cookies, while at the craft fair participants can win candles, jewelry, repurposed denim and more. will be able to purchase gifts from a variety of artisans. .
He added that 19 people have registered for the cookie baking contest and encouraged anyone interested to register now.
Committee Vice Chair Amy Sherry praised the staff for turning the farmers market into a hub for community celebrations.
“I’m really impressed with everything you’ve done this year,” Sherry said. “When we came back from the pandemic, you guys were really reinvigorated. We’ve had event after event and they’ve all been really great.”
Following the craft fair and baking contest, the Roxbury Variety Show will be held on Dec. 11, where Beverly Hills seniors will showcase their talents in poetry, dance, acting and more.
Despite the holiday season being in full swing, the committee began preparations on March 10 for next year’s Community Services Department Showcase, where parents can learn more about what Beverly Hills summer camps are all about.
Held at the Beverly Hills Farmers Market, this showcase introduces parents to summer camp “sellers” and gives them the opportunity to ask questions, receive discounts, and plan next month’s enrollment. said service manager Adolin Obaspian.
Registration for residents will begin at 9 a.m. on April 10, and registration for non-residents will begin at 9 a.m. on April 17, Obaspian said. She added that camps fill up quickly, so parents were advised to log in early to ensure a spot and avoid potential glitches.
Commissioner Deborah Thelmey suggested that organizers host a booth demonstrating how to register online, and that summer camp offerings include community service opportunities for teens; I asked if it would be possible to include an opportunity to shadow a city council member and learn about civic life.
Obaspian said staff is considering several new teen programs this summer, including a camp counselor training program, but is always open to new suggestions.
She added that the number of camps is limited by available field space throughout the city, and Commissioner J.R. Zubak said she would host some camps at El Rodeo Elementary School, which is currently under construction but is expected to be completed. asked if they could increase the number of camps. next summer.
“We would love to do that [the offerings] We will expand,” Obaspian said. “The school grounds we go to may determine whether we can add more.”
Over the next few months, committee chair Myra Lurie encouraged Obaspian and her colleagues to talk with camp staff about ways to improve the overall experience.
“As you make plans for the summer, this is a great time to really talk over the next few months. [Recreation and Parks] Our staff participates every summer and gets feedback on what works and what doesn’t,” Lurie said.
Lurie also said she and Zubak held a special meeting to discuss changes to the city’s pickleball offerings, including changes to the reservation system and court locations. Zubac and Lurie provided few details about the proposed changes, but said they could return to the committee in January with more specific recommendations.