To help you celebrate this holiday season safely, all Metro bus and rail lines will provide free service on the nights of Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.

On December 17, the Silver Lake Chamber of Commerce invites the community to mingle, shop, and enjoy live music with local businesses.

The holiday block party will feature two hot spots at Sunset Junction and on Silver Lake Boulevard (between Berkeley and Effie) for in-store specials from participating vendors, caroling, holiday treats, and family-friendly activities.

The event, which begins at 3:00 P.M and lasts until 8:00 P.M., will also host a live band at Living Room (3531 Sunset Blvd), a sculpture garden at Materials and Applications (1619 Silver Lake Blvd), and an Artist Bazaar in the parking lot of the Satellite night club (1717 Silver Lake Blvd).

For more information, please visit www.silverlakechamber.com.

Echo Park Patch is now taking nominations for its first Echo Park and Silver Lake Person of the Year.

This is a great opportunity to recognize someone who has contributed their time, talents, and energy to help our communities.

To nominate someone, please email anthea.raymond@patch.com and include the following:

• Why you think they should be the Person of the Year
• Groups/organizations with which they are involved
• How they have contributed to the Echo Park and Silver Lake communities
• Photo of the nominee
• Your relation to the nominee

On January 9, the Los Angeles Redistricting Commission will host a public hearing at Los Angeles City College (855 N Vermont Ave) to give residents an opportunity to weigh in on city council district boundaries.  This is an opportunity to literally help shape your community!

The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the LACC Theater.  Light refreshments will be provided.

For more information on the Redistricting Commission and its public hearings, please visit the commission website.

Stop by the Echo Park Pottery this Sunday for some great pottery, dog cookie stockings, and photos with Santa!

The sale will take place from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at 1850 Echo Park Avenue.

For more information, please contact (323) 662-8067 or visit www.echoparkpottery.com.

The “Pay it Forward” volunteer band is seeking musicians who can volunteer their time to perform at nursing homes in Los Angeles County this holiday season.

There are currently more than 100 volunteer musicians from ages 9 to 90 who are lending their time and talents to brightening the holidays for local seniors during 50 shows over the next three weeks.

For more information about volunteering as a musician, please contact Director Gary Gamponia at 213/388-8500 or visit www.payitforwardband.com.

There is a large dumpster in front of the Glassell Park Recreation Center (3650 Verdugo Road) for local residents who have excess debris from the windstorms.

The City of Los Angeles’s Bureau of Sanitation will service the dumpster.

On Sunday, December 11, join the Echo Park Farmers’ Market for its Seasonal Supper Fundraiser at The Green Beacon Foundation to benefit the Veggie Voucher Program.

The Veggie Voucher Program allows low-income shoppers to buy more fresh produce directly from local farmers at the market by providing bonus coupons to spend on fresh fruits and vegetables to customers shopping with CalFresh/EBT (formerly known as food stamps).

Tickets are $68, and 100 percent of the proceeds from this event will go directly to a consumer in need of money to afford a healthy diet AND to a local California farmer.

The Seasonal Supper will feature a special four course meal created by renowned guest chef Gloria Felix of Reservior Restaurant in Silver Lake with wine pairings provided by City Sip LA. All of the produce and most of the ingredients will be sourced FRESH from SEE-LA’s Farmers’ Markets.

Please click here for more information.

The Greater Echo Park Elysian Neighborhood (GEPENC) is hosting the Third Annual Open House this Saturday, December 10, from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  There will be representatives from City of Los Angeles agencies including:  Department of Animal Services, Department of Water and Power, Department of Public Works, Department of Recreation and Parks, LA Public Libraries, and the Bureau of Sanitation.

The Open House at the GEPENC office (1572 Sunset Boulevard) will start with a pancake breakfast (8:00 a.m.-9:30 a.m.) in partnership with the LA Fire Department’s Los Bomberos to support the LAFD Widows and Orphans Fund.   Donations of $5 are requested.

For more information on Los Bomberos and the Widows and Orphans Fund, please visit http://www.lafra.org/pages/widows-orphans-disabled-firemens-fund