ARNA works year-round to ensure our neighborhood has input and is proactive on issues affecting our part of the city.
stacey ducombs - PAST PRESIDENT
ARNA is mourning the loss of one of our most active members. Stacey Elizabeth Ducombs, ACNP, MSN, APRN passed away recently at the age of 51. She was born on August 5, 1973 to her father Larry Albert Ducombs and her adoring mother Rosalind Roussel Ducombs, who preceded her in death. Stacey was a resident of New Orleans and lived most of her life in the 4-parish area. Stacey's education included Harahan Elementary, Riverdale High School, USL School of Nursing, University of Texas Arlington and University of South Alabama, acquiring Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Nursing and Bachelor of Arts in Literature. Stacey enjoyed a 29-year career in medicine with stints at Our Lady of the Lake, Touro Infirmary, Ochsner Healthcare, Scott & White Health and Tulane University, ending as Nurse Practitioner specializing in Cardiology at LSU Healthcare Network, combining health care with medical education. Her outside interests included travel, socializing, volunteering, membership in Mardi Gras Krewes, the first of which was as a charter member of the Mystical Krewe of Nyx. Stacey was the Secretary of the Audubon Riverside Neighborhood Association, later becoming President. She also volunteered services at Children's Hospital.
tom rey - PRESIDENT
Tom's family has been in the neighborhood (and in the same house) for five generations now. He has been active in preserving our unique neighborhood and community since the beginning of ARNA and with other neighborhood associations past and present in New Orleans. He's looking forward to meeting as many of his neighbors as possible to build a strong sense of community in our neighborhood.
TORI EMMERLING - VICE PRESIDENT / PLANNING
Donald Fant - Zoning
Donald has lived in Audubon Riverside since 1984. Thirty-five years ago, he and his wife Andrée purchased and renovated the Eastlake-style shotgun double where they live today. They love living in an historic, walkable neighborhood with easy access to its many urban amenities. Donald is a New Orleans native and registered architect with extensive experience in a wide range of commercial and residential building types.
Rhonda Betbeze - Treasurer
Rhonda and her husband, Tim, have lived on Patton Street since 2008, after living in the Fontainebleau neighborhood for 13 years. She is a semi-retired paralegal, and very much prefers spending her days tending to her uptown garden over working in her downtown office. Rhonda is a proud member of the Amelia Earhawts (“Can you handle the turbulence?”), and loves to costume for Mardi Gras, Halloween, and just about any other chance she gets. She is also active in other volunteer efforts, including West Riverside Area Patrol (“WRAP”), our neighborhood security patrol, Trap Dat Cat, a city-wide trap/neuter/return program, and the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.
NICOLE WILLIAMSON - Secretary
Nicole has lived in Audubon Riverside since 1991, and grew up in the Audubon area. She works as a Director of Presentations and Information with Festival Productions, Inc.-New Orleans, the producers of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, and previously the Bayou Country Superfest, the Essence Music Festival, and many others. 2024 will be her 30th Jazz Fest with the company and she doesn't really know how to do anything else. When not working, she enjoys playing tennis (in the neighborhood!), reading, Pilates (in the neighborhood!), live music, fantasizing about planting trees (in the neighborhood!), rolling with her friends, riding her bike instead of driving, waiting for return texts from her 16-year-old niece, and fixing broken things on her house. She is too lazy to volunteer for much of anything, but when she does, it's for Mardi Gras Indians and social aid & pleasure clubs. She has long referred to our neighborhood as "the sanctuary," a peaceful corner in a loud city. Along with all the wonderful neighbors and ARNA, she hopes we can maintain that designation. She strongly believes in the old adage by Jed Barlet on the West Wing (really Margaret Mead): “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.”
MELISA REY - Community Relations / membership
Melisa moved into the neighborhood 19 years ago as a transplant from Metairie & she'll never go back! She loves the interconnectedness of nola and it's unique blend of old & new, rich & poor and the unparalled character of Uptown. Melisa lives with her husband Tom and their two teenage daughters. Their daughters are the fifth generation to live in their home in this slice of heaven we call Audubon Riverside. Melisa loves to volunteer in a variety of businesses and with at risk groups. She prides herself on supporting neighbors and developing relationships so working with ARNA to support membership and building community is a honor
MONICA CLARK - Public Safety
Monica is a life-long activist committed to building community. Her work as a Consultant and Social Scientist incorporates federal funding, political organizing, food access, protecting the environment and civic engagement. Monica has lived in the neighborhood for eight years. She first came to New Orleans in 2005 with Habitat for Humanity to rebuild homes after Hurricane Katrina. Monica is focused on pedestrian and bicycle safety of the Audubon Riverside neighborhood, calming traffic in general, enforcing oversized vehicle zoning laws, natural disaster recovery plans post catastrophic weather events and preserving the beauty, safety and natural environment of this historic neighborhood.
Corey James - Quality of Life / Beautification
JIM MCCUTCHEON - COMMUNICATIONS / IT
Jim has lived in Audubon Riverside since first coming to New Orleans from Illinois in the late 70’s. Now retired, Jim had a long career in Radio Broadcasting as a DJ and producing radio commercials and public service campaigns for local nonprofits.
He is a first time board member and looks forward to interacting with the community and keeping residents informed about happenings and opportunities in the area. If you have an event that you think everyone will want to know about, email Jim to get the word out.
Dave Doll - At-Large
Dave has lived in the neighborhood for 42 years. Known for his tendency to get involved (as his wife says, “Here we go again”), Dave has chronicled neighborhood history, including a 42-page booklet on the stained-glass windows of St. Francis of Assisi Church. He also researched and was instrumental in re-establishing the annual Alma Peters May Festival, a community-wide, family friendly event. As ChatGPT puts it Dave has “a great sense of humor – especially the dark, irreverent, or satirical kind. … (He likes) things that are vivid, funny, and a little offbeat. (He’s) detail-oriented and often working toward something creative or complex.”