The program runs from 3 to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday at Furman, Rio San Gabriel and Golden parks and 3 to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday at Dennis the Menace. Apollo Park has a similar program named "Books and Hoops." The program has many fun-filled activities for elementary-aged children such as homework help, tag, "Challenge the Leader," ping pong, scavenger sunt, boardgames, coloring sheets, arts/crafts, carroms, and mural and banner making. A toy loan program is also offered which lets children play with and check out a toy for one week. In addition to this, there will be a ping pong tournament on Wednesday, Jan. 23, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. at all the parks. The program's first activity will begin at 3:30 p.m. and the last activity will be at 5 p.m. The program will have a different activity every thirty minutes.
Hamilton says that the children also love this program and interact well with the leaders. "The kids like to have a place to go to after school where they can do fun activities and get their homework done," Hamilton said.
The program is free. Registration is ongoing and encouraged at the park sites. Flyers with information on the program's scheduled activities are available at each park site and at City Hall.
For information, call 904-7238.
"This is a great resource for seniors to receive tax assistance. They feel comfortable with the place and the same people who provide assistance each year," said Dan Belling, Senior Center supervisor.
Appointments are required and can be made at the Senior Center. The tax assistance will be provided in the Information Referral offices.
"We often have many open appointments in the beginning of our tax assistance. Towards the end we have a lot of people making appointments, so they should sign up as soon as possible," Belling added.
For information, call the Senior Center at 904-7223.
The event is open to all males from eight to 108. A $5 donation is requested, but not required, for the all-you-can-eat breakfast in the Fellowship Hall, located on the west side of the building.
DiLoreto is the owner, CEO and president of Yale Engineering in Downey, which he has run since World War II. He has sponsored scholarships and has donated regularly to a broad range of causes and ministries.
He represented citizens in a freedom-of-speech case involving the right to post the 10 Commandments (called "Principles to Live By") at the Downey High School baseball diamond's outfield fence.
He has been a delegate for the Republican Party, a grand marshal for the Holiday Lane Parade, and has served on boards, commissions and committees which include Pepperdine University and its Wave of Excellence Campaign; the Congress for American Principles; the National Italian American Foundation in Washington D.C.; the Americanism Educational League; the St. Francis Medical Center Foundation in Lynwood; the Villa Scalabrini Retirement Center in Sun Valley; the Columbus 500 Congress at Pepperdine University; the United Way (where he developed the first successful payroll deduction plan); the Downey chapter of UNICO (for Unity, Neighborliness, Integrity, Charity and Opportunity); GOOD; the Boy Scouts of America, Frontier District; and the Downey YMCA.
This will be the eighth consecutive year that the Symphony has brought this educational outreach program to Downey. The Symphony Quintet's educational concerts are designed to introduce elementary school children to the instruments and fundamental concepts of symphonic music. The quintet appearances are the core of the Symphonic Society's educational outreach program.
Osborn personally leads the quintet in these important school appearances, and has become a popular figure to the children and teachers who look forward to the visits. These and the annual Concert in Furman Park appearance by the Symphony have become an integral part of the elementary and community educational experience, along with the free Third Grader Concert at the Downey Theater.
The Music in the Schools Program is funded through tax exempt contributions of many generous individuals and groups in the community. The Symphonic Society's annual spring appeal also includes matching grants from many generous philanthropists. These include an annual grant from Downey Savings which underwrites the Third Grader Concerts. This season's Music in the Schools is dedicated to the memory of C. Larry Hoag, who offered the first challenge grant in support of the program, and who, through the Hoag Foundation, supported it each year for the past five years with a $5,000 grant.
The program this year then presents "Melody and Accompaniment" starting with George M. Cohan's "Yankee Doodle" and "You're a Grand Old Flag," to demonstrate how instruments work together; two notes A and D demonstrate timpani in Borodin's "General Dance" from the "Polovetsian Dances." Then tempo in music (slow and fast) are shown by Rossini's "William Tell Overture," popularized as the Lone Ranger theme. Texture in music will be demonstrated by Elton John's "Circle of Life" from "The Lion King." Then each appearance will close with an invitation to future symphony concerts, using Alan Menkin's "Be Our Guest" from "Beauty and the Beast."
The series opens this year Jan. 28 with a trip down memory lane to the romantic ballads of the '60s by the Lettermen, who got their start at BYU. Now known as "Reunion," the trio again thrills audiences.
Tickets to the concert are $12, $10 and $8 and may be reserved at Ensign Books, 15965 Piuma, Cerritos, or by calling 924-3776.
On March 25 at 6:45 p.m. Jeff Goodrich and James Oneil Miner: Meet the man who wrote "I Heard Him Come."
On Monday, April 29, Michael Ballam, active in acting, Broadway and with Education Week, makes his first Southern California tour in years.
On May 20, Jericho Road and Jennifer Madsen appear. Four returned missionaries from BYU described as Mormon N Sync. Jennifer just cut her first CD entitled "I Still Believe In Love."
Tickets for the concert may be purchased at the Theater box office on Firestone at Brookshire, Wednesday afternoons, Jan. 16 and 23, between 12 and 4 p.m., or on the night of the performance. For further information, call 403-2944.
Each Rotarian purchased individual personalized gifts for each member of their newly adopted family and provided meals for the holiday season.
Wilcox said, "The Rotarians are getting more out of helping others than they are giving."
The families were selected by the Human Services Association which serves many Downey and adjacent city's families. Some are members of abuse or neglect and some include senior citizens. For many of the families the action by the Rotarians was all they would receive for the holiday season.
Community Services Director Darren Dunnaway, who was in charge of the club's project, said the members were overwhelming in their support of the project. "Many members went above and beyond what was asked of them. Many of them purchased multiple gifts and meals for their families. The outpouring of generosity by my fellow Rotarians is what being a Rotarian is all about." Dunnaway added, "Perhaps Rotarian Doug Baker said it best when he said, 'it was pure joy purchasing gifts for a family I do not know and will never know. But knowing that I made a difference in another person's life is pure joy. I surely have received more than I gave.'"
In addition to gifts from Rotarians, Citizens for Downey and the Ed DiLoreto Trust gave each adopted family a certificate for a meal at a local restaurant.
"You can be sure we will do it again next year," said Dunnaway.
She is vice-president and branch manager of the bank at Firestone and Brookshire and is a member of the Chamber's Board of Directors.
Each Tuesday, chamber members and guests meet to network with each other and promote their business services and products. All business people in the community are welcome. For information, call 923-2191.
Specifically, the amendments require that the state compensate state employees (executive, legislative, and judicial) to make up the loss of income if these employees are summoned to active duty in the military reserve or California National Guard to serve in Operation Enduring Freedom. This salary differential would be paid by the state up to 180 days.
Compensation will be the difference between military pay plus allowances and the pay the employee would have received from the state, ensuring that the employee/reservist make no less than what he or she earns at his or her state job.
Additionally, all benefits that would have been accrued during this period of military service would be provided by the state. Merit raises as determined by the Department of Personnel Administration that would have been granted during this period of service, will also be awarded while an employee is on active duty.
This compensation, however, is not a carte blanche for a state employee to collect this pay yet not return to work. If an individual does not return to work following active duty, the compensation would be treated as a loan to be repaid with interest at the rate earned on the Pooled Money Investment Account.
"The Assembly PER&SS Committee wants to hear the amendments to SB 711 and move this vital proposal promptly through the legislative process. Our valiant men and women who represent our state in the war on terrorism should be heralded for their service to this country. At a minimum, they certainly should not incur financial hardship as a consequence of fighting for our freedom," Havice commented.
Havice added, "SB 711 has an urgency statute attached to it and it must be implemented immediately. This is a simple matter of human decency and support for our military troops that will serve to preserve the safety of the American people."
The Assembly PER&SS Committee will hear the amended version of SB 711 on Jan. 16.
There will be two trips for different age groups offered that same day. The Youth Snow Trip is for children ages 7-11 (parents are welcomed on this trip) and the Middle School Snow Trip is for grades six to eight. For a fee of $18 per person children and their parents will ride in a bus where they will enjoy G-rated movies on their way to Big Bear. In Big Bear they will get an opportunity to play in a winter wonderland of natural or man-made snow and ride up and down a hillside on inner tubes. A small snack will be provided.
Registration is required and is ongoing at Community Services from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. Those going on the trip will depart by bus at 8 a.m. from the City Hall flagpole. They will be back at 6:30 p.m. Trip-goers must dress warmly, bring a change of warm clothes, a lunch or money for food and put their names on their personal items.
"This is a rewarding trip. Those that go come back knowing they had a special day," Hamilton said.
Sign up soon because space is limited. For information, call 904-7238.