Sidi has sold thousands of records over the last two years without the help of a major record label. He has composed, arranged and produced 1999's "Prelude," 2000's "Electrified," and will release a new album, "Passion" tomorrow evening.
Sidi is a Downey resident and a graduate of Downey High School, and has received help from local businesses, including Century 21 My Real Estate, Downey Escrow, Circle C Printing, Capizzi Insurance, Quick Auto Service, Tri-Source Productions, Dr. Daniel Garcia, Pickles the Clown, D'Aversa Hair Salon, Code One Medical Supply, Jewelart, and the On Stage Dance Center.
The talented dancers of the On Stage Dance Center will perform as part of the Saturday concert.
Tickets are $10 and are available at any of the listed sponsors or at the Chamber of Commerce, 11131 Brookshire Ave. For information, call Sidi's Music Hotline at 544-7774.
A Spring Break Lifeguard Training Class, will be offered April 1 through April 5 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The American Red Cross Certification Course gives the necessary skills and training to become a lifeguard. Those who enroll in this class must be at least 15 years of age on or before the last day of class. Melinda Shore and Chris Robinson will teach the class.
"We encourage kids to enroll in this class because this can lead to jobs with the City for the summer. Applications will be accepted until April 19 at the Personnel Department," said Sheila Nichols, recreations supervisor of the Community Services Department.
Cost per person is $75. All materials will be supplied. Register at the Community Services Department, located on the second floor of City Hall.
Spring Break Recreation Swimming, will be from 1 to 4:30 p.m. on April 1-April 5. The whole family will have a great time enjoying open swimming. Children nine years of age and younger must be accompanied by an adult in the water. Any nonswimmer under 4 feet 6 inches tall must be accompanied by an adult as well. The snack bar will be open so youngsters can purchase goodies.
Cost is $1 per person. Those attending must bring their own towel although the locker room facilities will be open to shower before or after swimming. Recreation swimming will be supervised by six lifeguards.
"This is a great way to get outdoors in the Spring and spend some time with the family," Nichols added.
For information, call 904-7238.
Officers include President Stacy Brabant; 1st Vice President and Publicity Floralie Anthony; 2nd Vice President and Membership Jan Hammon; Secretary Julie Simpson; Treasurers Dorothy Pemberton and Sandy Bruner.
An Honorary Life Membership was awarded to Barbara Sterling in recognition of her 25 years of service to the Guild and Childrens Hospital.
Provisional members including Sandy Burns, Christy Cabrajac, Reggie Donahue, Janet Molinaro, Dorothy Olds, and Carol Somoano were welcomed at a new members orientation at the home of Anabeth Fishman.
The Guild is planning a fashion show, boutique and luncheon for Saturday, June 6, at the home of member Lois and husband Tony Rossi. Spring Fling will celebrate a patriotic theme. Funds raised go directly to benefit Los Angeles Childrens Hospital.
The free event, one of the most colorful in the city, matches the fourth and fifth graders from Downey's nine public elementary schools in seven track and field events.
More than 500 boys and girls compete in the following events:
* 50-yard dash
* 100-yard dash
* Baskets in one minute
* Softball throw for distance
* Standing long jump
* Four-member-team 440 yard relay
* Mixed coed relay
Field events begin at 8:30 a.m., followed by running events at 10:15, and final heats at 11:30.
Team scoring is on a 10-8-6-4-2 basis for first through fifth place in each event.
The public is welcome and the event is free.
Warren is located at 8141 De Palma Ave.
Conductor Thomas Osborn has programmed Dvorak's "Othello" Concert Overture, Shostakovich's film score for the famous 1964 production of "Hamlet," Mendelssohn's Overture to "A Midsummer Night's Dream," and Tchaikovsky's "Romeo and Juliet."
For tickets, the theater box office is open on Wednesdays, March 20 and 27, and April 3, noon to 4 p.m., as well as on the night of performance. The theater is on Firestone at Brookshire. For more information, call 403-2944.
The Committee last week met and allocated the funding to a number of charitable non-profit organizations which serve the Downey area, including the Downey Museum of Art, the Downey Civic Light Opera, the 10-20 Club (Darrell Jackson's group which fights to save at-risk youth from dropping out), the Downey KIDSDAY Program, the PTA HELPS, and Arc of Southeast Los Angeles.
Each group received a donation of $150, with the exception of Arc which received $162.93.
The schools will offer special programs and open house activities on the following schedule: March 21, Sussman Middle School; March 22, Williams; March 26, Rio Hondo; March 27, Gallatin and Price; April 18, Rio San Gabriel, Griffiths, and West; April 15-19, East; May 16, Old River; May 21, Carpenter; May 22, Lewis and Pace; May 23, Alameda; May 30, Gauldin; June 7, Unsworth.
* Alameda School-Parents and friends are invited to attend Open House on May 23 between 6 and 7 p.m. The PTA will sponsor a book fair and bake sale.
* Carpenter School-Open House at Carpenter will be on Tuesday, May 21. Parents, friends and interested community members are invited to visit classrooms from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. There will also be a book fair open from 6 to 7:45 p.m. in Room B17. All 3rd grade students and parents from the three feeder K-3 schools, Ward, Alameda and Pace, are invited to come for the evening and see the campus and visit the 4th grade classrooms.
* Gallatin-Open House will be Wednesday, March 27, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Parents, friends and community members are invited to meet the teaching staff, visit classrooms and view student work.
* Gauldin-Open House will be Thursday, May 30. Parents and interested community members are invited. Classrooms may be visited from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The PTA will sell Gauldin T-shirts and yearbooks. There will be pamphlets and information for all parents on the District Food Service program, the Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities program, and the Tobacco Use Prevention Education program.
* Imperial-Open House for Imperial School was held Feb. 22. Dinner was served to parents in the cafeteria by teachers. All classrooms and programs were open for visitations. The PTA sponsored a book fair. It was a fine opportunity for children and their parents to buy books, visit classrooms, labs, library and enjoy dinner with the teaching staff.
* Lewis-Parents, friends and community members are invited to the Open House at Lewis School Wednesday, May 22. A dinner from Pina's Pizza will be served from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Meal tickets will be pre-sold. Classrooms may be visited from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. Student work will be displayed.
* Old River-The Old River School Open House will be Thursday, May 16. Classrooms may be visited from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Other activities and exhibits, open from 6 to 8 p.m., include an art fair and book fair.
* Pace-Parents and community members are encouraged to attend the Open House on Wednesday, May 22. The PTA will sponsor a book fair from 5:45 to 7:30 p.m. in the cafeteria. Classrooms will be open for visits from 6 to 7 p.m.
* Price-Parents, friends, community members and students are invited to the Open House on Wednesday, March 27, at 6:30 p.m. The event will begin with dinner sponsored by the PTA and a book fair in the cafeteria. Student work will be on display.
* Rio Hondo-Rio Hondo's Open House will be on March 26 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Parents, friends and community members are invited to visit the newly remodeled campus. Be sure to visit the PTA book fair in the cafeteria from 6 to 8 p.m.
* Rio San Gabriel-Parents, friends, community members and students are invited to the Open House on Thursday, April 18. The PTA-sponsored book fair will be offered from 6 to 7 p.m. Science projects will be displayed in a Science Fair in the cafeteria from 6 to 6:30 and 7:30 to 8 p.m. Classrooms may be visited from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
* Unsworth-Unsworth will offer a "Fun in the Sun" celebration on June 7 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. The evening will begin with dinner followed by a program recognizing the school's volunteers. Classrooms will be open for viewing following the program.
* Ward-Ward School held its open house on Jan. 31.
* Williams-Open House at Williams is this evening (Friday, March 22). Parents and friends are invited to visit classrooms from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. A PTA-sponsored book fair will be offered in the cafeteria from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
* East-East Middle School will hold a celebration of student success and achievement April 15-19. Monday through Friday the school will host a "Shadow Your Student," event. Parents will receive information, including an RSVP form to let the school know when they will attend. A chair will be reserved for them. An East Art Show will be on display in the Boys' PE Activity Room daily from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. East's Open House will be Thursday, April 18, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Classrooms will be open for viewing and student portfolios and projects will be displayed. An English Language advisory meeting will be at 5:30 p.m. in Room 31.
* Griffiths-Open House at Griffiths Middle School will be Thursday, April 18, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Every classroom will be open, student work samples will be displayed and teachers will be available for short discussions. An English Language Acquisition committee will meet in Room 51 at 6 p.m.
* South-Sussman Middle School's Open House was held Thursday, March 21. The school takes pride in three new science labs in rooms 83, 21 and 22; the technology lab in Room 82; the new PTA MAC computer lab, the library, and the book fair.
* West-Open House at West Middle School will be offered April 18 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Teachers will be available to meet and talk with parents and student work will be showcased in art, sewing, social studies, math, English, physical education, and science. The "Golden Bell" state-award winning Stauffer Cyberobics Fitness Lab will feature cardio and nutritional demonstrations as well as BMI (Body Mass Index) evaluations. The award-winning band and drama improvisational teams will perform throughout the evening. The library and computer labs featuring "Accelerated Reader and Accelerated Math" programs will also be showcased. There will be a meeting of all GATE parents at 5:30 p.m. in Room 46.
Faculty members Greg Schreiner and Christine Lopez were the winners in the teacher category. Students Katherine Koh and Jiwon Eum were winners in the advanced category. Students Gladys To and Shih-lan Chiu also participated in the intermediate category.
The pianists prepared literature using two pianos as well as one piano. This was the first festival for the students. Winners of the categories are selected for a final performance at the end of the festival. Lopez was pleased with the college's placement, especially since it was their first year at the festival.
"It is a different experience working with another partner; it takes a different kind of skill," said Lopez. "This challenge enables the students to be more independent. They are able to play a solo or accompany an ensemble; there is more work if you are versatile."
"It was a great experience," said To. "Piano is so enjoyable and beautiful, and through playing I am able to make the music so fantastic." She is finishing her Piano Certificate program at the college and plans to begin teaching her own students.
"It is not easy," said Eum, who was nervous at first, but also had fun. Upon finishing at Cerritos College, she hopes to transfer to UC-Berkeley and major in Piano Performance.
For information on the Cerritos College Piano Certificate program, call Lopez at 860-2451, Ext. 2632.
Featured will be hands-on activities for every age group, with fire and police departments, public works agencies, utility companies, and Kaiser Permanente sharing displays, exhibits and preparedness information.
The American Red Cross in the meantime will present puppet shows and demonstrations in CPR and first aid. They will be highlighting the Automated External Defibrillator (AED).