Red Cross visiting Downey next week for blood drive

DOWNEY — The American Red Cross will be in Downey next week collecting much-needed blood donations.

The Red Cross will visit Century 21 Peak on Tuesday, Jan. 22, from 12-6 p.m. The real estate office is located at 7825 Florence Ave.

Make an appointment online at RedCrossBlood.org and use sponsor code “cent21” or call Century 21 Peak at (562) 927-2626.

Letter to the Editor: Political poetry

Dear Editor:

The House once shining on the hill
is now entrenched with many ills
A place where jokers now preside
And haughty queens now rule inside

Spewing profanity for all to hear
No respect and honor here.
Where apathetic kings beguiled
Along with others laugh and smile.

The wall’s immoral the jokers shout
ICE and barriers we can do without.
Bring your drugs and criminals too
With open borders we welcome you.

Hopefully soon the “know-it-alls”
Like a deck of cards will fall
And President Trump can build our wall.

Martha Morrissy
Downey

Milton Hammond, Jr.

March 27, 1929 - December 12, 2018

Milton Benjamin Hammond, Jr., died peacefully on December 12, 2018, at his home in Downey, California following a long illness. He was 89 years old. He was preceded in death by his wife, Betty Ann and his daughter, Dianne. He is survived by his children Joanne, David, Mark and Paul, and two grandchildren.

“Milt,” as he was fondly known to all of his friends and associates, was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and moved to the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania metropolitan area in his early teens. Milt met his wife, Betty, while in the Pittsburgh area, and they were married in 1951, following his graduation from Case Western Reserve University with a Bachelor of Science degree.

The couple moved to Seattle, Washington, where they started a family and where Milt’s career involved working for the Boeing Company on the design of the B-52 bomber. Upon completion of his Master of Science degree from the University of Washington, the Hammonds relocated to Southern California, where Milt continued his aerospace career at North American Aviation, subsequently Rockwell International, for 15 years.

At Rockwell, he worked on various missile programs while attending graduate school at the University of Southern California where he earned his PhD in Mechanical Engineering. Subsequently, Milt worked on the U.S. Space Program, with the Apollo Program Saturn V rocket that put men on the moon. He also worked on preliminary rocket designs for the Space Shuttle Program.

In the mid-1970s, Milt left the aerospace industry and started his second career as a management consultant which he continued well into his 80s. He specialized in company team-building, leadership, and talent selection through techniques pioneered by the Success Motivation Institute.

In his boyhood years in Pennsylvania, Milt began a lifelong association with the Boy Scouts of America and attained the rank of Eagle Scout. As an adult, he volunteered for 35 years with Cub Pack 805C and Troop 441 in Downey. He also led a backpacking Explorer Post on monthly hikes. He was Committee Chairman for the cub pack for about 10 years, and also served as president of the Old River Men’s Club, the sponsoring institution for the cub pack and the troop. In 1981, he was honored with a Silver Beaver award by the Boy Scouts for meritorious volunteer service.

He was an active associate and Bible teacher with The Word of Truth Ministry in Los Angeles for over 50 years. As a “senior scholar,” he recorded numerous Sunday morning Bible study lessons and authored More Seed & Bread Bible study leaflets.

Milt told lots of silly jokes and stories to anyone who was willing to listen. A gentleman and all-around “nice guy” to those who knew him, Milt will be missed by many.

Memorial services are planned for January 26, 2019 at Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier, California. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be directed to the Boy Scouts of America at www.oldriveryouthfoundation.com or The Word of Truth Ministry at www.seedandbread.org/donations-to-the-ministry/.

Lucille Henry

March 16, 1935 - June 16, 2018

Lucille Henry passed away on June 16, 2018. She was 82 years old. She was a homemaker and a foster mother to many. For the last 3 years she resided at Downey Retirement Center, prior to that; she was a long time resident of Los Angeles, Ca. She is survived by 6 children, and a host of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Robert Christopher Glover II

March 23, 1963 - December 29, 2018

Robert Christopher Glover II (born March 25, 1963) passed away suddenly on December 29, 2018. He leaves to cherish his precious memory, father Robert C. Glover, mother Jacqueline Glover, sister Lisa Glover-Gardin, brother in-law Barry N. Gardin, niece Karra Gardin, nephew Christopher Gardin, and many extended family members, and friends too numerous to list.

De-mystifying Mozart

Mozart lovers get two winter treats. One of Mozart’s late great symphonies, the Great G Minor #40, is being offered by the Downey Symphony Orchestra at the Downey Theatre on January 20.

First, however, comes the whispered pianissimo notes, very fast and agitated, of Mozart’s Overture to the Marriage of Figaro. “Fun, exciting, the perfect way to shoot out of the gate to start a concert” Maestro Sharon Lavery says.

The presto tempo adds to the feeling of intrigue and secrecy anticipated in the comic opera to come. Effervescent melodies bubble up throughout the piece, creating a feeling of wit, anticipation, and buoyant good humor.

Fans will listen for the long, extended, controlled crescendo which ends the piece. This is the famous “Mannheim crescendo,” a sudden dynamic process where the whole orchestra transitions from pianissimo to fortissimo within an incredibly short time.

For his Great Symphony #40 in G Minor, Mozart wrote not one but two versions, and the second one differs because in it he added - and no one knows why – a part for the newest member of the woodwind family, the clarinet. This made for a bigger woodwind section, and a bigger orchestra.

The clarinet had begun life as a shepherd’s pipe or chalmeau, but recently a new register key had been added, which increased its range by over two octaves, and Mozart wanted to include it. If purists want to hear the first version that came into Mozart’s fertile mind, today’s Symphony Orchestras can perform either, with or without the clarinets.

We asked Musical Director Lavery which version we would be hearing, and how she made her choice. “I’d never be able to look our principal clarinetist in the eye,” she answered, “if I didn’t chose the version with the clarinets.”

“But seriously,” the conductor went on, “the wind section, to my ear, sounds much more complete with the clarinets. So I guess the short answer is, yes, the fact that I am a clarinet did influence my decision.”

In the “Great” G Minor Symphony, the listener can make the connection as Mozart uses the Mannheim School of Special Effects again, to give a strong emotional quality as a sense of tragedy and grief climaxes the Fourth Movement. Although the Symphony is not scored for timpani, or the kettle drums, yet to our surprise, thunder crashes around us and waterfalls roar. It is the Mannheim Rocket effect, achieved with a passage that rises swiftly through several octaves in a series of rising notes, an arpeggio, and that dynamite crescendo.

Music of the Sturm und Dram (Storm and Stress) period often uses a minor key, to suggest passion and indecision. This is one of only 2 minor key symphonies Mozart wrote, that sunny man from Salzburg. Calling it “Great” distinguishes it from the ‘Little” #25, also in G minor, but written in Mozart’s early years.

“Personally,” Lavery said, “I love this symphony because of all of the harmonic twists and turns that Mozart takes us through. When you think he’s going one way with the harmonic progression, he leads us into a completely different key.

“This type pf genius composing keeps things dramatic and curious at all times,” said Lavery. “Just when you think a typical cadence will end with a soft dynamic of piano, you get a loud forte ending that brings us into a new key. What should be a calming slow movement is agitating.”

“The traditional sunny minuet is again in a G minor,” said Downey’s conductor, “and heavily chromatic. It’s sort of like ending a typical sentence of a story in a certain way, but then somehow the story shifts in an instant with a shocking new twist. “

“When we perform it,” Lavery said, “I will ask the orchestra to bring out these twists and turns. I will ask them to emphasize these harmonic turns by perhaps accenting the first notes of these surprising new keys or surprising new chords. I might ask them to emphasize these dramatic harmonic surprises with the overall dynamics.”

“This whole symphony is filled with drama and agitation,” said Lavery. “It is an absolute gem that takes you on a very satisfying musical journey.” Written during the Viennese years, this Great G Minor Symphony is recognized as one of the gateway pieces to the Romantic era.

Lavery as Music Director chose to continue the evening’s concert with Sergei Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf, a playful story with a narration that provides an interactive component for the audience.

The dark “Into the Woods” theme is introduced when, as in all good fairy tales, the hero gets in trouble when he enters forbidden territory. For a little boy, that means going beyond the farm fence into the meadow that leads to the forest. Even though it is broad daylight, it is off limits. But surprise, Peter’s breaking boundaries pays off and music lovers from 9 to 90 plus love to hear Peter as represented by a cheerful string quartet when he skips into the meadow.

Prokofiev’s piece has introduced generations to the instruments of the Orchestra, from the Cat, as played by the clarinet “in the lower register,” (the chalmeau again, now an alto clarinet), to Grandfather’s grumbling bassoon. The oboe is the Duck, quacking. Flute followers listen just to hear the Bird trilling, cajoling, fluttering and fretting, and finally saying ‘I told you so.’ Audiences cheer (spoiler alert) when the boisterous kettle drums blaze on the scene as the Hunters rescue Peter from the snarling French horns of the villainous Wolf.

For Prokofiev writing in 1937, Peter represented the valor of the younger generation of Bolshevik youths, and Grandfather the overly conservative and stubborn older generation. No matter what your politics, everyone is happy when the wolf is captured and a Mozart-like balance is achieved again.

Peter and the Wolf showcased some of the great voices and orchestras of the 20th century. In the days before television, families would sit and listen to records together, and a 1939 recording such as RCA Victor made with Serge Koussevitzky and the Boston Symphony was a family treasure. In 1946 Disney featured included Peter as an animated short in Make Mine Music, and Deems Taylor did an unforgettable voice-over commentary.

Celebrity narrators have included Eleanor Roosevelt, Sean Connery and Ronald Reagan, Sophia Loren and Sting. Downey audiences will be treated to Antony Moreno who charmed us in the Love Letters portion of the Red Violin program several winters ago.

True to Downey Symphonic Society tradition, there will be a world premiere on the program, local composer Lars Clutterhams’ short Instrumental Suite for Orchestra, The Arc of My Life.

“I asked Lars to use the same instrumentation as Prokofiv did in Peter,” said Sharon. “Lars’s music, while brand new and unfamiliar to the audience, will make that important connection to our listeners.”

“The piano was my first instrument,” said Lars, “so that’s how ‘The Arc of My Life’ begins, with a note struck on the piano. And out of that fragment, my life develops.” A later interview with Lars will show how he composed his “Arc of My Life.”

The Downey Theatre is an acoustical gem no matter where you sit, and ample free parking surrounds the Theatre. Tickets for the January 19th concert are available now at the Box Office or go to Downeysymphomy.org.

Downey’s Alejandra Villa named water polo MVP

DOWNEY – Former Downey High School standout water polo player Alejandra Villa was selected as the South Coast Conference M.V.P. for the 2018 season.

The 2018 D.H.S. graduate and Long Beach City College freshman center is being recognized “for her ability to perform on both offense and defense.

Villa totaled 70 goals throughout the season and ranked fourth overall in conference goals. Villa also had a total of 24 steals.”

Long Beach City College has won the South Coast Conference championship four years in a row. Head coach Chris Oeding has been selected as the SCC Coach of the Year three times in a row and eight times overall.

Teammates Sydney Brightenburg (attacker), Cam Rosas (goalkeeper), Samantha Martinez (driver) and Madison Hinojosa (attacker) were all selected to the first team. Harlie Wheelan (attacker) and Karissa Qualley (driver) were selected to the second team.

WARREN BOYS BASKETBALL: The Warren High School boys’ basketball team currently has an overall record of 11-5 and are 1-1 in San Gabriel Valley League play.

The Bears recently competed in the Torrey Pines Holiday Classic Tournament over Christmas Break where they finished with a record of 2-2.

The Bears were defeated by Sonora 52-42 in their first game on December 26th, defeated Gig Harbor of Washington 52-47 in their second game on December 27th, defeated Crean Lutheran 65-53 in their third game on December 28th and were defeated by Gahr 61-51 in their fourth and final tournament game on December 29th.

Warren defeated Lynwood at Lynwood last Friday night 72-65 and were narrowly defeated by Paramount at Paramount 50-49 on Monday night. The Bears hosted Gahr at Warren on Wednesday night (score unavailable at press time) and will travel to cross-town rival Downey later today for the first of their two anticipated league games.

Warren will host Dominguez at Warren next Wednesday night to complete the first round of league play. Coach Leflore, his staff and players are all looking forward to competing for a S.G.V.L. title and qualifying for postseason play.

WARREN GIRLS SOCCER: The Warren High School girls’ soccer team currently has an overall record of 10-5-3 and a San Gabriel Valley League record of 2-0. The Lady Bears recently competed in the North Orange County Tournament over the Christmas Break and finished with a record of 3-1.

Warren defeated La Serna 1-0 in their first game, defeated Valencia 4-1 in their second game, were defeated by Upland 6-0 in their third game and defeated cross-town rival Downey 2-1 in their fourth and final game.

The Lady Bears defeated Lynwood at Warren 2-1 on January 2nd and defeated Paramount at Warren 7-0 on January 4th. Warren traveled to Gahr on Tuesday night and defeated the Lady Gladiators 2-1 and also hosted cross-town rival Downey at Warren last night (score unavailable at press time). The Lady Bears will travel to Dominguez to play the Lady Dons next Tuesday to complete their first round of league play.

Coach Lily Dussan, her staff and players are all looking forward to league play and competing for another league title. The Lady Bears are also looking forward to qualifying for postseason play and making a deeper run in the C.I.F. Division 2 playoffs.

DOWNEY BOYS BASKETBALL: The Downey High School boys’ basketball team currently has an overall record of 14-5 and are 1-1 in San Gabriel Valley League play. The Vikings competed in the Rancho Mirage Holiday Classic over the Christmas Break and finished the tournament with a record of 2-2.

The Vikings were defeated by Thousand Oaks 55-52 on December 26th in their first game, defeated Whitney of Rocklin 66-58 on December 27th in their second game, defeated Del Sol of Las Vegas 51-49 on December 28th in their third game and were defeated by Dana Hills 37-36 on December 29th in their fourth and final game.

Downey was defeated by Paramount at Paramount 59-57 on January 4th and defeated Dominguez at Downey on Monday night. The Vikings traveled to Lynwood on Wednesday night to face the Knights (score unavailable at press time) and will host cross-town rival Warren tonight at Downey in the first of two highly anticipated league games.

Coach Shelton, his staff and players are all looking forward to league play and competing for a league title and a line on a C.I.F. postseason bracket.

DOWNEY BOYS WRESTLING: The Downey High School wrestling team defeated cross-town rival Warren at Downey on Tuesday night 33-33, via criteria decision.

It appeared as though Warren had won the match 34-33, however, a team point was deducted from the Bears due to a sportsmanship issue.

The first criteria to settle a tie in C.I.F. competition is sportsmanship. As a result, Downey won via a criteria decision based on sportsmanship. The full results of the match were not available at press time but will be available next week.

DOWNEY GIRLS WRESTLING: The Downey High School girls’ wrestling team defeated cross-town rival Warren at Downey on Tuesday night 41-33. Match results were not available at press time but will be available next week.

Coach Rios and his staff are very pleased with the effort of his team. The Lady Vikings hosted Gahr at Downey on Thursday night (score unavailable at press time).

Letter to the Editor: Lakewood Boulevard

Dear Editor:

Just wanted to thank the people responsible for all the nice work that was completed on Lakewood Boulevard from Gallatin to Telegraph.

I noticed that the light under the freeway bridge is a bit dim, not sure if lights were replaced but maybe they can be replaced to be a little brighter.

I also have another issue: the lane that is a non-passing lane going towards Telegraph causes lots of grief during traffic time. Maybe if CalTrans or the traffic department can put soft pylons on there so traffic will not pass through there. This causes road rage, and even sometimes more people disobeying the traffic laws.

Otherwise the work was done very nicely and quickly. Thanks again.

M. Contreras
Downey

Letter to the Editor: Alzheimer's legislation

Dear Editor:

I am thrilled that the President recently signed the Building Our Largest Dementia (BOLD) infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act into law, which will create a nationwide Alzheimer’s public health infrastructure to implement effective Alzheimer’s interventions.

I am greatly pleased that Senators Feinstein and Harris and Congresswoman Roybal-Allard have proven records as supporting issues related to the Alzheimer’s crisis and each supported BOLD.

The BOLD Infrastructure for Alzheimer’s Act will create the change necessary for those living with the disease and their caregivers to live a higher quality of life while reducing the costs associated with Alzheimer’s. BOLD would enable us to increase early detection and diagnosis, reduce risk, prevent avoidable hospitalizations, reduce health disparities, support the needs of caregivers and support care planning for those living with this disease.

This legislation is particularly important to our Downey community: in California, Alzheimer’s is the third leading cause of death-- as opposed to the rest of the country in which Alzheimer’s is the sixth leading cause of death. Our city is home to a beautifully diverse population, and we need to ensure data is collected so we can create programs to serve everyone.

Latinos/Hispanics are 1.5 times more likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and African Americans are twice as likely. Women are two-thirds of those diagnosed— and women are two-thirds of all caregivers as well. No one is immune to Alzheimer’s, a disease which cannot be prevented or cured.

Last week week our leaders in Washington, D.C., took on one of this nation’s greatest health challenges, Alzheimer’s disease, and passed legislation into law that will greatly affect those facing this devastating disease. Thank you.

Bruce McDaniel
Downey

Letter to the Editor: Proof we landed on the moon

Dear Editor:

In response to Mike Sandoval’s recent letter (“Moon Landing Denier,” 12/26/18) and his yearly July letter denying the moon landing, there is plenty of evidence that proves that it really did happen.

There are two main concrete pieces of evidence: pictures of the moon landing sites and the moon rocks brought back.

To begin with, the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter that launched in 2009 has taken pictures of the Apollo landing sites and other countries’ space agencies (China, India, Japan) have spotted that same sites with their own satellites.

The second solid evidence comes from the 382 kilograms of moon rocks and that was brought back from the Apollo 11 mission and given to 135 other countries. Multiple tests were performed that confirmed they were of lunar origin.

This was later confirmed in the 1970’s when the Soviet Union’s Luna unmanned spacecraft brought back a third of one kilogram of rocks back to Earth and shared samples with international scientists that confirmed the same characteristics of the moon rocks brought back by Apollo 11.

There is other evidence of the Apollo 11 mission: such as explaining the more common topics of the pictures, such as why the US flag appears to be waving, why no stars appear in the background and the shadows, but I figured the best evidence to prove the Apollo 11 moon landing was through the concrete evidence I explained: the pictures of the landing sites from other independent space agencies and the moon rocks.

All the facts are there, but I am interested to hear Mr. Sandoval’s theories regarding the independent space agencies’ pictures and the moon rocks.

Guillermo Vazquez
Downey