Dear Editor:On Dec. 8, at 7 in the evening, a professional actor gave an exciting and moving one-man performance, dressed as Charles Dickens and reading and acting out all the parts of A Christmas Carol. The venue? The Downey City Library, where 70 chairs were placed in the main room, among the shelves of books. We were right next to the bookstore of the Friends of the Library, which produced the event. Then Christmas treats made by librarian and organizer Claudia Dailey, brought everyone together in the Cormack Room after the performance, to discuss and share the glow of the experience. The point? The arts don't always have to have a big stage or showcase to present their wares. Ingenuity means that fascinating events are happening among us. An arts explosion is ready to entertain and excite us. This goes for the plastic arts as well and my favorite, the written word. Now just imagine how community monetary support and participation would help the arts to grow, exponentially. We have the Civic Light Opera, led by the bright spirit of Marsha Moode, and the superb Downey Symphony, which brings us the best in classical music, beautifully performed and conducted by Sharon Lavery and produced by the Downey Symphonic Society Board, presided over by Larry Lewis. The Symphony will be performing on Jan. 29 at the Downey Theatre, the Mozart Flute Concerto and Tchaikovsky's Serenade for Strings. Come and hear. Happy New Year to the arts in Downey, and may there be new openings and opportunities for everyone to share the magic. --Lorine Parks, Downey

********** Published: January 6, 2011 - Volume 9 - Issue 38