Albert Ball residence - Amazon Web Services

04:04.qxd 10/14/2010 1:02 PM Page 1
Downey to host
Michelle Tseng
DOWNEY – She is local –
Huntington Beach. She is young –
just turned 19. She has already
tamed a notoriously obstreperous
beast – the violin.
And she has won, in her tender
years, more prizes, more competitions,
more first-places, more honors,
awards, scholarships, admiration,
acclaim, exposure and
applause than most of us generate
in a couple lifetimes.
In short, Michelle Tseng is a
phenom, an extraordinary talent,
and we will hear this soaring star in
concert with the Downey
Symphony when she performs the
Brahms Violin Concerto on
Saturday evening, Oct. 23, in
Downey’s Civic Theatre.
At 7:15 p.m. Music Director
Sharon Lavery gives a preview discussion
of the music to be played,
and the concert itself begins at 8.
With the Brahms, the program
includes Walk to the Paradise
Garden by Frederick Delius, and
Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite.
Tickets for this enjoyable
evening are $30 and $25, $10 for
students, and may be purchased at
the theater box office next
Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 20,
between noon and 4 p.m., and on
the evening of the performance.
The Theatre is at 8435 Firestone
Blvd. at the corner of Brookshire,
and convenient parking is free.
You may also phone the
Symphony office for tickets at
(562) 403-2944.
Now in its 53rd year, the
Downey Symphony’s 2010-11
concert series will include performances
on Jan. 29 and April 2,
2011. We invite you to our website
to learn more, www.downeysymphony.org,
and to attend concerts
by this fine metropolitan orchestra.
–Joyce Sherwin, Downey Symphony
At age 19 Michelle Tseng is already accomplished on the violin, having
won various competitions, awards and scholarships. She will perform
at the Downey Symphony concert Oct. 23 at the Downey
Theatre.
Downey finalist for award
DOWNEY – For the second year in a row, Downey has been named a
finalist for the Most Business-Friendly City in Los Angeles County award.
The honor is bestowed yearly by the Los Angeles County Economic
Development Corporation.
Downey is a finalist with Alhambra, Carson, Torrance, West Covina
and Whittier in the population 60,000 and over category.
The winner will be announced Nov. 10 during an awards ceremony at
the Beverly Hilton.
According to a press release announcing the nominations, Downey
“has created an excellent business climate.” Its pro-business approach has
rated Downey in the top 25 percent of “100 Best Cities to Do Business in
California” by California Business Magazine, officials said.
BALL: Glimpse into a
former world
Continued from page 1
about 10 years at the time as Dr.
Steere was involved with the ownership
of Downey Community
Hospital, now Downey Regional
Medical Center.
Steere, who finished medical
school at the University of
Nebraska, came West himself in
the early 1900s, first taking on a
public health position in San
Francisco, then San Diego. He
came to Downey in the 1930s to
build his medical practice, and for
many years he and his wife would
serve as Downey civic leaders.
According to a September 20,
1973 article in the Southeast News,
“their home was often the location
of large fund raising parties for
their favorite philanthropies and
interests…one of the biggest parties
ever held at the house was to
raise money for the hospital. That
was about 1959.”
In June of 1973, Dr. Steere died
and the home was sold to Bob
Maniaci, president of Boman
Industries, and his wife, Mary in
1975. The couple, along with their
four children took on the task of
restoring the home, which needed
much renovation after decades of
use.
Today, just twelve columns
remain, holding up what is left of
the historic property since building
permits were issued to current
owners, Salvador and Maria
Cerros, who began remodeling the
home in 2008.
After initially agreeing to
reconstruct the home, while maintaining
its architectural integrity,
the Cerros family razed the home,
leaving just the foundation intact.
Currently, the property is gated and
all construction has ceased.
Nevertheless, the large lot once
occupied by the home still resides,
all that remains of the huge Ball
fruit ranch. Today, Ball can truly be
called an American success story,
going from a penniless farmer to a
wealthy rancher and influential
community leader. Though the
home is no longer intact, Ball’s life
still gives residents today a glimpse
into a former world where success
came by diligence, perseverance,
and camaraderie.