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Each year the L.A. County Fair honors Community Heroes – young adults and adults – from 18 surrounding cities during the 23 days of the Fair, Sept. 4 – Oct. 3. Wednesday, Sept. 29 is West Covina Day at the Fair, a day to celebrate the work of volunteers, humanitarians, students, neighbors and community organizations to make their city a better place to live.
West Covina Day festivities include a parade at 5 p.m. down Broadway featuring community groups and bands. At 5:30 p.m., a presentation will be held to honor West Covina’s Adult Hero Sylvia Lee Mann.
Sylvia Lee Mann grew up in West Covina, and is a composer, conductor and virtuoso performer who has appeared with many orchestras in Southern California. She began her music studies at age 4, completed her undergraduate work at Chapman University and did graduate studies at USC and London University. She served a principal violist of the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra and was music director of the Ark-La-Tex Youth Symphony Orchestra. Mann is currently composing, conducting and recording music for an upcoming independent film, and has recently composed music for short festival films and theater productions in the Los Angeles area.
For the past two years, Mann has taken her extensive experience, love of music, commitment to volunteerism and dedication to the arts to single-handedly coordinate the rebirth of the West Covina Symphony Orchestra, in which she performed as a child and into her teens. With more than 60 members, the orchestra performs at community events, churches, celebrations, fundraisers and other activities.
“She has sparked the interest in young and old alike to participate in music,” states Chris Freeland, West Covina Deputy City Manager. “In two short years, Sylvia has been able to transform this dormant orchestra into a regionally respected ensemble. Sylvia’s dedication to community and thousands of hours of volunteerism is incomparable.”
“Her award as a Community Hero should be bestowed because of her perseverance and guts, which led to the formation of the West Covina Symphony Orchestra. By itself, it is an unbelievable accomplishment; society has been enriched,” says Nancy Adin of West Covina, whose 11-year-old daughter decided to learn piano after attending a recent concert.
West Covina residents, friends, family and supporters can join their community celebration on Sept. 29 for just $5 before 5 p.m. with a coupon or voucher available at lacountyfair.com. Coupons are also available at the West Covina Chamber of Commerce, City Hall and other community locations. Come for the Fair; stay for the community festivities: parade at 5 p.m. and hero presentation at 5:30 p.m.
The L.A. County Fair opens Labor Day weekend, Sept. 4 – 6 and then Wednesday – Sunday, Sept. 8 – Oct. 3, closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Live thoroughbred horse racing at Fairplex Park will be Sept. 9 – Sept. 27, dark Mondays Sept. 13, 20 and Tuesdays.
For information about ways to save at the Fair, visit lacountyfair.com.
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Under the direction of the Los Angeles County Fair Association, Fairplex is home to the L.A. County Fair, the largest county fair in the world, as well as The Learning Centers which encompasses Fairtime Learning, The Child Development Center, The Career and Technical Education Center (CTEC), the Junior Fair Board, and the Millard Sheets Center for the Arts. Fairplex also operates a diverse hospitality business with the Sheraton Fairplex, McKinley’s Grille, KOA RV Park, Finish Line Sports Grill, Cornucopia Foods, and the Sheraton Fairplex Hotel and Conference Center (opening 2011). The campus is also home to the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum and the Auto Club Raceway at Pomona; horse-racing and Barretts Equine Limited; as well as the Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition. For more information, please visit www.fairplex.com.
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