The images of Hurricane Katrina's destructive rampage have touched and horrified us all. Great Neck musician Joe Sidney decided to turn his grief into action. "Everyone should step up to the plate," said Sidney, who does just that on Saturday, Sept. 17 at 6 p.m., when his Concert for Katrina Relief plays Levels in the Great Neck Library.

"I really wanted it to be like a local telethon," the 21-year-old Sidney added, "different age ranges, different styles of music, just a variety of town talent who'd come out and do what they do out of the kindness of their hearts."

Sidney has been performing at Levels since he was in ninth grade, in music concerts, theater and television productions, and is grateful to the library's cultural center for the opportunity. "It's a testament to Levels' good will toward the community to help us in such a short amount of time," he said, "and it's the logical place to do this concert, too."

The evening will feature an assortment of musical styles, from jazz, to R&B, to standards, pop and some special surprises. Area singers and musicians on the bill include Nikki Blonsky, Jessica Fishenfeld, David Levinson, Ava Szilagi, Kris Bauman, and Sidney himself. Most importantly, concert-goers will be able to make voluntary monetary contributions to the American Red Cross. These contributions will help Red Cross workers to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to those affected by Hurricane Katrina.

Sidney invites all ages to his show, "just a general crowd of people with open ears," and urges everyone to give what they can. "Giving part of your paycheck might make up for the paycheck someone else lost because of the hurricane," he said. "What we're going to raise will help people. Maybe not a whole town, but maybe a whole family."

For more information on the Concert for Katrina Relief or Levels in general, please call Levels at the Great Neck Library at 466-8055 ext. 216.