Coyote Hills Nature Walk

The Coyote Hills are a natural wonder, a part of the La Mirada area’s history and a community jewel.

On January 7, 1847 Commodore Robert Stockton and his American Army troops camped at the “Los Coyotes House” in preparation for the next day’s Battle of the San Gabriel River during the Mexican-American War. The house was located approximately at today’s Malvern Avenue and Lockhaven Drive in Buena Park.

Although mostly located in Fullerton, parts of the West Coyote Hills are within the city limits of La Habra, Buena Park and La Mirada and It contains one of the last large open-space area in north Orange County/southeast Los Angeles County.

The Friends of Coyote Hills is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to save all 510-acres of West Coyote Hills as a park and nature preserve for now and the future. Their vision of West Coyote Hills is a vibrant, viable wildlife habitat and urban oasis that is a cornerstone of community well-being for generations to come.

The friends host monthly nature walks and trail clean-ups of the Nora Kuttner Trail and Robert Ward Nature Preserve.

The next nature walk is an evening edition July 13 from 6:00-7:30 p.m. Led by a naturalist, you will walk along the Robert E. Ward Nature Preserve trails and experience Coyote Hills! This is a family friendly event and the history of the land & the beauty of our local ecology will be shared.

Participants are instructed to meet in front of the equestrian center at Lakeview Drive & Euclid Street adjacent to Laguna Lake Park in Fullerton.

Bring a bottle of water and wear a hat, sunscreen, and comfortable hiking shoes or sneakers with good tread for navigating up and down the trails.

On July 19th, be part of the monthly trail cleanup from 9:00-10:30 a.m. Meet at the lower parking lot of Sunny Hills Church of Christ at 2255 N. Euclid Street and bring water and “trash grabbers” if you have them, as well as your own gloves and wear comfortable sneakers or boots.

New Historical Advisory Council Member

The La Mirada City Council recently interviewed Todd Ashley to potentially serve on the Historical Preservation Advisory Council (HPAC)-an advisory body comprised of nine City Council-appointed voting members who serve a term of two years.

Todd is the son of Ben Ashley who served on the La Mirada City Council from 1980-88.

He attended, elementary, middle, and high school in La Mirada and has served as a coach for La Mirada Little League and Pop Warner football.

Ashley is a Certified Real estate Appraiser and received a Bachelor of Arts in Finance from California Sate University, Fullerton.

There are seven members currently serving on the advisory council and two vacancies exist.

2025 IRA Tax Changes

Here is some information If you have inherited (or may someday inherit) an individual retirement account (IRA), the 2025 changes may significantly impact your tax planning.

Key Updates

· RMD requirements. Starting in 2025, annual required minimum distributions (RMDs) are mandatory for most inherited IRAs. Failure to comply may result in penalties of up to 25 percent, reducible to 10 percent if corrected promptly.

· 10-year rule enforcement. Non-spousal beneficiaries must fully deplete inherited IRAs within 10 years of the original owner’s death, with annual RMDs generally required.

Spouses and Special Cases

· Surviving spouses can assume ownership of the IRA or withdraw from it as a beneficiary. Roth IRAs offer additional flexibility, allowing for tax-free growth without RMDs.

· Minor children have until age 31 to deplete the account, with the 10-year rule beginning at age 21.

· Disabled beneficiaries may be exempt from the 10-year rule indefinitely.

Planning Strategies

Strategic withdrawals can help you avoid higher tax brackets. For example, spreading withdrawals evenly over 10 years can minimize tax impact. Timing withdrawals based on expected tax rate changes can also optimize savings.

If you want to discuss inherited IRAs, please call Chris Gelfuso at (562) 259-7777 or click this link to schedule an appointment: https://calendly.com/uplevelservices/discovery_meeting

Chris Gelfuso offers professional Tax Preparation and Tax Planning to small and medium-sized businesses as well as self-employed individuals. Additional services include bookkeeping, payroll processing, and Outsourced CFO services. Learn more at Uplevel Business Services