Sarega Resigns from La Mirada City Council
Mayor Andrew Sarega has announced his resignation from the La Mirada City Council after 11 years of service.
Mayor Sarega was serving his third term on the City Council. He was first elected to the City Council on March 5, 2013 and re-elected on March 7, 2017 and June 7, 2022. He served as Mayor Pro Tem from July 2023 to April 2024 and was recently selected as Mayor on April 9.
His resignation is effective May 8, 2024, meaning he will have served 30 days in his only term as Mayor.
“I am grateful to the residents of La Mirada for allowing me to serve on the City Council during the past 11 years,” says Mayor Sarega. “I have enjoyed being able to represent our community and consider the experience to be a tremendous honor.” (more)
News and Happenings Around Town April 2024
Lunchtime Eclipse
A total solar eclipse will take place on Monday, April 8, visible across North America it will cut a swath through the continental US. The Great North American Eclipse will first appear in the La Mirada area about 11:07 a.m. local time, but only with partial coverage of around 50%, but it will still be very noticeable.
Thousand are flocking to cities such as Dallas, Austin, Indianapolis, and Cleveland for viewing as there won't be another coast-to-coast total eclipse in the US until 2045.
Jones in the Bigs
Jared Jones, the standout pitcher from La Mirada High School, made the Pittsburgh Pirates opening day roster to begin the 2024 season. (more)
Editorial-La Mirada has Responsive City Government
In it's nearly 64-year history as a city, La Mirada has always exceled in executing the two basic functions of local government: maintaining the roads and keeping the public safe.
The community is known for its lengthy, green, manicured roadways and is consistently recognized as one of the safest cities in the region.
Financial prudence, awesome community services, a model graffiti-removal program and just the overall well-kept nature of the city really should be considered as icing on-the-cake.
La Mirada may not be the flashiest city. We may not be perfect. We may not have an expensive nightclub or giant department store, but we do a lot of things well.
Many of these little things we do well fly under the radar. (more)
News and Happenings Around Town March 2024
Restaurant roundup
-La Mirada-based Cassidy's Corner Cafe is expanding out of Los Angeles County to open a new location in Eastvale, within the burgeoning Hamner Place, a 13-acre mixed-use shopping center with a targeted opening date of April 2024.
Many of you might remember Cassidy's operated as Bonjour Bagel for many years.
-Longtime friends at Taqueria Las Comadres have informed us they have recently extended their operating hours until 8:00 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
They are located at 15008 Alondra Boulevard at Stage Road and feature all your Mexican favorites along with a couple of surprises such as the Taquito Tower and Surf and Turf fries.
Stop by and say hi to Stephany and the gang and tell them the La Mirada Blog sent you! (more)
A letter from City Council Candidate John Accornero
EDITORS NOTE: The next La Mirada General Municipal Election for District 3 will be held on Tuesday, March 5, 2024. The qualified candidates are John Accornero and Ed Eng. This letter was emailed to us by Candidate Accornero.
In Districts 4 and 5, only incumbents Steve De Ruse and Anthony Ortero filed nomination papers respectively, therefore they were appointed to council and the election for these two districts was cancelled.
Dear La Mirada Resident,
My name is John Accornero and I am running to be elected to the City Council in the 3rd District.
I am asking you to vote for me in the election on March 5, 2024.
About me
I have lived in La Mirada since I was two years old and except for a six-year absence, have lived here ever since. I am 58-years-old, love gardening (I have orchids, palms, carnivorous plants and of course fruits and vegetables). I have been married to my only wife since 2009 but was not blessed with children. I love astronomy and watching rocket launches like some watch sports games. I used to scuba dive and hope someday I can get back into the ocean getting wet (I love water). I went to St Paul High School, class of 1983 and to Cerritos College, not knowing what I really wanted to do, but I took Botany, Zoology, Marine Biology, Calculus, and Ornamental Horticulture. (more)
Phantom Projects Brings The Giver to La Mirada Theatre
La Mirada based Phantom Projects Theatre Group is bringing The Giver to the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts February 21-22, 2024. Based on one of the most influential novels for pre-teens and teens, this Newbery Award-Winning dystopian novel by Lois Lowry tells the powerful story of an 11-year-old-boy who experiences something incredible and undertakes something impossible.
Performances take place February 21 at 9:30am and 12:30pm, and Thursday February 22 at 9:30am, 12:30pm and 7pm. The production is adapted by Eric Coble and directed by Steve Cisneros. (more)
La Mirada High Softball/Baseball Preview 2024
Softball Coach: Brent Tuttle
Tha Lady Matadores, led by Coach Tuttle, (18-9 last season), have 12 returning players for the 2024 campaign including Amanda Urbina (Oregon Commit) 11 5' 6", SS; D 1 All CIF/League MVP; Angelyna Conde 11 5' 5" 3rd 1st Team All-League; Alyssa Avila 11 5' 1" 2nd; 2nd Team All-League; Angelina Ratzlaff 11 5' 1"; Angelie Kennedy (Harding U. Commit) 11 5' 7"; Monsterat Reyes-Cardenas (San Diego State) 11 5' 5" All league Pitcher of the Year; Rebecca Eckart (Notre Dame Signee) 12 5' 9"; 1st Team All-League and Amber Valdez (Ottawa-AZ U. Signee) 12 5' 7".
Top new players/transfers include Riley Hillard 9 5' 8" C/1st; Reese Hillard 9 5' 7" Utility; Allison Ortega 9 5' 8" P and Megan Avila 9 5' 1" OF (more)
REVIEW: Beautiful: The Carole King Musical is a Memorizing Journey at La Mirada Theatre
Carole King exerted a pivotal influence on the musical landscape of the 1960s and 1970s. Collaborating with her then-husband Gerry Goffin, as well as friends Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, she crafted a multitude of chart-topping songs for various artists, playing a significant role in the dynamic evolution of popular music during that period. The musical "Beautiful: The Carole King Musical" showcases a collection of the songs they penned during this influential era.
For those who may not be acquainted with Carole King, here are some songs that might surprise you as being part of her impressive repertoire. (more)
Tax Changes When Using Third-Party Apps for Transactions
You may have heard about a change in the tax law that lowered the threshold for when Payment Settlement Entities" (PSEs) are required to issue a 1099-K.
The old rule was that the PSE ("third party network") must send the taxpayer a 1099-K if: 1) The entity made payments to the taxpayer of more than $20,000 during the year, and 2) The taxpayer processed 200 or more transactions through that Payment Settlement Entity.
Well, now the limit is more than $600 and there is no transaction threshold.
What is a "Payment Settlement Entity"? (more)
This Day in History: La Mirada Drive-In Opened 70 Years Ago
On November 5th, 1953 the La Mirada Drive-In Theatre opened with Wings of the Hawk and Golden Blade playing and forever established itself in La Mirada pop culture history that continues to this day.
A dairy and orange orchard occupied the land that was purchased in 1948 in an unincorporated area known as Dairy Valley. It was named La Mirada Drive-In after the closest town to the location and seemed to be in the middle of nowhere.
It was one of the largest drive-in theaters in the country, with the capacity to hold more than one thousand cars. (more)
