Volunteers Sought for January 24th Homeless Count
The City of La Mirada is seeking volunteers to assist with the 2017 Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) Homeless Count. Each year, the LAHSA coordinates a count of homeless persons in the region to estimate the homeless population in Los Angeles County. This year’s Count will be held on Tuesday, January 24 from 7 to 11 p.m.
The Homeless Count involves volunteers canvassing predetermined areas and tallying homeless and transient persons from a distance. Volunteers are not allowed to engage with homeless persons.
Volunteers will receive training at a briefing prior to the Count and should expect to assist in La Mirada from 7 to 11 p.m. on Tuesday, January 24. Volunteers are needed to participate as drivers using personal vehicles, navigators, team leaders, and counters. Participants must be over 18 years of age.
For more information or to sign-up, contact the La Mirada Resource Center at (562) 943-7277.
Jennie Finch Returns to La Mirada With 2-Day Softball Camp
Olympic Gold and Silver Medalist, Jennie Finch, is bringing her softball camp to La Mirada Saturday and Sunday, January 21-22, 2017. The 2-day camp geared toward girls age 8-18, will take place at La Mirada High School, Jennie’s alma mater. All aspects of the game are covered by professional, Olympic, and college softball players and coaches, including hitting, fielding, pitching, catching and base running. Campers receive lunch each day, a camp t-shirt, autographed photo of Jennie, certificate of participation, and a photo taken with Jennie and her medals.
Finch has been conducting camps across the nation since 2004, reaching thousands of young girls with her positive approach to the game and life off the field. Finch said, “The goal of our camps is to inspire young girls to dream big and believe in themselves on the field and in life. The lessons we learn on the field as an individual and part of team transfer to situations we face in life.”
The La Mirada camp will include Olympians Leah Amico and Crystl Bustos, professional player and high school coach Toni Mascarenas, and pitching coach Doug Finch, inventor of the Finch Windmill. The Biola University softball team will be assisting with camp instruction.
Finch Career Highlights include: 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist, Athens, Greece; 2008 Olympic Silver Medalist, Beijing, China; 2001 NCAA Champion, University of Arizona; 2-Time National Collegiate Softball Player of the Year, 2001 & 2002; 2005-09 National Pro Fastpitch player, Chicago Bandits; 4-Time Suburban League Champion at La Mirada High School.
Camp runs Saturday (8a-3p) and Sunday (9a-2p), January 21st-22nd at La Mirada High School, 13520 Adelfa Drive in La Mirada. Drawing prizes each day. Cost is $205 and registration is online at jenniefinch.com.
Candidates All Set for First District Election
In a just a few short months, the landscape of La Mirada politics may have been changed forever as the filing period has ended and the candidates are set for the City's first district election on March 7, 2017.
The Mecican-American Legal Defense & Education Fund (MALDEF), threatened to sue the city if it did not change its election from an at-large to a district-based system, giving all areas of the city representation on the city council. The city subsequently settled with the group to create districts and paid them $30,000 for their expenses.
The boundaries have been drawn creating five new electoral districts. Districts one and two will have open seats this March for a four-year term. Districts three, four and five will hold have an election in 2019, meaning three-fifths of the La Mirada population will not be able to participate in the election this March.
The candidates for district one, which currently has no sitting council member, are Jim Emmerling, Diane Gramajo, John Lewis and our own Tony Aiello.
District two candidates pit two incumbents against each other, Andrew Sarega and Pauline Deal, as their current four-year terms are up.
La Mirada High Students to Perform in Rose Parade
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TOP: La Mirada High School horn players Yasmin Lozano (left) and Aaron Muzzicato (right) were selected to perform in the 128th Tournament of Roses Parade Honor Band on Jan. 2. BOTTOM: La Mirada High School students, from left to right, Cristina Navarrette, Catrina Calvillo, Clarisa Soto and Carina Calvillo were selected as color guard performers. |
Eight high school students from the Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District, including six from La Mirada High School, have been selected to perform in the 2016 Tournament of Roses Parade Honor Band.
The students were selected from a pool of about 500 musicians throughout Southern California and will join more than 100 Honor Band members consisting of instrumentalists, a flag pageantry and the Pasadena City College’s Lancer Marching Band.
The NLMUSD students practiced their routines throughout the year, while continuing their music instruction and performing in their high school bands and other music programs.
“It’s such an honor for our students to be chosen because it was a rigorous audition process,” said Fabio Kayama, Norwalk-La Mirada Unified visual and performing arts teacher on special assignment. “Our students get to perform with top musicians from across Southern California and showcase their talents.”
This year, the student musicians chosen from the District are:
• John Glenn High: Mya Sanchez, senior, euphonium; Giovanni Gallegos, senior, trombone;
• La Mirada High: Yasmin Lozano, junior, clarinet; Aaron Muzzicato, senior, alto saxophone; Carina Calvillo, senior, pageantry; Catrina Calvillo, senior, pageantry; Cristina Navarrette, senior, pageantry; Clarissa Soto, freshman, pageantry
La Mirada High School Director of Music Geena Biondi held clinics and workshops to prepare her students for the auditions. Biondi, a Pasadena City College alumni, performed in the Tournament of Roses Parade as a member of the Lancer Marching Band as a junior and senior in high school.
“These students are ones that are leaders in the classroom and very disciplined,” Biondi said. “Their willingness to rehearse during the break shows their desire to grow into better musicians.”
The students began practicing for the Rose Parade the second weekend of November, and will continue to rehearse every weekend in December and through most of winter break. They will march over 50 miles in preparation for the six-mile parade down Colorado Boulevard.
“The Tournament of Roses Honor Band prides itself in playing the entire route of the parade,” John Glenn High School Band Director Frank Hinojoz said. “I’m very proud to have two members from our school in the ensemble.”
The NLMUSD students will also perform with the Honor Band at Disneyland on Dec. 28 and for Bandfest at Pasadena City College on Dec. 30 and 31.
“I’m so proud that our students are being recognized as some of the best musicians in Southern California,” Superintendent Hasmik Danielian said. “These are exemplary students who not only shine in their academics, but who now have the opportunity to demonstrate their passion and talent on a national scale.”
The 128th Tournament of Roses Parade will kick off at 8 a.m. Monday, Jan. 2.
Mike Moschetti Resigns as La Mirada High Football Head Coach
Interview on our radio show last night was apparently his last as official head coach
La Mirada~Mike Moschetti has resigned as head football coach at La Mirada High School according to a story broke by Aram Tolegian of the San Gabriel Valley Tribune.
As a quarterback in 1992 Moschetti led the Matadors to a CIF Championship. He returned to his alma mater as a coach in 2008 and helped the guide La Mirada to another CIF Championship in 2009 and a state regional bowl championship last year. He also won seven Suburban League titles during his tenure.
We interviewed Coach Moschetti last night on The La Mirada Blog Radio Show. We asked him some pointed questions about his career, not knowing the relevance of the timing. We did not know at the time he would be resigning the next day and it would be his last interview as the official head coach for La Mirada High football.
You can hear the interview by selecting La Mirada Blog Show here.
Work Continues on City’s Aggressive Street Improvement Program
Phase 3 of the Measure I neighbored street improvements will soon be underway in La Mirada. The City Council awarded RJ Noble, which submitted the lowest qualified bid, to complete the project at its November 22, 2016 Council meeting.
Street improvements in Phase 3 are planned for the neighborhood streets bounded by Stage Road, Alondra Boulevard, Dalmatian Avenue, Barnwall Street, Ocaso Avenue, La Mirada Boulevard, Rosecrans Avenue, and the east City limit. Not included in this project are Stage Road, Alondra Boulevard, La Mirada Boulevard, Rosecrans Avenue, and Santa Gertrudes Avenue.
Improvements include resurfacing of street pavement, installation of curb access ramps, rehabilitation of storm drains, and removal and replacement of damaged curbs, gutters and sidewalks.
Phase 3 is scheduled for completion in summer 2017. Phase 4 of Measure I is under design and is scheduled to begin construction by summer 2017. The first two phases of the Measure I neighborhood street improvements were completed in fall 2015 and spring 2016.
“We are continuing to meet the objectives of the City’s robust Capital Improvement Projects program,” says Public Works Director/ City Engineer Mark Stowell. “Phases 3 and 4 are proceeding as planned and will provide updated infrastructure in the affected neighborhoods.”
As construction approaches for capital improvement projects, the City strives to notify residents and businesses in advance of the work. To identify projects funded by Measure I, signs are posted in the area where a Measure I project is in progress.
For more information on La Mirada’s capital improvement projects, call the City’s Public Works Department at (562) 902-2385.
Duke’s Car Club Collects Toys for La Mirada Families
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| Members of the Dukes Car Club deliver toys to Fire Station 49 who will distribute to families in need in the La Mirada community. |
La Mirada~The Duke’s Car Club of La Habra dropped off toys this past Saturday at La Mirada Fire Station 49 after the club’s successful Toy Drive that took place on November 19th in Brea.
The fire station, in cooperation with Duke’s, will facilitate the distribution of the toys to children in need within the La Mirada community.
Sponsors of the event included SoCal Auto Spa, Prime Motivation and PowerAll. EDCO Waste & Recycling Services provided the recyclable cardboard boxes used for trash at the event and Republic Waste & Recycling Services provided the recycle collectives.
Also, Duke’s has partnered with Pastor Jack Miranda and Living Faith Church of La Mirada to help a family in need.
Money was collected at the toy event that will be donated to help a local family in which a grandmother is now raising a family after a 3-year old and 5-year old lost their mother to a tragic automobile incident.
Miranda said via text the club is not stereotypical, “They are a wonderful asset to the community and can often be misunderstood as a bunch of lowriders.”
Last month, Duke’s also participated in the annual Foster Road Elementary Thanksgiving Feast and the Whittier Boys and Girls Club Thanksgiving Feast where over 
500 adults and children were fed.
Duke’s has also appeared and contributed to the La Mirada Relay for Life the last two years.
The club’s mission statement reads: “To continually promote the concept and improve the image of low-riding through dedication, commitment and involvement within our organization and within our communities."
Time for the La Mirada Chili Holiday Event
La Mirada~The City's Chili Holiday Celebration and tree lighting will be held Saturday, December 3 from 5 to 8 p.m. at Splash!
Santa will spread holiday cheer as guests enjoy live entertainment, crafts, and games. Free chili, hot dogs, warm drinks, and cookies will be served. Keepsake photos with Santa and train rides will be available for a small fee.
Families may also participate in the Holiday Wreath auction. Nonperishable food items and unwrapped toys will be collected to support local families in need.
For more information about the Chili Holiday Celebration, call (562) 943-7277.
Armed Robber Killed After Standoff
La Mirada~An armed man was killed by police early Tuesday morning when he emerged from the AM/PM store on Beach Boulevard after a three hour standoff.
Deputies arrived shortly after 9:30 p.m. and were confronted by the man who ran back inside the store.
After numerous attempts by officials to get the man to peacefully surrender, he emerged from the store around 12:30 a.m. shooting at police who returned fire and killed him.
No other injuries were reported. The man's identity has not been released.
Check our Twitter feed to see how events unfolded.
La Mirada Approves District-Based Election System
La Mirada~The City will be holding a by-district election on March 7, 2017 to fill two City Council seats The third and final public hearing was held on November 8 to gather input on draft City Council district maps.
The City Council initiated the change after a threat of a lawsuit from MALDEF (Mexican-American Legal Defense and Educational Fund).
A total of 12 maps were considered by the Council including submittals from residents Dale Nowicki, Noel Jaimes and Zurich Lewis. MALDEF submitted a map as well. A firm the City hired also submitted map choices.
After the public hearing, the City Council approved to change the City Council election system from at-large to by-district and adopted a district map, known as Map 12 (submitted by Lewis), to be in effect by the March 2017 City Council election.
Members of Districts 1 and 2 will be elected in March 2017, while members of Districts 3, 4, and 5 will be elected in March 2019. Members must reside in the districts they represent. To view the District Map, visit the City’s website.
The map pits incumbents Pauline Deal and Andrew Sarega against each other in District 2. Both have already filed for re-election. In District 1, nobody has filed papers as of this time.
The nomination period opened at on November 14 and closes at 4:30 p.m. on December 9. If an incumbent does not file papers by December 9, the nomination period is extended until 5:30 p.m. on December 14. You must be a registered voter in the City of La Mirada on the date nomination papers are picked up at City Hall to qualify to run for the office of La Mirada City Councilmember.
The last day to register to vote in the March 7, 2017 election is February 20, 2017. Registration forms will be available at City Hall, the La Mirada Library, the Post Office, or you can request it by mail by calling the Los Angeles County Elections Registration Request Line at (800) 481-VOTE (8683).
If you have general questions about the election, please contact the City Clerk’s office at (562) 943-0131.
