La Mirada Community Foundation Scholarship Deadline Nears
The annual La Mirada Community Foundation is still accepting applications for their Scholarship Program from qualified high school seniors. The deadline to submit all required documents is Thursday, April 12, at 4:30 p.m. at La Mirada City Hall, located at 13700 La Mirada Boulevard.
Applications are available at La Mirada City Hall, the Resource Center, and local high schools. They are also available on the City’s website cityoflamirada.org.
The Foundation offers three scholarships: the Bob Jenkins Community Service Scholarship, the Ray Haugh Vocational Scholarship, and Southern California Edison STEM Scholarship.
The Bob Jenkins Scholarship is available to students who have provided significant community service, reside in La Mirada, and have applied to an accredited college. Applicants must complete an essay on the value of community service and their involvement in the community.
The Ray Haugh Vocational Scholarship is available to students who have provided community service and/or volunteered in La Mirada, reside in La Mirada, and are enrolled in a vocational training program or trade school.
The Southern California Edison STEM Scholarship is available to students who plan to major in Business, Computer and Information Systems, Engineering, Mathematics, Engineering Technology, Natural Resources and Conservation, and Physical Science. The STEM scholarship is available to students who reside in La Mirada and have applied to an accredited college.
Scholarship recipients are selected based on meeting academic requirements, the scope and duration of their community service, and their impact in the La Mirada community. For additional information, call (562) 943-0131.
La Mirada News Ticker #13
-A grand opening will take place on Thursday, April 5th for the new Grocery Outlet at 15745 Imperial Highway. The first 200 shoppers will receive a gift card loaded with an amount between $5 and $200. The fastest growing extreme-value grocer in the U.S., Grocery Outlet now has over 290 locations covering six states.
-Chick-Fil-A has submitted plans to the city to construct a new store across the street from the Holiday Inn on the southeast corner of Firestone Blvd and Gateway Drive.
-The annual Easter Egg Hunt will take place at Regional Park on Saturday, March 31st from 9:00-11:00 a.m. The 11th Annual Going Quackers for Kids Derby Duck Race will immediately follow the Easter Egg Hunt. This fun–for-all-ages event will take place at Splash! Enter the back gate of Splash! by following the duck prints. Bring a blanket, and enjoy some family time. All kids’ games and activities are FREE!
-The La Mirada Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast will take place Friday, April 13 from 7:00-9:00 a.m. at the Holiday Inn La Mirada. Guest Speaker will be County Supervisor for the 4th district, Janice Hahn.
-Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School Board member Sean Regan has resigned his seat after moving to Whittier, seven months before his term ends in November. The School District is currently accepting applications for the vacancy.
-Arts Colony of La Mirada's April meeting will feature Victoria Pflanzer as demonstrator. Ms. Pflanzer is an award winning photographer and educator at Benton Middle School. The meeting is open to the public and will be held on Monday, April 2 at 6:30 p.m. at the La Mirada Resource Center, 13710 La Mirada Blvd. For further information call 562-941-4116 or check their website at acolm.org.
-La Mirada High baseball started their 2018 Suburban League campaign in style on March 26th. Sophomore Jared Jones struck out 11 in a complete game and Darius Perry blasted a two-run homer as the Mats (8-1-1, 1-0) beat Cerritos (8-3, 0-1) by a score of 3-0.
Easter Egg Hunt and Duck Derby this Saturday
La Mirada~Hop in for another fun-filled Easter egg Hunt on Saturday, March 31 from 9 to 11 a.m. at La Mirada Regional Park.
This free event is perfect for the whole family to enjoy and features crafts, games, music, and photos with the Easter Bunny.The egg hunts promptly begin at 10:15 a.m. and continues throughout the morning for children ages 10 and under.
La Mirada Historical Advisory Council members will be on hand to take pre-orders for the soon to be released new city-sanctioned history book, “La Mirada 1986-2016, Three Decades of Change and Challenge, Stability and Achievement.”
The La Mirada Kiwanis Club will be serving a pancake breakfast throughout the event, as well as hosting the annual Duck Derby at Splash!, which raises funds to support community causes.
For additional information, contact the Community Services Department at (562) 943-7277.
11th Annual Duck Derby Follows Easter Egg Hunt
The 11th Annual Going Quackers for Kids Derby Duck Race is this Saturday, March 31 immediately following the Easter Egg Hunt. This fun–for-all-ages event will take place at Splash! Enter the back gate of Splash! by following the duck prints! Bring a blanket, and enjoy some family time. All kids’ games and activities are FREE!
The Duck Race is sponsored by La Mirada Kiwanis and benefits multiple La Mirada community groups. Fifty percent of duck sales go directly to the selling groups. With $3,500 in cash prizes, and many other prizes, your odds are better than the lottery, and more fun!
There is a sponsor race and the main race with 5,000 ducks. Individual ducks for main race are $5.00 or 6 for $25.00, visit the Duck Race web site for more information including how to purchase a duck corporate sponsorship.
We’ll see you and your family this Saturday at Splash! after the Easter Egg Hunt!
Recent Neighborhood Watch Meetings in La Mirada
By Brooklynn Ackerman
La Mirada~On Thursday, March 15th, City of La Mirada Public Safety officer Mary Cipres and the principal of Foster Road Elementary, Sal Villagomez, hosted a Neighborhood Watch meeting to give the community a chance to express some of their concerns.
Around 30 members of the community gathered at Foster Road Elementary to ask questions directly to the deputies that are assigned to the La Mirada area. The deputies were happy to answer any questions and shared a few positive updates.
Recently there have been a few troubling incidents in the area and the officers confirmed they have discovered the cause of the issues and have a firm handle on it. They reiterated that gang activity will not be tolerated and they are taking action to suppress it.
Cipres and the officers encourage the members of the community to call the La Mirada Sheriff's station at (562) 902-2960 if they witness anything suspicious, no matter how big or small.
She also shared a few other ways to stay informed and involved in the community. E-Watch is a weekly email that is sent out to provide updates about criminal activity in the city. You can access it on the city's website under "Reference Links".
In addition, you can download the app My La Mirada which is an easy way to bring attention to things that need to be addressed, such as broken city equipment, tagging, etc. You simply take a photo of what you are observing and send it through the app. You can also follow La Mirada Public Safety on Facebook (@LaMiradaPublicSafety) and on Twitter (@LaMiradaPS) to stay connected.
Additional meetings were hosted at Gardenhill Elementary on March 22nd and at a home in the Foster Park area on March 23rd.
Itâs the âEnd of an Eraâ in La Mirada
By Brooklynn Ackerman and Tony Aiello
La Mirada~April has a different feel in town this year as it appears that the “4 La Mirada Kids Carnival” at Benton Middle School will not take place after a 23-year run.
The three-day event has been held since 1994, when it was started by a core group consisting of Howard Haas (La Mirada High School Principal), Pete Dames (La Mirada City Council), Gary Sloan (La Mirada City Manager) and visionary Ray Haugh (Kiwanis Club of La Mirada).
Haugh originally pitched the idea about hosting a carnival in 1983, but it was shelved until 1994 when Haas approached the group saying that La Mirada High School was falling short by $10,000 for extracurricular activities. These funds were jeopardized by education budget cuts at the time.
So, the group started the event to help raise funds for local educational programs and activities such as field trips, sports and band equipment. In 1996, the carnival raised $33,500 for this purpose.
The carnival would go on to raise over $30,000 annually and consistently, for many years, with 100% of the proceeds going back into the community.
The Kiwanis Club was the major underwriter of the event until the La Mirada Community Foundation took over about 15 years ago. The Foundation has stated they would not be the signing authority (insurance) in 2018, putting the carnival in jeopardy.
Foundation member and former City Councilman Hal Malkin, an early-year organizer and contributor for many seasons said, “There have been some disasters over the past few years. Rain two years ago and last year the county shut down the rides,” he said in a phone interview, “It’s just dwindled over the years and it’s the end of an era, it’s seen its life.”
Also in question this year is where the carnival would be hosted as Benton is currently undergoing major athletic field renovations.
Current organizers are hopeful and said the event could possibly be held at an alternate location this year and perhaps return to Benton next year if a new sponsor could be found.
Latest La Mirada Crime Report
The following is the La Mirada crime report as reported by the City of La Mirada Feb. 26. - Mar. 04, 2018.
Notable Arrests-Ten suspects were arrested throughout La Mirada for various warrants and narcotics violations.
Residential Burglary-Several credit cards were reported stolen during a daytime burglary on the 12300 block of Bristol Dr.
Other Structure Burglary-An early morning window smash burglary was reported on the 14800 block of Telegraph Rd. The exact loss is yet to be determined.
Vehicle Burglary-A daytime window smash burglary was reported on the 13300 block of Beach Blvd. The exact loss is yet to be reported.
Grand Theft- Several personal items were reported stolen from two unlocked vehicles on the 14700 block of Excelsior Dr. A package was stolen from a residence on the 13100 block of San Felipe St.
Grand Theft Vehicle-A sedan was reported stolen on the 14800 block of Telegraph Rd. A SUV was reported stolen on the 14400 block of San Ardo Dr. The vehicle has since been recovered by Norwalk Sheriff's. A sedan was reported stolen on the 15900 block of Imperial Hwy. A stolen sedan was recovered on the 14700 block of Beach Blvd. The vehicle was reported stolen out Fullerton PD's area.
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La Mirada News Ticker #12
A Neighborhood Watch meeting will take place in the Foster Park area of the city on Thursday, March 15th at 6:30 p.m. at Foster Road Elementary School, 13930 Foster Road in La Mirada. Residents will have the opportunity to meet with local officials including members of the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department and learn how to protect their home and property. For more information call (562) 902-2960.
The La Mirada/WhittierRelay for Life will host their first annual golf tournament “Relay Fore Life” on Friday, March 16th at the La Mirada Golf Course. Entry fee is $100 per player and $400 per foursome. Sponsorships are also available.
A yet-to-be-disclosed food manufacturer is relocating from the South Bay area of Los Angeles to La Mirada after purchasing the industrial property at 16200 Trojan Way for $17.5 million. Cha-ching!
The Valley View Avenue Interchange Project is 26% complete. Within the next two weeks the contractor will conduct a full freeway closure of northbound I-5 between Beach Blvd. and Valley View Ave. to re-stripe lanes. Valley View Avenue will be elevated to meet with the new Valley View Avenue Bridge. In turn, N. Firestone Boulevard will be elevated to meet Valley View Avenue. In preparation for these modifications, N. Firestone Blvd. will be reduced to one lane in each direction between Gateway Drive and Valley View Avenue by late March. Trucks over 2,500 lbs. and / or more than 25 feet long will not be permitted to drive on this portion of N. Firestone.
By late March, the existing N. Firestone Boulevard will close for more than one year between Knott Avenue and Trojan Way in La Mirada for demolition to prepare for the widening of I-5 and to allow demolition and reconstruction of the bridge over Coyote Creek. N. Firestone Boulevard will be rebuilt to the east.
Latest La Mirada Crime Report
Notable Arrests-Seven suspects were arrested throughout La Mirada for various warrants and narcotics violations. A suspect was arrest for DUI on the 14700 block of Firestone Blvd. A suspect was arrested for possession of stolen property belonging to the City. Nine suspects were arrested throughout La Mirada for various warrants and narcotics violations.
Aggravated Assault-A drive by shooting was reported near the intersection of Foster Rd. and Duffield Dr. No injuries were sustained during the incident. The matter is still under investigation. A victim was approached at gunpoint by two suspects demanding money near the intersection of Marlette Dr. and Foster Rd. The victim ran and the suspects were scared off. No injuries were sustained during the incident. Two suspects were arrested for mutual combat pursuant a domestic incident on the 14700 block of Alondra Blvd. A victim was shot and sustained critical injuries near the intersection of Parise Dr. and Belcher Ln. The incident is still under investigation.
Residential Burglary- A burglary was reported on the 14600 block of Excelsior Dr. The exact loss is yet to be determined.
Other Structure Burglary-An early morning burglary was reported on the 14700 block of Beach Blvd. The exact loss is yet to be determined.
Vehicle Burglary-A cell phone and wallet were reported stolen during daytime burglary on the 16400 block of Shadow Ct. Cash was reported stolen during a daytime burglary on the 16100 block of Summershade Dr. An early morning burglary was reported on the 13000 block of Bona Vista Ln. No items were taken from the vehicle. A purse was reported stolen during a daytime window smash burglary on the 14300 block of La Fonda Dr. An early morning burglary was reported on the 14700 block of Gandesa Dr. The exact loss is yet to be determined.
Latest La Mirada News Ticker #11
The 2018 Pacific Collegiate Swimming and Diving Conference (PCSC) Championships continue at Splash! La Mirada Regional Aquatics Center for the first time since 2015. The meet runs Wednesday through Saturday, Feb. 14-17.
As we first reported here, plans continue for a brand new Popeye’s to be constructed on the long-vacant lot at the northeast corner of Imperial Highway and Santa Gertrudes. Recently the Planning Commission approved plans for a new restaurant that will feature a drive-thru and dining area.
The La Mirada Relay for Life is hosting its kickoff event February 15th at the La Mirada Golf Course. The relay will be held May 19-20 at Splash!
The Olson Company, who is building the Olive Walk townhome project on La Mirada Blvd., has now acquired the last piece of the Van Dam property on Valley View Avenue just north of Rosecrans Avenue. A similar project is expected at this new site. Olson has already hosted two community meetings.
The UFC Gym in La Mirada is celebrating its two-year anniversary in the city with a party on Saturday, February 24th from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
The La Mirada Symphony is busy preparing for its concert on Sunday February 25th that will feature guest performers soloist Greg Adamson on cello and soloist Sorah Myung on violin.
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