La Mirada Blog
Articles by Tony Aiello
Contestants to Compete for the Crown of Mr. La Mirada
Ten Students to Battle for Scholarship Funding
La Mirada~Presented by the Girls League Club of La Mirada High School, the community is invited to the 2nd annual Mr. La Mirada pageant to be held Saturday, January 12th on the school campus from 7:00-9:00 p.m.
Ten nominated male seniors will compete for the crown of Mr. La Mirada, based on their personalities, talent, fashion and more.
First-place prize is $200 in scholarship money, with second and third place receiving $100.
Three judges will decide the winner. Scheduled judges to appear are La Mayor Mayor Gabe Garcia, La Mirada Blog Editor Tony Aiello, and the La Mirada Fire Station 49 Battalion Chief Douglas.
Tickets are $5 with an ASB card, $8 without, with tickets being sold the night of the event for $8.
La Mirada Blog Calms Community as News Agencies Trip Over Themselves
La Mirada Blog First to Report Situation at La Mirada High; Uses Social Media to Reassure Parents
La Mirada~Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies help secure La Mirada High School Friday morning after an unspecified threat was made against the school according to the Norwalk Sheriff's Station.
Captain Pat Maxwell said they were dealing with unsubstantiated rumors only, "At this point of the investigation, there is no specific information that the threat is credible, or to identify the source or wording of the alleged threat. It appears to be spoken concerns only," he said in a press release issued by the Sheriff's Department about 8:20 a.m. Friday morning, about ten minutes after the first La Mirada Blog followers were already tweeting us letting us know that there was some kind of police activity at the school.
At 8:10 a.m. follower @MaryRandall8 tweeted, "Anyone know what is going on at La Mirada High? LOTS of police activity." Eight minutes later and two minutes before the sheriff press release follower @MimsyYamaguchi reported, "My son said there were threats at La Mirada High, so there's an increased sheriff presence on campus and the park,"
Yesterday was the last day of school for students before beginning winter break and sheriff's deputies continue to work closely with school officials to ensure the safety of the students on the heels of the events in Connecticut last week, and to help deal with the ramifications of the tragedy that has affected many schools across the nation.
Deputies on the La Mirada campus yesterday encouraged students to ask questions and/or comment on what was, or is, on their mind in regards to school safety.
Officials from schools continue to grapple with numerous threats and the copycat syndrome that seems to follow in such tragedies. Earlier in the day deputies entered the Diamond Ranch High School campus in Pomona after two telephone threats that morning against the school. A similar security alert also occurred at South Pasadena High earlier in the day.
Shortly after the sheriff press release, at 8:37 a.m., the La Mirada Blog informed its readers of the situation by linking to the sheriff press release on its Twitter feed. With over 1000 followers in the La Mirada area, the service allows for messages to get out into the community almost immediately.
Within that same hour hour we already had parents tweeting us, on-scene at the school, letting us know that everything was under control, messages we were able to relay to followers. At 9:20 a.m. LM Blog fan @Crab_Apel tweeted "only a few police units out front. Things seem to be normal at the school. Nothing serious." Again, a message we were able to get out into the community almost immediately.
La Mirada student @LeviFrafjord tweeted, "every where I looked I saw a cop."
Throughout the day, news stations continued to blast the "breaking story" of the "police presence" at La Mirada High, giving the impression something was wrong, even though most in the La Mirada community already knew there was no story, as early as 9:30 a.m. they knew, thanks to our Twitter feed.
La Mirada Blog fan @ipadsforautism tweeted, "Numerous High Schools in the area had similar events this week, everyone is understandably jumpy given recent events."
Even into the early evening the news stations led with the "big story" at La Mirada High, but most parents in La Mirada already knew, since early in the morning, there was no story.
City Council Helps La Mirada Landmark Resident Celebrate Her 90th Birthday
La Mirada~The La Mirada City Council recognized and congratulated Jeannette Murphy on her 90th birthday at a recent council meeting, and presented her with a certificate to commemorate the occason.
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| La Mirada Mayor Gabe Garcia shares a laugh with Jeanette Murphy while presenting her with a certificate for her 90th birthday photo Joelle Lai |
Ms. Murphy was born in Nebraska in 1922, and married Theodore Murphy after meeting him while working at the Health Department in Lincoln in May of 1942.
Theodore served in WWII and afterward, he and Jeanette purchased their first home in East Los Angeles in 1947. They then lived in Whittier in prior to moving to La Mirada 1989.
She currently volunteers some of her time making pillows for the Pediatrics Department at Whittier Presbyterian Hospital, where she also worked in the Accounting Department for eight years at one time.
She also spends time playing cards with her friends and neighbors, and has enjoyed living at La Mirada Landmark for over 23 years.
She joked with Mayor Gabe Garcia as he presented her with the certificate on behalf of the City Council, all part of the city's Birthday Recognition Program.
Matadores Lose Webb in Victory Over Lakewood
La Mirada~The La Mirada High School Boys Basketball team beat Lakewood last night 70-46 in the opening round of the North Orange County Championships at Sonora High School.
Charlie Reid had 17 points as the Matadores (6-1), playing their fifth game in six days, led after the first quarter, 29-9.
The victory didn't come without a price however, as star point guard Taelin Webb fractured his lower tibia and is "expected to be out at least eight weeks," said La Mirada head coach Bryce Jones.
Webb is averaging 25 points a game for the Mats, and has spurred the team to their quick start in the 2012-13 campaign.
The Mats next play vs. Capistrano Valley at Sonora High, Wednesday at 6:00 p.m.
La Mirada is scheduled to play 15 games in the month of December before opening league play January 2nd at home against Bellflower.
La Mirada City Manager Announces Retirement
La Mirada~Although already expected, La Mirada City Manager Tom Robinson recently announced his plans to retire.
Robinson came to La Mirada in 1985 and worked his way up to Community Services Director.
He became City Manager in 2008 when he replaced Andrea Travis, who resigned, when she clearly wore out her welcome, and was about to be fired.
“When I was selected as City Manager in 2008, the City Council requested that I commit to serving four years in the position,” Robinson said in a prepared statement, “That commitment has been fulfilled.”
Discussions will begin at the December 11th City Council meeting about hiring Robinson, 62, on a part-time basis until a replacement can be found.
“I have enjoyed my years in La Mirada, and appreciate the opportunity to serve as City Manager in such an outstanding community,” wrote Robinson. “Any achievements I have made would not have been possible without the support of past and present members of the City Council, our dedicated City staff, and the community.”
“After 40 years in local government management, it is time to prepare for life’s next chapter,” he said. “As I turn the page, however, be assured that I will continue to perform my responsibilities as City Manager with the same commitment as always.”
Sources indicate to us the City will use Robinson in the recruitment process, with pay.
His lifetime annual pension will be $189,227 when he retires.
Matadores Start Off on the Right Note at El Rancho Classic
Pico Rivera~The La Mirada High School Boys Basketball team continued their quick start on the young season by defeating Alhambra High tonight at Pioneer High School, 77-50 in pool play of the 19th Annual Blue Pride Classic.
Taelin Webb led the Matadores with 26 points.
The Matadores (2-0), picked by many to win the Suburban League this year, will play every day this week in the tournament giving 2nd-year coach Bryce Jones a good idea of how his 2012-13 squad performs in some tough real-game competition, after weeks of scrimmages.
The Matadores play today at 4:30 p.m. against Roosevelt High and Thursday, December 6th at 7:30 p.m. against Sunny Hills. Both games will be played at El Rancho High School with Friday and Saturday match-ups of the tournament still to be determined.
The Matadores will also compete in the Sonora Tournament December 10th through the 15th and the Torrey Pines Holiday Classic December 26th through the 29th.
The first official home game of the season for the Mats is December 21st against Sonora High School beginning at 7:30 p.m.
Suburban League play will open Wednesday, January 2nd, 2013 as La Mirada will host the Bellflower Buccaneers starting at 6:30 p.m.
La Mirada Boy Scout Eagle Project Improves La Mirada’s Oldest Home
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| Friends, Family, and fellow scouts from Boy Scout Troop 919 in La Mirada recently converged on the Neff Estate for the "Erik Moreno Eagle Project" |
La Mirada~Boy Scout Erik Moreno, 17, from La Mirada Troop 919 recently completed his Eagle Project at Neff Park in his effort to become an Eagle Scout-the highest award attainable in the Boy Scouts of America (BSA).
This is the 100-year anniversary of the Eagle Scout program. The first Eagle Scout medal was awarded in 1912 to 17-year-old Arthur Rose Eldred, a member of Troop 1 of Rockville Centre, Long Island, New York
Despite the drizzly weather on a recent weekend, dozens of troop members, friends and family were on hand to lend support.
To earn Eagle Scout status, the highest rank a Boy Scout can achieve, scouts are required to earn 21 different merit badges along with many other requirements. One of those other requirements is the planning and developing of an extensive project, one that benefits the community-an Eagle Project.
The scout must organize, lead, and manage the project on their own, demonstrating both leadership and a commitment to duty.
Troop 191 Scoutmaster Carl Freeman said, “His role is to manage the project. I cannot dictate to him, he has to dictate to me. He is in charge of the entire project. He is in charge of safety, leadership, management, and overseeing the project.”
“The adults here can make suggestions, but he makes the decisions. Basically, as adults, we have a teenager telling us what to do. He makes the decisions and that is part of it. If there is an issue or problem that comes along he makes the call and he learns a lesson from it. So, he learns and we all learn.”
“With every project you do, and everything in life you do, there are lessons learned. And you have to learn to adjust. Things don’t always happen the way you want them to; timelines and everything like that. That is what Eric is learning right here.”
La Mirada Boy Scout Eagle Project Improves La Mirada’s Oldest Home
La Mirada~Boy Scout Erik Moreno, 17, from La Mirada Troop 919 recently completed his Eagle Project at Neff Park in his effort to become an Eagle Scout-the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouting program of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA).
To earn Eagle Scout status boys are required to earn 21 different merit badges along with planning, developing and managing an extensive project.
The scout must organize, lead, and manage the project that benefits the community-the Eagle Project-that demonstrates both leadership and a commitment to duty.
After tossing around some ideas he settled on providing an improvement for the George Home-La Mirada's oldest house located at the Neff Park Estate.
Formerly the foreman's home for the McNally Ranch, the house was lived in by Jack George, who became foreman of the McNally Ranch in 1914. The home was built about the same time as the McNally Mansion, around 1890. Anne George, widow of Jack lived at the home with her two daughters until 1960.
When deciding on a project Erik noticed the George House lacked a cement curb around it similar to the one around the mansion, so he decided a newly installed curb at the George House would dramatically improve the asthetics and landscaping of the house.
Escalona Elementary Reaches 907 API: Principal Follows Through on Deal by Kissing Pig
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| Escalona Elementary principal Bonnie Lytle makes good on a deal made three years ago-if her students ever scored over 900 on the state's API report she would kiss a pig. Figures were released last month and the school scored 907. Time to pucker up! Photo Victoria Pflanzer |
Hundreds of Students Squeal in Delight at Ceremony as Principal Keeps Her Word by Smooching Swine
La Mirada ~Escalona Elementary principal Bonnie Lytle made a promise to her students-if the school’s Academic Performance Index (API) ever reached 900, she would kiss a pig.
Although it took three years, Escalona scored a 907 when the figures were released last month-one of the first schools in the district to score over 900.
So, this past Friday Lytle followed through by kissing a pig named Olive- fitting for La Mirada-in front of hundreds of students, parents, and spectators.
The very cold winter-like winds didn’t dampen the spirit of the huge crowd at the after school outdoor celebration called “Pig Party.”
There was a petting zoo, along with booths selling popcorn and candy, and drinks. The Kiwanis Club of La Mirada was also there selling quarter pound hot dogs with the works.
The API is a major component of the Public Schools Accountability Act passed by the California legislature in 1999 and scores range from a low of 200 to a high of 1000. The scores are used as a measurement to monitor a school’s growth.
PTA President Monae Zamott said the kids worked hard, “They have been trying and trying to hit that 900. Each year they have inched a little bit closer, improving their scores all along. She (Lytle) didn’t want the kids to wait for their reward.”
Zamott said that the vow got the kids to study more, and that’s all that really matters, “It was a great challenge and a great motivator for them to study. We can’t wait until she kisses the pig.”
The school had a score of 858 in 2009, climbed to 890 in 2010, and then 907 for 2011.
The scores, compiled from testing done in the previous school year, are released every October.
Many of the students who were tested last year, are partly responsible for the score, but have moved on to Benton, Hutchinson, and other middle schools. They were also invited to the festivities.
Three Take Out Papers to Run For La Mirada City Council
La Mirada~Earlier this week, on Monday and Tuesday, three potential candidates pulled papers at city hall with the intention to run for City Council.
The three include incumbent Pauline Deal, 53, who was appointed last year in July to replace Susan Tripp, who resigned to pursue personal interests.
Deal was a member of the Norwalk-La Mirada School Board of Trustees from 1998-2011, leaving to take the council position.
The other two who took out papers are Randy Gray, 52, and Connie Balloue, 58.
There are two terms ending and up for grabs, one is Deals' and the other belonging to current La Mirada Mayor Gabe Garcia who has not pulled yet, but sources indicate he will seek another term.
The last to day to file for the March 5th election is December 10th, or December 12th if no incumbent files, which hardly seems the case.
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