La Mirada Blog

Articles by Tony Aiello

City Hosting Neff Estate Beautification Event
Community

City Hosting Neff Estate Beautification Event

La Mirada~Community members ages 13 and over are invited to lend a helping hand to assist with beautifying and sprucing up the Neff Estate as the La Mirada Historical Preservation Advisory Council will participate in a Neff Estate Beautification event on Saturday, October 18 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Neff Estate covers 10 acres and consists of the three structures, all of which are registered on the National Register of Historic Places. The Neff Mansion built by La Mirada founder Andrew McNally dated 1892, the Carriage Barn 1894 and the George House 1895.

McNally built the “country home” for his daughter Nannie and new son-in-law Edwin Neff shortly after they were married. Neff was to manage McNally’s Windermere Ranch.

The City along with the Historical Council takes great pride in the estate and aims to preserve the location.

DOG EVENT: Bring Your Friend to Bark for Life Saturday at Neff Park
Community

DOG EVENT: Bring Your Friend to Bark for Life Saturday at Neff Park

La Mirada~Bring your best canine friend and help the American Cancer Society save lives as Relay For Life of La Mirada hosts the 2nd annual Bark For Life Saturday, October 11, 2014 at Neff Park from 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

You can show off your canine’s best Halloween outfit and trick and also enjoy the entertainment, raffles and vendors.

Registration begins at 9:00 a.m. and is $20.00 for the first dog and $10.00 for each additional dog per owner.

The Survivor Walk starts at 10:00 a.m. and there is a maximum of two dogs per person on the relay walk.

All dogs must be on leash and please be ready to clean up after your four-legged friends. Canine must be up to date on immunizations.

For more information email Joyce Herbon at jtherbon@yahoo.com, call (714) 813-1458 or visit www.relayforlife.org/barklamiradaca.

Freelance Photographer Featured on Discovery Channel Program to Guest at LM Arts Colony Meeting
Arts & Entertainment

Freelance Photographer Featured on Discovery Channel Program to Guest at LM Arts Colony Meeting

La Mirada~The Arts Colony of La Mirada will hold their October meeting on Monday the 6th at 6:30 PM at the La Mirada Resource Center, 13700 La Mirada Blvd in the Civic Center.

The guest demonstrator will be Pamela Fall, a freelance photographer and artist based in Southern California.  She combines her love for art and photography and has chosen to take a number of her images to a new level.

Her works are in collections around the world and were featured on a Discovery Channel program.

The art appreciating public is welcome to join us.  For information check the Arts Colony website, www.acolm.com or call 562-941-4116.

Senate Candidate Mario Guerra to Speak at Chamber Breakfast
News

Senate Candidate Mario Guerra to Speak at Chamber Breakfast

La Mirada~State Senate candidate Mario Guerra will be a guest speaker at the La Mirada Chamber of Commerce monthly Tuesday Breakfast at the Holiday Inn, 14299 Firestone Boulevard.

Guerra, 55, a Republican and a member of the Downey City Council will go up against Democrat Tony Mendoza for the 32nd state Senate District seat in the November 4th statewide general election.

Included in the district are the cities of Artesia, Bellflower, Buena Park, Cerritos, Commerce, Downey, Hawaiian Gardens, La Habra Heights, La Mirada, Lakewood, Montebello, Norwalk, Pico Rivera, Santa Fe Springs and Whittier along with unincorporated areas of Hacienda Heights, Los Nietos and South Whittier

Guerra came from Cuba at the age of six and was raised locally. After majoring in economics he co-founded Scanlon-Guerra-Burke Insurance Brokers and has been serving as president. His firm was recently named one of the Top 10 largest brokerage firms in Southern California by the Los Angeles Business Journal..

The breakfast is open to the public and the cost is $15. For more information contact the La Mirada Chamber of Commerce at (562) 902-1970, visit the chamber website at http://www.lamiradachamber.org/ or email the chamber at info@lamiradachamber.org


Jersey Mike’s Opening October 8th in La Mirada
News

Jersey Mike’s Opening October 8th in La Mirada

La Mirada~Jersey Mike's is the latest eatery to open at the Croosroads Center and will open for business Wednesday, October 8th.

Franchise owner Alvaro Garcia will hold a grand opening and free sub fundraiser through Sunday October 12th to support various community schools and organizations including: Eastwood Elementary PTA; Heights Christian Schools; the La Mirada Soccer Association; Los Coyotes Middle School, and Biola University.

The new restaurant, located at 14873 Telegraph Road, is circulating 30,000 flyers throughout the community containing various coupons.  For each coupon that is redeemed, Jersey Mike’s will donate $3 to the respective beneficiary. Customers must have a coupon to be eligible.

“Working with a variety of local organizations for our grand opening fundraiser is an opportunity to raise money and invite customers to try Jersey Mike’s highly authentic product,” said Garcia.

Started in 1956, Jersey Mike’s now has 1,300 restaurants open and under development nationwide.  In just three years, the company has nearly doubled in size.

The La Mirada store hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week.  You can contact the location directly at (562) 944-2088.

RIBBON CUTTING

The La Mirada Chamber of Commerce will host an official ribbon cutting for the new Jersey Mike’s/La Mirada Tuesday, October 7th at 11:45 a.m.

Expected to attend are chamber members, the La Mirada City Council & staff, members of the local police and fire departments and Jersey Mike’s officials.



Female Pedestrian Killed While Crossing Rosecrans
News

Female Pedestrian Killed While Crossing Rosecrans

La Mirada~An 86 year-old La Mirada woman was killed this morning while attempting to cross Rosecrans Avenue.

Amparo Garcia was struck by a pickup truck driven by a 40-year-old male traveling eastbound.

She was attempting to walk north across the street from Jacana Drive, according to Sgt. Anthony Fernandez of the Norwalk Sheriff's Station.

The incident occurred around 7 a.m. and the driver stayed at the scene. He was not detained and has been cooperating with authorities while an investigation continues.

We received numerous reports from our Twitter followers with the first coming at 7:12 a.m. from @iqmet and 12 minutes later @mandibeezkneez reported the accident.

Catch up with people are saying about the unfortunate incident on our Facebook feed here.

La Mirada Symphony Tea This Saturday at Neff Barn
Community

La Mirada Symphony Tea This Saturday at Neff Barn

Note: The La Mirada Symphony is in need of teen/young adult volunteers to act as servers for the "Tea And Symphony" event on Saturday. This a great way to serve the community and/or fulfill your community service requirements for school/other.

La Mirada~It’s high tea, a ladies fashion show, live entertainment, opportunity drawings and more as The La Mirada Symphony Association will hold the "Tea and Symphony Fashion Show" event on September 27th to kick-off their 2014-15 concert season.

The fundraising event will take place at the Neff Barn from 12:00 to 3:00 p.m.

The community orchestra is celebrating its 52nd year of providing free community concerts, as well as concerts for the youth, instrumental ensemble visits to schools and the opportunity for young honor band musicians to perform on stage with the orchestra.

The tea is almost all sold out! Contact Rose Bourassa at LMSymphonyGuild@aol.com for information on purchasing any remaining seats-cost is $45 per person.

The Neff Barn is located on the grounds of the Neff Estate located at 14300 San Cristobal Drive in La Mirada.

The Olive Fest Has Arrived Again in La Mirada
Community

The Olive Fest Has Arrived Again in La Mirada

La Mirada~It’s olive season in La Mirada and that means it’s time for the 5th annual La Mirada Olive Fest  Saturday, September 20th from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at beautiful La Mirada Regional Park.

What began as the La Mirada Blog Fest in 2010, the event has quickly become the ultimate La Mirada community celebration held every third Saturday of September.

"These early years are our first steps in bringing back some really prestigious events from the past in La Mirada such as the Fiesta de Artes and Celebration in the Park," says Olive Fest and La Mirada Blog founder Tony Aiello.

The free event will feature craft vendors, an art walk, food from local vendors and restaurants and representatives from community businesses and organizations.

Live entertainment on-stage will be continuous for the duration of the Fest performed by La Mirada-based groups and performers.

Added this year is a car exhibit and a kids-activity area with crafts provided by Home Depot and other community groups.

For more information email lmolivefest@gmail.com and visit the Facebook page here.

Buena Park to Shut Down La Mirada Boulevard for Three-Day Festival
Community

Buena Park to Shut Down La Mirada Boulevard for Three-Day Festival

Buena Park~City Council members here recently voted to allow La Mirada Boulevard to be closed for three days for the 31st OC Korean Arirang Festival and La Mirada officials say it is impractical and may have a negative impact on surrounding neighborhoods.

The Korean cultural celebration, which will feature a wide variety of shows and food, is taking place September 26th through the 28th on La Mirada Boulevard. The roadway would be closed to traffic between Beach Blvd. and Alondra Blvd. from 10 p.m. on Thursday Sept. 26, to 6 a.m. on Monday Sept. 29, with westbound lanes not expected to be open until 10 a.m. on Monday.

The closure is entirely within Buena Park, but it is right at La Mirada’s southern boundary.

La Mirada city officials say serious traffic issues are expected to result from the Buena Park decision and major traffic impacts are expected to result from the closure throughout the weekend according to a statement released to the La Mirada Blog.

La Mirada city officials have repeatedly expressed concerns to Buena Park that a closure for such an extended period of time will create an extreme hardship for the traveling public and result in parking and noise issues in the surrounding neighborhoods.

They urged Buena Park to consider a more suitable location for the event that wouldn’t have such potential negative impacts on motorists and local residents.  These concerns went mostly ignored, the statement read.

“La Mirada city staff spoke against the closure at Buena Park’s City Council meeting when this item was discussed,” says La Mirada City Manager Jeff Boynton.

“Additionally, we sent correspondence to Buena Park officials reinforcing our concerns and requesting Buena Park consider an alternate location for the event.”

The Buena Park City Council voted to approve the event’s La Mirada Blvd. location anyway, on a 3-1 vote, with Councilwoman Elizabeth Swift voting against the closure.

Kelly Oh, Arirang Festival Foundation of Orange County representative told us, “We are trying to comply with the city’s (La Mirada) concerns. We will be providing quality programs and shows and we hope La Mirada residents will enjoy it as well.”

This past October, the 30th annual event took place in Buena Park within the confines of the McComber Shopping Center at the southeast corner of Beach Blvd. and Malvern Avenue.