La Mirada Blog
Articles by Tony Aiello
Tony-Award Winning and Legendary CATS Opens at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts
La Mirada~La Mirada theatre for the Performing Arts & McCoy Rigby Entertainment present the fourth production in its 2013-1014 season of shows with one of the most popular musical events of all-time, the Tony award-winning, CATS, music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, based on “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats” by T.S. Eliot, with musical direction by John Glaudini and directed and choreographed by Dana Solimando. CATS will feature Kelly Provart as Grizabella and Todrick Hall (whose hilarious YOUTUBE video parodies have been seen by millions of viewers) as Rum Tum Tugger.
Based on the universally popular poetry of T.S. Eliot, CATS tells the story, in song and dance, of the annual gathering of Jellicle cats at which time one special cat is selected to ascend to the Heaviside layer. A true musical theatre phenomenon, CATS opened at London's New London Theatre on May 11, 1981 and ran for a record-setting 21 years. CATS' London success was nearly matched on Broadway where it ran at the Winter Garden Theatre for just over 18 years.
CATS will preview on Friday, April 18, 2014 (with a press opening on Saturday, April 19) and run through Sunday, May 11, 2014.
Performances will be 7:30pm on Wednesdays & Thursdays; 8pm on Fridays; 2pm and 8pm on Saturdays; and 2pm on Sundays. (with two added Sunday evening performances; May 4 and May 11 at 7:00pm).
There will be no matinee performance on Saturday, April 19. Talkbacks with the actors will be on Wednesday, April 23 and Wednesday, May 7.
Tickets range from $20 - $70 and can be purchased at La Mirada Theatre’s website, www.lamiradatheatre.com or by calling the La Mirada Theatre Box Office at (562) 944-9801 or (714) 994-6310. Student, Senior and group discounts are available.
LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS is located at 14900 La Mirada Boulevard in La Mirada, near the intersection of Rosecrans Avenue where the 91 and 5 freeways meet. Parking is free.
Annual Derby Duck Race Follows Easter Egg Hunt at Splash!
La Mirada~Community groups and individuals are invited to participate in “Going Quackers for Kids”, a Derby Duck Race at SPLASH! Regional Aquatics center at the County Park in La Mirada on Saturday, April 19, 2014 following the City’s Easter Egg Hunt in the A.M.
Ducks can be “adopted” to race for a Grand Prize of $2500, a first Prize of $1000, 2nd & 3rd Prizes of $250 and many other great prizes! Individual adoptions include one duck for $5.00, 6 for $25, 10 for $100. Sponsorships for groups start at $250. All profits will be returned to the community for non-profit groups and service projects.
Detailed descriptions and contact information may be obtained at www.lamiradakiwanis.org, and click on the Duck! Fun for the whole family!
Local Resident Picked for U.S. Paralympic National Team
Buena Park~Local resident Shea Cassidy was recently selected to represent the United States on the U.S. Paralympic National Soccer Team.
The U.S. Paralympic Soccer Team is an elite level program that selects players from across the United States in preparation for International standard competition.
The 22-year old Shea has TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury), and was only given a 5% chance of living after a skateboard accident a few years ago.
Not only did he obviously survive, he will now travel around the world to represent the United States.
To qualify to be on the team, players must have had a Stroke, have Cerebral Palsy or have had a Traumatic Brain Injury/Acquired Brain Injury.
Team USA trains at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista and the StubHub Center in Carson.
In addition to friendly matches and invitational tournaments, the National Team competes in the following events: the Intercontinental Cup, Copa America, the World Championships, Parapan American Games and the Paralympic Games
The La Mirada Blog and the La Mirada Chamber of Commerce would like to congratulate Shea and the Cassidy family on this accomplishment and wish him the very best while he travels around the world representing the United States of America. Way to Go Shea!
Fire Destroys Vehicles at Mattress Factory
La Mirada~Residents were awakened in La Mirada to the sound of sirens early this morning around 3:00 a.m. after a fire erupted at the Ortho Mattress Factory Showroom at Valley View Avenue and Artesia Boulevard along the Cerritos border.
When firefighters arrived on the scene they were greeted by three bobtail trucks fully engulfed in the parking area of the building. The three trucks and two private vehicles appeared to have been destroyed.
NBC4 is reporting that fire officials are saying the incident is suspicious, yet they are are still calling it accidental at this time, as arson officials continue their investigation.
Fire units quickly doused the flames and no structural damage was reported.
City Receives Grant for Noise Study Along Railway Corridor
La Mirada~The City of La Mirada has received a $100,000 grant from the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) to conduct a noise study in residential neighborhoods along Stage Road located near a 1.8 mile segment of the BNSF Railway tracks.
At a recent board meeting, Metro approved the funding for the study. The funds will come from LA County’s 2008 Measure R..
The action was spurred by the organization of a group of residents, led by former Norwalk-La Mirada School Board Member Nancy Jenkins, who live in the Neff Park area that is adjacent to the railroad tracks.
It was reported first on this website in August of 2012.
The group had become growingly concerned about the increase in noise associated with the operations of BNSF Railway and its auxiliary tracks that run parallel to Stage Road.
On October 23, 2012 City Council received a petition with more than 700 signatures submitted by the group expressing their concerns with future and current impacts from the BNSF tracks located near their homes.
Lady Matadores Take Two in Irvine
UPDATE: 04/01/14 06:30-Valerie Alvarado pitched a no-hitter as the Mats continued their winning ways by beating Marina 1-0 as pool play continued. La Mirada will play Edison in the semifinals Saturday April 5th at 3:00 p.m.
Irvine~The La Mirada High Softball team won two games in pool play action Saturday at the Woodbridge Tournament at Bill Barber Park.
In the first game, The Lady Mats beat Fountain Valley 2-1. Starting pitcher Val Alvarado had eight strikeouts and Jaslin Rivas drove in both runs including the game-winning homer in the sixth inning.
In the second game, the Lady Mats won 3-2 over Capistrano Valley. All three runs for La Mirada (7-5, 2-0), were scored in the first inning behind back-to-back-to-back RBI’s by Rain Vega, Stephanie Baro and Jessica Gutierrez.
Pool play continues tomorrow (Monday) as the Lady Mats go up against Marina High beginning at 5:30 p.m. The finals of the tournament will take place Saturday, April 5th.
League play continues Wednesday for La Mirada as they travel to Artesia with game time at 3:00 p.m.
BREAKING: Two Lanes Remain Closed on NB I-5 at this Hour After Truck Fire
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| A big rig rests in the northbound lanes of Interstate 5 in La Mirada early Sunday morning shortly after firefighters extinguished it. The blaze closed the freeway for an hour. Photo Dennis Simms |
Only two lanes remain open at this hour just east of Valley View Avenue as authorities clean up mess
La Mirada~A big rig caught on fire early this morning in La Mirada and temporarily closed Interstate 5 as fire crews battled the blaze.
The incident occurred in the northbound lanes just east of Valley View Avenue.
The truck laid to rest directly in front of the Dale Tiffany Outlet Center on Firestone Boulevard.
According to La Mirada Blog social media reports, the incident occurred at around 3:00 a.m.
Firefighter Joel Entreken from Los Angeles County Fire Station 49 in La Mirada told the La Mirada Blog that when they arrived the tractor/cab was “fully involved” and about three-fourths of the trailer was on fire.
Entreken said the driver was the only occupant of the truck and he escaped unharmed.
The driver said he hit an object on the freeway, rupturing his fuel pump, causing it to drag and catch on fire, according to Entreken.
Entreken said the freeway was fully closed for about an hour and it took firefighters about 30 minutes to knock out the fire.
About 100 feet of the guardrail along the freeway was very badly damaged.
LA County Fire Station 35 from Cerritos also responded to the scene along with units from the Orange County Fire Authority and two units from the Anaheim Fire Department.
Earthquake Centered in La Habra Shakes Area
La Mirada~A large earthquake has just hit the La Mirada area.
The preliminary report indicates a 5.3 mag centered in La Habra.
This follows two quakes earlier centered in La Habra at 8:03 and 8:16 p.m. as reported on our Twitter feed.
Follow the latest on our Facebook and Twitter feeds
Matadores Topple Bucs In Suburban Opener
HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL
La Mirada~Blake Wilson shook off a rough first inning then helped his own cause with the bat as La Mirada beat Bellflower on a very windy day in La Mirada, 7-5, in the Suburban League opener for both teams.
Wilson gave up four first-inning runs to the Bucs but the Matadores battled back and put up a five-spot in the third inning highlighted by Wilson's bases-clearing double to take a 5-4 lead.
In the top of the fourth, Wilson gave up a solo home run to Brandon Polizzi to tie the game and than a single and a walk, but Wilson coaxed the Bucs into an inning-ending double play.
That fourth inning and the game might have been saved when Mats third baseman Devon Aldridge made a superb on-the-knees play and throw for the first out of the inning.
The Mats regained the lead 6-5 in the bottom of the frame when Ethan Lopez doubled home Aldridge. They added another in the sixth on an RBI single by R.J. Lan.
Tyler Charlton held the Bucs at bay by pitching scoreless fifth and sixth innings and Eric Tapper survived a shaky seventh to preserve the victory.
The two teams square off Friday at Bellflower beginning at 3 p.m.
Planning Commission Delays Voting on Fate of Nostalgic Eatery
La Mirada~An overflow crowd of over 250 people-many wielding signs-showed up at the planning commission meeting last night to support The Carriage Coffee Shop and they left with a small victory, although it could just be a temporary reprieve.
After a public hearing, the commission voted 4-0 to delay the decision of granting McDonald’s a conditional use permit for a drive-through at a new restaurant to replace the 49-year old relic at 14871 Imperial Highway, while a preliminary traffic study is conducted.
Commissioner Keith Chung made the request after more than 30 residents and others spoke on behalf of The Carriage, with many of them concerned about increased traffic and potential problems associated with it.
Tab Johnson is partner and development manager for Rich Development Enterprises, LLC who are the owners of the Crossroads Center property where the Carriage is located, “This is a well thought out project. We are not generating any additional traffic,” he said.
Currently, the Carriage has a month-to-month lease agreement with the development company.
That fact that McDonald’s is requesting to construct a drive-through at its new 4,335 square foot restaurant is what the commission was considering along with a variance to allow a stand-alone sign, which is being requested by McDonald’s.
They weren’t deciding if a new McDonalds was going in, only deciding about the drive-through, which confused many in the audience and this reporter.
City Planner Gabriel Bautista tried to explain to the audience that this is a private deal involving private property. He explained that any restaurant can negotiate with the land owner and build there because that is what it is zoned for, as long as they meet city general plan and land usage requirements.
There is not a drive-through at the current establishment (The Carriage), thus creating the need for the hearing.
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