La Mirada Blog
Articles by Tony Aiello
La Mirada Chamber of Commerce Pre-Holiday Mixer
La Mirada~The community is invited to get into the spirit of the season at the La Mirada Chamber of Commerce Pre-Holiday Mixer Thursday night December 5th from 5-8 p.m. at the Imperial Medical Plaza Building, 15651 E. Imperial Highway in La Mirada.
There will be at least 15 businesses participating with each business serving food & drinks. Each adult will be given a "passport" to take to each business and the business will sign off. A free raffle ticket for each adult will be given for every business that signs the passport (15 max).
The La Mirada Chamber of Commerce will also be selling single raffle tickets at $1.00 per ticket.The raffle will have over $1,200 in prizes including an ipad, which is the grand prize.
The Chamber is sponsoring the Heights Christian Schools-La Mirada Campus and all money raised will be donated to the school.
Alumni Game Signals Start of Season for Boys Hoops
Competing in Division 3AA, Mats look to be one of top teams in area
La Mirada~It’s the signal of the start of another boys basketball season at La Mirada High as the annual Alumni Basketball Game was played this past Thursday featuring the stars of yesterday and the stars of today in front of around 300 fans at La Mirada High Gymnasium.
The Matadores beat the alumni 77-65, but the score didn’t matter.
The alumni games are always entertaining affairs as the teams play a little loose and the crowd gets its first glimpse at the new squad for the upcoming season.
The alumni players that participated in this year’s contest were La Mirada assistant coach Charlie Torres (class of 2002), Jet Soto (2009), Miles Aiello (2010), Connor Gillette (2010), Matadore JV head coach Mike Estrada (2010), Nicco Quinones (2011), Sean Nakahara and Cody Mahaffey (2012) and from 2013, Kane Fetui, Sean Porter, Charlie Reid and Tyler Payne.
2013-14 LA MIRADA SEASON PREVIEW
The 2013-14 campaign will be the third at the helm for head coach Bryce Jones and his assistants are Charlie Torres (4th season) and Shea Frazee (3rd).
The Matadores lost in the opening round in last year’s CIF-SS Division 3AAA playoffs, 74-50 to Compton.
The first thing you notice about the Matadores this year is the addition of Kendall Lauderdale and Lucio Bolado.
Laudederdale, the 6’8” junior transfer from Orange Lutheran and Division 1 prospect is a strong player who faces up on the basket well, is good inside and can also hit a jump shot and is expected to make an immediate impact.
Bolado is a senior transfer from La Verne Lutheran. He possesses ball-handling skills that bring instant success to any high school program. His play in preseason has earned him a spot in the starting line-up as point guard.
Starting point last year Senior Deion Golffin is currently out with a broken foot. He told the La Mirada Blog he expects to be back, “when league starts.”
WEEKEND READ: Office Manager of LM Meals on Wheels Marks 30 Years With Group
La Mirada~Family, friends, and colleagues gathered this past Saturday, on a beautiful La Mirada fall late afternoon, at the home of Gary & Diane Smith to celebrate Robin Miller’s 30 years of service as the office manager for La Mirada Meals on Wheels.
Guests were greeted by light entertainment, food & drinks, and picture-perfect weather.
After some volunteering for the City of La Mirada and the La Mirada Volunteer Center (then at Kling Center), it was 1983 when Miller was asked by then Meals on Wheels office manager Pat Blanford if she was interested in the job.
She became the office manager for the program in December of that year-and has been there ever since. She has been with Meals on Wheels for 30 of its 38 years
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| Marcy Mannan and Robin Miller are the office team for La Mirada Meals on Wheels which has been serving the community since 1975. Miller recently celebrated 30 years with the organization. Photo Tony Aiello |
of existence.
The Board of Directors presented her with a gift certificate to a RV resort and an engraved necklace as a show of appreciation.
The Meals on Wheels (MOW) program debuted in La Mirada on April 1, 1975 established and modeled after a similar program in Whittier. The program offers a daily hot meal delivery service to the elderly, disabled and temporary and chronically ill residents, along with maintaining a year-round relationship with them.
This assists in allowing them to remain self-sufficient in their own homes. Meals on Wheels also helps family members of clients have peace of mind in knowing that their loved ones are being looked after each day.
The meals were originally prepared at the old La Mirada Community Hospital. When the hospital closed, Whittier Hospital offered to prepare the meals. Then in 2009, Miller and others negotiated with Portofino Ristorante Italiano of La Habra to take over the preparation, offering a respite from “hospital food.” Special diet meals are also prepared.
The meals are driven to their destinations by a volunteer work force that uses their own vehicles and fuel. As part of her office duties, Miller organizes the volunteers and their routes.
Victim of Alondra Bus Stop Shooting Identified
La Mirada~Authorities have identified a man apparently shot to death while sitting on a bus bench on Alondra Boulevard just east of Heron Avenue this past Sunday night.
The coroner’s office said yesterday Frank Mario Sainz, 46, of Norwalk was pronounced dead shortly after he was found lying in a pool of blood.
An autopsy performed indicated Sainz died from multiple gunshot wounds and the cause of death has been ruled a homicide, the office said.
There has been no suspect information or possible motive mentioned at this point of the investigation.
At this time, homicide officials believe the victim was seated at the bus bench, perhaps waiting for the next bus, when he was shot.
The victim was found by a Metro bus driver, laying in a pool of blood, about 6:10 p.m. The driver then called authorities.
See the brief interview with the driver moments after the discovery and other exclusive videos of the scene on our YouTube channel here.
The La Mirada Blog first reported the incident on its Twitter feed at 6:16 p.m.
If you have any info about the incident please contact the L.A. County Sheriff's Department's Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500.
Dead Body Found by Bus Driver on Alondra Boulevard
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| EXCLUSIVE PHOTO: A man's body lays motionless moments after apparently being shot while near or sitting at the bus stop on the north side of Alondra Boulevard just east of Heron Avenue on Sunday evening in La Mirada. Photo Tony Aiello |
UPDATE: 16:15 112513: Officials are reporting victim was fatally shot. Sheriff's saying he may have been on bus bench when shot, but not ruling out body was dumped as reported here first. Name not released pending next of kin notification. Man in his 40's also suffered trauma to body.
If you have any info about the incident please contact the L.A. County Sheriff's Department's Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500.
UPDATE 13:01 112513: Now confirmed, but it was reported here first, a Metro bus driver noticed the victim lying in a pool of blood in the gutter near a bus stop around 6:10 p.m. Although the driver wouldn't tell us at the time, see him on video moments after his call to police here.
UPDATE 21:50 112413: Sheriff's homicide investigators continue to work to determine the cause of death.
La Mirada~A male body has been found deceased along the 14300 block of Alondra Boulevard just east of Heron Avenue in La Mirada.
Victim was pronounced dead at the scene.
Our Twitter feed was the first to report incident at 6:16 PM PT and we were onscene within ten minutes.
It is unclear how the person died. Deputies are looking for evidence on scene.
A Metro bus driver appears to be one who reported originally to police about the body on the street in a pool of blood directly in front of the bus stop on the north side of Alondra Boulevard just east of Heron.
Original call heard to police by La Mirada Blog was a dumped body.
Officials are waiting for the coroners office to determine identity and the cause of death. We are trying to obtain further details.
LASD Homicide detectives dispatched to scene.
See exclusive video footage of the incident as it unfolded on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/lamiradablog
©La Mirada Blog 2013
Deputy Injured After Car Chase
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| Authorities and first responders appear at the scene of crash that trapped a deputy at the end of a high-speed chase in La Mirada on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2013. (KABC Photo) Courtesy KABC/7 Los Angeles |
La Mirada~A Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputy was temporarily trapped in his patrol car after a high speed chase ended at Imperial Highway and Meyer Road, along the border of La Mirada and unincorporated South Whittier.
The deputy was freed and is reported in stable condition.
On the La Mirada Blog Twitter feed, the incident was originally reported at 8:39 a.m. by @usc_mahboy.
The suspect driving the car that was being chased jumped out of his car after the crash and ran. He broke into a nearby apartment near Coteau Drive and Leffingwell Road by smashing a window.
The suspect was tracked down and arrested a short time later.
Also on Twitter @rubygonzales2 reported, “involved a man who originally ran from COPS deputies, ran into a house so the (sheriff) station thought they had a burglary suspect. He ran thru yards stole car keys from one house, took that car, tried to run over a deputy in the front yard."
She continued, "He led deputies on a chase, drove on the wrong side of the street, dumped that car, ran into a complex then broke into an apartment by smashing thru a window. Resident locked self and kid in bathroom. Deputies snagged the culprit. He's at a clinic being checked for the cuts he got breaking the apt. window. No name on him yet.”
Weekend Closures Planned for I-5 in Santa Fe Springs/La Mirada Area
La Mirada/Santa Fe Springs~Motorists in Southern California, more particularly the La Mirada area, should allow for extra time this weekend as road closure plans could alter traveling plans.
Caltrans is advising northbound Santa Ana Freeway (Interstate 5) motorists from Orange County heading into Los Angeles County could expect delays of 60 to 90 during an extended closure from Valley View Avenue to Carmenita Road that begins Saturday, November 16 at 12:01 a.m. and continues through Monday, Nov. 18 at 5 a.m.
The northbound I-5 on-ramp at Valley View Avenue will be CLOSED beginning Friday November 15th at 8 p.m. and reopening at 5:00 a.m. Monday.
Also, CLOSED throughout the weekend will be one of three lanes on northbound I-5 from Valley View Avenue to Carmenita Road and the freeway connector transition from westbound State Route 91 to northbound I-5.
Also, two directional FULL FREEWAY CLOSURES on northbound I-5 only from Valley View Avenue to Carmenita Road will take place overnight Saturday (12:01 a.m. to 7 a.m.) and Sunday (1 a.m. to 5 a.m).
During the weekend all southbound I-5 lanes will remain OPEN for motorists throughout the weekend.
La Mirada Bobby Sox Offering Early Registration Discount This Weekend
La Mirada~A brand new Board of Directors is anxious to kick off the season as La Mirada Bobby Sox is offering early registration the next two Saturday’s November 16th and 23rd.
Bobby Sox Softball is a fast pitch girls softball league for girls ages 4-18 of all skill levels.
The early signups will be Stater Bros. and Albertsons in La Mirada from 9:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m. on both days.
The discounted price for residents is $100 The non-resident cost is $110, with a chance to earn back all registration fees offered.
If returning players bring a new player to register, both get $5.00 their fees.
The early registration period ends January 1st and after that all registrants pay $110.00.
February 1st is the last day for registering and there will be a registration table at the Neff Barn (14300 San Cristobal Dr), during first team meetings. After that registration is considered late and will increase to $125.00. LMBS accepts cash, money order, personal checks, and credit card (25.00 fee for returned checks)
La Mirada Bobby Sox can be found at www.lamiradabobbysox.wix.com/lamiradabobbysox and on Twitter @L_M_B_S and Facebook at www.facebook.com/La Mirada Bobby-Sox
La Mirada High School Band and Color Guard Fundraiser
La Mirada~You can support the La Mirada High School Band and Color Guard by eating dinner at Cabo Taco Baja Grill Wednesday, November 13th from 4:00-9:00 p.m.
Simply tell your server you are supporting La Mirada High School and 20 percent of your purchase will go back to the program.
Cabo Taco is located at 15924 Rosecrans Avenue in La Mirada, next to the Movie 7.
Walmart Neighborhood Market Celebrates Grand Opening at Crossroads Shopping Center
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| Local Dignitaries and community members anxiously await the opening of the Walmart Neighborhood Market that opened this past Wednesday in La Mirada |
La Mirada~After a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony, the La Mirada High School Jazz Band played for attendees and customers as the new Walmart Neighborhood Market opened for business this past Wednesday morning during the store’s official grand opening at the Crossroads Shopping Center in La Mirada.
The new 35,000 square foot store will provide local customers with a new, convenient option for their grocery shopping needs, including fresh produce and pharmacy services and will host a full grocery department, including organic and natural selections, in addition to a self-serve deli and a bakery.
“The La Mirada Chamber of Commerce is pleased to welcome a Walmart Neighborhood Market to our community,” said Dustin L Dahl, President of the La Mirada Chamber of Commerce and La Mirada resident. “This business will bring an added value to La Mirada and will offer an opportunity for job growth, thereby, strengthening our local economy. The new Walmart Neighborhood Market will hire about 65 and will bring viable tax revenue to our city so we can enhance our public services.”
The store also has a pharmacy that offers a full range of products and services for prescription pick-ups and other health products. The pharmacy offers a full range of products and services.
Pharmacy personnel can answer product and prescription questions and customers can ask about health and wellness solutions.
While other Southern California Walmart Neighborhood Markets have brought business back to vacant storefronts, this is the first newly-constructed Walmart grocery store in Southern California. Other area Walmart Neighborhood Markets include La Palma, Stanton, Anaheim, La Puente, Downey, Bell Gardens, Hawthorne, Torrance, downtown Los Angeles and others.
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