La Mirada Blog
Articles by Tony Aiello
This Day in La Mirada History-Arlie F. Hutchinson
Arlie F. Hutchinson passed away this day October 24 in 1953.
The Arlie F. Hutchinson Middle School (formerly Hutchinson Intermediate School), opened its doors September 21, 1956 and commemorates a La Mirada pioneer-an ordinary fellow-who nonetheless placed his mark in the annals of La Mirada history.
Hutchinson was orphaned at birth in Kansas in 1879. He was reared by his grandparents who moved to Clearwater (now Paramount) California in 1888. They arrived in La Mirada in 1893, coincidentally, the same year La Mirada founder Andrew McNally constructed a mansion on his Windermere Ranch, now known as the Neff Mansion at Neff Park.
Hutchinson would remain in La Mirada for the rest of his life (60 years). (more)
La Mirada News and Halloween Happenings
Art Show opens November 14th at the Activity Center
All are invited to attend the “Mirrors of Your Mind” Art Show presented by the Arts Colony of La Mirada.
The art exhibit will be open to the public starting on Monday, November 14 through Friday, November 18 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the La Mirada Activity Center. An award reception will conclude the art show on Saturday, November 20 from 3 to 4:30 p.m.
The La Mirada Activity Center is located at 13810 La Mirada Boulevard. (more)
Fireworks stands now open in La Mirada
As America prepares for Independence Day, fireworks stands are now open in La Mirada. The stands provide a major fundraising opportunity for the groups that participate in the selling each year.
Booths are open July 1 through July 3 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and on July 4 from 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
If you plan on purchasing fireworks this year, use the guide below as a way to support your favorite group.
Be safe and have fun from all of us here at the La Mirada Blog! (more)
House fire erupts on Alicante Road
A house fire occurred earlier this afternoon around 1:30 p.m. along the 15200 block of Alicante Road In La Mirada.
The fire was knocked down with 30 minutes as units from area Los Angeles County Fire Department stations in Cerritos, Norwalk and Whittier responded. (more)
Memorial Day Service at Olive Lawn
The City of La Mirada and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9148 invite the community to its 62nd Memorial Day Service on Monday, May 30th at 10:00 a.m. at Olive Lawn Memorial Park, 13926 La Mirada Boulevard.
The Service will include vocal and other special tributes to fallen soldiers, guest speaker Major Ed Choi and the placing of memorial wreaths and flowers by the VFW Post 9148 and Auxiliary, the City of La Mirada and community organizations including Ebell, Kiwanis, Rotary, and Union Army of the West. (more)
The rediscovery of Andrew McNally’s Windermere Ranch olive crusher
Considered the Crown Jewel of La Mirada History
Campo~Although the Dichiara family was based in La Mirada for only around 20 years, they will forever hold an integral part of its history.
La Mirada city founder Andrew McNally created and built his olive oil empire, the first industry in La Mirada, beginning in the late nineteenth century and well into the twentieth.
The factory where he processed the fruit was located on his Windermere Ranch and at one time produced some of the finest, purest oil available in the world.
When the Long Beach earthquake struck in 1933 it damaged the building and production was halted. (more)
New La Mirada Veterans Council Forms
A new group has formed in La Mirada to assist with veteran-based events and to provide other services to members of the military in the community.
The La Mirada Veterans Coordinating Council, which recently held it's first meeting March 3rd at city hall, is a partnership between the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9148 and the City of La Mirada. (more)
Residents Clean Up a Section of the North Fork Coyote Creek Bike Path
Beautiful weather greeted a group of residents this past early Saturday morning at Frontier Park in La Mirada where they gathered for their first organized clean-up of the North Fork Coyote Creek Bike Path.
The effort was organized by Arco Cabrera, Associate Pastor at Neighborhood Life Church based out of the VFW Post 9148.
The group walked about a quarter mile west on Foster Road to reach the trailhead of the path, which is very popular with local bicyclists offering a 13-mile ride to Seal Beach, converging with the San Gabriel River bike path along the way. (more)
City Council Race 2022
I am officially declaring, the City Council election season has begun in La Mirada.
I am not an expert on politics, elections or anything else really, but I can offer a unique perspective and why not?
This is the third campaign season La Mirada residents will be electing council members by district rather than city-wide after the city was threatened to be sued by MALDEF in 2016.
What does this mean? Well, from a candidate standpoint, generally speaking, you only need a few hundred votes to win rather than the couple of thousand you would need in an at-large election.
Where Does the La Mirada Blog Go Next?
Well, I think it’s about time.
You mean an opinion column on my own website? What a novel concept. I hope to produce this on a every-other-month basis so let’s see and let’s go. Thank YOU for taking time out of your busy day to read this and I hope you enjoy it as we move forward.
From the beginning, I am not going to grovel for days over this column or it’s just going to stress me out and I won’t like doing it. So, my goal is to knock it out in 30 minutes and it is what it is. I’ll put a stop watch on my desk and let’s see how it goes.
Where is the La Mirada Blog going and how has it evolved and changed over the years? What’s next, if anything? What happened in the 2017 La Mirada City Council Election, just 27 months ago-the true story, other than me losing? 😊 City Council members are now elected by district, but are they serving in their districts?
The first issue is this website. I hear you, it's outdated. I hope to have it updated very soon and I apologize. Social media took over in 2009-10 as you well know if you’re a long time follower and the website has been neglected, but mostly because of financial reasons. The overhaul is going to cost more than I thought and I hope to have this remedied very soon. However, with that being said, it is still a place for exclusive content and I have some great advertisers!
Minus the website, the La Mirada Blog has 20,000+ social media followers, not to mention the engagement and reach. What does this mean? Nothing, but comparatively speaking, in a town of 50,000 it is significant and sometimes there is a stress and pressure that goes along with it.
Although I knew I loved what I was doing when I started the Blog many years ago in 2003, at times I have had difficulty keeping up emotionally with its tremendous growth, its status in the community and the responsibility that comes with it along with trying to approach it in a non-biased way in a city I have such a personal attachment to.
So, join on this journey with me as I trudge along running the La Mirada Blog and let us all see what’s next. I tell you and you decide. Send me your ideas, questions, topics, stories and story ideas, advice, news ideas and anything to lamiradablog@gmail.com and let’s travel this road called life, together. Till next time.
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