La Mirada Blog
Articles by Tony Aiello
Five Candidates to Battle for Three Spots
Note: We have a correction in our story. Victor Juan pulled his papers and is not running for the position. Therefore, leaving only four candidates.
Norwalk~The November 8th election is quickly approaching with three seats up for grabs, to serve as a Governing Member on the Norwalk-La Mirada School District Board of Education.
The district is comprised of 17 elementary, six middle schools, and four high schools serving Norwalk, La Mirada and surrounding communities.
Lorraine Neal decided not to run for re-election, and Pauline Deal was recently appointed to a seat on the La Mirada City Council. That leaves Karen Morrison as the only incumbent running with the three spots available.
The candidates for the election, that is a little over six weeks away include: Jessie Urquidi, Diane Gramajo, Chris Pflanzer, Victor Juan and Morrison.
La Mirada Council Narrows Down Field
Council Decides to to Interview Five of Thirteen
La Mirada~It's something you don't see often in La Mirada at a city council meeting, but then again, it's only the second time in history the city has had to appoint a new city council member.
Tonight council members openly deliberated, and ultimately decided, to have five "finalists" to choose from, to fill the vacated Susan Tripp seat, after 13 applied.
Aside from time deadlines, there is no state law requiring how a council appoints a new council member.
At a special added-on study session meeting next Tuesday July 5th, public interviews will be held for the five who include: Attorney Paul Brown, Norwalk-La Mirada School Board Trustee Pauline Deal, LA County Director and La Mirada Public Safety Commissioner Edward Eng, Deputy Fire Chief and businessman, Michael Garcia, and business owner, Chris Pflanzer.
At the special meeting, each will be interviewed for approximately 20-30 minutes.
Two other applicants also received "mentions" from the panel-Luis Garcia, Robert Martin, and Phil Glenn.
As far as we know, the council will then decide who the new La Mirada City Councilmember will be, in time to participate in the July 19th regularly scheduled council meeting-and serve the remainder of the term until March 2013.
Local dignitaries in attendance at the meeting tonight included former council members Hal Malkin, Pete Dames, and Wayne Rew, with the latter speaking, and offering his views on the philosophy, traditional values, and the characteristics one must possess to be a La Mirada City Council member.
Photo: Chris Pflanzer and Pauline Deal await the word.
Bonus: Listen to Wayne Rew's comments here: http://twitvid.com/PVUFM
Students Get Exposure to Real Life Consequences
La Mirada~Fifth grade students at Foster Road Elementary recently conducted a "mock" trial at Norwalk Superior Court as part of the Project L.E.A.D. program (Legal Enrichment And Decision-making).
The program is offered by the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office and teaches students at different schools to recognize the legal and social consequences of gangs, drugs, truancy and other crimes.
Deputy district attorneys, investigators, field deputies, hearing officers, paralegals and law clerks all over LA County devote one hour a week to serve as role models and teach students about the criminal justice system.
For the last five years in n La Mirada, the program has been headed by County Deputy District Attorney Cristine Albanese and Deputy Probation Officer Darryl Harris, both of whom are contracted out by the city as employees, and are based at the La Mirada Sheriff's Station.
They each volunteer one hour a week to the fifth graders and teach a 20-week curriculum covering issues such as school bullying, truancy, shoplifting, decision-making and culminating with the trial at the end of the school year. The "trial" was held in Judge Margaret Bernal's courtroom, with the students filling all the roles in a courtroom, including a jury, with a verdict.
The students also learn about all the different people that work in a courthouse.
During this past school year, the students also went on a behind-the-scenes field trip to Juvenile Hall.
Albanese says that the program teaches the kids,"practical life skills and to make good decisions". She noted that the program is so successful at Foster Road because of the support of the principal, Dr. Jean Maddux, and the City of La Mirada.
Photos: Above, "Judge" Raewyn Groak, student at Foster Road Elementary School, makes a ruling. Left, Prosecutors and Defenders mull over their notes, while the jury and Teacher Kim Clarkson look on.
Service Arrangements for Cameron Gillett
Last week, a shock wave was sent throughout La Mirada, when news arrived of the tragic death of La Mirada High School graduate, and beloved athlete and community member, Cameron Gillett. The community is still reeling.
Although, we here at the La Mirada Blog have been saddened into silence, we feel it is our responsibility to post Service Arrangements, so as many people as possible may pay their respect. Our thoughts are with Cameron's loved ones and friends.
Here is a link to a nice story from the Long Beach Press-Telegram: http://tinyurl.com/3n4ay9k
Viewing:
Thursday, May 12, 2011, 3 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
All Souls Mortuary
4400 Cherry Avenue
Long Beach, CA 90807
(562) 424-8601
Funeral Services:
Friday, May 13, 2011, 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Zoe Christian Fellowship
10252 Mills Avenue
Whittier, CA 90604
(562) 906-5000
Burial directly after the service:
Rose Hills Memorial Park
3688 Workman Mill Road
Whittier, CA 90601
(Lupine Lawn, Grave 1)
A Special Thank You to a Really Cool Correspondent
La Mirada~A special thank you goes out to Christian Covarubias, 13-year old 8th grader from Los Coyotes Middle School who provided us with daily updates from his east coast trip he recently concluded with some of this classmates.
Having two sons of my own who took these trips, I realize that these trips literally keep the kids running from the moment they touchdown.
I know how tired Christian was every evening, but he provided us with his daily journal, regardless, providing us with a unique insight.
Christian's enthusiasm for America-its history, culture, values-speaks volumes for his generation.
From the La Mirada Blog Network Family, Christian, thanks again, and keep up the good work! We're watching you!
ADVISORY: Coyote Sightings Being Reported in La Mirada
La Mirada~A dog was killed March 4th in La Mirada, in the Santa Gertrudes/Foster area, by a coyote, witnessed by its owner.
When Valerie Griego-Hirsch let her pet Chihuahua Pismo, out to use the grass for what dogs use it for, a coyote came out of nowhere and snatched the dog. When Valerie screamed, the coyote was startled and dropped the dog. However, Pismo was injured and died in her arms.
There has been an outcry from the community for authorities to address the issue of coyotes in La Mirada. There is also a checkered history of coyote attacks in the city. Read the multiple postings of residents on our Facebook page available at www.facebook.com/lamiradablog. You do not have to be a member of Facebook to read the postings.
There was also a sighting of two younger coyotes in the 13900 block of Mansa Drive early in the morning of March 12th around 3 a.m.
We are advising residents in La Mirada to be especially vigilant when it comes to preventing coyote attacks-especially those residents living near the Coyote Hils, Coyote Creek, La Mirada Creek, Milan Creek, and the La Mirada Golf Course.
Near the end of the winter season coyotes are more desperate for food, They are usually active in neighborhoods from 2-5 a.m. Small children and small pets should be especially guarded at all times.
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Early Morning Crash in La Mirada Kills Two
La Mirada~An early morning crash occurred in La Mirada this morning killing two people, resulting in one arrest, but not who you think.
A truck reportedly was traveling at a high rate of speed, near 100 mph, southbound on Santa Gertrudes Avenue about 2:04 a.m this morning.
After striking a vehicle exiting a housing tract westbound on Lawnhill Drive, the truck became out of control and struck a large tree near Benton Middle School, across the street from Beatitudes of our Lord church, just south of Olive Branch drive. The crash killed the driver and the only passenger.
In a twist, the driver of the vehicle that was hit when exiting Lawnhill, was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving.
Largest Raceway in US Right Here in La Mirada
La Mirada~It's not often La Mirada gets to boast about having the largest anything, except for city councilman's egos, but that's not the case in the world of RC raciing.
The industrial building on the corner of Alondra Boulevard and Canary Avenue in La Mirada apparently houses, at 32,000 square feet, the largest RC (remote control) raceway in the
U.S.
There are two main tracks, off-road and on-road, and the facility offers a selection of parts and accessories that line the long walls when you walk in the door-a selection that is one of the hobby's largest in all of Southern California.
So says Danny Stojakovic, who along with his mother Irenka, own and operate West Coast RC Raceway and Hobby Garage at 15905 Canary in La Mirada.
"Danny has been racing since he was very young. He has wanted to open his own raceway for a long time, so he did. He does it all around here. I am here to make sure everything is nice and clean."
Construction at Intersection to Last Through May
La Mirada~Commuters might be temporarily inconvenienced, but when finished, the intersection of Valley View/Alondra in La Mirada will have some nice improvements.
"The intersection itself, when finished, will be done completely in concrete", said Public Works Project Coordinator, Gary Sanui, "there will be some traffic issues, and some inconvenience, but we will be minimizing the impact as much as possible".
The project is needed in anticipation of increased street-traffic due to the future I-5 Widening Project that will affect La Mirada. That project will widen Interstate 5 from the LA/Orange County line to the 605 freeway.
UPDATED! Matadores Extend String of Appearances
MATADORE PLAYOFF WEEK
Matadore Boys & Girls Draw Tough First Round Opponents; Both Games on the Road
La Mirada~It looked as if the La Mirada Matadores boys basketball team was going to miss the CIF playoffs for the first time since 1992-in fact, we posted as much on our Twitter feed.
But, much to our dismay, and with egg on our face, we digress, and are pleased to report the Matadores (10-19, 5-7), were picked as an at-large bid in Division 3AA by the CIF selection committee and will travel to play North High School of Torrance Wednesday night, beginning at 7pm.
The young Matadores will play a North team that finished its Pioneer League schedule with six straight wins.
La Mirada, despite losing four of its last five, has made vast improvements since the beginning of the campaign. First year head coach Steve Schuster, has had his team playing competitively in the Suburban League, despite having a very young team-if not the youngest.
An on-court incident recently during the game at Mayfair, resulted in the exit of Roger Hamel, and his Dad, Roger Sr. from the team, and has opened up the door for Sharad Patel to take over the three-point shooting duties for the Mats. A pure shooting senior, Patel has excelled since the change.
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