Community
Los Coyotes Eighth Grader Wins Track Championship
La Mirada~Ryan ‘The Rhino” Vargas took first place in the championship race and won the track championship this past Saturday at the Irwindale Event Center.
Vargas is an eighth-grader at Los Coyotes Middle School in La Mirada and began racing cars three years ago.
He races in the U.S. Legend Cars INEX Division and drives a Bandolero, a turnkey, spec-series 750 race car which can reach top speeds of approximately 90 mph. He holds track records at Kern County Raceway Park, The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Orange Show Speedway.
He is a straight-A honor student and very involved in his school. Mom Dawn says he must maintain straight A’s in order to race.
He has been first in California the past three years in his division; last year he was sixth in the nation.
This year, he set a goal of becoming one of the top five racers in the nation. He not only met his goal but also far surpassed it. He has a chance to be number one in the country.
He also captured two track championships this year, one at Orange Show Speedway in San Bernardino and the other at Irwindale Event Center in Irwindale.
Follow his racing page “Rhino Motorsports” on Facebook here.
Dames Says Collaboration Can Bring Bigger and Better Service
La Mirada~Pete Dames conducted his first meeting as President of the La Mirada Kiwanis Club for the 2014-1015 year on October 1st at the Holiday Inn Select in La Mirada. His major focus this coming year will be on collaboration with the City of La Mirada and with other service organizations in the area.
Dames retired from City Council in 2011 after over 17 years of service.
Regarding the La Mirada Kiwanis Club, Dames stated, “There is a wealth of talent and energy within the numerous organizations in our community including: our service
clubs and faith, education and business communities. Collaboration with each other and the City of La Mirada can bring bigger and better service to the ‘needs’ of our community in ways that make a real impact in the lives of others, particularly children.”
The Kiwanis Club consists of a weekly morning breakfast meeting on each Wednesday of the month at 7:15 a.m. at the La Mirada Holiday Inn Select at 14299 Firestone Blvd.
In addition, an evening group meets on the first Thursday of the month at 7:00 p.m. at the Volunteer Center at 11900 La Mirada Blvd. Both sessions collaborate on all projects and provide opportunities for adults of all ages to be a part of the Kiwanis mission in the community.
La Mirada Library Getting First-Time Major Renovation
La Mirada~The public library in town will be renovated for the first time in its 45-year history with construction expected to begin next year.
The 15,704 square foot branch is part of the County of Los Angeles Public Library System and was constructed in 1969 around the same time as today’s city hall and has relatively remained unchanged since then with the exception of some minor interior improvements over the years.
As part of Supervisor Don Knabe’s “Operation Libraries” project, the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors recently approved $45 million into the restoration of County libraries in the fourth district-with $4 million being allocated to La Mirada.
The County of Los Angeles Public Library is the 6th largest public library system in the United States with 85 branches.
A lease agreement is being finalized between the City and the County. Although the facility is owned and operated by the County; the City would manage the design and development of the project.
The renovated library is expected to include: adult, teen and children’s reading areas, a family early childhood area, self-check-out machines, staff work area offices, group study rooms, Wi-Fi, public access computers, library collection, displays, and a community meeting room with an enhanced audio-visual system.
Under the plan, interior renovation considerations would include modifications to the lighting, ceiling, and heating; improvements to electrical, mechanical and telecommunications infrastructure; installation of new furniture, fixtures, equipment, and signage; and ADA upgrades.
Exterior improvements would include modifications to the building entry and a civic art component.
A temporary library would be set up at a still undetermined location while the renovation is taking place.
The project is expected to commence in mid-2015 and be completed in 2016.
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
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.
La Mirada Rotary Plans Active Year in the Community
La Mirada~A busy slate of activities for the coming year is being planned by the Rotary Club of La Mirada, according to President Sean Bracey.
The projects and activities are contained in budget plans approved recently by club members.
“Rotary intends to be very active in La Mirada,” says Bracey. “Rotary has gained momentum locally in recent years, and we plan to increase our level of activity as we go forward.”
Rotarians recently volunteered at the fifth annual La Mirada Olive Fest held last month at Regional Park. Members assisted festival organizers in the setting up of the festival and the tear-down.
The Rotary Club is partnering with the Walmart Neighborhood Market to provide funding to support the Good Sam Pantry food distribution program at Beatitudes of Our Lord church. Rotary provided complete Thanksgiving meals through the pantry last year, and worked with Walmart’s Community Grants programs to expand support of the pantry during the holiday season. Rotary will also join with other service organizations, area businesses and local churches to support the annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner at Foster Road Elementary School.
La Mirada NJB Registration Now Open
La Mirada~ Registration is now open for winter league play for the La Mirada chapter of National Junior Basketball is a non-profit youth sports organization for boys and girls.
The program offers league play for grades 3-8. Teams will be formed and practices begin by late October and games are played starting in mid-November through February.
The program offers the opportunity for kids of all skill levels to play and enjoy the game of basketball.
Teams usually hold two to three practices per week during November, and no more than two practices per week beginning in December through the end of the season.
Practices are typically held at La Mirada High School, La Mirada Community Gym, or Los Coyotes Middle School. Most games are played at either La Mirada High School or the La Mirada Community Gym on Sundays.
Priority will be given to La Mirada residents registering with their La Mirada Address. La Mirada NJB must be made up of 75% La Mirada residents and 25% non-residents. This is done on a first-come first-serve basis. Players registering first will be guaranteed placement on a team. Once the league fills up all others will be placed on a waiting list.
For more information and registration, please visit the La Mirada NJB website at http://www.lamiradanjb.com or email us at lamiradanjb@hotmail.com.
Splash! La Mirada Buccaneer Bay Water Park Open Every Saturday in October
La Mirada~With temperatures unseasonably warm this month, Splash! La Mirada Buccaneer Bay Water park officials have announced they will be open every Saturday in October from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
The pirate themed family-friendly water park offers fun for all ages, from soaring two story water slides for the adventurous type to a relaxing flowing lazy river and an abundance of shady lounge areas for others. Smaller pirate slides and interactive water features offer just the right amount of aquatic fun for pint sized pirates.
Splash! offers free parking, use of life jackets and tubes. Special offers for admission and birthday parties can be found on their Facebook page.
Splash! also offers year-round recreational swimming in the heated 25-yard pool on weekends from noon to 5 p.m. Swim lessons; drop in water exercise classes, swim teams, aqua Zumba, synchronized swimming and more aquatic activities are also offered year-round.
Splash! is located at 13806 La Mirada Boulevard, La Mirada California 90638. For more information visit www.splashlamirada.com or call (562) 902-3191.
Friends of the La Mirada Library Semi-Annual Book Sale Saturday October 11th
The Friends of the La Mirada Library will have their Fall Book Sale on Saturday, October 11 from 9:00 AM to 2:30 PM at the La Mirada Activity Center behind the fire station.
There will be a pre-sale for members only on Friday, October 10 from 3:30 PM to 5:30 PM. and the $10 annual membership can be paid at that time.
Come and join the Friends to purchase your supply of books at astoundingly low prices. All types of books are available with subjects from Children to History.
For more information contact the FOL at www.lamiradafol@hotmail.com or look on Facebook for Friends of the La Mirada Library.
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