Community
Olive Lawn and La Mirada VFW to Host Annual Memorial Day Service
La Mirada~A Memorial Day Program will be conducted Monday, May 28th at Olive Lawn Memorial Park, 13929 La Mirada Blvd.
Proudly supported by the City of La Mirada, the event is hosted by the Veterans of Foreign Wars La Mirada Post 9148 and its ladies auxiliary, and Olive Lawn.
Community service organizations including the boy scouts and cub scouts will participate with floral presentations.
This year's Memorial address will be given by Captain Roy Twaddell, Chaplain, from the California State Military Reserves.
The ceremony begins at 11 a.m. sharp, and is scheduled for one hour.
Seating is limited, so lawn chairs are not only allowed, but recommended.
For more information, call the VFW Post at 562-941-4097.
Community Foundation, City Council Honors Haugh, Jenkins Scholarship Winners
La Mirada~The La Mirada Community Foundation has awarded new scholarships to local high school students in a special ceremony at the La Mirada City Council meeting this week that honors community pioneers Bob Jenkins and Ray Haugh.
This year, 19 applications were received for the Bob Jenkins Scholarship and nine hopefuls were submitted for the Ray Haugh Vocational Scholarship.
The Foundation's subcommittee selected four recipients for the Bob Jenkins Scholarship and one for the Ray Haugh Vocational Scholarship.
Bob Jenkins Community Service Scholarships were earned by Krystal Tapper, Jonathan Reveles, Ramon Gerardo Visaiz, and Garrett Yniguez. The Ray Haugh Vocational Scholarship was captured by Courtney Morrison. All of the recipients live in La Mirada.
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Krystal Tapper displays her $1,000 scholarship presented by Mayor Gabe Garcia and the La Mirada City Council this week. Tapper is also joined by members of her very proud family. Tapper has been volunteering for several years with Brothers of Charity. She also spends countless hours preparing hundreds of sandwiches to distribute throughout the Los Angeles area to feed the homeless. |
Here is more about this year's honorees: Krystal Tapper displays a high level of volunteerism in the community. Miss Tapper has been volunteering for several years with Brothers of Charity. She spends countless hours preparing hundreds of sandwiches to distribute throughout the Los Angeles area to feed the homeless. She also volunteers at special events and activities for the school and community. Miss Tapper is the Finance Director for the La Mirada High School Rotary Interact Club where she is actively involved in participating with fundraising activities.
Jonathan Reveles is extremely motivated to help where he is needed. As a youth leader, he has volunteered for a number of years at Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital. He devoted over 240 hours to the hospital as an ambassador where he assisted with discharging patients, taking them flowers, and providing emotional support. Reveles also received the Los Angeles County's Junior Volunteer of the Year award for his volunteer efforts at the hospital. In addition, Mr. Reveles is an active member of Key Club and is currently serving as President. He has been instrumental in organizing events such as beach clean-up days, Toys for Tots fundraiser, and volunteering at City wide events.
Mayor, City Council Celebrate Mary Pearson’s 90th Birthday With Her
La Mirada~The La Mirada City Council honored longtime resident Mary Pearson for celebrating her 90th birthday with a special recognition at this week's meeting.
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| Mayor Gabe Garcia highlighted many of Pearson's accomplishments and pointed out that she was born in Billings, Montana on May 15, 1922 |
Pearson was thrilled with the honor and thanked the city for "a lifetime of memories."
Mayor Gabe Garcia highlighted many of Pearson's accomplishments and pointed out that she was born in Billings, Montana on May 15, 1922.
While in high school, she met her future husband Nilis Pearson.
Nilis was enlisted in the U.S. Navy, and was schedule to be deployed on a mission in January of 1941, and the couple was married on January 1, 1941. Mary worked at a coat factory in the Bronx until Nilis was honorably discharged from the U.S. Navy in 1943. In 1943, their first child, Karen, was born.
In 1944, the Pearson family moved to Hawthorne, California. After several years in Hawthorne, they moved to Big Bear, where they lived for 22 years and established and pioneered a Chinchilla Farm. While establishing the Chinchilla Farm, the Pearson family founded Chinchilla Standard Select, which became internationally known as the leading standard in American Chinchilla Pelt Production. Mary was the office manager of the business for many years before retiring and moving with Nilis to Canoga Park in 1976 to be closer to the family.
La Mirada Resident Has Helped La Mirada Community Garden Grow
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| Bob Berklite and Jeanne Jenkins stand in front of entrance to La Mirada Garden |
See the Print Version in This Weeks Edition of the La Mirada Lamplighter!
La Mirada~ For more than 20 years, every morning, one can find longtime La Mirada resident Bob Berklite at the La Mirada Community Gardens tending to his garden, and talking soil with his friends.
Recently, Berklite and the others on the five-member advocate committee decided to hand over the day-to-day business of the garden to a new generation.
Now, Jeanne Jenkins, Chris Stevens, and other La Mirada baby boomers are geared up to lead the new garden committee.
Jenkins, who's in charge of membership, told us, "There are a lot of diverse people, I enjoy being here and I love talking with everyone, I learn a lot from them."
The garden, one of over 80 in Los Angeles County, is located at the Fountain of Light church (formerly Mt. Olive Lutheran) at 13518 Biola Avenue.
With yellow foxgloves around us and birds singing in the background, I sat down at the garden for a few minutes recently with the 87-year old who says he will still maintain his own personal garden space, but it's time for a new group of people to head up the committee, which oversees operations.
"We had a member die recently, that happens a lot around here," he said jokingly referring to the older age of a lot of the gardeners.
At 43,000 square feet, and occupying approximately one acre of land, the sanctuary is divided into 43 plots, each assigned to one gardener. Most of the garden spots are approximately 20' x 30' in size, and currently the garden has two plots available.
Some grow to save money on their produce bills, and some grow for the love of it, but most people are a combination of the two. The gardeners often share their bounty and it really makes for a nice social setting.
"We just had a sign put up; the community doesn't even know we have a garden here," said Berklite.
The garden also recently added a community blog on the Internet.
Plots cost $120 annually, but you can share a spot with someone to cut the price in half. Also, the large area is just too much for some, so dividing it makes sense, to maintain productivity.
Each plot is equipped with its own water supply valve.
The garden is open basically from sunup to sundown, and each gardener receives their own access key, since the garden is enclosed and secure.
The City of La Mirada handles all the costs associated with the garden including, administrative duties, the water bill, and other utilities and costs.
Not only is the garden one of the best kept secrets in La Mirada, it has been around for quite some time, and is now fueling a new generation of cultivators.
Citizen Task Force Reviews City Infrastructure Needs
La Mirada~Addressing La Mirada's aging infrastructure and the nearly $200-million needed to complete the improvements was discussed by the Citizen Task Force on City Finances and Operations at its third meeting on April 30.
The City is currently facing the challenge of replacing many infrastructure items that have been in place for over 50 years. At the same time, there is no available funding to complete the improvements. Funding has diminished in recent years as state and federal governments have reduced their support of local government. The State's grab of more than $50 million in Redevelopment Agency funds has compounded the issue.
"La Mirada faces the challenge of funding nearly $200-million of infrastructure improvements in future years," says City Manager Tom Robinson. "La Mirada needs locally-controlled funds that are protected from State takes to fix streets, roads, storm drains, and sewers before they deteriorate further and become even more expensive to repair."
La Mirada Relay for Life Raises Over $83,000
"One Day, One Night, One Community, One Fight."
La Mirada~The annual La Mirada Relay for Life was a huge success with more than 900 participants raising over $83,000 to fight cancer and contribute money to research.
Original goals set by event leaders was 400 participants and $60,000, "We exceeded our most wildest estimates", said Randy Hebron, who was also the top fundraiser earning over $2,300.
More than 1,500 additional people showed up for the event, clogging lines around the twelve food trucks that showed up to help feed the participants.
The staff at Home Depot constructed and donated a sign that was on the hill overlooking the Relay. It was four 4′x8′ light boxes with opaque cups spelling the word HOPE that was lit up during the tear-filled luminaria ceremony.
In Memory of the Bob's raised over $11,000 top fundraisers were Nancy Whitney $703.75 , Jeanette Jenkins $930.00 , Kate Abad $280.00, Megan Abad $169.00, Vicki Brogan $275.00, Ronny Dawson $110.00, and Larry Dietz $100.00.
F.R.I.E.N.D.S. for Life's raised over $10,500, at time of publications individual fundraising totals were not available.
Team Big O was third raising over $7,000. Top earners were Joseph Manai $200.00 Norma Arvayo $25.00 Rosario Bernal $925.00 Anabel Cabrera $240.00, Judith Cabrera $285.00, and Oscar Cabrera $700.00.
Photo: Members of the La Mirada High School Key Club take time out from their duties at the La Mirada Relay For Life event held this past Saturday at Splash! Aquatic Center.
New Housing Project Coming to La Mirada
Look for expanded version of this story in this weekend's La Mirada Lamplighter
La Mirada~After sitting vacant for more than eight years, the La Mirada City Council is expected to approve this month, a 41-unit new housing project for the former Alondra Center, after the project was recently approved by the city's Planning Commission.
"We're excited and ready to start swinging some hammers and moving some dirt," said Brett Whitehead, president of Brandywine Homes who is purchasing and developing the property, "we hope to begin grading by July, and have model homes open for viewing by January of next year."
Bounded by Alondra Boulevard on the south, Escalona Road on the west, Dalmatian Avenue on the east, and homes on the north, the new neighborhood is proposed to be a closed-gate community, with a private vehicular entrance and three controlled pedestrian access gates.
The City of La Mirada Redevelopment Agency (RDA) has acquired 10 of 11 parcels on the property. The execution of a purchase agreement for the remaining parcel (previous Arco gas station), is still under negotiation.
The Whittier Daily News is reporting the city stands to lose at least $7 million on the deal-paying $12.5 million to purchase the property and receiving only about $5.7 million from Brandywine.
Although other shopping centers in the city seem to fall into a similar category, in March 2004, then city manager Andrea Travis defined the center as "blighted", and the city began the process of demolishing the site, with the intent to ultimately purchase it and develop single family homes.
According to the recent report from the city's Community Development Department, the change was necessitated by the condition of the center, along with "poor tenant retention and an increase in vacancies leading to loitering, vandalism and public safety concerns. The overall condition of the center negatively impacted the aesthetics of the City"
In 2005, the decline of the housing market led to a failed attempt to develop the property.
The two-story homes of the Orchards housing project will vary from 1,995 sq. ft. to 2,720 sq. ft. and will range from $400,000 to $500,000.
VIDEO: See Brandywine Homes president Brett Whitehead briefly describe housing project to the planning commission here.
Photos: Artists rendering of proposed development; a view of the vacant lot
Fundraiser To Assist Families Experiencing Childhood Cancer
Whittier~Have your dinner at the From Maddi's Closet-KFC Fundraiser, which will be held Tuesday, April 24th between 4 and 9 p.m. at KFC, 16161 Leffingwell Road in Whittier (Leffingwell & First Ave).
From Maddi's Closet will receive 20% of all Pre-Tax Sales when presented with a flyer to a store salesperson. Please come and help From Maddi's Closet raise money to spread love, hope and joy to families fighting childhood cancer.
The flyer can be downloaded online at www.frommaddiscloset.org or at ww.facebook.com/kfcwhittier. For additional information contact Lori Bliss at nicsroom@verizon.net or Richard Hopkins KFC Whittier at (562) 943-1818 or rhopkins03@verizon.net.
From Maddi's Closet is a 501 (c)(3) Nonprofit Public Charity for the benefit of children with cancer at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles and beyond; bringing love, hope, and joy into their lives and their families through special projects, providing funds for hospital staff for children with special needs not being met by other assistance programs, raising public awareness, and supporting pediatric cancer research.
Easter Events This Saturday in La Mirada
La Mirada~The Easter Event will be held Saturday, April 7 from 9 to 11 a.m. at La Mirada Regional Park.
Bring your family and enjoy games, crafts, music, balloon artists, bounce houses, a petting zoo, and an Easter egg hunt. Special photos with the Easter Bunny will be available for a nominal fee.
The Easter Egg Hunt for children ages 10 and under will begin promptly at 10:15 a.m. Participants should arrive at their designated sections 15 minutes prior to the event.
Children and parents can enjoy a pancake breakfast provide by the Kiwanis Club of La Mirada for a nominal fee.beginning at 9 a.m.
Then, at 11 a.m., The Kiwanis Club of La Mirada will be the host for the 5th annual "Going Quackers For Kids" rubber duck race at Splash! La Mirada Regional Aquatics Center.
Anyone can adopt a duck for $5 and win up to $2500-and a variety of other cash prizes and merchandise. This fun-filled family event serves as a fundraiser for La Mirada Kiwanis and other non-profit organizations in the La Mirada area who participate as selling groups.
Come out and see your friends and neighbors at Splash!
For more information, call the Community Services at (562) 943-7277
Another “Original” Resident Bolts La Mirada for Wisconsin
La Mir
ada~Neighbors and family gathered this past Sunday to say goodbye to long-time La Mirada resident Audrey Floud, 91, who is moving away after living in her La Mirada home for over 55 years.
She and her husband Bill, who died in 1997, are the original owners of her home on Los Fuentes Road.
Dozens of friends stopped by the home of Jack and Nancy Jenkins, their next door neighbors, who hosted the gathering. They have lived next door since 1956-moving in shortly after the Floud's. Many years ago, they had a gate constructed that connects their adjacent homes through the back yard wall, which they still utilize today.
In 1953, Andrew McNally's famous olive-producing La Mirada land was sold to subdivision developers for 5.2 million dollars, one of the largest real estate transactions in California at the time. From 1953-1960 La Mirada had grown from a mere 100 homes to over 8,000. By 1960, the city was incorporated.
Today, there are still nearly a dozen original owners or "settlers" on Los Fuentes, many who stopped by for the party. Many of them have been the only occupants in their La Mirada homes since they were built in 1955-and most are still here.
Now, there is one less.
The Floud home will go up for sale, as Audrey is moving to Wisconsin to live with her daughter and son-in-law, Michele and Mark Johnson, and their family, where they run a RV Campground Resort.
We asked the high-spirited 91-year old how she and her husband ended up in La Mirada.
"Back then, my husband and I both worked at the LA County Hospital on State Street in Los Angeles."
She was a nurse and he was an ambulance driver.
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