News
La Mirada Man Pleads to 2011 Hit and Run Death
Norwalk~A La Mirada man pleaded no contest today to vehicular manslaughter in a fatal hit-and-run last September that killed a 72-year-old man, the District Attorney’s Office announced.
Geoffrey Matthew Rocha, 27, also admitted an allegation that he fled the scene of the Sept. 20, 2011 accident that killed Raul Quintanilla, said Deputy District Attorney Marlon Powers.
Rocha is facing seven years in state prison when he returns Aug. 22 for sentencing before Commissioner Michael Schuur in Norwalk Superior Court.
Rocha pleaded no contest to striking Quintanilla, who was out for his daily walk, at the intersection of Santa Gertrudes Avenue and Lawnhill Drive in La Mirada.
Authorities said the victim’s arm was severed at the shoulder with the force of the impact and carried away by the fleeing car. The limb was discovered about a mile from where the victim was struck.
The defendant, who fled the scene of the 4:30 a.m. accident, later surrendered to Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department authorities in Norwalk.
In exchange for his plea, prosecutors will ask that the remaining two counts-leaving the scene of an accident and driving when privilege suspended-be dismissed at sentencing.
La Mirada City Council Votes to Put Tax Measure on November Ballot
La Mirada~On Tuesday night, the La Mirada City Council voted 5-0 to adopt an ordinance to place a 1 percent tax revenue measure on the November 6th ballot.
La Mirada voters will decide if the sales tax in the city will be raised from 8.75 percent to 9.75 percent.
If approved, the increase would go into effect April 3, 2013 and would last five years.
According to a city report, the city is claiming it needs the tax to pay for immediate infrastructure needs.
Recently, a study identified $67 million worth of work that needs to be done to repair city streets, curbs, gutters, storm drains, and traffic signals.
The report also stated that an additional $126,932,000 has also been identified as being required to fund other community wants, such as privately owned deteriorated block walls.
The city declared a fiscal emergency this past February 14th.
Crime Report July 2-8, 2012
CRIME REPORT
Aggravated Assault An assault was reported on the 15600 block of Surrey Ln. A suspect was arrested by responding deputies.
Other Structure Burglary An incident was reported on the 14000 block of Estero Rd. A tool box was stolen after the latch was pried off from a carport storage locker at the location.
Vehicle Burglary Six vehicle burglaries were reported last week. A vehicle's door lock was punched in on the 16700 block of Trojan Way. Speaker boxes and an MP3 player were stolen. A window smash burglary was reported on the 12000 block of Santa Gertrudes Ave. A purse was stolen from the vehicle. A burglary occurred on the 14600 block of Mercado Ave. A car stereo, third row seat, and other items were taken. A window smash burglary was reported on the 13500 block of Dalmatian Ave. A laptop computer was stolen. Two separate incidents occurred on the 14200 block of Firestone Blvd. and the 14500 block of Artesia Blvd. Car stereos were stolen from both vehicles.
Friends of LM Library Elect New Officers
La Mirada~The Friends of the La Mirada Library held their annual election with the following officers elected to serve from July 1, 2012 until June 30, 2013: President-Malena Hough, First Vice President (Membership)-Irene Bridich, Second Vice President (Ways and Means)-Hal Malkin, Secretary-Cathy Ferrin, Treasurer-Mark Yoshida, Assistant Treasurer-Katie
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From left to right-Katie Nordbak, Malena Hough, Irene Bridich, Hal Malkin, Cathy Ferrin, Mark Yoshida |
Nordbak.
The public is welcome to attend the monthly meetings on the fourth Thursday of every month, except July and December.
There are summer reading programs available for all ages at the La Mirada Library. Details can be obtained on-line at www.colapublib.org.
Upcoming events include a Book sale on October 6, 2012.
La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts Shatters Sales Record
Peter Pan and Miss Saigon lead the way in setting box office mark; 2012-13 also on record setting pace
La Mirada~The La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts has set box office records in overall and individual categories this past season the city announced recently.
“It was an exciting year for us, this is not just your grandmother’s La Mirada Theatre,” said Producing Artistic Director Brian Kite.
Record total sales of $2,392,357 were set by McCoy Rigby Entertainment’s (MRE) Broadway Series in its 2011-12 season at the theatre.
Peter Pan, starring famed actress and Olympic gymnast Cathy Rigby, closed the season out last month.
Single ticket sales, those sold essentially to non-subscribers, came in at $1,371,444 during the year, almost tripling the $531,741 in the prior year. In addition, $25,515 in donations was received through the MRE series.
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| The La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, seen here on Sunday, was transformed from a neighborhood movie house to a performing arts center in 1977. photo Tony Aiello |
Pan became the highest selling show in the 35-year history of the theatre and Miss Saigon, from this past April, took second place on La Mirada’s all-time list of best selling productions. Both shows were attended by more than 22,500 patrons during their 21 performances.
This was Rigby’s fourth stint as Peter after temporarily retiring from the role in 2006.
The MRE Broadway Series also included performances of Noises Off, Life Could Be A Dream, The 39 Steps, and a special appearance by Debby Boone.
We asked Kite what can be attributed to the success at the box office, “McCoy-Rigby continues to provide quality productions along with support from the city. We also have a great staff here and they are very excited. We are getting new people from La Mirada and new people from all over the area coming to the theatre,” he said.
Kite also indicated the theatre has attracted and captured a new audience, “We have been very successful with our social media campaign, it seems to have brought in a younger crowd to add to our other age groups, and our season-ticket holders.”
“We are still a great deal, a better deal than any of the L.A. Theatres. It’s been a tough few years (economically) for a lot of people, and we provide quality entertainment. People want to get out. They want to have a good time, and they want to bring their families. We provide that here in La Mirada.”
Modern Day Monolith Now on Display
Super stone traveled through La Mirada to its new home
Los Angeles~After over 40 years, Michael Heizer’s conception has become a reality.
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| Terry Semel (co-chair LACMA board), LA County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, Gabrielle Govan, Mary Heizer (artist's wife), Micahel Govan (museum director), and LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa lead the way to the new exhibit. photo Tony Aiello |
After a similar failed attempt in 1969, his Levitated Mass officially opened this past Sunday morning at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
Under clear blue skies with warm temperatures, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, and a throng of reporters and admirers, helped welcome the newest monumental outdoor artwork installed at the museum.
The ceremony was open free to the public.
The art exhibit is a 456-long concrete slot, over which sits the 340-ton granite boulder brought to the museum in a well publicized event this past March. As visitors walk through the slot, the pathway descends to fifteen feet in depth, running underneath the giant stone before ascending back up.
This past March, the megalith was transported 108 miles to its new home after being discovered by Heizer at a Jurupa Mountains quarry in Riverside County.
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| Visitors are dwarfed by Giant Rock. photo Tony Aiello |
The giant granite traveled on a specially designed route covering four counties and 22 cities-with La Mirada being one of them.
Director of Development for the museum, Melissa Bomes was very excited to finally see the rock here, “My stomach is fluttering like a butterfly right now,” she said, “We are so excited to have this here, and we really look forward to the metropolitan area coming to visit us for years to come.”
“We hope residents of the cities that participated will take advantage of our special offer.”
As a thank you gesture, the museum is offering free admission through July 1st to residents in communities through which the boulder passed, including La Mirada. Residents must show proof of living in a zip code along the route.
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| The Rock in La Mirada this past March 5th. photo @hking |
Two Men Who Shot at Pedestrians in Unincorporated Whittier Arrested by Norwalk Deputies
Whittier~Two young adults have been arrested by Norwalk Sheriff’s after they eluded them in an incident early Sunday morning.
At 12:50 a.m., Norwalk Station Patrol Deputies arrested Carlos Hernandez, 18 of Whittier and Roman Rosales 19 of Long Beach for assault with a firearm, discharging a firearm from a motor vehicle at a person and evading a peace officer.
The deputies were on patrol in the area of Carmenita Road and Trumball Street, when they saw a car occupied by two men, fire at a group of three people standing at the bus stop on Carmenita Road, south of Trumball Street. The suspects fled in their vehicle and were arrested after a short vehicle pursuit.
A loaded pistol was recovered by the deputies after the arrest.Anyone who may have been a victim or witnessed this crime are asked to contact Operations Safe Streets Detective Farias at Norwalk Station (562) 863-8711.
Historical Day in La Mirada as Valley View Separation Project Commences
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| La Mirada City Manager Tom Robinson, Councilman Steve Jones, Mayor Gabe Garcia, Councilman Larry Mowles and Assistant to the City Manager, Jeff Boynton were some of the participants in the groundbreaking ceremony. |
Santa Fe Springs~An idea, a vision, and a conversation, ongoing since the late 1990's, has finally come to fruition as the ground breaking ceremony for the Valley View Grade Separation Project took place today at the intersection of Valley View Avenue and Stage Road on the La Mirada/Santa Fe Springs border.
The $65 million project-the largest transportation improvement project ever undertaken by either of the two cities-will construct and create a grade separation at the Valley View Avenue and the BNSF Railway/Stage Road intersection.
BNSF, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), and LA Metro are the other project partners.
It is funded by state and federal resources and BNSF Railway.
"We are very fortunate to be able to move forward with the Valley View Avenue grade separation project. This important project will not only facilitate better and safer traffic circulation, but will also help revitalize the local economy, said City of Santa Fe Springs Mayor William K. Rounds."
The project is also a component of the $163 million Triple Track Project, which is a collaboration of Caltrans and BNSF Railway to improve the flow of international trade and passenger and commuter rail.
The Triple Track Project will be completed within a 15-mile segment of the railway between the cities of Commerce and Fullerton, and will result in the laying of a third track next to the existing two.
When the grade separation project is completed, traffic on Valley View-estimated to be 40,000 vehicles daily- will flow under the rail tracks resulting in improved safety for motorists, an enhanced traffic flow, and reduced air pollution associated with idling vehicles.
Apparent kidnapping in La Mirada results in one arrest by Norwalk Sheriffâs
An apparent kidnapping involving a La Mirada resident on Thursday, has resulted in the arrest of one suspect by members of the Norwalk Sheriff's Department.
Norwalk Sheriff's Station deputies responded to a "person with a gun" call at 3:49 P.M. on the 14000 block of East Plantana Drive, La Mirada.
When they arrived, deputies were told that that 27-year old Suspect Derek Martin of Brea came to a residence in La Mirada looking for his 18-year girlfriend, who is also a resident of Brea.
Instead he found a 22-year old man from Corona and pointed a handgun at him, demanding he tell the whereabouts of the 18-year old woman.
The 18-year old woman heard the commotion and stepped out of the residence. Suspect Martin demanded that she get into his car. Out of fear, the victim complied. Sheriff's deputies began a search and contacted neighboring police agencies.
Later, Brea Police Department officers located the vehicle on the 200 block of Ash Avenue in Brea.
Norwalk Sheriff's deputies responded to the scene and were able to locate Suspect Martin and the 18-year old victim, who was unharmed.
Suspect Martin was arrested at approximately 6:20 P.M. for assault with a deadly weapon and kidnapping and is being held in lieu of $100,000.00 bail.
If you have further information, contact LASD Norwalk Sheriff's Station detectives (562) 863-8711. Or if you wish to remain Anonymous, call "LA Crime Stoppers" by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477), texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org.
La Mirada Millitary Banner Program Recognizes Troops
La Mirada~Banners featuring the names of those serving in the United States Armed Forces are now on display from utility light poles on Rosecrans Avenue."La Mirada is home to many brave men and women in serving our country," said Mayor Gabe Garcia. "These banners are a reminder of their efforts to protect our great nation."
La Mirada's Military Banner program recognizes La Mirada residents who are currently serving in the United States Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines, Navy, or National Guard.
To be eligible for the program, the serviceperson being recognized must be serving on active duty and be a current La Mirada resident. An immediate family member may also submit an application for the program on their behalf.
Participants need to complete an application and include a copy of the driver's license or a current utility bill showing proof of residency of the military serviceperson or his/her immediate family.
For more information, call (562) 943-7277.
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