News
La Mirada Crime Report 7/30/12-8/5/12
The following is the crime report for La Mirada July 30-August 5th, 2012:
Residential Burglary A residential burglary was reported on the 14700 block of Jalisco Rd. Computers and currency were stolen from the home.
Other Structure Burglary A commercial burglary occurred on the 13900 block of Imperial Hwy. A television was stolen from the business.
Vehicle Burglary Two vehicle burglaries were reported last week. A burglary was reported on the 14200 block of Firestone Blvd. Various clothing and other items were taken from the vehicle. A burglary occurred on the 14300 block of Firestone Blvd. A briefcase, laptop, and boots were stolen from the vehicle.
Grand Theft Four grand thefts were reported last week. An incident was reported on the 14900 block of Tacuba Dr. The incident is currently under investigation. A theft was reported on the 11800 block of Goldendale Dr. A decorative display item was stolen from the residence. An incident was reported on the 14400 block of Firestone Blvd. A theft reported on the 14800 block of Beach Blvd. is currently under investigation.
Grand Theft Vehicle A vehicle was reported stolen from the 14400 block of Industry Cir.
La Mirada to Eliminate Assistant City Manager Position
La Mirada~To cut costs, the City of La Mirada recently announced it will not fill the Assistant City Manager position left vacant by Kevin Prelgovisk’s retirement last month.
Prelogovisk previously served as the City’s Administrative Services director, overseeing the City’s annual budget. That position will remain eliminated as well.
City Manager Tom Robinson told us that he does not anticipate the Assistant City Manager will be occupied in the future.
The elimination of the position will save the city $136,000 a year; however other city staff members will have to take on a larger workload and additional responsibilities, according to a city statement.
Our dig into public records show in 2011-12, Prelogovisk earned $6,280.66 on a biweekly basis-roughly $150,000 a year. He also received a $275 monthly car allowance.
Former assistants to the city manager, Jeff Boynton and Anne Haraksin will be upgraded to Deputy City Managers, and Personnel Manager Cristina Cota will assume resp
onsibility for overseeing risk management duties, according to the statement.
Two members of the City’s finance staff, Judy Quiñonez and Melissa Pascual, have been upgraded to senior accountants, and given additional responsibilities in the supervising of the City’s finances, in Prelgovisk’s absence.
“La Mirada lost an excellent assistant city manager due to Kevin Prelgovisk’s retirement, but during these difficult economic times we must seize opportunities to reduce the size of local government,” said City Manager Tom Robinson. “I am confident that the employees involved in these adjustments to La Mirada’s ongoing downsizing of staff will perform their new duties very well.”
La Mirada Crime Report July 23-29, 2012
The following is the crime report for La Mirada July 23-29, 2012
Residential Burglary-Two residential burglaries were reported last week. A burglary was reported on the 12600 block of Biola Ave. It's unknown if any items were stolen from the home. A burglary occured on the 14900 block of Tacuba Dr. Various electronics, laptops, and jewelry were taken.
Grand Theft-A grand theft was reported from the 14200 block of Artesia Blvd. The incident is under investigation.
Grand Theft Vehicle-Four vehicle thefts were reported last week. A vehicle was stolen from the 16100 block of Rosecrans Ave. The vehicle was recovered two days later by the La Habra Police. A van was reported stolen from the 14000 block of Foster Rd. The van was recovered by Century Sheriff's Station the same day. A vehicle was reported stolen from the 13900 block of El Moro Dr. The vehicle was recovered the same day. A vehicle was taken from the 15500 block of Talbot Dr. The vehicle has not been recovered.
3rd Annual La Mirada Blog Fest Brings the Community Together
La Mirada~The 3rd Annual La Mirada Blog Fest will take place Saturday, August 18th at La Mirada Regional Park in La Mirada
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 |
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