Dash This Saturday; Helping Families Struck by Cancer

Whittier - From Maddi's Closet volunteers are gearing up for the 6^th Annual Mad Dash Community Friend Walk for Children with Cancer, scheduled at La Serna High School in Whittier on November 13, 2010. 

The Mad Dash is a non-competitive walk where kids and adults of all ages have an opportunity to help fight childhood cancer.   The first 100 children to pass the finish line will receive a commemorative medal in honor of their participation in the event.   

The Mad Dash begins at 8:00 a.m. with check-in and same day registration along with a pancake breakfast hosted by La Mirada and Whittier Kiwanis.  There will also be pre-walk opening festivities and games with the 5 year old and under "Fun Relay Race" beginning at 9:00 a.m. 

Participant registration for The Mad Dash is $25 for adults and $15 for children. Participants can walk as an individual or as part of a team of 5 or more.  Each team will receive a participation certificate and team photo.  Advanced Registration includes a t-shirt, pancake breakfast and special raffle ticket.   Registration, including the pancake breakfast and additional raffle tickets for great prizes, can also be purchased at the event.

• Nov 11, 2010

“Soldiers” to Perform at La Mirada Ebell Meeting

La Mirada~"Colette Aubrey and the Shanti Soldiers" will perform 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 10 for La Mirada Ebell members at their monthly meeting.

Aubrey, a songstress from the age of 10, may best be known for co-hosting with husband Jay, the "Yogi World with Coco B and Jay" radio show on KUCI/88.9 FM.

Pop, Jazz and Blues were Aubrey's music choices until 2006, when she discovered the practice of Yoga and learned to play the harmonium, a devotional instrument.

Aubrey teamed up with the "Shanti Soldiers" in July of this year and now, is collaborating with "Soldiers" on its first devotional album.

The group also includes Jayson "Jay" Baron and Jason "Jaja" Carlton

A hard-rock devotee for two decades, Jaja now brings his rock and roll guitar expertise to "Shanti Soldiers" musical performances.

The Ebell program is expected to be a mix of vocal and instrumental sounds, as Aubrey and Jay introduce attendees to the harmonium, digeridoo, dotar and harmonica.

Guests are welcome at all Ebell meetings held the second Wednesday of the month in Room 1 at La Mirada City Hall, 13700 La Mirada Blvd.

• Nov 10, 2010

Council Filing Period Opens; Mowles to Pull Papers

La Mirada~With the mid-term elections behind us, we can now focus on the local elections, which will take place March 8, 2011-about four months from now.

La Mirada resident Larry Mowles, who this past June told the La Mirada Blog his intention to run for La Mirada City Council, will make it official this Monday when he pulls nomination papers at City Hall-on the first day of the filing period. Potential candidates have until December 13th, 2011 to file.

Three council seats need to be filled with the terms of Hal Malkin, Steve Jones, and Pete Dames being exhausted. The three ran a successive "togetherness" campaign four years ago, easily swatting away the competition.

Malkin has made it clear for over this past year, he will not be running for a fifth term as a council member. Steve Jones is expected to file, and Dames is playing his usual close-to-the-vest approach, saying all along, as least publicly, he is undecided.

Resident Steven De Ruse also expressed interest in the race to the Blog this past September.

• by Tony Aiello
• Nov 09, 2010

La Mirada Salutes Veterans

La Mirada~La Mirada’s eighth annual Veteran’s Observance event will be held Monday, November 8, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts. .

This free event is open to all ages and will honor veterans in the community.

The program will honor the heroic men and women in the armed forces who have served the United States of America throughout our nation’s history. A patriotic presentation will pay tribute to the veterans and representatives of the Veterans of Foreign Wars will post our nation’s colors. Veterans will share their stories and display memorabilia with the community.

For more information call (562) 943-7277

• Nov 05, 2010

New Musical at La Mirada Theatre Starts November 5th

La Mirada~Don't miss this brand new musical by Tony and Olivier Award-winner John Caird (Nicholas Nickelby, Les Miserables) and Tony-nominee Paul Gordon (Jane Eyre), "Daddy Long Legs" playing November 5^th-21^st at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts.

Set in turn-of-the-century New England, this is the  story of Jerusha Abbot, a talented orphan sent to a prestigious college by an anonymous benefactor she nicknames Daddy Long Legs.  

Revealed through witty, wistful letters, her journey to self-sufficiency, education, and romance chronicles the emergence of a delightfully independent American woman. 

For tickets call (562) 944-9801 or  (714) 994-6310, or visit lamiradatheatre.com.

• Oct 31, 2010

New Musical at La Mirada Theatre Starts November 5th

La Mirada~

• Oct 31, 2010

Community Member Needs Our Help

Maureen (Casados) Swanson is fighting the battle of her life after recently being diagnosed with Stage 4 Colon Cancer.

Whittier~Recently, the La Mirada Blog was contacted by community member, Monica Casados informing us that on April 28^th of this year, her sister Maureen, 37, was admitted to Whittier Presbyterian Hospital after experiencing stomach pains. Tests later revealed Stage 4 Colon Cancer that has metastasized into her lungs and liver. 

Maureen and her husband Chad have two young daughters, Samantha 9 and Zoe 5.

Maureen is a lifelong resident of Whittier, CA, where she remains extremely close with her tight-knit family and high school friends. Maureen has worked professionally in La Mirada and Whittier her entire life.

Growing up in the unincorporated part of Whittier, Maureen attended La Mirada Schools, Mesa Elementary, Gardenhill Elementary, and then La Mirada High School (there was no middle schools during this period). 

Maureen and her family, still have many friends in La Mirada.
Family and friends of Maureen (Casados) Swanson will be hosting a fundraising event to assist with her medical expenses and would like to invite the public. 

The fundraiser will be on November 12th, 2010-a Poker Tournament/Casino Night/ Bingo at Smart's Banquet Hall in Whittier. 

The family is also requesting in-kind donations for the raffle/silent auction at this event. They are hoping to make these fundraisers a success, but need the help of our community.

They are asking for your help in making these fundraisers a success by donating a gift, sponsoring a table, making a monetary donation or attending the events.

The funds raised will help their family pay for medical expenses while she undergoes treatment.

Although her daily routine is difficult, Maureen is fighting hard to prolong her life and prays for the successful future of her family.

Until recently, she was employed as a Massage Therapist at Healthways Chiropractic in La Mirada and as a Substitute Cafeteria Worker in the East Whittier City School District; and she deeply misses her co-workers, clients and the elementary school children.

If you would like to attend either event or make a donation, please contact Monica Casados at 562-536-9002 or email: SwansonFundraiser@verizon.net. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Monetary donations can also be made to a donation account at Bank of America, Maureen Swanson acct #09625-71774.

• Oct 28, 2010

Reticulate at Gondola’s; And it Doesn’t Hurt

La Mirada~A Networking Lunch will be held Thursday, October 28^th, at Gondola's Pizza in La Mirada, hosted by the La Mirada Chamber of Commerce.

This event is free and runs from Noon-2:00pm. Guests are invited to order their food at the front counter and then come mesh with others.

This is a great opportunity for business owners/representatives to enjoy some great food and build new relationships within the community.

The La Mirada Chamber of Commerce offers many events every month to help your business grow. For more information contact the Chamber at (562) 902-1970 or director@lmchamber.org.

• Oct 28, 2010

Alumni Fest 2010 at La Mirada High School

La Mirada~La Mirada and Neff grads are invited to a pre-game party before the LMHS-Mayfair HS football game, this Friday, October 29, 2010, hosted by the La Mirada Football Boosters. Alumni Fest 2010 is open to any and all LMHS and Neff grads. 

There will be food, friends, a game ticket, and old and new memories, and a gift, all for $30.00. 

An alumni directory is to be given out to the alumni at  the celebration.

If you would like to come and join the fun - please contact Denise Barrett, denisebarrett@yahoo.com, for more information or to request the Alumni Fest 2010 flyer and reservation form.

• Oct 26, 2010

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La Mirada~The La Mirada Kiwanis community service club recently announced its recipients for its teacher-of-the-year program, picking a "winner" at ten different schools in La Mirada

"The service club project looks for ways to give back to the schools in a way that directly impacts students, said Debbie Scheibel, past President of La Mirada Kiwanis and currently Lt. Governor for Kiwanis International-Division 30.

Each recepient, chosen by their peers, received a gift bag containing ream of paper, notebook, and other classroom supplies for immediate use, and a $200 Staples voucher.

At La Mirada High School the recipient was Andrea Wood, "Teachers like Ms. Wood make a difference", said La Mirada Kiwanian Richard Trujillo, who along with former Norwalk-La Mirada Superintendent Ginger Shattuck, now a La Mirada Kiwanian, delivered the package. Trujillo is pictured, right, with La Mirada High Principal Bill Seals and Ms. Wood.

Special thanks go out to Extra Hands Advertising and project Chairpersons Scheibel and Adrienne Medrano, who also put together the gift bags.  

Here is a list of the rest of the recipients:   

• Oct 26, 2010