Brooks Returns to Classroom; No Word Yet If He Will Return as Coach
La Mirada~Long time baseball coach Kim Brooks returned to his La Mirada High classroom today pending a further internal investigation into an incident involving him recently, Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District Assistant Superintendent Wayne Shannon told the La Mirada Blog.
Brooks was placed on administrative leave by the district over two weeks ago when a recording of a profanity-laced tirade directed at his players surfaced.
Shannon told the La Mirada Blog the district "anticipates completing its investigation by the end of next week."
Shannon said, “They have received preliminary findings that indicate it is appropriate to return Mr. Brooks to the classroom at this time. As such, Mr. Brooks has been taken off paid leave and returned to his teaching assignment.”
Shannon said because the investigation is ongoing, the district cannot comment further at this time.
La Mirada Blog fan Angela Umeres (@angieumerus), one of his students tweeted, "Class felt so great with him back."
At this time, it is still pending if Brooks will be reinstated as head baseball coach or as the Athletic Director for the school.
La Mirada lost 8-0 to Aliso Niguel in the CIF-SS Division 2 Semifinal this past Tuesday with Jim Zurn coaching the team.
copyright La Mirada Blog 2014 | This story first appeared on our Tumblr feed earlier this morning here.
EXCLUSIVE: Brooks Returns to La Mirada High
La Mirada~Baseball coach Kim Brooks has returned to the La Mirada High School campus, the La Mirada Blog has learned.
Officials from the Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District met with the teacher on Wednesday and
Latest La Mirada Crime Report; May 19-June 1
The La Mirada crime report for May 19-June 1, 2014:
Robbery-A robbery was reported on the 15800 block of Imperial Hwy. The incident is currently under investigation.
Aggravated Assault-An assault on two victims was reported near Crete Drive and Foster Road. Two suspects approached the victims and began punching them. The incident is currently under investigation. A domestic assault was reported on the 13900 block of Larwin Rd. A male adult suspect was taken into custody at the location.
Residential Burglary-A residential burglary was reported on the 14500 block of San Esteban Dr. A residential burglary was reported on the 13700 block of Avion Dr. A firearm and other items were stolen from the residence.
Grand Theft-Four grand theft incidents were reported: Tires were reported stolen from a business on the 13900 block of Valley View Ave. An electric guitar and accessories were reported stolen from an open truck bed on the 12000 block of Georgette Ave. A grand theft was reported on the 12200 block of La Mirada Blvd. Two air conditioning units were stolen from the location. Cash was stolen from a business on the 14900 block of La Mirada Blvd. A briefcase containing a cell phone and tablet computer was reported stolen from an unlocked vehicle parked near Alicante Rd and Hillsborough Dr. A theft was reported on the 12700 block of Oxford Dr. The incident is under investigation.
La Mirada High Baseball Falls in CIF Semifinal
Aliso Viejo~The season came to end for the La Mirada high baseball team today falling to Aliso Niguel, 8-0 in the CIF Southern Section Division 2 Semifinal.
The Matadores were held to two infield singles by the Wolverines pitcher Ryan Randel, one of them to the first batter of the game Ethan Lopez.
They end the season at 23-11 overall after winning their second consecutive Suburban League championship.
La Mirada again played without their head coach Kim Brooks after a recording of a profanity-laced tirade of him surfaced last month. He was placed on administrative leave before the playoffs started.
La Mirada Resident to Walk 39.3 Miles in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer
La Mirada~Tammy Ostrowski of La Mirada will join thousands of women and men in the upcoming Avon Walk for Breast Cancer Santa Barbara, raising funds and awareness that will help defeat breast cancer and support those facing the disease. She is on the team The Pink Ribbon Gemz and together they will participate in the non-competitive event. Each walker will complete a marathon (26.2 miles) or a marathon and a half (39.3 miles) over the weekend of September 6-7th.
“Every year, thanks to thousands of participants like Tammy, we are able to save lives by providing significant funds for vital breast cancer research as well as access to care, screening, support services and education,” said Carol Kurzig, president of the Avon Foundation for Women, the public charity that produces the events. “For the past decade, tens of thousands of dedicated women and men took personal action to help others through the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. We are truly inspired by our participants’ passion and enthusiasm.”
The Avon Walk Santa Barbara is one of eight weekend walks taking place in 2014. The complete 2014 Avon Walk for Breast Cancer schedule includes: Houston (April 12-13), Washington, DC (May 3-4), Boston (May 17-18), Chicago (May 31 -June 1), San Francisco (July 12-13), Santa Barbara, Calif. (September 6-7), New York City, (October 18-19), and Charlotte, N.C. (October 25-26).
Tammy was inspired to take part in the Avon Walk Santa Barbara because she wanted to make a difference, “This will be my 3rd year walking and the first year with The Pink Ribbon Gemz. The first year was to challenge myself and I walked every bit of the 39.3 miles. I was so inspired by hearing all the stories from people walking and cheering us on I knew I would be walking again and again and again, for as long as I’m able.
As I prepared for my second Avon walk I learned several women I knew (Baseball mom, my sons first grade teacher, Girl Scout mom) was fighting this disease. I was even more determined to walk and raise awareness and funds needed to help in the fight against breast cancer. This year I am not walking alone I am proud to be a part of The Pink Ribbon Gemz team and I’m walking for all the girls in my life.”
BREAKING: Benton Middle School Students Involved in Bus Incident in Connecticut
 |
| Photo sent in by LM Blog fan Meshel who's daughter was aboard the bus involved. |
UPDATE 19:21 060214: An email obtained by the La Mirada Blog sent by one of the teachers on the bus to parents in La Mirada indicated that the accident occurred while the group was traveling from Boston to New York.
The email states: "One of the buses was rear ended in a construction zone where we were traveling 5 - 10 miles an hour by an 18-wheeler truck. No one has reported serious injury as there was minimal damage to the bus. Per standard procedure highway patrol was called to access the situation and ensure that all students and parents aboard were ok. Everyone on board was asked to provide their name, address, phone number, and birth date to the highway patrol for any follow-up that may need to take place."
Southbury, CT~The La Mirada Blog has received reports that students and staff from Benton
 |
| Exclusive photo sent in by LM Blog fan shows Benton student being loaded into emergency vehicle earlier today in Connecticut. |
Middle School in La Mirada were involved in a minor traffic incident with a tractor trailer earlier today while on a field trip in Connecticut, ultimately on their way to New York and Washington D.C.
Our sources tell us three adults and up to ten students were temporarily hospitalized as a precautionary measure and are now released.
copyright La Mirada Blog 2014
Dulles Elementary K-Kids Host 1st Annual Family Fitness Night & Lupus Awareness Fundraiser
La Mirada~The Dulles Elementary K-Kids Club is hosting a Family Fitness Night & Lupus Awareness fundraiser Tuesday June 3rd from 5:00-8:00 p.m. at the school site located at 12726 Meadow Green Road in La Mirada.
This will be the clubs grand finale event of the year and guest speakers include Leo Santa Cruz, WBC World Bantam Weight Champion, Robert Santa Cruz former boxer, now fighting Lupus, & Laurie Gray, from the Lupus Foundation of America.
Leo and Robert will be honoring the K-Kids with their certificates of completion as a surprise at the end of the presentation.
The K-Kids will MC the event and engage the audiences with music, cheer, and dance. There will be food, games, booths, and additional speakers from Cerritos College and the Norwalk/La Mirada School District. There will also belive training demonstrations from Team Santa Cruz and Jitsu studio.
NLMUSD Superintendent Guest Speaker at Chamber Breakfast
La Mirada~The Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Ruth Perez will be the guest speaker at the La Mirada Chamber of Commerce Monthly Tuesday Breakfast, June 3rd from 8:00-9:30 a.m.
The breakfast will be held at The Green Chile Restaurant, 13926 Imperial Highway in La Mirada.
Dr. Perez will also have a school district staff member accompanying her to discuss the district bid process for local small businesses in the area.
La Mirada Mayor Larry Mowles is also expected to be in attendance.
The cost is $15.00 for chamber members and $20.00 for non-members.
Fire Engulfs Santa Fe Springs Cardboard Recycling Plant
|
| A fire truck stands guard at the south side of Pan Pacific Fiber, Inc Recycling, adjacent to the BNSF Railroad tracks, in Santa Fe Springs early Thursday evening as a fire rages out of control within the plant. Photo Joseph Flores |
NEW RAW VIDEO 19:11 053014: Just released footage of the scene moments after fire began, as first responders arrived here.
UPDATE 22:31 052914: The fire continues to burn at this hour, although contained. The recycling center appears to deal exclusively with cardboard with hundreds of bales weighing two tons each stacked on top of each other.
Burning at this hour is cardboard stored inside the buildings on the property, the Santa Fe Springs Fire Chief Mike Crook told the La Mirada Blog at the scene.
This raises questions as to if the cardboard was stored illegally on the site.
The La Mirada Blog was on the scene moments after the fire started and we reported that the Downey Fire Department assisted with the fire.
Crook told us, along with Downey, fire departments from Vernon, Compton, L.A. County, La Habra Heights, and Montebello also assisted.
"We are going to be here all night," said Crook, "we're going to have overhaul it, possibly bring in a bulldozer, we have a lot of work ahead of us."
Santa Fe Springs~An enormous fire broke out this evening engulfing the Pan Pacific Fiber Inc. recycling center located at 14013 Marquardt Avenue in Santa Fe Springs along the border of La Mirada.
It is unclear at this time what started the fire. No injuries are reported at this time.
As of 8:00 p.m. firefighters form the Santa Fe Springs, L.A. County, Compton and Downey continue to battle the blaze.
Check our Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/lamiradablog for exclusive information and photos.
We will have further as it becomes available.
RESTAURANT REVIEW: The New Dami Sushi and Isakaya Stays Open Late For Dinner
Buena Park~I wouldn’t consider myself a food critic or reviewer and I am certainly no food expert, but I recently had a chance to visit a new place to eat in town and I thought I would provide my feedback.
Dami Sushi and Isakaya is located at the Village Circle on Beach, the new shopping center at the intersection of and Beach Boulevard, where La Mirada Boulevard meets Malvern Avenue -just a stone’s throw from the La Mirada city limits.
The shopping center was constructed on the site of the old Big T Golf Course and Big T Burgers-two iconic establishments that will be forever be etched in the nostalgic minds of anyone who lived in and around old La Mirada.
Today, the new shopping center is primarily Asian influenced, serving the multi-cultural population in the East La Mirada and North Buena Park area.
Dami has been open a little over two months and recently the La Mirada Blog was invited, along with other media outlets, to attend a press sampling and reception at the eatery.
My ignorance and lack of preparation showed as I thought out loud that the word isakaya was a type of egg roll or dish. Yeah, I know, go ahead and laugh.
I quickly learned from a Dami staff member that in Japan, an isakaya is a type of Japanese drinking establishment which also serves food to accompany the drinks. They are casual places for after-work drinking. In other words, like a pub or tavern.
An isakaya is also similar to a lot of well-known American restaurants that also serve as drinking establishments, yet an isakaya is more intimate and local.
Dami co-owner Brandon Lee sat down with us for a quick visit and told us he is well aware of the large Korean population in the area and wants to “break the mold” of the traditional Japanese restaurant and he said that Dami wants to “serve the community’s needs.”
Thus, the Dami menu features a mixture of Japanese and Korean dishes along many unique fusion meals of the two cultures. I guarantee you will find a dish at Dami you have never seen anywhere else.
AMBIANCE: The restaurant has open ceilings and a very spacious modern interior giving it that un-cramped feeling, which I like. There is a balance of industrial and wood finishes along with simple Japanese design concepts. It features a brightly-lit sushi and oyster bar along with three 55-inch televisions and two 45-inchers.
Lee quickly got my attention when he mentioned what I think is one of the most appealing facts about Dami. He told me that after 9:30 p.m. a 180-inch projection screen descends from the ceiling, the lights dim and the sound system gets a little louder. He said the large screen will be showing whatever the hottest sports game or event of the night is.
Recent posts
La Mirada Election Update
News Bites August 2024-Community Heroes Edition
Parents defend swimming coach amid abuse allegations
