NLMUSD Schools Dominate at Orange County Pentathlon
Norwalk/La Mirada~Students in the sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade represented Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District and brought home several medals and placed in their divisions at the annual Orange County Academic Pentathlon, where students throughout the region were tested in their essay, language arts, science and math skills.
Corvallis Middle School eighth-graders placed second in their division with Benton and Hutchinson teams taking the third- through-sixth-place spots. Teams from Los Alisos, Los Coyotes and Waite also placed in their divisions.
Matadores Advance With Victory Over Pasadena
La Mirada~Blake Wilson scattered seven hits over seven innings for a complete-game victory as the La Mirada High baseball team advanced to the second round of the CIF Southern Section Divison 2 playoffs, beating Pasadena 4-2 earlier today in a sloppy defensive contest at La Mirada High.
Pasadena starter Niko Lopez was the victim as his team committed at least four errors leading to three of La Mirada's runs being unearned. La Mirada also committed at least two errors.
The Bulldogs had three of their seven hits in the seventh inning and had the go-ahead run at the plate, but Wilson was able to shut the door.
Justin Knight and Wilson each had an RBI apiece for La Mirada.
Pasadena seemed to run themselves out of innings; twice having a runner thrown out at third on grounders to the shortstop with a force play not being in effect and less than two outs.
The Matadores will now move on to play Glendora in the second round Tuesday at 3:15.
Long-time Matadore head coach Kim Brooks was absent, still suspended by the Norwalk-La Mirada School District after a curse-laden motivational recording of him from a few weeks ago, directed at his team, was released to the media by a still unknown source.
Third base coach and former La Mirada player Jimmy Zurn will coach the team while the district continues its investigation into the incident.
La Mirada High Athletic Director Suspended After Tirade
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| La Mirada High baseball coach Kim Brooks has been placed on administrative leave by the NLMUSD. photo courtesy Deadspin |
La Mirada~La Mirada High Athletic Director and head baseball coach Kim Brooks has been suspended by the Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District after an audio recording surfaced of him cursing at his players according to NBC4/LA and the Whittier Daily News.
Reportedly, the audio clip was recorded by an unidentified La Mirada player.
In the recording Brooks could be heard using the f-bomb at least a dozen times.
Brooks, who is also a social science teacher at the school was pulled from his classroom Tuesday morning as an investigation is now underway.
A high-ranking source within the school district has told the La Mirada Blog that "it is highly improbable he would return" to his AD post at the school.
Brooks will not be in the dugout for the teams first-round CIF playoff game tomorrow against Pasadena. It is expected coach Jimmy Zurn will be at the helm for the game.
Listen to the audio clip of the lambasting here.
Read comments and reaction from the community on our Facebook feed here and our Twitter feed here.
We will report more about this incident as it is learned.
20th Annual “4 La Mirada Kids Carnival” This Weekend at Benton
La Mirada~A fun-filled weekend of rides, food, and entertainment is fast approaching for the 20th Annual "4 La Mirada Kids" Community Carnival to be held at Benton Middle School.
The carnival features a variety of activities for the entire family and sees over 10,000 people pass through the gates for the food, rides and entertainment.
The initial concept of the carnival-to help local nonprofits and schools raise money for programs that benefit La Mirada kids-remains the same today.
Local non-profit groups including schools, sport leagues, and community organizations will be offering a variety of tasty food for sale and running game booths throughout the weekend.
Exciting rides and amusements will be offered for those seeking thrills. Gentler, kid-friendly rides for younger children will also be available.
Pre-sale ride ticket books can be obtained for $15 at most La Mirada schools and the La Mirada Resource Center until 3 p.m. on Friday, May 9th. Each booklet contains coupons for eight different rides, offering a substantial savings over purchasing ride tickets at the event.
Also, when you purchase your ride tickets ahead of time, a percentage of the pre-sale proceeds is returned to the local schools and organizations.
Entertainment this year will feature crowd-favorites the Squirettes, the Alohi Polynesian Dancers, George Simion and the Bombers, The Shakedown, Glory of Paradise, La Mirada High School Jazz Band, Benton Middle School Band, Gray Matter, the Groovetones, The Maunaloa Dancers, The Tuxedo Junction, Benton Varsity/JV Cheer and more including contests for kids.
Tony Aiello, founder of the La Mirada Blog Media Network will be the MC for the entertainment line-up for the entire weekend. Stop by the entertainment stage and pick up your free La Mirada Blog bumper sticker.
The La Mirada Community Foundation sponsors the carnival to raise funds for youth groups and community organizations that provide a variety of educational, cultural and extracurricular opportunities in La Mirada.
Carnival days and hours are Friday, May 9th, 5-11 p.m.; Saturday, May 10th, 12-11 p.m.; and Sunday, May 11th, 1-6 p.m. For more information, call the La Mirada Community Services Department at (562) 943-7277.
Natalie Wachen Returns to La Mirada to Teach Musical Theatre and TV/Film Classes This Summer
STAR OF HBO’S BOARDWALK EMPIRE, RENT WILL INSTRUCT THE THEATRE TROUPE SHE GREW UP WITH, IN THE CITY SHE WAS RAISED IN; PHANTOM PROJECTS ANNOUNCES EXTENSIVE SERIES OF CLASSES: AGES 10+ INCLUDING A SUMMER OF SHAKESPEARE, DANCE, TV/FILM, MUSICAL THEATRE, AND MORE.
La Mirada~Before joining the cast of Martin Scorsese’s Emmy and Golden Globe award-winning HBO series BOARDWALK EMPIRE, and before starring as Mimi Marquez in the critically acclaimed Off-Broadway revival of RENT, Natalie Wachen was a member of the La Mirada-based Phantom Projects Theatre Group. Now, Ms. Wachen returns not as an actress and director, but as a teacher.
“Each year, the most frequent requests we receive from our audiences, are for classes. Now, we’re answering that request in a very big way. We’re making it possible for every young person to learn, whether it’s acting, dancing, singing, getting a better understanding of Shakespeare, or even if they’ve never even stepped on stage before. Having Natalie return and join our roster of wonderful teachers and working professionals is a huge asset for our new and returning students,” commented Phantom Projects’ Producing Artistic Director Steve Cisneros.
Fire on Gandesa Appears to Have Destroyed Home
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| Photo sent in by a La Mirada Blog follower on Twitter shows flames coming out of home on Gandesa Road last night. |
La Mirada~A fire broke out last night at a home on Gandesa Road in La Mirada.
We originally reported the blaze at 9:03 p.m. on our Twitter feed.
Firefighters knocked the blaze down within an hour.
La Mirada Blog Twitter followers on Los Fuentes reported embers falling in their yards.
We have an unconfirmed report from another follower that the owner of the house that caught on fire was out of town.
That is all we have at this time. If more pertinent information becomes available we will update here, within this article.
See a photo of the home in the next day's aftermath here.
See a short video clip of the incident here.
050514 21:49 UPDATE: Homeowner was home at time of fire and is OK, her roommate was out of town.
OBITUARY: Long Time La Mirada Resident Florence Robertson
Florence Theresa Robertson resident of La Mirada; born September 22, 1925 in Sommerville, Mass. passed away peacefully at the age of 88 on March 26, 2014. God has prepared a room in his mansion for her with all her loved ones and friends who have gone on before. She is preceded in death by her parents: Walter and Florence Crowley, sons: baby twins, Kenneth and Patrick, Dale Robertson, Gary Robertson and daughter-in-law: Frances Price-Robertson. Florence was survived by her beloved children: Robert Dyess, James (Imajean) Robertson, Donna (George) Peterson, and Linda Chappie, daughter-in-law: Cheryl Robertson, grandchildren: Lisa (John) LaBartunek, Robert (Daisy) Peterson, Steve (Sarah) Robertson, Kelly Peterson, Kathryn Robertson, Brian Peterson, Janet Peterson, Diana (Tony) Ramos, Jackie Stephens, Jerry Robertson, April Peterson, Ben Chappie, and 18 great grandchildren. A sister-in-law: Dorothy Lowe, nephew: Rick (Patty) Dinnerville, nieces: Susan Pyle and Sharon Robinson and their families. One of her many accomplishments was the ability to make friends wherever she went; and it was natural for her to treat everyone with equality, respect and kindness. She had a loving soul and was a writer of inspiring poetry. She had many long and lasting friendships with people who loved her, she will be remembered in our hearts always and deeply missed. A memorial service was held April 25th.
Arts Colony of La Mirada May Meeting
The May meeting of the Arts Colony of La Mirada will be held on Monday May 5th at 6:30 p.m. at the La Mirada Resource Center, 13700 La Mirada Blvd.
Don Read of La Habra Heights will demonstrate the use of pastels. He is a native of the United Kingdom but considers California his home.
The public is welcome. For further information call 562 941 4116, or 714 522 8157 or visit their website at www.acolm.com.
Shooting Rattles La Mirada Neighborhood
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| Image from La Mirada Blog YouTube channel shows deputies placing evidence markers at the scene of a shooting earlier this afternoon in La Mirada |
La Mirada~Shots were fired at a person standing outside a home at the northeast corner of Valley View and Mansa Drive this afternoon around 12:40 p.m.
The victim was a male hispanic in his early 20's according to Lieutenant Jason Skeen of the Norwalk Sheriff's Station. It is unclear if the victim resides in the home he was standing in front of.
Skeen told the La Mirada Blog the victim was transported to a local hospital and is expected to survive and may even be released by now.
Witnesses on the scene said they were in their homes on Mansa Drive and heard as many as 8-10 rounds ring out.
Skeen told us that the anti-gang unit Operation Safe Streets (OSS) has taken over the investigation but fell short of calling the incident gang related.
However, the La Mirada Blog has learned that the officers initially broadcast on the sheriff dispatch that a gang epithet was shouted out by the suspects before the shooting.
The La Mirada Blog has also learned the suspects, who reportedly drove off northbound on Valley View, were driving a custom-style white vehicle, possibly a BMW, although the sheriff's department would not confirm this.
Stock up at La Mirada Library Spring Book Sale
La Mirada~The annual Spring Book Sale sponsored by the Friends of the La Mirada Library will be held on Saturday, May 3 at the La Mirada Activity Center, 13810 La Mirada Boulevard (behind the Fire Station), from 9:00 AM until 2:30 PM.
This is an excellent chance to stock up for your summer reading. Most paperbacks are $0.50 each and up. Children’s books start at $0.25. All proceeds benefit the La Mirada Public Library.
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