La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts Wins Three at LA Ovation Awards Including Best Season
San Gabriel~The La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts took home three awards during the 24th Annual LA Ovation Awards ceremony this past weekend on November 3rd.
La Mirada Theatre won the award for Best Season for its 2012-13 season featuring productions of Boeing Boeing, Jekyll & Hyde, Next to Normal, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and Spring Awakening. Brian Kite, producing artistic director for the La Mirada Theatre, earned the award for Best Director of a Musical for his production of
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Lori Larsen and Deborah Puette in “Rabbit Hole” now playing at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts Through November 17th-photo courtesy LA Stage Times |
Spring Awakening, while Beth Malone earned the award for Best Lead Actress in a Musical for her role as Milly in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.
Hosted by the LA Stage Alliance, the Ovation Awards are the only peer-judged theatre awards in Los Angeles, created to recognize excellence in theatrical performance, production and design throughout the Greater Los Angeles area.
La Mirada Theatre's 2013-14 season is now underway. Subscriptions and individual tickets are available for Rabbit Hole-now playing through November 17th-and remaining shows, God of Carnage, Cats, and Les Misérables by calling the box office at (562) 944-9801 or by visiting online at lamiradatheatre.com.
Read the LA Stage Times of David Lindsay-Abaire’s Pulitzer Prize-winning Rabbit Hole here.
Walmart Neighborhood Market Celebrates Grand Opening at Crossroads Shopping Center
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| Local Dignitaries and community members anxiously await the opening of the Walmart Neighborhood Market that opened this past Wednesday in La Mirada |
La Mirada~After a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony, the La Mirada High School Jazz Band played for attendees and customers as the new Walmart Neighborhood Market opened for business this past Wednesday morning during the store’s official grand opening at the Crossroads Shopping Center in La Mirada.
The new 35,000 square foot store will provide local customers with a new, convenient option for their grocery shopping needs, including fresh produce and pharmacy services and will host a full grocery department, including organic and natural selections, in addition to a self-serve deli and a bakery.
“The La Mirada Chamber of Commerce is pleased to welcome a Walmart Neighborhood Market to our community,” said Dustin L Dahl, President of the La Mirada Chamber of Commerce and La Mirada resident. “This business will bring an added value to La Mirada and will offer an opportunity for job growth, thereby, strengthening our local economy. The new Walmart Neighborhood Market will hire about 65 and will bring viable tax revenue to our city so we can enhance our public services.”
The store also has a pharmacy that offers a full range of products and services for prescription pick-ups and other health products. The pharmacy offers a full range of products and services.
Pharmacy personnel can answer product and prescription questions and customers can ask about health and wellness solutions.
While other Southern California Walmart Neighborhood Markets have brought business back to vacant storefronts, this is the first newly-constructed Walmart grocery store in Southern California. Other area Walmart Neighborhood Markets include La Palma, Stanton, Anaheim, La Puente, Downey, Bell Gardens, Hawthorne, Torrance, downtown Los Angeles and others.
New La Mirada History Book Claims Number One Spot of New Releases
La Mirada~The first history book published about the history of La Mirada since 1970, compiled by two former childhood residents and a La Mirada native, has recently claimed the number one spot for best sellers of new releases on its publishers website.
Available from Xlibris Publishing, the book, “Reflections from McNally’s Mirror,” at 9 x 6 x 2 inches features over 170 pages of early La Mirada history up until the 1980’s, over 130 personal memoirs and stories sent in from current and former La Mirada residents, and a pictorial section that includes 292 rare pictures and photos.
Glen Cantrell, who along with Raymond Fernandez and Tony Aiello, inspired and led the team of three that brought the book to fruition.
Cantrell, author of The Resume and Untypical, grew up in La Mirada and graduated from La Mirada High School in 1976.
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| "Named for the man who founded it and written by those who lived it," Reflections from McNally's Mirror is now available at Xlibris.com |
The concept originated from Fernandez, who also grew up in La Mirada and graduated from La Mirada High in 1993.
Aiello, a La Mirada native who still resides in the city, graduated from John Glenn High School in 1981 and is the founder and editor of this website.
Among the many features included in the book, is the entire history of the La Mirada City Council races-from incorporation to today-and includes the winners and all the candidates of every race.
The first and last history book written about La Mirada is the iconic “La Mirada: From Rancho to City” by C.W. Bob Camp published in 1970.
“Reflections from McNally’s Mirror” has been dedicated to the late Jerome Oxman, community activist and founder of Oxman’s Surplus who passed away in February of this year at 97.
The book is now available for purchase at http://bookstore.xlibris.com/Products/SKU-0123173050/Reflections-from-McNallys-Mirror.aspx
Veterans Event Scheduled for November 11th
La Mirada~The City of La Mirada will host a Salute to Veterans event on Monday, Nov. 11, from 6 to 8 p.m., at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts. The event will honor the many heroic men and women in the armed forces who have served our nation throughout history, with special recognition of La Mirada service members.
The event will feature a patriotic presentation consisting of the posting of the Nation’s colors by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #9148, a military vehicle display, and special guest speaker Norbie Lara of the Wounded Warrior Project, who proudly served in the U.S. Army for 11 and a half years. Local veterans will also be present to share their stories and service memorabilia.
The event is free and open to the public. Students are encouraged to attend and hear first-hand stories from our local heroes.
The La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts is located at 14900 La Mirada Boulevard. For more information, call (562) 943-7277.
Latest La Mirada Bi-Weekly Crime Report; Did Something Happen in your Neighborhood?
Aggravated Assault-An assault with a knife was reported on the 14000 block of La Barca Dr. The incident involved a dispute between family members. A domestic violence incident was reported near Rosecrans Ave and Valley View Ave. A suspect was arrested by responding deputies. An assault involving a butter knife was reported on the 13600 block of Duffield Ave. The suspect is related to the victims and the incident is under investigation.
Residential Burglary-A burglary was reported on the 14500 block of Florita Rd. Various electronics and other items were stolen from the residence. A burglary to a home under fumigation was reported on the 13900 block of Ratliffe St. Jewelry was taken from the residence. An attempted residential burglary was reported on the 15600 block of Olive Branch Dr. A residential burglary was reported on the 14100 block of San Joaquin St. It is unknown if any items were stolen in the incident.
Other Structure Burglary-A burglary to a business was reported on the 14600 Firestone Blvd. Various electronics were stolen from the location.A flat screen television was reported stolen from a hotel room on the 14700 block of Firestone Blvd. A cash register was reported stolen from a restaurant on the 12800 block of La Mirada Blvd.
Vehicle Burglary-A burglary to a truck was reported on the 15200 block of Santa Gertrudes Ave. Tools were stolen from the vehicle. Two separate vehicle burglaries were reported on the 14900 block of Gagely Dr. A purse was stolen in one incident, and various items from the second vehicle. Various items were stolen from a vehicle on the 16100 block of Rosecrans Ave. A burglary was reported on the 14400 block of Firestone Blvd. A computer with accessories and other bags were taken. A laptop computer and a backpack were reported stolen from a SUV on the 15200 block of Badlona Dr. Vehicle registration paperwork was stolen from a vehicle on the 14400 block of Cartela Dr.
Gang Member Armed With Assault Rifle Arrested in La Mirada
La Mirada~Deputies from the City's Special Assignment Officers (SAO) team apprehended a confirmed gang member from a neighboring area in La Mirada on Oct. 23. The suspect was armed with a Ruger Mini 14 assault rifle slung across his chest, concealed beneath his clothing.
Working on a tip from a neighboring law enforcement agency, the SAO Deputies spotted the suspected gang member driving southbound on La Mirada Blvd. After conducting a traffic stop at the intersection of La Mirada Blvd. and Imperial Hwy., Deputies quickly moved in on the suspect and two other passengers suspecting he was armed.
During the investigation, Deputies discovered the suspect also had a high capacity magazine loaded with nearly 20 live rounds in one pocket, and methamphetamine in another pocket.
The suspect was arrested for possession of a controlled substance while armed with a firearm.
NLMUSD Board President Hengler Voted Out of Office
Norwalk~The evening started with seven candidates, including four incumbents, hoping to capture one of four opens seats on the Norwalk-La Mirada School District Board of Education- when it ended the president was voted out of office.
In what some would call an upset, board president Ed Hengler, 80, a retired educator and on the panel since 1997, was ousted Tuesday night by challenger Sean Reagan, 38, a teacher at Cal High in the Whittier High School Union District. Hengler finished in sixth place.
Incumbent Margarita Rios, 43, a police sergeant for the Los Angeles School District led all candidates with 2,128 votes and incumbent Darryl Adams, 52, a teacher, finished second with 1,965 votes.
Reagan was third with 1,758 votes and incumbent Ana Valencia, 46, a teacher, received 1,637 votes, rounding out the field of winners.
Challenger Salvador Limon, 26, a special education teacher received 1,460 votes finishing fifth, 177 votes shy of Valencia. Mark White, 53, a field technical engineer, placed seventh with 959 votes.
At one point during the night, it appeared another incumbent might be in trouble when Limon pulled within less than 100 votes of Valencia, but she was able to hold him at bay.
Leading up to the election, Hengler criticized Reagan for running for a spot when his own child doesn't even attend school in the district. Reagan lives in Norwalk and has stated child care convenience as the reason his child attends school in Cerritos and not in the NLMUSD.
Voter turnout was poor. The district area has a registered voter base of over 60,000 and there are 19,000+ students enrolled in the NLMUSD, yet it appears well under 10 percent of people turned out to vote.
Table courtesy County of Los Angeles Registrar Recorder
International Artist Highlights LM Arts Meeting
La Mirada~The Arts Colony of La Mirada will hold its November meeting on Monday, November 4 at the Resource Center in the La Mirada Civic Center Complex at 13700 La Mirada Blvd beginning at 6:30 p.m.
The demonstrator will be Juan "McGoo" Valencia, a watercolorist. McGoo is originally from the Philippine Islands and is an internationally distinguished artist.
The meetings are open to the art appreciating public.
For further information you may call 562-941-4116, 563-245-7940, 562-325-5954 or visit www.acolm.com.
Road Closure Scheduled for Valley View Avenue 10/25-10/28
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La Mirada~Valley View Avenue will be closed between Rosecrans Avenue and Gannet Street from 7:00 PM on October 25th to 5:00 AM on October 28th.
Businesses within the closure will be open and accessible during this period.
The Valley View Grade Separation Project, a shared effort by the Cities of La Mirada and Santa Fe Springs, Caltrans, and BNSF Railway, has made significant progress over the summer months and construction crews have successfully completed excavation work and construction of the new BNSF Railway bridge, which will separate railroad activity from pedestrian and motor vehicle traffic.
The project is ready for another major milestone as crews work to move the railroad tracks onto the new bridge this weekend.
The track relocation is scheduled to take place over this weekend and will require Valley View Avenue to be fully closed during that time.
Motorists traveling southbound on Valley View can get around the closure by turning westbound on Rosecrans, left on Marquardt, left on Borate, right on Anson, continue on to Gannet and back to Valley View.
Motorists traveling northbound can turn left on Gannet, continue on to Anson, left on Borate, right on Marquardt, right on Rosecrans and back to Valley View.
Follow detour signs and drive safely as motorists attempting to get to the Santa Fe Springs Swap Meet will also be in the mix.
For questions you may call (562) 926-6334 or you can visit www.vvgs.org for more information about this project.
Public Safety Poster Contest Winners Highlights City Council Meeting
| Kindergarten & First Grade | School |
| 1st-Joseph Jung | Eastwood |
| 2nd-Sarah Wondwosen | Escalona |
| 3rd-Riku Maldonado | Gardenhill |
| Second & Third Grade | |
| 1st-Adrian Hidalgo | La Pluma |
| 2nd-Natalie Craig | Escalona |
| 3rd-Roma Vashi | Escalona |
| Fourth & Fifth Grade | |
| 1st-Nicole Vuong | Escalona |
| 2nd-Trinity Delacruz | Beatitudes |
| 3rd- Marissa Gordon | Dulles |
| Sixth through Eighth | |
| 1st-Berlyn Gonzales | Beatitudes |
| 2nd-Jannah Orbita | Beatitudes |
| 3rd-Jocelyn Diaz | Beatitudes |
| Ninth through Twelfth | |
| 1st-Natalie Day | La Mirada |
| 2nd-Erick Rodriguez | La Mirada |
| 3rd-Dimitri Moreno | La Mirada |
La Mirada~Public Safety Poster Contest winners were presented with their awards at last night’s city council meeting.
Children in kindergarten through twelfth grade participated in this year’s contest. The poster contest promotes safety awareness among La Mirada students. This year’s theme was “Play it Safe.”
Please see table for a complete list of winners.
In other City Council news:
-Introduced Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Lieutenant Kevin Beggs as the new La Mirada Service Area Lieutenant and Sergeant Marc Boskovich as the new Sergeant for La Mirada's Special Assignment Officers Team.
-The City is looking into the possibility of becoming a charter city and at the council meeting, after a recent application process, five residents were sworn in to serve on the City Charter Exploratory Committee.
-The Council presented Molie Schartoff with a 90th birthday recognition certificate.
-The City Council proclaimed October 21-25, 2013 as Red Ribbon Week in the City of La Mirada and made a presentation.
-A presentation was made by the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation recognizing La Mirada's business friendly efforts.
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