Los Coyotes Eighth Grader Wins Track Championship
La Mirada~Ryan ‘The Rhino” Vargas took first place in the championship race and won the track championship this past Saturday at the Irwindale Event Center.
Vargas is an eighth-grader at Los Coyotes Middle School in La Mirada and began racing cars three years ago.
He races in the U.S. Legend Cars INEX Division and drives a Bandolero, a turnkey, spec-series 750 race car which can reach top speeds of approximately 90 mph. He holds track records at Kern County Raceway Park, The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Orange Show Speedway.
He is a straight-A honor student and very involved in his school. Mom Dawn says he must maintain straight A’s in order to race.
He has been first in California the past three years in his division; last year he was sixth in the nation.
This year, he set a goal of becoming one of the top five racers in the nation. He not only met his goal but also far surpassed it. He has a chance to be number one in the country.
He also captured two track championships this year, one at Orange Show Speedway in San Bernardino and the other at Irwindale Event Center in Irwindale.
Follow his racing page “Rhino Motorsports” on Facebook here.
Grade Separation Project Completed
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| Representatives from the Cities of La Mirada, Santa Fe Springs, Caltrans, LA Metro, and California State Assembly at the Valley View Avenue Grade Separation ribbon cutting ceremony. |
Santa Fe Springs~Stage Road is now open for traffic as the the Valley View Grade Separation Project is now complete after a little over two years of work.
Partners in the project, the City of La Mirada, the City of Santa Fe Springs, BNSF Railway and Caltrans participated in a brief ceremony at the site this morning along with Santa Fe springs Mayor Jaunita Trujillo and La Mirada Mayor Larry Mowles.
Construction on the $65 million endeavor began in the summer of 2010.
THE CARRIAGE: Decision Could Come in November for Fate of Cultural Diner
La Mirada~The La Mirada Planning Commission may be deciding the fate of the Carriage Coffee Shop at its regular meeting next month.
City Planner Gabriel Bautista told the La Mirada Blog the process is taking longer than he prefers, but hopes it will be on the agenda for the November 21st meeting.
Residents who consider the diner a cultural icon stormed city hall this past March to protest a decision by the owners of the property, Rich Development, to replace the 49-year-old diner with a McDonald’s.
Because of the traffic concerns expressed by residents at that meeting, the commission suggested a traffic study be executed to address these potential issues.
The final draft of the study has been completed and has been sent to the County of Los Angeles Department of Public Works Traffic Division for final approval, Bautista told us.
The commission will then decide whether or not to grant McDonald’s a conditional use permit to construct a drive-thru at the new restaurant; paving the way for the apparent demolition of The Carriage.
Lewis Supporters Gather for Meet-and-Greet Fundraiser
SOCIAL SCENE
La Mirada~Friends and family gathered at the home of Hal and Barbara Malkin this past Thursday in support of La Mirada resident Zurich Lewis who is running for a seat
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| Hal Malkin and Zurich Lewis |
as Governing Board Member/Trustee for the Cerritos College Community District-Area Seven.
A beautiful array of food and refreshments was offered by the host Mrs. Malkin as guests mingled and discussed current news and events.
Lewis, a lifetime La Mirada resident is a Biola University student and sits as a Community Services Commissioner for the city.
Area seven for the district includes portions of the cities of La Mirada, Cerritos, Norwalk, Santa Fe Springs, and North Whittier.
For more photos visit the La Mirada Blog Back Page here.
La Mirada Symphony Opens the 2014-15 Season
52nd Season Features Another Offering of Free Concerts
La Mirada~The 2014-15 season of the La Mirada Symphony opens with the Masters of Inspiration concert Sunday, October 19, 2014 at 3:00 p.m. with works by Bernstein, Mozart, and Beethoven featured under the direction of new conductor, Alan Mautner.
Playing Mozart’s Concerto for Clarinet will be soloist Helen Goode-Castro, a popular performer with many Southern California orchestras.
Admission is free, but a $5 donation is suggested. Doors open at 2:30 pm, no reservations are required. The performance will take place at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts. For more information visit LaMiradaSymphony.wordpress.com or call (562)-941-5779 or (714)-521-0774.
Dames Says Collaboration Can Bring Bigger and Better Service
La Mirada~Pete Dames conducted his first meeting as President of the La Mirada Kiwanis Club for the 2014-1015 year on October 1st at the Holiday Inn Select in La Mirada. His major focus this coming year will be on collaboration with the City of La Mirada and with other service organizations in the area.
Dames retired from City Council in 2011 after over 17 years of service.
Regarding the La Mirada Kiwanis Club, Dames stated, “There is a wealth of talent and energy within the numerous organizations in our community including: our service
clubs and faith, education and business communities. Collaboration with each other and the City of La Mirada can bring bigger and better service to the ‘needs’ of our community in ways that make a real impact in the lives of others, particularly children.”
The Kiwanis Club consists of a weekly morning breakfast meeting on each Wednesday of the month at 7:15 a.m. at the La Mirada Holiday Inn Select at 14299 Firestone Blvd.
In addition, an evening group meets on the first Thursday of the month at 7:00 p.m. at the Volunteer Center at 11900 La Mirada Blvd. Both sessions collaborate on all projects and provide opportunities for adults of all ages to be a part of the Kiwanis mission in the community.
La Mirada Library Getting First-Time Major Renovation
La Mirada~The public library in town will be renovated for the first time in its 45-year history with construction expected to begin next year.
The 15,704 square foot branch is part of the County of Los Angeles Public Library System and was constructed in 1969 around the same time as today’s city hall and has relatively remained unchanged since then with the exception of some minor interior improvements over the years.
As part of Supervisor Don Knabe’s “Operation Libraries” project, the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors recently approved $45 million into the restoration of County libraries in the fourth district-with $4 million being allocated to La Mirada.
The County of Los Angeles Public Library is the 6th largest public library system in the United States with 85 branches.
A lease agreement is being finalized between the City and the County. Although the facility is owned and operated by the County; the City would manage the design and development of the project.
The renovated library is expected to include: adult, teen and children’s reading areas, a family early childhood area, self-check-out machines, staff work area offices, group study rooms, Wi-Fi, public access computers, library collection, displays, and a community meeting room with an enhanced audio-visual system.
Under the plan, interior renovation considerations would include modifications to the lighting, ceiling, and heating; improvements to electrical, mechanical and telecommunications infrastructure; installation of new furniture, fixtures, equipment, and signage; and ADA upgrades.
Exterior improvements would include modifications to the building entry and a civic art component.
A temporary library would be set up at a still undetermined location while the renovation is taking place.
The project is expected to commence in mid-2015 and be completed in 2016.
City Hosting Neff Estate Beautification Event
La Mirada~Community members ages 13 and over are invited to lend a helping hand to assist with beautifying and sprucing up the Neff Estate as the La Mirada Historical Preservation Advisory Council will participate in a Neff Estate Beautification event on Saturday, October 18 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The Neff Estate covers 10 acres and consists of the three structures, all of which are registered on the National Register of Historic Places. The Neff Mansion built by La Mirada founder Andrew McNally dated 1892, the Carriage Barn 1894 and the George House 1895.
McNally built the “country home” for his daughter Nannie and new son-in-law Edwin Neff shortly after they were married. Neff was to manage McNally’s Windermere Ranch.
The City along with the Historical Council takes great pride in the estate and aims to preserve the location.
DOG EVENT: Bring Your Friend to Bark for Life Saturday at Neff Park
La Mirada~Bring your best canine friend and help the American Cancer Society save lives as Relay For Life of La Mirada hosts the 2nd annual Bark For Life Saturday, October 11, 2014 at Neff Park from 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
You can show off your canine’s best Halloween outfit and trick and also enjoy the entertainment, raffles and vendors.
Registration begins at 9:00 a.m. and is $20.00 for the first dog and $10.00 for each additional dog per owner.
The Survivor Walk starts at 10:00 a.m. and there is a maximum of two dogs per person on the relay walk.
All dogs must be on leash and please be ready to clean up after your four-legged friends. Canine must be up to date on immunizations.
For more information email Joyce Herbon at jtherbon@yahoo.com, call (714) 813-1458 or visit www.relayforlife.org/barklamiradaca.
Freelance Photographer Featured on Discovery Channel Program to Guest at LM Arts Colony Meeting
La Mirada~The Arts Colony of La Mirada will hold their October meeting on Monday the 6th at 6:30 PM at the La Mirada Resource Center, 13700 La Mirada Blvd in the Civic Center.
The guest demonstrator will be Pamela Fall, a freelance photographer and artist based in Southern California. She combines her love for art and photography and has chosen to take a number of her images to a new level.
Her works are in collections around the world and were featured on a Discovery Channel program.
The art appreciating public is welcome to join us. For information check the Arts Colony website, www.acolm.com or call 562-941-4116.
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