City Council Candidates Forum This Thursday Night
La Mirada~The 2015 La Mirada City Council race has proven to be one of the most interesting in recent memory as seven candidates are battling for three seats.
Residents will have a chance to get to know the candidates a little better as the La Mirada Chamber of Commerce in association with IQ Air will host a Candidates Forum Thursday, February 12th from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
The seven candidates include Tony Aiello, Founder & Editor of this website: Ed End Executive Director of the Los Angeles County Economy and Efficiencies Commission; Incumbents Steve De Ruse and Larry Mowles; Dale Nowicki, an attorney; Michael Saenz, a business consultant; and John Sarega, a commercial property owner and father of current Councilman Andrew Sarega.
As of the writing of this article, all candidates are expected to attend.
Rick Bee, Senior Director of Alumni & Friends Development at Biola University will be the moderator and local attorney Gene Gleason will lead the Invocation Prayer.
The event will be held at the IQ Air facility located at 14351 Firestone Boulevard in La Mirada and there is no cost for residents to attend.
Hutchinson Student Wins Outstanding Witness Award in Mock Trial
La Mirada~Norwalk-La Mirada Unified seventh-grader Kiana Jones is being hailed for her performance as T.M. Little, a key witness in People vs. Shem, a hypothetical criminal case in which the defendant was accused of stealing a valuable painting.
The activity is part of the Los Angeles County Mock Trial Competition, which helps students learn about the judicial system, improve analytical and communication skills, and grow in their understanding of civic responsibility.
Sixth- through eighth-grade students in Hutchinson’s program, now in its fourth year, met three times a week after school and several Saturdays beginning in September to prepare for the December competition.
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors will recognize the Mock Trial winners during a reception Tuesday, Feb. 10. The Norwalk-La Mirada Unified Board of Education recognized Kiana during its meeting this month.
A Night of Entertainment to Benefit La Mirada Meals on Wheels
La Mirada~The annual Lou Piltz Memorial Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser will take place Friday January 30th from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the La Mirada Activity Center.
The event benefits the La Mirada Meals on Wheels-providing hot, nutritious meals to the elderly and disabled in the La Mirada area since 1975.
The dinner is named after the late Lou Piltz who served on the Board of Directors and also served as President and Treasurer of Meals On Wheels La Mirada. The dinner will include, spaghetti, meat sauce, salad and garlic bread.
Entertainment will be provided by students of the Visual and Performing Arts Academy of La Mirada High School.
There will be a 50/50 contest and two raffles with various prizes.
Desserts will be provided by the La Mirada Ebell Club for a nominal donation.
Editor of the La Mirada Blog, Tony Aiello will be the Master of Ceremonies for the evening.
For tickets or for more information, please contact Meals On Wheels at 562-943-0037.
Carriage Update: “Ball in McDonald’s Court”
La Mirada~The fate of the fabled Carriage Restaurant in La Mirada is still up in the air as McDonald’s now has to decide if they still want to build after the completion of a recent traffic study has called for a new traffic signal.
Owner of the property Rich Development Co. of Santa Ana wants to replace the coffee shop with a McDonald’s restaurant.
After waiting months for the completion of the study from the County of Los Angeles Department of Public Works Traffic Division, La Mirada City Planner Gabriel Bautista told the La Mirada Blog it indicates a traffic signal would have to be installed at Wicker Drive and Telegraph Road; which is just north of the site.
Bautista said the cost of the new signal is estimated to be $250,000-$300,000 and McDonald’s would be responsible for a significant part of that cost.
The city as well as other tenants of the Crossroads Center would chip in for the new signal as well.
However, McDonald’s is now deciding if they still want to go through with the project and the “ball is in their court,” said Bautista.
If they do decide to move forward, the next step would be an approval from the La Mirada Planning Commission. The commission would only be approving the proposed drive-thru by McDonalds; the Carriage site is already zoned for restaurant use.
Bautista said he does not expect to hear from McDonalds until perhaps March, but that could change.
The Carriage has been closed since December 2nd when an early morning fire ripped through the eatery’s kitchen, destroying it.
It is still unclear if owner Louis Liu will be able to fund a rebuild if the McDonald’s deal falls through.
The Electrical Billy Elliot Opening at La Mirada Theatre
La Mirada~The ten-time Tony Award-winning musical Billy Elliot will play La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, presented by La Mirada and McCoy Rigby Entertainment.
The production will begin performances Jan. 16, 2015, prior to an official opening Jan. 17, and will continue through Feb. 8.
Billy Elliot, adapted from the film of the same name, features music by Elton John and book and lyrics by Lee Hall.
La Mirada Theatre’s very own artistic director, Brian Kite will direct.
The cast features Mitchell Booooo as Billy. Booooo replaced Noah parets who broke his arm in rehearsals.
Also featured is Vicki Lewis as Mrs. Wilkinson, David Atkinson as Billy's Father, Jake Kitchin as Michael, Stephen Weston as Tony, Jamie Torcellini as George, Marsha Waterbury as Grandma, Kim Huber as Billy's Mum, Brandon Forrest as Adult Billy, Neil Dale as Mr. Braithwaite, Sammy Gayer as Debbie and R.J. Higton as Tall Boy.
La Mirada Bobby Sox Accepting Sign-Ups
La Mirada~Bobby Sox volunteers will be at Stater Bros. and Albertsons every weekend in January from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. accepting sign-ups for the upcoming 2015 season.
No experience is necessary for girls ages 4-18 and all girls are guaranteed to play every game.
Registration fees are $135.00 for La Mirada residents and $160.00 for non-residents. Regular registration ends January 31st with fees increasing after.
For more information call (714) 296-7621 or email lamirada_bobbysox@yahoo.com.
Board Appoints Interim Deputy Superintendent; Begins Search for Permanent Superintendet
The Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District is moving forward with the search for a permanent Superintendent, while also appointing an Interim Deputy Superintendent who will assist in the day-to-day District operations during this time of transition.
The Board of Education tapped Ginger Shattuck, retired Norwalk-La Mirada Unified Superintendent with a 40-year history with the District, to serve as Interim Superintendent after former Superintendent Dr. Ruth Perez left the District for a position as Deputy Superintendent at the Los Angeles Unified School District.
However, state retirement law limits the number of hours Shattuck can work, which will reduce the number of hours she can be compensated for. Beginning in January, she will spend two days a week in the office.
To help with District operations, the District appointed Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Wayne Shannon to the post of Interim Deputy Superintendent, effective Feb. 1.
“I’ll be somebody who can help with day-to-day decisions necessary to operate the District,” he said.
“Decisions that have long term implications, those regarding the District’s vision, mission, or higher level board decisions will still be routed through Interim Superintendent Shattuck.”
The Board of Education on Jan. 5 met with search firm Dave Long & Associates to launch the superintendent search process and to establish qualities the Board wants in a new leader for Norwalk-La Mirada Unified.
“This is an exciting time for our District,” Board of Education President Jesse Urquidi said. “The Board is focused on selecting a strong leader who will continue to support the District’s mission to provide the best educational opportunities for all students.”
In the meantime, Shattuck and Shannon will work together to ensure a seamless transition so Norwalk-La Mirada students continue to have access to a rigorous instructional program that prepares them for their futures.
“Mr. Shannon and I have a strong working relationship and l am confident that we can continue increasing student achievement and success in Norwalk-La Mirada Unified, while also collaborating with staff, teachers, parents and our Board of Education to achieve our goals,” Shattuck said.
Shannon joined the District in 1996 as a substitute teacher, when Shattuck was serving as Superintendent. He became a middle school teacher, assistant principal and principal before being promoted to director and ultimately assistant superintendent of human resources.
He is not receiving a salary increase for serving as deputy superintendent.
“This gives me a great opportunity to serve the Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District,” Shannon said. “I couldn’t be happier that the Board has shown their confidence in me to serve in this capacity.”
Chamber of Commerce to Host “Meet the Candidates”
La Mirada~The Chamber of Commerce will host a “Meet the Candidates” forum at their monthly Tuesday breakfast at the Holiday Inn January 6th from 8:00-9:30 a.m.
The candidates will be given a few minutes to speak and will handle a few questions from the audience. Cost is $15.
At the time this article was written, all candidates are expected to attend including Ed Eng, Dale Nowicki, John Sarega, Tony Aiello, Steve DeRuse, Larry Mowles, and Mik Saenz.
The Holiday Inn Select is located at 14299 Firestone Boulevard adjacent to the 5 freeway in La Mirada.
Seven File for Three Seats for La Mirada City Council
La Mirada~Three seats are for grabs in the 2015 La Mirada City Council election and seven individuals have filed for a chance at a seat.
Councilman Steve Jones, first elected in 1998, has decided to retire and not seek a fifth term in a city with no term limits.
The two other seats available are Steve DeRuse and current Mayor Larry Mowles, both are seeking a second term after winning the seats of longtime Councilmen Hal Malkin and Pete Dames four years ago, after they retired.
DeRuse and Mowles will go up against challengers Ed Eng, executive director of the Los Angeles County Economy and Efficiencies Commission; Michael Saenz, a business consultant; Dale Nowicki, an attorney; current Councilman Andrew Sarega’s father, John, a commercial property owner, and the founder and editor of this website, Tony Aiello, a La Mirada native.
Two Killed in Collision on First Avenue
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| Fire department personnel cut the victims out of both vehicles but both died at the scene. Photo courtesy Bayli Zaharis |
Whittier~Two people died in a head-on collision early New Years Day at First Avenue and Candlelight Drive just outside of the La Mirada city limits.
The accident occurred about 1:30 a.m. in the unincorporated area of Whittier.
An unidentified woman in her forties and and a man in his twenties died at the scene.
The cause of the violent crash is still unknown as officials investigate.
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