La Mirada Resident Ran Over and Killed While Crossing the Street
News

La Mirada Resident Ran Over and Killed While Crossing the Street


Officials investigated well into the morning in La Mirada following a fatal pedestrian accident at Valley View Avenue and Foster Road.

Detective: Pedestrian appears to have had the right of way

La Mirada~An elderly woman was killed as she was crossing the street, apparently in the crosswalk, this morning in La Mirada.

The incident occurred around 7:20 a.m. at the intersection of Valley View and Foster Road in the number one northbound lane.

Conner Penfold reported the incident to the La Mirada Blog hotline at 7:33 a.m., moments after it happened saying, "there was a crowd of people around the vehicle and a woman crying hysterically on the phone and another woman comforting her."

This afternoon, Detective Anna of the Norwalk Sheriff Station traffic division told the La Mirada Blog it appears the victim was crossing the street in the crosswalk and had the right of way.

He did not indicate whether the driver, who was driving a Honda CRV, was going against a red light or not.

"The driver has been fully cooperative, is licensed, fully insured and at this point of the investigation there is no indication of high speed, alcohol or drugs being involved," Anna said, "It seems to be a tragic accident."

Anna confirmed the victim was 80 years old, a La Mirada resident but withheld her name at this time. The identity of the driver is also being withheld at this time.

Anna said, "We will be conducting a thorough investigation," to determine the cause.

See additonal photos on our Flickr feed here.

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Red Robin La Mirada Remains Closed
News

Red Robin La Mirada Remains Closed

La Mirada~The Red Robin restaurant in La Mirada hopefully will reopen under the same name as patrons were caught off guard recently when the eatery suddenly closed.

The La Mirada Rotary Club were surprised when member Hal Malkin showed up for the meeting recently and the door was locked, forcing the club to move across the street to the Elephant Bar.

Director of Sales and Marketing for the Holiday Inn Select Garry Abel told the La Mirada Blog that the hotel has outsourced the banquet and restaurant operations, which is part of the hotel building, to La Mirada Restaurant Inc. for the past 15 years.

He said the owner of the hotel, Cathedral Hill Associates (CHA) has now taken over the lease and the kitchen and banquet operations.

CHA also owns two other hotels, the Doubletree Guest Suites in Seattle and the Doubletree Hotel in Dallas.

Abel said, “We are currently negotiating with Red Robin to hopefully have them stay (here in La Mirada).”

As of now, the restaurant remains closed.

La Mirada Chamber of Commerce Pre-Holiday Mixer
Community

La Mirada Chamber of Commerce Pre-Holiday Mixer

La Mirada~The community is invited to get into the spirit of the season at the La Mirada Chamber of Commerce Pre-Holiday Mixer Thursday night December 5th from 5-8 p.m. at the Imperial Medical Plaza Building, 15651 E. Imperial Highway in La Mirada.

There will be at least 15 businesses participating with each business serving food & drinks. Each adult will be given a "passport" to take to each business and the business will sign off. A free raffle ticket for each adult will be given for every business that signs the passport (15 max).

The La Mirada Chamber of Commerce will also be selling single raffle tickets at $1.00 per ticket.The raffle will have over $1,200 in prizes including an ipad, which is the grand prize.

The Chamber is sponsoring the Heights Christian Schools-La Mirada Campus and all money raised will be donated to the school.

 

Alumni Game Signals Start of Season for Boys Hoops
Sports

Alumni Game Signals Start of Season for Boys Hoops

Competing in Division 3AA, Mats look to be one of top teams in area

La Mirada~It’s the signal of the start of another boys basketball season at La Mirada High as the annual Alumni Basketball Game was played this past Thursday featuring the stars of yesterday and the stars of today in front of around 300 fans at La Mirada High Gymnasium.

The Matadores beat the alumni 77-65, but the score didn’t matter.

The alumni games are always entertaining affairs as the teams play a little loose and the crowd gets its first glimpse at the new squad for the upcoming season.

The alumni players that participated in this year’s contest were La Mirada assistant coach Charlie Torres (class of 2002), Jet Soto (2009), Miles Aiello (2010), Connor Gillette (2010), Matadore JV head coach Mike Estrada (2010), Nicco Quinones (2011), Sean Nakahara and Cody Mahaffey (2012) and from 2013, Kane Fetui, Sean Porter, Charlie Reid and Tyler Payne.

2013-14 LA MIRADA SEASON PREVIEW

The 2013-14 campaign will be the third at the helm for head coach Bryce Jones and his assistants are Charlie Torres (4th season) and Shea Frazee (3rd).

The Matadores lost in the opening round in last year’s CIF-SS Division 3AAA playoffs, 74-50 to Compton.

The first thing you notice about the Matadores this year is the addition of Kendall Lauderdale and Lucio Bolado.

Laudederdale, the 6’8” junior transfer from Orange Lutheran and Division 1 prospect is a strong player who faces up on the basket well, is good inside and can also hit a jump shot and is expected to make an immediate impact.

Bolado is a senior transfer from La Verne Lutheran. He possesses ball-handling skills that bring instant success to any high school program. His play in preseason has earned him a spot in the starting line-up as point guard.

Starting point last year Senior Deion Golffin is currently out with a broken foot. He told the La Mirada Blog he expects to be back, “when league starts.”

City’s Annual Toy & Food Drive Ongoing Until December 16th
Community

City’s Annual Toy & Food Drive Ongoing Until December 16th

La Mirada~Help those in need this holiday season during La Mirada's annual Holiday Toy & Food Drive. Through Dec. 16, donations of new, unwrapped toys and nonperishable food items will be collected at the following City facilities: Activity Center, Resource Center, Community Gymnasium, Community Sheriff's Station, Splash! and at City Hall.

Donations will help provide holiday food boxes for La Mirada families in need this holiday season.  Donated items will be distributed to the following local organizations:  Beatitudes of Our Lord, La Mirada Volunteer Center, St. Paul of the Cross, and Interfaith Food Center.

For more information, call (562) 902-3160.


Keeping Tradition Alive; La Mirada Rotary Club Lends a Hand to Families During the Holidays
Community

Keeping Tradition Alive; La Mirada Rotary Club Lends a Hand to Families During the Holidays


ROTARY ASSISTS GOOD SAM PANTRY – La Mirada Rotary Club President Sean Bracey presents $700 worth of turkeys, canned goods and other items to Carmen Rawson of the Good Sam Pantry at Beatitudes Church in La Mirada.  The donation was one of several Rotary activities during the holiday period to assist needy families in the local area.

La Mirada~The Rotary Club of La Mirada has been serving the community for over 50 years, and this year is no exception as the club is conducting three activities during this holiday season to assist local needy families.

The first two projects were held in the days leading up to Thanksgiving and the third will be held prior to Christmas.

Rotarians donated $700 in turkeys, canned goods and other food items to the Good Sam Pantry at Beatitudes Church in La Mirada.  Rotarians purchased the food at the new Walmart Neighborhood Market, located at Imperial Highway and La Mirada Boulevard, on the morning of Thursday, Nov. 21. The food was distributed to needy families that afternoon by volunteers at the Good Sam Pantry.

Rotarians also arranged for the purchase of $750 worth of turkey dinners from Polly’s Pies located at Beach Boulevard and Rosecrans Avenue in La Mirada.  The food was served by youth volunteers to hundreds of local residents at the annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner at Foster Road Elementary School.  The project was a joint effort by La Mirada Rotary, Kiwanis, Living Faith Church, Calvary Chapel and Polly’s Pies.

WEEKEND READ: Office Manager of LM Meals on Wheels Marks 30 Years With Group
Community

WEEKEND READ: Office Manager of LM Meals on Wheels Marks 30 Years With Group

La Mirada~Family, friends, and colleagues gathered this past Saturday, on a beautiful La Mirada fall late afternoon, at the home of Gary & Diane Smith to celebrate Robin Miller’s 30 years of service as the office manager for La Mirada Meals on Wheels.

Guests were greeted by light entertainment, food & drinks, and picture-perfect weather.

After some volunteering for the City of La Mirada and the La Mirada Volunteer Center (then at Kling Center), it was 1983 when Miller was asked by then Meals on Wheels office manager Pat Blanford if she was interested in the job.

She became the office manager for the program in December of that year-and has been there ever since. She has been with Meals on Wheels for 30 of its 38 years


Marcy Mannan and Robin Miller are the office team for La Mirada Meals on Wheels which has been serving the community since 1975. Miller recently celebrated 30 years with the organization. Photo Tony Aiello

of existence.

The Board of Directors presented her with a gift certificate to a RV resort and an engraved necklace as a show of appreciation.

The Meals on Wheels (MOW) program debuted in La Mirada on April 1, 1975 established and modeled after a similar program in Whittier. The program offers a daily hot meal delivery service to the elderly, disabled and temporary and chronically ill residents, along with maintaining a year-round relationship with them.

This assists in allowing them to remain self-sufficient in their own homes. Meals on Wheels also helps family members of clients have peace of mind in knowing that their loved ones are being looked after each day.

The meals were originally prepared at the old La Mirada Community Hospital. When the hospital closed, Whittier Hospital offered to prepare the meals. Then in 2009, Miller and others negotiated with Portofino Ristorante Italiano of La Habra to take over the preparation, offering a respite from “hospital food.” Special diet meals are also prepared.

The meals are driven to their destinations by a volunteer work force that uses their own vehicles and fuel. As part of her office duties, Miller organizes the volunteers and their routes.

Foster Road Hosts Thanksgiving Dinner for Community
Community

Foster Road Hosts Thanksgiving Dinner for Community

THANKSGIVING MEALS – Hundreds of local residents enjoyed a early Thanksgiving meal at Foster Road Elementary School in La Mirada.  The Rotary Club of La Mirada joined with several other organizations to provide funding for the dinner

La Mirada~Foster Road Elementary School hosted a Thanksgiving dinner last Thursday, Nov. 21 for about 500 residents of La Mirada, including the school’s students and their families.

La Mirada Mayor Steve De Ruse, Mayor Pro Tem Lawrence Mowles, Councilman Steve Jones and City Manager Jeff Boynton were all on hand to welcome families to the 15th annual Thanksgiving Dinner. Principal Dr. Jean Maddox said the dinner is Foster Road’s way of saying “thank you” to the community that supports the elementary school year round.

“This dinner is really about thanking the community for supporting us,” Maddox said. “It also teaches students about service and modeling gratitude for what we really do have.”

Students from El Camino High School and Southeast Academy acted as servers to the guests, who dined on turkey, mashed potatoes and corn. The Foster Road PTA was also selling delectable desserts, such as pumpkin pie, as a fundraiser.

Maddox said the dinner started 15 years ago as a way for the school to recognize their students and parents. The event started to grow, however, when the students – who moved on to middle and high school – came back for the annual feast.

Victim of Alondra Bus Stop Shooting Identified
News

Victim of Alondra Bus Stop Shooting Identified

La Mirada~Authorities have identified a man apparently shot to death while sitting on a bus bench on Alondra Boulevard just east of Heron Avenue this past Sunday night.

The coroner’s office said yesterday Frank Mario Sainz, 46, of Norwalk was pronounced dead shortly after he was found lying in a pool of blood.

An autopsy performed indicated Sainz died from multiple gunshot wounds and the cause of death has been ruled a homicide, the office said.

There has been no suspect information or possible motive mentioned at this point of the investigation.

At this time, homicide officials believe the victim was seated at the bus bench, perhaps waiting for the next bus, when he was shot.

The victim was found by a Metro bus driver, laying in a pool of blood, about 6:10 p.m. The driver then called authorities.

See the brief interview with the driver moments after the discovery and other exclusive videos of the scene on our YouTube channel here.

The La Mirada Blog first reported the incident on its Twitter feed at 6:16 p.m.

If you have any info about the incident please contact the L.A. County Sheriff's Department's Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500.

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