La Mirada High Students Get Dose of Reality in Filming of DUI Incident Reenactment
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La Mirada~On June 3 and 4, 2013, select students from La Mirada High School will take part in the "Every 15 Minutes" event.
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| Crews film mock crash scene in front of La Mirada High School recently. photo Tony Aiello |
The program, started by the Chico Police Department in 1995, is a two-day event focusing on high school juniors and seniors, challenging them to think about drinking, driving, personal safety, and the responsibility of making mature decisions.
It is conducted at high schools throughout the country and is designed to bring awareness to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration statistic that someone dies in an alcohol related auto accident every 15 minutes in the United States.
Held every other year in La Mirada since 2001, around the time of high school prom and graduation, Every 15 Minutes provides students with a realistic look at the destruction of a drunken driving auto accident involving their classmates.
A number of La Mirada High School students were selected as volunteers to play the role of teenagers involved in a fatal auto accident, featuring a simulated car collision, injured victims, and Sheriff, Fire, and ambulance personnel responding to the scene.
Coordinated by the La Mirada Public Safety Team and officials from La Mirada High School, the two-day realistic event will commence with a visit to a local mortuary and a mock memorial service for several students involved in a hypothetical drinking and driving accident. The Every 15 Minutes program will end with a video demonstration of the auto accident at an assembly on campus the following day. "
“The goal of the Every 15 Minutes program is to make certain that students have an understanding of the serious consequences involved when drinking and driving," explains Safety Education Officer Mary Cipres.
Cipres said well over 20 students participated in the filming and other aspects of the program, "Even if it prevents only one student from drinking and driving, the effort is well worth it," she said.
La Mirada Volunteer Center Robbed at Gunpoint
La Mirada~Thieves ran off with some cash, but no one was injured as the La Mirada Volunteer Center was robbed this past Thursday afternoon in broad daylight.
The incident occurred around 3:50 p.m. in the lobby of the center located at 11900 La Mirada Blvd in La Mirada.
There were no clients present and only two employees were on duty when two men entered the building, brandished a handgun and demanded money, sources tell us.
The Volunteer Center handles and processes individuals with court-ordered volunteer requirements.
An undisclosed amount of money was obtained by the thieves.
©2013 La Mirada Blog
Weekly La Mirada Crime Report: Purse Stolen From Vehicle on Santa Gertrudes
The following is the crime report for La Mirada May 6-12, 2013:
Aggravated Assault-Two assaults were reported last week. An incident was reported near Alegciras Dr. and Stanton Ave. The incident is under investigation. An assault occurred on the 11900 block of Hartdale Ave. A suspect was taken into custody in connection with the incident.
Residential Burglary-Four burglaries were reported last week. An incident was reported on the 16400 block of Murphy Rd. There was no loss from the home. Jewelry and cash were reported stolen from a residence on the 12200 block of Santa Gertrudes Ave. A burglary was reported on the 16200 block of Alpine Pl. The rear kitchen window screen was removed to gain entry. An incident was reported on the 15300 block of Normandy Ln. Deputies made arrests in connection with the incident.
Other Structure Burglary-A burglary to a business was reported on the 13800 block of Imperial Hwy. A display case was stolen from the location.
Vehicle Burglary-A window smash burglary was reported on the 15200 block of Santa Gertrudes Ave. A purse was taken from the vehicle. A burglary also occurred on the 14800 block of Springford Dr. Various items were stolen from the vehicle.
Take a Self-Guided Tour of Residential Gardens in La Mirada
La Mirada~The Arts Colony of La Mirada is proud to present their 2013 “Art in the Garden Tour,” Sunday May 19th from 1:00-4:00 p.m.
The starting point is at the last remaining original olive grove in La Mirada located on the southwestern edge of the Biola University campus.
From there, guests may purchase a ticket for $10 and will receive a map to continue their self-drive tour of residential gardens in La Mirada.
Light refreshments will be served and artwork will be on display and available for purchase at each garden site.
For more information call (562) 941-4116 or (714) 522-8157.
The Arts Colony of La Mirada is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization supporting the visual arts in La Mirada since 1963.
Relay for Life La Mirada at Splash!
La Mirada~The Relay for Life La Mirada will take place Saturday 9:00 a.m. until Sunday 9:00 a.m. at Splash! Regional Aquatics Center in La Mirada.
There will be food trucks, games, entertainment, and tons of fun!
On Saturday at 5 p.m., Polynesian dance group glory of Paradise will perform.
For $5.00, the water slide at Bucaneer Bay will be open from 12:00-3:00 p.m. Children must be with parent to sign waiver.
Each year, more than 4 million people in over 20 countries raise much-needed funds and awareness to save lives from cancer through the Relay for Life movement.
Cerritos Speech and Debate Team to Visit La Mirada High
La Mirada~The Cerritos College Speech and Debate team will be visiting the campus of La Mirada High School on Friday, May 17th at 11 a.m.
The Cerritos team will demonstrate and inform the students about the opportunities and benefits that can be obtained from Forensics, which is the overall objective of their visit said member Miles Aiello.
“We will be giving students information that is essential to any individual who is determined to becoming a confident and collective speaker,” Aiello added, “Furthermore, students will learn the benefits of scholarship money that is available to collegiate students who excel in Forensics.”
In addition, the team will be conducting several demonstrations of some of the skills they work on such as dramatic interpretation and impromptu, persuasive speech.
Forensics is an excellent opportunity to sharpen your public speaking skills and the club believes it is valuable to any individual who wants to become a poised and intelligent speaker, which is exactly what they hope to relay to the students at La Mirada.
La Mirada SeniorNet Helps Keep Everyone Up to Speed on the Web
La Mirada~SeniorNet's dedicated group of volunteers are at the heart of the La Mirada SeniorNet Learning Center Program; instructing, coaching, and always working in the background.
SeniorNet was started in 1986 as a research project and has grown to over 80 learning centers worldwide. Each center helps adults age 50+ enter the "Information Age.”
At the La Mirada SeniorNet Learning Center, each student will use a desktop computer, a flat screen monitor, and an optical mouse. Students receive help as needed. Our classes are small and taught by volunteer instructors and coaches (usually 50+).
Our comfortable, well lit classroom uses an overhead projection system with an 8'x 8' screen and a sound amplification system. Please note that enrollment is subject to certain prerequisites.
Specialized programs offered by La Mirada SeniorNet include:
WORKSHOP-“Personalize Your Computer” Learn simple changes to your PC to make it easier to use and make it look the way you like it.
WORKSHOP-“Find Your Stuff” Learn the difference between files and folders and how to create them. Organize your information so you can find it when you need it. You will also learn how to drag and drop files and folders from one location to another.
SEMINAR-“Tablets and E-Readers” This 2-hour seminar will provide an overview of the types of tablets on the market and the types of e-readers. An Android tablet, Kindle e-reader, and an Ipad all will be demonstrated.
The next registration opportunity is Friday, May 31st, 2013.
For more information call (562) 902-3177 and leave a message or visit the La Mirada Activity Center, La Mirada Blvd., 13700 La Mirada, CA 90638 and pick up a brochure or visit www.lmseniornet.com
MAY REAL ESTATE REPORT: Low Inventory of Homes for Sale in La Mirada
REAL ESTATE
Looking at the last three years, 494 homes sold in 2012, 424 sold in 2011 and 439 sold in 2010.
Prior to the financial melt down that lead to this recession, one could expect an average of 610 properties selling each year to new home owners-about 50 homes sold per month.
Today, we are down to 35 homes per month.
We have a tad over 15,000 homes in the city. With the exception of the Hillsborough homes on the East side of town. Most homes were built in the late 50’s and early 60’s.
I want to share this basic information about the city housing units because unlike the media that is basically ignoring and/or trying to put a positive spin on the National and Southern California real estate market, the reality is that the old real estate adage “Location, Location and Location” is still the best base-line to determine what is happening to property values.
The Median household income in La Mirada is about $83,000, while the State’s median income is just under $59,000 dollars. I mention this because in reviewing the foreclosure activity for this report, I discovered that there are more foreclosures in the Hillsborough part of town than in the Foster Park area where the average median income level is much lower.
Since the beginning of the year, a full 28% of La Mirada homes have been sold due to a financial crisis (foreclosure). It is interesting to note that the Hillsborough area has seen more foreclosures than the Foster Park area.
Currently there are 93 properties in some stage of the foreclosure process. Again, Hillsborough leads the foreclosure activity with 14 foreclosures compared to the Foster Park area with only 10 Foreclosures. This should easily reveal to all residents that the economic recession is hitting the high income earners as well.
The most expensive property so far to be closed in La Mirada is on Placid Dr., which sold at a foreclosure auction on March 28, 2013 for $1,108,622 dollars.
Finally, 73 properties are pending sales in La Mirada and 20 properties have been canceled.
That’s the big picture for all of us to see. Now what does that mean to the individual home owner?
It means that the inventory of homes for sale in La Mirada is at an all time low!
As you can see from the chart, the blue line is rising and the green bar is falling. You can also see by the slope of the blue line that the gap is increasing quickly and we may have a mini-boom in property values this summer. But it will not be due to any economic recovery. It will be due to the lack of inventory of homes to sell in the city.
Banks continue to hold their REO (Real Estate Owned) inventories in their pockets or are selling them to long term investors to hold for at lest three years. La Mirada home ownership used to be over 87% it’s now down to 79% with many homes renting for over $1600/month.
How long this will go on is anyone’s guess.
La Mirada Weekly Crime Report; Vehicle Stolen From Talbot Drive
The following is the La Mirada crime report for April 29 - May 5, 2013
Residential Burglary-Four residential burglaries were reported last week. A burglary was reported on the 15000 block of Leffingwell Rd. Cash, jewelry, and electronics were stolen from the home; An incident was reported on the 16000 block of Orsa Dr. The location was under the fumigation process when the incident occurred; A burglary was reported on the 15400 block of Alondra Blvd; An incident was reported on the 15300 block of Pastrana Dr; The suspect was subsequently taken into custody after being involved in a traffic collision nearby.
Other Structure Burglary-Two commercial burglaries were reported last week. The locations were two separate businesses located on the 15700 block of Imperial Hwy. A cash box containing a small amount of currency was taken from one of the businesses.
Vehicle Burglary-A window smash burglary was reported on the 12000 block of La Mirada Blvd. A purse was stolen from the vehicle.
Grand Theft-One grand theft was reported last week on the 15500 block of Talbot Drive. A catalytic converter was stolen from a Honda Accord.
Grand Theft Vehicle-A vehicle was reported stolen from the 13200 block of Flemington Court. The vehicle was recovered several days later by the Industry Sheriff's Station, two suspects were arrested in connection with the incident.
New Company Provides Fashionable Service for Women
A new fashion and beauty service is available for women in the comfort of their own home.
Fashionable Fete, based in La Mirada, and founded by Beauty Director Erin Benke and Creative Director Susie Mederios, is a service that hosts parties, providing beauty and fashion consulting.
Along with a third associate, Stylist Manager Caryn Valdeserri, they teach the everyday woman the importance of skincare, and techniques such as how to apply foundation properly and how to create a “smoky eye”, and so much more, but they turn the beauty lesson into a party format.
They also offer personal shopping services such as assistance with pulling complete outfits and accessories at stores and personal styling services such as creating complete outfits by assessing what the client already has in her closet.
Their goal is to have every woman leave their parties feeling beautiful, refreshed and having learned fashion and beauty tips that she can use in her everyday world.
Benke, who has years of experience in Hollywood as a personal stylist, told the La Mirada Blog that they offer the service keeping household budgets in mind, “With my years of experience in Hollywood on the red carpet and movie sets, I decided to bring my fashion and beauty expertise to the home and for a minimal fee.”
“Women deserve to be appreciated and respected. When a woman feels beautiful, she emanates happiness and she becomes more confident,” Benke said, “When a woman is more confident she gets more respect at work and at home. She is more daring and self-assured and realizes she can conquer the world-one lipstick at a time!”
There is no sales pitch at any of the parties Fashionable Fete hosts.
To schedule an appointment or to get more information on everything Fashionable Fete has to offer call (562) 896-2819, email info@fashionablefete.com or browse their website at fashionablefete.com.
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