The Olive Fest Has Arrived Again in La Mirada
La Mirada~It’s olive season in La Mirada and that means it’s time for the 5th annual La Mirada Olive Fest Saturday, September 20th from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at beautiful La Mirada Regional Park.
What began as the La Mirada Blog Fest in 2010, the event has quickly become the ultimate La Mirada community celebration held every third Saturday of September.
"These early years are our first steps in bringing back some really prestigious events from the past in La Mirada such as the Fiesta de Artes and Celebration in the Park," says Olive Fest and La Mirada Blog founder Tony Aiello.
The free event will feature craft vendors, an art walk, food from local vendors and restaurants and representatives from community businesses and organizations.
Live entertainment on-stage will be continuous for the duration of the Fest performed by La Mirada-based groups and performers.
Added this year is a car exhibit and a kids-activity area with crafts provided by Home Depot and other community groups.
For more information email lmolivefest@gmail.com and visit the Facebook page here.
New La Mirada Starbucks Celebrating With Grand Opening Ceremony
La Mirada~The new Starbucks in La Mirada will be hosting a grand opening celebration Wednesday September 17th from 3:00-7:00 p.m. at the company’s new store located at the southeast corner of La Mirada Boulevard and Imperial Highway in La Mirada.
There will be a ribbon cutting and ceremony for the new La Mirada Chamber of Commerce member beginning at 3:00 p.m. and will include La Mirada Mayor Larry Mowles.
The store will be offering customers and guests free samples of snacks and treats.
Live entertainment will be provided in the parking lot during the event.
Preparing for Emergencies Discussed at Ebell Meeting
Club to hear why being prepared is the better option
Andrew Vialpando will stress the importance of "Emergency Preparedness" at the 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 10 meeting of La Mirada Ebell Club at Splash, 13806 La Mirada Blvd., La Mirada. Vialpando is an administrative analyst for the City of La Mirada.
Mary Abbott, repeating as president, will recognize Lesley Watson as the newest Club member. Formed in 1956, the non-profit group meets the 2nd Wednesday of the month, September-June, to plan fundraising projects. A recent Bunco party netted $1500.00 of the Club's 2014-15 goal of presenting $1,000.00 scholarships to four college-bound high school graduates, Abbott said.
Also serving are: Eva Saenz, membership; Michele Brunmier, ways and means; Susan Cable, program; Socorro Frias, secretary; Rebecca Cline, treasurer; and Marjorie Murphy, parliamentarian.
Guests are welcome at any meeting. For more information call (562) 698-7639.
Buena Park to Shut Down La Mirada Boulevard for Three-Day Festival
Buena Park~City Council members here recently voted to allow La Mirada Boulevard to be closed for three days for the 31st OC Korean Arirang Festival and La Mirada officials say it is impractical and may have a negative impact on surrounding neighborhoods.
The Korean cultural celebration, which will feature a wide variety of shows and food, is taking place September 26th through the 28th on La Mirada Boulevard. The roadway would be closed to traffic between Beach Blvd. and Alondra Blvd. from 10 p.m. on Thursday Sept. 26, to 6 a.m. on Monday Sept. 29, with westbound lanes not expected to be open until 10 a.m. on Monday.
The closure is entirely within Buena Park, but it is right at La Mirada’s southern boundary.
La Mirada city officials say serious traffic issues are expected to result from the Buena Park decision and major traffic impacts are expected to result from the closure throughout the weekend according to a statement released to the La Mirada Blog.
La Mirada city officials have repeatedly expressed concerns to Buena Park that a closure for such an extended period of time will create an extreme hardship for the traveling public and result in parking and noise issues in the surrounding neighborhoods.
They urged Buena Park to consider a more suitable location for the event that wouldn’t have such potential negative impacts on motorists and local residents. These concerns went mostly ignored, the statement read.
“La Mirada city staff spoke against the closure at Buena Park’s City Council meeting when this item was discussed,” says La Mirada City Manager Jeff Boynton.
“Additionally, we sent correspondence to Buena Park officials reinforcing our concerns and requesting Buena Park consider an alternate location for the event.”
The Buena Park City Council voted to approve the event’s La Mirada Blvd. location anyway, on a 3-1 vote, with Councilwoman Elizabeth Swift voting against the closure.
Kelly Oh, Arirang Festival Foundation of Orange County representative told us, “We are trying to comply with the city’s (La Mirada) concerns. We will be providing quality programs and shows and we hope La Mirada residents will enjoy it as well.”
This past October, the 30th annual event took place in Buena Park within the confines of the McComber Shopping Center at the southeast corner of Beach Blvd. and Malvern Avenue.
OBITUARY: Beloved La Mirada Community Figure
Longtime La Mirada resident Vivian Waples passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Friday August 22, 2014. Vivian lived in La Mirada since 1956; she was a retired school teacher who spent much of her time helping others. Vivian taught and volunteered at both Foster Road and Escalona schools. She helped Escalona’s PTA and their reading for success program-reading to students five days a week. She also tutored students at Windermere’s after school program.
She was very active in her church and was a member of several La Mirada organizations such as the Volunteer Center Board of Directors, the Historical Heritage Commission, Friends of McNally Ranch, Meals on Wheels, and the Neighborhood Watch.
She enjoyed working with children and giving tours of the Neff house for the many student field trips. She volunteered at the sheriff's station twice a week and went door to door passing out the Neighborhood Watch Newsletters.
EXCLUSIVE: School District Superintendent Reflects with La Mirada Blog
Dr. Ruth Perez, The Superintendent of the Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District for the five past years, recently announced she is leaving the district to become Deputy Superintendent at the Los Angeles Unified School District, the second largest in the Nation with an enrollment of over 600,000 students.
Her first day at LAUSD will be September 15th and her last day at NLMUSD will be September 11th.
She came to NLMUSD in 2009 after a nationwide search to replace Ginger Shattuck who retired after 15 years on the job.
She served as chief academic officer at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School District in North Carolina the previous three years.
In her new role she will work directly under the tutelage of LAUSD Superintendent Dr. John Deasey and will oversee area superintendents in the district and will be in charge of instruction and leadership.
Perez spoke with me over the telephone Wednesday morning.
Decision: “I didn’t seek out this position. The opportunity came to me. It really wasn’t about the money. Financially, it’s not much difference. This is a lifetime opportunity. When in a lifetime do you get a chance to have an impact on 650,000 kids? It took me a while to decide after prayer and reflection. I truly loved every day I showed up work here (NLMUSD). This is a phenomenal district. It’s hard to leave; I have a good gig here and I love serving the two communities.”
Accomplishments: “We have a hard working, emotionally-connected, dedicated staff that has achieved a lot these last five years. As a leader, you provide the focus and everyone else does the work. Our graduation rate has continued to climb, the dropout rate continues to decline and our English Learner Program is one of the top performing (in the State) at 84% (efficiency). I feel so good about our district.”
Future: "I am honored, and go into my new job humbly. I’m leaving a wonderful district, but look forward to new challenges. It’s all about giving to needy kids. I know from personal life experience that a solid education is the ticket to get out of poverty; to turn kids into contributors. That’s how our country works.”
La Mirada Little League Hosting Players From Japan
La Mirada~Players from La Mirada Little League and Isehara, Japan will take part in an exhibition contest at Behringer Park in La Mirada beginning at 5:00 p.m. tonight.
The game is part of a week-long schedule of activities for the Japanese youngsters that are visiting in La Mirada. The program, organized by former city councilman Pete Dames and co-sponsored by the City of La Mirada has been in existence for over 30 years.
The players will be attending a Dodger game and visiting the Grand Canyon during their stay and on Saturday at 4:00 p.m players from LMLL, LMBA, and Japan will play on teams consisting of players of all leagues "mixed-up" as part of their farewell games activities. Those games will also be played at Behringer.
NLMUSD Superintendent Ruth Perez Resigns
Norwalk~Dr. Ruth Perez, Superintendent of the Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District since 2009 has resigned, the La Mirada Blog has learned from our sources.
Reportedly she has accepted a post at the Los Angeles Unified School District as Deputy Superintendent for the 600,000+ pupil district, the second largest in the nation.
The timing is precarious as the district recently approved going to the public this November to ask for $375 million in long-term bond funds in the form of Measure G.
She announced the resignation to the district Leadership Team in closed session last night.
We will report further as it becomes available.
UPDATE 12:37 082014: Dr. Perez opened up to the La Mirada Blog about her decision to leave in a phone interview conducted within the last hour. We will post her comments soon right here.
Water Main Break Affecting La Mirada Residents
La Mirada~Around 9:00 p.m. tonight a water main break occurred just east of the Mansa/De Alcala intersection in La Mirada affecting an unknown amount of residents at this time.
081214 13:20 UPDATE: Suburban Water Systems is finishing up the repair of the break and their office has told the La Mirada Blog that all residents affected by the outage should see normal water pressure restored within three hours.
Sporting News Grill Coming to La Mirada; Troop 919 Gets Eagle Scout; Latest La Mirada News Bites #2
Use 24-hour Graffiti Hotline to Report Vandalism
The City of La Mirada provides a 24-hour Graffiti Removal Hotline as part of its aggressive graffiti abatement efforts. In most cases, graffiti on public property or within the right-of-way can be removed within one day of notice.
Graffiti vandalism is unsightly and may encourage further vandalism or other criminal activity. Residents and businesses can assist the La Mirada Public Safety Team by reporting graffiti immediately. A $1,000 cash reward may be given for information leading to the arrest and conviction of a graffiti vandal.
The 24-hour Graffiti Removal Hotline is: (714) 522-5858 and to report graffiti online, click here to submit a report.
To report a crime in progress, call 9-11 or the Community Sheriff's Station at (562) 902-2960. Be a good witness and gather as much information as possible, such as
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| BEFORE AND AFTER: Patrick Perez of Boy Scout Troop 919 shows the playhouse he built to replace the old one at Hoover Elementary as part of his Eagle Scout Project |
a description of the suspect, license plate information, and direction of travel. Never put yourself in danger by intervening with a crime in progress. For graffiti prevention tips, visit www.cityoflamirada.org.
Boy Scout Troop 919 Whittier/La Mirada Produces Another Eagle Scout
Scouts, Leaders and Committee Members of Troop 919 recently announced with great pleasure that Patrick A. Perez has been found worthy of the rank of Eagle Scout.
For his project Patrick removed a dilapidated log cabin playhouse at Hoover Elementary in Whittier and built a new larger and safer "one room schoolhouse" play house to replace it.
Patrick’s Eagle Ceremony took place this past May at the Community Presbyterian Church of La Mirada.
District Graduation Rate Increases
The Norwalk-La Mirada unified School District is reporting the district graduated 93.9 percent of its 1,599 high school seniors last year, a 1.5 percentage-point increase over 2011-12, according to data released by the California Department of Education. Dropout rates also fell to 3.1 percent, as opposed to 8.8 percent in 2009-10.
Student From La Mirada One of Five Recepients
Denny’s, one of America's largest full-service family restaurant chains, and the Magic Johnson Foundation, one of the most recognizable philanthropic organizations in the world aimed at empowering underserved communities, today announced the recipients of their 2014 Shami Sall Memorial Scholarship.
Three high school students – Malanna Wheat (Los Angeles), Alexis Lorenz (La Cañada) and Philip Thompson (Oxnard) – and two college students – Zoey Cigar Hodge (Los Angeles) and Micah Earley (La Mirada) – will each receive a $2,500 scholarship on behalf of the restaurant chain and non-profit organization. The winners will also be publically recognized by representatives from Denny’s and the Magic Johnson Foundation this fall.
All five winners submitted an essay depicting his or her life story and how one can live by Shami Sall’s personal mantra – “give a hand up instead of a handout.” Applicants also submitted two letters of recommendation from a community leader, teacher or principal along with a copy of his or her most recent GPA. Essays were reviewed and judged by the Magic Johnson Foundation.
The eponymous scholarship was started in 2013 to honor the memory of Shami Sall, a much-loved and admired senior director of operations at Denny’s who passed away in 2012. The scholarship is part of Denny’s Hungry for Education program, which will provide more than $200,000 in scholarships to deserving high school and college students in partnerships with eight leading non-profit minority advocacy organizations this year.
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