Oxman’s Debuts Military Museum
Santa Fe Springs~Oxman's Surplus reopened its doors to the public in a ribbon-cutting ceremony Saturday with a new museum of military memorabilia and a new mess tent café.
Long-time customers, new customers and officials from the La Mirada City Council and the Chamber of Commerce attended the ceremony that included many speakers and military history enthusiasts in World War II-era uniforms.
"Oxman's Surplus is a passion that came from a man who served in World War II," said Jason Oxman, the son of store owner Jerome "Mr. O" Oxman, before the ribbon-cutting ceremony began.
The store, located near the intersection of Rosecrans Avenue and Valley View Street in Santa Fe Springs, has been a fixture for La Mirada and nearby residents looking for surplus military equipment and other accessories since it opened its doors in 1961.
For the first time, the front of Oxman's Surplus will serve as its entrance, where customers will enter Mr. O's collection of military history, ranging from the Medieval period to Operation Iraqi Freedom. In addition, a restaurant serving mess hall items like hot dogs and meals, ready-to-eat (MREs) is located in the renovated wing of the store.
La Mirada Blog’s Preseason 2010-11 All-Suburban League Football Team
Well fans, it looks like we are in for an intriguing football season as this may be one of the better years that the Suburban League has seen in a long time; with talent all over the place at every school. Here is my Preseason All League Team, featuring kids from every team. I hope you enjoy it.
Soon, I will have my preseason overview of each team, including things that I have heard, and things out there, that are just not true.
Preseason ALL SUBURBAN LEAGUE OFFENSE:
QB- Evan Hunko Sr. Mayfair: Looks to close out his four-year campaign as the starting QB with a league title, gaining momentum on the recruiting front after a solid summer.
RB-Aaron Francis Sr. Cerritos: He is looking to take his versatility to an Ivy League school next year, just hasn’t decided which one.
RB-Billy Moore Sr. Norwalk: Looks to build on a successful junior campaign that saw him be one third of a three-headed monster at RB in Norwalk’s vaunted double-wing.
FB- Elijhaa Penny Sr. Norwalk: Mr. U-Dub! He has verbally committed to the University of Washington and will be a key cog in Norwalk’s Offense. He would like nothing more than to be a league champion!
WR-Dejon Bernard Sr. John Glenn: This do-everything athlete for the Eagles scored a TD last season seven different ways. Right now, he is working his tail off to get that scholarship he deserves. He will be the leader of a young Glenn team.
Scouts Pack it in For Celebration
Fort A.P. Hill, VA~Boy Scouts at the National Jamboree filed into the natural arena for the opening show celebrating the 100th anniversary of Scouting in America on July 28, 2010. The scouts sat on a grassy knoll over looking a grandstand with two side mounted massive big screens and holographic pillars. Television personalities Burton Roberts of the Survivor series and Alex Boylan from the Amazing Race kicked off the show by entertaining scouts with various quizzes and games.
Hosting duties for the show were taken over by Anthony Thomas, the recognized two millionth Eagle Scout. He introduced former Eagle Scout and current Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates. Secretary Gates talked to the scouts about the importance of scouting, what it means to him and how it affected his life.
Chief Scout Executive Robert Mazzuca was called to the stage and also talked about what scouting did for him and how it helped shape his life. He was followed by World Wrestling Entertainment superstar Sergeant Slaughter who fired up the audience.
Twelve Days of Madness
La Mirada~On Saturday, August 7th, Phantom Projects of La Mirada presents a performance to feature 10 of Southern California’s Most Talented Young Performers in an Evening of Original Theatre, Dance, Music, Film, and more.
After nearly 100 applications and interviews, 10 young performers have been selected for The 2010 Young Artist Project at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts. The annual event brings together seasoned young artists between the ages of 16 and 23 to merge their unique talents-whether writing, directing, acting, singing, dancing, etc.-in a collaborative effort, developing one-acts, musical numbers, film, and other performance pieces.
The twist? The group has just 12 days to completely create, rehearse, and build the production.
For tickets call (562) 944-9801 or (714) 994-6310 or visit www.phantom projects.com
Starring Suzie Cheng, Shannon Lee Clair, Lyn Cowan, Emily Hwang, Alley N. Iovino, Chris Kato, Shelby Nicole Kern, Cassandra Michaels, Jake Parker, and Lexington Vanderberg.
Troop Arrives at Jamboree
La Mirada~On the morning of July 24, we woke up happy from sleeping in nice soft beds. After breakfast, we shipped out for Arlington. It was a solemn place with perfect rows of white headstones which reminded me how freedom isn't free and that it comes at a heavy price. While we were there, we visited the graves of John Fitzgerald Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, and Ted Kennedy.
We watched the very stylized changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Solider. I have to give these guards some recognition because it 
was 100 degrees at the time. Us Scouts were sweating like crazy while the guard, who were wearing wool uniforms, barely had a line of sweat as they performed their solemn duty.
After Arlington, we moved to one of the most iconic buildings in our country: The Capital. We were visiting the place where our country’s laws are made. As we climbed the steps, I thought about the School House Rock song: “I’m a bill, yes I am only a bill and I am sitting here on Capital Hill.”
Mr. Gardea was able to arrange a tour of the inside of the Capital through Congresswoman Grace Napolitano. Thank you to both.
We had lunch at a huge mall built around the Union Station. From there we moved on to the Smithsonian museums. It quickly became one of my favorite spots. We were only able to get into the Air and Space and the Natural History museums. The Air and Space of course was filled with all kinds of rockets, missiles, airplanes, and space stuff. I especially enjoyed the exhibits on gravity and the early history of the airplanes.
We could have spent the whole day there but we only had about an hour before we had to exit the Air and Space Museum and hike over to the Natural History Museum. We saw all kinds of animals and cool looking plants. It was very similar to the museum in Los Angeles but on a much grander scale. None of the exhibits came alive like the movie but they did have a great gift shop. I bought some gifts for my brother and sister.
After dinner at the Fashion Center, we went to visit Mr. Lincoln. From his chair, he had a clear view of the famous reflecting pool and the Washington Monument. His famous Gettysburg address was etched off to the side. We walked a short distance to the Korean War Memorial which I thought was one of the cooler memorials because it displayed life-like soldier statues moving in formation. Next we paid our respects to the Vietnam memorial. I was amazed when I saw the monument because it seemed to rise out of the ground. So many names were on the wall...
Administration Replaced at La Mirada High School
Norwalk~The Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District board voted to hire a new administration for La Mirada High School Monday.
Michelle Millan, a secretary for Superintendent Dr. Ruth Perez, said the school board approved the hiring of William Seals, an assistant principal at John Glenn High School in Norwalk, as principal and out-of-district candidates Kelly Henderson and Rachel Heenan as assistant principals.
While La Mirada High will not have a third assistant principal, Michael Green, another outside hire, will become the dean of students.
Perez was not available to comment on why the school district replaced the previous administration.
Scouts Eye Nation’s Capital
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| La Mirada Blog's Christopher Guerra in front of our Nation's Capital |
Exclusive! Note: Third entry in a series
Washington D.C.~Five score and about six month ago (February 8, 1910), our scouting fathers brought forth on this continent, a new program to teach this country's youth "responsible leadership, character development, and self-reliance through participation in a wide range of outdoor activities, educational programs, and, at older age levels, career-oriented programs in partnership with community organizations." (Wikipedia)
On the morning of July 23, we pulled ourselves out of bed and filled up at the breakfast buffet. Our first tour of the day was Gettysburg National Park. We toured the many battlefields
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| Troop 826 on the steps of the Capital |
such as Little Round Top that made this place a major turning point in the Civil War. Many American lives were lost on these fields and there are several monuments to remind us all why we should always remain united. In the high temperatures, we slowly climbed an observation tower. From there, we had a magnificent view of the city and park. Our Gettysburg ranger told us how the outnumbered Union army held off the Confederate forces at this site by forming a defensive line in the shape of a fishhook. After the Union victory, President Lincoln later came to Gettysburg to deliver his famous speech.
For lunch, we ate lunch at a place where they had a huge food court of various restaurants. Something for everyone. We ate and headed back to the buses only to find out that Troop 818's (Galaxy) bus driver misplaced his keys. So we waited out in the hot sun until our leaders came up with a plan. It was decided that we would all board the buses with the Galaxy troop taking the empty spaces left on the other three buses. We were grateful to be back on the road and cheered when the cold air finally filled our bus.
We headed towards our nation's capital, Washington D.C. Our first stop was the National Holocaust museum. I was not prepared for what I saw in this museum. It was one of the most heartbreaking, breathtaking, and saddest places I have ever experienced. The one exhibit that got to me the most was the exhibit where you are walking across a bridge and the shoes of the victims were to our sides. We left there with a lot to think about.
Scouts Continue on Their Journey
Second in a series of articles from Christopher Guerra, La Mirada Boy Scout attending the 2010 National Scout Jamboree in Virginia
It is 9:00 pm on July 21. I am sitting around the airport near the check-in area with my troop. Scouts around me occupy their time with crossword puzzles, phones, iPods, and lots of chatter. The air is heavy with excitement as take-off time draws near. At 9:15 pm, we took a group picture and said goodbyes to our families as our leaders moved us to the security check area. This will the longest and farthest I have ever been away from my parents. Despite the time and distance, there isn't a scout that isn't looking forward to what's to come.
We boarded the plane and took our seats. As the plane started climbing, I took one last glimpse of the lights of Los Angeles, California. I won't see them again for 16 days. I looked over our itinerary for the next few days and it looks like they have us up and running from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm every day.
As the plane reached cruising altitude, scouts soon succumbed to sleepiness including myself. Five hours later, I woke to a beautiful sunrise on my left and an
even more magnificent city to my right. We had arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania!
As I exited the plane, I thought to myself "One small step for a scout, one giant leap for Christopher!". We walked out of the airport and met Howard our tour bus driver. We loaded our small duffel bags in the bus and climbed aboard. We didn't get food on the plane so the bus was filled with moans of hunger. I looked out the window as we rolled along taking in the city. Picture Los Angeles with more greenery, fewer skyscrapers, and open spaced, less crowded neighborhoods and you got Philadelphia.
Girls Softball to Have Fundraiser Tomorrow
"Silver" Team First Ever in La Mirada to Advance to Nationals; Get a Haircut and Support the Team
La Mirada~The La Mirada Girls Softball Association's 10U Silver All-Star team will be hosting a fundraiser tomorrow, July 25th from 9AM-1PM at La Mirada Barbershop, 12764 La Mirada Boulevard.
The girls qualified for the tournament by finishing fifth in state competition and are the first La Mirada Silver team ever, to make it to the big dance.
The National Championship Tournament will take place August 2nd-8th in Tucson, AZ.
Top stylists and barbers from LM Barbershop and Isabelle Marie Salon will be on hand to donate their time and talent for the team.
Prices are women-$18.00; Men and Children-$12.00; with ALL proceeds going to the La Mirada Girls Softball Association Silver All-Star team.
La Mirada Silver all stars Berlyn Carreon, Gabrielle Munoz, Sarah Duran, Tatum Anzaldo, Vanessa Ayala, Alexis Bermudez, Madeline Pirnat, Gisele Acuna, Sierra Schimmel, Clarissa Hernandez, Sydney Saucedo, Alexis Bonilla, Sarah Perez and Breanna Vasquez and Isabelle Gonzalez
Contact Maria Carreon at (562) 755-6468, for more information or to donate to the team .
EXCLUSIVE: La Mirada Boy Scout to Send Back Accounts From Jamboree in Virginia
Note: This a first of a series of articles from Christopher Guerra who is a member of La Mirada Boy Scouts Troop 919. Christopher will be sharing experiences with us as he attends the BSA 2010 National Scout Jamboree in Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia-which is celebrating 100 years of scouting.
One hundred years ago, Lord Baden Powell's scouting program arrived in America. On February 8, 1910, a few scouts and their leaders gathered together to teach principles of patriotism, courage, self-reliance, and other kindred values. Today, it has grown into the largest youth organization in the United States with over four million active participants.
On July 23, 2010 over 44,000 scouts from across the nation will arrive at Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia turning it into the third largest city in the state, complete with street lights, wi-fi, buses, a hospital and fully functional post office. Their mission: To celebrate the founding of a program whose values are just as relevant today as they were one hundred years ago.
Hello readers of La Mirada Blog. My name is Christopher Guerra and I am a Life Scout from Boy Scout troop 919 chartered through La Mirada Presbyterian Church. I would like to 
thank Mr. Aiello for allowing me to post my experiences and adventures in scouting and the BSA National Jamboree.
A few months ago I was very fortunate to be selected to attend the 2010 National Scout Jamboree celebrating the 100-year anniversary of scouting. Scouts from various troops throughout the Los Angeles area were put together to create four new Jamboree troops. Each troop is made up of 36 scouts, three adult leaders and one youth leader. I was put into Troop 826. Our leaders are Chris Gardea, Wes Romberger, Kathleen Wood, and youth leader Nick Mercurio . Various LA area sports teams generously granted permission for us to use their team names and logos as part of our troop designations. My troop 826 displays the Dodger logo. Other troops display the Galaxy, Kings, and Lakers logos.
Since March 2009, troop 826 has met monthly to discuss plans and preparations for the event. We split up into four patrols, the Terminators, the Wookie Warriors, the Flaming Fu Fu Kittens, and my patrol, the Star Destroyers. To make sure that we were prepared, we camped out together so that we could learn to work as a team. We participated in various outdoor activities, created patrol yells and ultimately got to know each other a lot better. This was extremely important because for Jamboree we would all be together for sixteen days. It was on this first outing we made our soon to be famous troop yell:
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