FROM THE EDITOR: La Mirada Blog Expanding Its Horizons
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| Look for the new La Mirada Blog website to debut in 2015, a long way from our first post in 2004 (pictured). |
These are exciting times for your La Mirada Blog.
In late 2003, with the La Mirada community craving for a local print newspaper, I decided to jot/type down a few news items (I was already covering local news) on something called a web-log or blog, on the still relatively-new Internet.
You long-timers might remember we were on a site called weatherscout.com and you still had to type in the www. The first official post was on January 30, 2004 (see insert) and the La Mirada Blog was born, ushering in the hyper-local news movement.
Of course, when we started there was no such thing as Facebook our Twitter or social media. Now, the LM Blog is approaching 3,000 followers on Twitter and 8,000 on Facebook-a total of almost 11,000 fans, a fifth of the La Mirada population. We are also on YouTube, Instagram, Tumblr and Flickr.
I am thrilled to announce 2015 has and will be an exciting year for the La Mirada Blog.
OBITUARY: La Mirada Loses a Valuable Community Member
It is with a heavy heart we report to the La Mirada community that Dr. Stephen Peter Sokol, “La Mirada’s Eye Doctor,” passed on May 15th at the age of 78. His funeral was held on May 18th.
Dr. Sokol was a true part of the La Mirada community, woven into its fabric, proven by the countless comments we have received from fans about Dr. Sokol over the years on the La Mirada Blog Facebook page.
Dr. Sokol is one of many people that we as a community and city will always be thankful for; because of people like him it is why La Mirada is such a great place to live in today and we are so happy he opened his practice here!
Around 1940, Dr. Sokol’s Dad, Louis was a medical doctor in the army and got stationed in Paris, Texas and moved his family there; they stayed there until the end of WWII.
They moved from Texas to Beverly Hills and our Dr. Sokol attended Beverly Hills High School and graduated with honors in 1954. He then went on to college at USC and majored in psychology.
Dr. Sokol was president of Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity and graduated in 1958.
After finishing USC, Dr. Sokol took a few years off and traveled and after that he applied and entered Los Angeles College of Optometry (LACO) and graduated in 1965.
Dr. Sokol’s father had a very large medical practice in Beverly Hills. Myra Phyllis Weiner worked as a nurse at this practice. In 1962, Dr. Sokol came to see his father at the office and met Myra.
The elder Sokol had a big Christmas party in Palm Springs that year and Dr. Sokol and Myra danced and got to know each other. Later, they started dating after that and married on Valentine’s Day, February 14th, 1965.
In 1969, Dr. Sokol decided to open his own optical practice in La Mirada, so he moved his family here.
In 1971 Dr. Sokol and Myra bought a house three miles from Stephen’s practice at Valley View and Imperial and they still own that house today.
Scouts Rise Early to Decorate Olive Lawn Memorial Park
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| Members of Boy Scout Troop 438 (Whittier/La Mirada) and Cub Scout Pack 919 (La Mirada) placed flags at Olive Lawn in preparation of the annual Memorial Day Observance Ceremony honoring our fallen military servicemen and women. See additional photo on Instagram @lamiradablog. |
Memorial Day Observance Program at Olive Lawn
La Mirada~Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #9148 will host a Memorial Day Service on Monday, May 25 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Olive Lawn Memorial Park in La Mirada.
The service will include a Memorial Day address by the La Mirada VFW, patriotic songs, a special tribute to fallen soldiers, and placing of memorial flowers by community organizations, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Ladies' Auxiliary. Seating is limited so feel free to bring lawn chairs.
Olive Lawn Memorial Park is located at 13926 La Mirada Blvd. For more information, call La Mirada VFW Post #9148 at (562) 941-4097 or Olive Lawn Memorial Park at (562) 943-1718.
La Mirada Crime Report; Vehicle Thefts on the Rise
The following is the crime report for La Mirada May 11 - May 17, 2015
Aggravated Assault-A domestic assault was reported on the 15200 block of Borda Rd.
Residential Burglary-A burglary was reported on the 16100 block of Reeve Dr. Cash and firearms were stolen from the residence. Cash and electronics were reported stolen in a burglary on the 14600 block of Figueras Rd. Two subjects were taken into custody in connection with a burglary on the 14500 block of Valeda Dr.
Other Structure Burglary-Portable radios were stolen in a burglary on the 14600 block of Mercado Ave.
Grand Theft-Vehicle tires were reported stolen from two trucks on the 14300 block of Macaw St.
Norwalk-La Mirada Unified Selects New Superintendent
Norwalk~The Norwalk-La Mirada Unified Board of Education on May 18 appointed veteran educator Dr. Hasmik Danielian as the new district superintendent.
Known for her passion and commitment to academic excellence for all students, Danielian comes to the district after serving as Superintendent of Brawley Union High School District in Imperial County for the past four years. She will begin in her new post July 1.
"Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District has earned the much-deserved reputation for providing remarkable educational programs for all students in an exceptionally supportive community environment,” Danielian said. “It will be a privilege to serve as the Superintendent of NLMUSD with such an established culture and tradition of excellence."
Before serving at Brawley Union, Danielian was associate superintendent and assistant superintendent of secondary schools at Hacienda La Puente Unified, which experienced significant gains in student achievement at all secondary schools during her tenure.
She got her start in education at Glendale Unified, where for 17 years she served as a teacher, dean of students, high school assistant principal in charge of special education and state and federal categorical programs, and high school principal. During the period when she served as principal of Glendale Unified’s Toll Middle School, the campus was named a California Distinguished School, National Blue Ribbon School and Title I High Achieving School.
Latest La Mirada Crime Report
The latest La Mirada crime report:
Residential Burglary-A burglary was reported on the 13300 block of Fonseca Ave. Jewelry was stolen from the residence. An incident was reported on the 14500 block of Los Fuentes Rd. Jewelry was stolen from the home. A burglary was reported on the 13500 block of Parise Dr. It is unknown if anything was taken from the home.
Other Structure Burglary-Cash was reported stolen from a business in a burglary on the 14600 block of Imperial Hwy. A burglary to a trailer was reported on the 15000 block of Excelsior Dr. A male adult was arrested in connection with the incident. A burglary was reported on the 13500 block of Adelfa Dr.
Vehicle Burglary-Three window-smash vehicle burglaries were reported this week: An incident was reported on the 14700 block of San Feliciano Dr. Coins estimated at $300 were stolen from the vehicle. A camera and lens were reported stolen in a burglary reported on the 14700 block of Florita Dr. Various items were reported stolen in a burglary on the 15000 block of Stage Rd.
Grand Theft-A cell phone and car keys were reported in a theft on the 14200 block of Firestone Blvd.
Grand Theft Vehicle-A vehicle was reported stolen from the 15200 block of Alondra Blvd. An older model Honda was reported stolen from Hoback St and Woodridge Ave. The vehicle was recovered several days later by the Anaheim Police Department. A vehicle was reported stolen from the 14900 block of Firestone Blvd. The vehicle was recovered the following day in fair condition by the Whittier Police Department. A motor home was reported stolen from the 14900 block of Firestone Blvd.
Sporting News Grill Coming to West Coast; La Mirada First Location
La Mirada~A Sporting News Grill is coming to La Mirada and the restaurant is expected to open by July at the site of the former Red Robin restaurant located inside the Holiday Inn Select Hotel.
Richard Choi, General Manager of the La Mirada hotel, told us the facility is currently being “gutted” and revamped with a $1 million dollar renovation.
This will be the first Sporting News Grill on the west coast and the La Mirada restaurant will influence others Sporting News locations yet to open in the region including in Long Beach.
This will also be the largest restaurant in the nation for the chain.
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| Work continues on the new Sporting News Grill/La Mirada seen here last month. The sports-themed restaurant will feature over 25 TV's and is the first on the west coast. photo (c) La Mirada Blog 2015 |
The concept was born in 2006 when the magazine partnered with the hotel chain and built over 90 restaurants at the Atlanta-based companies’ Holiday Inn Select locations.
Sporting News officials say the restaurants are aimed at younger, action-oriented travelers as well as the local community.
"One thing (patrons) can't get with other sports-themed restaurants is the phenomenal archival assets that Sporting News has to draw on," Sporting News spokesman Drew Kerr said, noting that the magazine once known as the Bible of Baseball dates to 1886.
Locally, Choi said there will 24 taps and close to 30 TV’s for patrons at the La Mirada location.
He mentioned construction is continuing and they hope to have a soft opening later this month and they are shooting for a grand opening the last week of June.
Free Hazardous Household Waste Roundup in La Mirada
La Mirada~The Los Angeles County Department of Public Works and Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County will be hosting a free household hazardous waste roundup in La Mirada on Saturday, May 2 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Residents will be able to safely dispose of household hazardous waste items at the La Mirada Regional Park in the Tennis Court Parking Lot, off of Adelfa Drive. The event is open to all Los Angeles County residents and proof of residency is required..
Materials such as motor oil, paint, turpentine, cleaners which contain acids or lye, household and car batteries, Electronic waste, Universal Waste, pesticides and garden herbicides can all be brought to the Countywide Hazardous Waste Roundup.
For more information call the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County at (800) 238-0172 or the City of La Mirada’s Public Works Department at (562) 902-2385.
New La Mirada Menchies Looking to Hire Crew
La Mirada~Menchies Frozen Yogurt is opening in La Mirada at the end of May and the new store is looking to hire.
Potential applicants may visit the company's Facebook page for more employment information here.
The store is located within the newly remodeled Crossroads Shopping Center at 12261 La Mirada Blvd. at Imperial Highway.
Menchie's opened its first store in Valley Village on May 15, 2007, by husband & wife team Danna & Adam Caldwell and holds today the prestigious status of the largest self-serve frozen yogurt franchise in the world.
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