Transformation of a Neighborhood: Breezewood, A Redevelopment Success Story
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| This Google Maps aerial shot shows the Breezewood Village, with Green Hills Shopping Center to the left. Dulles Elementary School can be seen on the bottom right. Imperial Highway is on top and is north. "It was a cesspool up and down the street"-former city manager Gary Sloan |
Check this story out in the print edition of this weekend's La Mirada Lamplighter!
La Mirada~The State of California may have did away with city redevelopment agencies (RDA’s), but a great example of how the system was designed to work, is represented well in La Mirada.
The Breezewood Village Residential Community-an RDA project- hosted their 10th Anniversary celebration last Thursday night. It was attended by Breezewood residents and staff, along with numerous representatives from city hall including city council members Steve DeRuse and Steve Jones.
California's approximately 400 municipal RDA’s were eliminated as part of a cost-saving measure by the state last year. The repercussions and details of this action, and the affect it will have on cities, is still currently being worked out in court.
In 1999, the city, along with its RDA, used its eminent domain power to tear down the 30-unit apartment building on the site that also included five duplexes.
The area is bordered by Imperial Highway to the north, Breezewood Drive to south and east, and the Green Hills shopping center to the west.
At the time, the dwellings suffered from the influx of drugs, prostitution, high crime, and child neglect among other things, and really was an undesirable and unsafe area of La Mirada-all within 500 feet of Dulles Elementary school.
One of the worst units on the property was owned by former Cerritos city council member Sherman Kapee.
After the property was condemned, the LA County Fire Department used it for training, and literally burnt it down.
La Mirada Man Pleads to 2011 Hit and Run Death
Norwalk~A La Mirada man pleaded no contest today to vehicular manslaughter in a fatal hit-and-run last September that killed a 72-year-old man, the District Attorney’s Office announced.
Geoffrey Matthew Rocha, 27, also admitted an allegation that he fled the scene of the Sept. 20, 2011 accident that killed Raul Quintanilla, said Deputy District Attorney Marlon Powers.
Rocha is facing seven years in state prison when he returns Aug. 22 for sentencing before Commissioner Michael Schuur in Norwalk Superior Court.
Rocha pleaded no contest to striking Quintanilla, who was out for his daily walk, at the intersection of Santa Gertrudes Avenue and Lawnhill Drive in La Mirada.
Authorities said the victim’s arm was severed at the shoulder with the force of the impact and carried away by the fleeing car. The limb was discovered about a mile from where the victim was struck.
The defendant, who fled the scene of the 4:30 a.m. accident, later surrendered to Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department authorities in Norwalk.
In exchange for his plea, prosecutors will ask that the remaining two counts-leaving the scene of an accident and driving when privilege suspended-be dismissed at sentencing.
John Glenn High Alumni Planning 30-Year Reunion
The John Glenn High School Class of 1982 will be holding its 30-Year High School Reunion on Friday, September 28, 2012 at the Double Tree Hotel (formerly Marriot) in Norwalk, CA. The cost for the event is just $70 per person and includes dinner, dancing and other surprises.
Don’t miss out on this special evening catching up with friends and classmates you grew up with.
For more information, please contact Maclovia Chaidez Esnayra via email at macchaidez@gmail.com. You may also contact Maclovia Chaidez Esnayra, Socorro Lazalde or Yolanda Romo Ortega on Facebook for additional information, comments and questions.
The committee members are Anabell Ortega Sanchez, Socorro Lazalde, Yolanda Romo Ortega and Maclovia Chaidez Esnayra.
La Mirada City Council Votes to Put Tax Measure on November Ballot
La Mirada~On Tuesday night, the La Mirada City Council voted 5-0 to adopt an ordinance to place a 1 percent tax revenue measure on the November 6th ballot.
La Mirada voters will decide if the sales tax in the city will be raised from 8.75 percent to 9.75 percent.
If approved, the increase would go into effect April 3, 2013 and would last five years.
According to a city report, the city is claiming it needs the tax to pay for immediate infrastructure needs.
Recently, a study identified $67 million worth of work that needs to be done to repair city streets, curbs, gutters, storm drains, and traffic signals.
The report also stated that an additional $126,932,000 has also been identified as being required to fund other community wants, such as privately owned deteriorated block walls.
The city declared a fiscal emergency this past February 14th.
La Mirada Resident Plays Music as Therapy After Brush With Death
La Mirada~La Mirada resident Kenny Metcalf who “was at death’s doorstep” just a few short years ago, will headline at the Orange County Fair July 27th and the Los Angeles
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| Elton-The Early Years Will Play at the Orange County Fair July 27th and the LA County Fair September 7th. |
County Fair September 7th with his tribute band “Elton-The Early Years.”
He is another of one of the many teen musicians in La Mirada from the 1960’s and 70’s that still play music in one form or another today.
Metcalf’s family moved to La Mirada in 1964 from an area in Inglewood that was directly affected by the Watts riots that year a short time later.
“For me growing up in the 70’s in La Mirada; it was party central. We all grew up at the same time and the city didn’t know what to do with all of us. I lived here when you could ride motorcycles at Regional Park before there was a Regional Park. It was a small town, everybody knew everybody, and it was full of kids.”
He decided he wanted to play music when he saw the Beatles on TV and chose the drums. He grew up taking music lessons at the La Mirada Mall and other places, and was in the Los Coyotes Intermediate School Band.
But it was his freshmen year in 1973 at La Mirada High School that would determine his musical path and when the Elton “bug” first hit him.
“A guy walks into the drama room, his name was Marty Adams, who was a junior, and he started playing Benny and the Jets which was number one on the charts at that time. Then all the girls in the room gathered around him. I turned to a friend and told him I’ve never had that effect on a girl playing drums.
So, since my Mom had just bought a piano, I went home and taught myself to play.After 10 years, I gave up playing drums and started jamming with other guys I had met in La Mirada.”
Metcalf is part of a long list of local La Mirada teen musicians that performed back then including: Mark Servi, Mike Ferlita, Joe Caruso, Don Brennan, Anthony Cortez, Joe Allesandro, Steve Gage, Mark Cortez and others.
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| Kenny at his home studio. |
Brennan is performing at this year’s La Mirada Blog Fest August 18th at Regional Park.
In 1977, Kenny assembled a band called Amulet and entered the band in the first talent contest at the newly opened La Mirada Civic Auditorium and has a funny story to tell, “Our band got mispronounced at the show, they called it The Kenny Metcalf Band, and the other guys got real mad at me at the time.”
In that same talent show there was a band called Robert Sweet and the Firestorm Band. This band went on to become Stryper, the well-known heavy metal Christian band. Kenny toured as the original keyboardist for them in 1985-86. Before they embarked on their world tour, he says he left the group to raise his kids.
Amulet, which featured Metcalf, Servi, Ferlita, and Allesandro played again at the La Mirada Theatre in 1978 in front of a packed house of 1200 people and they were featured in an article in the La Mirada Lamplighter newspaper.
Metcalf married his wife Evelyn in 1980 and they have resided in La Mirada for the past seven years after raising two children Desiree and Sharlene. Evelyn was his junior high school sweetheart.
Crime Report July 2-8, 2012
CRIME REPORT
Aggravated Assault An assault was reported on the 15600 block of Surrey Ln. A suspect was arrested by responding deputies.
Other Structure Burglary An incident was reported on the 14000 block of Estero Rd. A tool box was stolen after the latch was pried off from a carport storage locker at the location.
Vehicle Burglary Six vehicle burglaries were reported last week. A vehicle's door lock was punched in on the 16700 block of Trojan Way. Speaker boxes and an MP3 player were stolen. A window smash burglary was reported on the 12000 block of Santa Gertrudes Ave. A purse was stolen from the vehicle. A burglary occurred on the 14600 block of Mercado Ave. A car stereo, third row seat, and other items were taken. A window smash burglary was reported on the 13500 block of Dalmatian Ave. A laptop computer was stolen. Two separate incidents occurred on the 14200 block of Firestone Blvd. and the 14500 block of Artesia Blvd. Car stereos were stolen from both vehicles.
Friends of LM Library Elect New Officers
La Mirada~The Friends of the La Mirada Library held their annual election with the following officers elected to serve from July 1, 2012 until June 30, 2013: President-Malena Hough, First Vice President (Membership)-Irene Bridich, Second Vice President (Ways and Means)-Hal Malkin, Secretary-Cathy Ferrin, Treasurer-Mark Yoshida, Assistant Treasurer-Katie
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From left to right-Katie Nordbak, Malena Hough, Irene Bridich, Hal Malkin, Cathy Ferrin, Mark Yoshida |
Nordbak.
The public is welcome to attend the monthly meetings on the fourth Thursday of every month, except July and December.
There are summer reading programs available for all ages at the La Mirada Library. Details can be obtained on-line at www.colapublib.org.
Upcoming events include a Book sale on October 6, 2012.
La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts Shatters Sales Record
Peter Pan and Miss Saigon lead the way in setting box office mark; 2012-13 also on record setting pace
La Mirada~The La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts has set box office records in overall and individual categories this past season the city announced recently.
“It was an exciting year for us, this is not just your grandmother’s La Mirada Theatre,” said Producing Artistic Director Brian Kite.
Record total sales of $2,392,357 were set by McCoy Rigby Entertainment’s (MRE) Broadway Series in its 2011-12 season at the theatre.
Peter Pan, starring famed actress and Olympic gymnast Cathy Rigby, closed the season out last month.
Single ticket sales, those sold essentially to non-subscribers, came in at $1,371,444 during the year, almost tripling the $531,741 in the prior year. In addition, $25,515 in donations was received through the MRE series.
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| The La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, seen here on Sunday, was transformed from a neighborhood movie house to a performing arts center in 1977. photo Tony Aiello |
Pan became the highest selling show in the 35-year history of the theatre and Miss Saigon, from this past April, took second place on La Mirada’s all-time list of best selling productions. Both shows were attended by more than 22,500 patrons during their 21 performances.
This was Rigby’s fourth stint as Peter after temporarily retiring from the role in 2006.
The MRE Broadway Series also included performances of Noises Off, Life Could Be A Dream, The 39 Steps, and a special appearance by Debby Boone.
We asked Kite what can be attributed to the success at the box office, “McCoy-Rigby continues to provide quality productions along with support from the city. We also have a great staff here and they are very excited. We are getting new people from La Mirada and new people from all over the area coming to the theatre,” he said.
Kite also indicated the theatre has attracted and captured a new audience, “We have been very successful with our social media campaign, it seems to have brought in a younger crowd to add to our other age groups, and our season-ticket holders.”
“We are still a great deal, a better deal than any of the L.A. Theatres. It’s been a tough few years (economically) for a lot of people, and we provide quality entertainment. People want to get out. They want to have a good time, and they want to bring their families. We provide that here in La Mirada.”
La Mirada High School Coaching Staff Offering Summer Basketball Camp
La Mirada~Boys ages 7-14 can improve their skills and learn more about the game of basketball at the La Mirada High School Summer Basketball Camp, July 16th-19th on the La Mirada High School campus.
The camp will be directed by La Mirada head coach Bryce Jones and his staff, and the emphasis will be on skill development and fundamentals.
The camp runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. each of the four days (Mon-Thur). The cost is $100.
You can register for the camp online by visiting cityoflamirada.org and clicking "register for classes" or you can call (562) 943-7277 for more information.
Area Gears Up for Annual Independence Day Celebration and Fireworks Show at La Mirada Regional Park
La Mirada~La Mirada’s annual Independence Celebration will be held Tuesday, July 3 from 4 to 9:30 p.m. at La Mirada Regional Park.
The celebration will include live music by Variety Country band "The Skinny Little Twits", as well as the Rolling Stones Tribute Band "The Ultimate Stones".
A variety of tasty
food will be on sale by La Mirada’s local community service and athletic groups inlcluding the world famous tri tip sandwiches served up by La Mirada Kiwanis.
The celebration will conclude with a patriotic program and fireworks spectacular.
As a reminder to all those coming to the celebration, charcoal barbeques are not permitted at the park. To help prevent trip hazards, rope and caution tape around picnic areas should not be used.
Also, be sure to keep the following guidelines in mind on the day of the event:
Parking: In addition to parking at La Mirada Regional Park, overflow parking is available at the La Mirada High School stadium lot, BIOLA University (entrance off of La Mirada Blvd.), and Civic Center Plaza. All red curb restrictions are being enforced. Patrons parking in red zones will be issued citations. Parking along Foster Road is allowed only after "No Parking" signs have been covered the day of the event by the City.
Shuttle Service: La Mirada Transit will be available to transport patrons to and from the BIOLA University parking lot to La Mirada Regional Park. Shuttle service is provided from 4 to 10 p.m.
Picnic Areas: Patrons are allowed to set-up picnic areas the morning of July 3. Caution tape and rope create trip hazards and are not allowed. Any area of the park is open to patrons unless marked for event use. Charcoal Barbeques are not allowed. La Mirada Regional Park is open from dawn to dusk. Overnight campers will be considered in violation of park hours and may be cited.
For more information, please call (562) 943-7277 or visit www.cityoflamirada.org.
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