Truck Crashes into Frontier Park
La Mirada~A delivery truck veered out of control and crashed into Frontier Park Wednesday afternoon during rush hour traffic.
Nobody was hurt at the park, and the driver was hospitalized with moderate injuries.
A firefighter on the scene said the man was "very lucky to be alive."
An unidentified employee at the Frontier Park Community Center said she heard others say the conscious driver did not know what happened, saying he just lost control of the truck.
The truck came to rest just short of an unoccupied picnic bench, slamming into a pine tree and disenegrating the front of the vehicle.
Luckily, even though the park was busy at the time, nobody was injured.
See a short video of the incident on our YouTube channel here: http://tinyurl.com/7b3hvf8
See an additional picture of the crash here: http://twitpic.com/8npq2m
All New Teen Battle of the Bands Schedued for This Years La Mirada Carnival
La Mirada~In what has become the premier event in La Mirada to showcase local music talent, the 4 La Mirada Kids Carnival, reaches for a new and exciting level this year.
The 18th edition of the fair will feature an all-new Teen Battle of the Bands, hosted by the La Mirada Community Foundation and the La Mirada Youth Council. Bands will compete for a $500 first-place prize.
The event will take place Saturday and Sunday, April 20th and 21st, the first two days of the carnival, on the grounds of Benton Middle School in La Mirada.
Junior High School and High School age bands are eligible to compete. To participate, bands must have a minimum of three members (two must play instrument through majority of performance), and all members must be ages 13-18.
Judging will be calculated using three methods, each counting for 33.3% of the possible vote: a panel of judges on site will use a point system; attendees to the carnival will vote by ballot at the event; and on-line voting will take place on the La Mirada Blog website.
Interested bands must fill out an entry form and submit it to the La Mirada Community Foundation before 5:00 p.m., Thursday, March 15, 2012.
For entry forms, a complete list of rules and regulations, or more information call (562) 943-7277.
The three-day carnival was created in 1994 as a way for community/youth groups in La Mirada to raise funds annually, and is attended by thousands. There will be rides, locally prepared food, and entertainment-including school performances.
Culture and Traditional Rhythms of Africa for Young Audiences
La Mirada~La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts continues its 2011-12 Programs for Young Audiences series with Boxtale Theatre Company's Jambo, Watoto!. This innovative 60-minute play is recommended for audiences ages 4 and up.
Tickets are on sale now and performances are Sunday, February 26, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
Come enjoy the loving homage to the rich and wonderful cultures of Africa featuring stories and traditional rhythms from many different regions.
The stories include the Akamba tale of Brother Sun, Brother Moon and the Pretty Girl, the Donso story of The Hunterman and the Crocodile, The Lion's Whiskers from Ethiopia, and How Ananse Gained a Kingdom of Knowledge from a Grain of Corn from the Ashanti people.
Audiences of all ages will enjoy the traditional rhythms like The Czar, Adoonde, Mandjiani and Linjin (The Crane Dance) played on bells, djimbe and djoon djoon drums. Incredible masks (made by Lindsay Rust) and energetic movement (choreographed by world renowned theatre director Eva Magyar) accent this wonderful collection of stories and African music.
La Mirada Theatre's Programs for Young Audiences is designed to give children exposure to a diverse mix of national and international touring stage acts.
All seats are $8 for children and $12 for adults. Subscriptions are available or $24 for children and $36 for adults. Tickets are available online at www.lamiradatheatre.com or by calling the La Mirada Theatre Box Office at (562) 944-9801 or (714) 994-6310. The theatre is located at 14900 La Mirada Blvd. in La Mirada, CA. Parking is free. Wheelchair access and Hearing Assist devices available.
La Mirada Ebell Presents Spring Fashion Show
No Tickets Will Be Sold at Door, Pre-Sale Only; Club Helps La Mirada High Grads
La Mirada~The La Mirada Ebell Club will host a Spring Fashion Show at the La Mirada Country Club, Saturday, April 14th from 12-4 p.m.
Ebell members and friends will model the latest in prom, graduation and summer clothing. For more information please call Susan at (562) 943-0957, or any Ebell member, to arrange for a table or individual tickets.
Monies raised by this and other Ebell activities provide scholarships for high school seniors wanting to further their educations. "Last year, the Club was able to award $1,000.00 checks to four La Mirada High School graduates," said club president Cheri Collin.
Gina Kelly and Susan Gonzales are co-chairs of the show, and it will be coordinated by Simply Susie's Boutique of Whittier.
La Mirada Ebell Club meets at 7 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month (except July and August) in the La Mirada City Hall Complex. The Club was formed in the mid 1950's and women of all ages who are interested in community service are invited to attend any session to see how the club functions. For further info, contact Lorrie Larson at (714) 521-256.
Photo: Gina Kelly is runway ready for the show
La Mirada Kiwanis Offering Scholarship Money for Area High School Seniors
La Mirada~Scholarships of are now available for area high school seniors students who are interested in continuing their education after high school.
For over 30 years, The Kiwanis Club of La Mirada has offered the scholarships; open to all current high school seniors. Scholarship amounts will be awarded in the amounts of $500 and $1000, totally at least $10,000.
To qualify, students must reside in La Mirada, but can be attending ANY high school. Applications are now available from school counselors at the following high schools: La Mirada, John Glenn, El Camino, Whittier Christian, and La Serna.
Students must return completed application packets by April 13th, 2012.
The La Mirada Kiwanis Board will conduct personal interviews with all the candidates on Saturday, May 5th, 2012.
La Mirada Kiwanis Scholarship Chairperson Lou Piltz says the applicants will be judged on “merit, grades, school activity; along with community involvement and accomplishments, and their financial situation.” Piltz added, “We wish good luck to all the applicants.”
Winners will be notified by a letter, and will be presented with their awards at either their graduation, or other school ceremony.
Interested students may get more information at their respective high school counselor office or by calling (714) 521-0996.
La Mirada Symphony Association Presents Third Concert of Season
The La Mirada Symphony Association invites you to attend the third concert of the "New Horizons" (2011-2012 concert) concert Season on Saturday, February 18, 2012 at 8 pm. (Free concert) All concerts are free and are held at the La Mirada Theatre for Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd, La Mirada 90638
Musically travel with us to the dramatic landscape of Russia, with its vibrant people and rich traditions in "The Russians are Coming!" Musical selections will include
Festival Overture, Op. 96, Stravinsky-Suite from the Firebird (1919), Tchaikovsky-Variations on a Rococo Theme, OP 33-featuring acclaimed cellist Kihae Kim DeFazio, and 1812 Overture, OP 49, Tchaikovsky.
Kihae Kim-DeFazio began her musical education at the age of four on piano. She began playing cello when she was eight years old. . She has been awarded Korea's highest prize for musical performance, the coveted Nan-Pa award. Since Ms. Kim's arrival to the United States, she has studied with some of the world's greatest cellist; Janos Starker, Gregor Piatigorsky, and Gabor Rejto. Since the completion of her studies, Ms. Kim has appeared as soloist in a variety of venues including the Hollywood Bowl, the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, the Wilshire Ebell Theatre, the Herbert Zipper Concert Hall, the Crystal Cathedral, the Cerritos Performing Arts Center and the Richard M. Nixon Birthplace and Library. Her audiences have encompassed school children, churches, concertgoers, and the Emperor and Empress of Japan.
Ms. Kim has more than 30 years of teaching experience and has served as a jury member for a variety of competitions and auditions. She is a coach for a variety of orchestras including the Southern California Youth Philharmonic and is a member of the Musical Arts Club, the SYMF, and the Music Teachers Association of California (MTAC).
Join us Saturday, February 18, 2012 at 8 pm. (Free concert) All concerts are free and are held at the La Mirada Theatre for Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd, La Mirada 90638
Your generous donations at the door will ensure a successful, ADMISSION FREE concert season.
Visit our website at www.LaMiradaSymphony.com
Adopt a Duck at Fifth Annual La Mirada Kiwanis Race
This Saturday After Easter Egg Hunt! Still Plenty of Time to Adopt a Duck for Big Race!
La Mirada~On Saturday, April 7th, the La Mirada Kiwanis will drop nearly 10,000 rubber ducks in the water at Splash! Regional Aquatics Center in La Mirada, while thousands of people watch the race to the finish line in hopes their duck will be the winner!
This is the Fifth Annual GOING QUAKERS FOR KIDS duck race fundraiser that helps support the La Mirada Kiwanis, many community projects, as well as other non-profit organizations that can help sell duck adoptions.
Ducks can be adopted at $5 each and $4500 ($2500 for first-place) in prize money will be distributed to the winning duck adopters. The duck buddies, (the non-profit organizations that sell the adoptions), will be able to keep 50% of their sales!
La Mirada Kiwanis is currently looking for community sponsors and selling groups for the duck race. This event is a great opportunity for local businesses to get exposure to the many people who will come out to the race.
All sponsors (starting as low as $250.00) can bring out a table, pop-up tent, and information to meet and greet with the community.
If you are interested in being a sponsor, a selling group or want to adopt a duck in the race please contact La Mirada Kiwanis at www.lamiradakiwanis.org/duckrace.htm.
Matadore Boys Head North; Girls Soccer Will Host Playoff Opener
La Mirada~The CIF-Southern Section basketball playoff match-ups were announced yesterday, with both the boys and girls teams of La Mirada High School playing on the road in the first round.
The Lady Mats, (13-12, 6-6), under second-year coach Nicole Hyde, will play at No. 10 seed Wilson High School (Hacienda Heights) Thursday in a Division 3AA first-round contest beginning at 7 p.m.
Junior Lexi Vanzuillen (avg.13 pts. a game), and senior Kalena Glover (11), lead the Matadores who enter the playoffs as a Suburban League at-large entry.
They will face a tough opponent in Wilson (20-6, 10-2), who finished second in the Valle Vista League and are riding a four-game win streak.
The boys will have a more scenic route, heading 200 miles up US-101 to Arroyo Grande High School, which is a couple of blocks from Pismo State Beach and just south of San Luis Obispo.
The Matadores (17-11, 8-4), bring a modest two-game winning streak along for the ride, finishing as the Suburban League third place team.
Led by first-year head coach Bryce Jones, the Matadores will face a very tough Arroyo Grande squad. The Eagles (18-8, 11-1), finished first in the Pac-7 League. Start time for the Division 3AAA game is 7 p.m.
You can follow both games on our Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/lamiradablog.
In Girls Soccer, the playoff brackets were announced today. The Matadores, one of the premier teams in the area, finished in first place in the Suburban League and will host the Division 3 post-season opener Friday against Cypress, a very familiar foe from years gone by. Game time is 3 p.m. at La Mirada High School
Copper Thieves Hit Gardenhill Elementary
Four Wings of the School Still Without Power as of Late Wednesday
La Mirada~Thieves stole copper wiring at Gardenhill Elementary School this past Monday evening/early Tuesday morning, leaving parts of the school without power all day Tuesday and Wednesday.
As of Wednesday afternoon, four wings of the school, including the kindergarten section, remained without power as district electricians, continued to work on replacing the wiring.
The wiring was stolen from underground, with the thieves accessing two manhole covers.
"At an unknown time, 110 feet of 1¼ inch copper wiring was stolen, resulting in approximately $800-$1000 dollars in damage, said Sergeant Gary Harman of the Norwalk Sheriff's station, "As a result, two wings of the school lost power."
Gardenhill office clerk Sandy Roberts told the La Mirada Blog that she, along with the custodian noticed the theft almost immediately, "We saw two big holes in the ground, it was kind of obvious something happened."