From Maddi’s Closet Event Raises $47,000 to Fight Children’s Cancer
Nearly 150 area residents joined the fight against children’s cancer at a fundraiser sponsored by From Maddi’s Closet at Dodger Stadium recently.
“From Maddi’s Closet’s dinner event at the Stadium Club at Dodger Stadium raised over $47,000 to assist with patient support programs,” says President and Founder Donna Holmes. “We greatly appreciate the support of the individuals and organizations that contributed in so many ways to making this event such a life-changing gift for these children.”
The “Knock it Out of the Park” themed dinner was the major fundraiser for From Maddi’s Closet in 2016 in its efforts to help children fighting cancer. In recent years, the local non-profit group has donated more than $361,000 to help with children’s cancer research and provide emotional and financial support to thousands of patients and their families.
After a delicious Stadium Club dinner, attendees enjoyed an exclusive Stadium tour, which included access to the Vin Scully Press Box, the 5th floor Memorabilia Aisle, the Dodger Awards Hallway, the Dugout, Bullpen, as well as a walk around the playing field. The group also enjoyed a special reception with former Dodger players Wes Parker and Mickey Hatcher.
Participants donated generously to supply special needs equipment for young patients. Silent and Live Auctions of items supplied by businesses and individuals were also an important means for raising funds during the evening.
“Childhood cancer is the number one disease-related killer of children in our country, and we appreciate our local community’s strong support for the fight against this terrible disease,” says Holmes.
Several major awards were presented at the event to individuals and organizations that have championed efforts to fight children’s cancer.
Is La Mirada Now a Divided City?
Forty years ago, I began my career as a realtor in La Mirada. A home was about $53,000. Today, they’re around $500,000. Life is about change. Change is inevitable and our City Council election on March 7, 2017 is no exception.
In the past, candidates had to appeal to the entire city to get elected. I know, because I go way back to the days of Lou Piltz. Where church retreats, the Kiwanis Club, Little League games along with Easter Egg Hunts and festivals, was the way to show your commitment to our city.
But this past summer the Mexican-American Legal Defense Education Fund (M.A.L.D.E.F) threatened the city with a major lawsuit, if they didn't create a Latino District. The way state law was written our Council had no choice but to comply.
The result is La Mirada has five new Council Districts. Districts 1 and 2 will be up for election in March. The Latino District is #1 and despite District #2 having a healthy 41% Latino population, no Latino chose to run.
MALDEF had claimed a plethora of complaints by Latinos that no Latino could win a City Council seat in La Mirada. MALDEF’s problem is that our current Mayor Steve DeRuse is Latino! MALDEF’s goal was to only elect Latinos and they failed.
So there it is in a nut shell. Council seat #1, might elect a Latina and Council seat #2, has no Latino candidate.
Finally, please vote on March 7, 2017.
City of La Mirada Election March 7th
The City of La Mirada will be holding a by-district election on Tuesday, March 7 to fill two City Council seats. Members of Districts 1 and 2 will be elected in March 2017, while Members of Districts 3, 4, and 5 will be elected in March 2019.
The last day to register to vote in the March 7 election is Monday, February 20. Registration forms will be available at City Hall, the La Mirada Library, the Post Office, or may be requested by mail by calling the Los Angeles County Elections Registration Request Line at (800) 481-VOTE (8683).
For general questions about the election, contact the City Clerk’s office at (562) 943-0131.
Resident Robbed at Gunpoint When She Arrives Home
La Mirada~A home invasion robbery occurred sometime Tuesday morning when a resident returned to her home in the Green Hills area.
The La Mirada Blog has learned a woman returned home with her son and found two men inside the home on Grayville Avenue.
The woman’s purse was taken after one of the men pointed a gun at her and demanded it. The suspects then fled the scene.
No injuries were reported and authorities are investigating. Anyone with information about the incident are encouraged to call the Sheriff’s Department at (562) 863-8711.
Annual Lou Piltz Memorial Spaghetti Dinner Set for February 10th
Dinner benefits La Mirada Meals-on-Wheels (MOW), serving home-bound residents since 1975
La Mirada~The 30th Lou Piltz Memorial Spaghetti Dinner will be served at the La Mirada Activity Center on Friday, February 10th from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m.
The menu will be spaghetti, salad and garlic bread for $8.00. Coffee and soft drinks will be available. La Mirada Ebell Womens’ Club will provide delicious desserts. A 50/50 drawing, opportunity prizes and live entertainment featuring choral and musical groups from La Mirada High School will complete the evening.
Tony Aiello, editor of the La Mirada Blog, will be the guest MC for the evening’s festivities.
Guests are warmly welcomed to attend, and all profits will benefit the MOW program in the community. Tickets may be obtained through any Kiwanis member or may be purchased at the door.
This is a major fundraiser for the La Mirada Meals-on-Wheels organization which is entirely volunteer-driven except for two part-time employees.
La Mirada MOW, since its inception in 1975, has served over 400,000 meals to shut-ins and provides food and comfort along with support and encouragement for those unable to provide for themselves, in our community.
The activity center is located in the Civic Center complex at 13810 La Mirada Boulevard.
The event is named after former La Mirada City Councilman and popular community member Lou Piltz who passed away in 2013. Piltz was a main player and instrumental in the organization of the event.
For more information call (562) 943-0037 or visit the MOW website.
Winter Storm Pounds La Mirada
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| La Mirada Creek is a roaring river in this photo taken at Creek Park by Blog fan T. Jackson on Sunday January 22, 2017. |
The final storm in a series of three, pummeled La Mirada yesterday with over three inches of rain and a steady downpour for most of the day.
La Mirada Creek Park overflowed its banks at Creek Park but the flood control channel functioned like it should. Many spectators were out at the park to look at the rare scene.
Damage was reported throughout La Mirada with many downed trees. A retaining wall was destroyed when part of a backyard gave way along La Mirada Boulevard, just north of Rosecrans Avenue spilling mud and debris onto the sidewalk making it impassable.
Many storm-related photos were sent in by readers. You can view the photos photos on our Facebook page our Twitter page.
Southbound I-5 Valley View Off-Ramp to Shut Down For Two Years
La Mirada~Beginning today, Valley View Avenue will be reduced to one lane in each direction between Alondra and Artesia Boulevards as part of the I-5 Corridor Improvements..
Also, the southbound Valley View Avenue off-ramp is now closed for approximately 24 months as workers will construct a new off-ramp.
Heavy traffic delays are anticipated and signed detours will be posted.
Motorists are encouraged to visit My5LA.com to receive alternative route information, updates about construction work, road and lane closures, night and weekend work and other information related to the I-5 Corridor Improvements.
The I-5 Interchange Project will widen the I-5 to add one High Occupancy Lane (HOV) and one general purpose lane in each direction.
Improvements include the widening the Valley View Avenue bridge from four to six lanes , reconstructing the adjacent frontage roads, adding a railroad overpass and reconfiguring the interchange.
The project is expected to be completed in late 2018.
Volunteers Sought for January 24th Homeless Count
The City of La Mirada is seeking volunteers to assist with the 2017 Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) Homeless Count. Each year, the LAHSA coordinates a count of homeless persons in the region to estimate the homeless population in Los Angeles County. This year’s Count will be held on Tuesday, January 24 from 7 to 11 p.m.
The Homeless Count involves volunteers canvassing predetermined areas and tallying homeless and transient persons from a distance. Volunteers are not allowed to engage with homeless persons.
Volunteers will receive training at a briefing prior to the Count and should expect to assist in La Mirada from 7 to 11 p.m. on Tuesday, January 24. Volunteers are needed to participate as drivers using personal vehicles, navigators, team leaders, and counters. Participants must be over 18 years of age.
For more information or to sign-up, contact the La Mirada Resource Center at (562) 943-7277.
Jennie Finch Returns to La Mirada With 2-Day Softball Camp
Olympic Gold and Silver Medalist, Jennie Finch, is bringing her softball camp to La Mirada Saturday and Sunday, January 21-22, 2017. The 2-day camp geared toward girls age 8-18, will take place at La Mirada High School, Jennie’s alma mater. All aspects of the game are covered by professional, Olympic, and college softball players and coaches, including hitting, fielding, pitching, catching and base running. Campers receive lunch each day, a camp t-shirt, autographed photo of Jennie, certificate of participation, and a photo taken with Jennie and her medals.
Finch has been conducting camps across the nation since 2004, reaching thousands of young girls with her positive approach to the game and life off the field. Finch said, “The goal of our camps is to inspire young girls to dream big and believe in themselves on the field and in life. The lessons we learn on the field as an individual and part of team transfer to situations we face in life.”
The La Mirada camp will include Olympians Leah Amico and Crystl Bustos, professional player and high school coach Toni Mascarenas, and pitching coach Doug Finch, inventor of the Finch Windmill. The Biola University softball team will be assisting with camp instruction.
Finch Career Highlights include: 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist, Athens, Greece; 2008 Olympic Silver Medalist, Beijing, China; 2001 NCAA Champion, University of Arizona; 2-Time National Collegiate Softball Player of the Year, 2001 & 2002; 2005-09 National Pro Fastpitch player, Chicago Bandits; 4-Time Suburban League Champion at La Mirada High School.
Camp runs Saturday (8a-3p) and Sunday (9a-2p), January 21st-22nd at La Mirada High School, 13520 Adelfa Drive in La Mirada. Drawing prizes each day. Cost is $205 and registration is online at jenniefinch.com.
Candidates All Set for First District Election
In a just a few short months, the landscape of La Mirada politics may have been changed forever as the filing period has ended and the candidates are set for the City's first district election on March 7, 2017.
The Mecican-American Legal Defense & Education Fund (MALDEF), threatened to sue the city if it did not change its election from an at-large to a district-based system, giving all areas of the city representation on the city council. The city subsequently settled with the group to create districts and paid them $30,000 for their expenses.
The boundaries have been drawn creating five new electoral districts. Districts one and two will have open seats this March for a four-year term. Districts three, four and five will hold have an election in 2019, meaning three-fifths of the La Mirada population will not be able to participate in the election this March.
The candidates for district one, which currently has no sitting council member, are Jim Emmerling, Diane Gramajo, John Lewis and our own Tony Aiello.
District two candidates pit two incumbents against each other, Andrew Sarega and Pauline Deal, as their current four-year terms are up.
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