Urquidi Takes Over as School Board President
Norwalk~The Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District Board of Education conducted its annual reorganization meeting this month, selecting Jesse Urquidi as President and Karen Morrison as Vice President.
The District, its teachers and community members and local elected officials also commemorated the yearlong service of Margarita Rios as president in 2014.
“This past year has been a challenging, but exciting year,” Rios said. “The Common Core State Standards were introduced, a new district funding formula (LCFF) was implemented, and the school board adopted the district’s Local Control and Accountability Plan. The school board also began the search process for a new superintendent, and placed a successful school bond measure before the voters. I am grateful for the numerous leadership opportunities 2014 presented to me as board president and look forward to continuing my service to our school community.”
The District, staff, teachers and local elected officials, including State Sen. Tony Mendoza and the office of Assemblyman Ian Calderon provided Rios with commendations for her service.
Newly appointed President Urquidi, who served as Vice President this year, pledged his commitment to continuing the District’s path to success and high student achievement.
“There’s lots of change in education with the introduction of the Common Core State Standards and the Local Control Funding Formula, as well as our own Local Control and Accountability Plan,” Urquidi said. “These are positive changes that will help our District remain on a continuum of success.”
Matadores Advance to Orange Final
BOYS BASKETBALL
Orange~The Matadores of La Mirada outscored Canyon 21-11 in the second half Monday night to advance to the finals in the 50th annual Orange Holiday Classic, winning 61-56.
The Matadores beat OL earlier this month in the Diablo Inferno 70-61 and it is also the former school/team of LM star Kendall Lauderdale.
123115 UPDATE: The Mats fell to Orange Lutheran in the championship game, 57-43 making their record 11-3 for the season. They open up Suburban League play at John Glenn Wednesday, January 7th at 6:30 p.m.
La Mirada has their final non-league game against Brea on January 9th and then return to league play for the rest of the season at Cerritos on the 12th.
Final Tournament Action for Matadores This Weekend
La Mirada~As we transition into the new year, the boys and girls basketball teams from La Mirada High will participate in their final tournament action this weekend, gearing up for league play.
The boys (8-2) will participate in the Orange Holiday Classic at Hope International University.
Their first game is tonight against Lynden (WA) at 8:30 p.m.
The Matadores are 8-2 to start the season after winning the Diablo Inferno Tournament earlier this month and finishing third in the North OC Championships last week.
The Lady Mats (2-6) will participate in the Lady Rebel Classic at Savanna High School.
Their first game is today as well, against Rancho Alamitos beginning at 3:00 p.m.
Christmas Crime Hits La Mirada
Two separate incidents including one involving the World Cup House
La Mirada~Sometime this past Saturday night or early Sunday morning a Christmas display was vandalized at the World Cup House on Alondra Boulevard in La Mirada.
La Mirada Blog fan Stacey Brooks told us via Facebook. “Last night someone came by and trashed one of our Christmas displays. It was a ramp that my husband Josh spent a lot of time making. On Christmas Eve we buy ice and pack it on there so the neighborhood kids can go sledding. The children love it. It brings a sense of community that is hard to find in this day and age. This is a photo of an officer helping us flip it over. We are going to see if we can fix it, but the damage is done. Our family, including our two very young sons, is heartbroken.”
Since then, with the help of neighbors the display has been fixed.
The home was the source of a bit of controversy this past summer when the city ordered Josh to take down his World Cup display which included large flags representing each country.
This caused an outrage on this websites Facebook page and the city allowed the Brooks to reconstruct their display.
MORE CRIME: On Monday night, a thief broke into a car in the vicinity of Biola/Mansa/Bora and stole over $200 worth of Christmas gifts.
Blog fan Melaina Edgemon said “sometime between 10:00 p.m. Monday and 7:00 a.m. Tuesday, someone broke into my car and stole all the holiday gifts I had purchased for my family,” that included toys, slippers, slippers and movies.
17:08 12/24/14 STILL MORE CRIME: On Wednesday afternoon, Christmas Eve Day, Blog fan Laura Barba said her youngest son's bike was stolen outside CVS on Rosecrans, "They cut the lock and stole the bike within the five minutes-the time he was in the store. It's a neon green fixie with white tires and black rims. If anyone sees it please message us with info."
Library Bookmark Contest Winners Recognized
La Mirada~Each year, the La Mirada branch of the Los Angeles County Public Library holds a bookmark contest for children in kindergarten through twelfth grade. This year’s contest winners were honored with awards at the Dec. 9 City Council meeting. The goal of the contest is to challenge parents, educators, and librarians to encourage children to read and nurture the love of reading.
The theme of this year’s contest was “Dream in Color!” and this was the first year color was allowed on the entries. The library received over 700 entries and winning bookmarks will be printed and made available at the La Mirada Library. La Mirada’s winning entries have advanced to the County Library contest and Grand Prize winners will be announced in February. This year’s winners were:
Kindergarten – Second Grade: Natalie Juarez, Second Grade, Eastwood Elementary School
Third – Fifth Grade: Emily Castro, Fourth Grade, Escalona Elementary School
Sixth – Eighth Grade: Yoojung Kim, Eighth Grade, Los Coyotes Middle School
Ninth – Twelfth Grade: Robin Jones, Tenth Grade, La Mirada High School
Congratulations from the La Mirada Blog and keep reading!
Enter Your Home in the Holiday Decorating Contest
The Holiday Home Decorating program is officially underway. Many homes are already beautifully decorated, and there's still time to decorate your home by the December 12 deadline.
All residents of La Mirada are encouraged to decorate their homes and help spread holiday cheer. No application is needed for this program and every decorated home will be considered for recognition.
Judging for the Holiday Home Decorating program will take place December 1 through December 12. Winners will be selected in the categories of Most Original, Best Use of Lights, and Best Holiday Scene. Award winners will receive a holiday ornament and will be announced on the City's website at www.cityoflamirada.org.
For more information on the Holiday Home Decorating program, call the Community Sheriff's Station at (562) 902-2960.
Visiting With Santa Returns to La Mirada
The City of La Mirada is inviting residents to sign up for a “Visit from Santa.” The visits will begin the weekend of December 5, and will continue every weekend thereafter until Christmas Eve.
Santa visits taking place on Christmas Eve are $45 and $35 on all other days. Due to Santa’s busy schedule, visits will last 10 minutes. If you have more than six children you must sign up for two visits.
Registration is open to La Mirada residents only and will take place at the La Mirada Community Gymnasium on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 5 to 9 p.m. Registration for this special program is ongoing and space is limited, so be good for goodness sake and sign up today!
For additional information, call (562) 943-7277.
Rotarians Help La Mirada Families During the Holidays
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THANKSGIVING DINNERS -- Members of the Rotary Club of La Mirada and volunteers from Good Sam Pantry at Beatitudes Church provided holiday meals for families in La Mirada. Rotarians supplied $1,000 worth of food for the project with the assistance of Walmart Neighborhood Market. Pictured are (l to r): Good Sam Pantry volunteers Jeff Ferrin, Julie Yniguez, Bill Baker, Carmen Rawson, Cathy Ferrin, and Rotary Club of La Mirada members Hal Malkin, Russell Hall and Phil Bracey. |
La Mirada~Members of the Rotary Club of La Mirada are busy again this holiday season helping needy families in the La Mirada area.
Rotary assisted with two projects held in the week prior to Thanksgiving. The third project will be held prior to Christmas.
Rotarians donated $1,000 in turkeys, canned goods and other food items to the Good Sam Pantry at Beatitudes Church in La Mirada. Rotarians purchased the supplies with the generous support of the Walmart Neighborhood Market, located at Imperial Highway and La Mirada Boulevard in the Crossroads Shopping Center, on the morning of Thursday, Nov. 20. The food was distributed to needy families later that afternoon by volunteers at the Good Sam Pantry.
Rotarians also arranged for the purchase of $750 worth of turkey dinners from Polly’s Pies located at Beach Boulevard and Rosecrans Avenue in La Mirada. The food was served by youth volunteers to hundreds of local residents at the annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner at Foster Road Elementary School. The project was a joint effort by La Mirada Rotary, Kiwanis, Living Faith Church, Calvary Chapel and Polly’s Pies.
A Holiday Shopping Spree for needy children will be sponsored by the Rotary Club on Wednesday, Dec. 10 at Marshalls in La Mirada. Rotarians work in conjunction with local elementary schools to identify children in the community who are in need of assistance during the holidays. The children, assisted by adult volunteers, will select clothing items they need from lists provided by their parents.
Rotarians Help La Mirada Familes During the Holidays
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Members of the Rotary Club of La Mirada are busy again this holiday season helping needy families in the La Mirada area. Rotary assisted with two projects held in the week prior to Thanksgiving. The third project will be held prior to Christmas.
Rotarians donated $1,000 in turkeys, canned goods and other food items to the Good Sam Pantry at Beatitudes Church in La Mirada. Rotarians purchased the supplies with the generous support of the Walmart Neighborhood Market, located at Imperial Highway and La Mirada Boulevard in the Crossroads Shopping Center, on the morning of Thursday, Nov. 20. The food was distributed to needy families later that afternoon by volunteers at the Good Sam Pantry.
Rotarians also arranged for the purchase of $750 worth of turkey dinners from Polly’s Pies located at Beach Boulevard and Rosecrans Avenue in La Mirada. The food was served by youth volunteers to hundreds of local residents at the annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner at Foster Road Elementary School. The project was a joint effort by La Mirada Rotary, Kiwanis, Living Faith Church, Calvary Chapel and Polly’s Pies.
A Holiday Shopping Spree for needy children will be sponsored by the Rotary Club on Wednesday, Dec. 10 at Marshalls in La Mirada. Rotarians work in conjunction with local elementary schools to identify children in the community who are in need of assistance during the holidays. The children, assisted by adult volunteers, will select clothing items they need from lists provided by their parents.
Fire Destroys Carriage Kitchen
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| Area firefighters knocked out the blaze at La Mirada's most famous and last, coffee shop within two hours. Photo courtesy Randy Duarte. |
La Mirada~A fire broke out in the early morning hours at The Carriage Coffee Shop at 14871 Imperial Highway.
Nobody was hurt and the building was unoccupied when the fire started in the kitchen of the 49-year-old eatery about 3:30 a.m.
The first reader on our La Mirada Blog Facebook page reported the incident live at 4:15 a.m.
Later in the morning, owner Louis Liu told the La Mirada Blog he doesn’t know how the fire started as he allowed us inside to snap a few photos.
The kitchen appears to be destroyed. Cost estimates are in the hundreds of thousands of dollars to repair.
Officials continue to investigate the incident.
Residents who consider the diner a cultural icon stormed city hall this past March to protest a decision by the owners of the property, Rich Development Co., to
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| The kitchen of the fabled eatery seems destroyed. Photo (c)La Mirada Blog 2014 |
replace the diner with a McDonald’s.
Because of the traffic concerns expressed by residents at that meeting in the form of a petition, the La Mirada Planning Commission suggested a traffic study be executed to address these potential issues.
The final draft of the study has been completed since August and has been sent to the County of Los Angeles Department of Public Works Traffic Division for final approval.
That final approval has still not come however and the decision on the fate of The Carriage has been delayed–not appearing on either the October or November commission agendas.
The next meeting is scheduled for December 18th.
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