Winter Begins Second Stint as President of La Mirada Kiwanis
La Mirada~Dr. Michael Winter was installed as La Mirada Kiwanis President for the 2013-14 term on Friday evening, September 13 at the banquet hall at Biola University in La Mirada. Frank Barry, Lt. Governor designate for Kiwanis Division 30, was the installing officer. Mike Winter is a well-known dentist in the area and has been a member of the Club since 1987 having served previously as President in 1990-91.
Rick Bee, long-time friend of Winter and Senior Director of Alumni at Biola, introduced Winter to the guests. He described him as a compassionate and wise man, musically talented, and an avid recruiter, all valuable credentials for leadership in Kiwanis where high values, education, the arts, altruistic service, especially for children, and community involvement are priorities.
Dr. Winter’s goals for the coming year include continuing major projects for which the club is well known: $10,000 in scholarships, pancake breakfasts for youth sports’ groups, fireworks stand to benefit charitable projects, the Duck Race at Splash! to benefit non-profit organizations in the community, participation in the City’s annual 4th of July Celebration in the County park, and sponsorship of several Kiwanis Key Clubs in local schools and colleges.
Winter says he intends to enhance giving to other civic and charitable causes as the needs arise and the Kiwanis International objectives of justice, patriotism and goodwill will be high on his priority agenda.
Three Former La Mirada Rival Musicians Now Playing Together
La Mirada~At this year’s la Mirada Olive Fest, three musicians who once competed against each other growing up in La Mirada will perform as The Groovetones at this year’s la Mirada Olive Fest, Saturday September 21st from 11-4 at Regional Park.
This is the second year in a row the band has played at the festival.
Guitarist Steve Gage was born and raised in La Mirada and started playing the guitar when he was eight years old. He took guitar lessons at the old La Mirada Music Box from 1964-1967 and started playing in various bands since when he was about 10.
In 1968 at 12 years old, Gage played at the old La Mirada Movie Theater on Halloween and at Pepe's Pizza Parlor in La Mirada.
He also played at the first and third La Mirada Regional Park 4th of July event 1972 and 1974 with a band called Audio and continued playing shows, with Johnny Winter, Eric Burden and the Animals, Mountain with Leslie West and Corky Lang and the Zombies.
Today, he still lives in La Mirada and currently plays in a Jimi Hendrix Tribute band called Crosstown Traffic.
Drummer Rick Morton was also born and raised in La Mirada and his first performing band was Elipse, with all members being from La Mirada.
They played at three different Fiesta de Artes, two shows at the La Mirada mall and one at the La Mirada Stadium.
Morton also played in a battle-of-the-bands for the opening of the old La Mirada Civic Theatre, and the opening of the Kling Teen Center.
The members of Eclipse changed and the band became Slyder, playing for the opening of Roberts Department store and at a dance-a-thon for Muscular Dystrophy at the La Mirada Mall.
Morton attended Eastwood Elementary, Los Coyotes Junior High, and La Mirada High School and lived in La Mirada until recently.
Bass player Steve Bravin moved into La Mirada in 1959 and went to Mesa Elementary School, Benton Middle School, and La Mirada High School.
He played music with a lot of friends in the area, and ended up in a band called Fuze, with all members from La Mirada. They played the Fiesta de Artes Battle of the Bands and won first place.
Gage still lives in La Mirada.
The Groove tones are set to perform at the Olive Fest at 12:30 p.m.
La Mirada Cub Scout Pack 919 to Host Recruitment Night
If you want your son to have some fun, excitement, camp, hike and bike in the outdoors, and a chance to participate in a program where he learns how to “Do your Best” and be helpful to others then Cub Scout Pack 919 La Mirada has the program for you.
Cub Scouting is a home and neighborhood centered program designed to support and encourage quality family involvement for boys 1st through 5th grades. Each Cub Scout learns to respect his home, country and other people.
If interested, Pack 919 is hosting their annual Round Up this Friday, September 20, at 6:00 p.m. at Community Presbyterian Church of La Mirada located at 13701 Hillsborough Drive in La Mirada.
For more information on Pack 919 La Mirada, contact Kati Dominguez at (714) 723-2066 or cub master Brandon Van Scoy (626) 260-6331. You can also email to get info at pack919info@pack919.org or visit their website at www.pack919.org.
ABOUT PACK 919
Pack 919 is a Cub Scout unit chartered through Community Presbyterian Church La Mirada assigned to the Los Angeles Area Council serving areas of La Mirada, Whittier, La Habra, Buena Park and surrounding cities. Cub Scout Pack 919 La Mirada has been serving the community for almost 50 years. Boys in first through fifth grade can join Pack 919 anytime. Den and Pack meetings are held September through May with additional fun events throughout summer.
McCoy Rigby Anniversary Season Begins at Theatre This Friday
La Mirada~This Friday marks the beginning of the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts “Broadway’s Best” 2013- 2014 season of shows, as they also celebrate McCoy Rigby’s 20th Anniversary season with the award-winning theatre!
The anniversary season begins Friday at 8:00 p.m. with Neil Simon’s Tony Award-winning masterwork BROADWAY BOUND running through October 13th.
The season continues with two of the most acclaimed recent plays of our time, the Tony Award & Pulitzer Prize-winning plays, RABBIT HOLE by David Lindsay-Abaire and Yasmina Reza’s comedy of manners (where there are no manners!), GOD OF CARNAGE; followed by two of the biggest Broadway musical hits ever CATS and the regional theatre premiere of a brand new production of LES MISÉRABLES!
Add into the mix the bonus options of its new “Onstage Series” production of FLOYD COLLINS and the unmistakable harmonies of THE OAK RIDGE BOYS and La Mirada and the Southern California area will certainly have the “Best of Broadway” and beyond coming its way in 2013-2014!
For tickets visit www.lamiradatheatre.com or call (562) 944-9801
Seven File for Four Spots on Norwalk-La Mirada School Board
Norwalk-Three candidates will challenge incumbents for four available seats on the Norwalk-La Mirada Board of Education in the local and municipal elections on November 5th.
Incumbents Ana Valencia, Ed Hengler, Margarita Rios and Darryl Adams have all filed necessary papers for re-election.
The three challengers include Sean Reagan, Salvador Limon and Mark White.
Four of the seven have listed teacher as their main occupation. Hengler is a retired teacher and White lists Field Technical Engineer and Rios, a parent, as their occupations.
Bi-Weekly La Mirada Crime Report; Badlona Hit Twice in One Week
Residential Burglary-Two residential burglaries were reported on the 15100 block of Badlona Dr. Cash and jewelry was stolen from one of the residences.
Other Structure Burglary- A burglary to a storage container was reported on the 15200 block of Rosecrans Ave. Various tools were stolen in the incident. A motorcycle and various other items were reported stolen from a garage on the 16100 block of Rosecrans Ave.
Vehicle Burglary-An incident was reported on the 14500 block of Dunnet Ave. Two seats and a DVD system were stolen from the vehicle. Two separate burglaries were reported on the 14200 block of Firestone Blvd. Various items were stolen from the vehicles. A window smash burglary was reported on the 15800 block of Imperial Hwy. Paperwork was stolen from the vehicle.
Name Change for Festival Reflects La Mirada’s Heritage
La Mirada~The 4th Annual La Mirada Olive Fest (formerly the La Mirada Blog Fest), in cooperation with the La Mirada Symphony and the La Mirada Chamber of Commerce, is set for September 21st at La Mirada Regional Park from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
The free event, which celebrates the history of La Mirada, along with its artistic and musical heritage, will feature live entertainment, an art walk, a La Mirada Legends meet-and-greet, an opportunity drawing with a $500 grand prize, food trucks, and vendors selling arts and crafts.
“La Mirada is a special place and it really deserves its own family-friendly unique event that it can call its own,” says La Mirada native and Olive Fest Committee President Tony Aiello, “What we seek to do is incorporate elements from past events in La Mirada that have proven to be successful; the olive trees are so encrusted in our heritage, it was an obvious choice for a name.”
“We have taken ideas from the old Fiesta de Artes, (an outdoor art show that was very popular in the 70’s and 80’s). Also, we have ideas from the Celebration in the Park at Neff, the La Mirada Kids Carnival, and the La Mirada Chamber Business Expo. We are talking about adding an olive recipe contest, olive oil tasting, Mr. and Mrs. Olive and more as each year goes by.”
“This is our fourth year, and each year we have grown in size. We have always considered ourselves a grassroots organization and we have somehow sustained ourselves the first three years. We are very excited to have new sponsors aboard and new groups involved. We love the idea of community organizations using our event for a fund raising opportunity. The seed has been planted to maintain an annual community-driven event that celebrates growing and living in a great town.”
Residents May Apply to Serve on City Charter Exploratory Committee
The City Council established the City Charter Exploratory Committee during their August 27th meeting. The five member committee will be charged with reviewing the potential advantages of becoming a charter city and preparing a draft charter for the Council’s consideration.
Applications will be accepted for those interested in serving on the City Charter Exploratory Committee until September 20. Committee members must be at least 18 years old, United States citizens and residents of La Mirada.
The City Charter Exploratory Committee will meet at least monthly, or more often if needed, to review charter city issues and draft the proposed city charter. The committee will explore the differences between charter cities and general law cities, review municipal affairs over which charter cities have authority, identify advantages of becoming a charter city, discuss charter contents, and prepare a draft city charter.
There are currently 121 charter cities in California, including nearby Buena Park, Cerritos and Whittier.
“Charter cities work under the home-rule provision of the state constitution,” says City Manager Designee Jeff Boynton. “This committee will be looking at whether a charter could increase local control and provide other benefits for La Mirada.”
Residents interested in serving on the committee may complete an application and submit it to City Hall by 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 20. Applications are available at City Hall and on the City’s website www.cityoflamirada.org.
Norwalk-La Mirada Graduation Rates Continue to Climb
Norwalk~The graduation rate at Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District high schools has seen a steady increase over the last four years, topping off at 92 percent for the 2012-13 academic year.
This year, NLMUSD had 1,523 seniors graduate from its five high schools – John Glenn, La Mirada, Norwalk, El Camino and Southeast Academy. This compares with the 2009-10 academic year when NLMUSD graduated 87.2 percent of its seniors; 90 percent in 2010-11; and 92.2 percent in 2011-12.
Superintendent Dr. Ruth Perez attributes the ongoing success of the District to new intervention programs, positive policy changes and better tracking of the District’s students.
“We’re at 92 and we intend to see continued progress,” Perez said. Our students are working hard to receive their diplomas and our teacher and staff is utilizing proven instructional programs and interventions to provide whatever academic support each individual student needs to achieve that goal.”
In the last five years, the District has implemented several programs to steer students toward success. Such programs include one-on-on and in-classroom intervention programs for students who struggle throughout middle school, a District leadership group that looks at achievement gaps and finds ways to close them, and peer-mentoring groups.
Bi-Weekly La Mirada Crime Report; Residential Burglaries on Fada, Adoree, and Crestline
The following is the crime report for La Mirada for August 5-18, 2013
Aggravated Assault-An assault was reported on the 12700 block of Valley View Ave. An unknown suspect threw a knife at the victim but missed him. An assault occurred on the 15300 block of Loretta Dr. A suspect was taken into custody at the location after threatening to harm the victim.
Residential Burglary-A residential burglary was reported on the 15600 Fada Dr. Tools and other items were stolen from the garage at the location. A purse and vehicle were reported stolen on the 16000 block of Crestline Dr. The vehicle was recovered the same day and a suspect taken into custody. A burglary to a vacant home was reported on the 15100 block of Leffingwell Rd. Cash and a laptop computer were reported stolen from a residence on the 14100 block of Adoree St.
Other Structure Burglary-A burglary to Benton Middle School was reported Aug. 17. Two adults and two juveniles were arrested in connection with the burglary. A burglary to a commercial mailbox was reported in an office complex on the 14700 block of Beach Blvd.
Vehicle Burglary-A window smash burglary was reported on the 14300 block of Firestone Blvd. A cell phone was stolen from the vehicle. A vehicle burglary occurred on the 11600 block of Goldendale Dr. A wallet was stolen from the vehicle. A window smash burglary was reported on the 12000 block of Santa Gertrudes Ave. A purse was stolen from the vehicle. A purse containing various items was reported stolen in a window smash burglary on the 13500 block of Beach Blvd.
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