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.
La Mirada High Students to Perform in Rose Parade
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TOP: La Mirada High School horn players Yasmin Lozano (left) and Aaron Muzzicato (right) were selected to perform in the 128th Tournament of Roses Parade Honor Band on Jan. 2. BOTTOM: La Mirada High School students, from left to right, Cristina Navarrette, Catrina Calvillo, Clarisa Soto and Carina Calvillo were selected as color guard performers. |
Eight high school students from the Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District, including six from La Mirada High School, have been selected to perform in the 2016 Tournament of Roses Parade Honor Band.
The students were selected from a pool of about 500 musicians throughout Southern California and will join more than 100 Honor Band members consisting of instrumentalists, a flag pageantry and the Pasadena City College’s Lancer Marching Band.
The NLMUSD students practiced their routines throughout the year, while continuing their music instruction and performing in their high school bands and other music programs.
“It’s such an honor for our students to be chosen because it was a rigorous audition process,” said Fabio Kayama, Norwalk-La Mirada Unified visual and performing arts teacher on special assignment. “Our students get to perform with top musicians from across Southern California and showcase their talents.”
This year, the student musicians chosen from the District are:
• John Glenn High: Mya Sanchez, senior, euphonium; Giovanni Gallegos, senior, trombone;
• La Mirada High: Yasmin Lozano, junior, clarinet; Aaron Muzzicato, senior, alto saxophone; Carina Calvillo, senior, pageantry; Catrina Calvillo, senior, pageantry; Cristina Navarrette, senior, pageantry; Clarissa Soto, freshman, pageantry
La Mirada High School Director of Music Geena Biondi held clinics and workshops to prepare her students for the auditions. Biondi, a Pasadena City College alumni, performed in the Tournament of Roses Parade as a member of the Lancer Marching Band as a junior and senior in high school.
“These students are ones that are leaders in the classroom and very disciplined,” Biondi said. “Their willingness to rehearse during the break shows their desire to grow into better musicians.”
The students began practicing for the Rose Parade the second weekend of November, and will continue to rehearse every weekend in December and through most of winter break. They will march over 50 miles in preparation for the six-mile parade down Colorado Boulevard.
“The Tournament of Roses Honor Band prides itself in playing the entire route of the parade,” John Glenn High School Band Director Frank Hinojoz said. “I’m very proud to have two members from our school in the ensemble.”
The NLMUSD students will also perform with the Honor Band at Disneyland on Dec. 28 and for Bandfest at Pasadena City College on Dec. 30 and 31.
“I’m so proud that our students are being recognized as some of the best musicians in Southern California,” Superintendent Hasmik Danielian said. “These are exemplary students who not only shine in their academics, but who now have the opportunity to demonstrate their passion and talent on a national scale.”
The 128th Tournament of Roses Parade will kick off at 8 a.m. Monday, Jan. 2.
Mike Moschetti Resigns as La Mirada High Football Head Coach
Interview on our radio show last night was apparently his last as official head coach
La Mirada~Mike Moschetti has resigned as head football coach at La Mirada High School according to a story broke by Aram Tolegian of the San Gabriel Valley Tribune.
As a quarterback in 1992 Moschetti led the Matadors to a CIF Championship. He returned to his alma mater as a coach in 2008 and helped the guide La Mirada to another CIF Championship in 2009 and a state regional bowl championship last year. He also won seven Suburban League titles during his tenure.
We interviewed Coach Moschetti last night on The La Mirada Blog Radio Show. We asked him some pointed questions about his career, not knowing the relevance of the timing. We did not know at the time he would be resigning the next day and it would be his last interview as the official head coach for La Mirada High football.
You can hear the interview by selecting La Mirada Blog Show here.
Work Continues on City’s Aggressive Street Improvement Program
Phase 3 of the Measure I neighbored street improvements will soon be underway in La Mirada. The City Council awarded RJ Noble, which submitted the lowest qualified bid, to complete the project at its November 22, 2016 Council meeting.
Street improvements in Phase 3 are planned for the neighborhood streets bounded by Stage Road, Alondra Boulevard, Dalmatian Avenue, Barnwall Street, Ocaso Avenue, La Mirada Boulevard, Rosecrans Avenue, and the east City limit. Not included in this project are Stage Road, Alondra Boulevard, La Mirada Boulevard, Rosecrans Avenue, and Santa Gertrudes Avenue.
Improvements include resurfacing of street pavement, installation of curb access ramps, rehabilitation of storm drains, and removal and replacement of damaged curbs, gutters and sidewalks.
Phase 3 is scheduled for completion in summer 2017. Phase 4 of Measure I is under design and is scheduled to begin construction by summer 2017. The first two phases of the Measure I neighborhood street improvements were completed in fall 2015 and spring 2016.
“We are continuing to meet the objectives of the City’s robust Capital Improvement Projects program,” says Public Works Director/ City Engineer Mark Stowell. “Phases 3 and 4 are proceeding as planned and will provide updated infrastructure in the affected neighborhoods.”
As construction approaches for capital improvement projects, the City strives to notify residents and businesses in advance of the work. To identify projects funded by Measure I, signs are posted in the area where a Measure I project is in progress.
For more information on La Mirada’s capital improvement projects, call the City’s Public Works Department at (562) 902-2385.
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