Where Does the La Mirada Blog Go Next?
Well, I think it’s about time.
You mean an opinion column on my own website? What a novel concept. I hope to produce this on a every-other-month basis so let’s see and let’s go. Thank YOU for taking time out of your busy day to read this and I hope you enjoy it as we move forward.
From the beginning, I am not going to grovel for days over this column or it’s just going to stress me out and I won’t like doing it. So, my goal is to knock it out in 30 minutes and it is what it is. I’ll put a stop watch on my desk and let’s see how it goes.
Where is the La Mirada Blog going and how has it evolved and changed over the years? What’s next, if anything? What happened in the 2017 La Mirada City Council Election, just 27 months ago-the true story, other than me losing? 😊 City Council members are now elected by district, but are they serving in their districts?
The first issue is this website. I hear you, it's outdated. I hope to have it updated very soon and I apologize. Social media took over in 2009-10 as you well know if you’re a long time follower and the website has been neglected, but mostly because of financial reasons. The overhaul is going to cost more than I thought and I hope to have this remedied very soon. However, with that being said, it is still a place for exclusive content and I have some great advertisers!
Minus the website, the La Mirada Blog has 20,000+ social media followers, not to mention the engagement and reach. What does this mean? Nothing, but comparatively speaking, in a town of 50,000 it is significant and sometimes there is a stress and pressure that goes along with it.
Although I knew I loved what I was doing when I started the Blog many years ago in 2003, at times I have had difficulty keeping up emotionally with its tremendous growth, its status in the community and the responsibility that comes with it along with trying to approach it in a non-biased way in a city I have such a personal attachment to.
So, join on this journey with me as I trudge along running the La Mirada Blog and let us all see what’s next. I tell you and you decide. Send me your ideas, questions, topics, stories and story ideas, advice, news ideas and anything to lamiradablog@gmail.com and let’s travel this road called life, together. Till next time.
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La Mirada News Ticker #15
•The Arts Colony of La Mirada (ACOLM) Plein Art Painting Group meets the second Thursday of each month at 10:00 a.m. The next group meeting will be July 11th with the location to be announced. Participants are required to bring their own snacks, drinks and art supplies. Contact Madeline Thomas for more info (562) 941-4116.
•The group is looking for volunteer face painters for the city’s summer concert series now underway Thursdays at 6:30 through August 8th, (7/25 at Creek Park). Painters should be there about 20 minutes in advance of the music starting at 6:30 p.m. The event Night Market begins at 4:00 p.m.
•We’re sad to report Marla Greer, a longtime member of ACOLM, passed away due to complications of a stroke. Her services will be held on Saturday June 29th at 11:00 a.m. at St Joseph's Episcopal Church, 8300 Valley View St., Buena Park 90620. Those who knew her and intend to attend, please call Madeline Thomas at 562-941-4116 for a head count. Sherri Scialla at 714-904-7031 is the family's contact.
•After a long stint at La Mirada High School, popular teacher Ollie Lynch has confirmed with us he will not be returning to the school this fall. Lynch will be heading across town to El Camino High to lead the Independent Studies Program.
•Carol Schneider from the Year-Around Garden Club in Whittier recently presented a check of $500 to the La Mirada Historical Preservation Advisory Council at their monthly meeting. The money will be applied to the cost for the replacement of the tree identification plaques at the living arboretum at Neff Park created by La Mirada founder Andrew McNally in the late nineteenth century. A La Mirada organization also donated $1000 for the project, but they wish to remain anonymous.
•The Friends of the La Mirada Library will be installing the 2019-2020 board members at their meeting Thursday, June 27 at 6:30pm.
•The Chop Shop will be hosting its official grand opening Sunday June 23 from 10:00a-4:00 p.m. There will be raffles, giveaways, food and 50% off all cuts. The barber shop is located at 13948 Valley View Avenue.
•Last month, La Mirada resident Margie Cramer had her garden chosen to be part of the prestigious Mary Lou Heard Memorial Garden Tour. Read more about the tour and Margie’s garden here.
City Hall Waterfall Reaches Crossroads
La Mirada~Is this the end for the iconic fountain and water fall at La Mirada City Hall?
The 49-year old fountain and pools at La Mirada City Hall are showing their age and were shut down due to public safety concerns and excessive water loss and power usage, according to a recent staff report.
The item was discussed at the March 12 City Council Study Session.
The City Council now seems poised to make a decision about the future of the water feature, a familiar landmark of the La Mirada landscape.
Much of the feature still retains most of the original plumbing and electrical system-and it was failing. Also, the water pumps and valves used for the operation of the fountain were beyond their normal life expectancy and have to be replaced as well.
The pool surfaces also have multiple cracks and are in need of extensive repair. Saturated soil has been observed around the structure due to the leaks, the report indicated.
The disabled fountain consists of three pools with a water fall from the largest pool dumping water to a smaller pool which then flows to another smaller pool to the south of the civic center stairway.
Staff has identified three options for the City Council’s consideration.
Option 1: Restore and renovate the feature to its original condition and replace the entire infrastructure. Cost: $1,000,000-$1,375,000.
Option 2: Reduce and modify the total pool area and install landscape (planters, rocks, shrubs, etc.) and hardscape within the reduced area. The entire infrastructure would still have to be replaced for remaining pools. A new patio deck is also being considered (Option 2A) Cost: $1,750,000-$2,250,000.
Option 3: Eliminate all the pools and replace with landscape and hardscape improvements. This is obviously the most cost-efficient option, especially from a maintenance standpoint moving forward, but it will dramatically change the legendary look of the city hall grounds. Cost: $500,000-$750,000.
The fountain debuted with the dedication of the city hall building on March 20, 1970.
New Chick-fil-A Opening May 23rd
Chick-fil-A will open its first La Mirada restaurant at 14303 Firestone Boulevard on May 23, bringing its handcrafted food and award-winning customer service, commitment to community engagement and hands-on mentoring for nearly 90 newly-hired Team Members.
The overnight Grand Opening First 100 Campout includes engaging activities for participants ages five and older who will also enjoy a Chick-fil-A meal during the countdown to the opening. Registration begins in the restaurant parking lot at 6 p.m., May 22. Details include: Up to 100 adults, ages 18 and older, will win a digital offer card with a year of free Chick-fil-A meals (52 meals with each consisting of a Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich, medium Waffle Potato Fries, and a medium beverage).
The community event is open to guests surrounding the restaurant with a list of eligible zip codes and complete rules found at https://thechickenwire.chick-fil-a.com/News/Future-Openings
New local owner Chris Schivley graduated from Long Beach State University in 2002 with a degree in criminal justice and went on to earn a master’s degree in public policy and administration in 2006. Schivley, who grew up in the Los Angeles County area, spent the first 20 years of his career in law enforcement. His first Chick-fil-A experience came a few years ago when his family began a weekly “date night” tradition of visiting the local Chick-fil-A in Long Beach.
After learning about the Chick-fil-A franchise owner opportunity from a colleague, Schivley’s interest was piqued and it didn’t take long before he realized the brand’s focus on serving freshly prepared food and mentoring young people matched his entrepreneurial goals. By the end of 2018, Schivley left his police department job to pursue his dream of becoming an Operator and was thrilled when he was selected for the new La Mirada restaurant.
Obituary and Service Information for Pat Ruiz
Patricia “Pat” Ruiz passed peacefully with family and friends at her side on April 11, 2019 at the age of 88.
Pat Ruiz was born in San Francisco in 1931 to Della and Edward Conroy. She was educated at St. Paul’s Catholic School, graduating in 1948. Pat attended Dominican College in San Rafael where she earned a baccalaureate in Education. She taught elementary school in San Francisco for one year.
Pat was married to Nick Ruiz in 1952 and had four children, Jacqui, Paul, Barbara, and Larry. The couple moved to La Mirada in 1956 and their children attended St. Paul of the Cross and Gardenhill Elementary Schools, McNally Jr. High School and La Mirada High School. Pat began teaching again when her children were in school and in 1975, she earned a master’s degree from La Verne College. Her beloved husband, Nick, passed away in 1981.
Pat created a history of community service in the City of La Mirada including: 26 years teaching at Escalona Elementary School; eight years as elected member of the Norwalk-La Mirada Unified District (NLMUSD) Board of Education (two years as President); 40 years a cantor at St. Paul of the Cross (SPC) Catholic Church; 12 years a La Mirada Human Services Commissioner; and 11 years President of the La Mirada Symphony Association.
Dedicated activities included: charter (1956) and long-time member of the Ebell Women’s Club (President for two terms); member and President of the La Mirada Kiwanis Club; Chancel Choir member at the Community Presbyterian Church of La Mirada; and, member of the SPC School Advisory Board.
Pat has received awards for distinctive service from Cerritos College Foundation, NLMUSD, Congress of PTSA, County of Los Angeles, City of La Mirada Human Services Commission, Norwalk Gang and Drug Task Force, La Mirada Kiwanis, SPC Catholic Church, and the Whittier Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ LDS, among others.
She leaves behind daughter Jacqui and husband Dane Hill, daughter Barbara, son Paul and wife Tricia, son Larry and son-in-law Stephen Cook, and grandsons Dane Jr. and Nicolas.
There will be a time of farewell at the Chapel of Memories Mortuary, 12626 Woods Ave, Norwalk on Thursday April 25 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. The Memorial Mass and Service will take place at St. Paul of the Cross Catholic Church, 14030 Foster Rd, La Mirada on Friday April 26 at 2:00pm. A private burial service will occur at Olive Lawn Cemetery, La Mirada. In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made in Pat’s honor to The Patricia Ruiz Memorial Artist Scholar Fund at the California School of the Arts, San Gabriel Valley at http://sgv.csarts.net/patriciaruizmemorialfund
Source: Courtesy Barbara Ruiz
Relay for Life La Mirada/Whittier May 18th and 19th at Splash!
La Mirada~The Relay for Life La Mirada/Whittier will be held May 18 through May 19 at Splash! La Mirada Regional Aquatics Center. Relay for Life is a 24-hour community gathering designed to celebrate the lives of those who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and raise funds for cancer research, services and advocacy.
The day begins on May 18 at 9 a.m. with a “Survivors Lap” during which cancer survivors are honored, followed by a second lap where survivors are joined by their family and caregivers. We are adding something new this year by having our oncologists, radiologists, nurse navigators, and nursing staff that made surviving Cncer possible, join our survivors for the Caregiver Lap.
Fun activities will be held throughout the event including riding down the Splash! Buccaneer Bay waterslides on Saturday from noon to 3 p.m. and the cost is $5 per person, or free to 2019 Buccaneer Bay season pass holders.
At 9 p.m. luminaries are placed around the track for those being honored for surviving, those who are currently fighting cancer and those who are being memorialized.
The event closes on May 19 with a pancake breakfast hosted by the Kiwanis Club followed by a “Fight Back Ceremony” where the community and individuals pledge to work to eradicate cancer.
Civitas Coffee Now Open In La Mirada
Civitas Coffee started with an idea to become a community centerpiece. The goal was to provide high-quality artisan coffee, specialty teas, & gourmet baked goods to the city of La Mirada. As of February 16th, that has become a reality at the southeast corner of Rosecrans and Valley View.
Daniel & Katherine Kim started their journey to open their very own coffee store five years ago. Katherine has been in the coffee industry for over four years working for small and big coffee shop businesses in the Los Angeles area. She realized that she wanted to give back more to the community while pursuing her passion for coffee. Their goals aligned perfectly as Daniel was looking to grow his passion for coffee from his background in coffee distribution.
They both love the close-knit atmosphere of the La Mirada community. Noticing that there weren’t many options for quality coffee & tea in the area, they decided this was the place to open up their store. They decided on the name Civitas, which means ‘community’ in Latin, since it encompassed their vision to be an epicenter in a community. Their motto is to, “bring a community together, one cup at a time.”
Daniel & Katherine wanted Civitas Coffee to use and promote small local area vendors. Their roaster, Jetty Coffee Roasters out of Los Angeles, roasts small batches and takes immense pride in his craft. Their pastries and vegan donuts are also baked fresh from local vendors in Los Angeles region, including Sugarbloom Bakery and The Caffeinated Kitchen. At the end of the day, it’s not about what they offer, but about how they can connect with the community. They want to get to know each and every customer and also pass along their knowledge of fine coffee and teas.
After countless hours of research and planning, they are excited to move into the next stage in their journey as they finally open Civitas Coffee. So whether you’re nearby on your commute to work, meeting friends & colleagues, or just looking for a great cup of coffee, they have the perfect array of drinks & refreshments to fit your needs.
Civitas Coffee is located at 14218 Rosecrans Avenue in La Mirada. Hours are Monday through Friday 6:00 a.m. -7:00 p.m. and Saturdays 7:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. Give them a call at (562) 351-1165. Store available for special events on Sundays.
Dunkel Bros. Continues Christmas Tradition at New Location
Some of what you need to know about the Dunkel Bros. 2018 Christmas Display
La Mirada~Dunkel Bros. Orange County Machinery Moving has been in business since 1975 and has been based in La Mirada for the last 16 years.
The company relocated last year from their South Firestone Boulevard location along the freeway, to their new beautiful location located at the northeast corner of Alondra Boulevard and Phoebe Avenue, just east of Valley View Avenue. The change was necessitated by the construction involved with the current Interstate 5 Widening Project.
Although moving heavy machinery may be what the company is known for, over the years they have also created elaborate and unique Christmas light displays at its headquarters during the holidays for the public to enjoy.
This year is no exception; perhaps the best ever.
The display at the beautiful new Dunkel location features over two million lights all wired together and synced with holiday music, which can also be heard on 88.7 FM from your car.
The planter boxes within the display were designed and built by Dunkel Bros. exclusively for this display with each box containing 10,000 lights!
Peter Dunkel and Larry Dunkel are the owners of Dunkel Bros/La Mirada. Peter told us his Christmas spirit was instilled by his wonderful parents, Otto & Herbie who were married for 65 years. He told us every Christmas season they would load up their family of 12 kids and venture out to see the different holiday lights and displays.
The design of the new La Mirada headquarters for Dunkel Bros. includes wide, meandering sidewalks ensuring the safety of the community while offering a close up look at the detail of the free exhibit. A stage has also been built for Christmas-themed shows and carolers.
SCHEDULE: Santa will appear nightly 6-9- p.m. Saturday December 1st through December 23rd. The jolly old elf will be handing out gifts for the kids.
Santa’s reindeer arrive nightly 5-10 p.m. for eight days beginning Saturday December 15th.
Look for our live broadcast on Facebook Sunday December 4th at approximately 5:00 p.m.
OTHER XMAS DISPLAYS: The “Christmas Vacation” display at 15912 Golva is back this year bigger and better than ever. The display is set to be ready Saturday December 1st.
A really cool display is located at 14774 Hardaway Drive, go by and check it out.
See a really cool Christmas display in La Mirada? Send us an email or DM us on social media.
La Mirada Crime Report October 29-November 11
La Mirada Crime Report October 29th-November 11, 2018
Notable Arrests-A suspect was arrested on the 14800 block of Mercado Ave. for possession of a switch blade which was a result of a proactive pedestrian stop by deputies. 15 suspects were arrested throughout La Mirada for various warrants and narcotics violations.
Robbery-A suspect was arrested after being detained by a "good Samaritan" after witnessing the suspect attempt to carjack a vehicle on the 15200 block of Rosecrans Ave. No injuries were sustained during the incident.
Aggravated Assault-During a daytime domestic incident an assault was reported on the 14100 block of Gladeside Dr. Minor injuries were sustained by the victim. The suspect was arrested. A victim was attacked with a metal cane during a verbal argument on the 14500 block of Leffingwell Rd. No injuries were sustained and the suspect was arrested.
Residential Burglary-An overnight theft of a bicycle was reported on the 15200 block of Campina Ln.
Other Structure Burglary-A locker was broken into on the 13300 block of Beach Blvd. A wallet was stolen. Three storage units were broken into on the 15000 block of Alondra Blvd.
Vehicle Burglary-A late night window smash burglary was reported on the 15000 block of Imperial Hwy. A purse was reported stolen.A purse was stolen during an early morning burglary on the 15300 block of Loretta Dr. An early morning burglary was reported on the 12300 block of La Pomelo Rd. Various tools were reported stolen during an early morning burglary on the 12700 block of Loganberry Dr. An early morning burglary was reported on the 14100 block of Bora Dr. A laptop and wallet were reported stolen during a late night burglary on the 15000 block of Leffingwell Rd. Tools were stolen during an evening burglary on the 14700 block of Firestone Blvd.
Grand Theft-A tailgate was reported stolen from a vehicle on the 14000 block of Lynmark St. A lawnmower was stolen from a vehicle near the intersection of Las Flores Ave. and Ocaso Ave. Medical supplies were reported stolen on the 15300 block of Valley View Ave. Various items were stolen during a late night theft from an unlocked vehicle on the 15000 block of Leffingwell Rd.
Grand Theft Vehicle-A sedan was reported stolen on the 14800 block of Telegraph Rd. A sedan was reported stolen on the 13500 block of Bona Vista Dr. A van was reported stolen on the 16200 block of Avenida San Miguel. A vehicle was reported stolen on the 13800 block of Biola Ave. A tractor was reported stolen on the 16600 block of Knott Ave. A sedan was reported stolen on the 15300 block of Santa Gertrudes Ave. A sedan was reported stolen on the 13800 block of Larwin Rd. A sedan was reported stolen on the 12700 block of Oxford Dr. A sedan was reported stolen on the 14400 block of Firestone Blvd.
La Mirada News Ticker #14
>The City of La Mirada and the Los Angeles Department of Public Health will be offering all community members free flu vaccinations on Wednesday, October 31 from 9 to 11 a.m. at the La Mirada Activity Center.
>La Mirada's annual Salute to Veterans event is scheduled for Monday, November 5 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts. Join us in honoring our local veterans who have served or are currently serving in our nation's military. The Salute to Veterans event will include military memorabilia displays, veterans' resources, guest speakers, and a military banner retirement ceremony. For additional information, contact the Community Services Department at (562) 943-7277.
>The Arts Colony of La Mirada will present its “Mirrors of Your Mind” Art Show. The art exhibit will be open to the public on Monday, November 5 through Friday, November 16 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the La Mirada Activity Center. An award reception will conclude the art show on Saturday, November 17 from 3 to 5 p.m. Artists interested in getting involved in the Arts Colony of La Mirada are encouraged to visit their website at acolm.org or by calling (562) 941-4116 for additional information.
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