REVIEW: Empire Captures the Spirit of New York City
Skip the search for a restaurant for Valentine’s Day weekend. Instead, take the one you love, or even make it a family trip, to go see Empire, the latest production from The McCoy Rigby Entertainment Group. La Mirada’s Performing Arts Center hosts the first run of Empire, an entertaining and Broadway bound musical about the construction of the Empire State Building. This musical is entertaining, intriguing, and you as La Mirada residents get to be the first to enjoy this marvel!
Empire opens in New York City’s “Hey Day” of the roaring 20’s-- glitz, gold, glamor, wealth! All the magic and feeling you've read about in books by the likes of Fitzgerald, this is the time, striking while it's hot! But as quickly as that wealth may have come, it's quickly lost as America is hit by the stock market crash of 1929 and The Great Depression. What are the money makers who have held on to their money and still soaring high to do? Ask John J. Raskob and Al Smith-- a High Financer and the former governor of New York. Together, Raskob and Smith have one goal in mind-- build the largest building in the world to rule the New York city skyline. For such a task, they enlist architect, Michael Shaw, and Smith's "Can-Do" gal, Frankie Peterson.
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| Kevin Earley (far left), Stephanie Gibson (center) and the workers are featured in the musical “EMPIRE” - directed and choreographed by Marcia Milgrom Dodge and now playing at LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS. |
To create a monument of such stature, Peterson tackles the workforce and Shaw the design. Together they gain the trust of their employees, a diverse migrant work force. We see the Al Smith building become a symbol of the power, magnitude, and enigmatic spirit of the people of New York, the “Empire State." Irish, Italian, and Mohawk Indian, all join in to earn an honest living and end up being the integral part of the story and reflecting the beauty of this building.
Enjoyable, lively, and a performance filled with romance and laughter, Empire is a delight and truly one of the most enjoyable productions to come to the La Mirada Performing Arts Center. Mesmerizing use of scenery projection and a cast pulling off dance numbers and acrobatics are all part of a special and nostalgic musical ready for Broadway.
Cast includes Kevin Earley, Stephanie Gibson, Tony Sheldon, Michael McCormick, Charlotte Maltby, and Joe Hart. Ensemble cast: Josh Walden, Cooper Stanton, Justin Michael Wilcox, Caleb Shaw, Tommy Bracco, Michael Baxter, Michael Starr, Juan Caballer, Joe Hart, and Caitlyn Calfas, Rachel Osting, Rachel King, Fatima El-Bashir, Tory Freeth, Christine Tucker, Richard Bulda, Jordan Richardson, Gabriel Navarro, Rodrigo Varandas, Katharine McDonough, Josh Walden, Tommy Bracco, and Juan Caballer.
Book, Music and Lyrics by Caroline Sherman and Robert Hull. Musical Direction by Sariva Goetz. Directed and Choreographed by Marcia Milgrom Dodge. Produced by Sue Vaccaro, Ricky Stevens, and The Rivet Gang. Production Stage Manger: Jill Gold. Assistant Stage Manager: Nicole Wessel. Flying Sequence Choreographer: Paul Rubin. Casting Director: Julia Flores. Scenic and Co-Projection Designer: David Gallo and Brad Peterson. Costume Designer: Leon Wiebers. Lighting Designer: Jared A. Sayeg. Sound Designer: Philip G. Allen.
Kiwanis/Lou Piltz Memorial Spaghetti Dinner Scheduled for January 29th
Dinner benefits La Mirada Meals-on-Wheels, serving home-bound residents since 1975
La Mirada~The 29th Lou Piltz Memorial Spaghetti Dinner will be served at the La Mirada Activity Center on January 29th 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 Mels-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.
For more information call (562) 943-0037 or visit the MOW website.
UFC Announces Opening of New La Mirada Gym
Former Toys R Us building will be their largest in the world
La Mirada~UFC GYM®, the fast-growing franchise that combines mixed martial arts (MMA) and fitness, today announced the opening of its new, 46,000 square foot location in La Mirada, set for this Saturday, January 23rd at 8 a.m.
The gym, located at 14920 La Mirada Boulevard at the former Toys R Us site, will make history as the largest UFC GYM since the organization’s inception in 2009, with more than 135 clubs currently located throughout the United States, Australia and Canada.
As one of the brands signature gyms, this location will be open 24-hours a day, seven days a week, joining the regions Corona, South Corona, Rosemead and 
Torrance locations with the same distinction in Southern California.
“This gym raises the bar as the premiere fitness destination of Los Angeles County,” UFC GYM President Adam Sedlack said. “Opening day will give the entire community a chance to experience what makes our gyms different. Thousands of members around the world have transformed their lives by combining the best of traditional fitness with the innovation of how the world’s best athletes train. I am so proud to bring our largest location to the great City of La Mirada.”
Highlighted by a 30-foot Octagon®, members of this top-of-the-line signature gym will have access to strength training and cardio machines, battle ropes, agility ladders, bag room, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu studio, large group fitness rooms and other functional training equipment for dynamic workouts. The gym’s explosive workout environment uses cutting-edge training techniques inspired by UFC® athletes and provides members with everything needed for the entire family to sweat, move, live and Train Different®.
La Mirada Mayor Pauline Deal will be present to officially kick off the celebration with a ribbon cutting coordinated by the La Mirada Chamber of Commerce at 9:30 a.m. Following the cutting, there will be family-friendly activities such as drawings, giveaways and discounts at the Arm Bar Café. A DJ, kid’s jump house and face painting station will also be on site.
UFC GYM will host a variety of activities including demonstrations of the brands most popular group and individual fitness programs throughout the day. Demonstrations will showcase striking exhibitions to include: boxing, Muay Thai, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Daily Ultimate Training® (DUT®), group fitness (Zumba® & P90X®) and youth programs.
All activities are free and open to the community.
OPENING DAY SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
8 a.m. Gym Opens for Members and Guests
9:30 a.m. Chamber of Commerce Ribbon Cutting
10 – 11:30 a.m. Morning Demonstrations in Octagon
1 – 2:30 p.m. Afternoon Demonstrations in Octagon
4 – 5:30 p.m. Evening Demonstrations in Octagon
ALL DAY Members and Guests can workout anytime
A team of elite Personal Coaches helps members achieve indisputable results through individual and group training. The new location features a UFC GYM retail store, UFC GYM Kids’ fitness classes, Kid Club offering childcare, full amenity locker rooms with dry saunas, Arm Bar Café and towel service.
The La Mirada Blog has partnered with UFC. Contact Matt Hamel, General Manager at La Mirada direct at matt.hamel@ufcgym.com for La Mirada specials.
In addition to the corporate owned signature clubs, UFC GYM also offers the unique opportunity to own and operate a UFC GYM franchise domestically and internationally. For franchise information, visit www.ufcgym.com/franchising.
For more information about UFC GYM La Mirada visit http://ufcgym.com/lamirada.
Like us at https://www.facebook.com/ufcgymlamirada/ or follow us at https://twitter.com/ufcgymlamirada or subscribe at www.youtube.com/UFCgym.
La Mirada Prepares for Possible Very Wet Winter
Local agencies statewide have ramped up preparations for what forecasters are predicting could be a winter with heavy El Niño-driven storms. The City of La Mirada is taking steps to ensure it is prepared to respond to hazardous conditions El Niño may create.
City and Los Angeles County crews continue to work hard to prepare storm drains, roadways and City facilities for what may become a very wet winter. Preparations included inspecting roadways and clearing inlet areas of rocks, vegetation, and dirt to ensure storm runoff can be adequately drained from the roadways, and surveying hazardous areas for mud, debris, and low lying areas.
City officials are also working with the County to ensure flood control catch basins have been cleared of debris and sandbags are readily available at local fire stations.
Residents and businesses should also take steps to prepare for the heavy rain. Residents and businesses are encouraged to fix leaks, inspect and repair roof coverings, and clean out gutters and downspouts. An emergency kit with adequate supplies for the entire household, including pets, should be created.
Ring in the New Year With the New You
Love ‘em or hate ‘em, New Year’s resolutions are a good thing. If you struggle to believe that, it’s probably because of a history of failed resolutions. This year, however, you owe it to yourself to become the new person you want to be. Not in order to impress other people. You’re going to do it to remind yourself that yes, you can do whatever you put your mind to—you can become a better person.
Ready to get started on the road to a new you? Keep reading to find out what you’ve got to do this the year to make the new you happen!
Talk about It-After a few years of failed resolutions, you may want to keep your plans a secret. But don’t! If your family and friends don’t know what your goals are, you won’t have their support in your journey. They may scoff or snigger when they find out you have big plans for the coming year, but don’t let them get you down. Most likely, they’re jealous. So whether you want to be more committed to your gym routine, eat better, or be more patient with your kids, don’t keep your resolution for a new you to yourself!
Start with Pre-Tests-Next Monday may be when you’ve decided to really begin committing to your new self, but don’t wait that long. Start today with some pre-tests. Once a day, find a way to implement your new lifestyle into your routine. That may mean skipping dessert one night. Or maybe it’s letting your spouse have the remote control. Then again, it could be chewing on a carrot instead of going for a cigarette break when stressed. Whatever it is, scoring these small victories lets you know that you can indeed become the new person in the New Year that you desire.
Expect Success-There’s a reason New Year’s resolutions are the punch line for countless jokes. There are people, however, who beat the odds and stick with their resolutions. This time around, you’re going to be one of them. Not because you’re better than other people who can’t keep from overeating. And not because you’re smarter than people who don’t read a book every month (like you’re planning to do this year). The reason you’re going to succeed is because you want it, and nothing is going to stop you. When you expect success and realize it is possible—which it is—you’re prepared to do what it takes to find that success. Now go for it!
Take the Polar Bear Plunge on New Years Day
Celebrate the New Year at Splash! on Friday, Jan. 1 from 2 to 4 p.m. Bring family and friends to join in and slide down the two story water slides in Buccaneer Bay. The plunge will be forever remembered with a keepsake photo.
Admission is $5 or free for 2016 season pass holders, and includes admission into the plunge, a souviner photo, hot chocolate, and swimming in the heated 25-yard pool from noon to 5 p.m.
For those not interested in taking the plunge, the heated pool will be open for swimming from 12 to 5 p.m. The cost is $3 for adults and $2 for children.
For more information, call Splash! at (562) 902-3191 or visit www.splashlamirada.com.
STATE CHAMPIONS!
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| Players surround La Mirada High head coach Mike Moschetti after winning their first state title. The Matadores beat Campolindo 27-3 on Saturday, December 19th to capture the CIF Division 3AA championship. Photo Rich Lawce |
Matadores Playing for First State Title
La Mirada~Goodman Stadium will be the site once again as the La Mirada High Matadores football program attempts to capture its first-ever state title this Saturday night as they take on NoCal regional champ Campolindo in the Division III-AA championship game.
The Matadores are riding a 12-game winning streak since losing to San Clemente 42-26 on September 18th.
La Mirada reached the title game after beating Oceanside last week in a SoCal regional contest 36-14.
The rushing of star running back Sei-J Lauago and a staunch defense has allowed La Mirada to roll over their opponents.
In what seemed like the pinnacle of the season at the time, La Mirada beat La Serna 45-20 on December 5th to capture their third CIF Southern Section championship and first since 2009. Coach Mike Moschetti has had a hand in all three (one for each of the last three decades), including as a player in 1992.
Campolindo, a defending state champion, is riding an 11-game winning streak. The champions of the Diablo Foothill League, the Cougars (14-1) last loss was also on September 18th, a 20-14 setback against Napa.
The state bowl system was reconfigured this year. It was expanded from five to thirteen games, allowing for more opportunities for schools to get titles. Consequently, there are more schools than ever playing this late into the year.
The Matadores will take a state championship anyway they can get it, "This is something we have wanted for a long time," said Moschetti.
Game time Saturday at Goodman is 6:00 p.m.
Authentic Gratitude for Holidays and for Good
The holiday season can seem like both the best of times and the worst of times. Many people, especially those of us living in urban areas, may be vacillating between two thoughts: “here comes the joyous season of thanks and giving” and “here comes the stress of the holidays”. While many people look forward to the holidays as a time to share cheer with family and friends, admittedly, preparing for all this cheer takes time and money. Plus, other circumstances may add to the stress, like being cooped up with people you see just once a year and maybe don’t have a lot in common with and living under temporary arrangements in someone else’s home. While all this can add up and easily sap joy from us, the fact is that this holiday state of affairs—making the best of times, despite the stress of the times—presents us with optimal circumstances for learning the importance of choosing gratitude.
Dealing with the Stress of the Holidays
First, let’s deal with the stressful part. Many of us have fallen prey to negative emotional contagion -- the tendency for people to feel and mimic the emotional expressions of others during social interactions. For instance, we experience sadness or negative moods as a result of a friend’s tragedy or a family member’s cynicism. Studies show that automatically mimicking the expressions of a friend (e.g., a frown) tricks our brains into assuming the emotions associated with that expression, such as anger or frustration, as our own. Well recent research shows that even commonplace rudeness from people who we aren’t close with psychologically spreads too. This research shows that when people are the target of annoying or rude behavior, or even just witnesses of it, that this activates negative thoughts, which then leads them to interpret ambiguously benign behaviors as rude and, worst, to behave rudely or even vengefully toward others. Thus, even low-grade negativity can infect us.
Choose Gratitude, But Do it Your Way
Luckily, research shows that happiness and positive emotions spread too. So I’m gratified to see societal trends toward extending empathy or compassion more toward others (e.g., solidarity in response to the terrorist attacks in Paris or the call to take in refugees from Syria). And while I’m also happy to see service and charity surge during the holiday season, the sheer amount of talk circulating both in daily life and in the media about the importance of being “grateful”, “giving thanks”, or being “generous” around this time of year can backfire if people see it as forced or inauthentic. Therefore, I’d like to clear the air and hopefully inspire you to “choose gratitude” now and beyond the season of thanks and giving.
You may have considered the fact that expressions of gratitude can be trite during Thanksgiving, and research supports you not just bowing to the seasonal pressure but figuring out a way to do gratitude your own way. So here’s the bottom line: the choice of gratitude is within your power more than you think and the choice itself tricks our brains and bodies more potently into feeling genuine joy than mere emotional contagion.
Carter Scores 25 in Matador Debut; Reynoso-Avila Sidelined
Anaheim~The La Mirada High Boys Basketball team picked up where they left off last season by winning their first game of the 2015-16 campaign in a convincing 87-62 win over Paramount in pool play at the Canyon/Esperanza tip-off classic.
Serra transfer Ian Carter scored 12 points and Anthony Newman seven in the first quarter as the Matadores jumped out to a 27-15 lead.
Carter finished with 25 points total, Newman had 18 and Dylan Banks added 17 for the defending Suburban League and State Champions.
The Matadores (1-0) will take on Northwood tonight at 7:30 at Canyon High School.
Vittorio Reynoso-Avila, one of La Mirada's top seniors, and potential Princeton product, has been sidelined until January 6th with a broken metatarsal in his foot, his father told the La Mirada Blog.
120215 23:12 UPDATE: The Matadores beat Northwood 65-63 on a driving layup by Dirk Helaire as the game winded down.
120315 22:40 UPDATE: La Mirada improved to 3-0 by beating Servite 59-55.
120415 19:56 UPDATE: The Mats improved to 4-0 on the season by beating Canyon 70-54. Anthony Newman lead all scorers with with 26. Dirk Helaire at 14, Ian Carter 12 and freshman Bryce Craver had nine.They will play in the Canyon/Esperanza Tournament championship game after sweeping through the brackets, Saturday, December 5th at 7:00 p.m. vs. Long Beach Jordan at Canyon High School.
120515 20:21 UPDATE: La Mirada improved to 5-0 on the season by beating Long Beach Jordan 85-76, capturing the Esperanza/Canyon Tip Off Classic title.
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