La Mirada~On Saturday,  August 7^th, Phantom Projects of La Mirada presents a performance to feature 10 of Southern California’s Most Talented Young Performers in an Evening of Original Theatre, Dance, Music, Film, and more.

After nearly 100 applications and interviews, 10 young performers have been selected for The 2010 Young Artist Project at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts. The annual event brings together seasoned young artists between the ages of 16 and 23 to merge their unique talents-whether writing, directing, acting, singing, dancing, etc.-in a collaborative effort, developing one-acts, musical numbers, film, and other performance pieces.

The twist? The group has just 12 days to completely create, rehearse, and build the production.

For tickets call (562) 944-9801 or (714) 994-6310 or visit www.phantom projects.com

Starring Suzie Cheng, Shannon Lee Clair, Lyn Cowan, Emily Hwang, Alley N. Iovino, Chris Kato, Shelby Nicole Kern, Cassandra Michaels, Jake Parker, and Lexington Vanderberg.

 their unique talents – whether writing, directing, acting, singing, dancing, etc. – in a collaborative effort, developing one-acts, musical numbers, film, and other performance pieces.

The twist? The group has just 12 days to completely create, rehearse, and build the production.

For tickets, call 562 944 9801 or 714 994 6310

Starring
Suzie Cheng
Shannon Lee Clair
Lyn Cowan
Emily Hwang
Alley N. Iovino
Chris Kato
Shelby Nicole Kern
Cassandra Michaels
Jake Parker
Lexington Vanderberg

La Mirada~On the morning of July 24, we woke up happy from sleeping in nice soft beds.   After breakfast, we shipped out for Arlington. It was a solemn place with perfect rows of white headstones which reminded me how freedom isn't free and that it comes at a heavy price. While we were there, we visited the graves of John Fitzgerald Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, and Ted Kennedy. 

We watched the very stylized changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Solider.  I have to give these guards some recognition because it was 100 degrees at the time.  Us Scouts were sweating like crazy while the guard, who were wearing wool uniforms, barely had a line of sweat as they performed their solemn duty. 

After Arlington, we moved to one of the most iconic buildings in our country: The Capital.  We were visiting the place where our country’s laws are made.  As we climbed the steps, I thought about the School House Rock song:  “I’m a bill, yes I am only a bill and I am sitting here on Capital Hill.”

Mr. Gardea was able to arrange a tour of the inside of the Capital through Congresswoman Grace Napolitano.  Thank you to both.

We had lunch at a huge mall built around the Union Station.  From there we moved on to the Smithsonian museums.  It quickly became one of my favorite spots.  We were only able to get into the Air and Space and the Natural History museums. The Air and Space of course was filled with all kinds of rockets, missiles, airplanes, and space stuff.  I especially enjoyed the exhibits on gravity and the early history of the airplanes.

We could have spent the whole day there but we only had about an hour before we had to exit the Air and Space Museum and hike over to the Natural History Museum. We saw all kinds of animals and cool looking plants.  It was very similar to the museum in Los Angeles but on a much grander scale.  None of the exhibits came alive like the movie but they did have a great gift shop. I bought some gifts for my brother and sister.

After dinner at the Fashion Center, we went to visit Mr. Lincoln. From his chair, he had a clear view of the famous reflecting pool and the Washington Monument.  His famous Gettysburg address was etched off to the side.   We walked a short distance to the Korean War Memorial which I thought was one of the cooler memorials because it displayed life-like soldier statues moving in formation.  Next we paid our respects to the Vietnam memorial. I was amazed when I saw the monument because it seemed to rise out of the ground.  So many names were on the wall...

Norwalk~The Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District board voted to hire a new administration for La Mirada High School Monday.

Michelle Millan, a secretary for Superintendent Dr. Ruth Perez, said the school board approved the hiring of William Seals, an assistant principal at John Glenn High School in Norwalk, as principal and out-of-district candidates Kelly Henderson and Rachel Heenan as assistant principals.

While La Mirada High will not have a third assistant principal, Michael Green, another outside hire, will become the dean of students.

Perez was not available to comment on why the school district replaced the previous administration.

La Mirada Blog's Christopher Guerra in front of our Nation's Capital

Exclusive! Note: Third entry in a series

Washington D.C.~Five score and about six month ago (February 8, 1910), our scouting fathers brought forth on this continent, a new program to teach this country's youth "responsible leadership, character development, and self-reliance through participation in a wide range of outdoor activities, educational programs, and, at older age levels, career-oriented programs in partnership with community organizations." (Wikipedia)

On the morning of July 23, we pulled ourselves out of bed and filled up at the breakfast buffet.  Our first tour of the day was Gettysburg National Park. We toured the many battlefields

Troop 826 on the steps of the Capital

such as Little Round Top that made this place a major turning point in the Civil War. Many American lives were lost on these fields and there are several monuments to remind us all why we should always remain united.  In the high temperatures, we slowly climbed an observation tower. From there, we had a magnificent view of the city and park.  Our Gettysburg ranger told us how the outnumbered Union army held off the Confederate forces at this site by forming a defensive line in the shape of a fishhook.  After the Union victory, President Lincoln later came to Gettysburg to deliver his famous speech.

For lunch, we ate lunch at a place where they had a huge food court of various restaurants.  Something for everyone.  We ate and headed back to the buses only to find out that Troop 818's (Galaxy) bus driver misplaced his keys. So we waited out in the hot sun until our leaders came up with a plan.  It was decided that we would all board the buses with the Galaxy troop taking the empty spaces left on the other three buses.  We were grateful to be back on the road and cheered when the cold air finally filled our bus.

We headed towards our nation's capital, Washington D.C. Our first stop was the National Holocaust museum.  I was not prepared for what I saw in this museum.  It was one of the most heartbreaking, breathtaking, and saddest places I have ever experienced. The one exhibit that got to me the most was the exhibit where you are walking across a bridge and the shoes of the victims were to our sides. We left there with a lot to think about.