La Mirada Blog
Articles by Tony Aiello

Rosecrans/Marquardt overpass project well under way
Project completion is expected in mid-2025; West La Mirada residents will access Rosecrans in a different way
It’s officially the worst at-grade rail and road crossing in the state: a rail line cutting diagonally across a busy intersection in Santa Fe Springs just steps from the La Mirada border in the midst of L.A. County’s industrial heartland.
An estimated 45,000 vehicles and 135 trains travel through the intersection of Rosecrans and Marquardt Avenues in Santa Fe Springs each day–an average of one train crossing every seven minutes. As a result, vehicular traffic on both busy streets is brought to a standstill for a total of 21 hours per week.
Even worse, from 2013 to 2019, the California Public Utilities Commission recorded 31 rail-motor vehicle incidents at the intersection resulting in six fatalities and seven injuries–the most hazardous rail-motor intersection in the state. (more)
Latest La Mirada news and happenings
State of the City
The La Mirada Chamber of Commerce will host the State of the City on Friday, February 16 at the La Mirada Holiday Inn.
Registration begins at 11:00 a.m. with the luncheon and program beginning at noon.
The event will feature an address by La Mirada Mayor Anthony Otero and also will include speakers from the Sheriff's Station and other local officials.
Individual tickets are $59.00 through February 8th and $70.00 thereafter. A table of eight is $499.00.
For more information visit the chamber website or call (562) 964-4142. The Holiday Inn is located at 14299 Firestone Boulevard.
Former Scoutmaster appointed to Public Safety and Traffic Commission
The city council recently appointed Moses Covarrubias to the city's Public Safety and Traffic Commission.
A resident since 1998, Covarrubias enjoyed being involved in youth sports and is currently affiliated with and supports local Boy Scout Troop 438, the Impulse Youth Arts Organization, Pacific Crest Youth Arts, the Multiple Sclerosis Association and the March of Dimes. (more)

Holiday happenings and other La Mirada news
Annual kids holiday event
Celebrate the holiday season with family and friends at the City's annual Chili Holiday Celebration on Saturday, December 3 from 5 to 8 p.m. at Splash! La Mirada Regional Aquatics Center.
The event includes the official tree lighting ceremony, live entertainment, holiday crafts, cookies, warm beverages, and chili. Guests can also enjoy snow sledding, photos with Santa, and ride the holiday train through a winter wonderland.
Guest are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items and new unwrapped toys to the event in support of local families in need. For more information, call (562) 943-7277. (more)

Matadores tip-off the season with busy week
The La Mirada Matadores Boys varsity basketball squad began the 2022-23 season with a very busy week, playing five games in six days.
The 5th annual Rumble for Rosecrans, hosted by Sunny Hills High School features 32 different high school programs from around Southern California competing in four brackets. La Mirada competed in the West Region Bracket D. All games in this bracket were played at Fullerton High.
On Monday, La Mirada beat Huntington Beach 61-48. Sophomore guard Juliene Gomez led the Mats in scoring with 21 points; also contributing 10 rebounds and four assists. Senior Athan Sierra tossed in nine points. (more)

Former Mayor Pete Dames passes away
Former Mayor Pete Dames passed away this morning at 12:40 a.m. MST in Arizona after apparently suffering a stroke there last week while visiting family.
It is with an extremely heavy heart that I am having to report this as I sit here staring at my keyboard upon hearing the news.
He was involved in so many civic, service and educational organizations that it would be impossible to list them all here.
Mr. Dames was on the La Mirada City Council from 1994-2010, serving as mayor four times.
He also was the freshman coach for La Mirada High for many years; past-president and a charter member of the La Mirada Athletic Council, lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Knights of Columbus; the 605 football classic and board member of the La Mirada Youth Foundation and a main organizer of the "4 La Mirada Kids" carnival for the Kiwanis Club of La Mirada. (more)

Latest results for Norwalk-La Mirada School Board race
The Los Angeles Registrar Recorder's Office released more numbers today as tabulation of the November 8th election continues.
Today's and this past Saturday's release were not initially scheduled-the registrar’s regular post-election update schedule is normally every Tuesday and Friday.
In the NLMUSD race, only 311 votes separate the top four candidates, with that pack seemingly pulling away from the field.
It is unclear how many ballots are left to be counted; four seats are up for grabs.
The registrar is tentatively scheduled to certify the election by Dec. 5. (more)

La Mirada News and Happenings
Active shooter training
Temple Beth Ohr La Mirada is hosting an active shooter and response training meeting on November 14th, 2022 from 7:00-9:00 p.m.
Protective security advisor Brian L. Keith (U.S. Department of Homeland Security), will speak about security awareness for soft targets and crowded places. This event is free, but space is limited-pre-registration is required here.
Temple Beth Ohr is located at 15721 Rosecrans Avenue in the City of La Mirada.
Outside looking in
With its loss to Downey in the final scheduled game of the season, La Mirada High was left out of the CIF-SS playoffs for the first time since the mid-eighties. Meanwhile, work continues on the new football stadium at the school with hopes of it being ready for the 2023 campaign.
The La Mirada Pop Warner Football 12U team, headed by Manny Rodriguez, recently competed at So-Fi Stadium against the La Habra 12U team. (more)

Three La Mirada Veterans Events and Information
New flag walk added this year
The City of La Mirada and the La Mirada VFW Post 9148 cordially invites military personnel and the community to three separate free events to honor, recognize and celebrate veterans, active military service personnel, and members of military families.
The annual Salute to Veterans Event will take place on Monday, November 7th from 6 to 8 p.m. at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts.
The Event will include military memorabilia displays, veterans’ resources, and a patriotic ceremony with military presentations, musical performances, and guest speakers. (more)

This Day in La Mirada History-Arlie F. Hutchinson
Arlie F. Hutchinson passed away this day October 24 in 1953.
The Arlie F. Hutchinson Middle School (formerly Hutchinson Intermediate School), opened its doors September 21, 1956 and commemorates a La Mirada pioneer-an ordinary fellow-who nonetheless placed his mark in the annals of La Mirada history.
Hutchinson was orphaned at birth in Kansas in 1879. He was reared by his grandparents who moved to Clearwater (now Paramount) California in 1888. They arrived in La Mirada in 1893, coincidentally, the same year La Mirada founder Andrew McNally constructed a mansion on his Windermere Ranch, now known as the Neff Mansion at Neff Park.
Hutchinson would remain in La Mirada for the rest of his life (60 years). (more)

La Mirada News and Halloween Happenings
Art Show opens November 14th at the Activity Center
All are invited to attend the “Mirrors of Your Mind” Art Show presented by the Arts Colony of La Mirada.
The art exhibit will be open to the public starting on Monday, November 14 through Friday, November 18 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the La Mirada Activity Center. An award reception will conclude the art show on Saturday, November 20 from 3 to 4:30 p.m.
The La Mirada Activity Center is located at 13810 La Mirada Boulevard. (more)
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