La Mirada Blog
Articles by Tony Aiello
La Mirada Council Passes Resolution to Postpone Redevelopment Dissolution; New Community Commissioner Named
La Mirada~The city council on Tuesday passed resolution 12-06 to support legislation, along with other area cities of SB 659, which will temporarily postpone the dissolution of redevelopment agencies in the state.
With the passing of recent bill ABX1 26, the state has essentially told city redevelopment agencies to shut down shop.
“This is a travesty”, City manager Tom Robinson said, “The state is eliminating organizations that do a billion dollars worth of good.”
Many city agencies are scrambling to react and hope to postpone the shutdown to at least April 15th-which SB 659 will provide.
A series of events must take place in the State Legislature by February 1st however, to make that happen, including a call for a special session.
With that February 1st deadline looming, the city redevelopment agency may have performed its last action as an official body. The Lamplighter has asked several area city managers, including our own Tom Robinson to comment on the end of redevelopment. Their comments can be found on page 7.
NEW CITY COMMISSIONER NAMED
La Mirada native, Kenny Meyer was sworn in as the city’s latest commissioner.
Kenny will serve on the Community Services Commission for an unexpired term ending in June 2013.
Kenny was born and raised in La Mirada, and has been very involved in youth sports programs over the years.
He has served as an assistant for the La Mirada High School freshmen football for ten years, and initiated a study session program for the players.
Check Out This HD Treat From London at La Mirada Theatre
Captured Live in London in HD and Shown on Our Giant Screen Friday, January 13th at 8 PM!
La Mirada~The National Theatre Live series continues at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts with the screening of Colloborators, a new play by John Hodge, screenwriter of Trainspotting, Shallow Grave and The Beach.
The screening is Friday, January 13th at 8 p.m.
Inspired by historical facts, the play is set in 1938 Moscow where a man is offered a commission to write a play about Joseph Stalin for the leaders 60th birthday.
Starring Alex Jennings and Simon Russell Beale, tickets are $20 and may be reserved on-line here or by calling the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts ticket office at (562) 944-9801.
Matadores Let One Slip Away in Final Pre-League Tune-Up
Taelin Webb, transfer from Riverside scores half of his teams points; Mayfair tonight at home
La Habra~In a game of spurts, the La Mirada boys basketball team lost Tuesday night 52-50, in a final non-league game against Sonora.
The Raiders of Sonora, coached by Mike Murphy and who play in the Freeway League, got off to a quick start, going up 13-5 at the 1:50 mark of the first quarter. La Mirada's Samy Alarcon hit a driving layup as time ran out in the first cutting the lead to 13-7.
At the 5:20 mark of the second, with Sonora up 17-12, momentum seemed to switch to the Mats (9-7), after a spectacular blocked shot by Taelin Webb-going up high above the rim. But, Sonora (8-9), hit a three-pointer at the 4:40 mark, and tied their largest lead of the game, going up 20-12.
La Mirada, led by first-year coach and La Mirada graduate, Bryce Jones went on a 11-4 run to end the half, led by Webb and Jarrett Davis who took a key charge in the lane with 46.9 seconds left and then scored at the other end, sending the Mats into halftime trailing by only one point, 24-23.
It didnt take the Mats long into the first half to take their first lead of the game at 25-24 when Webb scored two of his game-high 25 points at 7:32. The two teams then traded baskets and the game was tied at 31 with 4:25 left in the third. Davis' inspirational play again propelled the Mats when he tied up a Raider in a tussle, creating a jump ball situation, with the possession arrow favoring the Mats.
La Mirada High Basketball Competing in Tournaments
La Mirada~The La Mirada High School boys basketball team lost earlier today to Walnut 49-45 at the Nogales High School Tournament.
In the first game of the tourney Monday, the Matadores lost to Don Lugo (Chino) 65-59. Yesterday, the Mats (8-7), beat El Rancho (Pico Rivera), 55-45.
The Matadores (8-7) play Bassett High tomorrow at noon in their final game of the tournament.
Then, the final pre-league tune-up will take place for the boys, with a January 3rd matchup against Sonora (La Habra) on the road at 7:30 p.m.
League play begins for the Mats, and first-year head coach Bryce Jones the following night with a home game against Mayfair beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Girls action in the Gahr Tournament: After losing to Gardena, 49-36 in the opening round, the Matadores rebounded against New Millinium today with a victory, 40-34. Kalena Glover had 19 points and 9 rebounds, and Lexi Van Zuillen had 13 and 13.
The Matadores (6-4), lead by second-year boss Nicole McCarthy, will play their final game in the tourney Thursday at noon against Long Beach Jordan.
The girls will play a final tune-up before league play begins against La Serna on January 3rd starting at 3 p.m.
League play begins against Mayfair the following day, January 4th, before the boys, at 5 p.m.
La Mirada Rotary Club Hosts Annual Holiday Shopping Spree for Kids
La Mirada~The spirit of giving was in the air as the La Mirada Rotary Club hosted their annual Holiday Shopping Spree recently at Marshall's in La Mirada.
For over 20 years, the service club has sponsored the event, assisting less fortunate La Mirada families at Christmastime by providing a few clothing essentials.
Rotary secretary Eileen Wade explained to us that all nine La Mirada public elementary and/or middle schools are represented. The club, in coordination with the schools, chooses the children to participate by utilizing teacher suggestions from the various schools, with the club ultimately picking about five from each school. This year 43 children attended the event.
The kids are chaperoned individually around the store to purchase items they need, with one exception-no toys. Chaperones consist of Rotary and other community members including local police, fire and city officials, to which Wade called our "friends and helpers." They are each allowed to spend up to $75.00.
A huge crowd gathered in front of the store around 8 a.m. as it opened an hour early to accommodate the shoppers.
La Mirada Rotary Club Hosts Annual Holiday Shopping Spree for Kids
La Mirada~The spirit of giving was in the air as the La Mirada Rotary Club hosted their annual Holiday Shopping Spree recently at Marshall's in La Mirada.
For over 20 years, the service club has sponsored the event, assisting less fortunate La Mirada families at Christmastime by providing a few clothing essentials.
Rotary secretary Eileen Wade explained to us that all nine La Mirada public elementary and/or middle schools are represented. The club, in coordination with the schools, chooses the children to participate by utilizing teacher suggestions from the various schools, with the club ultimately picking about five from each school. This year 43 children attended the event.
The kids are chaperoned individually around the store to purchase items they need, with one exception-no toys. Chaperones consist of Rotary and other community members including local police, fire and city officials, to which Wade called our "friends and helpers." They are each allowed to spend up to $75.00.
A huge crowd gathered in front of the store around 8 a.m. as it opened an hour early to accommodate the shoppers.
Standoff Ends at La Mirada Home With Fatality
We have been providing continuous updates, with La Mirada residents reporting, via our Twitter feed: www.twitter.com/lamiradablog
We have exclusive video featuring Police Captain Pat Maxwell press statement here: tinyurl.com7z7veu5
La Mirada~A barricade that started in the early morning hours, in a La Mirada neighborhood ended about twelve hours later, resulting in a ex-felon dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
At about 7:30 a.m. deputies responded to reports of shots fired at the home on Algeciras Avenue, adjacent to Rosecrans Avenue. Family members from inside the home told officials that a man inside the home may want to harm himself. A woman claiming to be the man's girlfriend said he shot himself in the foot, and blood was observed at the scene by a sheriff's helicopter overhead.
After orders to surrender by the SWAT team were ignored, the man fired several rounds out of the house, around 11 a.m. No one was struck.
Stuff Going On Around La Mirada
>Members of La Mirada Kiwanis sold parade programs at the Hollywood Christmas Parade Sunday November 27th. The telecast of the parade is December 12th on the Hallmark Channel.
>La Mirada High football returns to CIF semifinals Friday December 2nd against West Covina.
>The deadline to submit entries for new La Mirada novel about La Mirada memories has been extended to March 1, 2012. Submit your stories to: cantrellglen50@yahoo.com.
>La Mirada High boys basketball opens their season vs. La Serna Wednesday night at 6:00 at Matadore Gym.
>Phantom Projects Theatre Group presents "The Crucible" Wednesday at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts. Tickets: (562) 944-9801
>Check out this new Christmas music video from Biola students Spencer Alfonso and Evan Schneider. Spencer plays all his own instruments and the music is all recorded in his dorm room-Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
>La Mirada Rotary will have their annual holiday shopping spree December 7th
>Check out this book from La Mirada author with La Mirada connections-Think and Live: Challenging Believers to Think and Thinkers to Believe
>La Mirada Kiwanis will have their annual holiday shopping spree December 6th at Sears (Whitwood)
>Food Trucks for LMHS fundraiser Thursday Dec. 1- Surfer Taco, Chunk N Chip, Calbi, Brats Berlin,Pie N Burger, Curb A Peel-www.twitter.com/curbsidebites
Williams Makes Surprise Appearance at Alumni Game
La Mirada~Derrick Williams, the number two pick in the 2011 NBA Draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves, made a surprse appearance at the annual La Mirada High Boys Basketball Alumni Game this past Tuesday night.
The game features La Mirada basketball stars of yesterday against the current varsity team of today.
Since the NBA was still in lockout mode, the gym was a buzz as to whether or not Williams would show up. Rumors were flying since Williams was apparently tweeting during the course of the day, hinting at an appearance.
Williams lead the Matadores to the CIF-2A semifinals against Loyola in 2009, before heading to Arizona where he led the Wildcats to the NCAA tournament Elite Eight this past March.
At halftime, Williams walked into the gym, and was welcomed by teammates and fans.
With an apparent very successful NBA career ahead of him, this was probably the last oppoortunity to see him compete on the La Mirada High floor.
In the second half, Williams entertained the crowd with a few attempted dunks, connecting on a couple, and also had a very nice spin-move, no-look assist to 2006 graduate Casey James.
Photos, Above, Williams enters the game. Also pictured, from left to right, Mike Estrada, Sammy Piazza, Josh Siemens, Casey James, former coach Larry Kaupang, Miles Aiello, Stephen Kaupang, Steve Kaupang, Williams, Ryan Kaupang, and Taylor Siemens. Below, 2011 game participants.
Biola University to Lease Old Rancho School Site
News from recent City Study Session
La Mirada~Biola University has leased the former Rancho Elementary School site from the Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District to house the University's home school K-12 operations.
The city will partner with Biola to allow continued access to the four-acre playing fields by youth sports organizations such as the La Mirada Girls Softball Association and the La Mirada Soccer Association.
As part of the agreement, the city will provide mowing services, with Biola providing all other general maintenance.
In other news, after a few years of an estranged relationship, the city and the La Mirada Chamber of Commerce may be entering into a new partnership. The city is exploring the idea of providing in-kind services to the Chamber such as office space for monthly meetings.
The city eliminated its subsidy to the Chamber in recent years.
New Chamber President, Debra Ellis told the La Mirada Blog that the Chamber has become all-volunteer, recently eliminating the salaried Director position and is "just dealing with obligations at this time."
Recent posts
