La Mirada Blog
Articles by Tony Aiello
The rediscovery of Andrew McNally’s Windermere Ranch olive crusher
Considered the Crown Jewel of La Mirada History
Campo~Although the Dichiara family was based in La Mirada for only around 20 years, they will forever hold an integral part of its history.
La Mirada city founder Andrew McNally created and built his olive oil empire, the first industry in La Mirada, beginning in the late nineteenth century and well into the twentieth.
The factory where he processed the fruit was located on his Windermere Ranch and at one time produced some of the finest, purest oil available in the world.
When the Long Beach earthquake struck in 1933 it damaged the building and production was halted. (more)
New La Mirada Veterans Council Forms
A new group has formed in La Mirada to assist with veteran-based events and to provide other services to members of the military in the community.
The La Mirada Veterans Coordinating Council, which recently held it's first meeting March 3rd at city hall, is a partnership between the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9148 and the City of La Mirada. (more)
Residents Clean Up a Section of the North Fork Coyote Creek Bike Path
Beautiful weather greeted a group of residents this past early Saturday morning at Frontier Park in La Mirada where they gathered for their first organized clean-up of the North Fork Coyote Creek Bike Path.
The effort was organized by Arco Cabrera, Associate Pastor at Neighborhood Life Church based out of the VFW Post 9148.
The group walked about a quarter mile west on Foster Road to reach the trailhead of the path, which is very popular with local bicyclists offering a 13-mile ride to Seal Beach, converging with the San Gabriel River bike path along the way. (more)
City Council Race 2022
I am officially declaring, the City Council election season has begun in La Mirada.
I am not an expert on politics, elections or anything else really, but I can offer a unique perspective and why not?
This is the third campaign season La Mirada residents will be electing council members by district rather than city-wide after the city was threatened to be sued by MALDEF in 2016.
What does this mean? Well, from a candidate standpoint, generally speaking, you only need a few hundred votes to win rather than the couple of thousand you would need in an at-large election.
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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FBI Raids La Mirada Home Connected in Credit Card Fraud Ring; Arrests Made Throughout Area
La Mirada~Authorities served a federal warrant on a home in La Mirada this morning in connection with an alleged credit card fraud ring and methamphetamine distribution operation.
Shortly after 6:00 Tuesday morning, residents told us they heard a loud boom as authorities used a flash-bang device to gain access to the home located in the 13800 block of Mansa Drive.
Agencies involved in the raid included the California Highway Patrol, Huntington Beach Police Department and the FBI as we first reported at 6:41 a.m. local time on our Twitter feed with exclusive photos and video.
Other arrest and search warrants were served in the southeast cities area in connection with the scam as reported by KTLA and the Cerritos Patch.
The La Mirada residents indicted in the case are still at-large at last report.
Local Retailers Burglarized; Crime Continues to Climb at Alarming Rate in La Mirada
La Mirada~Last night, the Cabo Taco Baja Grill restaurant was broken into, but the thief left with no loot. Cabo’s owner told us the incident occurred around 2:00 a.m. and told us security cameras show a male with a white hoody breaking/shattering the front door glass after attempting to use a crowbar first. Once inside, soon after, the thief flees when a motion detector activates an alarm. He attempted to grab the cash register.
This past early Friday morning, a thief broke into Sami’s Liquor located at Rosecrans and Valley View Avenues. Stolen was the entire cash register which contained about $200. However, Sami’s owner tells us the cash register itself was worth around $2000.
We have also received an unconfirmed report of a similar incident at Flame Broiler recently.
This past Saturday a truck was burglarized-in broad daylight- while parked at Creek Park. A Blog fan messaged us the incident occurred around 3:30 p.m. She told us that after a short walk, she returned to her husband’s truck to discover the window smashed. Her purse was stolen and the thieves attempted to use her credit card a short time later at the Target in La Habra.
Part One Crimes (homicides, rape, arson, aggravated assault, thefts) continue in recent years, at an alarming uptick in town. In 2014 there were 724 Part One Crimes. In 2015 there were 923 and there were 962 in 2016, according to city staff reports.
So far in 2017, sheriff reports indicate a 20% rise in these crimes over the same period last year. If this trend continues, crime will have risen over 60% in La Mirada in a four-year period.
Looking for La Mirada Garage Bands to Perform at Carnival
Organizers for the “4 La Mirada Kids” Carnival are looking for middle school and high school La Mirada garage bands to perform at this year’s event scheduled for May 5th-7th at Benton Middle School.
Audition dates are Saturdays, March 4th,18th, 25th and April 1st from 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Auditions will be held at 15751 Lone Ridge Place in La Mirada.
Interested bands are to call (310) 252-3114 and leave a message. Someone will call you back to schedule an audition time.
Electric drums will be provided along with all amps and PA, just bring your instruments.
Audition Dates
Saturday, March 4th 9:00AM – 1:00PM
Saturday, March 18th 9:00AM – 1:00 PM
Saturday, March 25th 9:00AM – 1:00PM
Saturday, April 1st 9:00AM – 1:00PM
Annual Lou Piltz Memorial Spaghetti Dinner Set for February 10th
Dinner benefits La Mirada Meals-on-Wheels (MOW), serving home-bound residents since 1975
La Mirada~The 30th Lou Piltz Memorial Spaghetti Dinner will be served at the La Mirada Activity Center on Friday, February 10th 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 Meals-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.
The event is named after former La Mirada City Councilman and popular community member Lou Piltz who passed away in 2013. Piltz was a main player and instrumental in the organization of the event.
For more information call (562) 943-0037 or visit the MOW website.
Mike Moschetti Resigns as La Mirada High Football Head Coach
Interview on our radio show last night was apparently his last as official head coach
La Mirada~Mike Moschetti has resigned as head football coach at La Mirada High School according to a story broke by Aram Tolegian of the San Gabriel Valley Tribune.
As a quarterback in 1992 Moschetti led the Matadors to a CIF Championship. He returned to his alma mater as a coach in 2008 and helped the guide La Mirada to another CIF Championship in 2009 and a state regional bowl championship last year. He also won seven Suburban League titles during his tenure.
We interviewed Coach Moschetti last night on The La Mirada Blog Radio Show. We asked him some pointed questions about his career, not knowing the relevance of the timing. We did not know at the time he would be resigning the next day and it would be his last interview as the official head coach for La Mirada High football.
You can hear the interview by selecting La Mirada Blog Show here.
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