La Mirada Blog
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Neff Park Playground Gets Facelift
Take a look at Blog fan Henry V's video from the air during the construction here.
La Mirada~Andrew McNally would be very happy as improvements to the property at his former residence, the Neff Park playground, equipment and walkways, are now complete.
A ribbon cutting ceremony was held on Wednesday at Neff Park in La Mirada to mark the milestone.
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| La Mirada Mayor Pauline Deal is joined by her City Council counterparts and local children to unveil the new Neff Park playground. |
This project adds new swings, slides, climbers, ladders and other play features to the park. Musical themed equipment, such as chimes and drums, were also included. The play area offers two separate structures; one for children ages 2-5 and the other for children ages 6-12.
Additional improvements include resilient rubberized accessible playground surfacing, new benches and a drinking fountain. A cement path connecting the playground to the restroom and parking lot was also added for improved accessibility.
“Neff Park among La Mirada’s most popular parks,” says Mayor Pauline Deal. “The new playground will be enjoyed by children for many years.”
New City Council Elected; Deal Selected as Mayor
La Mirada~The La Mirada City Council selected Pauline Deal to serve as Mayor at Tuesday’s City Council meeting. Councilmember Steve De Ruse was selected to serve as Mayor Pro Tem. The Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem each serve one-year terms and are elected by the City Council..
Mayor Deal has served on the City Council since 2011. She has been a resident of La Mirada for over 30 years and currently serves as the Assistant Controller for an area business. This will be her first term as Mayor.
Prior to serving on the City Council, Mayor Deal was active in local youth sports leagues and served as the Treasurer/Board Member and Coach for the La Mirada Girls Softball Association for seven years. Mayor Deal has also been active with the Parent Teachers Association.
Porcelain Ceramicist Highlights March Arts Meeting
La Mirada~The Arts Colony of La Mirada will hold their March meeting on Monday, the 2nd , at 6:30 P.M. in the La Mirada Resource Center, 13710 La Mirada Blvd.
This meeting will feature Michael Tyler, a ceramicist who works with porcelain. His work is inspired by Asian technique and design, especially the carving of porcelain.
Michael has been exhibiting and demonstrating at the Hillcrest Festival of Fine Arts since 1995.
The art appreciating public is welcome to join us. For information call 562-941-4116 or find us at www.acolm.com.
Part 1 Crime Rate in La Mirada Hits 30-Year Low
La Mirada~In 2014, the City of La Mirada achieved its lowest Part 1 crime rate in nearly 30 years and city administrators are attributing the historically low crime rate to a strong partnership between residents, businesses and the La Mirada Public Safety Team.
According to a recent crime analysis of surrounding communities in southeast Los Angeles and northern Orange County, La Mirada experienced the lowest number of major crimes last year. This is consistent with recent years, as major crimes have decreased by 49 percent in La Mirada since 2005.
Overall, there were 707 Part 1 crimes reported in La Mirada in 2014. Part 1 crimes include homicide, theft, burglary, automobile theft, robbery, assault, and arson. This was a significant drop compared to 2013 when there were 905 reported. The large decrease in Part 1 crime was due primarily to the drop in property crimes including burglaries, petty thefts and vehicle thefts.
"The City continues to have one of the lowest crime rates in the region with fewer calls for service and less criminal activity," says City Manager Jeff Boynton. "The La Mirada Public Safety Team continued to work cooperatively with residents other agencies to reduce crime and enhance the quality of life in La Mirada."
Throughout the year, the Special Assignment Officers worked with the Los Angeles County Probation Department to monitor probationers. Deputies worked with the District Attorney to ensure criminals were prosecuted and remained out of La Mirada for the longest extent possible.
Urquidi Takes Over as School Board President
Norwalk~The Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District Board of Education conducted its annual reorganization meeting this month, selecting Jesse Urquidi as President and Karen Morrison as Vice President.
The District, its teachers and community members and local elected officials also commemorated the yearlong service of Margarita Rios as president in 2014.
“This past year has been a challenging, but exciting year,” Rios said. “The Common Core State Standards were introduced, a new district funding formula (LCFF) was implemented, and the school board adopted the district’s Local Control and Accountability Plan. The school board also began the search process for a new superintendent, and placed a successful school bond measure before the voters. I am grateful for the numerous leadership opportunities 2014 presented to me as board president and look forward to continuing my service to our school community.”
The District, staff, teachers and local elected officials, including State Sen. Tony Mendoza and the office of Assemblyman Ian Calderon provided Rios with commendations for her service.
Newly appointed President Urquidi, who served as Vice President this year, pledged his commitment to continuing the District’s path to success and high student achievement.
“There’s lots of change in education with the introduction of the Common Core State Standards and the Local Control Funding Formula, as well as our own Local Control and Accountability Plan,” Urquidi said. “These are positive changes that will help our District remain on a continuum of success.”
Visiting With Santa Returns to La Mirada
The City of La Mirada is inviting residents to sign up for a “Visit from Santa.” The visits will begin the weekend of December 5, and will continue every weekend thereafter until Christmas Eve.
Santa visits taking place on Christmas Eve are $45 and $35 on all other days. Due to Santa’s busy schedule, visits will last 10 minutes. If you have more than six children you must sign up for two visits.
Registration is open to La Mirada residents only and will take place at the La Mirada Community Gymnasium on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 5 to 9 p.m. Registration for this special program is ongoing and space is limited, so be good for goodness sake and sign up today!
For additional information, call (562) 943-7277.
Rotarians Help La Mirada Familes During the Holidays
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Members of the Rotary Club of La Mirada are busy again this holiday season helping needy families in the La Mirada area. Rotary assisted with two projects held in the week prior to Thanksgiving. The third project will be held prior to Christmas.
Rotarians donated $1,000 in turkeys, canned goods and other food items to the Good Sam Pantry at Beatitudes Church in La Mirada. Rotarians purchased the supplies with the generous support of the Walmart Neighborhood Market, located at Imperial Highway and La Mirada Boulevard in the Crossroads Shopping Center, on the morning of Thursday, Nov. 20. The food was distributed to needy families later that afternoon by volunteers at the Good Sam Pantry.
Rotarians also arranged for the purchase of $750 worth of turkey dinners from Polly’s Pies located at Beach Boulevard and Rosecrans Avenue in La Mirada. The food was served by youth volunteers to hundreds of local residents at the annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner at Foster Road Elementary School. The project was a joint effort by La Mirada Rotary, Kiwanis, Living Faith Church, Calvary Chapel and Polly’s Pies.
A Holiday Shopping Spree for needy children will be sponsored by the Rotary Club on Wednesday, Dec. 10 at Marshalls in La Mirada. Rotarians work in conjunction with local elementary schools to identify children in the community who are in need of assistance during the holidays. The children, assisted by adult volunteers, will select clothing items they need from lists provided by their parents.
Dulles Elementary Staff Recognized for Rescuing Choking Second-Grader
La Mirada~The quick-thinking staff members at Dulles Elementary, including one teacher’s aide who performed the Heimlich maneuver, are being hailed for rescuing a second-grade boy who began choking while eating his lunch in the school cafeteria this month.
“I’m extremely proud of their quick and calm response to this life-threatening situation,” said Dulles Elementary School Principal Robin Padget. “I’ve always known of their dedication to students, but this serves as a wonderful example of how they will go above and beyond to ensure that our children are safe.”
On Oct. 2, Kevin Sandoval was eating his lunch when he began choking and hit his hands on the table. Caryn Cerda, a teacher’s assistant who works with the school’s special education students, including Kevin, noticed that Kevin was turning red. She and fellow teacher’s assistant Jimmy Perez immediately responded, with Perez calmly performing the Heimlich maneuver multiple times until the food was dislodged from his throat. The two staff members were assisted by custodian Juan Lara.
“I am very glad that Mr. Jimmy was there next to my son because he saved my son’s life,” said Kevin’s mother, Lucy Sandoval, adding that Kevin is a happy and outgoing kid who loves to ride his bike and give lots of hugs. “I love my son so much and I don’t even want to think about what might have happened if Mr. Jimmy wasn’t there.”
NLMUSD Board to Vote on Facilities Bond for November Ballot
Norwalk~The Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District Board of Education is scheduled to vote on whether to place a bond measure on the November ballot that, if passed, will provide $375 million for classroom repairs and improved instructional facilities.
The District says it surveyed more than 500 likely voters in the NLMUSD area and found that 64 percent would support a bond measure in the November 2014 election. A bond measure would need 55 percent approval to pass. The meeting is scheduled for Monday, July 21 at 6:30 p.m.
072314 13:12 UPDATE: The NLMUSD Board of Education on Monday voted 6-0 to place the bond issue on the Nov. 4 election. Board member Ana Valencia was absent.
La Mirada Group to Host Fundraiser for Children Fighting Cancer
Children fighting cancer will benefit from a fundraiser sponsored by a La Mirada group on Friday, July 18 at the Friendly Hills Country Club.
The “Reach for the Stars” event will be presented by members of From Maddi’s Closet, a nonprofit organization started nearly a decade ago after Madison Leslie Holmes lost her battle with cancer at four years of age.
Maddi’s family and friends began the organization to carry on the extraordinary spirit of generosity and compassion the young girl had shown to other children fighting cancer. Maddi had frequently befriended other children undergoing treatment, and given her own toys and clothing to those in need. She even asked her family members to go and sit with other children who were more sick, frightened or lonely when they had no family members at the hospital.
Since its early days, participation in From Maddi’s Closet has grown, and the organization has broadened its efforts to support children with cancer. The group now raises funds for pediatric cancer research. The organization also offers support to ill children and their families whose special emotional and financial needs are unmet by other assistance programs. The group provides many services – from an annual toy drive to events and activities geared for patients at CHOC and Children's Hospital Los Angeles.
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