Community
Join the Public Safety Dog Walkers Program
La Mirada~The next Captain K-9 meeting will be held on Wednesday, July 13 at Gardenhill Park, 14435 Gardenhill Drive, at 6 p.m. Dog owners and their pets are encouraged to attend.
The “Captain K-9” Dog Walker Watch program encourages recreational dog walkers to serve as an extra set of eyes and ears for local law enforcement.
Captain K-9 participants are trained to effectively observe and report suspicious activity while on routine walks with their dogs and how to best help dispatchers and deputies respond to criminal activity.
For more information on the Captain K-9 Dog Walker Watch program, contact La Mirada Safety Education Officer Mary Cipres at (562) 902-2986.
La Mirada Independence Day Celebration
La Mirada Blog recommends to NOT bringing your dog to this event
La Mirada~A spectacular fireworks show will light up the skies over La Mirada on Sunday, July 3 as part of the city's annual Independence Celebration.
Festivities will take place at La Mirada Regional Park starting at 4 p.m. A variety of food will be offered for sale by local community service organizations. Live music will be played throughout the evening by Eagles tribute band, “Heartache Tonight,” and 80s band “Betamaxx.”
“The Independence Celebration is a favorite event of the year for many,” says Community Services Director Lori Thompson. “Bring the whole family to enjoy a fun-filled day as we celebrate our nation’s independence.”
The evening will conclude with a patriotic program and fireworks show.
As a reminder to those planning to attend, charcoal bbq's are not permitted at the park. To help prevent trip hazards, rope and caution tape around picnic areas should not be used.
For more information, call (562) 943-7277.
Editors note: The La Mirada Blog does not recommend taking your dogs to this event annually held on July 3rd. It is our belief large crowds and of course the large mortar fireworks in the evening are a recipe for disaster. Many disturbing incidents involving dogs have been witnessed at this event over the years.
Of course, it is not illegal to bring your dog to an open space park, but we strongly discourage it on this day. Over 10,000 people traditionally attend this event. Also, if you live near the park, on this day, make arrangements for babysitters for your pets or stay home with them yourself.
Then, the next day on the 4th, of course, the responsibility continues as La Mirada is STILL a city that allows the sale of safe-and-sane fireworks. The fireworks sales/stands are a fundraising opportunity for many local groups who say they just cannot do without the money-it being one of the largest fundraisers of the year.
Thus, the city becomes a war zone for the night with large sophisticated projectiles detonated by residents, mixing in with the families enjoying their legal fireworks.
Law enforcement is overwhelmed and of course cannot keep up with the dozens of calls and infractions. The deputy city manager doing a ride-along with officers just doesn't cut it. The economic effect is also troubling. The city has to pay an astronomical amount of money to pay for all the deputies and other personnel it has to deploy.
ALL fireworks should be banned in La Mirada, period, just like in other cities, who's non-profits and other organizations seem to get along just fine without selling fireworks.
Worldâs Largest Swim Lesson at Splash! La Mirada
The Splash! La Mirada Regional Aquatics Center will join aquatic facilities around the world for the World’s Largest Swimming Lesson on Friday, June 24. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. and the event kicks off at 10 a.m. The free event aims to promote the importance of teaching children to swim and the message that “Swim Lessons Save Lives”.
Statistics indicate drowning is the second leading cause of unintended, injury-related deaths for children ages 1-14. The World’s Largest Swim Lesson was created to support drowning prevention and water safety. Community members of all ages and swimming abilities are encouraged to take part in this event.
World’s Largest Swim Lesson spokeswoman, and four-time Olympic Gold Medalist, Janet Evans will kick off the event. Participants will take part in a free swim lesson which helps send the message that “Swim Lessons Save Lives” Following the lesson, participants age 13 and under will receive free admission to the Splash! Buccaneer Bay Waterpark with a paid adult.
To register for The World’s Largest Swimming Lesson or for more information, call (562) 902-3191 or visit www.splashlamirada.com. Pre-registration is encouraged but participants may also come early and register on the day of the event. Splash! is located at 13806 La Mirada Boulevard.
Spring Beautification Winners to be Presented With Awards
The winners of the annual La Mirada Spring Beautification program will be announced tonight.
The program recognizes the efforts of homeowners, schools, and businesses who enhance and preserve the beauty of the community. Property owners who have achieved a measure of excellence in the exterior maintenance and landscaping of their property are honored through this program.
Spring Beautification reinforces the high standards of the City and the spirit of neighborhood pride, which is the foundation of a well-kept community. Well-kept homes increase neighborhood property values and preserve La Mirada as an attractive community.
For this year’s program, volunteer judges reviewed homes in La Mirada from March 14 through March 25 for excellence in landscaping and exterior maintenance.
Award recipients will be honored at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts on Monday, June 13 at 6:30 p.m. The “Most Improved” and “Most Outstanding” award recipients will be shown during a slideshow presentation and winners will be presented with awards. Over 200 residents will receive recognition.
Kiwanis Awards $1000 to Five La Mirada High School Seniors
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| Fom right to left: President Steve Jones, Dante Gonzales, Michael Caplan, Vittoria Reynoso-Avila, Tori Pflanzer, Madison Friend, Scholarship Chair Pat Ruiz |
La Mirada~The winners of the 2015-2016 La Mirada Kiwanis Senior Scholarships were honored at the May 18th breakfast meeting of the club. Each will receive a $1000 award which will be deposited in their student account at the college of their choice.
All of the awardees are senior students at La Mirada High School graduating in 2016. Dante Gonzales will study Environmental Science at UC Berkeley. Michael Caplan will seek a career in Law at UCSB. Vittorio Reynoso-Avila will study for an Engineering Degree at Princeton U. Tori Pflanzer will study Psychology at Biola University. Madison Friend will attend UC Davis to become a Veterinarian.
In the past few years, Kiwanis has distributed over100 computers which were brought up to standard by Chris Staples, Kiwanian and owner of Advanced Network Consulting. They were distributed to children at Elementary Schools in La Mirada for their home use. Also, children with special needs were thrilled to get 10 IPads for their classroom use.
This year, $5000 was allocated to Middle School teachers who applied for the grants for projects or equipment to benefit students in their classrooms, their MP Rooms or their grade level studies. Teachers from Benton, Los Coyotes and Hutchinson Middle Schools benefitted from this special grant program from Kiwanis.
Kiwanis President, Steve Jones, said, “We are proud of the projects that La Mirada Kiwanis night and morning groups have chosen to fulfill the motto of Kiwanis International “Serving the Children of the World.” These projects have enriched the lives of the children of La Mirada in sports, in schools, in Scout groups, in the arts and more.”
SATURDAY/SUNDAY: Relay for Life Information
La Mirada~The entire community is invited to come out to this year’s La Mirada Relay for Life event Saturday, May 14 at Splash! La Mirada Regional Aquatics Center beginning at 9 a.m. and concluding at 9 a.m. on Sunday, May 15.
Visit relayforlife.org/lamiradaca for the entertainment schedule, theme lap log and other information.
Cancer survivors are encouraged to show up by 8:00 a.m. Saturday morning to participate in the Survivor Parade.
No food trucks this year. Only La Mirada Restaurants will be represented and they are donating part of their proceeds. They include: Green Chile, Sizzler, Pizza Hut, Jersey Mikes, Tom's Tailgate and BFF Itailan Ice.
The Luminaria Ceremony will begin at 9 p.m. Saturday evening. Fun activities will be held throughout the event including riding down the Buccaneer Bay waterslides on Saturday from noon to 3 p.m.
Admission to Relay for Life is free and open to the public. For more information contact Relay for Life specialist Silvia Constanza at (213) 700-7485.
Hutchinson Middle School Student to Appear on National TV Cooking Show
La Mirada~When a young child prefers to watch cooking shows on TV rather than cartoons, it has to be a sign of things to come.
La Mirada resident Bella Coonis will be appearing and competing on the Food Network's television program, Chopped Junior this Tuesday May 17th at 8:00 p.m. PT, after being chosen to appear on the show.
Bella went through an interview and tryout process to be considered and got the call late last year that she made the cut. She flew to New York City this past February to film her episode, but there is a hush-hush about the outcome of the show so you will have to tune in to find out what happens.
The 13-year old creator of fare is the oldest child of La Mirada natives Nick and KC Coonis, who have three other children. Bella is a big fan of the Food Network.
Her Mom KC told me, Bella has been in the kitchen since she was around two and didn’t think anything of her TV viewing habits at first. However, she knew something was up in later years when Bella would ask for kitchen appliances, such as torches and mixers, at Christmas time instead of toys.
She said her daughter “has a passion for what she does and it shines through.”
I asked Bella what one of first memories is of cooking or baking and she said making sugar cookies with her mom, “She inspired me. I loved watching her and I wanted to help her in the kitchen.”
She produced YouTube videos showing how to make such dishes as tuna casseroles when she was five years old. She was around “seven or eight” when she first began preparing complete dinners for the family.
Talking with Bella I sensed she gets a special joy out of pleasing people with her food, such as when she made spaghetti & meatballs for her Uncle Johnny, who apparently hadn’t had it prepared a certain way in a long time.
Bella attends Hutchinson Middle School and is an honor roll student. Her principal Sara Siemens said it has been low-key on campus because of the sensitivity of the outcome of the show but offered, “We are extremely excited for her and it is quite an accomplishment. It is especially enjoyable when our students take their passions and expand on them.”
As for her future, Bella said she would like to attend the Culinary Institute of America and get a business degree in hospitality. After that, she would like to open her own cafe.
See Bella’s casting video from last year here.
Recently, Bella entered a cooking competition at the Anaheim Citrus Festival. Her dish was her own original recipe called Indulgent Citrus Cake with Mascarpone Cream, and she won against an all-adult panel.
Everyone is invited to join family and friends for a viewing party of her episode "Go Fish!" this Tuesday, May 17th at 8:00 p.m. at Chili's, 1600 West Imperial Highway in La Habra.
UPDATE: Bella beat the other three contestants and was named a Chopped Junior Champion! Although she had a challenge in the desert round, she rose to the occasion to make La Mirada proud!
Relay for Life La Mirada May 14th at Splash!
In cooperation with the American Cancer Society, this year’s La Mirada Relay for Life event is scheduled for Saturday, May 14 at Splash! La Mirada Regional Aquatics Center beginning at 9 a.m. and concluding at 9 a.m. on Sunday, May 15. All residents are invited to celebrate the lives of those who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and raise funds for cancer research.
There is still time for families, work groups and companies to form teams and participate in the event to help fight cancer.
Cancer survivors are invited to help open the event by walking the Survivor Lap on Saturday at 9 a.m. Note: Survivors are not required to join a team or donate any money, just show up.
The Luminaria Ceremony will begin at 9 p.m. that evening. Fun activities will be held throughout the event including riding down the Buccaneer Bay waterslides on Saturday from noon to 3 p.m.
Admission to Relay for Life is open to the public. For more information or to join the event, here or contact Relay for Life Specialist Silvia Constanza at (213) 700-7485.
Day of Service is First Event for New Community Group
The first “Love La Mirada” day of service event will be held on April 30. Projects include painting and cleaning up local parks, improvements at schools, letters to veterans, visiting with seniors and other creative ways to serve.
The event day will begin at 8 a.m. with a launch rally at La Mirada First Church of the Nazarene, 15575 Foster Road. At the launch rally, volunteers will provide t-shirts, coffee, official wristbands, and further instructions on service projects. Projects will finish around noon and teams will return to the First Church of the Nazarene for lunch and a time of celebration with music, a bounce house and other activities.
Inspired by the Love Our Cities movement started in Modesto, California, Love La Mirada began with the support of a dozen local church leaders who decided to partner with La Mirada organizations, businesses and residents for the benefit of the community.
To sign up for a service project, visit lovelamirada.org.
UPDATE 20:01 5/2/16: Over 250 people showed up for the inaugural event organized by Greg Stump, Executive Pastor at Redeemer Church.
Pastor Jack Miranda of Living Faith Church told us Stump has achieved a great accomplishment, "We have been trying for 15 years to bring the different faiths and the community together, and he did it."
UFC Offering Free 22-Day Pass for Veterans to Support Awareness Program
La Mirada~UFC GYM hosted their #22ADAY Campaign to generate awareness for the #22Kill Veteran Awareness Program, a global movement bridging the gap between veterans and civilians to build a community of support to help and address issues of veteran mental health.
UFC teamed up with 22 local business partners within Whittier, La Mirada, La Habra and Buena Park to share the experience and members and partners did 22 pushups each on Friday April 22nd at 2:22pm.
UFC Gym has a goal of generating 222,000 pushups to support the cause. Members who participated received a #22ADAY UFC Gym branded rubber bracelet to show their support after the event.
From April 22nd-30th, all Veterans will receive a 22-day UFC membership. Military ID required, contact UFC GYM/La Mirada at (714) 332-1770 for details.
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