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City Hall Waterfall Reaches Crossroads
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City Hall Waterfall Reaches Crossroads

La Mirada~Is this the end for the iconic fountain and water fall at La Mirada City Hall?

The 49-year old fountain and pools at La Mirada City Hall are showing their age and were shut down due to public safety concerns and excessive water loss and power usage, according to a recent staff report.

The item was discussed at the March 12 City Council Study Session.

The City Council now seems poised to make a decision about the future of the water feature, a familiar landmark of the La Mirada landscape.

Much of the feature still retains most of the original plumbing and electrical system-and it was failing. Also, the water pumps and valves used for the operation of the fountain were beyond their normal life expectancy and have to be replaced as well.

The pool surfaces also have multiple cracks and are in need of extensive repair. Saturated soil has been observed around the structure due to the leaks, the report indicated.

The disabled fountain consists of three pools with a water fall from the largest pool dumping water to a smaller pool which then flows to another smaller pool to the south of the civic center stairway.

Staff has identified three options for the City Council’s consideration.

Option 1: Restore and renovate the feature to its original condition and replace the entire infrastructure. Cost: $1,000,000-$1,375,000.

Option 2: Reduce and modify the total pool area and install landscape (planters, rocks, shrubs, etc.) and hardscape within the reduced area. The entire infrastructure would still have to be replaced for remaining pools. A new patio deck is also being considered (Option 2A) Cost: $1,750,000-$2,250,000.

Option 3: Eliminate all the pools and replace with landscape and hardscape improvements. This is obviously the most cost-efficient option, especially from a maintenance standpoint moving forward, but it will dramatically change the legendary look of the city hall grounds. Cost: $500,000-$750,000.

The fountain debuted with the dedication of the city hall building on March 20, 1970.



New Chick-fil-A Opening May 23rd
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New Chick-fil-A Opening May 23rd

Chick-fil-A will open its first La Mirada restaurant at 14303 Firestone Boulevard on May 23, bringing its handcrafted food and award-winning customer service, commitment to community engagement and hands-on mentoring for nearly 90 newly-hired Team Members.

The overnight Grand Opening First 100 Campout includes engaging activities for participants ages five and older who will also enjoy a Chick-fil-A meal during the countdown to the opening. Registration begins in the restaurant parking lot at 6 p.m., May 22. Details include: Up to 100 adults, ages 18 and older, will win a digital offer card with a year of free Chick-fil-A meals (52 meals with each consisting of a Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich, medium Waffle Potato Fries, and a medium beverage).

The community event is open to guests surrounding the restaurant with a list of eligible zip codes and complete rules found at https://thechickenwire.chick-fil-a.com/News/Future-Openings

New local owner Chris Schivley graduated from Long Beach State University in 2002 with a degree in criminal justice and went on to earn a master’s degree in public policy and administration in 2006. Schivley, who grew up in the Los Angeles County area, spent the first 20 years of his career in law enforcement. His first Chick-fil-A experience came a few years ago when his family began a weekly “date night” tradition of visiting the local Chick-fil-A in Long Beach.

After learning about the Chick-fil-A franchise owner opportunity from a colleague, Schivley’s interest was piqued and it didn’t take long before he realized the brand’s focus on serving freshly prepared food and mentoring young people matched his entrepreneurial goals. By the end of 2018, Schivley left his police department job to pursue his dream of becoming an Operator and was thrilled when he was selected for the new La Mirada restaurant.

Obituary and Service Information for Pat Ruiz
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Obituary and Service Information for Pat Ruiz

Patricia “Pat” Ruiz passed peacefully with family and friends at her side on April 11, 2019 at the age of 88.

Pat Ruiz was born in San Francisco in 1931 to Della and Edward Conroy. She was educated at St. Paul’s Catholic School, graduating in 1948. Pat attended Dominican College in San Rafael where she earned a baccalaureate in Education. She taught elementary school in San Francisco for one year.

Pat was married to Nick Ruiz in 1952 and had four children, Jacqui, Paul, Barbara, and Larry. The couple moved to La Mirada in 1956 and their children attended St. Paul of the Cross and Gardenhill Elementary Schools, McNally Jr. High School and La Mirada High School. Pat began teaching again when her children were in school and in 1975, she earned a master’s degree from La Verne College. Her beloved husband, Nick, passed away in 1981.

Pat created a history of community service in the City of La Mirada including: 26 years teaching at Escalona Elementary School; eight years as elected member of the Norwalk-La Mirada Unified District (NLMUSD) Board of Education (two years as President); 40 years a cantor at St. Paul of the Cross (SPC) Catholic Church; 12 years a La Mirada Human Services Commissioner; and 11 years President of the La Mirada Symphony Association.

Dedicated activities included: charter (1956) and long-time member of the Ebell Women’s Club (President for two terms); member and President of the La Mirada Kiwanis Club; Chancel Choir member at the Community Presbyterian Church of La Mirada; and, member of the SPC School Advisory Board.

Pat has received awards for distinctive service from Cerritos College Foundation, NLMUSD, Congress of PTSA, County of Los Angeles, City of La Mirada Human Services Commission, Norwalk Gang and Drug Task Force, La Mirada Kiwanis, SPC Catholic Church, and the Whittier Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ LDS, among others.

She leaves behind daughter Jacqui and husband Dane Hill, daughter Barbara, son Paul and wife Tricia, son Larry and son-in-law Stephen Cook, and grandsons Dane Jr. and Nicolas.

There will be a time of farewell at the Chapel of Memories Mortuary, 12626 Woods Ave, Norwalk on Thursday April 25 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. The Memorial Mass and Service will take place at St. Paul of the Cross Catholic Church, 14030 Foster Rd, La Mirada on Friday April 26 at 2:00pm. A private burial service will occur at Olive Lawn Cemetery, La Mirada. In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made in Pat’s honor to The Patricia Ruiz Memorial Artist Scholar Fund at the California School of the Arts, San Gabriel Valley at http://sgv.csarts.net/patriciaruizmemorialfund

Source: Courtesy Barbara Ruiz

La Mirada Crime Report October 29-November 11
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La Mirada Crime Report October 29-November 11

La Mirada Crime Report October 29th-November 11, 2018

Notable Arrests-A suspect was arrested on the 14800 block of Mercado Ave. for possession of a switch blade which was a result of a proactive pedestrian stop by deputies. 15 suspects were arrested throughout La Mirada for various warrants and narcotics violations.

Robbery-A suspect was arrested after being detained by a "good Samaritan" after witnessing the suspect attempt to carjack a vehicle on the 15200 block of Rosecrans Ave.  No injuries were sustained during the incident.

Aggravated Assault-During a daytime domestic incident an assault was reported on the 14100 block of Gladeside Dr. Minor injuries were sustained by the victim. The suspect was arrested. A victim was attacked with a metal cane during a verbal argument on the 14500 block of Leffingwell Rd. No injuries were sustained and the suspect was arrested.

Residential Burglary-An overnight theft of a bicycle was reported on the 15200 block of Campina Ln.

Other Structure Burglary-A locker was broken into on the 13300 block of Beach Blvd. A wallet was stolen. Three storage units were broken into on the 15000 block of Alondra Blvd.

Vehicle Burglary-A late night window smash burglary was reported on the 15000 block of Imperial Hwy. A purse was reported stolen.A purse was stolen during an early morning burglary on the 15300 block of Loretta Dr. An early morning burglary was reported on the 12300 block of La Pomelo Rd. Various tools were reported stolen during an early morning burglary on the 12700 block of Loganberry Dr. An early morning burglary was reported on the 14100 block of Bora Dr. A laptop and wallet were reported stolen during a late night burglary on the 15000 block of Leffingwell Rd. Tools were stolen during an evening burglary on the 14700 block of Firestone Blvd.

Grand Theft-A tailgate was reported stolen from a vehicle on the 14000 block of Lynmark St. A lawnmower was stolen from a vehicle near the intersection of Las Flores Ave. and Ocaso Ave. Medical supplies were reported stolen on the 15300 block of Valley View Ave. Various items were stolen during a late night theft from an unlocked vehicle on the 15000 block of Leffingwell Rd.

Grand Theft Vehicle-A sedan was reported stolen on the 14800 block of Telegraph Rd. A sedan was reported stolen on the 13500 block of Bona Vista Dr. A van was reported stolen on the 16200 block of Avenida San Miguel. A vehicle was reported stolen on the 13800 block of Biola Ave. A tractor was reported stolen on the 16600 block of Knott Ave. A sedan was reported stolen on the 15300 block of Santa Gertrudes Ave. A sedan was reported stolen on the 13800 block of Larwin Rd. A sedan was reported stolen on the 12700 block of Oxford Dr. A sedan was reported stolen on the 14400 block of Firestone Blvd.

Whittier Woman Sentenced to Life in Prison for Carjacking/Shooting Spree in 2017
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Whittier Woman Sentenced to Life in Prison for Carjacking/Shooting Spree in 2017

A day-long sequence of events rolled through La Mirada in a deadly way

A 27-year-old Whittier woman will spend the remainder of her life in state prison for a 2017 shooting spree that left one man dead and three others injured, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced today.

Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Roger Ito sentenced Reyna Gomez to the maximum term of 83 years and four months, plus 270 years to life, in state prison.

Jurors convicted Gomez on Sept. 13 of one count of murder, 14 counts of attempted murder and one count of carjacking. Gun and gang allegations also were found to be true.

The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Jonathan Chung of the Major Crimes Division and Emily Carmack of the Major Narcotics Division.

On April 29, 2017, Alejandro Lazo (dob 3/9/96) and Gomez allegedly carjacked a driver in Pico Rivera. The pair drove to Whittier where they are accused of shooting and wounding a man in an alley. The shooting spree continued when they allegedly opened fire on two vehicles and injured another person, prosecutors said.

They then drove to La Mirada in the stolen vehicle where they stopped at an intersection and allegedly shot at several vehicles. One driver, 44-year-old Jose Ricardo Sahagun, was killed by the gunfire. The defendants were later found nearby in another vehicle and were arrested.

Lazo is facing one count of murder, 14 counts of attempted murder and one count of carjacking. He is scheduled to appear for a pretrial hearing on Dec. 11.

Case VA144673 was investigated by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the Whittier Police Department.

Source: Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.

Free Recycling Event Coming up at La Mirada Community Gymnasium Parking Lot
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Free Recycling Event Coming up at La Mirada Community Gymnasium Parking Lot

The City of La Mirada and EDCO Disposal will be sponsoring a free mulch distribution, paper shredding, and e-waste collection event on Saturday, October 20 from 9 a.m. to noon. The event will be held in the parking lot of the La Mirada Community Gymnasium, located at 15105 Alicante Road.

This collection event is for La Mirada residents only. Proof of residency (i.e. CA Driver’s License or utility bill) will be required. Participants are asked to enter the Community Gymnasium parking lot from Alicante Road).  Household hazardous waste materials will not be accepted at this event.

For additional information, contact the Public Works Department at (562) 902-2385.

Free Oil Filters for La Mirada Do-it-Yourselfer’s September 1st
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Free Oil Filters for La Mirada Do-it-Yourselfer’s September 1st

The City of La Mirada will be holding a used motor oil filter exchange event on Saturday, September 1, 2018 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Pep Boys, 14207 Rosecrans Ave.  In exchange for their used motor oil filters, residents will receive new motor oil filters free of charge. (La Mirada residents may receive up to 2 new filters in exchange for 2 used filters; valued up to $12; while supplies last.)  After your next oil change, bring in your used oil and filters and receive vouchers for new oil filters to redeem at this one-day recycling event.

"Used motor oil and filters are highly recyclable," says Kevin Sales, La Mirada’s Used Oil Recycling Program coordinator.  "The City wants to make used motor oil and filter recycling as easy for the Do-It-Yourselfer as possible.  Both the motor oil and the steel from the automotive filter will be recycled; and you can redeem your filter voucher immediately for a free oil filter from Pep Boys."

The City of La Mirada encourages all residents to participate in the event and to recycle their used motor oil and filters. Supplementary educational materials will be available as well as additional oil change materials for eligible participants.

Other used oil collection centers can be located by calling 888-CLEAN-LA, or visiting CleanLA.com.  Further information regarding the Filter Exchange Event can be obtained by contacting Kevin Sales at (562) 944-4766.

Owner of New Grocery Outlet Receives a Warm Community Welcome
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Owner of New Grocery Outlet Receives a Warm Community Welcome

By Brooklynn Ackerman

La Mirada~This morning was the grand opening of the new Grocery Outlet Bargain Market located at Imperial Highway and Santa Gertrudes Avenue.

Yesterday, the store hosted a sneak preview event and invited some members of the community to roam the aisles before the doors were opened today.

The store is filled with GREAT deals, lots of organic options and helpful staff members.

I had a chance to speak with Pam Brown, one of the co-owners and operators. Pam has lived in Whittier for about 18 years and is looking forward to fostering great relationships and giving back to the community.

She expressed her gratitude to neighboring businesses and members of the community who have given her and her team such a warm welcome. When I asked if she was prepared for the grand opening she stated, “I’m nervous because it’s such a big day, but I am very excited. My team has been awesome and we are ready”.

The fastest growing extreme-value grocer in the U.S., Grocery Outlet now has over 290 locations covering six states.

In honor of the grand opening, Grocery Outlet will be donating the amount of customer savings from the first hour of operation to Love La Mirada. Also this morning, mystery coupons were handed out to the first 200 guests and every shopper received a reusable bag.

From April 5th through May 3rd, shoppers can enter to win free groceries for one year! There is much to be excited about, so stop by the Grocery Outlet and check out the amazing deals!

La Mirada News Ticker #13
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La Mirada News Ticker #13

-A grand opening will take place on Thursday, April 5th for the new Grocery Outlet at 15745 Imperial Highway. The first 200 shoppers will receive a gift card loaded with an amount between $5 and $200. The fastest growing extreme-value grocer in the U.S., Grocery Outlet now has over 290 locations covering six states.

-Chick-Fil-A has submitted plans to the city to construct a new store across the street from the Holiday Inn on the southeast corner of Firestone Blvd and Gateway Drive.

-The annual Easter Egg Hunt will take place at Regional Park on Saturday, March 31st from 9:00-11:00 a.m. The 11th Annual Going Quackers for Kids Derby Duck Race will immediately follow the Easter Egg Hunt. This fun–for-all-ages event will take place at Splash! Enter the back gate of Splash! by following the duck prints. Bring a blanket, and enjoy some family time. All kids’ games and activities are FREE!

-The La Mirada Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast will take place Friday, April 13 from 7:00-9:00 a.m. at the Holiday Inn La Mirada. Guest Speaker will be County Supervisor for the 4th district, Janice Hahn.

-Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School Board member Sean Regan has resigned his seat after moving to Whittier, seven months before his term ends in November. The School District is currently accepting applications for the vacancy.

-Arts Colony of La Mirada's April meeting will feature Victoria Pflanzer as demonstrator. Ms. Pflanzer is an award winning photographer and educator at Benton Middle School.  The meeting is open to the public and will be held on Monday, April 2 at 6:30 p.m. at the La Mirada Resource Center, 13710 La Mirada Blvd. For further information call 562-941-4116 or check their website at acolm.org.

-La Mirada High baseball started their 2018 Suburban League campaign in style on March 26th. Sophomore Jared Jones struck out 11 in a complete game and Darius Perry blasted a two-run homer as the Mats (8-1-1, 1-0) beat Cerritos (8-3, 0-1) by a score of 3-0.

Latest La Mirada Crime Report
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Latest La Mirada Crime Report

The following is the La Mirada crime report as reported by the City of La Mirada Feb. 26. - Mar. 04, 2018.

Notable Arrests-Ten suspects were arrested throughout La Mirada for various warrants and narcotics violations.

Residential Burglary-Several credit cards were reported stolen during a daytime burglary on the 12300 block of Bristol Dr.

Other Structure Burglary-An early morning window smash burglary was reported on the 14800 block of Telegraph Rd.  The exact loss is yet to be determined.

Vehicle Burglary-A daytime window smash burglary was reported on the 13300 block of Beach Blvd. The exact loss is yet to be reported.

Grand Theft- Several personal items were reported stolen from two unlocked vehicles on the 14700 block of Excelsior Dr. A package was stolen from a residence on the 13100 block of San Felipe St.

Grand Theft Vehicle-A sedan was reported stolen on the 14800 block of Telegraph Rd. A SUV was reported stolen on the 14400 block of San Ardo Dr. The vehicle has since been recovered by Norwalk Sheriff's. A sedan was reported stolen on the 15900 block of Imperial Hwy. A stolen sedan was recovered on the 14700 block of Beach Blvd. The vehicle was reported stolen out Fullerton PD's area.

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