La Mirada Christmas Tree recycling program underway

La Mirada-   Residents can take vantage of the city's Christmas

Tree Recycling Program now through Friday, January 18 in one of two ways.

For residents that have curbside trash pickup, any live tree including flocked trees will be recycled and should be left out near the curb on trash collection day.

Residents not having curbside trash pickup can take their tree to be recycled to the La Mirada City Gymnasium at Regional Park at 15105 Alicante Rd.

The La Mirada Public Works Dept. which is helping to coordinate the effort with Edco asks that all decorations be removed before setting the tree curbside.

Playground upgrades at Windermere and Gardenhill Park near completion

Improvements are nearly complete at Windermere Park  Photo:LMNews

La Mirada- A four-year effort to upgrade and replace equipment at all of the city's six playgrounds is nearing an end as the final two projects at Windermere and Gardenhill Parks will be completed by next month.

Safety features at the two parks include the installation of a rubberized playground surface as well new walkways that are ADA compliant. 

Unique playground features are sure to capture the minds of La Mirada's youngsters. 

(Opinion- These are not off-the-shelf playgrounds. A lot of thought was put into what will likely become another jewel in La Mirada, at least in the eyes of a kid.)

The fencing should come down in about a week at Windemere Park, and in January at Gardenhill Park.

Work began on the  $771,000 project in late September.

The playground upgrades at Gardenhill Park should be completed next month
Photo:LMNews , Dec. 13 

La Mirada News Briefs Only one home left at Olive Walk

Photo: Olson Homes

La Mirada-  There is only one home still available in the Olive Walk development built by urban living specialist Olson Homes at 12000 La Mirada Blvd.

The home available is a model home, includes furnishings inside the model and Olson has but the price this weekend only.

Interested buyers can also make backup offers for homes that could still allow you to grab a home if a pending sale falls apart.

Contact the Olive Walk sales office for further information at (562) 370-9514. or www.olivewalk.com

La Mirada Chili Holiday Celebration returns Dec. 1 

La Mirada's signature Holiday event will be held next weekend at Splash! Regional Aquatics Park from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The event features live entertainment including local youth groups singing Christmas Carols for the crowd, free chili, hot dogs, cookies and refreshments,

Snow sledding and other activities will be available and a Tree Lighting Ceremony will be a special highlight.

Event organizers are asking those in attendance to bring non-perishable food items and/or unwrapped toys that will benefit local families in need

Splash! is located behind the La Mirada County Library at 13806 La Mirada Blvd.

For additional information contact La Mirada Community Services Department at (562) 943-7277.

Holiday Food and Toy Drive

The City of La Mirada is asking the public to donate toys and non-perishable food items to one of its six collection points around the city through Friday, December 14 to benefit needy families in the area.

Donations can be dropped off at the following locations:

La Mirada Activity Center  13810 La Mirada Blvd.

La Mirada City Hall   13700 La Mirada Blvd.

La Mirada Gymnasium 15105 Alicante Road.

La Mirada County Library 13800 La Mirada Blvd.

La Mirada Resource Center 13710 La Mirada Blvd.

Splash! La Mirada Regional Aquatics Center 13816 La Mirada Blvd.

The donations will be distributed by the La Mirada Volunteer Center, Interfaith Food Center, Grace Evangelical Free Church, St. Paul of the Cross Church, and Beatitudes of our Lord Church.


Public is invited to the Biola Tree Lighting Ceremony

The public is invited to the Biola University Chrismas Fair and Tree Lighting Ceremony on Friday,

November 30 beginning at 4:30 p.m.

Vendors will be selling gifts as carolers sing holiday songs as part of the Christmas Fair on the Bell Tower Walkway from 4:30 pm to 9 p.m.  Hot drinks will also be available for purchase during the Fair.

The highlight of the evening will be from 7:00 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Metzger Lawn for the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony.

For additional information contact Alumni Relations at (562) 903-4728.

The La Mirada Theatre brings the spirit of the Holiday Season to the stage

La Mirada-  The La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts features an upcoming schedule filled

with Holiday-themed live productions over the next month.

One of the featured highlights is the Tchaikovsky's score of 'The Nutcracker', a holiday favorite for decades with two performances on Saturday, December 22.

Presented by the State Street Ballet from Santa Barbara, good seats are still available starting at $25 for both the 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. shows.

 "Join young Clara on a magical adventure with her Nutcracker Prince, as she travels through the beautiful Land of the Snowflakes to meet the Sugar Plum Fairy in the Kingdom of Sweets" -  As described by the La Mirada Theatre

A VIP Packages is being offered for both "The Nutcracker Suite" performances for $150 that include best center seating, valet parking, a cast meet & greet, souvenirs, and holiday treats.

On Thursday, December 6, the 250-member cast of the Young Americans returns with 'The Magic of Christmas, 2018" a holiday themed music and dance performance.

The show features 30 scene changes including hip-hopping penguins, dancing Santa's, The Nutcracker Suite, Toyland, The Polar Express and choral music.

Tickets for the 13-show run of 'The Magic of Christmas 2018' from Dec. 6 through Dec.16 are priced from $28 to $52

Also at the Theatre, for one show only on Saturday, November 24, Singer and Playwright Lisa Rock stars in 'A Carpenters Christmas'. Rock will perform hits made popular by the musical duo- 'The Carpenters'.

Rounding out the holiday offerings will be two musical performances by the 'Ten Tenors' on Saturday, December 1st.

For further information or tickets are available at lamiradatheatre.com, or phone the box office at (714) 994-6310 or (562) 944-9801, and you may also visit the Theatre' box office in person M-F 11 a.m to 5:30 p.m. and Sat. Noon-4 p.m at 14900 La Mirada Blvd.

The plug has been pulled on 'The Plug' illegal weed shop?

Also in Public Safety News

The CHP is attempting to identify a teen 

skateboarder hit by a truck Monday

South Whittier-  A check earlier this week of the bootleg/illegal marijuana retailer 'The Plug' which

has been operating from the back door of the old florist shop on the corner of Valley View Av and Imperial Hwy. appears to be no more.

After observing the building locked up nice and snug at 2 p.m. in the afternoon, when it should have been open LMNews decided to dig a bit deeper and found that their phone number forwarded to the

typical 'not available' recording associated with a disconnected account.

Seeking further evidence that the place was indeed history while keeping in mind criminal enterprises do not announce they are going out of business, LMNews was confident they have moved on after finding both their Weedmaps page and the store's Instagram had been taken down. (Weedmaps is the bible of Stoners everywhere.)

The illegal operation came under scrutiny shortly after opening in February 2018 after members of the nearby La Mirada
Masjid mosque noticed activity was increasing quickly at former Conroy's building and customers were frequently using their parking lot.

Not wanting children of its members to be influenced by the presence of drug users, the mosque contacted the office of Supervisor Janice Hahn who quickly had the appropriate county resources in moving forward with the goal of getting the place shut down.

The county currently does not allow any retail establishments in unincorporated areas and local permission is mandatory to be approved to be licensed by the state.

An order from a civil court judge to cease operations, as well as two raids by Sheriff's deputies in August and September, failed to deter the renegade operation.

In this Sheriff's Dept photo you can see the display cases
used inside the store Courtesy:LASD Norwalk

Perhaps we will never know, but LMNews will keep an eye open because there is a good chance they will just open up someplace else.

There are still options available nearby for medical marijuana users as well as recreational users like Elijah, of Whittier who reviewed 'The Plug' for Youtube.

In South Whittier there is still Hotbox on Imperial Hwy near Leffingwell Road and a second located just across Leffingwell Road from the 99 cent store.

Further down Leffingwell Road in East Whittier are two more, both reportedly operated by the same owner several doors apart in the strip mall west of Mc Donald's.

There are cameras all over these two shops, and you need to be buzzed in to gain access from the outside walkway.

All of the mentioned businesses operate without local or state permission.

La Mirada's annual 'Salute to Veterans" Monday

The City of La Mirada will honor is holding its annual 'Salute to Veterans' on Monday, November 5th

beginning at 6 p.m. at the La Mirada Theatre

The public is invited to attend the two-hour event featuring a patriotic musical performance to honor American Veteran's and the men and women that currently serve in the military 

Member of the Veterans of Foreign War will present the colors of the nation during the presentation.

In the lobby, Veterans will display memorabilia.

For further information contact the City of La Mirada Community Services Department at 562) 943-7277

A second Dollar Tree store appears headed for La Mirada

La Mirada-  It's quite evident by the presence of moving signs in the windows of several stores that

Courtesy: Dollar Tree

more changes are coming to the Ross For Less/Grocery Outlet Center at Imperial Hwy and Santa Gertrudes Av.

LMNews has learned that several stores are being relocated to make room for a Dollar Tree store that will occupy the space that was formerly 'Downtown' clothing and apparel store, and the current sites that are occupied by a nail shop, and All About Puppies.

The Nail Shop will move closer to CVS while All About Puppies relocates into a large space across the parking lot to the building that sits on the corner of the intersection next to the Dentist Offices.

The new sign for 'All About Puppies' is already in place, and the owner, Janice Ratzlaff, said she is pleased to be moving into a larger space.

There has not been an official announcement from Dollar Tree and there is not a projected opening day for the discount store.

Things To Do: Halloween Fest, Police Station Open House and more

Source: City of La Mirada

Oct. 26, 2018  10:10 am

La Mirada-  The City of La Mirada Community Services will be holding its annual HalloweenFest at Historic Neff Park Wednesday, Oct. 31, and features a Haunted House tour, crafts, and candy handouts.

The event from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. is highlighted by a costume contest that is popular is each year which begins with costumed pets at 5 p.m. and then the kids by age bracket at 5:20  p.m.

Neff Park is located at 14398 San Bruno Drive. For more information 562 943-7277.

https://www.facebook.com/events/841507882526101/

Event poster: http://www.cityoflamirada.org/home/showdocument?id=13647

Special discount and free beverage offer for 'Murder on the Orient Express'

You can catch the show theater critics have all been raving about 'Murder on the Orient Express' at the La Mirada Theatre at a discount just announced for the Halloween night show only at $31.

The discounted price includes a complimentary 'spooky' beverage.

Use the link to access the discounted seats and available seat chart.  Be sure to use the promo code 'BOO'.

https://t.co/T1n5WoFnK9

For further information or assistance call the Box Office at (714) 994-6310 or (562) 944-9801.
'

'Dia de los muertos' Carnival

St. Paul of the Cross kicks off its annual 'Dia De Los Muertos' this afternoon and runs through Sunday 10/28-10/30.

The carnival will have crafts and games, food and live entertainment, and features a beer garden.

Schedule  Fri       5 - 11 p.m.
                Sat       Noon - 11 p.m.
                Sun      Noon-  9 p.m.

St. Paul of the Cross at 14020 Foster Road.

City of Industry Sorrowful Soiree'

Source:KCET

Industry-  Storytelling, and tours of El Campo Santo, the 19th-century cemetery of the Temple and Workman family that has a crypt on its grounds, are some of the activities planned the Sunday at the historic Homestead Museum this Sunday, Oct. 28.

The free event begins at 3 p.m. lasting until 7 p.m. at 15415 Don Julian Road. and is easily reached by using northbound Hacienda Blvd and making one signal past Valley Blvd onto Don Julian Road.

For more info (626) 968-8492 or homesteadmuseium.org

Event Poster:http://www.homesteadmuseum.org/Home/ShowImage?id=2569&t=636727932318670000

Police Station Open House

La Habra-  The La Habra Police Department and the city Recreation Division are hosting an Open House event at the Police Station on Saturday 10/27 that will feature tours including one of the jail, demonstrations including one by its K9 officer, and some of its specialized equipment on display

Food and drinks will be available at the event the is from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

La Habra Police Dept. 150 N. Euclid Street.  Located one-half block north of La Habra Blvd.



LMNews Editor






,

'Murder on the Orient Express' to make west coast premiere at LM Theatre

La Mirada- McCoy Rigby Entertainment kicks off the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts 2018-19 Broadway Series season Friday night at 8 p.m.with the west coast stage premiere of Agatha Christie's 'Murder on the Orient Express'.


Adapted for the
stage by award-winning playwright Ken Ludwig and directed by Sheldon Epps, "Murder' runs through Sunday, November 11.

Tony Amendola stars as detective Harry Poirot in this romantic tale of mystery, suspense, a tragic murder and then revenge, features a supporting cast of eight suspects, each with an alibi.

Goldstar is selling tickets starting as low as $15 up to $33  at a discount of 40% to 50%  for a short time only on their website

https://www.goldstar.com/events/la-mirada-ca/murder-on-the-orient-express-tickets

Tickets for 'Murder on the Orient Express' and any other performance at this venue are available by calling the box office at (714) 994-6310, online at lamiradatheatre.com, and at the theater box office at 14900 La Mirada Blvd M-F 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
and on Saturday's Noon to 4 p.m.

Tickets are also available at Ticketmaster.com.

Improvements underway at several La Mirada parks

LA MIRADA-   Fencing went up this week at Gardenhill and Windermere Parks marking the beginning of a rehabilitation project upgrading the children's playground area.

The work will include installation of new playground equipment, new sand and, protective surfacing as well as along new curbing to complete what appears to be a larger children's play area when completed.

Neff Roofing Project

Work also began Monday at on a re-roofing project at Neff Park. 

About a half-dozen workers with Best Contractors could be seen installing safety fencing and removing the old roofing shingles at both the Neff Barn and adjoining George Home Monday afternoon.

Work on the new roof for Neff Barn in progress 10/08/18

Work will also include the roofing at the Neff Home.

Creek Park update

City staff is looking at a number of possible funding sources at the federal, state and county level which could include monies for watershed renewal projects.

The project timeline has been pushed back for years, and all signs point to many more years of waiting.

La Mirada library open house Monday will celebrate remodel

 LA MIRADA   The public is invited to attend an open house Monday March 20th, marking the completion of the $4.1 million renovation of the library.

Photo courtesy City of La Mirada

The work was completed using county library district funds and saw removal of most of the interior of the 15.704 square-foot interior, followed by the installation of a new floor design, featuring new flooring, paints, lighting, furniture and an expanded computer station.

A new feature will now allow patrons to self-check library materials, and there will be an area targeting teen visitors.

The open house from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. will feature activities including children and teen crafts, an African drum and dance performance and the Friends of the La Mirada Library will serve refreshments.

The library was originally constructed in 1969 along with City Hall and Fire Station 49 as the first pieces of the current La Mirada Civic Center.

A library spokesperson said there will be expanded hours on Fridays and Saturdays, though specif details were not available at this time.




 

Pauline Deal selected to fill council vacancy

LA MIRADA- The city council selected four-term Norwalk-La Mirada school board member Pauline Deal to the vacant seat at City Hall vacated by Susan Tripp last month.

Deal, 51, was named by a unanimous vote Tuesday evening during a special meeting held to interview five finalists selected from a field of 13 applicants.

The other finalists interviewed Tuesday were Paul Brown, Edward Eng, Michael Garcia, and Chris Pflanzer

Among the 13 original applicants were mother and son, Madeline and Daniel Alexander, and Andrew Sarega, a Newport Beach police officer who finished last for a seat during this past March election.

Sarega gained notoriety early in the year for suggesting city fathers should consider parting ways with the sheriff's department after 51 years.

Though many of the candidates boasted records of public service, Deal now serving as the school board Vice President, stood out as the front-runner from the start due to her many years of local government experience.

Deal will be sworn-in at the next regular meeting of the city council on Tuesday July 12, at 6:30 p.m.

Warm-up to continue through midweek

A high pressure system that is pumping blistering heat in most of the southwestern United States will continue it's grip on the region through Wednesday according to the National Weather Service office in Oxnard.

The La Mirada area has been more fortunate than most of the region, with daytime highs peaking in the low 90's Friday and Saturday.

A subtle change occurring Monday will make the heat a bit more uncomfortable and sticky as a monsoonal flow begins pumping moisture into the area from northern Mexico.

Daytime highs in the upper 80's will be the rule until a cooler air mass from the northwest brings relief Thursday.

Participants at today's annual Independence Celebration at La Mirada Regional Park should expect sunny skies with a slight breeze and a temperature near 86 degrees at it's 4 p.m. kickoff.

Picnickers will find food and information booths sponsored by community groups as well as live entertainment stage feauturing local music groups.

The event concludes with a fireworks show that can be seen from most parts of the town.

Fullerton mayor critical of those opponents of West Coyote Hills development

FULLERTON- In a State of the City forum message Monday night Fullerton Mayor F. Richard Jones was critical of opponents of developing the West Coyotes Hills, calling development of the former Chevron Oil site as inevitable the Orange County Register reports.

Mayor Jones says the city is in negotiations with the landowner on a plan that would settle a suit filed after a 2010 vote rejecting plans for residential homes on the only remaining undeveloped areas of the Coyote Hills extending from above Beach Blvd east to Euclid Street.

For the entire story: http://www.ocregister.com/news/city-294972-jones-fullerton.html

La Mirada Symphony to hold free performances

LA MIRADA- "The Wild, Wild West" is the theme for the La Mirada Symphony annual free POPS concerts Saturday afternoon and evening at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts.

Guest Conductor Robert Frelly will take the audience on a musical trip that salutes the music of the American pioneer era.

A matinee performance is at 3 p.m. with an evening show at 8 p.m.

Reservations are not required.

For additional information call: 562-944-9801.

http://www.lamiradatheatre.com/pr_lms.htm

Biola closing in on deal to lease Rancho School site

LA MIRADA- Bursting at it's seams with record enrollment, Biola University is negotiating with the Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District to lease the Rancho School site for use as a satellite campus.

Biola officials saw an opportunity to add very much needed elbow room when the school board designated the site surplus property last September, and requested bids for a long-term lease.

The Rancho site is located just east of Neff Park on 8.8 acres and is less a mile from the main campus.

School district and Biola officials are currently finalizing the terms of the lease, which is for an initial five year period at $181,512 annually with Biola having the option for an additional five-year lease.

One of the issues to be hammered out is public use of the athletic fields.

Biola will need to do some modernization work on the school which has only had necessary upkeep performed since 1980. Most of that expense will be directed towards upgrading the electrical system to a standard that will support addition a central air system and computer technology.

The former elementary school was built in 1955 and closed in 1980 as a K-6 campus. The Hearing Impaired Program for the school district was then moved to the school until 1989, becoming the Barbara Dawson Education Center until 2010.

A child day-care program is currently leasing the school through June 30, 2011.

Breaking News: DeRuse and Mowles win seats on La Mirada council

LA MIRADA- Unofficial final results released shortly before 9 p.m. tonight show that Community Services Commissioner Stephen DeRuse and Planning Commissioner Larry Mowles have won election to their first terms on the city council each with over 1,400 votes.

Soon to be 5th term incumbent Steve Jones was the other victor Tuesday night with over 2,500 votes.

More to follow

Council incumbent Jones leads early ballot count

LA MIRADA- Councilman Steve Jones was leading all other candidates by nearly a two-to-one margin tonight as early results tallied from absentee ballots were completed.

As of 7:45 p.m. results posted indicate that Jones was off to a good start in his quest to win one of three open seats tonight and return for a 5th term on the council.

As election workers were still waiting for balloting to be completed at neighborhood precincts, the only real question to be answered would be which of the other four challengers would win the remaining two seats.

Jones had 1,537 votes cast by mail, with the remaining four candidates waiting with freinds and family at City Hall to see who else would go home a victor tonight.

Community Services Commissioner Stephen DeRuse led the newcomers with 875 votes, followed by attorney Paul Brown with 815. Not far behind was Planning Commissioner Larry Mowles at 773 votes, with Newport Beach police officer Andrew Sarega trailing with 708.

Sarega who created a buzz during the campaign by proposing that the city dumped the Sheriff's Department and form a municipal police agency could see a shift in his place in the standing as he garnered a lot of publicity in the final days after most mailed in ballots were already cast.

Linking La Mirada

INDOOR FUN FOR THE KIDS THIS AFTERNOON

Two special shows this afternoon at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts is structured for kids K thru 4th grade is a hands-on discovery of Jazz.

For more info follow the link

http://lamiradatheatre.com/jazz_reach/index.htm

St. Paul of the Cross hosting Parish Festival this weekend

LA MIRADA- St. Paul of the Cross Church kicked off it's Parish Festival Friday evening, and will continue today concluding Sunday October 10.

The weather will be close to perfect to enjoy the weekend event.

During the day it will be sunny and warm with a high both days in the mid 80's, but at night a sweater or light coat may be needed as the thermometer drops to about 60.

The Festival will feature a variety of food choices and treats, carnival rides, and games, and a video game truck on site so you can play games against a group of people if you like.

The event hours for Saturday at noon to 11 p.m. and Sunday noon until 9 p.m.

St. Paul of the Cross is located at 14020 Foster Road.


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