La Mirada News, CA Local News

Gardena plumber who lost $30,000 worth of tools frustrated with crime laws

Sat, 06 Apr 2024 06:42:52 +0000

A Southern California plumber whose work van and $30,000 worth of tools were stolen is frustrated after the suspect, who was arrested, was immediately released.

The victim, Robert Powell, is still out of work and doesn’t know how long it’ll take to replace his stolen tools and equipment.

The theft happened on March 28 as home surveillance cameras captured the brazen theft outside his Gardena home.

“At 4:30 a.m., they came and took it,” Powell said, on the verge of tears. “It’s hard to replace $30,000 worth of equipment that has taken you 10 years to accumulate.”

Video shows two suspects in an SUV pulling up to Powell's work van, breaking into it and driving it away.

Later that morning, the van was found abandoned in South Gate. However, all of Powell's valuable and expensive tools were gone.

Two hooded suspects steal a plumber's work van and tools in Gardena on March 28, 2024. (Robert Powell)
Two hooded suspects steal a plumber's work van and tools in Gardena on March 28, 2024. (Robert Powell)
Robert Powell is devastated after thieves escape with his work van and around $30,000 worth of expensive tools. (KTLA)
Robert Powell found some of his stolen tools being sold on the resale app OfferUp. (KTLA)
Only three tools were recovered after thieves escaped with $30,000 worth of tools from a Gardena plumber. (KTLA)
Robert Powerll found some of his stolen tools being sold on the resale app OfferUp. (KTLA)
Suspects driving away with a Gardena plumber's work van that was parked on his driveway on March 28, 2024. (Robert Powell)
Two hooded suspects steal a plumber's work van and tools in Gardena on March 28, 2024. (Robert Powell)
Two hooded suspects steal a plumber's work van and tools in Gardena on March 28, 2024. (Robert Powell)
- Two hooded suspects steal a plumber's work van and tools in Gardena on March 28, 2024. (Robert Powell)
- Two hooded suspects steal a plumber's work van and tools in Gardena on March 28, 2024. (Robert Powell)
- Suspects driving away with a Gardena plumber's work van that was parked on his driveway on March 28, 2024. (Robert Powell)
- Robert Powell is devastated after thieves escape with his work van and around $30,000 worth of expensive tools. (KTLA)
- Two hooded suspects steal a plumber's work van and tools in Gardena on March 28, 2024. (Robert Powell)
- Two hooded suspects steal a plumber's work van and tools in Gardena on March 28, 2024. (Robert Powell)
- Two hooded suspects steal a plumber's work van and tools in Gardena on March 28, 2024. (Robert Powell)

“They had all the right equipment just to get in there and cut the cable, cut the steering wheel lock and take the truck,” Powell said. “They had it in two-and-a-half minutes.”

Later that morning, the stolen truck was found abandoned in South Gate. However, all of Powell's expensive tools were gone.

The thieves also tore out the truck's ignition and back door before speeding away with it.

“It’s not just me that it hurts, it’s everybody when they’re stealing from us,” he said. “We have to find a way to stop these guys from doing this. It’s painful.”

Although Powell is devastated by this loss, he’s trying to stay positive and work on regaining his livelihood by replacing his tools. He hopes he’ll be ready to work soon enough. As an independent contractor, he has two employees who also rely on him for pay.

“I’ll take tomorrow and just start putting it back together as if I had nothing,” he said. “I know that I am blessed with the customers I have and the friends that I have. I’m going to pull through it.”

Powell filed a police report but said he couldn’t provide a detailed description of the suspects' appearance as his home security footage was on night mode and was too grainy.

Anyone who may be interested in helping Powell rebuild can email him directly at kandrplumbing90504@gmail.com.

Election 2024: Linda Sánchez pulls ahead in CA-38 as early election results roll in

Wed, 06 Mar 2024 07:14:16 +0000

Incumbent Rep. Linda Sánchez appears to have taken a comfortable lead in the 38th congressional district race Tuesday night.

The first round of votes released by the Orange County Registrar of Voters and L.A. County Clerk/Registrar-Recorder shortly after polls closed at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, March 5, put the 11-term Democrat from Whittier well ahead of the pack and Eric Ching, a Republican from Walnut, in second place.

Pastor John Sarega and entrepreneur Robert Zhang Ochoa are also vying for the seat.

Results will be updated regularly until the counting is complete.

The top two vote-getters in the primary, regardless of party preference, will advance to the general election in November.

CA-38, anchored in Los Angeles County but spans a portion of Orange County, includes La Habra, Diamond Bar, La Habra Heights, Hacienda Heights, La Mirada, Los Nietos, Norwalk, Montebello, Pico Rivera, Rowland Heights, Santa Fe Springs, Walnut, Whittier and parts of Downey and Industry.

According to state data, Democrats account for 48.1% of all the registered voters in the district, while 23% are Republicans and 22.7% are no party preference voters.

Sánchez, who last year became the first woman to helm BOLD PAC, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus’ campaign arm, is partaking in efforts to galvanize the Latino vote and elect Latino Democrats to Congress. The daughter of immigrants from Mexico, Sánchez is a strong advocate for a pathway to citizenship for “Dreamers,” young immigrants brought to the U.S. unlawfully through no fault of their own.

See the latest election results.

Ching, a Walnut councilmember, has focused his campaign on border security, being tough on crime, the right to bear arms and the economy. He was defeated by Sánchez by about 16 percentage points in 2022.

Ochoa, who bills himself as a common-sense Christian conservative, wants to lower crime, homelessness, inflation, gas prices, illegal drugs, illegal immigration and healthcare costs, among others.

Sarega ran for this seat in 2022 as well. He placed third in the primary and did not advance to the general.

31 stores in California on Rite Aid closure list

Wed, 18 Oct 2023 13:09:54 +0000

Rite Aid has marked 31 stores in California for closure in its restructuring plan, which was filed Monday, Oct. 16 in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey.

The chain, which previously said it might close 500 stores, wrote that at least 154 stores would close.

The troubled retail pharmacy chain is facing slumping sales and several opioid-related lawsuits. To make ends meet, the company is looking to reduce its debt while resolving “litigation claims in an equitable manner,” Rite Aid reps said Sunday.

At least 10 stores will close across Los Angeles County. Another six will shutter in Orange County and just two in the Inland Empire. Only one, a store on South Archibald Avenue in Ontario appears to have closed already.

“Many of the stores on this list have already closed and received ample notice of the closure, while some will close in the coming weeks,” Rite Aid said via email Tuesday.

Here are the list of stores Rite Aid has marked for closure in California. The store number precedes each address:

LA County

5448 — 4044 Eagle Rock Blvd., Los Angeles

6288 — 959 Crenshaw Blvd., Los Angeles

5457 — 4046 South Centinela Ave., Los Angeles

5466 — 7859 Firestone Blvd., Downey

5521 — 4402 Atlantic Ave., Long Beach

5571 — 935 North Hollywood Way, Burbank

5585 — 139 North Grand Ave., Covina

5593 — 13905 Amar Road, La Puente

5611 — 920 E. Valley Blvd., Alhambra

6333 — 15800 Imperial Highway, La Mirada

Orange County

5735 — 24829 Del Prado, Dana Point

6717 — 8509 Irvine Center Drive, Irvine

5753 — 30222 Crown Valley Parkway, Laguna Niguel

5757 — 19701 Yorba Linda Blvd., Yorba Linda

5760 — 1406 West Edinger Ave., Santa Ana

6213 — 3029 Harbor Blvd., Costa Mesa

Inland Empire

6318 — 3000 South Archibald Ave., Ontario (marked closed on Yelp)

5730 — 25906 Newport Road, Menifee

North of LA

5772 — 2738 East Thompson Blvd., Ventura (marked closed on Yelp)

5780 — 720 North Ventura Road, Oxnard

San Diego County

5635 — 3813 Plaza Drive, Oceanside

5638 — 1670 Main St., Ramona

5657 — 6505 Mission Gorge Road, San Diego

5661 — 8985 Mira Mesa Blvd., San Diego (marked closed on Yelp)

Northern California

5967 — 20572 Homestead Road, Cupertino

5976 — 2620 El Camino Real, Santa Clara

5979 — 901 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz

6001 — 571 Bellevue Road, Atwater

6045 — 5409 Sunrise Boulevard, Citrus Heights

6080 — 1309 Fulton Ave., Sacramento

6769 — 499 Alvarado St., Monterey

The 60-year-old Rite Aid operates 2,100 stores in the U.S., mostly in coastal states, and has posted annual losses for several years. The company reported that its revenue fell to $5.7 billion in the fiscal quarter that ended June 3, down from $6.0 billion a year earlier, logging a net loss of $306.7 million.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Where to see July 4th fireworks in LA, Ventura and Santa Barbara counties

Fri, 30 Jun 2023 16:47:43 +0000

Get ready to celebrate the Fourth of July 2023 with professional fireworks, drone or laser shows. In the photo, illegal fireworks light up the sky on July 4, 2022. Photo was taken near the 210 and the 118 Freeways in Sylmar. (Photo by Mike Meadows)

Celebrating the Fourth of July at a fireworks show after a barbecue or a picnic is a long-standing tradition all across the United States.

Start planning to see professional fireworks, drone or laser shows beginning July 1 this year — some events include a festival before the “light up the sky” displays. Many shows have free admission. Some shows, however, require advance ticket purchase only.

Here is a sampling of regional July 4th fireworks shows in the Los Angeles County region, including Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.

July 1

Arcadia

Downtown Arcadia Patriotic Festival and Fireworks: The festival, 5-9:30 p.m., on First Avenue between Diamond Street and Huntington Drive. Sign up on the website link to enter the “Big Give Away” drawing. You must be present to win. Drawing is at 7 p.m. on the First Avenue Middle School stage. Fireworks show, 9 p.m. at First Avenue Middle School, 301 S. First St. www.arcadiadt.com

Baldwin Park

Independence Day Spectacular: Activities include carnival rides, giant slides, music and food vendors, 5:30-10 p.m. Music by Aeromyth, a tribute to Aerosmith, 6:30 p.m. Magic show, 7:30 p.m. Fireworks, around 9:30 p.m. Sierra Vista High School, 3600 Frazier Ave. 626-813-5245. Flyer: tinyurl.com/5884sm5u

Hawaiian Gardens

Independence Day Celebration: Event includes activities, games and music, 5-10 p.m. Fireworks, around 9 p.m. Fedde Sports Complex, 21409 Elaine Ave. 562-420-2644. Details: tinyurl.com/435sba6j

Hollywood

Hollywood Forever Cemetery: Screening of “Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure” (1985), 9 p.m., followed by fireworks. Gates open for picnicking or food purchases, 7:15 p.m. Also, DJ sets before the film. Tickets $45. Check website for parking options and fees. Location, T6000 Santa Monica Blvd. cinespia.org

Monterey Park

City of Monterey Park Independence Day Fireworks Show: Live entertainment and food trucks, 4-9:30 p.m. (Air National Guard Band of the West, 4 p.m.; Kaylyn and New Frontier, 7 p.m.). Fireworks, 9 p.m. Barnes Park, 350 S. McPherrin Ave. 626-307-1388. www.montereypark.ca.gov/687/Independence-Day-Celebration

Norwalk

Independence Day Festival and Fireworks: Event includes a Kids Zone, live music and food trucks, 1-10 p.m. Fireworks, 9 p.m. Norwalk Civic Center, 12700 Norwalk Blvd. 562-929-5702. Flyer: tinyurl.com/5n6hu8ux

See: 10 July 4th fireworks shows lighting up Southern California

Palmdale

Fireworks Celebration and Concert: Event opens at 6 p.m. Concert by the Platinum Groove, 8 p.m. Fireworks, around 9 p.m. Tickets $5; free for ages 11 and younger. This is a cash-free event; only credit cards accepted. Bring a blanket or lawn chair for seating. Check the website for parking ideas; limited on-site parking. Palmdale Amphitheater, 2723 Rancho Vista Blvd. www.palmdaleamphitheater.com/events/2023/fireworks-celebration-2023

Pico Rivera

Fireworks Spectacular: Family activities, 5 p.m., followed by music by Suave, 5:30 p.m., and Klymaxx, 8 p.m. Fireworks, 9 p.m. Bring a blanket or a chair. El Rancho High School, football field, 6501 Passons Blvd. 562-801-4430. www.pico-rivera.org/index.php/profile/city-to-host-fireworks-spectacular-2/

San Fernando

Red, White and Lights – Laser Show Fourth of July Celebration: Event includes music by Full Clip, a Ninja Nation Obstacle Course, a pie-eating contest, carnival games, arts and crafts, artisan and food trucks vendors, 6-9:30 p.m. Downtown San Fernando Mall on San Fernando Road, between Brand and San Fernando Mission boulevards. 818-898-1290. ci.san-fernando.ca.us/sfrecreation/#fourth-of-july-celebration

South El Monte

City of South El Monte 4th of July Celebration: Event includes park activities, including bungee jumping and family games, and food for purchase, 2-9 p.m. (see the flyer for a variety of activities including swimming times). Boxing show at 2 p.m. Entertainment: the band Chico, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Fireworks, 9 p.m. (launched from South El Monte High School, 1001 N. Durfee Avenue, but watch from the park). New Temple Park, 1450 Lidcombe Ave. Flyer: bit.ly/42LmGaO

July 1-4

Valencia

Six Flags Magic Mountain July 4th Fireworks Celebration: The theme park’s fireworks show, 9 p.m. each night. Park hours: 10:30 a.m.-10 p.m. July 1-4. Best viewing areas for the fireworks show: Full Throttle Plaza and Main Gate Plaza). Admission $75 (in advance online; see options for passes and other add-ons; parking $40/$45/$50. Location, 26101 Magic Mountain Parkway. www.sixflags.com/magicmountain/events/july-celebration

July 2

Lake View Terrace

Celebration of Independence Drone Light Show and Festival: Los Angeles City Councilmember Monica Rodriguez’s office (District-7) presents the event that includes entertainment by Queen Nation, a tribute to the band Queen, children’s activities, resource booths, food and vendors, 5-9 p.m. Free admission. Hansen Dam Recreation Area, soccer fields, 11658 Foothill Blvd. 818-485-0600; 818-756-8409; 818-352-3287. Details: monicarodriguez.org/events/2nd-annual-independence-day-drone-light-show-festival

July 2-4

Hollywood

July 4th Fireworks Spectacular at the Hollywood Bowl: The Beach Boys perform, with Thomas Wilkins conducting the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, and with special guest John Stamos, 7:30 p.m. July 2-4. Gates open, 5:30 p.m. Tickets $39 and up. 2301 N. Highland Ave. 323-850-2000. www.hollywoodbowl.com

See: Has misuse taken the spark out of fireworks in California?

July 3

Duarte

City of Duarte Independence Day Celebration and Fireworks: Live music by the band Chico, family play area, food trucks and vendor booths, 6 p.m. Fireworks, 9 p.m. Gates open, 5:30 p.m. Free; also, $100 VIP admission (reserved picnic table and chairs for six people; near the stage and a swag bag; to purchase, click on the tab on the website). Duarte Sports Park, 1401 Central Ave. 626-357-7931. www.accessduarte.com/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/6345/16?curdate=5-6-2023&curm=7&cury=2023

La Mirada

City of La Mirada’s Independence Celebration: The event includes entertainment, games and activities and food and drinks (for purchase), 4 p.m. Fireworks, 9 p.m. Check the website for parking information. La Mirada Regional Park, 13701 Adelfa Drive. 562-943-7277. www.cityoflamirada.org/departments/community-services/special-events/independence-celebration

La Puente

Celebrate Independence Day: The La Puente Community Foundation presents the event that includes crafts, games, a family-friendly beer and wine garden, 4-9 p.m. Fireworks, 9 p.m. La Puente Park, baseball fields, 501 Glendora Ave. 626-774-4293. lapuente.org/beer-and-wine-garden. See the June 16 post, www.facebook.com/cityoflapuente

Long Beach

Big Bang on the Bay: The Boathouse on the Bay holds the event with options for dining, 5:30 p.m. Fireworks show, 9 p.m. Check-in for Block Party tickets, 5 p.m. “Block Party” event tickets, $75; $30 ages 9 and younger (Naples Rib Co. dinner served buffet style; outdoors; first come, first seated; no access to the restaurant. The block party has two bars with beer, wine and cocktails). Boathouse dining tickets, $120 indoors; $150 patio (catered dinner by Naples Rib Co.). Proceeds benefit local charities (see the website for details). Location, 190 N. Marina Drive. 562-493-1100. Details and purchase tickets here: boathouseonthebay.com/big-bang/

Lynwood

City of Lynwood Independence Day Fireworks Show!: The event includes entertainment, lawn games, bounce houses, food trucks and vendors, 5 p.m. Lynwood City Park, 11301 Bullis Road. 310-603-0220, Ext. 319. www.lynwoodca.gov. See flyer posted on June 22, www.facebook.com/mylynwood.ca

Moorpark

Third of July Fireworks Extravaganza: Gates open and activities and games begin, 4 p.m. Concerts at 5 (the band Radio Royalty) and at 7:30 p.m. (Electric Vinyl). Flag presentation, 7 p.m. Fireworks, 9 p.m. Bring a blanket or low-back lawn chair and picnic dinner. Food court. Admission, $8, in advance (free for babies under one year); $10 at the door (cash only). Limited parking at the park; $5 for parking (must be purchased in advance and also, everyone in vehicle must have tickets purchased in advance). Arroyo Vista Community Park, 4550 Tierra Rejada Road. 805-517-6300. Details about the event, rules to follow and parking here: bit.ly/2TB41Ar

See: 2023 fireworks buying guide: Which state-approved pyrotechnics are worth the price?

Stevenson Ranch

Third of July Fireworks Show: Park opens, 6 p.m. Fireworks, around 9 p.m. Dr. Richard Rioux Memorial Park, 26233 W. Faulkner Drive. stevensonranch91381.com/event/3rd-of-july-fireworks-show/

July 4

Artesia

City of Artesia 4th of July Celebration: The event includes family games, 4 p.m., music by Amor Prohibido, a Selena tribute band, 6 p.m. and the fireworks show, 9 p.m. Artesia Park, 18750 Clarkdale Ave. Flyer on Facebook, www.facebook.com/officialcityofartesia. www.cityofartesia.us/Calendar.aspx?EID=1092

Burbank

Starlight Bowl: A concert with Hollywood U2 and the Rising, a Bruce Springsteen tribute band, 6:30 p.m. Tickets: lower area, $28; upper area, $23 (grass area and box seats sold out). Parking $10 (cash only). Parking lot opens, 4:30 p.m. Gates open, 5:30 p.m. Location, 1249 Lockheed View Drive. 818-238-5300. www.starlightbowl.com. Details and to purchase tickets in advance here: starlightbowl.com/events/the-rising

Calabasas

City of Calabasas 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular: Gates open, 5 p.m.; Family Fun Zone with arts and crafts, a DJ, games, stilt walkers, 5-8:30 p.m.; concert and dance party with the Suffragettes, 7:15 p.m.; fireworks, 9 p.m. Bring your own blanket or low-back chair. Limited stand seating and temporary chairs on a first come-first seated basis. Bring your own picnic/snacks or purchase items from food trucks. Admission $12 in advance (no ticket sales at the door). Check website for parking suggestions, prohibited items including no alcohol, no glass bottles and no seeds; and other rules. Calabasas High School, football field, 22855 Mulholland Highway. 818-880-6461. www.cityofcalabasas.com. www.cityofcalabasas.com/government/community-services-parks-recreation/special-events

Camarillo

City of Camarillo Fourth of July Fireworks Show: Fireworks, 9 p.m. (listen to musical soundtrack on KBBY-95.1 or online at 951kbby.com; 30-second delay for streaming). Free admission. Watch from parking lots at Camarillo Premium Outlets (740 E. Ventura Blvd.) or surrounding area. Parking is first come, first served. www.ci.camarillo.ca.us/news_detail_T2_R163.php. cityofcamarillo.org/fireworks

Claremont

City of Claremont Fourth of July Celebration – Happy and Free in 2023!: Concert by Upstream, 6:45-8:45 p.m., followed by fireworks show, 9 p.m. Gates open, 6:30 p.m. Admission $10 pre-sale (and at the gate if available). Purchase admission in advance at Alexander Hughes Community Center (1700 Danbury Road); Claremont City Hall (207 Harvard Ave.); Vons (550 Baseline Road). Pomona College, Strehle Track (check the map for parking: bit.ly/3CwQJbz). Details: bit.ly/3zx0eoa

El Segundo

El Segundo’s the 4th of July at Recreation Park: Daytime events include contests, games, races, arts and crafts vendors, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Nighttime events include live music, food booths and fireworks, 5-9 p.m. Fireworks, 9 p.m. Bring a blanket for seating. Admission is by wristband (four free wristbands per adult with an updated 2023 Rec ID Card for residents of El Segundo; $5 for non-residents and available for purchase at the Clubhouse and Checkout Building in Recreation Park through July 3; $5 at the door; see details and the requirements needed for the recreation ID card here: bit.ly/3bk4JL9). Recreation Park, 401 Sheldon St. City of El Segundo Recreation and Parks, 310-524-2700. Details on the events here: www.elsegundorecparks.org/programs-services/special-events/4th-of-july

Huntington Beach

Fourth of July Fireworks: 9 p.m. Tickets for reserved pier seating $30; VIP seating $45 (purchase in advance on the website). Huntington Beach Pier, 325 Pacific Coast Highway. huntingtonbeachca.gov/residents/fourth-of-july-info. Tickets: www.hb4thofjuly.org/fireworks

La Crescenta

A Star Spangled Fourth of July Fireworks Celebration – Crescenta Valley Fireworks Association: The 16th event includes music by the Mary Dyer band and food trucks. Limited bleacher seating. Bring a blanket or chairs for seating (no stakes allowed). Water-only on the football field. Gates open, 4 p.m. Fireworks show, 9 p.m. Tickets in advance $9; $10 at the gate. Check the Facebook posting for locations to purchase tickets in advance. Spectators will also be able to watch from areas around Crescenta Valley High School, 2900 Community Ave. Entrance to the field, in the 4200 block of Ramsdell Avenue. 818-275-4959. www.cvfireworks.com/event. Details and updates: www.facebook.com/CrescentaValleyFireworks/

Lancaster

Fourth of July Extravaganza: The City of Lancaster present the event that includes a free-style motocross show, family activities and food vendors, 5-10 p.m. Antelope Valley Fair and Event Center, 2551 W. Ave., H. avfair.com/event/4th-of-july-fireworks-extravaganza. www.cityoflancasterca.org

See: These 60 Southern California cities permit state-approved fireworks

Long Beach

Fourth of July Fireworks at the Waterfront: City of Long Beach presents the event, 9 p.m. with fireworks launched from Queensway Bay. Viewing areas on the downtown waterfront include Marina Green, Rainbow Harbor, Lions Lighthouse for Sight and Shoreline Village. Also, Harbor Breeze Cruises offers ticketed cruises for viewing (562-432-4900; 2seewhales.com/long-beach-whale-watching). Queensway Bay and Rainbow Harbor. www.visitlongbeach.com/blog/4th-of-july-in-long-beach

Los Angeles

Gloria Molina Grand Park’s 4th of July Block Party: The event includes interactive, multi-media art works, music on two stages with DJs and singers, dancing and food vendors, 4-9:30 p.m. Drone light show over the Music Center Plaza. Location, 200 N. Grand Ave. 213-972-8080. grandparkla.org/event/grand-parks-fourth-of-july-block-party. www.facebook.com/grandparklosangeles/posts/658467802990002

LA Dodgers vs Pittsburgh Pirates: Game, 6:10 p.m., followed by a fireworks show. Tickets $33 and up. Prepaid parking $25 and up. Dodger Stadium, 1000 Vin Scully Ave. www.mlb.com/dodgers/tickets/single-game-tickets

Marina del Rey

Marina del Rey’s Fourth of July Fireworks: The fireworks display will be launched from a barge off of the Marina’s south jetty, 9 p.m. Viewing areas include Burton Chace Park, 13650 Mindanao Way and Fisherman’s Village, 13755 Fiji Way (synchronized musi

In-N-Out co-founder will have new film school named after her at Biola University

Fri, 02 Jun 2023 14:12:58 +0000

LA MIRADA — Biola University’s film school will be named after a co-founder of In-N-Out, the college said this week, after an unspecified but “significant” contribution after the burger chain, which was founded in Baldwin Park.

According to Biola, the gift on behalf of Esther L. Snyder is the largest in the school’s 115-year history, and it will help fund a $92 million, 52,100-square-foot film school studio facility and establish the In-N-Out Burger Scholars Fund to support educational opportunities for foster and at-risk youth.

Esther Snyder, with her husband Harry, founded In-N-Out in Baldwin Park in 1948. She died in 2006, but left a long legacy of giving, according to the company, which is now headquartered in Irvine.

The film school will be dubbed the Snyder School of Cinema and Media Arts.

“This naming of the Snyder School and the inspirational vision of Mrs. Esther Snyder will be a testimony to students and alumni for generations that humility in leadership, Christ-like love of others, entrepreneurial tenacity and upright business principles are virtues worth living,” Biola President Barry H. Corey said in a statement.

The new film studio will include a soundstage with additional edit suites, production offices, motion capture, Foley and scoring stages, mixing rooms, color correction lab, classrooms, faculty and staff offices and a full theater, according to the university.

Biola plans to break ground on the project in October, aligning with In-N-Out’s 75th anniversary.

“Our family values the distinctly Christian education Biola University offers and are honored to play a part in continuing to offer students opportunities to make really impactful film pieces that change people’s lives,” Lynsi Snyder-Ellingson, granddaughter of Esther L. Snyder and owner/president of In-N-Out Burger, said in a statement released by the university. “God is a huge part of the In-N-Out story, and I have no doubt my grandmother would be grateful to know her name is associated with a school recognized for excellence in craft and character.”

City News Service contributed to this report.

Editor’s Note: This story was updated to note that the company’s current headquarters are in Irvine.

Pro-housing group sues 3 cities for failing to adopt 2029 housing plans

Wed, 28 Sep 2022 16:07:39 +0000

A Realtor-backed pro-housing group sued three Southern California cities, accusing them of failing to comply with state laws requiring a new housing plan for the next seven years.

Californians for Homeownership filed lawsuits earlier this month against Fullerton, La Mirada and Claremont, asking the courts to compel them to adopt state-approved housing plans that were due October 2021.

It’s the second round of lawsuits by the Los Angeles-based nonprofit, which is sponsored by the California Association of Realtors.

In April, the housing group sued six other cities for flawed plans and failing to move quickly enough in getting their plans approved. Three of those lawsuits have been settled, the housing group said.

“Our goal is just to get these cities to make progress,” said Matthew Gelfand, attorney for the group.

State law requires California municipalities to revise the “housing element” of their general plans once every five to eight years to ensure adequate land is zoned for low- and moderate-income housing as well as market-rate housing.

Local governments in the six-county Southern California Association of Governments region were supposed to have their plans approved a year ago for an eight-year “planning cycle” ending October 2029.

Municipalities failing to meet last October’s deadline are subject to numerous sanctions, including “third party” lawsuits by groups like Californians For Homeownership.

Other possible sanctions include loss of control over local planning decisions, loss of state funding for parks, homeless shelters and affordable housing programs and, ultimately, hefty fines.

Already, four-fifths of SCAG’s cities and counties are out of compliance with the law. State housing officials said just 40 of the region’s 197 municipalities have approved housing elements.

Under a state law passed in June, the remaining 154 cities and three counties must complete the approval process by Oct. 15 to win more time to rezone land for additional housing and avoid possible state sanctions.

Claremont, Fullerton and La Mirada were sued because they’re making little progress and are unlikely to adopt valid housing elements within the next six to 12 months “without being forced to do so through litigation,” a statement from the housing group said.

The cities could have delayed litigation merely by acknowledging some of the state penalties they face, Gelfand said. They declined to do so.

“Our goal is to create reasonable pressure so developers can rely on these plans during this cycle,” Gelfand said. “We’re a year in at this point.”

Fullerton City Manager Eric Levitt said his government has struggled with staffing issues — including the recent loss of his predecessor and the previous planning manager. The city also had to find a new housing element consultant following the departure of a previous consultant.

“Since I’ve been on board, we’ve been moving as fast as possible to address this,” Levitt said. “Our motive is to get into compliance, and we’re doing everything we can to do that.”

With the Bay Area now approaching its deadline to draft new housing plans, it’s getting harder for cities to hire consultants for help drafting new housing elements, Levitt said.

Claremont is having similar problems, Brad Johnson, Claremont’s development director, said in a statement earlier this month.

“For a variety of reasons, these consultants are experiencing very high demand, which has resulted in slower than anticipated progress on Claremont’s housing element update,” Johnson said.

In April, Californians for Homeownership sued the cities of Bradbury, La Habra Heights, Manhattan Beach, Vernon, South Pasadena and Laguna Hills.

Bradbury, Laguna Hills and South Pasadena settled those lawsuits by committing to specific timelines for adopting their housing elements and making suggested changes to their plans. They also agreed to pay the housing group’s legal fees.

South Pasadena, for example, committed to removing a number of parcels from its plan where housing is unlikely to get built before 2030, the housing group said. The city also agreed to seek a change to its voter-established height limit, which makes it difficult to develop multifamily housing in the city.

— SCNG staff writer Javier Rojas contributed to this report.

North 5 Freeway closing in La Mirada for upgrade work

Fri, 24 Jun 2022 20:36:17 +0000

LA MIRADA — Authorities announced plans Friday to partially close a section of the northbound 5 Freeway in the La Mirada area beginning on Monday for roadway upgrades.

The closures will allow crews to re-stripe and shift traffic lanes, said Marc Bischoff of Caltrans.

The schedule, which is subject to change, is as follows:

— From 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday and Tuesday, all lanes of northbound 5 Freeway will be closed from Artesia Boulevard to Carmenita Road

— During those times, the westbound state Route 91 connector to the northbound 5 will also be closed

— Lanes will reopen each morning

Beginning at 5 a.m. Tuesday, there will be four lanes of traffic all the way from the Orange County line to the 605 Freeway, including a carpool lane. The new Valley View Avenue loop off-ramp from the northbound 5 will also open. The old northbound Valley View Avenue off-ramp will close for demolition.

And beginning at 5 a.m. Wednesday, there will be five lanes of traffic all the way from the Orange County line to the 605, including a carpool lane.

Updates will be posted at twitter.com/CaltransDist7, or at twitter.com/My5LA.

Father’s Day: Powerlifting strengthens bond between dad and daughter

Fri, 17 Jun 2022 10:53:31 +0000

Always there.

That’s how Wil Shelton describes his dad.

Willie Shelton Sr. was a father who personified perseverance and steadiness.

A postal worker on the graveyard shift who retired after more than 50 years of service. A role model in the Cerritos home where Shelton’s parents, now divorced, raised five children together in a solid Black American household that adhered to Christian values.

“He always walked upright,” Shelton says of his father, who now lives in Bellflower. “It’s not that he told us what to do and then did something different. What he told us to do, he lived it.”

Shelton’s father was a fan of boxing and track and field and shared that love and his knowledge of the discipline required to succeed with his namesake, who participated in both activities during high school. Shelton soaked up that wisdom for what he envisioned as his future.

“I always believed I would become a dad,” Shelton said. “I tried to live my life like I would be a dad one day.”

Wil Shelton, 53, ranked second in the nation in his weightlifting division, and his daughter, Marina Shelton, 28, ranked first, work out at their Anaheim gym, Exceed Performance, in May. They are preparing for the June national championships in Las Vegas. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Wil Shelton, 53, ranked second in the nation in his weightlifting division, and his daughter, Marina Shelton, 28, ranked first in her division, will be heading to Las Vegas for the June national championships. They are pictured in their Anaheim gym, Exceed Performance on Monday, May 9, 2022. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Wil Shelton, 53, is ranked second in the nation for powerlifting. On Sunday, April 10, 2022, he took first place in the USAPL qualifying meet in Irvine, lifting 360 pounds. He’s now on his way to Las Vegas for the nationals. (Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Wil Shelton, 53, is ranked second in the nation for powerlifting. On Sunday, April 10, 2022, he took first place in the USAPL qualifying meet in Irvine, lifting 360 pounds. He’s now on his way to Las Vegas for the nationals. (Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Wil Shelton, 53, is ranked second in the nation for powerlifting. On Sunday, April 10, 2022, he took first place in the USAPL qualifying meet in Irvine, lifting 360 pounds. He’s now on his way to Las Vegas for the nationals. (Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Wil Shelton, 53, and his daughter, Marina Shelton, 28, ranked second and first in the nation, respectively, for powerlifting, will be heading to Las Vegas for the finals in June. “I lift weights but weights lift me, too,” he philosophized about the sport on Sunday, April 10, 2022. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Wil Shelton, 53, ranked second in the nation in his weightlifting division, and his daughter, Marina Shelton, 28, ranked first in her division, will be heading to Las Vegas for the June national championships. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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With his own three children, the grown-up Shelton dedicated himself to his father’s love of sports and his example of being there and being persistent. He mentored his children in the athletic activities of Southern California youth – soccer, baseball, softball, basketball, track and field.

But as an avid weightlifter since his early teens, Shelton has taken his fatherhood role with his middle child – daughter Marina Shelton – up a notch. At the age of 53, he helps to train Marina, 28, in powerlifting.

Shelton also competes alongside his daughter, most recently in the 2022 USA Powerlifting Mega Nationals held in Las Vegas last weekend.

Powerlifting might seem an unusual platform for a close father-daughter relationship. For the Sheltons, it comes naturally.

They revel in each other’s performance.

Wil Shelton was there for primetime on June 11 to witness his daughter achieve the goals she set: She finished among the top three in the 198-pound weight class for women. Along the way, she bested her personal record by reaching a total of 1,218 pounds with her three lifts.

Marina Shelton also earned her professional powerlifter card, which means invitations to meets that come with the chance to win cash and other prizes. (That’s something she could use, still living at home while paying off grad school loans.)

Witnessing what he called his daughter’s “greatness” at the end of her more-than-three-hour competition, Shelton said he felt inspired.

He had also been inspiring himself earlier in the long day: Shelton won the bench press national title in the Raw Master’s division, competing against other men 50 and up in the 198-pound weight class.

He broke his own personal record lifting 375 pounds.

But in text messages, he seemed more excited for his daughter than for himself. She pushed herself to her limits, attempting 518 pounds on her third and last deadlift. She couldn’t do it, but walked away having lifted 496 pounds.

“It was the way she tapped into her reservoir of character that really made her a true winner in my eyes,” Shelton said.

In other words, she tried her best – something Shelton preached to his children as they grew up and continues to do for them and multitudes of other people in both their professional and personal lives.

A supportive voice

The Shelton family will be celebrating the Las Vegas weightlifting results at home in La Mirada this Father’s Day, along with marking the birthday of Shelton’s oldest daughter, who is pregnant with his second grandchild.

This is the first year that Wil and Marina Shelton have competed at the same events, starting with a Southern California meet in Irvine back in April.

The rest of the time, they encourage each other when working out in the garage they converted into a gym and from the stands at powerlifting meets. Shelton’s wife, Carla, a cheerleader in high school, is also supportive.

Powerlifting differs from the weightlifting competitions most people might be familiar with from the Olympic games, where lifters are on their feet to hoist weights overhead in moves known as the snatch and the clean and jerk. Powerlifting involves three lifts: bench press, squat and deadlift.

Wil Shelton watches his daughter with quiet confidence when she competes. Still, Marina, a speech therapist finishing up her clinical fellow year at Torrance Memorial Medical Center, said she hears her father’s voice in her head.

She even recorded him during a training session to play back his encouraging words as part of her mental preparation.

What’s her dad saying? This: “It may seem hard now, but you don’t want to be crying or upset if you miss a big lift like that on the platform when it really matters.”

To Marina Shelton, that embodies who her dad is and always has been. And who he expects his children to be – to see challenges as growth opportunities.

“He has this certain intensity to him that is just ‘I’m going to go out there and do it. I’m going to go get it.’ Not exactly being the best, but being your best self.”

Motivation to support

Shelton’s two girls and only son each started in sports at the age of 4. As teens, all set track and field records at Cerritos High, their dad’s alma mater.

Shelton says his own weightlifting record from his senior year in 1986 is still memorialized in the school gym. A skinny youth, Shelton became fascinated with weightlifting in pursuit of become more muscular.

He boxed and participated in track and field – his father’s two loves – but a weight training class in his freshman year, and an article on then-star football running back Herschel Walker’s regimen of 100 to 200 pushups a day, set the tone for the rest of Shelton’s life. He still has the calendar he marked daily, starting Nov. 20, 1982, to reach a goal set by a PE teacher to bench press his weight of 120 pounds. Shelton exceeded the goal, lifting 145 pounds and earning an A in the class.

“That was something that really motivated me to keep going.”

By the end of his freshman year, he could bench press 190 pounds. A self-described “shy kid,” the feat earned him attention. And, he added, it also helped make him a better break dancer.

From then on, Shelton embraced the mentality that “the impossible is possible.”

As an entrepreneur, he’s made a name for himself in the world of Black-owned barbershops and hair salons. A licensed cosmetologist, he ran a salon for 10 years and now advises a national network of Black barbershops and salons.

The founder, president and chief executive officer of Wil Power Integrated Marketing, he also is a marketing consultant to global branding and entertainment entities in gaining the loyalties of Black consumers.

He’s coached companies and corporations on diversity and inclusion, and sat for interviews with magazines, newspapers and podcasts.

Cultural relevance is important to those businesses and to Shelton. But so is respect. He’s working on a documentary he hopes to have out around Black History Month in 2023, one that looks at the history and important role that barbershops and hair salons have and continue to play in the Black community.

He also supports enactment of the proposed CROWN Act of 2022, an acronym for Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair. Shelton recently traveled to Washington, D.C., to interview the women behind the effort for national legislation to prohibit discrimination based on hair texture or hairstyle owing to race or national origin. More than 15 states, lead by California in 2019, and dozens of municipalities have enacted such laws in recent years following highly publicized incidents of discrimination, particularly involving Black students.

As a father, a powerlifter, consultant and motivational speaker, Shelton is always looking for ways to inspire someone.

He hopes the work he does in the gym will also ignite a deeper purpose in younger people around him. His mantra: Put in the dedication and devotion and that can shape successful efforts in other areas of your life.

But he also stressed compassion when raising his children. Their professional lives reflect that: Marina’s in speech pathology; Kiara, 31, is a healthcare administrator; and Ryan, 26, working for the city of Long Beach, is helping formerly incarcerated people find jobs and re-enter society.

Marina Shelton often works with stroke victims. Seeing them recover the ability to communicate is as much a victory for her as her prowess in powerlifting.

“To help someone regain speech, to be able to vocalize their basic wants and needs,” she said, “is really special.”

Successful motivation

Shelton describes himself as a “protective and passionate” dad. He wasn’t one of those parents who yell at their kids or the referees from the stands, he said. He’d do his best to make sure they had prepared, then the rest was up to them.

“I always tried to help my kids live out their dreams and become what they were wired to do and born to do,” he said.

Like her siblings, Marina Shelton began tagging along to a 24-Hour Fitness near home at 12, the legal age to get a gym membership. She would follow her dad around the gym and do what he did.

“Thinking about it now,” she said, “it was kind of cool. I didn’t have any other friends going to the gym at 12, especially with their dads.”

Those gym days helped build the foundation for her present work ethic, her fitness regimen and her general health.

She was a natural athlete, but her dad influenced her to gravitate toward strength sports. He encouraged her to try shot put in high school, saying she was built for it. She responded like the teenager she was at the time.

“I was like, ‘Whatever.’”

But Wil Shelton knew what he was talking about: Marina set girls shot put and discus records at Cerritos High.

Later, as a freshman track and field walk-on at Cal State Long Beach, she earned a full scholarship for her last three college years. She competed in shot put, discus, hammer throw and indoor weight throw.

Both her parents were always there for her meets, whether that meant traveling up north, south to Texas or east to Kansas.

Her dad, she recalled, “was always motivating me to be better than I am.”

Marina turned out to be the only one of the Shelton siblings to pursue powerlifting as a sport. She gravitated to it about four years ago, in the footsteps of her dad, and is among a growing number of women competitors.

During a livestream of the USA Powerlifting Mega Nationals, one of the commentators declared the 5’4″ and 194- pound Marina Shelton “an absolute beast” at lifting weights – high praise in sports vernacular.

“What I do is cool,” said Wil Shelton, who jumped back into competitive powerlifting in 2013. “But what she does is way cooler than me.”

It takes a lot of dedication. Marina Shelton trains four days a week, a couple of hours a day, around her work schedule – one day in the garage at home and the rest at a powerlifting gym in Anaheim. Other times, she’s working on cardio.

Both training and competing in powerlifting have brought her closer to her dad.

As she has done in the past for Father’s Day, she plans on givi

Election 2022: In 30th state Senate race, incumbent Democrat, Republican headed to November runoff

Wed, 08 Jun 2022 12:10:42 +0000

Incumbent Democrat Bob Archuleta of Pico Rivera and Republican Mitch Clemmons, a plumbing contractor and business owner, will be going to a November runoff in the 30th state Senate primary.

They led two Democrats in the semi-final count released Wednesday, June 8. Archuleta and Clemmons each had 36% of the vote or 22,466 and 22,321 votes, resepectively.

Democrat Martha Camacho-Rodriguez, who held a seat on Cerritos College board before her current role as a member of the Central Basin Municipal Water District Board of Directors, had 9,168 or nearly 15% of the vote.

Democrat Henry Bouchot, who chose earlier this year not to run for reelection for Whittier City Council, has 7,963 votes or nearly 13% of the vote.

Complete election coverage here

Archulta said he is excited about the results.

“The community has come together,” he said, referring to reapportionment. The new 30th combines the 32 and 29th. We have a lot of differences but we still have the same need of service and representation. They realized it would be a good idea to keep me.”

For Archuleta, having a crowded race against local officials is nothing new. He won four years ago against a field of nine including six former or current elected officials.

Though recent redistricting led to a change in ID number, the boundaries of the area currently represented by Archuleta (SD-32) are largely the same for the newly drawn SD-30. Still, the new district is slightly less blue, since its boundaries now extend east to pick up a lot of Walnut and Diamond Bar and it swapped out Buena Park for Brea. Registered Democrats in the new SD-30 now hold a 28-point advantage over registered Republicans.

The hottest issue in the race dates back to March 2021, when an unnamed former staffer filed a lawsuit in which she accused Archuleta of sexual harassment, including claims of unwanted advances.

The suit also alleges Archuleta retaliated against the employee for raising concerns and had violated other labor laws, leading her to resign after 14 years working in politics.

Archuleta, in a statement, described the claims in the suit as “categorically false.”

He said he would never knowingly mistreat or disrespect a female employee and believes in their absolute right to come forward and be heard if and when they believe that standard has been violated.

A hearing in the case is scheduled for Aug. 3.

Archuleta and Bouchot have spent lots of money.

Archuleta has spent nearly $700,000, while Bouchot has spent more than $400,000, The other two didn’t file electronically.

Archuleta is unfazed. He says he wants a second term so he can continue to tackle issues such as homelessness and housing, and to help veterans and address climate change.

Bouchot and Archuleta agree on a number of key issues, Bouchot cited some policy positions a bit further to the left than Archuleta. That includes his call for “much more aggressive” government policies to tackle climate change, while Archuleta supports “slightly more aggressive” policies.

Addressing water contamination would be a key focus of Rodriguez’s time in the state Senate. She’s also active around housing issues, equity, and mass transit.

Clemmons’ campaign slogan is “serving God, serving people.”

Clemmons is campaigning on aims to make neighborhoods safer, help reduce inflation and taxes, restore good education and protect the unborn.

He’s the sole SD-30 candidate who opposes abortion rights and would vote against the legality of gay marriage if it came before the legislature.

U.S. Secretary of Education visits El Rancho High, Rio Hondo College

Tue, 29 Mar 2022 20:22:45 +0000

U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona and Rep. Linda Sanchez visited Rio Hondo College and then one of its many feeder schools, El Rancho High School, on Tuesday, March 29.

Tony Thurmond, California’s superintendent of public instruction, was also present at El Rancho.

Cardona and Sanchez, D-Norwalk, met with Río Hondo College Superintendent/President Teresa Dreyfuss, Director of Student Life and Leadership Shaina Phillips, and students from the HOPE Scholars Program at Rio Hondo and toured El Rancho calculus and robotic classes.

Sophomore Antonio Moreno gets tested for Covid-19 at the El Rancho High School gymnasium before a visit and tour of the campus from Rep. Linda T. Sanchez and U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Sanchez in Pico Rivera, on Tuesday, March 29, 2022. (Photo by Alex Gallardo, Contributing Photographer)
Workers prepare test kits for Covid-19 at the El Rancho High School gymnasium before a visit and tour of the campus from Rep. Linda T. Sanchez and U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Sanchez in Pico Rivera, on Tuesday, March 29, 2022. (Photo by Alex Gallardo, Contributing Photographer)
Sophomore Antonio Moreno gets tested for Covid-19 at the El Rancho High School gymnasium before a visit and tour of the campus from Rep. Linda T. Sanchez and U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Sanchez in Pico Rivera, on Tuesday, March 29, 2022. (Photo by Alex Gallardo, Contributing Photographer)
Freshman Julian Acero gets tested for Covid-19 at the El Rancho High School gymnasium before a visit and tour of the campus from Rep. Linda T. Sanchez and U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Sanchez in Pico Rivera, on Tuesday, March 29, 2022. (Photo by Alex Gallardo, Contributing Photographer)
U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Sanchez, center, Rep. Linda T. Sanchez, left, and Principal Kendall Goyenaga, right, visit El Rancho High School, as the band plays on during a tour of the campus in Pico Rivera, on Tuesday, March 29, 2022. (Photo by Alex Gallardo, Contributing Photographer)
Rep. Linda T. Sanchez, center left, and U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Sanchez, center right, visit El Rancho High School, as the school band plays on during a tour of the campus in Pico Rivera, on Tuesday, March 29, 2022. (Photo by Alex Gallardo, Contributing Photographer)
U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Sanchez, center, greets the El Rancho High School mascot, as the band plays on during a tour of the campus in Pico Rivera, on Tuesday, March 29, 2022. (Photo by Alex Gallardo, Contributing Photographer)
U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Sanchez, left, speaks at El Rancho High School, with Rep. Linda T. Sanchez during a briefing about students recovery from the pandemic and to connect them with high-quality opportunities in Pico Rivera, on Tuesday, March 29, 2022. (Photo by Alex Gallardo, Contributing Photographer)
U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Sanchez, center, greets the El Rancho High School mascot, as the band plays on during a tour of the campus in Pico Rivera, on Tuesday, March 29, 2022. (Photo by Alex Gallardo, Contributing Photographer)
U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Sanchez, center, speaks with El Rancho High School robotics students during a visit of the campus on a tour, and a briefing about students recovery from the pandemic, and to connect them with high-quality opportunities in Pico Rivera, on Tuesday, March 29, 2022. (Photo by Alex Gallardo, Contributing Photographer)
Rep. Linda T. Sanchez, above left, visits with El Rancho High Students robotics class with California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, right, and U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Sanchez, second from right, during a tour of the campus in Pico Rivera, on Tuesday, March 29, 2022. (Photo by Alex Gallardo, Contributing Photographer)
U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Sanchez, center, speaks at El Rancho High School, with Rep. Linda T. Sanchez, right, and California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, left, during a briefing about students recovery from the pandemic and to connect them with high-quality opportunities in Pico Rivera, on Tuesday, March 29, 2022. (Photo by Alex Gallardo, Contributing Photographer)
Rep. Linda T. Sanchez, right, works the controls of a robot during a visit and tour of a robotics class at El Rancho High School with U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Sanchez, second from right, in Pico Rivera, on Tuesday, March 29, 2022. (Photo by Alex Gallardo, Contributing Photographer)
California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, left, speaks at El Rancho High School, with U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Sanchez and Rep. Linda T. Sanchez, right, during a briefing about students recovery from the pandemic and to connect them with high-quality opportunities in Pico Rivera, on Tuesday, March 29, 2022. (Photo by Alex Gallardo, Contributing Photographer)
U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Sanchez, center, tours El Rancho High School, with Rep. Linda T. Sanchez, left, and California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, second from right, and Principal Kendall Goyenaga, right, to see a Covid-19 testing site on the campus, visit classrooms and to talk about students recovery from the pandemic and to connect them with high-quality opportunities in Pico Rivera, on Tuesday, March 29, 2022. (Photo by Alex Gallardo, Contributing Photographer)
U

One Dead, Three Injured Following Two-Car Collision In La Mirada

Mon, 14 Mar 2022 04:20:24 +0000

LA MIRADA (CBSLA) — A two-car collision in La Mirada resulted in one casualty Sunday evening.

Three others were injured and transported to trauma centers to treat injuries sustained in a crash that saw a BMW SUV collide with another vehicle.

According to an incident report, the BMW t-boned the other vehicle just prior to 6:40 p.m. at the intersection of La Mirada Boulevard and Santa Gertrudes Avenue. Two people were said to be trapped inside of one of the two vehicles, though it wasn’t immediately clear which of the two it was.

Firefighters used hydraulic extrication tools to remove the two passengers, one of which was pronounced dead at the scene.

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputies were on scene, as well as Los Angeles County Fire Department crews.

This is a developing story. Check back for details.

8 insider tips for ordering wine at restaurants

Wed, 09 Feb 2022 15:55:16 +0000

Your friends just handed you the wine list and you’re desperately looking for something everyone will like … That cabernet! Check the price and it’s sticker shock. The bottle you paid $20 for in the grocery store is 60 bucks.

Wine always costs more in restaurants than in grocery and liquor stores, William Lewis, managing partner and sommelier of The Winery Restaurant & Wine Bar, explains why and gives tips for getting the best deals. (Courtesy of The Winery)
Wine always costs more in restaurants than in grocery and liquor stores, Eric Stenta, vice president of operations at Polly’s Inc., explains why and gives tips for getting the best deals. (Courtesy of Polly’s Pies)
Wine always costs more in restaurants than in grocery and liquor stores, Eric Stenta, vice president of operations at Polly’s Inc., explains why and gives tips for getting the best deals. Seen here, a selection of wines served at Polly’s. (Courtesy of Polly’s Pies)
Wine always costs more in restaurants than in grocery and liquor stores, Eric Stenta, vice president of operations at Polly’s Inc., explains why and gives tips for getting the best deals. Seen here, wines are served in stemless glasses at Polly’s. (Courtesy of Polly’s Pies)
Wine always costs more in restaurants than in grocery and liquor stores, Chef Mark McDonald explains why and gives tips for getting the best deals. Owner and Chef Mark McDonald of Old Vine Cafe in Costa Mesa, on Wednesday, March 8, 2017. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Wine always costs more in restaurants than in grocery and liquor stores, Mission Inn restaurant manager Tony Maalouf explains why and gives tips for getting the best deals. Visitors walk through the holiday decorations during the annual Mission Inn Hotel & Spa Festival of Lights celebration in downtown Riverside on Monday, Dec. 6, 2021. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Wine always costs more in restaurants than in grocery and liquor stores, Laura Ratner, director of service and training at Lawry’s Restaurants, explains why and gives tips for getting the best deals. Seen here, wine is poured at a Lawry’s restaurant. (Courtesy of Lawry’s Restaurants, Inc.)
Chef Mark McDonald matches each dish to a wine on the list. Seen here, seared octopus, sour dough sand, celery, citrus, parsley infused extra virgin olive oil, Chef Mark McDonald of Old Vine Cafe in Costa Mesa, on Wednesday, March 8, 2017. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Wine always costs more in restaurants than in grocery and liquor stores, Laura Ratner, director of service and training at Lawry’s Restaurants, explains why and gives tips for getting the best deals. (Courtesy of Laura Ratner)

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Are restaurants ripping us off? What are we paying for? Sommelier’s salaries? High fees to cellar bottles outside the restaurant? Maintaining fancy glassware?

Bottles always cost more in dining rooms — they’re typically marked up 2 to 3 times wholesale, sometimes more. But restaurateurs say higher wine prices and corkage fees are essential, especially in these times of rising costs for meat, seafood and other items, many of which have grown 30-40% since the pandemic. Wake up and sniff the vino: Food gets sold at very slim margins and restaurants count on alcohol sales to survive.

So, here’s a list of insider info on why wines get marked up and how to get the best deals when ordering.

1. The highest priced bottles have the lowest markups.

If you dig in your heels, determined not to pay more than $25 for a bottle of wine, you might be missing a great deal, says Mark McDonald, chef and co-owner of Old Vine Kitchen + Bar in Costa Mesa with Kate Perry. “Sometimes it can take a year or more to sell 12 bottles of $150 wine,” he said. “Typically if I did a standard markup on that it wouldn’t be approachable and it would be harder to sell. We want people to experience some of these wines that are a little more special, and that are a higher price point. So we take less of a margin on those.”

2. Wine by the glass has the highest markups.

The “I’m going to save money by ordering wine by the glass” plan doesn’t really pencil out. There’s a common formula in the industry with a restaurant charging the wholesale price of the bottle plus $2 for a glass of wine. (That’s because if they serve one glass and the rest of the bottle doesn’t sell in a week, it will not taste peak and they’ll have to dump it down the drain.) The per-glass price of a bottle that’s $10 wholesale would be $12. Even if it’s only marked up double ($20) when it’s sold by the bottle, you buy two glasses of wine, and you’re spending $24. Might as well buy the bottle and get four glasses for $20.

Lawry’s Restaurants solved that problem by narrowing down its by the glass selection. “We did some analysis on it. If you have the right amount of wine by the glass for the restaurant, it really doesn’t cost any more,” said Laura Ratner, director of service and training at Lawry’s Restaurants, Inc. “It’s like, if I’m gonna have a glass and a half, two glasses, as is my dining companion, then definitely get the bottle and yes, you’re more assured of a higher quality product, you know exactly how long it’s been open. It just makes more financial sense.”

3. It’s useless to look for that Costco bargain in a restaurant. As one of the biggest wine retailers in the country, Costco can afford to lose money on some bottles. “Guests say, ‘We have this Caymus, we just got it at Costco. And their price was this.’ They don’t understand what Costco does,” says William Lewis, managing partner and sommelier of The Winery Restaurant & Wine Bar. “They undercut prices on purpose. They do that to get you to come in. And they know you’re gonna buy something else. You’re gonna get food. You’re gonna get this. You’re gonna get that. You’re not gonna just go and get one bottle of wine.”

4. The wine service you get at a restaurant can’t be replicated at home and that’s why you’re paying extra.

A. Most restaurant wines come directly from wineries or a trusted distributor. Bottles don’t sit around at room temperature in a grocery store, or worse, out in the Southern California sun on a loading dock. They’re pristine because they’re stored at the restaurant, often in temperature controlled rooms, which is part of the restaurant’s footprint and therefore part of the rent they pay.

B. The selection is far better than the average person could own or store, sometimes with hundreds of bottles or more. That’s why restaurants have servers or general managers on hand to answer any questions about the wine and to hear from you about what kinds of wines you like best. Top restaurants pay servers to attend wine tastings at work led by experts from distribution companies or wineries.

C. The stemware — usually $3-$9 wholesale — has to be sturdy, yet crystal clear to show off the wine and the restaurant picks up the cost of the breakage. They might only break one a week, but sometimes a whole tray or dishwasher rack hits the floor. When fine dining rooms use fancy, fragile glasses, they could be losing a dozen a week. Even at Polly’s Pies, which used to serve boxed wines, the stemware got an upgrade when the wine list got revamped.

“We changed the glassware to be a more contemporary stemless glass. We pour it behind the bar into a nine ounce carafe. Then at the table, we present it to them,” said Eric Stenta, vice president of operations at Polly’s Inc. who said the restaurant group did not even offer wine for 40 of the 52 years it has done business. “Because our program before was so elementary, we had glasses that were way too small and we were overfilling them. The wine drinkers at Polly’s began to get accustomed to overfilled glasses. So when we went from an eight ounce glass to a 16 ounce glass, to prevent people from thinking that they were being under poured, we put it in the carafe. So, we got the best of both worlds, a better presentation and a better glass.”

5. Don’t think you’re paying a sommelier’s salary.

Starting in the late ’80s, the number of Americans getting sommelier certified exploded. Fine dining restaurants at the highest levels still might have somms, but most restaurants, even upscale chains, can’t afford to pay a somm full-time so that expense is not getting passed on to wine buyers. Most often restaurants require waiters and general managers to study wines served and/or get some sommelier training.

“We can’t afford to pay somebody hourly to come in just to open wine between six and nine o’clock, it doesn’t make sense,” said Lewis. “I’m like an acting GM. I do the wine service and I can say I’m on stage soon. I’ll open wine all day long whenever I get here.”

6. The most popular wines are sold at the lowest prices.

GMs know you’re no fool. They won’t excessively mark up a well-known wine. “Don’t forget, people now have their iPhones when they’re going to a restaurant,” said Tony Maalouf, general manager at the Mission Inn Hotel & Spa in Riverside. “They have an idea what they’re buying and they know what the market price is for that wine,” he said.

7. Corkage fees: the rules of engagement.

Bringing your own wine has become more common, especially during and post pandemic. But consider that wine is the only thing on the restaurant menu for which you can name your price. Tell the sommelier, server or GM exactly what you’re willing to spend and make them do the heavy lifting, selecting the best bottle in that range. If you do bring your own wine it’s only courteous to tote something that’s not already on the wine list, especially a bottle you’ve been saving for a special occasion. It’s also considered a nice gesture to offer the somm or server a taste.

“I would just say it’s OK to bring your own bottle,” said Stenta, a veteran of the industry who has worked in fine dining rooms for Patina Group, such as Catal at Downtown Disney in Anaheim, as well as at House of Blues and Greenleaf Gourmet ChopShop. “But I think you have to be careful of what that corkage is. I mean, there’s a going rate in some places of $50 to $60 a bottle. But there is a tradition with corkage fees and it’s typically, $20 to $30. And then if you do purchase a bottle of wine off the list, typically the somm will waive the corkage fee.”

8. Rather than whine, show interest in wine to get the best deals.

“If they really like the restaurant, they should have a relationship with myself or one of my other managers or maître ds because that goes a long way,” said Lewis. “When people actually spend time reaching out, asking me questions, I’ll talk to them on the phone, and when they come in, I’ll put notes on their reservation, saying ‘Waive the corkage fee per William.’ When they’re really nice, I’ll go out of my way to go meet them. … sometimes when they bring a special bottle that’s hard to procure, we get to taste some things that are unique and that’s really fun. So, when they do that, we’re really blessed.”

These Southern California restaurants go the extra mile with wine service

Mission Inn Hotel & Spa, Riverside

Premium wines are served at the hotel’s restaurants and bars which include Duane’s, Las Campanas Mexican Cuisine, Bella Trattoria Italian Restaurant, Mission Inn Restaurant and the Presidential

La Mirada Says It Won’t Fine ‘National Lampoon’ House

Wed, 08 Dec 2021 06:29:03 +0000

LA MIRADA (CBSLA) — After ordering Jeff Norton to take down his Christmas decorations, the city of La Mirada has finally relented and stopped fining the homeowner.

“The first thing that you really have to think about is the people, the community was really on my side on this and I’m sure that was a big part of their decision,” said Norton.

Norton, a fan of “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” modeled his decorations to mimic the Griswold home depicted in the movie. The decorating has become an annual tradition for the past four years, with Norton building new additions every year.

“It’s so authentic, right?” said spectator Rosie Longoria. “It looks so good, everything from the trees to the snow.”

This year, however, the second story Norton installed for the newest addition to the decorations, garnered some unwanted attention from the city.

Since he installed the second story without a permit, La Mirada officials ordered him to remove it or face hefty fines.

The homeowner disregarded the order, accruing $1,200 in fines. However, in true Christmas spirit neighbors raised money to cover the fines. With the overwhelming support from the community, the city relented and said that they cancel the fines for Norton, however, he must take down the second story after the holiday.

After learning of the decision Tuesday evening, Norton rejoiced, thanking the city and the community for their support.

“This is an amazing city to live in,” he said. “That decision is absolutely awesome.”

Norton said that he will use the donations for additions to next year’s decorations.

La Mirada Home Decorated Like ‘National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation’ Could Face Fines Over Display

Sat, 04 Dec 2021 06:24:28 +0000

LA MIRADA (CBSLA) — A La Mirada home is adorned with lights with a special Christmas movie in mind, but this year they could be facing some trouble.

The Christmas comedy classic “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” home has been recreated in La Mirada for the fourth year in a row.

Jeff Norton, who is a fan of the 1989 movie, started his decorating process after purchasing an RV of the same make and model as the one driven in the film by Cousin Eddie.

This year, Norton added a second story, which city officials said was installed without a permit, which could rake up a fine of $100-$200 per week.

Norton says he has no plans of removing the display and that he doesn’t believe it poses a danger.

Visitors who stop by to admire the handiwork have even volunteered to pay the fines, but Norton insists he’ll take care of it.

DoorDash Driver Wounded In Car-To-Car Shooting In La Mirada While Delivering Food Order

Wed, 03 Nov 2021 22:15:52 +0000

LA MIRADA (CBSLA) – A driver for the online food ordering giant DoorDash was shot and wounded in a car-to-car shooting during a delivery late Tuesday night in La Mirada.

Buena Park, Calif. Nov. 3, 2021. (RMG News)

The shooting occurred at around 11:40 p.m. in the area of Foster Road and El Moro Avenue.

The female victim told Los Angeles County Sheriff’s investigators that she was tailgated for several blocks by a silver car when she heard gunfire and realized that she had been shot in her torso.

The suspect vehicle sped away and the woman was able to drive to Buena Park in Orange County, where she resides, and call 911.

She was taken by ambulance to UC Irvine Medical Center for a single gunshot wound, the sheriff’s department said. She is in stable condition and is expected to survive.

“She was a DoorDashing, a car got behind her and just started shooting,” her friend Beshawn Hayes said.

DoorDash confirmed to CBSLA that the victim was one of its drivers.

“Safety is extremely important to us, and we’re deeply concerned by this report of violence,” a DoorDash spokesperson said in a statement. “We’re actively reaching out to the dasher involved to offer our support, and are engaging law enforcement to assist in their investigation in any way we can.”

Authorities, meanwhile, are investigating whether a similar shooting in South Whittier earlier in the evening is connected.

An LASD lieutenant told CBSLA the shooting occurred at 6:14 p.m. near Telegraph and Colima roads.

Two occupants of a car told deputies that a silver Kia sedan carrying four Hispanic adults rammed into their car before opening fire on them.

The victims’ car was struck by the gunfire, but neither occupant was hit or injured, the lieutenant said.

Prior to the shooting, two male suspects got out of the Kia and bashed the rear windshield of the victim’s car. A female suspect was also recording the entire crime with her phone, the victims told investigators.

Sheriff’s gang unit detectives are investigating both cases. There was no word on whether there was any surveillance video of either incident or specific suspect descriptions.

LA County Sheriff’s Deputies Armed With Cleaning Supplies Help 86-Year-Old La Mirada Woman Living In Filthy, Unsafe Conditions

Thu, 28 Oct 2021 20:13:35 +0000

LA MIRADA (CBSLA) — Several Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies armed themselves with brooms and mops to help clean up the La Mirada home of an elderly woman living by herself.

(credit: LASD)

Deputy Ana Acosta was called out recently to a home in La Mirada to investigate a possible case of elder abuse. At the home, she met 86-year-old Margarita, who had been living there by herself for many years.

And even though the deputy didn’t find evidence of elder abuse, Acosta could not simply walk away from Margarita’s home – it was filthy, in disarray, unsafe, and well on its way to becoming a hoarding situation, according to spokeswoman Juanita Navarro-Suarez.

“She could’ve driven away, cleared the call and went on the next one,” Navarro-Suarez said in an email.

Acosta delved deeper and discovered Margarita had a number of medical issues that prevents her from moving around too much and cleaning the home herself. Not only that, Margarita only speaks Spanish and has no family living in California.

“When we looked at Margarita, she reminded us of a grandma, or a mother, possibly us in about 30 years,” Acosta said.

(credit: LASD)

The heartbreaking situation prompted Acosta to recruit her own family, friends, and fellow deputies to clean up the home and contacted Home Depot, which donated cleaning supplies. On Sunday, the large group of volunteers descended on Margarita’s home to clear the home of trash and clean up, leaving the home looking new and sparkling. Visions in Furniture donated a new bed frame and rugs, while Security Operations Group helped haul away all the trash.

“You know it was amazing to see. I feel like everyone came with an open heart, they were here on their day off, we weren’t getting paid, you know we weren’t doing it for any recognition,” Acosta said. “We were just doing it to help Margarita.”

Diesel Fuel, Acid Spills Into Lanes Of Northbound 5 Freeway In La Mirada

Mon, 19 Apr 2021 21:58:07 +0000

LA MIRADA (CBSLA) — The northbound lanes of the 5 Freeway in La Mirada were shut down Monday after hundreds of gallons of corrosive acid spilled into lanes from a big rig crash.

(credit: CBS)

The crash between a big rig and a sedan happened at about 10:15 a.m. on the southbound 5 Freeway at Valley View Avenue. Debris flew into the northbound lanes, and the CHP reported the semi was leaking fuel from the collision.

Both sides of the freeway were shut down at about 1:20 p.m. Northbound traffic was diverted off the freeway at Carmenita Road, while southbound traffic was taken off at Beach Boulevard.

One person involved in the crash was taken to a hospital with minor injuries.

A hazmat crew was sent to the scene to clean up what ended up to be 300 gallons of diesel fuel and non-toxic glycolic acid, a substance used in beauty supply products.

The freeway was fully reopened at about 8:30 p.m.

Reportedly Armed Suspect Shot By LA County Sheriff’s Deputies Near La Mirada

Sat, 10 Apr 2021 05:04:09 +0000

LA MIRADA (CBSLA) — Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputies shot and injured a reportedly armed suspect on Friday evening in the La Mirada area.

The shooting happened around 6:30 p.m. in the 15800 block of Creswick Drive, according to the LASD.

Shots were exchanged, but no deputies were injured.

The unidentified man was taken to the hospital in stable condition.

No further details were released about the extent of the suspect’s injuries or the events leading up to the shooting.

La Mirada 13-Year-Old Celebrates College Graduation With Front Yard Ceremony

Thu, 28 May 2020 05:55:42 +0000

LA MIRADA (CBSLA) — A stage was set up in front of a La Mirada home Wednesday to celebrate a 13-year-old boy’s milestone achievement.

On Wednesday, 13-year-old Jack Rico became the youngest student to ever graduate from Fullerton College. (CBSLA)

With tons of friends and family cheering him on from their cars, Jack Rico marked his graduation in style. But this special teen was not celebrating the end of his middle school career like so many of his peers.

Jack just became the youngest Fullerton College graduate, finishing with not one, but four associate’s degrees.

“I don’t know,” he said when asked how he got so smart. “It just happened.”

But Jack is quick to clarify that he is not a genius and actually worked really hard for this momentous achievement.

“You never just know everything,” he said. “You have to study day and night.”

Jack’s mom, Ru Andrade, started homeschooling when Jack was in the third grade after recognizing that her son needed more of a challenge than he was getting at his elementary school.

“He’s just full of knowledge about everything,” Andrade said.

Andrade said that by the time Jack was 11, he had surpassed every single high school standard, remaining accountable for his own grades along the way.

“I did my best,” Jack said. “And I can’t be sad with the outcome, whether it’s an A or lower.”

Though, Jack admitted, he had never received a grade lower than an A.

“You know, for us, his heart is bigger than his brain,” Andrade said.

Jack’s next stop is the University of La Verne, and though he’s not quite sure about a career just yet, he said he loves screenwriting.

“I’m still trying to, like, explore my interests,” he said.

And while he has dreams of having lunch with Steven Spielberg and Michael Bay, for now he was content to celebrate his graduation with friends and family.

“Thank you all so much for coming and supporting me,” he said.

Suspect Arrested For Shooting Dog To Death On La Mirada Street

Fri, 10 Jan 2020 22:51:18 +0000

LA MIRADA (CBSLA) — Authorities Friday arrested a suspect in the fatal shooting of a dog on the side of a La Mirada street.

Shane Dubyak, 23, of Lakewood was taken into custody today after a vehicle and foot pursuit from Artesia to Cerritos, sheriff’s officials said.

A firearm was also said to have been recovered.

Witnesses originally told Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies they saw a man get out of an SUV Sunday in an industrial area of La Mirada and fire two gunshots at something.

After the SUV drove away, the witness found an older terrier mix dead from gunshot wounds in a dog bed in the gutter.

Investigators originally said a woman was driving the white 2000s Jeep Grand Cherokee and the man had been riding in the back.

“Take the dog to the vet, take the dog to the humane society, have him disposed of humanely,” Los Angeles County sheriff’s Deputy Mark Christiansen said. “Not like this.”

Dubyak could potentially face serious charges, even if the dog had serious health issues.

Couple Wanted For Shooting Dog To Death In La Mirada

Wed, 08 Jan 2020 13:50:03 +0000

LA MIRADA (CBSLA) — Authorities need help tracking down a couple who they say brought a dog to La Mirada only to shoot it to death.

Witnesses told Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies they saw a man get out of an SUV Sunday in an industrial area of La Mirada and fire two gunshots at something put on the ground near the gutter. After the SUV drove away, the witness found a older terrier mix dead from gunshot wounds, in a dog bed in the gutter.

(credit: LASD)

Images of the shooter’s SUV caught on a security camera were released in an “Attempt To Identify” notice. The SUV was described as a white 2000s Jeep Grand Cherokee with black rims last seen fleeing south on Phoebe Avenue, then making a left on Firestone Boulevard.

Investigators say a woman had been driving and the man had been riding in the back.

If identified and arrested, the couple will face serious charges even if the dog had serious health issues.

“Take the dog to the vet, take the dog to the humane society, have him disposed of humanely,” Los Angeles County sheriff’s Deputy Mark Christiansen said. “Not like this.”

Anyone with information about the SUV or the shooting can call the detective bureau at the Norwalk Sheriff’s Station at (562) 466-5419 or email Detective Christiansen at MSChrist@lasd.org.

2 Deputies, Suspect Hurt During Family Disturbance In La Mirada

Tue, 16 Jul 2019 18:04:31 +0000

LA MIRADA (CBSLA) — A man who was served with a restraining order at his home in La Mirada was sedated Tuesday after scuffling with two Orange County sheriff’s deputies, who were also hurt.

A family disturbance was reported at 8:40 p.m. Monday in the 8100 block of Barrington Lane, where assistance was also needed to serve a restraining order on the son, a resident of the home, Orange County sheriff’s officials said.

The son, who is in his 30s, confronted the deputies, who authorities said had to use force to subdue him.

It’s not clear how the deputies subdued the unidentified man or how he was injured, but he has since been sedated, according to sheriff’s officials.

The deputies were treated for moderate injuries.

Burglar Breaks Into Nursery, Steals Expensive Baby Gear

Tue, 26 Mar 2019 05:44:24 +0000

LONG BEACH (CBSLA) — A La Mirada woman, 27 weeks pregnant with triplets, posted a photo to Facebook on Friday showing a photo of her unborn babies bedroom boarded up.

Jessica Kaneshiro wrote that someone broke into her home and stole car seats, carriers, baby monitors, a pumping system, even wipes and so much more.

“You know the violation. That affects you. It also brings the good out of a lot of people when you see something that bad. The next door neighbor came over and he gave them a check. He felt so bad that he gave them a check to help me out,” said Jessica’s father-in-law Tom Kaneshiro.

Tom says his son and daughter-in-law were working on their recently purchased home, getting it ready for the babies, when the home was hit. The security camera hadn’t yet been installed.

If the thefts weren’t tragic enough, Tom is visiting his daughter in-law and son at Long Beach Memorial following another tragedy.

“They were expecting triplets. They were due in May. She didn’t feel any movement yesterday. She was going in for a checkup and they said she had lost one of the triplets. So they’re monitoring right now to see what kind of affect it’s had on the other two,” said Tom.

He says doctors don’t know why one of the babies was lost but the family says the stress of the burglary couldn’t have been good.

Stolen Car Crashes Into La Mirada Gym, Driver Arrested After Allegedly Trying To Run Off

Tue, 19 Mar 2019 15:02:54 +0000

LA MIRADA (CBSLA) — Workouts are out of the question Tuesday after a stolen car was revved up and sent crashing into a Crunch Fitness gym in La Mirada.

The crash was reported at about 2 a.m. at the gym, 12805 Valley View Ave., after a silver 4-door Honda crashed through a front plate-glass window into a front desk area. The car was finally halted by a metal stool heavy gym machinery that became wedged under the front end.

(credit: CBS)

The gym was left in shambles by the car, which left a trail of shattered glass and wrecked furniture. The damage was estimated at $65,000.

A witness said he saw the driver revving the engine, put it in drive and jump out as it careened into the window. He was then seen jumping into another car waiting nearby.

“It went straight into the desk,” Adrian Nolasco said. “Thankfully the guy wasn’t there, the guy was on the other side, so it didn’t really hit anybody.”

Security video at the time of the crash shows a gym employee standing behind a counter and running out of the way as the car crashes through the front window.

Workers at the gym say the driver had been a member but his membership was canceled after complaints about him. They also said he was trying to get his $70 enrollment fee back and had threatened to fight an employee.

The gym was open at the time of the crash, but no serious injuries were reported and the building was not compromised.

Gym members reportedly tried to chase the driver down. The driver was later found by deputies and taken into custody. He was later identified by authorities as Sergio Reyes, 32, of Whittier, and arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. Reyes is being held on $1 million bail.

It’s not known if drugs or alcohol were involved, and investigators will not confirm that the driver deliberately sent the car into the structure. Police say the car was stolen from a location nearby.

Grandmother Killed, Kids Hurt In La Mirada Hit-And-Run

Thu, 21 Feb 2019 02:27:28 +0000

LA MIRADA (CBSLA) — Police are searching for a hit-and-run suspect they say killed a woman and injured her two grandchildren on their walk from school in La Mirada Wednesday.

Authorities say the suspect was driving a late-model grey Toyota Camry at Crestoak Dr. and Escolna Rd. around 1:15 p.m. when he or she clipped the woman and children and left them on the side of the road.

All three victims were initially in critical condition. At the time of this report, the two children, ages six and nine, were expected to survive with minor injuries. Their grandmother was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Neighbors say they frequently saw the kids and their grandmother walking to and from school and held a vigil in her honor Wednesday night.

They also say they’ve asked the city for years to safeguard pedestrians from traffic.

“There’s no sidewalks right here so they always stand in the street,” Maria Gonzalez said.

Police describe the suspect vehicle as a late-model gray Toyota Camry with front-end damage on the right passenger side.

Clark Griswold’s Home From ‘Christmas Vacation’ Recreated In La Mirada

Wed, 05 Dec 2018 17:58:59 +0000

LA MIRADA (CBSLA) — The home glowing from thousands of Christmas lights made famous in the Christmas comedy classic “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” has been recreated in La Mirada.

(credit: CBS)

A fan of the 1989 movie, Jeff Norton’s recreation of the Griswold family home started when he purchased an RV – the exact same make and model as one used in the film.

But he didn’t stop with buying the RV that matched the one driven by Cousin Eddie in the movie.

According to Medium, he also tracked down the same model of chainsaw used in the movie – a 1986 McCulloch – and bought the Santa display Clark Griswold destroys in the film from the original manufacturer.

(credit: CBS)

This year, he added a 1989 Ford Escort Wagon and rented snow machines for the proverbial icing on his Christmas display. He’s also showing the film on a 65-inch TV set up outside.

Norton’s display can be seen in the 15000 block of Golva Drive in La Mirada through Christmas.

Postal Worker Who Took Extra Shift On His Day Off Struck And Killed By Car In Commerce

Tue, 04 Dec 2018 13:30:41 +0000

COMMERCE (CBSLA) — A 30-year employee of the U.S. Postal Service and pastor of a La Mirada church was mourned Tuesday after he was fatally struck by a vehicle while on the job in Commerce.

Joel Perales, 58, was standing outside a U.S. Postal Service truck about 10 a.m. Monday in the 2100 block of South Atlantic Boulevard he was struck by a car, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Lt. Rick Mejia said. After hitting Perales, the car slammed into the postal truck, then struck and came to rest against the wall of a nearby business, according to Mejia.

Perales died later at a hospital.

One person in the building suffered minor injuries and was also taken to a hospital.

The car’s driver stopped and passed a field sobriety test, but blood results are pending. There was no immediate indication the driver was under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and he was later released, Mejia said.

(credit: GoFundMe)

The family identified Perales in a GoFundMe page and said Monday was his day off, but had picked up an extra shift to earn a little extra money with the holidays approaching. Perales leaves behind his wife, four sons and a daughter and several grandchildren, according to the GoFundMe page.

The page also described Perales as a pastor at Templo de Alabanza in La Mirada and a die-hard Dodger fan.

“We the family would like to take this time to remind everyone out there to drive safe, observe the speed limit, and avoid accidents like these that just destroy families and loved ones,” the page read.

VIDEO: Bus Driver Who Avoided Late-Night Collision With Car Going Wrong Way Being Hailed As Hero

Mon, 14 May 2018 06:03:39 +0000

LA MIRADA (CBSLA) — A charter bus driver is being hailed as a hero for his quick thinking that prevented a tragedy when a driver going the wrong way suddenly started heading towards the vehicle.

Dash cam footage shows the moment a driver going the opposite way approached the 30-passenger bus Gabriel Anica was driving on from Pachanga to La Mirada on the 91 Freeway express lane around 2 a.m. Friday.

“He must have missed my door by out that much,” Anica told CBS2 News Sunday, holding his hands barely a foot apart. “Just flew by, and I was like, ‘Wow.'”

Anica, who has been M Coach bus lines for two years, said most of his passengers that night were asleep at the time the video shows headlights heading towards the bus on the left lanes at a high rate of speed in Corona. Anica gently swerved into the second lane from the left median, but the errant driver also drifted into the same lane.

“I mean, he was flying, must’ve been going 90,” Anica estimated. “At the last second, I held that steering wheel tight because I knew he was gonna hit me.”

Luckily, the driver didn’t.

The video shows the car’s red taillights just feet from the right side of the bus.

The jolt of the bus woke some of the passengers, many of them Anica’s regulars he says are like family. “You know, I’m responsible for these people, and so I feel like I had to do what I had to do. Thank God I reacted the way I did,” said Anica.

“Some of them were yelling, screaming because they — I guess they fell asleep,” said Anica, who credits his years of experience and reflexes for his quick, potentially live-saving reaction.

Anica’s bosses are now calling him a hero.

M Coach said they notified the California Highway Patrol about the wrong-way driver, but it seems the person managed to get off the road without hitting anyone.

Shooting Victim Crashes Car Into Home, Dies

Sat, 24 Jun 2017 06:26:14 +0000

LA MIRADA (CBSLA.com) — Authorities were investigating the death of a 29-year-old man who was shot and then crashed a vehicle into a house in La Mirada Friday night.

The shooting occurred at 8 p.m. in the 14100 block of Mansa Drive where responding deputies found the victim in a vehicle suffering from an apparent gunshot wound to his upper body, said Deputy Trina Schrader of the Sheriff’s Information Bureau.

The man’s vehicle had crashed into the attached garage of a residence.

Homicide investigators believe the victim was driving north on Parise Drive, turning onto Mansa Drive, while the suspect’s vehicle turned south on Parise Drive from Mansa Drive.

As the two vehicles were passing each other, gunshots were fired from the suspect’s vehicle into the victim’s vehicle, Schrader said.

The suspect fled in a light colored vehicle, south on Parise Drive, to west on Lymark Street, and out of view, Schrader said.

It wasn’t immediately clear how many occupants were in the suspect’s vehicle and a description of the shooter was not available.

Following the shooting, the victim’s vehicle traveled a few houses east on Mansa Drive, and crashed into the garage.

The victim was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead, Schrader said.

Police tell CBS2 the victim lived a couple of blocks from the crash

LASD is still trying to determine motive.

Man Gets Life For Hiring Hit Man To Kill Teenage Wife In 1992

Tue, 20 Dec 2016 15:23:03 +0000

NORWALK (AP) — A Southern California man has been sentenced to life in prison without parole for hiring a hit man to kill his 17-year-old wife 25 years ago.

Morrad Ghonim, 43, received the sentence Monday, four weeks after he was convicted of arranging the death of teenage wife, Victoria, in 1992.

She was shot to death while sitting in a car with her husband and 6-month-old son in a La Mirada park.

Ghonim reported the killing as a botched robbery.

The case languished for two decades until 2009, when DNA linked the hit man Leon Martinez to the killing.

Martinez was convicted in 2015 of first-degree murder and testified at Ghonim’s trial that he was paid $5,000 to kill the 17-year-old. Ghonim was arrested last year while living in Antigua.

Robber Fatally Shot By Police After 3-Hour Standoff In La Mirada

Tue, 22 Nov 2016 13:28:50 +0000

LA MIRADA (CBSLA.com) — An armed robber was shot and killed Tuesday at the end of a three-hour standoff with a sheriff’s SWAT team at a gas station convenience store in La Mirada.

The standoff began about 9:15 p.m. Monday at a 24-hour Arco gas station at 13550 S. Beach Blvd. There may have been customers or employees inside the store during the robbery, but none were reported to be inside during the standoff, Los Angeles County sheriff’s spokesman Deputy Kelvin Moody said.

The suspect, who was in his 40s, died at the scene, coroner’s Assistant Chief Ed Winter said. His name was withheld, pending notification of his relatives.

The standoff ended about 12:25 a.m., when the suspect was shot after deputies gave several verbal commands to the suspect to drop the weapon, Moody said. While the suspect was inside the story he fired at least one round through the front window of the store, according to a sheriff’s statement.

When the suspect stepped outside again, he pointed and fired again at deputies. At that point, the suspect was shot by two deputies, sheriff’s officials said.

No deputies were injured in the standoff.

The shooting will be investigated by the sheriff’s homicide and internal affairs bureau and the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.

Armed Man Holds Off Authorities At La Mirada Convenience Store

Tue, 22 Nov 2016 06:59:09 +0000

LA MIRADA (CBSLA.com) — An armed man kept authorities a bay Monday when he refused to come out of a convenience store in La Mirada.

The standoff began shortly after 9:15 p.m. at an am/pm store near South Beach Boulevard and Hillsborough Drive, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Kelvin Moody said.

The man briefly emerged about 10:45 p.m., but went back into the store. A window was shattered near the door about the same time, but it was unclear how the glass was broken.

No employees or customers were reported to be inside the store, Moody said. There were also no reports of injuries.

A crisis negotiation team was requested at the scene, Moody said.

Man Killed, 2 Women Hospitalized After Car Slams Into La Mirada Tree

Fri, 08 Apr 2016 14:22:02 +0000

LA MIRADA (CBSLA.com) — A man was killed and two women were seriously injured when a speeding car hit a center divider, knocked down a sign and slammed into a tree in La Mirada, authorities said Friday.

The crash happened at about 11:40 p.m. Thursday, on Valley View Avenue, just north of Artesia Boulevard on the border between La Mirada and Cerritos, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Sgt. Hank Ortega said.

“Speed was a factor,” Ortega said. “The car hit the divider, took out a sign and hit a tree.”

Ortega said the man in his 30s who died at the scene was a passenger in the car. His identity was withheld pending notification of kin.

Two women in the car – one of them the driver – were hospitalized in serious condition, Ortega said.

Investigators are looking into whether drugs or alcohol played a role in the crash.

Coroner: In-N-Out Employee Found Dead In La Mirada Was Beaten, Not Shot

Wed, 02 Mar 2016 18:26:22 +0000

LA MIRADA (CBSLA.com) — An In-N-Out Burger employee found dead outside the La Mirada restaurant where she worked for two decades didn’t die of a gunshot wound, but was fatally beaten, authorities said Wednesday.

Josefina Alcocer was found dead at 4:45 a.m. Friday in the parking lot of the restaurant, at 14341 Firestone Blvd. She was wearing her In-N-Out uniform, according to the sheriff’s department.

The preliminary investigation reported that the 48-year-old woman had been shot, but an autopsy later determined that was not the case, coroner’s Assistant Chief Ed Winter said. The cause of death was blunt force trauma.

Alcocer had worked for In-N-Out since 1996 and was one of the original employees at the La Mirada restaurant, the company said in a statement.

No arrests have been reported. Anyone with information about the crime can call sheriff’s homicide detectives at (323) 890-5500.

Armed Woman In Custody Following Barricade In La Mirada

Tue, 30 Jun 2015 11:20:56 +0000

LA MIRADA (CBSLA.com) — Deputies Tuesday arrested a woman who allegedly barricaded herself inside of a home in La Mirada.

Shortly before 10 p.m. on Monday, deputies received report of a domestic issue located in the 15200 block of Borda Road, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Upon their arrival, officials located a woman barricaded inside of the home. Deputies said she was believed to be armed with a firearm, and cooperated with negotiators.

Surrounding homes in the area were evacuated for the safety of residents, deputies explained.

According to authorities, the woman was taken into custody shortly before 4 a.m.

No further information is available at this time.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Norwalk Sheriff’s Station at (562) 863-8711.

Man Accused Of Arranging 17-Year-Old Wife’s 1992 Murder Charged With Capital Murder

Fri, 05 Jun 2015 19:20:00 +0000

DOWNEY (CBSLA.com) — A man accused of hiring another man to kill his wife during a staged robbery in 1992 is scheduled to be arraigned Friday on a murder charge.

Morrad Ghonim, 42, faces a possible death sentence if convicted for the killing of Vicki Ghonim, 17, who was shot during a robbery on July 23, 1992, while sitting in a car with her husband and infant son in La Mirada Creek Park.

Ghonim was arrested last month in Antigua and returned to the United States.

Prosecutors will decide later whether to seek the death penalty against Ghonim. The murder charge against him includes the special circumstance allegations of lying in wait and murder for financial gain.

There was a break in the unsolved case in 2009, when DNA linked 42-year-old Leon Martinez to the killing. He was arrested in October 2010 and convicted in March of first-degree murder and is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 16.

Morrad Ghonim was charged of arranging the killing in November 2010, prosecutors said.

La Mirada Man Accused Of Ordering Murder Of 17-Year-Old Wife In 1992 Arrested In Antigua

Thu, 28 May 2015 23:43:23 +0000

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A man who ordered the murder of his 17-year-old wife in 1992 has been arrested in the Caribbean island of Antigua, according to authorities.

Morrad Ghonim, 44, was extradited to Florida on Saturday and is awaiting extradition to California, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Lt. John Corina said.

Ghonim hired Leon Martinez to fatally shot his 17-year-old wife Maria Ghonim in La Mirada Creek Park on July 23, 1992, Corina said.

Martinez, 42, was convicted of the murder in March, Corina said.

“During the investigation, it was discovered that the victim’s husband, Morrad Ghonim … was no longer living in the United States, but was now living in Antigua,” Corina said.

“An arrest warrant for suspect Ghonim was obtained,” Corina said. “With assistance from the United States Marshals (Service) and the Royal Police Force of Antigua, Ghonim was detained and (was) extradited back to Miami on Saturday.”

Ghonim was booked on suspicion of murder by the Miami Dade Police Department and was being held without bail, pending his extradition to California, Corina said.

Man Recalls Terrifying Crash Over Malibu Cliffside

Tue, 25 Nov 2014 06:33:00 +0000

LA MIRADA (CBSLA.com) — One passenger in a horrific crash at the bottom of a Malibu cliff is sharing his harrowing story.

Joseph Tyner, 20, can barely sit up to talk but says he’s grateful he and his friends survived.

On Sunday, Tyner and two others were driving home from Malibu to La Mirada when their car plummeted 200 feet below Kanan Dume Road.

“I grabbed onto the little hand bar and prayed. I don’t know how many times we flipped. … I just blacked out from there,” he recalled.

Video obtained by CBS2/KCAL9 shows search and rescue crews saving Tyner and the other young men.

Tyner was sitting in the front passenger seat and doesn’t know how the crash happened but says once the car came to a stop, they prayed and checked on each other.

The driver was seriously hurt, and Tyner stayed with him while his friend climbed up the steep hill to try to get help.

“The driver was losing consciousness. He wanted to fall asleep, and I had to stay with him, like, ‘Stay awake, they’re coming, they’re coming,’ ” he remembered.

Tyner says it’s a miracle they walked away with some broken bones, scratches and bruises.

“God helped us. We are all here for another reason,” he said.

Tyner says they all were wearing their seatbelts and believes it helped in saving their lives.

South Whittier Slaying Victim Identified

Sun, 07 Sep 2014 21:52:52 +0000

WHITTIER (CBSLA.com) — The identification of a 31-year-old Los Angeles woman stabbed to death Friday night has been released by the Los Angeles County coroner’s office.

Coroner’s Lt. R. Hays identified the victim of the stabbing in an unincorporated area south of Whittier as Michelle Alexis Young.

The attack took place about 10:30 p.m. Friday in the 11500 block of Obert Avenue, near the La Mirada border, said Deputy Trina Schrader of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. According to a witness, Schrader said, Young was stabbed several times by a woman who had approached her and started an argument that turned into a fight. Young was pronounced dead at the scene.

Vanessa Rebecca Cella, 28, was detained by Norwalk-based deputies shortly after the attack, Schrader said. Cella was arrested on suspicion of murder, according to Deputy Jeffrey A. Gordon of the Sheriff’s Department’s headquarters division, and was held on $1 million bail at the Century Regional Detention Facility.

La Mirada Doctor Found Guilty Of Trafficking Vicodin, Other Prescription Drugs

Fri, 15 Aug 2014 19:45:47 +0000

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Federal officials say a La Mirada doctor has been found guilty of federal drug trafficking charges for distributing prescription painkillers like Vicodin and Norco and laundering the proceeds.

After a three-day trial, Dr. Andrew Sun, 78, was found guilty late Thursday by a federal jury of 17 felony counts, including three counts of money laundering. Sun was found guilty of distributing controlled substances outside the usual course of professional practice and without a legitimate medical purpose, including 14 counts of distributing hydrocodone, alprazolam, carisoprodol – which is best known under the brand name Soma – and promethazine with codeine, known on the street as “purple drank” and “sizzurp,” according to U.S. Attorney’s Office spokesman Thom Mrozek.

Sun operated medical clinics in San Gabriel and East Los Angeles. Evidence at the trial showed Sun issued more than 24,000 prescriptions for controlled substances, generating well over $1 million in cash proceeds from 2009 through 2013, according to officials.

Federal officials say law enforcement authorities conducted a series of undercover operations at Sun’s clinic. During each operation, Sun failed to examine the patient and sold prescriptions for $150 in cash, even if he believed he was writing prescriptions for drug addicts, officials said.

Evidence also presented to the jury included Medical Board disciplinary filings against Sun, showing he was subject to a separate undercover investigation in 2004. During that investigation, Sun prescribed Vicodin to patients even though they said they didn’t feel pain. Sun’s medical license was placed on probation and he was ordered to document and report all his prescriptions for Vicodin and other controlled drugs. Instead, Sun falsified the records he submitted to the Medical Board by reporting diagnoses that were never mentioned during patient consultations, according to officials.

Sun is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 10 and faces a statutory maximum sentenced of 157 years in federal prison. An Aug. 25 hearing was also scheduled, at which time the court will consider if Sun will be ordered to forfeit nearly $350,000 in drug proceeds previously seized by the government.

4-Time Olympic Gold Medal Winner Leads Latest Record-Breaking Swim Lesson

Fri, 20 Jun 2014 17:53:30 +0000

LA MIRADA (CBSLA.com) — Former Olympic gold medalist Janet Evans was joined by hundreds of swimmers of all ages Friday in La Mirada to take part in a nationwide effort to set a new world record for the largest swim lesson.

The event held at Splash! La Mirada Regional Aquatics Center drew about 400 participants to help set the fifth consecutive Guinness world record for the largest swim lesson – topping the 32,450 in attendance nationwide that set the record last year, according to World’s Largest Swim Lesson spokesperson Kristin Scheithauer.

Created by the World Waterpark Association, the lesson was developed by a team of leading water safety and swim instruction professionals. All aquatic facilities participating in the World’s Largest Swim Lesson are required to teach the same curriculum at the same time for the duration of the 30-minute lesson, according to the group’s website.

“It is really fun,” said participant Emma. “My favorite part is when we swim on our backs and pretend we are starfishes.”

Evans told KNX 1070 NEWSRADIO the aim of the annual synchronized event – which was marked at about 90 sites throughout California – to try to prevent childhood drownings.

Drowning is the second-leading cause of accidental death behind car accidents for children under the age of five, which is why Evans said parents should start as early as possible.

“What I’ve found…is the kids that get put in younger, as they get older they progress quicker and they’re not fearful of the water,” she said. “You see the five- and six-year-olds try to go in the pool, and they’re a little bit scared ’cause they’re old enough to realize maybe this is something they should be scared of.”

Evans graduated from El Dorado High School in Placentia and went on to win four gold medals and break seven world records.

Public’s Help Sought In Finding Missing La Mirada Man, 53

Sat, 31 May 2014 00:04:52 +0000

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — LA County Sheriff’s are seeking the public’s help in locating a missing 53-year-old La Mirada man.

John Kevin Jamieson was last seen leaving his residence in the 1200 block of Burgess Avenue Wednesday about 12:30 p.m.

Jamieson’s family says he suffers from memory loss and is easily confused.

He has a mustache and walks with a slight limp.

The missing man is 5 feet, 8 inches tall and about 180 pounds. He has brown hair and hazel eyes. When last seen, Jamieson was wearing a white shirt and blue shorts.

Officials also believe he is driving a 2002 Ford Explorer with a California license plate # 6V59912.

Anyone with information about Jamieson or his whereabouts is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500.

LA Doctor Charged With Drug Trafficking, Money Laundering

Thu, 10 Apr 2014 23:25:18 +0000

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A Los Angeles-based doctor surrendered Thursday to federal authorities after being indicted on charges that he had illegally distributed drugs, including painkillers that are considered to be powerful and addictive.

Dr. Andrew Sun, 78, of La Mirada is facing two-dozen federal counts of illegally prescribing controlled substances. The substances include hydrocodone, Xanax, Valium, and promethazine with codeine, which are active ingredients in a street drug called “sizzurp” according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Sun, who had operated clinics in both San Gabriel and East Los Angeles, is also charged with four counts of laundering the proceeds generated by his illegal prescriptions.

Nearly 5,000 prescriptions for controlled substances were issued by Sun over a one-year period, concluding in July 2010, according to an affidavit in support of a search warrant that was executed at Sun’s residence and medical offices on July 11, 2013.

Sun allegedly prescribed drugs, including hydrocodone, to undercover agents on 13 separate occasions in exchange for $150 cash each time, during the investigation.

The affidavit also quotes Sun as telling one undercover agent, “So, if you want to insist on getting such a strong medicine, I’ll give it to you. I’m just a doctor, I’m not God, okay? So I cannot say no to something that you want to do.”

The investigation also allegedly discovered that Sun, along with his wife, controlled 44 bank accounts, and that Sun deposited over $1.1 million in cash into his accounts between 2008 and July 2012, according to prosecutors.

If convicted of all drug and money laundering counts, 28 in total, Sun could face decades in federal prison.

Patrons At Landmark Eatery In La Mirada Fear It Will Be Taken Over By Fast Food Joint

Mon, 17 Mar 2014 06:22:35 +0000

LA MIRADA (CBSLA.com) — A landmark eatery in La Mirada might soon close and longtime patrons and employees are trying to keep the place open.

The employees and customers fear the Carriage House Restaurant, a coffee shop and diner, will become a fast food place.

The eatery is located on Imperial Highway, but as KCAL9’s Adrianna Weingold reports, it’s really located in a lot of people’s hearts.

The Carriage House has been a La Mirada institution for decades.

Employees and patrons are planning on petitioning the planning commission to keep McDonald’s from developing the site.

“Some people, with their families, eat here three times a day, every day,” said Stephanie Ackerman, an employee. “There’s no other restaurants close around here that they’d be able to go to.”

Ackerman is one of about 30 employees trying to save the coffee shop.

McDonald’s, the fast food giant, applied for a conditional use permit to build a fast food restaurant where the Carriage House is located.

The idea of that permit is also not sitting well with long-time employee Linda Gray.

“They come here for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It will be sad,” said Gray.

The petition, obviously being signed by all the patrons as well, is asking for the planning commission to deny McDonald’s their conditional use permit.

The Carriage House owner, Helen Liu, said she doesn’t want to close but since she doesn’t own the land, her hands are tied.

“We don’t have a whole lot of choice,” she said, “I really don’t know, I don’t know. That nothing happens, that would be my wish for it.”

Customers like Mike Reber say the restaurant closing would be a big loss for the community.

He’s been eating here for 40 years.

“To tear it down, to put up a fast food place. There really is no place to eat around here,” Reber said, “I’ve been coming here since I was 5 or 6, I would say.”

Customers and employees will deliver their petitions to the planning commission at their meeting Thursday.

Fullerton School District Meet With Parents About Teacher Accused Of Sexual Misconduct

Sun, 23 Feb 2014 07:30:37 +0000

FULLERTON (CBSLA.com) — The Fullerton School District released an official statement regarding the arrest of one of their teachers for alleged sexual misconduct involving students.

Melissa Lindgren, an 8th-grade teacher at Nicolas Junior High School, was arrested Friday after allegedly admitting to felony sexual misconduct with two male students. She alleged molested the boys and sent them sexual text messages.

“I believe that it was more than a single incident. I do think it was over some period of time,” District Superintendent Bob Pletka said. “Ultimately, we will pursue termination, and it is an administrative law judge who makes that decision. But she will not be teaching with our kids at our district.”

Lindgren, 28, lives in La Mirada and has taught at Nicolas Junior High School for six years. She’s charged with child annoyance, child molest and the dissemination of harmful material to a minor. She was booked at the Fullerton Police Department and reportedly released after posting a $100,000 bail.

The Fullerton School District said Saturday they were collaborating with the Fullerton Police Department “to advance its investigation, due process, and court proceedings of the allegations. This occurrence is in direct conflict of Fullerton School District zero-tolerance policy on staff misconduct, where the District’s teachers, faculty and staff are held to a higher standard.”

The alleged sexual misconduct, said the district, was reported “by two brave students.”

The statement went on to say, “Pending due process, teacher Melissa Lindgren has been placed on administrative leave by the Fullerton School District.”

The news came as a shock to several students.

“She was really nice and she was so calm. She was kind of like a teenager and she understood everyone,” former student Astrid Aguayo said. “But then, I was kind of surprised and shocked by this.”

“All the teachers are not like that. It’s unfortunate one of the teachers was so bad. This is a wonderful school,” parent Laura Lomeli said.

Parents packed into a meeting Monday night held by the district at the high school. More than a hundred people had to sit outside.

“This cannot be tolerated,” one parent said to district officials.

Another said, “We never want this to happen again.”

Shooting Victim Dropped Off At La Mirada Hospital Succumbs To His Wounds

Sun, 16 Feb 2014 17:08:58 +0000

LA MIRADA (CBSLA.com) — A man has died at a La Mirada hospital after being struck by gunfire, authorities said Sunday.

The incident unfolded just after 12:40 a.m. when authorities received a “shots fired” call in the 13000 block of Bona Vista Lane.

When deputies arrived on scene, they found a home riddled with bullets in an apparent drive-by shooting. While investigating, deputies received a second call from a nearby hospital reporting a shooting victim who had been dropped off.

That victim, identified only as a man, was shot multiple times and succumbed to his wounds. It was not immediately clear whether he was a victim of the suspected drive-by shooting or a separate shooting.

Back at the home, deputies detained several people on outstanding warrants.

“La Mirada is a bedroom community and relatively quiet. This is a little bit out of the norm,” said Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Lt. Dave Coleman.

Anyone with information about this case was asked to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500. Those who wish to remain anonymous may call “Crime Stoppers” by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477), or by texting the letters TIPLA with your tip to CRIMES (274637).

Man Found Dead Near La Mirada Bus Stop

Mon, 25 Nov 2013 05:50:31 +0000

LA MIRADA (CBSLA.com) — Officials said a man was found dead Sunday in La Mirada.

The unidentified man was found about 6:15 p.m. in the 14300 block of Alondra Boulevard, according to Deputy Mark Pope of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Headquarters Bureau.

He was pronounced dead at the scene, Pope said.

A Metro bus driver was traveling west on Alondra Boulevard when he noticed a man laying in a pool of blood in the gutter near a bus stop.

Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau detectives were dispatched to the scene to investigate the fatality, he said.

No other details were available.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500.

Man Suspected Of Frequenting Golf Courses Wanted In Connection With Theft

Sat, 19 Oct 2013 16:46:33 +0000

LA MIRADA (CBSLA.com) — A man, who possibly frequents golf courses, was being sought in connection with a theft at the La Mirada Golf Course pro shop, authorities said Saturday.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said in a statement that an electronic device was taken from inside the shop.

Authorities did not indicate when the alleged theft occurred but said the suspect was captured on surveillance tape.

Anyone with information about this case is urged to contact Park Bureau, Detective Magana, at (562) 641-1485.

Those who wish to remain anonymous may call “Crime Stoppers” at (800) 222-TIPS (8477) or text the letters TIPLA plus the crime tip to CRIMES (274637).

Public’s Help Sought In Finding More Alleged Attempted Molestation Victims Of Youth Soccer Volunteer

Wed, 16 Oct 2013 04:06:35 +0000

SANTA ANA (CBSLA.com) — Prosecutors in Orange County Tuesday asked for the public’s help in finding more alleged victims of a 19-year-old youth soccer volunteer who has been accused of trying to molest two boys.

Faris Ousamah Nesheiwat, of La Mirada, was charged in early October with three felony counts of attempting to commit lewd acts on a child younger than 14, according to Deputy District Attorney Nancy Hayashida.

Nesheiwat, who worked as a volunteer with the American Youth Soccer Organization, allegedly tried to get one of the reported victims to commit lewd acts between April 12 and April 20. Another boy was lured between March 1 and June 30, Hayashida said.

The suspect was arrested last Tuesday, but was released after posting $100,000 bail.

Nesheiwat is scheduled to be arraigned Nov. 6. If convicted, he faces up to six years in prison.

Anyone with information about the suspect was asked to call Supervising District Attorney Investigator Paul Carvo at (714) 347-8794 or La Habra Detective David Diaz at (562) 905-9762.