The 3rd Annual La Mirada Blog Fest will take place Saturday August 18th, 2012 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at La Mirada Regional Park in La Mirada.
This free grassroots event-which is changing its name to the La Mirada Olive Fest in 2013-is a celebration of La Mirada’s rich heritage and its history.
The festivities will feature live music with three bands, and an art exhibit with almost all of the performers and artists connected to La Mirada.
A meet-and-greet with La Mirada Legends, influential people from La Mirada’s past, is also scheduled. Residents and fans will have the opportunity to sit down and talk with these amazing people.
Other community organizations are expected to attend and a raffle will also take place for attendees to participate in.
The art exhibit will a display by the Arts Colony of La Mirada, along with artists Angela Langseth, Amanda Palmer, Mario Lopez, Sharden Creations and more.
Also scheduled to be at event are Temple Beth Ohr with an “Ask the Rabbi” booth from 12-2; the La Mirada Lamplighter; La Mirada Symphony; Friends of La Mirada Library; the La Mirada Memoirs Book and more.
Musical Acts
The Groovetones-11:15 a.m.-1:00 p.m.-Carl Agnello, drums; Steve Bravin on bass; and Steve Gage on guitar and vocals. They played at last year’s Blog Fest after forming exclusively for our event and were featured on the front page of the Whittier Daily News. Gage and Carl Agnello both played at the very first La Mirada 4th of July event in 1974 and played at Los Coyotes and Neff High school dances back in the early to mid seventies. Bravin has lived in La Mirada since 1959, played with different bands including Fuze and won first place at the La Mirada Fiesta De Artes in the seventies. The Groovetones are a classic rock band that plays numbers from The Animals, The Hollies, Robin Trower, Be Bop Deluxe, The Yardbirds, Johnny Rivers, The Beatles, The Byrds, and a host of one-hit wonders, playing what you love and grew up on.
Don Brennan-1:15 p.m.-2:30 p.m.-Don was born and raised in La Mirada. He played with Steve Gage of The Groovetones, in the 80’s with a band called Audio, playing all around Southern California. He formed The Naked Eye with former La Mirada neighbor Michele Barr and they have released 3 CD’s and won Best Folk at 2006 OC Music Awards. He released solo album in 2008. Won best Acoustic Artist at 2008 Star Music Awards. Married 29 years to Pam who he met at the old Woolco in La Mirada. He specializes in finger-style acoustic guitar. Opened for America at the Coach House and featured in the La Mirada Lamplighter earlier this year. Currently plays all over So Cal. Website: www.donbrennan.com
The Shakedown-2:45 p.m.-4:00 p.m.-Matt Zwish, Mith Crowder, Brent Fullington, Mike Arhndt, and Andy Heise. A charter band for us, playing at all three Blog Fest events. Members grew up in La Mirada in the nineties. Three of the five graduated from La Mirada High, the other two, La Serna. From a 60’s psychedelic rock background, The Shakedown have established themselves with some of their folk-style songs as a rising musical act. They captivate audiences where ever and whenever they may be playing. Watch for them at bars and venues all around Southern California.
La Mirada Legends
Alice Palicz-11:00 a.m.-11:45 a.m.-She found a large lot in March of 1953 in La Mirada, watched her home be built, and moved in September of that same year, and still lives there today. In January of 1954 she was hired as the Postmaster’s assistant at the old train station. This began nearly 39 years with the La Mirada Post Office retiring Oct. 2, 1992. Along with her husband, they were one of the couples who founded the original La Mirada Lamplighter Newspaper. When the city was incorporated in 1960, she was appointed City Treasurer. She served in that position twenty five years without pay. She was also on the Historical Committee for La Mirada. She knows more about La Mirada’s history than most people you will ever know.
Lou Piltz-12:00 p.m.-12:45 p.m.-Born in Chicago, raised in Cleveland, Ohio, went into volunteered in US Air Force 1943, and graduated as a Navigator-Bombadier in Texas, 1945. He was stationed in Panama, 2 1/5 years. He moved to La Mirada from Long Beach in 1964, to manage the Hirams’ Supermarket, which later became Lucky Stores, and eventually Albertson’s today. Bought La Mirada Orange Julius franchise in 1966, and what most people remember. His wife Sylvia ran the stand and they served the best quality hamburgers and hot dogs. Many La Mirada kids worked over the six year the Piltz’s owned the stand. Appointed to the La Mirada City Council in 1978, to fill the position of Wayne Grisham who was elected to Congress that year. Served 16 years as City Councilman, (retired 1994) and 8 years (1970-1978) on the Planning Commission. Received a degree from Fullerton College in 1995 at the age of 73. Involved with in the past: The Chamber of Commerce, Fiesta De Artes Committee, La Mirada Community Hospital Board. Today: Temple Beth Ohr, Kiwanis Club of La Mirada, Meals-On-Wheels and SeniorNet, a program for teaching computers to Seniors. Married to Sylvia for 60 years, two children, five grandchildren. Sylvia, was recently diagnosed with Alzheimers Disease.
Jerome Oxman-1:00 p.m.-1:45 p.m.-Founder of Oxman’s Surplus. Jerome O. Oxman was born in Duluth, Minnesota on June 23, 1915. He served in the United States Army during WWII in the Persian Gulf Command. After the war he married Miriam Averbook of Superior, Wisconsin. In 1947 they came to California on their honeymoon and never went back. Mr. “O”, as all his friends and family call him, worked for Palley’s Surplus in Vernon, California. In 1961 he opened his own mail order business in the garages on Rosecrans that used to be the auto service center for Big A. The Military and Aircraft items that were being processed for sale got so much attention that Mr. “O” had to open the doors to the public. Oxman’s Surplus was born. Oxman’s now encompasses the garages and the adjacent 7,500 square foot building. He is a two time past president of the Associated Surplus Dealers, a national organization. He is a past president of both the La Mirada Chamber of Commerce and La Mirada Meals on Wheels. He served on the Board of Trustees for the La Mirada Community Hospital. He sponsors beauty pageant contestants, Little Miss Softball, as well as soccer for youngsters of the area. On May 1, 2005, at Dodger Stadium, in a pre-game ceremony, he was honored for 40 years of La Mirada Little League sponsorship. Oxman’s is still under the watchful eye of Mr. “O” and Miriam, while their sons Murray and Jason have made Oxman’s Surplus their careers. Oxman’s now has more new items for sale; however there is still a lot of surplus. Oxman’s has a magnificent museum of Military Memorabilia. Customers can sit in a B-17 cockpit, gaze at ejection seats, and much more. 2012 is their 51st year of business at Oxman’s.
Gerald Peebler-2:00 p.m.-2:45 p.m.-Olive Lawn Memorial Park has been in the Peebler family since 1932. Gerald’s dad Byron purchased the abandoned Olive Lawn Memorial Park in 1932 formerly known as Graceland. He and his wife Harriet took over operations of the cemetery in 1977 after continuing the family cleaning business in the Coachella Valley for many years. They are credited with inventing the first drive-thru full scale cleaners. Gerald and Harriet have been married over 70 years-since 1941. For their 70th wedding anniversary they traveled cross-country in their automobile visiting friends and family and were featured in the Orange County Register. Mr. Peebler has been very active in the La Mirada community over the years. He is the past President of the La Mirada Chamber of Commerce and is a member of the La Mirada Kiwanis. As Hal Malkin once said, “The cemetery is one business you don’t want to be a customer of.
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