La Verne Turns on the Lights and Turns up the Holiday Spirit

Christmas caroler Katelyn Spiro

Amid a crowd of cub scouts, carolers, children, parents and a lurking Santa Claus, La Verne City executives officially flipped the switch on the Annual Tree Lighting at City Hall on Monday night.

A day already made memorable by a large storm that had passed through town earlier in the day and by the fact it was the 68th anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the ceremony held on the front steps of City Hall burnished La Verne’s Norman Rockwell credentials for maintaining and honoring its small town traditions.

The mayor Don Kendrick’s remarks were brief, the tree glowed on cue after the five-number countdown, carolers’ voices were crisp and angelic, and Santa Claus was waiting in the wings.

All was right with the world for a brief, shining and luminous moment.

“It’s important to celebrate even in an economic downturn,” said caroler Katelyn Spiro, a Bonita High senior hoping to attend UC Berkeley next fall. “It’s important to keep your spirit up and not let down. The holidays inspire you to look for the good.”

On a day that global warming took the day off, Mayor Don Kendrick and councilmembers Steve Johnson, Donna Nasmyth and Robin Carder warmed up the holiday crowd.

A businessman in the crowd, Bruce Pluth, was just as optimistic: “Companies have had to readjust what they do,” he said. “The companies that have survived have figured that out and are poised for growth. A lot of indications show that people are thinking about starting companies again, especially if they have a strong enough business plan.”

It was grand and festive night, but with so many lights aglow to officially kick off the holidays, I only pray that the City is using energy-saving LED (Christmas?) lights.

La Verne's (Christmas) tree continues to grow even if the economy didn't.