It’s Lights On at City Hall

A child's touch, with assitance from Mayor Don Kendrick, helped light the City tree.

It was a festive night at La Verne Hall, as the city conducted its annual tree lighting ceremony and then held badge-pinning ceremonies for new fire battalion chief Mark Horine and new fire captain Kevin Greenway.

After Mayor Don Kendrick and his special helper, Christine, lit the tree, Bonita carolers directed by Todd Helm sang some holiday tunes, the last of which, “Jingle Bells,” rousted Santa Claus out of his City Hall workshop for a special appearance.

Roy Horine pins badge on his son Mark Horine, the city's new fire battalion chief.

In chambers, Mark Horine was officially recognized as the City’s new fire battalion chief. After starting as reserve firefighter in June 1990, he was hired full-time in July 1991 and was promoted to engineer in 1999. He has a State Fire Officer Certification and was promoted to captain in 2001. Mark will be in charge of Operations, the Apprentice program, facilities and the Christmas program. Mark’s father Roy pinned on his badge.

Newly appointed fire captain Kevin Greenway joined the city as a firefighter in 2002. He started his fire career with the City of Vernon in 1994 as a paramedic and in 1999 was promoted to a full-time firefighter position. Kevin is a State Certified Hazmat Specialist and instructor as well as a Department of Homeland Security Instructor. Greenway’s wife, Lisa, and daughters Madison and Laura pinned his badge.

Madison Greenway pins her father, new fire captain Kevin Greenway, as his wife Lisa and daughter Laura celebrate the moment in their own way.

Also at the meeting, Sherwood and John Best’s property at 3949 Bradford St in La Verne, better known as the Larimer House, was designated a local landmark under the Mills Act, which commits them and future owners to maintain their historic property in an exemplary manner, including its historic features, in exchange for lower property taxes.

In other business, the City reversed its decision to place a measure on the March 2011 ballot to modernize the City’s utility tax language and reduce the rate of the city’s Utility Users Tax on telecommunications services.

The meeting was adjourned in memory of Jesse Loera, a longtime city employee. Not only was he a talented employee, but he was a musician and singer with a local Mariachi band who performed at La Paloma restaurant in La Verne for many years. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Annie, nine children and 26 grandchildren, many of whom were in attendance.