Council Matters: Rosales Sworn In, Basketball Teams Honored, Person Ford Dealership Re-Inventing Itself

After taking the oath of office, new councilman Charles Rosales wastes no time conducting some unofficial business, receiving a kiss from his wife.

It wasn’t Buckingham Palace, but it was a changing of the guard nonetheless. After serving two terms and eight years in office, Councilman Steven Johnson, who chose not to run for a third term, stepped down and his successor Charles Rosales took his place in a swearing-in ceremony at City Hall on Monday.

La Verne’s March election was canceled because no one other than Rosales filed to run for Johnson’s vacant seat. Kendrick and Rodriguez, also both up for reelection  faced no opposition, either.

La Verne City Clerk Evelyn C. Clark swore-in Rosales, along with Mayor Don Kendrick to a second term and councilman Robert Rodriguez, who now holds the distinction of being La Verne’s long-serving councilmember.

The pomp and circumstance didn’t end there. The city honored Bonita’s varsity boys’ and girls’ team for their outstanding seasons.

At City Hall, you can have your cake, and eat it, too.

The Bearcat Boys’ basketball team finished with a 26-4 overall record, finished as league champs with a 12-0 record, and advanced to the quarterfinals of the CIF playoffs. The team was coached by Greg Eckler and was assisted by Dave Zylstra. Players included Jordan Butler, James Northup, Jeremiah Rasmussen, Scott Fassas, Chris Finch, Brandon Ko,  Matt Adamo, Cameron Griffin, Garrett Pendleton, Garrett Horine, Shayan Karim, Bryan Mahood, Ryan Ramirez, Sean McElwain, and Zach Brungard.

The Bearcat Girl’s Varsity basketball team finished with a 30-4 overall record and ranked No. 1 in the San Gabriel Valley. The team lost in the finals of the CIF playoffs and advanced to the State quarter finals. The team was coached by Darren Baumunk and assisted by Bruce Becker, Mary Hanawalt, and Jill Loy. The team consisted of Jackie Loy, Lauren Neff, Ariana Abo, Nikki Wheatley, Stephanie Vana, Jaclyn Smith, Taylor Anderson, Madison Zylstra, Natalie Reyes, Sarah Jackson, Briana Kennedy, Erin Hastings,
Reyna Sierra, and Stephanie Herra.

Steve Johnson accepts a plaque from Mayor Don Kendrick for his eight years of service to the city council.

After the cake and punch were served and the basketball honorees  and well-wishers departed, the new City Council got down to business, listening to Principal Planner Eric Scherer provide an overview of Hutton Development’s plans to develop the former Person Ford dealership at 2777-2855 Foothill Blvd. into a mixed-use site that will include 172 upscale multi-family apartments and about 15,000 square feet of commercial retail. The project will also accommodate 26 moderate-level affordable units.

The developer of the three-story Prairie-style mixed use development is already in discussion with some national chains to lease the retail space. Hutton Development has completed a similar project, College Park, in Upland, Calif. A public hearing for the La Verne project is scheduled for May 5, 2011. If green-lighted, it should take about a year to complete, Scherer said.

Don Kendrick is sworn in by city clerk Evelyn C. Clark.

About the only people who have enjoyed longer reigns governing are Queen Victoria and Louis XIV.

Bonita basketball reigns supreme in Southern California. Here the Bonita girls are honored for their amazing year.

The Bonita varsity boys' basketball team also had a stellar season, earning them a trip to city hall.