LA VERNE, Calif. — The City of La Verne was founded in 1887 as a railroad boomtown and incorporated in 1906. 

Approximately 35 miles east of Los Angeles, La Verne sits in the foothills of the San Gabriel and Pomona valleys and has a population of over 33,000.

On this week's "In Focus SoCal," host Tanya McRae talks with Tim Hepburn, who has served as mayor of La Verne since 2020 and leads the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments. 

Hepburn's family moved to Southern California from St. Louis when he was six months old. He grew up in Arcadia in the San Gabriel Valley and attended schools there. 

In 1977, Hepburn followed in the footsteps of his father, who worked in electrical construction and became an electrical contractor.

Hepburn set down roots in La Verne with his family for the past 40 years. In 2012, he was inspired to pursue a career in public service. He became involved in the city's planning commission and then ran for city council in 2015. 

Hepburn talked about wanting to make a difference in the community and his priorities as he campaigned for mayor.

"One of my biggest campaign slogans was transparency and fiscal responsibility… and, if there's a problem, call me," he said. "You know, our city is very well run. We have amazing departments. But I think the most important thing was people getting in touch with me. If there's an issue, we would contact the right people in our city and get things taken care of. It was an interesting transition, but I enjoy it. I've got a great council, new management, and it's actually a blessing."

Hepburn also shared how the city's reputation for its top-rated schools helps draw people to La Verne.

"The schools are extremely good. Everybody knows each other. It's a small-town atmosphere. But the schools, the action as parents, we involve ourselves in the schools, grade schools, high school, so it's just a great environment, great businesses and small restaurants and just a nice small-town feel," he said.

The city gained national recognition as the home of the University of La Verne, which The Wall Street Journal ranked No. 33 in the nation in the 2024 Best Colleges in the U.S. rankings. 

"You know, any town that has a university, as far as in the center of their town, is a blessing… It's probably one of the most important things with our faculty and staff, as well as the affiliation and the relationships we have with the university and the students. It feeds our downtown. It's just a wonderful atmosphere for education and also just a wonderful thing to have in our community," explained Mayor Hepburn.

Mayor Hepburn also discussed LA Metro's significant Gold Line expansion project. 

The 9.1-mile expansion will run from Glendora to Montclair. It will connect the San Gabriel Valley and Inland Empire to Los Angeles and Long Beach when completed.

"The benefits to us is basically any of the cities that the gold line now the A line has gone through has spurred the economy. Whether it be a large living complexes or restaurants, commerce," he said. "It's just going to bring a lot of people from all the way from Santa Monica all the way through the hub, and it's going to spur economy, also going to spur business, hopefully on the Arrow quarter to get more businesses."

Also, on this week's episode of "In Focus SoCal," we talk with music icon Carnie Wilson, who participated in an event held at the Grammy Museum in downtown Los Angeles.

The music and entertainment channel AXS TV — in partnership with Spectrum — is providing funds and resources to deserving music programs through the "Band Together For Music Education" initiative.

This year, the "Band Together For Music Education" initiative will award $150,000 in grants to schools and community organizations.

The first $10,000 grant is being awarded to Heart of LA — known as HOLA — to support the organization's music education programs. 

Carnie Wilson discussed how music can inspire and make a difference in the lives of children.

"There are many children that are not exposed, that don't have the resources, for education in music - which I think is vital. I think it should be mandatory in every school. I think it should start early. I think music is a way we communicate, the way we feel, the way we love, the way we feel emotions," said Wilson.

She continued, "Organizations like Heart of LA, they are providing the music programs that the kids need."