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Mayor: Salvation Army may rescue aquatics
Key to city Ceres
Ceres Mayor Javier Lopez delivered his “State of the City Address” on Thursday and showed off the “Key to the City” plaque to be presented to Ceres native Cade Cowell who has gone onto a successful professional soccer career. Cowell was not able to personallu accept the honor but the mayor did show a video he shot of Cowell back east expressing appreciation for the recognition. - photo by Jeff Benziger

A summer aquatics program could take place this year in Ceres after all, Mayor Javier Lopez said in his “State of the City” address on Thursday.

Previously the city had announced that it may cancel the aquatics program due to budget constraints.

“I want to share some great news,” the mayor told an audience of approximately 100 gathered at the Ceres Community Center. “Many of you heard the unexpected concern that our swim program could be in danger due to budget talks and constraints. I’m happy to tell you that after I personally reached out to the Salvation Army and facilitated a meeting with our Parks & Recreation team, it now looks like we are moving forward with an arrangement that safeguards that program and protects its longevity for our families and our kids.”

But according to City Manager Doug Dunford, there’s only been talk with Salvation Army.

“We have yet to see anything come from the Salvation Army,” said Dunford on Monday. “I know (Recreation manager) Joey (Chavez) had met with them but we have not seen anything in writing. There’s a lot of space between talking and putting something down on paper.”

Complicating matters is that Chavez was placed on administrative leave following a fracas with Ceres Youth Baseball officials Jorge Guerrero and Ismael Ontiveras. The city has ordered an independent investigation of what took place between the two despite the fact that most of the encounter was recorded on cell phone video.

In February the city posted on social media that the 2026 summer swim program has been cancelled due to budget reasons but a week later City Manager Doug Dunford said the announcement was premature. The social media posting, which directed Ceres residents to a link for Modesto’s swim program, drew community backlash and seeming to stun the council itself.

For decades the city has offered swim lessons, water aerobics and open swim sessions at the Ceres High School pool.

Dunford said talk about cancelling the aquatics program came out of budget forecasting for the 2026-27 fiscal year budget which is facing expenditure reductions.

Also during Lopez’s speech, he announced that he will be presenting a “key to the city” plaque to professional soccer standout Cade Cowell who is at the Red Bull training facility in New Jersey.

Cowell began his pro soccer career with the Quakes in 2019 and spent five seasons in San Jose.