October 31, 2025

Emergency food drive, voters to decide warehouse referendum, plus Halloween events.

October 31, 2025
(Photos clockwise: iStock photo by Hazal Ak; Siw Heede for CFR; Canva stock photo by Magenta)

This week in Redlands news:



(Photo: Hazal Ak)

Redlands food bank stages emergency drive as federal benefit lapse looms

As thousands of San Bernardino County households face the possibility of losing CalFresh food assistance starting Nov. 1, the Family Service Association of Redlands is holding an emergency food-box distribution Nov. 3–7 to help families weather the lapse.

FSA is also seeking community donations of canned goods, baby formula, and other pantry staples to restock shelves during the federal shutdown.

Read more about how the benefit freeze could impact local families — and how you can help:

Emergency food drive in Redlands as CalFresh funding stalls
With federal funding for CalFresh on hold, Redlands Family Service Association is stepping up to feed families who could lose their benefits starting Nov. 1 — and the nonprofit is calling on the community to help.

DEVELOPMENT

🗳️ Yucaipa voters to decide on the city’s updated freeway corridor plan next June: The Yucaipa City Council voted 3–1 to place a referendum on the June 2026 ballot, allowing residents to decide whether to overturn zoning updates tied to a proposed 2 million-square-foot warehouse project near Live Oak Canyon Road on the boarder of Redlands. The decision follows a successful petition by Yucaipa Neighbors Opposing Warehouses, who gathered over 5,000 signatures to challenge the plan. Read more here:

Yucaipa council sends warehouse referendum to June 2026 ballot
Council accepts petition certification, opts for June 2, 2026 election on the Freeway Corridor Specific Plan

PUBLIC SAFETY

🚨 Redlands Police Weekly Report: Redlands police are investigating a string of incidents, including a downtown armed robbery, a break-in at Uncle Howie’s Pizza, a home burglary in South Redlands, and a DUI arrest on Wabash Avenue. Read more here.

Redlands police investigate armed robbery Downtown
Plus, a restaurant break-in and a home burglary in this week’s police update

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EDUCATION

Kimberly Elementary teacher named C-STEM Teacher of the Year: Kimberly Elementary’s Roland Hosch has been honored by UC Davis as a C-STEM Teacher of the Year for bringing computer science and robotics into his fifth-grade math classroom. Hosch’s hands-on lessons using RoboBlocky software have helped students connect math with creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving. District leaders say his work exemplifies Redlands Unified’s growing leadership in expanding access to computer science education. Read more here.

Kimberly Elementary teacher honored as C-STEM Teacher of the Year
Roland Hosch recognized for innovative math instruction using robotics and coding

🦃 Redlands Turkey Trot returns Thanksgiving morning: The Redlands Turkey Trot is back and kicks off Nov. 27 at Sylvan Park. Hosted by the Redlands Educational Partnership Foundation and Sunrise Rotary Club, the annual 5K and Kids’ Fun Run support local schools and community programs. Read more here.

Runners return for Redlands Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning
Annual 5K and kids’ fun run benefit local schools and community programs

Spotlight on Local Healthcare
CTA Image

⚕️How a Redlands medical group is rebuilding trust in local care

From children’s checkups to senior care, Community Alliance Medical Group is redefining what it means to have local, patient-centered healthcare. With clinics in Redlands, Yucaipa, and Beaumont, CAMG connects families of all ages to trusted doctors who live and work in the communities they serve.

During Medicare open enrollment (Oct. 15–Dec. 7), CAMG helps patients stay with their preferred physicians by partnering with licensed local insurance agents — like Welsh Insurance Services – ensuring care decisions stay close to home.

Continue reading here.

Schedule an appointment at camghealth.com

Read more

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

📚 A new chapter begins in downtown Redlands: On opening day, more than 1,000 people lined up around the block for Page 78 — a bookstore and creative space founded by Caity Feil and Eddie Aguero, the duo behind the literary-inspired apparel brand Rebel and Fleur.

The State Street shop offers a hand-picked selection of fiction, reading lounges, and frequent author events, all wrapped in a cozy, community-minded atmosphere.

Read the full story:

Page 78 bookstore brings ‘freshly picked fiction’ to downtown Redlands
Crowds wrapped around the block for the grand opening of Page 78, a new independent bookstore created by the founders of Rebel and Fleur. The Redlands shop combines curated fiction, cozy reading nooks, and “book-ish” style in a space designed to feel like home.

💛 Family Service Association honors local changemakers: The Family Service Association of Redlands celebrated its annual Donor Appreciation Reception, recognizing outstanding generosity and volunteerism in the community. The Annette Williams Charitable Foundation received the Alfred Smiley Award for its support of affordable housing efforts, while several longtime volunteers were honored for their service to local families in need. Read more here.

Family Service Association honors community donors, volunteers at Mission Gables reception
Alfred Smiley Award presented to Annette Williams Charitable Foundation for leadership in housing initiative

🎃 Halloween and Día de los Muertos festivities in Redlands: From candy-filled fun at Plane or Treat and the Olive Avenue Halloween Extravaganza to a Día de los Muertos celebration at A.K. Smiley Library, there’s something for everyone this spooky season. Wrap it all up sustainably at the city’s post-Halloween Pumpkin Smash, turning gourds into compost instead of waste. Read more here.

Where to celebrate Halloween, Día de los Muertos in Redlands
Plus, post-Halloween pumpkin smash makes composting easy.

SPORTS

🏈 Sports Notebook: Bulldogs top Cal Lutheran in double OT thriller; REV edges Yucaipa 43–41; Redlands girls tennis perfect in CBL; local water polo and ACA volleyball roll into CIF. Terrier volleyball's record-breaking run to the playoffs ends Wednesday night in a loss to Santa Margarita. Read more here:

Terrier volleyball reaches quarterfinals for sixth time in program history
Sports Notebook

🏃‍♀️ Redlands runners shine at Mt. SAC Invitational: Arrowhead Christian’s Leah Slagter raced to her second straight victory, topping 114 runners in the Division 5 Varsity Green race at the Mt. SAC Invitational. Redlands High and Citrus Valley teams also performed well, led by standout finishes from Hudson Glassmire and freshman Allyssa Castaneda. Read more here:

Arrowhead Christian’s Leah Slagter excels at Mt. SAC
Crosscountry Roundup

EVENTS

📌 Fri. Oct. 31– 4 - 7 p.m.:  Olive Avenue Halloween Extravaganza Read more here.

📌 Sat. Nov. 1 – 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.: The A.K. Smiley Public Library Día de los Muertos.  Read more here.

📌 Sat. Nov. 1 – 10 am: AAUW hosts Dr. Paulette Brown-Hinds, a leading voice for community-centered journalism and media equity. Brown-Hinds will discuss the importance of supporting local news as a public good and the need to invest in diversity within media. The program begins at 10 a.m. in the Casa Loma Room at the University of Redlands and is open to the public at no cost. Read more here.

📌 Tues. Nov. 4 – 6-9 p.m.: The Redlands City Council will meet.

📌 Thurs. Nov. 6 - 5:30 - 6:30 - Redlands Forum hosts Jen Thompson, memoirist and author. Register here.

📌 Sat. Nov. 15 – 7:30 p.m.: Experience an unforgettable night of music at the Redlands Symphony featuring pieces by Leonard Bernstein, Anna Clyne and Tchaikovsky. Click here for ticket information.

More community events here.


ICYMI

In case you missed it...

Redlands Unified, 11 campuses named to California Honor Roll
Educational Results Partnership recognizes RUSD and 11 schools for sustained achievement and progress in closing gaps.

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