Holiday magic returns to Redlands' Historic Downtown
Annual lighting ceremony on Nov. 22 to feature bounce house, face painting, and petting zoo at Ed Hales Park
City responds to Newsom's encampment order, Flag football kicks off, Brothers donate lemonade stand proceeds to animal shelter
This is the first part of a series examining the impact of the Supreme Court's ruling in Grants Pass v. Johnson on state and local policy.
REDLANDS, Calif. — The city of Redlands plans no changes to its homelessness outreach and support following Gov. Gavin Newsom's executive order on Thursday, July 25, instructing state agencies to begin removing homeless encampments.
The order follows the U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision in Grants Pass v. Johnson, which on June 28, 2024, decided that local governments can criminalize camping on public land.
Why it matters: The governor's executive order represents a significant step in California's ongoing efforts to address homelessness. It remains to be seen if the efforts to remove the encampments will successfully balance the call for immediate action while also maintaining respect and dignity for those affected.
The city of Redlands says its current response to homelessness has been "effective" and aligns with the Governor’s goals to address encampments while providing shelter and services.
Read more about the executive order and Redlands' current approach to reducing and preventing homelessness here.
🚒 City considers buying land for new fire station: The Planning Commission approved the city's plan to acquire two new properties for a potential fire station and park expansion. Read more here.
❤️ Redlands Fire Department earns gold for heart attack care: Local firefighters recognized by American Heart Association for excellence in cardiovascular treatment and adherence to latest guidelines.
The Redlands Animal Shelter received an unexpected donation in July from two young entrepreneurs who were inspired by their love for rescue animals and lemonade.
Bennett, 7, and Asher, 4, raised $470 over a hot June weekend by setting up a lemonade stand in a neighborhood park. Read more about their story here.
Volunteer efforts are transforming the San Timoteo Nature Sanctuary, a 200-acre site in Redlands.
Martin Lemon, the volunteer land manager, presented a progress report to the Redlands City Council on Jul. 16, showcasing significant improvements in trail maintenance and native plant restoration.
Lemon highlighted three main focus areas: keeping trails open and weed-free, restoring native vegetation, and involving volunteers.
Read more about the community effort and how to get involved here.
📣 Volunteer positions open on two city commissions: Read more here.
The Citrus Belt League (CBL) is set to launch its inaugural flag football season on August 13 with a triple-header at Citrus Valley High School.
This new sport is gaining traction, with participation numbers expected to double in 2024.
Flag football is being introduced as a sanctioned sport in California high schools, offering more opportunities for girls to participate in athletics. Last season, 10,000 high school girls at 441 California schools played flag football.
Six CBL teams are preparing for the season, each with unique strategies and key players. Read sports writer John Murphy's full preview here.
🏐 Wildcats show some bite in summer league: The atmosphere was sticky at the Pearce Sports Center during the Coyote Summer League on Thursday, July 25. But the Redlands East Valley girls volleyball team was upbeat after leaving the court with an easy victory. Read more here.
🥎 Redlands Strong wins gold: The eyes of Texas were upon the Redlands Strong softball team, which won the recent Pony International World Series. Read more here.
Weekly column from sports writer John Murphy.
📌 Aug 3 - Exploration Station: A STEAM Lab for Kids!: Join the San Bernardino County Museum on Saturday, August 3, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. as they unveil a new kids exhibit. Learn more.
📌 Aug. 3 - Improv House Team: A night of laughter with Improv School Redlands House Team Improv Show on Saturday at 8pm. Read more about the improv group here.
📌 Aug 4 - Back2School Jam: Micah House to host the annual backpack giveaway event on Sunday, Aug. 4, from 5 to 7 p.m. in Sylvan Park. Learn more here.
📌 Aug. 6 - Forever Motown at the Redlands Bowl Summer Music Festival: Featuring nine all-star performers, including: G.C. Cameron, former Lead Singer of The Temptations and original lead singer of The Spinners, and Traci Robinson-Green, former lead singer of the Marvelettes.
For the first time, the Jagannath Rath Yatra was celebrated in the streets of Redlands. The Summer Float Festival drew about 150 devotees and community members who participated in the event. The large eyes of Lord Jagannath are a traditional symbol, representing his omniscience and watchfulness over devotees. They are regarded as windows to the soul, believed to offer protection, guidance, and solace to those who seek his blessings.
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