Warehouse ban under review, Redlands students make waves in science, film and track & field - plus Steve Martin play opens at Footlighters in June
Einstein meets Picasso in Steve Martin’s absurdist play running June 6–22 in Redlands
Cope Middle School sixth grader Calvin Catania took home top honors at the 59th annual California Student Media Festival, winning the Grand Prize for his self-made short film, “Cheap$kate.”
Warehouse ban under review, Redlands students make waves in science, film and track & field - plus Steve Martin play opens at Footlighters in June
Commission directs staff to study prohibition, grandfathering and buffer zones in 4-2 vote after debate over logistics growth and zoning loopholes
REDLANDS, Calif. — The Redlands Planning Commission voted 4-2 Tuesday to explore stricter restrictions on warehouse development, including a possible citywide prohibition, as the city grapples with mounting public opposition to the spread of logistics centers.
The vote directs city staff to return with more detailed analysis of three key strategies: a ban on future warehouse construction, grandfathering of existing warehouse uses, and strategic zoning amendments that could include buffers between industrial and residential areas.
Why it matters: The decision follows more than two years of community pushback against large-scale warehouse projects. Proposed distribution centers in 2024 drew standing-room-only crowds and sharply divided public comment, ultimately leading the City Council to deny one project and approve another. Tuesday’s discussion revealed continued concern that even with limited warehouse-zoned parcels remaining, developers may find ways to build large-scale facilities.
Read more about current warehouse rules and what could change here.
Stephanie Hastings Miranda
🚗 New speed limits coming soon: Redlands is set to lower speed limits on 55 street segments across the city following a comprehensive speed study prompted by new state legislation. City Council held a public hearing on May 20 to review the proposed changes, which were made possible under a new state law that grants cities more flexibility to set speed limits based on safety considerations. Read more about when and where these changes will take effect here.
Kathryne Mccann
🍊 The Redlands City Council will meet Tuesday, June 3: The agenda includes city rezoning, $1 million citywide purchase orders, and approval for the city manager to execute $4.1 million in agreements for homeless resolution efforts. Read more here.
Kathryne Mccann
In a bold move to combat the opioid crisis, the Redlands Fire Department (RFD) is set to become the first fire agency in the United States to hire a full-time Substance Use Navigator (SUN).
The SUN role is the latest phase of Redlands’ multi-agency opioid abatement initiative, launched in 2020 by the Fire and Police departments.
The new position is designed to guide individuals from the brink of overdose to recovery with dignity and support by connecting people to critical services such as Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT), outpatient therapy, housing assistance and peer-based recovery resources. This includes responding to overdoses, conducting home visits, and engaging patients in emergency rooms.
Read more about the program here.
Kathryne Mccann
🚓 Redlands Weekly police update: A 16-year-old was arrested early Monday morning after leading police on a short vehicle pursuit in a stolen car, one of several incidents Redlands police responded to over the Memorial Day weekend, including a drug and weapons arrest, an attempted burglary caught on camera and four arrests at a DUI checkpoint. Read more here.
Community Forward Redlands
Redlands FC: Road Wins & a Home Friendly This Weekend: Redlands FC opened the season strong with back-to-back wins over Stars FC and a hard-fought match against defending conference champs FC Tucson, earning 3 of 6 possible points on a tough Arizona road trip. This Saturday, the squad returns to Dodge Stadium for a special friendly match against the SoCal Junior College Select Team, hosted by KickaBallPod.
🔬 Three Redlands East Valley High School students are gaining national attention for their innovative "sand battery" — a sustainable energy project inspired by the environmental toll of lithium and cobalt mining. After years of experimentation, their thermoelectric prototype can store solar heat and power devices for up to 14 hours. The team recently competed at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair and earned $34,000 scholarships apiece.
Read how these students are turning backyard sand into a clean-energy breakthrough.
Contributor
🎬 Cope Middle School's Calvin Catania is making waves in the world of student filmmaking. His short film Cheap$kate just won two major awards—including the Grand Prize—at the California Student Media Festival in Hollywood. Calvin wrote, directed, acted, edited and scored the film himself, using only a phone and a pair of clip-on mics. “It was insane,” he said of hearing his name called. Learn more about his journey and where Cheap$kate is headed next.
Siw Heede
🚗 Redlands Firefighters Car Show draws thousands: Downtown Redlands came alive Sunday as the Redlands Professional Firefighters hosted their annual car show, featuring classic cars, live music, food trucks, and family fun. Thousands turned out for the all-day event, which also raised funds for local firefighter-supported charities.
Dave Card
Michael Cullen, Redlands High’s state-meet-bound pole vaulter, was competing at the California Winter Championships at Arcadia High on February 8.
Cullen took a deep breath. He raised his pole. He thundered down the runway and planted. His pole bent as he tucked his body into a L. He was fully upside down before turning his body 180 degrees and clearing the barrier.
The Terrier star bounced off the mat and celebrated. He had cleared 16 feet, one inch – about a foot better than his father Brian Cullen did in high school before he became a Pacific-10 champion at the University of Oregon.
Friday and Saturday, Michael Cullen takes his considerable talents to Buchanan High in Clovis for the CIF-State meet. His Redlands High teammate, Su’Riah Williams, will also compete in the girls’ discus. It will be another chance for Cullen to seek the rarefied air he covets.
“I’m glad to go for the second year,” Cullen said. “I think I can get on the podium, and I think I’ll have a good chance to win.”
John Murphy
🥎 The University of Redlands softball team headed to the NCAA Super Regional: The Bulldogs defeated Emory University 13-2 last week to clinch their berth. The Bulldogs advanced to the NCAA Division III Women’s College Series this week at Illinois Wesleyan University. Their first game was against Trine University on Thursday. Plus two Terriers punch ticket to state track and field meet. Read more from John Murphy's Press Row column.
John Murphy
⚽ Redlands FC returns to Dodge Stadium Saturday: Redlands FC will once again be in action at Dodge Stadium this Saturday, but not for USL2 play. The Redlands squad will instead be playing a friendly against the KickaBallPod SoCal Junior College Select Team. Read more here.
Caden Henderson
📌 Sat. May 31, 5:00 pm - Book Swap and Zine Workshop at Olive Ave Market: Calling all bookworms! Come swap books and zines of all kinds at this special swap on Olive Ave Market’s back patio during their Saturday Night Market. Zine making workshop from 7-8pm. Everyone is welcome - no requirement to bring items to participate.
📌 Wed. June 4, 6:30pm - LGBTQA+ Panel Discussion, Q&A hosted by Redlands Human Relations Commission: Join the Human Relations Commission for a panel discussion featuring LGBTQA+ community members and advocates. This event will explore the challenges faced by LGBTQA+ individuals in Redlands, include a panel Q&A and dialogue on how to build a more inclusive community. Redlands City Council Chambers 35 Cajon Street.
📌 Fri. June 6 - Picasso at the Lapin Agile by Steve Martin: Footlighters Community Theatre brings Steve Martin’s absurdist comedy Picasso at the Lapin Agile to the stage June 6–22. Set in a Paris café in 1904, the play imagines a hilarious, mind-bending encounter between a young Albert Einstein and Pablo Picasso on the verge of their greatest breakthroughs. Evening and matinee performances run across three weekends, with an opening night gala on June 6 and a special cast talk-back on June 21. Tickets available now. Read more here.
📌 Sat. June 7 - 11th Annual Redlands Hunger Walk and Run: Join Redlands Family Services to help alleviate food insecurity in our community and bring awareness to this critical issue. This family-friendly 5K walk & run takes place on the University of Redlands campus and all proceeds benefit our food pantry and breakfast program. Runners begin at 7:45AM. Walkers begin at 8:00AM. Same day registration available at 7a.m. on June 7. Read more here.
📌 Sat. June 14 - Redlands Night Out: Join the Redlands Chamber and Town & Gown for a family night at the ballpark with the IE 66ers! Enhance your experience by adding a ticket for an Arrow train ride to and from the game. Plus, be among the first to grab a stylish IE 66ers pickers hat, available while supplies last. Tickets available here.
📌 Fri. June 20, 8:00pm - Redlands Bowl Summer Music Festival Opening Night Celebrating the legacy of Whitney Houston and other Great Pop Divas: The Bowl’s opening evening celebrates the greatest female voices of all time, featuring award-winning vocalist Nicole Henry. The musical performance will include timeless hits from Whitney Houston, such as “The Greatest Love of All,” “I Have Nothing,” “I Will Always Love You,” “Didn’t We Almost Have It All,” and “I Wanna Dance with Somebody.” Sponsored by Esri. Read more here.
🌳 Tree removal at historic England Grove: Crews cleared trees on the England Grove near Palm and Alvarado avenues this week, making way for 784 new Cara Cara orange trees and a water-efficient irrigation system.
The replanting is part of a $100,000 land acquisition deal that will permanently protect the grove under city ownership. Planting is expected to begin in June. Read more here.
Stephanie Hastings Miranda
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