HEADLINER

Mother's quick action saves family from explosive house fire

A two-story Victorian caught fire on Fern Avenue over the weekend, displacing a Redlands family

REDLANDS, Calif. – A Redlands family narrowly escaped tragedy when a fire erupted in their neighbor's yard, quickly spreading to their historic home and triggering a gas explosion.

Trisha Cupples, a teacher at Redlands Unified School District, credits quick thinking for getting herself and her daughter to safety before the outdoor fire ignited the main gas line at their 1900s Victorian home on Fern Avenue.

The blaze rapidly engulfed the rear of the house, destroying the kitchen and living room. Firefighters managed to put out the fire in about two hours. Fortunately, no one was injured.

The family lost nearly all their possessions and now faces the challenging process of rebuilding their lives and home.

Read more about their harrowing experience and how the community is coming together to support them here.

Mother’s quick action saves family from explosive house fire

A two-story Victorian caught fire on Fern Avenue over the weekend displacing a Redlands family

Community Forward RedlandsStephanie Hastings Miranda

NEWS BRIEF

💵 $500M bond for Redlands Unified on November ballot: The Redlands Unified School District is asking voters to approve a $500 million bond measure this November to fund essential repairs and upgrades to aging school facilities. Redlands voters will decide on Nov. 5 whether to approve the bond increasing property taxes to pay for critical health and safety improvements. Read more about the key projects and what it could mean for taxpayers here.

$500M bond for Redlands Unified on November ballot

Funds would address extensive building repairs, facility additions, and modernization efforts.

Community Forward RedlandsStephanie Hastings Miranda

🚔 Lockdown lifted after no weapon found: A false alarm at Moore Middle School in Redlands prompted a campus-wide lockdown Thursday afternoon after reports of a student possessing a weapon. Read more here.

False Alarm: No weapon found at Moore Middle School after lockdown

Redlands Police Department conducts extensive search with K9 units, lifting lockdown after finding no evidence of reported weapon on campus

Community Forward RedlandsStephanie Hastings Miranda

💻 Arrest follows theft at REV High School: A 21-year-old man was arrested Tuesday for allegedly burglarizing Redlands East Valley High School and stealing over $3,000 worth of electronics. Read more here.

$3,000 electronics theft at REV leads to arrest of Mentone man

Suspect Edward Dykstra, 21, apprehended after search warrant reveals stolen school property and illegal firearm at his residence

Community Forward RedlandsStaff Writer

🍭 Food dye ban for schools: California lawmakers are advancing legislation that would prohibit public schools from serving foods containing six synthetic dyes linked to behavioral and developmental issues in children. Read what this could mean for local school lunches here.

California lawmakers push to ban synthetic food dyes in schools

The bill targets synthetic food dyes linked to hyperactivity and neurobehavioral problems in children.

Community Forward RedlandsKathryne Mccann

🏚 Virtual insurance town hall: California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara and Third District Supervisor Dawn Rowe will host a virtual town hall on Sept. 4 to discuss the state's efforts to tackle the homeowner insurance crisis. More information and how to attend here.

Virtual Insurance Town Hall to be held on Sept. 4

California Insurance Commissioner and Third District Supervisor to discuss the homeowner insurance crisis.

Community Forward RedlandsKathryne Mccann

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

Sitting under the stars, listening to music bring films to life, and appreciating the fireworks finale of another Redlands Bowl Summer Music Festival finale isn’t something Redlanders take for granted. 

Friday night, the Redlands Bowl wrapped up its 101st season as Ransom Wilson directed the Redlands Symphony with scores from a variety of movies, both contemporary and vintage. Wilson has performed with orchestras worldwide and has been the director of the Redlands Symphony since 2016. 

Read more about the season finale here.

Redlands Bowl Summer Music Festival closes out season with a firework finale

The free outdoor music festival wrapped up its 101st season on Friday Aug. 16

Community Forward RedlandsShantell Sunderman

🌳 Volunteer opportunity at Gateway Ranch: Local nonprofit Redlands Conservancy is looking for help trimming oak trees at Gateway Ranch. About 25 trees are in need of a trim to help maintain the 'Forest of the Canyons.' More information here.

Help trim trees at Gateway Ranch

Redlands Conservancy seeks volunteers to help with project

Community Forward RedlandsStephanie Hastings Miranda

SPORTS

Beloved coach Ken Miller dead at 82

Ken Miller could have been content as an educator and as a beloved football coach at the University of Redlands and at Yucaipa High.

But Miller, who died at 82 on Wednesday following a brief battle with cancer, was ambitious and an adventurer. His wanderlust took him to the apex of the Canadian Football League.

Miller coached in four CFL Grey Cups, the Canadian equivalent of the Super Bowl. He won one as an assistant with the Toronto Argonauts and another as an assistant with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. He also narrowly lost two of the big games as the head coach of the Roughriders in 2009 and 2010.

Read more about the former Yucaipa High and University of Redlands coach remembered for his adventurous spirit and mentorship here.

Beloved coach Ken Miller dead at 82

Former Yucaipa High and University of Redlands coach remembered for his adventurous spirit and mentorship

Community Forward RedlandsJohn Murphy

🏈 Citrus Valley High edges REV in thrilling flag football comeback: Citrus Valley High's flag football team staged a dramatic comeback to defeat Redlands East Valley 20-19 in a Citrus Belt League game. The Blackhawks overcame a 13-point deficit in the final minutes to improve to 2-0 in league play. Read more here.

Citrus Valley roars back to edge REV

Blackhawks 20-19 flag football victory

Community Forward RedlandsJohn Murphy

UPCOMING

📌 Aug 24 - National Aviation Day: The Redlands Airport Association is celebrating National Aviation Day with a fly-in and historic aircraft display on Saturday, August 24th, from 7:30 am- 11 am.

📌 Aug. 28 - Smiley Live! Squeakin’ Wheels: Six musicians who fuse musical influences from a wide range of times and places. Their shows are like an aural tour through the American musical landscape of the past century.

📌 Sept. 3 - Redlands City Council resumes: After a summer recess, the Redlands City Council will meet on Sept. 3

📌 Sept. 8 - Made in love in Redlands Fall Market: A day of shopping small, big smiles, and even bigger deals at 325 Alabama St., Redlands.

Explore these events and more at the calendar linked below.

FINALLY

Accelerate Neighborhoods Climate Action (ANCA), a local climate action group, announces a series of fall events to address the climate crisis at the neighborhood level.

The Redlands-based nonprofit is dedicated to educating and empowering neighbors to work together toward local climate resilience and adaptation.

ANCA is bringing back its speaker series about climate-resilient living: Pathways to a Sustainable Redlands. The series kicks off with Living Closer, Moving Smarter: A Blueprint for a More Sustainable Future on Sept. 18 at 6:30 p.m. at the Redlands Community Center.

The group is also planning a second Repair Cafe on Oct. 5 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Redlands Community Center.

Read more about their upcoming events here.

Climate group announces speaker series, “fix it” event

ANCA plans events to promote sustainability and reduce waste

Community Forward RedlandsStephanie Hastings Miranda

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