Redlands News: Feb. 28, 2025

How did test scores change post-pandemic? Plus: a mini art showcase, Run Through Redlands this Sunday and Viva La Boba’s new location

LATEST

(Stock photo: Jacob Wackerhausen)

Redlands students outperform state average but struggle to regain pre-pandemic ground

New national test scores show slow academic recovery since COVID-19 pandemic, with persistent learning gaps in math and reading. While Redlands Unified students exceed state benchmarks, proficiency rates remain below 2019 levels.

REDLANDS, Calif. — Nearly five years after COVID-19 disrupted schools across the country, the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) has released new data known as the Nation’s Report Card. The results: hopeful yet concerning.

Why it matters: The Nation’s Report Card shows that while some students regained lost academic ground, most fourth- and eighth-graders continue to perform below pre-pandemic levels in both math and reading. This trend is consistent with state-reported test scores in Redlands, where students continue to perform below 2019 levels.

Search your school's scores and read more about how RUSD is tackling learning loss and helping students regain academic ground here.

Redlands students outperform state average but struggle to regain pre-pandemic ground
New national test scores show slow academic recovery since COVID-19 pandemic, with persistent learning gaps in math and reading. While Redlands Unified students exceed state benchmarks, proficiency rates remain below 2019 levels.

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

Co-owner Tansu Philip stands behind counter at Viva La Boba in Redlands. (Photo: Community Forward Redlands)

Viva La Boba opens second location in historic Redlands building

The popular boba shop expands to Redlands, bringing its community-focused mission and unique drinks to a building with a 127-year history.

Redlands-owned Viva La Boba has opened its second location in a historic building once home to one of the city’s earliest pioneers, photographer Elias F. Everitt, who arrived in 1897.

Co-owners Tansu Philip and David Friedman said they were enthusiastic about acquiring the historic building and pleasantly surprised when they learned that throughout the building’s 127-year history, half of that time it had been a café. 

“It was so special knowing it has been a café because now I feel like we are just a part of that chain of life,” said Philip.

“We always wanted to open in Redlands,” she added. Philip grew up in Loma Linda, Friedman in Yucaipa, and both graduated from Redlands High School.

Continue reading about Viva La Boba here.

Viva La Boba opens second location in historic Redlands building
The popular boba shop expands to Redlands, bringing its community-focused mission and unique drinks to a building with a 127-year history.

NEWS BRIEF

📍Land-use training: Redlands City Council receives training on land use decision-making. The Redlands City Council and Planning Commission recently participated in a joint training session to review their respective roles and responsibilities in land use project reviews and decision-making. Read more here.

Redlands City Council receives training on land use decision-making
Planning Commission and Council roles clarified in joint session

🚨 Weekly police report: Suspect allegedly brandished a firearm, made threats in Home Depot parking lot; police also report rape investigation, DUI and burglary arrests. Read more here.

Man arrested in Redlands on hate crime, assault charges
Suspect allegedly brandished a firearm, made threats in Home Depot parking lot; police also report rape investigation, DUI and burglary arrests

EDUCATION

📚 28th Annual Charlotte S. Huck Children’s Literature Festival: Up to 200 attendees are expected at the 28th annual Charlotte S. Huck Children’s Literature Festival, hosted at the University of Redlands on March 7-8, 2025. The festival is named after the late professor Charlotte S. Huck, author of Children’s Literature in Elementary School, a book and its new editions still used by educators and librarians nationwide. Read more about the event here.

Upcoming: 28th Annual Charlotte S. Huck Children’s Literature Festival
An upcoming festival for book lovers honoring Charlotte S. Huck’s Legacy

🎓 Redlands school receives $5,000 grant: Retailer donates to local school as part of new store opening in Citrus Plaza. Read more here.

Redlands school receives $5,000 grant from Burlington Stores
Retailer donates to local school as part of new store opening in Citrus Plaza

🚰 Tour of Redlands agricultural history, water stewardship: Bear Valley Mutual Water Co. tour highlights Redlands' rich agricultural legacy and sustainable water practices to secure farming in the region. Read more here.

Young Farmers & Ranchers tour highlights Redlands’ agricultural history, water stewardship
Bear Valley Mutual Water Co. Tour Highlights Redlands’ Rich Agricultural Legacy Sustainable Water Practices Secure Farming Future in Redlands

SPORTS

Runners take off at the start of last year's A Run Through Redlands. (Photo: John Murphy)

A Run Through Redlands set for Sunday

Get well hydrated and lace your shoes tight, the 42nd A Run Through Redlands is Sunday.

The races wind through picturesque, tree-lined streets and past historic homes with pleasing views of the San Bernardino mountains. 

The 10-kilometer (6.2 miles) race begins at 7 p.m. in front of the post office at 201 Brookside Ave. The half-marathon (13.1 miles) starts at 7:20 a.m. and the 5-kilometer race (3.1 miles) embarks at 7:45 a.m.

Online registration closes at midnight on Friday. Late registration and pick-up is in front of the Smiley Library on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sunday at 6 a.m. until the start of the last race.

The 5k race is $40, the 10k is $50, and the half-marathon is $90.

There is also a kinder dash. The dash costs $10 and is on the grass area by the Lincoln Shrine at 9:30 a.m. All runners receive a medal.

More information: redlandsrun.com.

Read more sports news from reporter John Murphy in this week's Press Row:

A Run Through Redlands set for Sunday
Press Row
(Photo: John Murphy)

REV dream ends with shootout loss

The Redlands East Valley High girls soccer team lost its first five games. It finished only third in its league. And it didn’t have a stadium deemed suitable by the section to host a section playoff game.

Yet, there were the Wildcats at Redlands High on Saturday night, hosting La Mirada in the CIF-Southern Section Division 4 semifinals. That REV lost to La Mirada 1-1 (5-4) on penalty kicks is arguably no source of shame for the Wildcats, but rather a badge of honor the team was there at all.

But it still hurt.

Read more here.

REV dream ends with shootout loss
The Redlands East Valley High girls soccer team lost its first five games. It finished only third in its league. And it didn’t have a stadium deemed suitable by the section to host a section playoff game. Yet, there were the Wildcats at Redlands High on Saturday night,

ARTS + CULTURE

Redlands 56th Annual Multi-Media Mini Show at the Redlands Art Association. (Photo: Community Forward Redlands)

See small-scale masterpieces at Redlands 56th Annual Multi-Media Mini Show

The 56th Annual Multi-Media Mini Show has taken over the Redlands Art Association.

The exhibition attracts artists from near and far because it accepts mediums often overlooked in juried shows. Another reason is that the gallery invites members and non-members to enter the prestigious show. This year, 13% of the accepted art pieces were by non-members.

Acceptance into a juried show is a reward in itself - a sentiment gallery manager Sandy Davies likes to repeat.

See this year’s winners and a peek of what to expect when visiting this miniature showcase here.

See small-scale masterpieces at Redlands 56th Annual Multi-Media Mini Show
The Redlands Art Association’s juried exhibition features over 100 miniature artworks in a diverse array of mediums, awarding top honors to standout pieces in collage, oil, and mixed media.

🎷  The Dubtet brings ska and reggae groove to Smiley LIVE!: To honor Black History Month the unmistakable beats of ska, reggae, soul, two-tone, and jazz filled the Contemporary Club stage as The Dubtet delivered an electrifying performance Feb. 26 for A.K. Smiley Public Library’s Smiley LIVE! Americana Roots concert series, sponsored by the Shiela Field Cultural Enrichment Fund. Read more here.

The Dubtet brings ska and reggae groove to Smiley LIVE!
REDLANDS, Calif. — To honor Black History Month the unmistakable beats of ska, reggae, soul, two-tone, and jazz filled the Contemporary Club stage as The Dubtet delivered an electrifying performance Feb. 26 for A.K. Smiley Public Library’s Smiley LIVE! Americana Roots concert series, sponsored by the Shiela Field Cultural

EVENTS

FINALLY

(Courtesy)

Redlands bookstore to host launch of ‘Alpaca Poe and Cricket’ by local author

The Frugal Frigate Bookstore will host the launch of Alpaca Poe and Cricket, the latest children's book by local author and educator Susan Cortz, at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 15.

The book, the second in The Adventures of Alpaca Poe series, is designed for children ages 5 to 8 and promotes critical thinking skills through rhyme, engaging characters and relatable social situations. A special guest, Cricket, the Great Pyrenees who inspired the story, will be present to meet attendees.

Read more about the event here.

Redlands bookstore to host launch of ‘Alpaca Poe and Cricket’ by local author
Alpaca Poe and Cricket: Inspiring young minds to think independently available March 8

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