High school students in Redlands led a student walk out and march for Palestine through Redlands on Friday, May 10. The protest and march were organized through a new instagram account made by students called Redlands4Palestine. The march started at Sylvan Park and went to Redlands City Hall and back to the park.
This was the first community protest for Palestine. There were previous protests at Redlands East Valley High School and Citrus Valley High School campuses before this protest.
Students gather around at Sylvan park and get ready for the march on May 10. Students and community members socialize and get water, snacks, and masks provided before they start to march. (ANDREW MIRANDA/ Ethic News photo)
This student stands proud waving his Palestine flag for everyone to see at Sylvan park on May 10. All are socializing and very anticipated to begin the march. (ANDREW MIRANDA/ Ethic News photo)
The students and community members begin their march leaving Sylvan park and onto City Hall on May 10. The students chant for Palestine loud and proud for all to hear. (ANDREW MIRANDA/ Ethic News photo)
All are chanting and holding their flags and signs high for all to see during the march for Palestine on May 10. The group is about to pass by Redlands High School where they received supporters who joined in and some who also were heckling the cause. (ANDREW MIRANDA/ Ethic News photo)
Two students hold a banner proudly after arriving at Redlands City Hall on May 10. Students and community members will gather around a speaker and cheer for Palestine. (ANDREW MIRANDA/ Ethic News photo)
Student protests have spread all around U.S universities and colleges in response to the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas and the high death toll of innocent civilians in Gaza. As an act against the U.S. government and other organizations sending funds to aid the war, students have been protesting in many different forms.
These marches and protests have been becoming more widespread in Southern California and across the country as a response towards Israel’s response attack in Gaza after Hamas’s deadly attack on southern Israel last October.
According to apnews.com, on May 12, students at Duke University left their seats at graduation to protest against pro-Israel speaker and comedian Jerry Seinfeld during his speech at Durham, North Carolina. The students waved Palestinian flags and chanted “Free Palestine” as a sign of showing support.
Other schools had more extreme results from protests with authorities escorting or arresting students in protests off campuses. According to abc7.com, due to protests students at UCLA were required to do remote learning out of safety for themselves. Today is the first day after weeks of remote learning that they are trying to revert back to in-person learning, while police still monitor the campus for safety and protection.
Many campuses have actually tried listening to the grievances of students during their protests and come to agreements. According to alijazeera.com, on April 29 authorities in Northwestern University, Illinois made a deal with protesting students that they have the right to continue to peacefully protest if they take down most of their tents by June 1, 2024.
Brown University was the first university on April 30 to consider a vote against funding towards companies associated with Israel and in return students will take down their encampments.
The Redlands community has also been supporting Palestine, according to the Redlands Daily Facts. College and high school students and protesters gathered in Sylvan Park on May 10 and marched to Redlands City Hall chanting against the U.S. President Biden’s support for Israel with signs supporting Palestine. Some high school students also began leaving school early to join in on the support.
Many University of California and California State University students have been affected by this whether or not they were involved in the protests.
Featured image: Collage of images created with canva.com using photos from NPR.com, APnews.com, CNN.com and Foxnews.com. (DELVIN MITCHELL/ Ethic News image)
By KYA ANTHONY, EARENDEL HENRIQUEZ, ALEX VERDUZCO and JAYLEAH PARCHMAN
The Advancement Via Individual Determination program at Redlands East Valley High School received revalidation as an AVID National Demonstration School on April 10 commemorating their accomplishments.
AVID Revalidation is an honor for the school and recognizes the dedication to pushing students forward and building a community of strong successful leaders. REV was first named a National Demonstration School in 2020.
There are approximately 300 REV students in the AVID program. This includes 60 seniors and 12 class sections of AVID.
“I’m very proud about AVID achievements. It has personally helped me a lot and made me feel a lot better in my classes,” Natalie Fauria, a REV AVID freshman student says.
According to the AVID website, to earn AVID National Demonstration School status, the program has to be an “exemplary model of the AVID College Readiness System.”
The website explains that to earn and continue National Demonstration School status “Schools undergo a rigorous validation process and are required to be revalidated every few years to ensure high levels of implementation, with quality and fidelity to AVID strategies schoolwide.”
Screenshot
The Redlands East Valley High School AVID site team from left to right: teacher Cindy Gardner, counselor LaRee Orland, AVID coordinator Jana Bailey, teacher Alex Valle, teacher Jacqueline Hernandez and teacher Diana Gamez. (Photo from instagram @revavid)
Jana Bailey has been the REV AVID coordinator for 21 years.
“I didn’t realize, until we were going through the process, that revalidation is actually very hard to sustain. In fact, there were a number of AVID schools that did not get renewed,” said Bailey.
The AVID event on April 10 included REV non-AVID students’ participation by encouraging them to wear school gear associated with any sport, club or organization on campus. The festivities continued with a free pizza lunch as well, offering it to the first 300 students that are not enrolled.
Samya Miller, a REV AVID senior student shares, “It was good, I had a great time and we had food.¨
In celebration of earning revalidation as an AVID National Demonstration School, Redlands East Valley High School AVID students pose with the AVID mural in the front of the school and hold the “AVID National Demonstration School” banner. (NALEIAH MILLER/ Ethic News photo)
“We are thankful for our entire school’s support,” said Bailey. “The majority of teachers I saw were wearing their REV or AVID gear and it means a great deal to us.”
Many district officials like Superintendent Juan Cabral, Assistant Superintendent Ken Wagner, Assistant Superintendent Sabine Robertson-Phillips, as well as the REV AVID teachers and counselors who make the program possible, were present for the honor.
The REV AVID program includes year-round activities, such as college field trips and over-nighters, community service, and team building activities. The class includes tutorials, organized notebooks, discussions, college tutors and Fun Fridays.
The REV AVID program also has the “Men of Ten” class, previously taught by REV teacher Duan Kellum and currently taught by REV teacher Alex Valle, who is new to REV AVID this year.
In explaining the Men of Ten class, Bailey says, “Nationally, boys – especially those of color – have lower retention rates in AVID and it usually occurs between 9th and 10th grades.”
REV AVID was not the first program to have the class, but Jana Bailey’s husband and Citrus Valley High School teacher Yon Okorodudu was the first in the district to implement the class when he taught AVID.
“Having the Men of Ten class was meant to encourage these students to stay in a college-going culture by providing an environment analogous to a sports team,” said Bailey. “We found that having a male teacher who is a solid role model and who gives the boys a forum to talk about issues that relates to them keeps them engaged in doing well in high school and preparing for college.”
For many AVID students, the program has a strong impact on many aspects of their life.
“‘AVID is a lifestyle’ is what one of our AVID sophomores said while on the student panel,” said Bailey.
The REV AVID program became a Gold Ribbon Program in 2015 and earned Site of Distinction in 2016, a status which the program still holds.
According to RIMS AVID website there are currently 16 schools designated as AVID National Demonstration Schools in San Bernardino County.
Redlands East Valley High School is the only school in Redlands designated as an AVID National Demonstration School.
At the age of 30, one man sold his two successful companies and started his next major adventure: becoming known as the first private company to revolutionize space aircrafts. This man was businessman and entrepreneur Elon Musk, and in 2002, this company became a reality in the form of SpaceX.
SpaceX defines their goal as “revolutioniz[ing] space technology, with the ultimate goal of enabling people to live on other planets.” Their recent works, the Falcon, Dragon, Starlink and Starship programs, are essential to developing technologies that will make the mission to other planets possible.
The rockets that are launched on the Vandenberg Space Force Base are mostly seen by people in Southern California. However, many people witnessing these launches have a muddled thought of what these bright streaks in the sky are. The most recent launches occurred these past couple weeks on March 18, April 6 and April 11.
One Citrus Valley High School freshman, Montserrat Chavez, said, “I thought [the rockets] were spreading chemicals, like maybe to decrease the population.”
Jordan James, a teacher at CVHS, states, ¨I thought they were regular airplanes, but when the sun set and I could see the shine and the reflection, I knew there were definitely actual rockets going on. The sunsets made them look very pretty.¨
The particular rockets that have been seen recently are the Falcon 9 aircrafts. Rockets from the Falcon 9 have a total of 317 launches, 275 landings and 248 reflights, and, according to SpaceX, it’s known as the “world’s first orbital class reusable rocket.”
Throughout the multiple launches, SpaceX has been able to achieve important milestones that advance the possibilities of the most powerful launch system ever to emerge. They have been able to engineer new and successful techniques when launching, such as having 33 Raptor engines on the Super Heavy Booster, and have successfully started up and completed a full-duration burn during ascent. During 2022, NASA and SpaceX had a modified contract to develop a human landing system called the Dearmoon Mission, which will carry the first humans to fly around the moon and back to earth. During recent launches of Falcon 9 and Starship, their main achievement was to develop more successful and advanced technology to launch rockets.
A photo taken in a Sam’s club parking lot in San bernardino. A long bright streak with a wider and bulb-like head crosses the skies at a slow rate seen on March 18, 2024. (CYNTHIA FLORES DIAZ/ Ethic news photo)
The very bright streak in the Southern California sky can also be perceived as a comet or an asteroid. Same streak on March 18, 2024. (CYNTHIA FLORES DIAZ/ Ethic News photo)
The bright streak covered a large part of the southern california sky and was a very vibrant sight to see. (CYNTHIA FLORES DIAZ/ Ethic News Photo)
On March 18, 2024 a more foggy version of the streak was seen in Redlands. The tail of the smoke trail is still very bright in the sky. (CYNTHIA FLORES DIAZ/ Ethic News photo)
A squiggly blurry bright streak which could possibly be the end of one of the Falcon 9 rockets smoke trails. Seen in Redlands on April 6,2024. (CYNHTIA FLORES DIAZ/ Ethic News photo)
The tail of the smoke trail that a Falcon 9 rocket produced on March 18, 2024. (CYNTHIA FLORES DIAZ/ Ethic News photo)
The Village of SBC hosted its 9th annual MLK Day celebration on Jan. 15, and it’s their first year of adding a resource fair. This celebration had classrooms where they learned about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., resources with free food boxes and additional information, prize-giving competitions and live performances.
When the doors opened at 10 a.m, the event started with watching videos teaching about MLK. The Chair of this event, Alise Clouser, welcomed everyone in and brought up special guest speakers such as, Mayor Eddie Tejeda, Council member Mario Saucedo and Superintendent Juan Cabral.
The students dispersed into different classrooms based on their grades with each assigned teacher. Kindergarten through second grade was Melissa Richey, third through fifth was Kayla Anthony and Zonnia Montgomery, sixth through eighth was Jiselle Bryant and Kristen Anthony, and finally ninth through twelfth was Kevin Anthony and Lyz Green.
In those classrooms, each student received a packet filled with the history of MLK. The students got to have interactive activities with the teachers and could share their own experiences based on how they felt about racism and prejudice. As the student’s grade increased, the information on MLK’s life and the improvement that he brought about for other minorities went more into depth.
In kindergarten through fifth, they got to learn who Martin Luther King Jr. was and how his kids felt during the time. Sixth through eighth grade students first went through their own lesson on how they would feel if they couldn´t be friends with others because of the color of their skin. Then, the sixth through eighth grade group learned about the accomplishment that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. did at such a young age. A couple minutes later that group went to join the ninth through twelfth graders to have a debate. In this debate they argued on whether kids should listen to their parents or not.
After each class was finished, they were sent to visit the resource fair with different varieties of booths. Some of the booths consisted of Umoja from San Bernardino Valley College giving away merchandise, Redlands East Valley High School’s Black Student Union providing free face painting, the Family and Community Engagement department from Redlands Unified School District giving away free food boxes, Chicka’s Cakes giving free cupcakes, Book Mobile providing new kids books, and The Trailblazer Project giving out cartoon books.
Photo collage of various booths, speeches and activities at the MLK Celebration in Redlands on Jan. 15, 2024. (Photo courtesy of Redlands East Valley Black Student Union)
As an opener, the Anthony Family sang the National Black Anthem.
The first interactive performance was Larena Garcia from the FACE department holding a puppet show where she read a book about young Martin Luther King Jr. ‘s experience when he was child to the audience. The puppets were voiced by Kevin Antony, Kristen Anthony, and Kayla Anthony, who would give remarks based off the story with funny dialogue.
During the event the Yaya Praise Dancers performed to ‘Get Up’ by Tye Tribbett.
During the day there was a contest going on for an art and a speech one where all grades can enter and win cash prizes. K-2nd participant winner would get $75, 3rd-5th would get $100, 6th-8th would get $125, and 9th-12th would get $150.The winner of the speech contest for 9th-12th grade was Jazz Daughtery. The 3rd-5th contest winner was Langston Buffong. The winner of the K-2 contest was Xavier Buffong.
The Winners of the speech contest all grades along with Alise Clouser, chair of the event. (Photo courtesy of Redlands East Valley Black Student Union)
Closing out the event Bishop Jackie Green brought up on stage the president of REV BSU Samya Miller, Maria Saucedo and Chair event holder Alise Clouser. Then she told everyone to cross arms and link hands as we all sang “We Shall Overcome” together in harmony. After the song she then held a prayer with everyone to officially close the 9th annual Martin Luther King Jr. event.
The Family And Community Engagement Department came out to support Anthony Chavies and LaRena Garcia. Garcia read a childrens book of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. younger self. (Photo courtesy of Redlands East Valley Black Student Union)
“I was so nervous to be reading in front of such a large audience mixed with children, adults and the mayor and other city officials,” Garcia said. “But then I thought of my mom and read to everyone like she used to read to me and all of her grandchildren. The children in the audience that engaged with me and the puppets helped me calm my nerves as well.”
Black Student Union clubs from the local high schools and Umoja from San Bernardino Valley College work together to provide activities and awareness at the MLK Celebration on Jan. 15, 2024. (Photo courtesy of Redlands East Valley Black Student Union)
Kevin Anthony, treasurer of Umoja, said, “ I enjoyed connecting with the high school students and finding out their point of views on racial injustice.”
Closing out the event Bishop Jackie Green gathered everyone for prayer. (Photo courtesy of Redlands East Valley Black Student Union)
The 2023 winter and spring had a tremendous amount of rain causing many areas to flood, including the Santa Ana River. This flooding caused major issues for nearby residents and visitors. Issues include damage of roads, bridges, residents possessions, homes, as well as leaving trees and boulders everywhere.
Fallen trees, boulders, and other debris at the bottom of the Santa Ana River in Angeles Oaks, California. (AMBER BOGH/ Ethic News photo)
A large pile of debris is cleared by dozers while smoothing out the road. Fallen trees have been scattered everywhere due to the heavy flowing water in the Santa Ana River. (AMBER BOGH/ Ethic News photo)
An RV is pushed up against a tree by the Santa Ana River causing damages to the exterior and possessions inside. (AMBER BOGH/ Ethic News photo)
Boulders, trees, and other debris lie at the bottom of the Santa Ana river bed after flooding in 2023. (AMBER BOGH/ Ethic News photo)
One of the many bridges broken from the flooding made the roads inaccessible. Fortunately bull dozers have gone through recently and made the roads accessible again. (AMBER BOGH/ETHIC NEWS PHOTO)
The Santa Ana River originates in the San Bernardino Mountains and flows through San Bernardino, Riverside and Orange counties, eventually emptying into the Pacific Ocean through Huntington Beach.
The flooding of the Santa Ana River has impacted many people’s lives. Residents unable to get to work, losing possessions, homes, and even visitors just passing through due to the debris.
Spreading awareness and knowing about the topic as well as knowing about possible flood danger areas is important.
There are many websites that can help provide information on being in danger of a flood.
Directly after his election in November of 2022, Republican house representative of New York’s 3rd congressional district, George Santos, received public scrutiny due to some dubious claims made during his campaign. Primarily publicized by comedy programs including “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver”, and “Saturday Night Live”, Santos quickly rose to the center of attention as an example of the dishonesty that many Americans feel pervades the federal government. Amidst indictments, ethics investigations, and general public outcry, a vote was held on Friday, Dec. 1, leading to the expulsion of Santos from Congress.
Many citizens wondered how such an ethically dubious individual could be elected to a representative seat, and the answers to their questions were slowly yet surely revealed, as Santos’s web of lies unraveled. From the beginning, George Santos had falsified his education records. Not only did Santos claim that he was a college graduate, but he claimed that he graduated near the top of his class from one of the nation’s most prestigious business schools, New York University. Santos, it turns out, had not even completed an undergraduate degree, as he had falsely claimed.
While Santos deceived voters on his educational history, the discrepancies in his alleged personal history is perhaps even more egregious. For example, during an address to a group of Jewish voters from New York City, Santos made a joke involving his claimed Jewish heritage. When sources revealed that Santos had no Jewish heritage, he later tried to spin his comments as not a claim of Jewish ethnicity, but instead a play on words, as Santos stated that he said he was, “Jew-ish.” Another crucial piece of information regarding Santos’s personal life is his name. Born George Anthony Devolder Santos, for the majority of his life, Santos went by the name of Anthony Devolder. Due to this, he was able, at least for a brief period, able to use this change in name preference to try and defend some of the discrepancies in his claimed accomplishments.
George Santos also regularly claimed that his mother’s life was lost as a result of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City on September 11, 2001. After more research was conducted into the validity of these claims, it was later discovered that not only was Santos’s mother not in New York City on 9/11, she was not even in the country at the time. While each of the aforementioned claims are misleading, and some downright false, they pale in comparison to what critics claim to be Santos’s greatest mistake, the misappropriation of campaign funds.
According to the House Ethics Committee’s report on Santos, he had misappropriated over $200,000 in campaign funds. Spread across transfers to his personal bank account, luxury vacations in the Hamptons, cosmetic enhancement, and other non-campaign related expenses, Santos used the money to benefit his personal life, rather than strengthen his congressional campaign.
George Santos hurriedly taking a call surrounding his expulsion proceedings from the United States House of Representatives. The labels seen represent some of Santos’s most famous deceptions. (Getty Images/TOM WILLIAMS/SPENCER MOORE)
Following his Dec. 1 expulsion, Santos created an account on the Website, Cameo.com. On this site, individuals can pay Santos $500 dollars to say whatever they ask him to. Senator John Fetterman, a Democrat, commissioned a video in which Santos actually encourages the indicted senator, Bob Menendez, an individual Fetterman has shared concerns over, with the words, “You make them put up, or shut up.”
To many observers, George Santos’s saga of lies and deception is representative of a greater problem in the American political system. Critics of Santos say that his election is an example of voter’s selection of representation based not on credibility or qualification, but instead party lines. To detractors of ideologically-based voting, the Santos saga has provided ample evidence to support their claim, that the representation of America should be its best and brightest, not necessarily its personal favorite.
A poster advertising the Mug of War on Dec. 7, 2023, in the morning before school started. (NALEIAH MILLER/Ethic Photo)
In the spirit of spreading holiday cheer and fostering a sense of community, Redlands East Valley High School, Redlands High School, and Citrus Valley High School each participated in a competition to see whose students show more school spirit, by giving away free hot chocolate. To become the winning school, each high school must give their students the most hot chocolate compared to the other schools. The students are encouraged to bring their own mugs to be filled up, but REV also provided disposable coffee cups with lids, if students couldn’t bring their own.
At the heart of this friendly competition lies the desire to create a nurturing and inclusive atmosphere within each school. By offering hot chocolate to their students, these high schools aim to provide a comforting respite from the chilly weather and the demanding academic environment. The act of giving something as simple as a warm beverage fosters a sense of unity and goodwill among the student body.
Each high school has come up with its unique strategy to serve the most hot chocolate cups. Whether it’s setting up dedicated hot chocolate stations outside of the entry gates, organizing multiple stands in the front of the campus, utilizing mobile carts and the water coolers (which contained hot water) from the sports teams, these schools are vying to outdo one another in terms of both quantity and quality. The competition has sparked creativity and enthusiasm among the students, with everyone eagerly participating to contribute to their school’s success.
Beyond the friendly rivalry, this hot chocolate competition serves as an opportunity to bolster school spirit and pride. Students rally behind their respective schools, cheering on their classmates as they distribute warm cups of chocolate goodness. The shared experience of sipping hot chocolate together creates a sense of camaraderie and strengthens the bonds within the student community.
While the competition itself may be light-hearted, the impact reaches beyond the boundaries of the schools. The act of distributing free hot chocolate extends a warm gesture to all students, faculty, and staff, fostering a sense of belonging and care. It serves as a reminder that even small acts of kindness can make a significant difference in brightening someone’s day.
Ultimately, this competition transcends the realm of hot chocolate and emphasizes the importance of giving. It encourages students to think beyond their own needs and consider the well-being and happiness of others. By engaging in this friendly challenge, the schools are instilling in their students the values of generosity, compassion, and community engagement.
The competition among these three high schools to give out the most free hot chocolate cups exemplifies the power of simple acts of kindness in fostering a sense of togetherness and school spirit. As the students come together to spread warmth and joy, they not only create cherished memories but also cultivate a culture of giving that extends beyond the competition. Such endeavors remind us of the significance of small gestures in building a supportive and inclusive community.
At 9:45 a.m. on Thursday morning, it was announced that, after utilizing 70 gallons of water and serving free hot chocolate to over 500 students, REV was the winner of the 2023 Mug-O-War.
REV’s ASB (Associated Student Body) also took the liberty of selling doughnuts to the students for $2 per doughnut. They provided napkins and were stationed right beside the main gate entrance. (NALEIAH MILLER/Ethic News Photo)
REV used the brand Swiss Miss (milk chocolate) to mix in with the hot water that filled everyone’s cups to make the chocolate drink for all. (NALEIAH MILLER/Ethic News Photo)
This is the heater that warmed up the water for the five stations that was set up for students, teachers, and faculty to receive their hot water for the bases of the hot chocolate. (NALEIAH MILLER/Ethic News Photo)
Two ASB members pose in front of their water station, holding their own cups to show their school spirit. (NALEIAH MILLER/Ethic News Photo)
The largest recent candy recall issued by the U.S Consumer Product Safety Commission on October 5, recalled over 70 million of the Coco Candy Rolling Candy.
The candies were sold at Walmart, Five Below, Amazon, CandyDynamics.com and multiple stores across the U.S. They ranged from a price of $2 to $4, each candy held 2 or 3 ounces of sour liquid candy depending on the size.
Candies can be recalled due to defects in the product or even safety hazards. The recent recall was due to a report of a 7 year-old girl who choked and passed after the candy’s rolling ball was dislodged and was caught in her throat.
According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission website, “CPSC has received one report of a 7-year-old girl who choked and died after the candy’s rolling ball dislodged and became trapped in her throat in New York in April 2023. Consumers should stop using the recalled rolling candy immediately, take it away from children and contact KGR Distribution Corp.”
The candy, Coco Candy Rolling Candy and Slime Licker Sour Rolling Liquid Candy, were both recalled in March 2023 due to the “applicator ball” being a safety hazard to small children.
Other recalls that were reported between the year 2022 and the year 2023, were the Gluten Free Reese’s Pieces Brownie Brittle and the well known skittles. The Reese’s brownie brittle was distributed throughout stores nationwide and online markets. The product is a 4-ounce pouch that can range from $3.99 to $4.49, it stayed on sale from March 1 to April 30,2023. The recall was due to wheat in the product that was uncleared and possibly unsafe to consume.
Skittles and other candies such as Starburst, Sour Patch Kids, and Swedish fish are at risk of a potential recall. These candies contain titanium dioxide which is an additive that can give the product a smoother texture and a brighter look. The additive is no longer safe for human consumption, according to European food safety regulators. The U.S. still hasn’t come to conclusive analysis of the potential threats of titanium dioxide.
Marcus Perry, chess club president, engages with a group of students in a game of chess at Cram Elementary School on Sept. 11, 2023. (SHEENA LE/ETHIC NEWS PHOTO).
Citrus Valley High School’s Chess Club visited Jeff Stanners’ fifth grade class at Cram Elementary on Sept. 11. With the trip, the club sought to teach the class about chess and overall get them interested in the game.
Upon arrival, the students were informed on how to play the game, then split into seven groups, each led by a Chess Club member. The club members heading each group acted as a mentor of sorts to the students, and helped to guide them in actual matches of chess for about an hour and a half.
Chess Club President Marcus Perry said, “The kids were excited to see something they had done before showing up in class. They were pumped about making the plans and trying to checkmate their opponent.” A sentiment echoed by club Vice-President Sheena Le, who said that the children “were brimming with enthusiasm, and displayed remarkable engagement with a strong desire to learn.”
Holly Truong, Citrus Valley Chess Club member, guides her group of students in a game of chess at Cram Elementary School on Sept. 11, 2023. (SHEENA LE/ETHIC NEWS PHOTO).
Surprisingly, most of the children already had prior experience playing chess. One student in particular was rather good at the game, and ended up challenging Perry in a match of chess.
While Perry did end up victorious, he still said the kid played really well and that “it’s cool to see that even a fifth grader can hold his own in chess.”
The trip went really well according to Perry.
“I was originally worried it’d be disorganized or the children would be too embarrassed to be around the big kids,” Perry said. “Overall, the trip exceeded all of my expectations.”
Following the trip to Cram, Smiley Library of Redlands reached out to the Citrus Valley Chess Club and asked if they’d be willing to create Smiley Library’s very own Chess Club, an offer that they were swiftly taken up on.
Smiley’s Chess Club will function the same way that the club does at Citrus Valley; there will be plenty of chess games set up and ready to be played for anyone who wishes, and Citrus Valley Chess Club members there to help out anyone new to the game.
Perry, who will be heading the club at Smiley just as he does for Citrus Valley, said he hopes to create an environment where people “have the opportunity to talk and play with others who like chess,” and “give people without a place to play chess somewhere to do so.”
Smiley Library’s Chess Club is projected to meet on the last Saturday of every month, and will be open to anyone who wants to go. More information about meetings for the Citrus Valley Chess Club and the Smiley Library chess club can be found on Instagram.
At around 12:30 – 6:30 in the morning on August 8, 2023 in Lahaina, Maui, electrical lines came crashing down, engulfing Upcountry Maui in flames. Extremely high winds in Maui caused many of these power lines to fall, and Lahaina’s naturally overgrown plants and grass were caught by the electrical spark from the power cables, quickly creating a flame.
Firefighters at the scene one of the many fires that spread around Maui on August 31st 2023 (CREATIVE COMMONS/REBECCA HERNANDEZ)
Hawaiian Electric was quickly blamed for these small (but quickly spreading) fires. Many residents called their power lines too weak to handle the stressful conditions. What seemed like a small predicament would soon become extremely deadly to the citizens of Lahaina. Over time, the fire spread throughout cities, towns, and other communities which would soon result in many casualties.
The wildfires in Lahaina, Hawaii have killed at least 115 residents and 388 people are still missing. Shortly thereafter, Debbie Van Alstyne, an employee at the Plantation House Restaurant in Kapalua, was interviewed by The Washington Post and stated, “Residents should not expect to be back in their homes soon, even if they didn’t burn, the air is contaminated (with toxic dust and ash).”
Residents who were involved said “the chemicals in the air are from burnt car tires, metal, washing machines, and other burning household items.” Not only is the land and air contaminated, but the nearby waters are as well. Many propane tanks on boats exploded because of the heat and caught fire in the harbor. When the next storm hits Lahaina it will be stirred back up into the air as well and push even more contamination into their local waters.
After the fires stopped in Maui, action immediately began to locate any survivors and help the citizens who have experienced this traumatic event. As soon as the fires began, the American Red Cross sent over 670 helpers to assist with the fires. The Red Cross and the local government are working together to help out in this situation. Together they have provided over 39,000 shelters along with hotel rooms in Maui and Oahu. They are also working to involve both the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency and The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to help provide care for the people placed in these hotels.
With these hotels and shelters, they allow families to stay together and feel more comfortable in an uncomfortable situation. The Red Cross is providing meals, mental health care, and physical care for those who were injured in the fires. With the help of partners, they have been able to provide 213,000 meals for the people of Maui.
Additionally, there is a Family Assistance Center in Ka’anapali that the Red Cross is supporting. This center is providing food and water as well as mental health and supporting those who have not found their loved ones. The Red Cross is also in the process of locating people who were lost in the fires and working with government partners too. They have completed 2,900 out of the 3,000 requests that were sent to them to assist for these search and rescues. The Red Cross has brought an abundance of support for this disaster and are working harder to provide more. Even through the tragic devastation ,the hardworking people of Maui are pushing past the difficulty, and aiding their neighbors
Orangewood High School comes out with a new cell phone policy for the 2023-2024 school year on Oct. 9 amplifying the controversy of cell phones.
After various discussions, the staff leadership team and principal of OHS, Carli Norris, came to the conclusion of establishing this new policy for the benefit of OHS students.
This flyer is posted in each teacher’s classroom at Orangewood High School reminding students of the new cell phone policy that begins on Oct. 9, 2023. (KIMBERLY TAPIA/ Ethic News photo)
The policy states that when students are to go inside class they must put their phones away until the class is dismissed or over. If students do not follow this policy there will be consequences. First, they will get a call home. Next, the phone will be taken until the end of the day, and lastly they will have their cell phone confiscated by security and their parents or guardians will have to come pick it up.
OHS Senior Reina Vasquez says, “Teachers should not have the right to take students’ property.”
Every three weeks OHS starts a new grading period or block. During Block 3 is when this cell phone policy was initiated but it will officially start to involve consequences in Block 4, which begins Oct. 9.
OHS Junior Samantha Lara says, “I think it shouldn’t be enforced.”
The goal of this policy is to support students to stay focused in class and improve in their academics.
Feature image: An Orangewood Dragons poster on the campus of Orangewood High School. (KIMBERLY TAPIA/ Ethic News photo)
By CYNTHIA FLORES DIAZ, DANA EYRE and DESTINY RAMOS
Club Rush, held on Sept. 6, was a display of different arts and talents for the students of Citrus Valley to enjoy. Many brand new clubs were introduced, such as Crochet for Cause and Book Club, and many other existing clubs continued to thrive like Key Club and Pals for Paws. Almost all clubs faced success with club rush, with most presidents excitedly talking about the large numbers of students that were interested in joining their clubs.
Peaceful Painting Club, one of the new clubs on campus, is one where students will be able to have a safe, peaceful place to learn to paint. (DESTINY RAMOS/ Ethic News Photo)
The new Love Without Limits club is the go-to for community service hours and charity work. In this club, students will get to create different forms of art to sell on campus and donate the profits to charities. (DESTINY RAMOS/ Ethic News photos)
“Do you want to learn how to own your own business and make money? Come and sign up and we can help you with that!” says Entrepreneurship Club President Kiana Abella. In the Entrepreneurship club, participants will learn how to begin their own business and learn things such as how to create your own business cards. (DESTINY RAMOS/ Ethic News photos)
“We volunteer at hospitals and help students find a place in the medical field,” Caduceus Club President Brianna Illacus shares about their new club. Caduceus Club will be one of the few clubs on campus to introduce careers in the medical field and much more. (DESTINY RAMOS/ Ethic News photo)
BSU was one of the many clubs that had interactive games, including jump rope. “We wanted to offer a different variety of games because we thought it would compel people to sign up,” says BSU club President MeAnna Smith. (Photo Courtesy of MeAnna Smith)
The Crochet Care Club cabinet shares information about their new club. Crochet Care Club will teach interested parties how to crochet and make stuffed animals and blankets, and will donate finished projects to children’s hospitals, homeless shelters and animal shelters. (DESTINY RAMOS/ Ethic News photos)
San Bernardino Valley College hosted a pop up event in the Orangewood High School parking lot on the afternoon of Sept. 7. The purpose was to let students know they have a chance of going to college and share information about SBVC.
A SBVC van with two representatives from SBVC gave out free college gear, such as SBVC earbuds, t-shirts, pens, balls and tickets for SBVC sporting events. The pop up also shared info about free scholarships.
“The pop up was a great opportunity for students to gain access to some great swag but also learn about a great school,” said Carli Norris, Orangewood principal.
Orangewood career center teacher Deborah Severo said, “The idea of the pop-up event is to showcase the van. It’s covered in QR codes and San Bernardino Valley College uses it as an interactive tool. It is an informal, fun way to engage and connect with students and share about the programs at SBVC.”
Feature cover photo courtesy of Orangewood career center teacher Deborah Severo.
By MIA CALIVA, MELANIE PEREZ and ALINA SANCHEZ SANTACRUZ
Since the unforeseen Hurricane Hilary hit Southern California, the month of August brought in generally cooler temperatures. However, finishing off the month of August, there was a spike in the hot weather once again. The temperatures began to rapidly increase, bringing Southern California residents a scorching heat wave.
A screenshot of a thermal map of the state of California demonstrates scalding temperatures in late August 2023, especially in the southern regions (MIA CALIVA/ Ethic News media).
Temperatures reached extremes of 106 degrees daily which is irregular. Although temperatures had started to cool down in late August, they quickly increased starting on Aug. 27 up until Aug. 30.
Redlands resident Nikitha Rajeev says, “Personally, I am not a fan of extreme California summers because it is just too hot,” and during the heat wave she “just stayed indoors and hydrated a lot.”
Locally, residents in East Highland and even in certain areas of Redlands had no power for two whole days, reportedly due to construction. Those in East Highland lost power during the heat wave, leading them to get through the heat without air conditioning. The poor timing of the construction left East Highland residents in much distress, especially those who were not prepared for this to happen since the area is usually well-powered.
Citrus Valley High School Senior and Highland resident Brianna Ilacas said “I had no phone battery and no way to contact my friends” due to the power outage.
Illacas continues, “I can’t sleep in hot climates, so I ended up staying up until 4 a.m. because the air conditioning wasnt working.”
The National Weather Service in San Diego sent out an excess heat warning, informing people of the extreme heat on August 29.
Alerting Inland Empire residents, the warning said “Extreme heat will significantly increase the potential for heat-related illnesses… drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors.”
This warning was issued until August 30 at 8:00 PM when temperatures were expected to cool down.
Although Southern California is no stranger to heat waves during the summer months, the unbearable warmth is always a battle to endure for local residents.
On Sunday, Aug. 20, 2023 students in the Redlands Unified School District all received an email regarding no school the next day. The reason being that, for precautionary reasons, it’s in everyone’s safety that they stay home with their families. Hurricane Hilary, an abrupt tropical storm, hits Southern California over the weekend with crazy wind speeds, heavy rainfall and flash floods all over the area.
San Bernardino County posts an evacuation map route for this in the affected areas (JASMINE ROSALES/ETHIC NEWS)
Hurricane Hilary started off as a category four hurricane in the Pacific before hitting land in Mexico, when it was downgraded to a category two and eventually a tropical storm as it hit Southern California on Sunday, Aug. 20. Though it was downgraded, the storm caused power outages in the Redlands and Loma Linda areas and mass destruction around the Inland Empire.
Due to the hurricane, poor weather conditions have resulted in many car collisions throughout freeways because of rainfall, leading to hydroplaning, flooded roads and decreased visibility range.
The storm caused winds of up to 20 miles per hour and major rainfall all throughout the day on Sunday, Aug. 20 until the early morning of Monday. By the next day, the clouds had disappeared and the sun was shining once again with a warm temperature of 85 degrees.
On Friday, Aug. 18, all residents in the Southern California Area received an alert urging all to prepare for the storm that was predicted to have devastating effects. (Destiny Ramos/Ethic News Photos)
Hurricane Hilary prompted many Southern California residents to take to social media, with some making jokes, and others playing the rain and flooded areas, swimming and even surfing at beaches. Many Florida residents also began to teach California residents how to prepare for hurricanes, telling them to prepare for days without power and to stock up on food and water.
Preceded by a litany of controversy and speculation, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis officially declared his candidacy for the 2024 presidential election on May 24. The announcement was met with mixed reactions within political circles, as DeSantis attempts to establish himself as a contender in an already highly intense Republican race.
Governor DeSantis made the announcement alongside his wife, Casey DeSantis, and his two children. (Gage Skidmore/CREATIVE COMMONS)
Governor DeSantis made the announcement at a rally in Orlando, where he was surrounded by a fervent legion of supporters, waving campaign signs and donning “DeSantis 2024” merchandise, expressing their excitement. However, critics argue that his divisive policies and controversial handling of the COVID-19 pandemic raise concerns about his viability as a presidential candidate.
During his speech, DeSantis touted his conservative credentials, emphasizing his accomplishments as Florida’s governor. He touted his approach to the COVID-19 crisis, which garnered both praise and criticism for prioritizing business interests over public health. His commitment to limited government intervention and deregulation formed the cornerstone of his economic growth plan, while his stances on law and order appealed to conservative voters.
Yet, opponents point to DeSantis’s refusal to implement effective measures to curb the spread of COVID-19, which contributed to high infection rates and strained healthcare systems. Critics have brought up that his prioritization of individual liberties over public safety could raise some questions about his ability to lead effectively on a national scale.
As DeSantis embarks on his presidential campaign, he faces formidable challenges. Including but not limited to, a crowded field of Republican contenders, including both established figures and rising stars within the party and the addressing of criticism of his handling of the pandemic, which has garnered national attention.
DeSantis’s announcement has also prompted speculation about his choice of running mate. Analysts suggest that he may select a vice president who would help broaden his appeal and consolidate support across the Republican base, as he faces potential obstacles in gaining traction among a wider demographic. Due to Trump’s base’s fierce loyalty to the former president, DeSantis certainly has his work cut out for him.
Political observers anticipate that DeSantis will target key conservative groups, such as evangelical Christians, Second Amendment advocates, and immigration hardliners, as a key part of his campaign strategy. However, his close association with former President Donald Trump, who continues to wield significant influence within the Republican Party, may serve as a crucial challenge in his bid for the presidency.
As the 2024 presidential race gains momentum, Ron DeSantis’s entrance into the campaign injects a new level of intensity and controversy. With his polarizing policies, strong conservative stance, and ties to Trump, DeSantis aims to energize the Republican base. However, his ability to garner broad support and articulate a compelling vision for the nation remains uncertain. The coming months will test his ability to navigate the challenges and gain traction in a competitive and divisive political landscape.
May 26 was a cool Friday morning, as parents and families were invited once again to join Orangewood High School students and staff in the multi-purpose room.
Orangewood hosted their fourth quarter awards assembly of the school year.
Multiple awards including student of the quarter, honor roll, athletics and more were presented to the high schoolers.
At the end, they were dismissed to leave for lunch and to enjoy the carnival while parents exited through the side door. Some students stayed behind with their families to take a few pictures before leaving.
Families of students receiving awards enter the multipurpose room to attend the 4th quarter awards assembly at Orangewood High School on May 26. (ESTEBAN ROBLES/ Ethic News photo)
The Orangewood High School multipurpose room was standing-room only at the 4th quarter awards assembly on May 26. (AIDEN MARTINEZ/ Ethic News photo)
Orangewood High School junior Persephonie Lopez stands as her name is called to receive an award at the quarter awards assembly on May 26 (AIDEN MARTINEZ/ Ethic News photo)
Many students received awards at the 4th quarter awards assembly at Orangewood High School (ESTEBAN ROBLES/ Ethic News photo).
Orangewood High School Principal Carli Norris presents senior Jonathan Jaramillo with a certificate. (AIDEN MARTINEZ/ Ethic News photo)
Orangewood High School junior Zoe Ruiz takes photos with her family in front of the school after the quarter assembly on May 26, 2023. This was the last quarter assembly of the school year. (AIDEN MARTINEZ/ Ethic News photo)
After the quarter awards assembly, students gathered in the quad area for the end-of-year carnival. (ESTEBAN ROBLES/ Ethic News photo)
Citrus Valley High School was put on lockdown during lunch on May 12 in response to an explosion-like sound that went off in the quad by the E-building during lunch.
Students who were around quickly evacuated the premises into nearby classrooms, off campus, or the library.
Citrus Valley acted fast by putting students on lockdown and calling the Redlands Police Department to come investigate what happened. Parents were alerted when the lockdown happened and were given updates once information was found out through the Aeries parents portal.
Once police arrived K-9s were brought to Citrus Valley to do a sweep of the school to make sure there were no other threats inside the school.
The School Safety Report investigation process states, “Officers arrived and determined that two students had set off a firework. Both students are in custody. No injuries or damage were reported. There is no threat to the school, students or staff.”
Image of Citrus Valley High School after the lockdown was lifted near where the incident occurred. (Marshall Scott//Ethic News photo)
The next day, an instagram page by the name of cv_neverforgetmay12 with a link to a google site was made. The page served the purpose for students to anonymously submit what they were feeling during the lockdown. The account made students feel heard and as if they were not alone in what they were feeling during the lockdown.
Karen Ravelo, a sophomore at Citrus Valley said, “I felt as though the account helped me feel more understood. Seeing other students having the same experiences and feelings as I did made me more comfortable to open up about my own feelings during that time.”
The creator of cv_neverforgetmay12 said that they “originally made the account to collect stories from the event. It was also to be able to have recorded experiences that wouldn’t be lost over time. For any change being pushed there’s always going to be naysayers pushing back.”
The creator of cv_neverforgetmay12 also emphasized that their main intent when first creating the account was to have the stories shared by fellow students to help create change and said, “I’m also now hoping it caused some changes in people’s hearts as well,” when referring to the lockdown seriousness.
The account was also made to help movements such as Citrus Valley sophomore Raylene Mejias’ petition to change the hallway policy.
After the incident some parents and students were worried about the new hallway school policy that was put into effect on April 4. The policy made it for the buildings to be locked during lunch and with one entrance to this building. Students are allowed in if they have a ticket which they get from teachers.
Sophomore Hadiel Hamad said, “Yeah, I wish things could’ve gone different. It hurt seeing all those scared people, including myself run from an unknown force. The hallway policy should definitely not be abandoned but rather edited.”
The lockdown started conversations about updating the hallway policy in order to safely get students into classrooms in dangerous situations. The hallways restricted students to be able to enter the buildings to get to safety without security guards or staff opening the doors. Many people expressed concern that if there was a more severe situation lives would be in danger.
Isabella Beaumont, a sophomore at Citrus Valley, said, “I think it was a good thought. I understand why they enforced it. However, I don’t believe that anyone was there to open the doors to let students in during the lockdown. So, I feel that it needs to be updated and modified.”
At the time of the publishing of this article, the hallway policy petition had 642 signatures.
To support students who were feeling upset and uneasy after the incident, Citrus Valley invited therapy dogs on May 15 to be at the school and offered counseling services throughout the day.
The therapy dogs were offered before school through the first period and lunch. The therapy dogs were brought in by the organization, Inland Empire Therapy Dogs. IETD is a non-profit organization that is local and very active in the Inland Empire. IETD arranges for the dogs to be at local schools, hospitals and more community settings.
Extra help by District Crisis Response team counselors was offered in A-114 for students who needed support.
Jake the dog, a new addition to the Inland Empire Therapy Dogs family, visits Citrus Valley High School on May 12, 2023. Jake is a cock-a-poo and recently got his license to be a therapy dog. (Marshall Scott/ Ethic News photo)
At the time of the publishing of this article, both the instagram cv_neverforgetmay12 and google site had a statement that they were no longer updating content.
By AIDEN MARTINEZ, ESTEBAN ROBLES and JESUS PACHECO
Orangewood High school’s hosted a carnival during extended lunch on May 26. Leadership students and advisor Caleb Allen organized the event for both Orangewood students and staff to enjoy.
The traditional 30-minute lunch for Orangewood High School students was extended to 45 minutes on May 26, 2023 for students to have time to eat and participate in carnival activities. The carnival was organized by the Orangewood Leadership class. (ESTEBAN ROBLES/ Ethic News photo)
They had cup pong, cornhole, pin the tail on the dragon, cup stacking, tug-of-war, photo booths, and many other games to win candy. It was a social event for everyone to meet and talk to new people. Many of Orangewood teachers participated as well.
Orangewood juniors Christian Rolle, Julianna Talavera and Kai Moyle try their turn at cup pong at the lunch carnival on May 26, 2023. (JESUS PACHECO/Ethic News photo)
Many students liked the games and prizes that were given out.
“It was litty and hype” said Orangewood student Persephonie Lopez
Orangewood junior Madalyn Higham plays a round of corn hole at the lunch carnival on May 26, 2023. (ESTEBAN ROBLES/ Ethic News photo)
Junior Daniel Garcia Salas said it was “fun and entertaining” but needed more staff involved in the activities.
Orangewood juniors Aiyanah Johnson and K Bonna Dancy with sophomore Haniyyah McCovery host the “Guess How Many” table, with three jars filled with candy. The participant who has the closest guess for each jar wins that jar of candy. (ESTBAN ROBLES/Ethic News photo)
Many teachers thought the festival was great and liked how leadership set it up.
“I thought it was great, seeing everyone socialize and play the games” said Orangewood math teacher Louise Gonzales.
“Lots of options, lots of people playing. Favorite activity was cup-pong,” said Orangewood coach and physical education teacher Mark Perkins.
Orangewood teacher Matthew Stewart. says, “It was the best thing I’ve seen at this campus in six years.”
All students and staff received free popsicles at the lunch carnival at Orangewood High School on May 26, 2023. (JESUS PACHECO/Ethic News photo)
Citrus Valley junior students Rylie Grames and Riley Brossia posing before a poster which reads “I saved a life” at the CV biannual blood drive (Mia Caliva/Ethic News Photo).
Every school year semester, Citrus Valley high school hosts a blood drive. The CV Associative student body had been advertising the blood drive on their official Instagram account. The blood drive ran from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on May 4 in the school gymnasium.
Blood donations are typically a process in which a licensed staff will first clean the area where they insert the sterile needle to collect blood. The process typically takes about 8-10 minutes. During this time you will be sitting down while the staff takes a pint of your blood. After the donation has been made, the staff will bandage you up and you are given water and a snack to regain energy.
The blood drive is being run by LifeStream, a nonprofit blood bank in the state of California, who aims to collect 500 blood donations daily to help patients in need. They provide 80 different hospitals and six medical facilities in Southern California. They have donor sites in San Bernardino, Riverside, Hemet, Placentia, Ontario, Victorville, Murrieta, La Quinta, and Rancho Mirage.
For weeks approaching the blood drive, ASB advertises the blood drive in the daily morning bulletin as well. As encouragement to students signing up, ASB says “this is a time to do some good in our community and help those in need.”
When asked the question, “Why do you think donating blood is a good thing to do” ASB Director, Christopher Galloway said, “Well I think it’s kind of something you can do for your community. It’s almost like a civic duty at some level. We all need to give back to the community. Some people can give back in other ways that some people can’t. I think giving blood is a great way to help people that need it the most.”
A sign that reads “Blood drive enter here” which lets students know that they have to check in and wait to be called back. (Marshall Scott/Ethic News Photo)
Students who are giving blood have to feel well before donations, have to maintain high iron levels, be at least 17 years or have parental consent, haven’t donated in 58 days and weigh up to or more than 110 pounds.
Blood donors were given prizes for their generous donations and students also received Community Service credit if they brought their Community Service Form. Lifestream provided each donor with a coupon for two free tacos at fast food restaurant Jack in the Box, along with a Lifestream branded towel saying “Thank you” for their donation.
Sophomore ASB student, Zane Palacios and Freshman ASB student, Tegan Naoum pose in front of their snack stand students can grab on their way out. (Mia Caliva//Ethic News)
WARNING: This article talks about some sensitive topics involving mental health
Redlands East Valley High School is actively raising awareness and trying to dismantle the false stigma surrounding mental health through an annual fair. The Mental Health Awareness Club on campus hosted a mental health fair from 10:30 a.m. to 1:09 p.m. on May 3 in the main quad. This Mental Health Fair was available to all REV students and welcomed teachers to bring their classes for a walk-through of the booths and what they had to offer. Booths from different clubs and organizations dedicated to informing high school students about mental health are scattered around the outskirts of the textbook room and library stairs.
Wildcat Pride Association
Jaylene Tuazon, the club’s secretary is pictured running the booth during the fair in Redlands, California. (KENDRA BURDICK/ Ethic News Photo)
The campus pride club, Wildcat Pride Association, sets up its booth for the fair to help students understand the fake myths and the real truths behind the LGBTQ+ community and their mental health.
They informed the students and staff that wanted to know more about the facts and myths involving the LGBTQ+ community.
Myths:
Homosexuality is a choice.
Being LGBTQ+ is an issue and can be cured
Teaching students about this subject makes them gay
LGBTQ+ people make bad parents
You can identify an LGBTQ+ person by their mannerisms, clothing, and physical appearance
Facts:
One out of every two people a part of the LGBTQ+ community experience depression
Three out of every five people a part of the LGBTQ+ community experience anxiety
One out of every eight members of the LGBTQ+ community experience unequal treatment from health care staff because they are LGBTIQ+. One in seven have avoided treatment for fear of discrimination
Homosexual behavior occurs in over 500 species of animals
Such as koala bears, penguins, seagulls, etc.
One of every two transgendered individuals has considered taking their own life
Members of the LGBTQ+ community are at a greater risk of experiencing hate crime compared to heterosexual people
Sexual orientation is caused by factors such as genetics and the sociology of the brain
Coping Skills
This booth was giving out sensory stickers that stick to phone cases along with galaxy-printed stress balls which gives people who like to fidget the outlet they need for school or day-to-day life. They also provided different stickers that spread different messages of positivity and pencils that had, “support mental health awareness” printed on the side. (KENDRA BURDICK/ Ethic News Photo)
The booth had a couple of interactive coping skills including an activity called Butterfly Breathing where one inhales and exhales while following a path on the table with their fingers. For completing the activity, students received candy, a pencil or a sensory sticker.(KENDRA BURDICK/Ethic News Photo)
The main thing that this booth was handing out was sheets of paper with a list of different coping skills which were divided into three main categories, distractions, cognitive coping, and tension releasers.
Distractions:
Clean or organize environment
Dance
Doodle on paper
Read
Cognitive coping:
Brainstorm solutions
Think of something funny
Write a list of goals
Visualize your favorite place
Tension Releasers:
Chew gum
Cry
Laugh
Stretch
Mariana Cota, a senior in charge of the ‘Coping Skills’ booth states, “I think that this fair is definitely helping people such as our booth which helps to inform people about different coping techniques so that no one does anything negative because of their mental health. I believe that coping skills help people who take care of their mental health or not, though it’s really bad if they don’t. This whole fair is to promote mental health and the stigma around it because there’s a lot of stigma.”
BSU
BSU stands for “Black Student Union” and they have a booth to help spread awareness of mental health within the black community. (KENDRA BURDICK/Ethic News Photo)
“Our booth is talking about how mental health in the black community is very stigmatized and has a very negative connotation around it. So our goal is to bring some light on it and normalize it because I personally feel that it’s not normalized right now even though it should be because it’s something that everyone goes through. It’s also very toxic to push people down because they have mental issues.” Reymarr Bernier, the senior president of BSU continues to talk about the thoughts behind the school’s help in promoting mental health.
“I feel like the mental health club is doing a lot to help bring awareness and to help mental health but that’s not really a part of the school so I don’t really think that the school’s doing stuff about it, more so the students are trying to help each other,” states Bernier.
Mental Health Awareness Club
The president of the Mental Health Club Amélie Palacios is standing next to Isabella Olmos, both of them are working together and with others to help students be as informed as possible about the subject of mental health. (KENDRA BURDICK/Ethic News Photo)
“Personally, I found out things about mental health that I’ve never known before simply just walking around the quad and visiting other people’s booths. I think it’s good for everyone to be informed and know that everyone is going through something and everyone has different struggles but there are ways to help. I also feel that there should be other ways to get people informed about mental health and ways to cope through social media. I believe that venting and communicating is the best way to help your mental health and having support groups to talk to.” Olmos is a senior and a proud member of and attending the Mental Health Awareness Club’s booth.
Nicky, another therapy dog poses with a volunteer from the Inland Empire Therapy Dogs and hands out stickers of the therapy dogs for students to collect. (ALEX VERDUZCO/ Ethic News Photo)
Visitors from the Inland Empire Therapy Dogs bring service dogs to the Redlands East Valley campus to alleviate stress among the students and show the benefits of interacting with the therapy dogs. This therapy dog is named Pepsi. (ALEX VERDUZCO/ Ethic News Photo)
A sign of the Inland Empire Therapy Dogs welcomes students that are walking around the booths of the Mental Health Fair on May 3. (ALEX VERDUZCO/ Ethic News Photo)
Wildcats 4 Change President Nicole Samaan (senior) and Social Media Director Pearl Solis (junior) strive to “Stop the Stigma” surrounding mental health at their table in Redlands, California. (ALEX VERDUZCO/ Ethic News Photo)
Visitors from San Bernardino County run a table and provide educational resources, bracelets, candies, and more to inform students about mental health. (ALEX VERDUZCO/ Ethic News Photo)
Pamphlets and other informational paper resources as well as motivational stickers offered to students at the San Bernardino County’s booth during the Mental Health Fair. (ALEX VERDUZCO/ Ethic News Photo)
A close-up of San Bernardino County’s booth and all it offers.(ALEX VERDUZCO/ Ethic News Photo)
Citrus Valley High School students received an email from the Citrus Valley administration team on March 31 explaining the new hallway policy during lunch. On the first day back from spring break, students would no longer be allowed inside of the buildings during lunch. This new rule was due to the amount of trash students were leaving in the hallways which caused many teachers to complain about the messes.
This image shows that there is spilt milk and a meat looking patty on the floor of a hallway, as well as other trash. (Monique Varela/Ethic News)
The new hallway expectation became active on April 4. Only one entrance from every building would be opened and have a security guard at the entrance. The guards look for tickets given to students to prove they have somewhere to be rather than loitering in the hallways.
The ticket shows that this ticket is assigned to the C-building and Mr. Howard’s classroom. (Marshall Scott/Ethic News)
The tickets are different colors depending on the building, name of the teacher and ‘lunch pass’ on the top. Teachers were given these tickets in order to let their students into the building after the grace period. These lunch passes are only to be given for educational purposes such as tutoring, test retakes, quiz corrections and club meetings.
Becky Gidcumb, environmental science teacher at Citrus Valley, said, “I’m in favor of the hallway policy at lunch because we get too many kids in here. They run around, they make a mess, they disrupt the teachers. This is supposed to be our duty free time. We can choose whether or not we have students that come into our classrooms to get help. It can be very distracting when there’s many kids in the hallway creating a mess, and havoc.”
Students got this privilege revoked because of the amount of trash that was left in the hallways, such as chip wrappers, candy wrappers, food, etc. The messes were mainly in the E building.
Within the email that to students and parents, there were written consequences if students were to be found in the hallway without a ticket. These consequences include lunch detention, after school detention, campus cleanup and more.
Karen Ravelo, a sophomore at Citrus Valley, is not in favor of the rule and said this, “not all of us have a place to sit during lunch time. It’s nice to have a place where we feel comfortable to have lunch.”
There are specified checkpoints for students to go to in order to be let into the building after the five minute grace period. Students show the ticket checker the designated ticket for that building. (Marshall Scott//Ethic News Photo)
Students who do not have a ticket but need to talk to a teacher must be accompanied by security or admin. These hallway expectations are to exclude inclement weather, such as heatwaves, rain and other potentially dangerous weather.
Though there is a way to still enter these buildings with the five minute grace period. The grace period allows students to enter the buildings after the bell rings. If students do not make it within this grace period they will need to have a ticket to enter the building.
A New York grand jury voted to indict the former United States president, Donald J. Trump, on 34 counts of felony falsification of business records on March 30, 2023. These unprecedented proceedings led to Trump’s appearance before the Manhattan district court in an arraignment held on April 4. Trump pled not guilty to all charges placed against him. As of April 5, Trump has returned to his Florida residency, as all parties involved wait for pretrial hearings to be held.
Former United States President Donald Trump, the first former president to face charges, faces a “34-count felony indictment” for alleged “falsified New York business records” in order to hide damaging information before the 2016 presidential election, according to a report by NPR.
A timeline explaining the continuity of Trump’s legal proceedings, and how it may impact a theoretical spot on the 2024 presidential ticket. (NALEIAH MILLER/ Ethic News Photo)
So far, Trump has pleaded not guilty to all 34 counts, and has been released from court and allowed to fly back to his home in Florida. A gag order has not been put in place, nor was he required to post bail, and as a result, Trump has heavily criticized the trial in both live speeches and online, through the social media platform, “Truth Social.”
Much misinformation has been spread about what some of the specific legal terms are, causing confusion and disarray as to what the truth of former president Trump’s proceedings actually entail. One major term that has been victim of this misinformation is indictment, which Oxford Dictionary defines as, “A formal charge or accusation of a serious crime.” In this case, Trump’s alleged business fraud being the crime he is being called to answer for. Another major term that has had widespread confusion is arraignment, which according to Oxford Dictionary, is, “Call or bring (someone) before court to answer a criminal charge.” Meaning, that for Trump, it was the purpose of his bringing to the Manhattan district courthouse.
The main reason for Trump’s indictment, and later arraignment, was due to his behavior regarding an extramarital affair he had with actress Stormy Daniels. According to reports from the BBC, in denying the affair with Daniels, $130,000 was transferred to her by Trump’s lawyer in an attempt to silence the actress, 12 days preceding the 2016 Presidential election.
The unprecedented nature of the indictment is wide reaching, prompting reactions from all sides. For example, in Redlands, on April 4, 2023, some of the community came together to support the former president. The group gathered near the intersection of Lugonia Avenue and Alabama Street, near the Redlands Citrus Plaza shopping center. This created a disruption in traffic flow and, eventually, the police were called on the supporters. The protesters refused to leave when confronted by police, yet did not continue their earlier disturbances.
Andrew Winter, a junior at Redlands High School, states, “President Trump is in quite a predicament, especially being charged with a plethora of felonies. This record-breaking news astounds me, and while I’m not too educated on the situation, it’s making history and will shape the upcoming election greatly.”
Citrus Valley High School office secretary, Melanie Myer says, “I believe if you do something wrong you should pay for it.”
A photograph of Trump surrounded by headlines and articles regarding his current legal struggles. (MIA CALIVA/ Ethic News Photo)
Trump’s arraignment will greatly affect the next presidential election in 2024. According to Nathan L. Gonzales, an elections analyst for the political news site, Roll Call, “Even if legal problems don’t hinder former President Donald Trump’s political comeback attempt, they could hurt other Republican candidates on the ballot in 2024.”
Gonzales goes on to explain that Trump’s voter base may still believe that he’s innocent and fit for being elected as president, but there’s a strong chance that they will want someone else to represent the Republicans and that they will take the next presidential election, as opposed to President Biden.
If former President Donald Trump were to be convicted “it is unclear, as of now” if he would face jail time. This is also partly due to the fact that it is uncertain if Judge Juan Merchan and the prosecutors would impose any prison time if Trump were to be convicted. Given the legal complexities of the allegations a conviction is not a sure outcome and it would also take the prosecutors’ reliance on a key witness.
Much uncertainty has been felt throughout these proceedings, and as time has progressed, it seems as though Trump has decided to not comment too heavily on his legal proceedings, as many have advised him. Moving forward, it will remain to be seen how impactful these events will be on the upcoming election in 2024.
The Wildcat Sanctuary located in F-101/106 is now open to all Redlands East Valley high school students as of April 5. This resource offers a calm space for students to take a break from school stressors and partake in creative activities such as coloring, puzzle building, and even a quiet place to sit down and relax.
The door and window of the Wildcat Sanctuary was decorated and labeled to direct students seeking a mental health break in between the G and E buildings of the Redlands East Valley campus in Redlands, California on April 11, 2023. (ALEX VERDUZCO/ Ethic News Photo)
A room with chairs intended for moments of mindfulness and tranquility, where yoga and art therapy are scheduled to take place. (ALEX VERDUZCO/ Ethic News Photo)
An unfinished puzzle of the Star Wars series, The Mandalorian, is placed on the counter displaying an example of the activities that can be done in the Sanctuary. (ALEX VERDUZCO/ Ethic News Photo)
On the other side of the blue chairs, is this seating arrangement to further inspire mindful activities and inviting stillness. (ALEX VERDUZCO/ Ethic News Photo)
An up-close shot of the chairs, mindful message, and zen garden. (ALEX VERDUZCO/ Ethic News Photo)
A tea station at the entrance of the Wildcat Sanctuary with cubbies underneath for incoming students to place their belongings and relax inside the building. (ALEX VERDUZCO/ Ethic News Photo)
An overview of one of the rooms featuring puzzles and activities for students to participate in, a seating area, and a desk to color and draw (not pictured above). (ALEX VERDUZCO/ Ethic News Photo)
These shelves hold art supplies, puzzles, and other creative activities to engage students. (ALEX VERDUZCO/ Ethic News Photo)
Video of the interior of the Wildcat Sanctuary located in F-101/106. (SPENCER MOORE/ Ethic News)
REV junior, Amanda Gold, says, “I’m actually really excited about this. It feels like it’s going to be a safe space to recuperate and take a breather.”
With it, are groups that will be organized with the intention of benefitting students such as the Stress Management Group and the RestorARTive Art Therapy group. The Stress Management Group is set to meet during lunchtime on the following Fridays: April 14, 21, 28, and lastly, May 12. The Art Therapy group is still collecting information on what time would work best for students to meet such as in-person after school, virtual sessions, and more through the Google Form.
Shana Delmonico, Redlands East Valley counselor explains, “Redlands Unified School District recognizes and hears our students and staff when they express that they are having feelings of anxiety and stress over social and emotional issues. It is important here at REV that we acknowledge that these feelings are valid and respond by working toward students/staff having access to the Wildcat Sanctuary.”
As time goes on, it is expected that more groups will form depending on the student feedback and needs expressed to the counselors.
Ian Catren, a REV junior adds, “It’s an admirable concept and it’s nice to see the school trying to address growing stress amongst the students.”
Students are welcome to visit the Sanctuary Monday through Friday except during the fifth period and not during the second period on Tuesdays.
Delmonico says, “The goal is providing resources for students/staff about self-care, self-awareness, social anxiety, and interactions, offering opportunities to deal or cope with stress through providing space for a mental time out, calming space for students in distress, interactive lessons (empowerment/educational), referrals, and resources.”
Advanced Placement English Teacher at REV, Mr. Sean Molloy shares, “The Wildcat Sanctuary is a brilliant idea from our counselors here at REV. Too long have students come to school in need of real help with their mental health. We need to remove any stigmas around mental health and remember that it is perfectly ok for anyone to say, “I’m not okay.” Taking this first step into the Sanctuary might be exactly what we all need in doing that. Please remember to take care of yourselves!”
“Wellness centers can significantly reduce the stigma associated with seeking mental health services, as well as increase attendance and the likelihood of graduation for our students,” says Delmonico.
Citrus Valley High School invited incoming freshmen to the CV campus on Monday, March 6, 2023, for ‘Becoming a Blackhawk Day’. Hundreds of eighth grade students from middle schools including Beattie, Moore and Cope Middle Schools toured the CV campus and were introduced to the many extracurricular clubs and classes provided at CV. After a brief welcome by the Citrus Valley Cheer team, choir and counselors, students were released to explore the club booths and discover clubs that indulged their interests. The event featured 25 booths, including but not limited to, ASB, AVID, Theatre Arts, Mock Trial, Choir, Concert Band and, of course, Ethic News.
Soon to be freshmen were allowed to roam for nearly 30 minutes before taking a tour of CV’s campus. (MeAnna Smith/ Ethic News photo)
CV’s staff prepare their booth for visiting 8th graders from local middle schools to advertise journalism in hopes of recruiting future writers (Meanna Smith/Ethic News)
Hallee Resendez and Melina Bline pose for a picture at their booth for ASB. (Meanna Smith/ Ethic News Photo)
Junior Riley Houser, representing the Latin class, said “I’m very excited to welcome the new Blackhawks, they’re so small and have so much potential.” While representing the art class, Serena Almanza said “art is such a fun class and we’re so excited to welcome in the new freshman.”
A visiting eighth grader and soon to be Citrus Valley High School freshman, Braylon Smith said, “it’s really cool to see my future high school and so far I’m happy with what I see.”
The production and design class presented their different show props, clothing, and equipment used to put on their creative shows. (Mia Caliva/ Ethic News Photo)
While the event was being held there were two different groups of students doing different activities. One of the groups was in the gym where many booths were held for different classes and clubs. All of the eighth grade students were given a bingo card which they had to get stamped throughout the day. There were many classes on the card and were stamped after they visited different booths. These bingo cards were needed for the counselors to see which classes they had to choose from to apply for the students future schedules. Students were to visit different booths and get their bingo cards stamped. The other group was being toured around the school and shown different elective classes.
CV’s Editor-in-Chief, Destiny Ramos, talks to the soon to be freshman about Ethic News. (MeAnna Smith/ Ethic News photo)
Mia Caliva, MeAnna Smith and Destiny Ramos pose in front of their booth with the mascots Bubby and Bubbet. (Meanna Smith/ Ethic News Photo)
“Becoming a Blackhawk” provided an opportunity for incoming freshmen to get an idea of what to expect from their high school. Instead of figuring it out along the way, students got the chance to plan ahead in which classes and clubs they would like to participate in. Middle schoolers chatted with students that attend Citrus Valley to get a student perspective and connect with their soon-to-be peers.
A view of the San Bernardino mountains from Tennessee street, where the mountains are covered fully in snow (MIA CALIVA/ Ethic News Photo)
In sunny Southern California, the last kind of weather one would expect during the winter months, shockingly, is several inches of snow.
Slurry rain quickly turned to heavy snowfall on the Saturday morning of Feb. 25, coating the streets in soft snow. Most Inland Empire cities, including Loma Linda, Redlands, Highland, and Beaumont, got to experience this snow for the first time in years.
Many Redlands Unified School District students shared updates on Instagram about their experience in the snow. The snow even interrupted the Redlands High School football team’s pancake breakfast.
Citrus Valley High School student-athlete Elysa Loraine Lebig says, “Seeing the snow was really fun. My dog especially loved to play in it,” but while still having to attend swimming practice she says, “I hated swimming in the snow”.
For a few brief hours, families could build snowmen or have snowball fights right in their front yard until afternoon rain soon melted all the snow away.
However, the snow was not a pleasant experience for many others like it was for the valley people. In the San Bernardino mountains, in towns such as Lake Arrowhead and Running Springs, several feet of snow left people trapped in their homes.
The San Bernardino mountains are no stranger to a few inches of snow, however, this winter the snowfall has reached a point extreme. Feet upon feet of snow kept gathering as the week following brought more rain and snowfall. Reportedly, over eight feet of snow has fallen on these mountain towns and has yet to melt, causing many dangerous consequences including power outages and collapsing roofs.
A woman shovels through several feet of snow in her driveway in her San Bernardino mountain home in February of 2023. (Photo Courtesy of Ashley Ranabauer)
A reminder of the humanitarianism that arises in crisis situations, Citrus Valley math teacher Craig Phillips is one of the hundreds of people stuck in the mountains and reached out to Citrus Valley teachers and staff about initiating a food drive to assist impaired families.
“I have been helping in the community from day one. I have several elderly on my street so I make sure they are taken care of,” says Phillips.
As a result of the snow storms, families are left stranded in their homes, all in dire need of food, medicine, and warmth. Great progress has already been made with this food drive with Citrus Valley student Damien Andrews donating over 300 water bottles to families in need.
Phillips also shares his experiences about the intense labor that goes into snow removal. He says that it’s “hard labor removing a week or more of old snow that has thawed and refrozen, often into ice.”
In quick response to the disaster, California Governor Gavin Newsom declared an emergency in 13 counties and the National Guard was deployed to aid recovery.
However, “the county was unable to keep up with snow removal and our street was shut down,” says Phillips.
Most roads and highways leading into the San Bernardino mountains have been closed by officials which prevents volunteers from delivering food and supplies to their neighbors and other hard-to-reach mountain communities. In some areas, communities are left to tough-out the snow and limited resources themselves. In Crestline, the community works together to deliver wood and hot water to neighbors whose electricity and pipes have been destroyed by the snow.
A sign which says “American Red Cross” leads people in the direction of the disaster relief center at Redlands East Valley High School. (Mauricio Pliego/ Ethic News Photo)
Help was provided for residents at Redlands East Valley High School and Rim of the World High School, where the Red Cross has set up a disaster evacuation center for families. According to the Red Cross, families or people affected by the snow will be provided with a safe place to stay, along with meals and snacks, hydration, health services, and more.
Despite a few days of sunshine, the snow still remains a major problem. Visitors are excited to visit the snow, however, mountain residents don’t feel the same.
Phillips asks “please wait another week or two weeks to visit” because of the risks of icy and snow-covered roads.
What was initially an astonishing winter wonderland experience, had quickly become a disastrous emergency for many, still Phillips concludes, “thank you to those who donated and have supported us.”
By MELANIE PEREZ, XIOMARA SANCHEZ and JULIANNA TALAVERA
JULIETA ROBLES, PAIGE SAILOR and LEON JUAREZ contributed to this article
Orangewood Continuation High School students received big news concerning graduation credit requirements today.
An afternoon assembly notified seniors of the Redlands School Board’s passage of Emergency Resolution No. 25, which modifies the requirements for high school graduation. With this resolution, the Redlands Unified School District credit requirement for the 2023 and 2024 graduating classes changed from 225 to 200 by reducing 25 elective credits.
Seniors at Orangewood were called to an assembly by Principal Carli Norris for the surprise announcement.
“They just called all the seniors up through the speakers and that was pretty much it,” says Orangewood senior Natalie Lopez.
Orangewood senior Kamren Shackles said that walking into the assembly, “it was like nothing really changed. Like you were walking into lunch or something.”
Orangewood High School senior Kamren Shackles learned that he would be graduating much sooner than expected due to Redlands School Board Resolution No. 25 reducing elective graduation credit requirements. “School really goes by fast when you’re at the end,” says Shackles. (Photo courtesy of Natalie Lopez)
At the assembly it was revealed that this resolution had passed and graduation requirements were dropped by 25 elective credits.
The resolution states, “This flexibility will reduce all RUSD High School Graduation Credits from the required 225 Credits to a required 200 credits, equating to a reduction of twenty-five (25) elective credits…”
This resolution applies district-wide. High schools affected are Citrus Valley High School, Redlands High School, Redlands East Valley High School, Orangewood High School and eAcademy.
Orangewood is the district’s only continuation high school. Students at Orangewood are allowed to graduate early if they complete their credits before their expected graduation date.
Lopez says, “Everyone processed it differently, but like everyone was happy and shocked, cause everyone had different credits. And a lot of people graduated at that time.”
According to the resolution, the decision was made “due to the statewide emergency concerning the coronavirus (COVID-19).”
It also modifies graduation requirements for the Adult Education Program to 180, while it was previously 200.
The resolution states that “the Modified Graduation Course Requirements for the Adult Education program will be reduced from the required 200 credits to a required 180 credits, equating to a reduction of twenty (20) elective credits for the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 school years.”
At an Orangewood High School assembly on Feb. 23, 2023, seniors received transcripts showing the change in their graduation credit requirements before and after Emergency Resolution No. 25. The graduation credit requirement changes to 200 from 225 for high school students in the Redlands Unified School District for the classes of 2023 and 2024, current juniors and seniors. (Photos courtesy of Kamren Shackles)
With this resolution, students at Orangewood have been given an advantage. Many seniors at Orangewood have been put ahead on their graduation status and others will now be able to graduate within the 2022-23 school year. Select students are able to graduate earlier than expected or on time.
Some students were notified today that they would be graduating this grading block which ends on March 10.
Lopez, who just this morning was on track to graduate in June learned that she will be graduating this block.
“I’m sad because I’m leaving friends, but I’m ready to get out of here. It’s still exciting,” says Lopez.
Although Shackles was not expecting the announcement, he does not feel that it changes his plans or feel unprepared.
“It’s more like you’re being brought up to the plate earlier than you expected,” says Shackles, “So you gotta just think of your plan and solidify it more than you did before.”
This resolution also has impacts for juniors at Orangewood who want to go back to their comprehensive high schools.
For Orangewood students to return to their home schools at the beginning of their senior year, they have to have 60 or less credits left to complete. For some Orangewood juniors, this puts them on track to do that.
The current resolution is not one-size-fits-all, however, and may not help all students who were struggling.
The resolution specifies that “the prescribed course of study may not accommodate the needs of some students.”
Shackles says that at the assembly some students received transcripts stating that they would need to go to adult school.
“You’re kindof, I guess, not satisfied, but relieved,” says Shackles, “It’s like, ‘Okay, well at least I know. It’s not like in limbo if I’m going to graduate or if I’m not.’ So I think the assembly was definitely a good push for people to know where they’re going now.”
For Orangewood seniors starting their next steps sooner than expected, there are a range of emotions.
Shackles says, “For me, I know I would have liked it [comprehensive high school] more, but this is for the better. So I’m definitely not mad about where I’m at or where I’ve been taken to. And I hope it continues in a good way. So, no regrets.”
For Lopez, it feels like a flashback, from elementary school to a traditional high school, to her current enrollment at a continuation high school.
“I just remember being in middle school and elementary school and now I’m graduating this block,” says Lopez. “I remember being at REV with like all my friends, and then like out of nowhere I’m being sent to Orangewood and now I’m graduating early.”
The resolution states that it “shall become effective immediately upon its adoption and shall remain in effect until the end of the 2023-24 school year.”
“You gotta do life now though,” says Shackles. “Someone was like, ‘you ready to get out there and like do actual things?’ It’s like, no. But I’ll try. I’ll for sure try.”
Note: This article references gun violence by suicide.
The total number of deaths by gun violence in America has reached past 6,000 as of mid-February. (Gun Violence Archive)
More lives were claimed by gun violence in 2020 than in any other year recorded in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Nations around the world have criticized our application of the Second Amendment. “China has issued a new report analyzing the human rights record of the U.S. throughout the past year, looking specifically at reports of racial injustice, gun violence, and the country’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic,” as stated in an article written by Tom O’Connor of Newsweek.
As shown by the latest Marist Poll on gun control, “(45% definitely vote for, to 48% definitely vote against) on the proposal to ban the sale of semi-automatic weapons.” Americans are divided on how gun control should be monitored and the necessity of a complete ban on semi-automatic weapons.
According to the Gun Violence Archive (GVA), as of mid-February, there have been 80 mass shootings in the United States so far. In total, there have been over 6,000 gun-violence-related deaths as of January first. Over half of these deaths, 3,432, have been by suicide and this fact has not changed since the new year. 31 children ages 0-11 have been killed and 79 have been injured, 222 teenagers ages 12-17 have been killed, and 501 have been injured. These numbers have only continued to rise since previous years.
As reported by the GVA, from 2014-2020, there has been a 7,000 increase in overall gun violence-related deaths. There has also been a 400 increase in young children injured or killed yearly, for teenagers their statistics have doubled. Of widespread gun violence including death and injuries numbers have gone up by over 17,000.
As stated by Amnesty International, “In the U.S. alone from 2009-2016 156 mass shootings killed 848 and left 339 people injured. “Public mass shootings account for less than 1% of gun deaths in the U.S.”
Minorities are often disproportionately affected by these mass shootings and gun violence in particular. “In the USA, firearm homicide disproportionately impacts African American communities, particularly young black men. 14,542 people in the USA lost their lives in gun homicides in 2017. African Americans accounted for 58.5% of these nationwide, despite making up just 13% of the US population.”
According to Amnesty International, “Most children who are victims of firearm killings in the USA are from minority communities. Homicide is the second leading cause of death among black children and 65% of those killings are committed with guns.”
Women in difficult situations, such as women with abusive partners are also disproportionately affected by gun violence. As written by Amnesty International, “In 2017, some 87,000 women were intentionally killed around the world. More than half of them, 50,000 (58%) were killed by intimate partners or family members.” Globally over a hundred women are intentionally killed by a family member including intimate partners every day.
Since this is a global occurrence people often make the mistake of thinking that the U.S. has lower levels of gender-based gun violence. However, as reported by the Chicago Policy Review, “Of all femicide cases in the high-income world, 70% are committed in the U.S.” Femicide is a type of hate crime in which women are intentionally killed based on their gender. Although women with difficult lives are disproportionately affected, every woman living in America is at risk of femicide.
Children have also been at extreme risk for gun violence in recent years. “For more than 60 years, motor vehicle crashes were the leading cause of injury-related death among young people. Beginning in 2017, however, firearm-related injuries took their place to become the most common cause of death from injury”, according to a study done by The New England Journal of Medicine.
As children grow more at risk of gun violence more children have been losing their lives. “In 2021 3,597 children died by gunfire, according to provisional statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The death rate from guns was the highest it has been in more than 20 years,” according to the New York Times.
As gun violence rises, some states have chosen to tighten restrictions while other states remain loosely regulated. “Carrying a gun openly is against state law or is legal only in limited circumstances (e.g., while hunting) or when legally used for self-defense (includes the District of Columbia, New York, and South Carolina).” While complete open carry of a firearm without a permit is allowed in over half of U.S. states, “including Alaska, New Mexico, West Virginia, and Utah.” As reported by the USCCA.
Several organizations have been created to advocate for stricter gun laws or for protecting the Second Amendment. The National Rifle Association, Gun Owners of America, and the Second Amendment Foundation are organizations in support of the Second Amendment. Gun Free Kids, Third Way, and the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence are all organizations in support of tightening gun control. Individuals can donate to any of these six organizations that support their opinion in the way that best suits their needs.
Genesis, a school dance hosted on the Yucaipa Performing Arts Center property, invited high school students from Orangewood, Grove, Citrus Valley, Redlands High, and Redlands East Valley High for a fun night on Feb. 10.
This event lasted from 7-11 p.m. and offered an array of entertainment ranging from a maze, a video game truck, concession stands, outdoor photo booths, and a DJ with a large outdoor space allocated for dancing. Inside the YPAC building were virtual reality stations, a stage for karaoke, a nacho bar, and various other game tables.
RHS junior Andrew Winter says, “The karaoke was the best part. Singing with friends and a cheering audience was amazing.”
Eva Valtierrez a REV senior says, “It was very entertaining and fun. A good chance to reconnect with old friends.”
Citrus Valley junior Kylie McCue says, “I think that it went really well with all the schools. All of the games made it really inclusive and always made it so there was something to do for everyone, but I ended up in the karaoke room a lot because it was really fun.”
An RHS sophomore Tristan Eubanks says, “Doing karaoke with my friends was the highlight of my night. The snacks were great.”
An overview of the outdoor concession stands, photo booths, and the crowd can be seen here. (ALEX VERDUZCO/Ethic News photo)
The Yucaipa Performing Arts Center illuminated by lights with the Genesis color scheme welcomes in high school students by the designated Redlands High School entrance on Feb. 10, 2023 in Yucaipa, California. (ALEX VERDUZCO/Ethic News photo)
A sign of the dance greets students walking by the stage on Feb. 10, 2023. (SPENCER MOORE/Ethic News photo)
Purple and blue lights surround the main stage highlighting the crowd and area for dancing. (ALEX VERDUZCO/Ethic News photo)
The main stage is illuminated by blue lights while the DJ entertains the lively crowd with popular songs and remixes. (SPENCER MOORE/Ethic News photo)
The Orangewood High School students accepting awards, along with their families, were invited to the school’s multi-purpose room the morning of Jan. 20.
Greeted and welcomed by the school’s principal, counselors, and other school staff, the second quarter awards assembly of the school year started promptly.
First, announcing the Honor Roll students. Second, the Students of the Quarter, who were selected by their teachers for various class subjects. And lastly, those with perfect attendance.
When the students’ names were called, they walked up to the front of the stage to their principal, Carli Norris. There, she shook hands with and congratulated each student as she handed them their awards.
Claudia Ramirez, a senior at Orangewood, said, “I’m thankful for the awards that I got.”
After all the awards were handed out and received, students and parents were treated to lunch. School staff handed out tacos and burritos from Del Taco. Students and their families were able to share a meal together and hang out until the bell rang for their school’s lunch.
Eunice Rodriguez, a parent of one of the students who received an award, stated, “I appreciated that they thought about the students and the parents and were kind enough to feed us lunch.”
Orangewood High School counselors Jason Knight and Georgina Pinto participate in the quarter awards assembly on Jan. 20, 2023. (ANGEL LEON/ Ethic News photo)
Orangewood High School senior Grace Martinez shows her award, surrounded with family and her friend Senior Ceerra Toliver after the quarter awards assembly on Jan. 20, 2023. (ANGEL LEON/ Ethic News photo)
Orangewood High School senior Carolina Cadena stands with her parents and shows her award after the quarter awards assembly on Jan. 20, 2023. (ANGEL LEON/ Ethic News photo)
Orangewood High School seniors Siniva Tuaumu and Azaraiah Williams enjoy the Del Taco lunch provided to students and families after the quarter awards assembly on Jan. 20, 2023. (ANGEL LEON/ Ethic News photo)
Orangewood High School seniors Giovanni Galvan, Rachel Jacobo Aries and Mya Trujillo show their awards after the quarter awards assembly on Jan. 20, 2023. (ANGEL LEON/ Ethic News photo)
A random act of kindness card handed out during Kindness Week at Citrus Valley High School with the words “text a friend that you are happy to see them today” (MIA CALIVA/ Ethic News Photo).
The week of Feb. 6, 2023, Citrus Valley High School enters the new month on a note of love and kindness.
Perhaps in the spirit of Valentine’s Day and Counselor Appreciation Week counselors at CVHS take the extra step to spend a week encouraging kindness in students.
CV counselors introduced “Kindness Week” to students on Monday morning by passing out cards with random acts of kindness on them. Students are meant to complete the random act and pass it on to a friend for them to complete as well.
These colorful cards included “text your friend that you are happy to see them today” and “hold the door open for someone and say hi” as well as many others.
On Tuesday, counselors walked around campus handing out candy to students who completed their random act of kindness.
On Wednesday, posters were put up all around campus asking students to sign if they “pledge to be together against bullying and united for kindness, acceptance and inclusion”. The posters were filled with signatures and posted on CV’s office doors as a reminder to practice kindness.
A poster that reads “pledge to be together against bullying and united for kindness, acceptance, and inclusion” filled with several student signatures at Citrus Valley High School (MIA CALIVA/ Ethic News Photo).
On Friday, students expressed their appreciation for their counselors, in theme for Counselor Appreciation Week, by answering one fun fact about their counselor and were rewarded with a piece of candy.
Inspired by National Bullying Prevention Day which happened in January, Citrus Valley counselor Helga Reese organized Kindness Week with the other counselors.
Reese says she “realized [kindness] is something we need to bring more attention to” on campus.
Reese reminds us of the importance of kindness when she says “kindness is a small thing, that still does take a little effort, but it can really change your day.”
Citrus Valley High School hosted spirit week Feb. 6 to 10 leading up to the Genesis dance.
Genesis is a dance that happens annually where all three high schools can participate in its festivities. Themes for this spirit week include, “School Swap Day,” “Zoom Day,” “Shades Day,” “Favorite Teacher Day,” and “Color War.”
MONDAY
Monday’s theme was “School Swap.” Students of Citrus Valley had to dress up in the other district high school’s merchandise or school colors.
Juniors Jonathan Ontiveros and Finnian Fry posing with each other while wearing different Redlands Unified School District school colors. (Monique Varela/Ethic News)
Freshman students, Isabella Amodor, Isaiah Stockon, Julian Dolgado, Ryan Monterio, Gunnar Ochoa, Audrianna Reveles, pose together sporting Redlands East Valley High, Orangewood and Redlands High School merchandise. (Monique Varela/Ethic News)
Isabella Amodor, a freshman at Citrus Valley, wore a Redlands East Valley High hoodie for Monday’s spirit day, “School Swap.” (Monique Varela/Ethic News)
TUESDAY
The theme Tuesday had was “Zoom day.” COVID had impacted all students who then had to go online due to safety. On “Zoom day”, students had to wear something formal on top while their bottoms were pajamas.
Sophomore Zane Palacios is wearing plaid pajama bottoms and a button up shirt for Tuesday’s Spirit day. (Marshall Scott/Ethic News)
Lizzette Contreras, a sophomore at Citrus Valley is wearing Heart pajama pants with a tie for “Zoom Day.” (Marshall Scott/Ethic News)
Freshman Evelin Gallardo-Diaz is wearing polar bear skiing pajama pants and a classy dress shirt on top. (Marshall Scott/Ethic News)
WEDNESDAY
On Wednesday it was “Shades day”, where students needed to wear their favorite pair of sunglasses.
Freshman students, Bronix Aiono, Makayla Washington, Tyler Bookman, Noah Vaiaoga all pose together while wearing shades in honor of “Shades day” (Marshall Scott/Ethic News).
Makayla Washington, a ninth grader, wears her favorite pair of shades for Thursday’s spirit week (Marshall Scott/Ethic News).
Bronix Aiono holds his hoodie up while showing off his favorite sunglasses for the Genesis spirit week (Marshall Scott/Ethic News).
THURSDAY
Thurday’s spirit day was “Favorite Teacher day”, on this day students needed to dress up as their favorite teacher.
Sophomore Abigail Landa dresses up as freshman English teacher Stephen Howard for “Dress as your favorite teacher day”. (Monique Varela/Ethic News).
Sophomore Tim Obillo holds a clipboard pretending to be Amber Tygart, a PE teacher for Thursday’s spirit day. (Monique Varela/ Ethic News).
Freshman Chloe Malloy dresses up as Kate Fonken-Stoker and poses next to each other in honor of “Dress as your favorite teacher day”. (Monique Varela/Ethic News).
FRIDAY
The spirit-week for Friday was “Color War”, students needed to wear their assigned color based on their grade. The freshman’s assigned color was black, sophomores color was blue, juniors were to wear purple, and seniors were pink.
Olivia Wortley wears blue for their sophomore color on Friday’s spirit week “Color Wars day” (Marshall Scott/Ethic News).
Sophomore, AJ Roderos is wearing a blue Adidas shirt for “color war” day. (Monique Varela/Ethic News)
Sophomore Journey Parrott is wearing a blue collared shirt showing what grade level she’s in. (Marshall Scott/Ethic News)
Freshmen, Alyssa Camacho, Kylie White, and Julia Pollard wear black showing their color pride Sophomore student Danica Tometich wears blue to show her sophomore color. Junior, Brooklyn Sandoval wears purple as her class color. (Marshall Scott/Ethic News)
This spirit week would be the last Genesis themed spirit week for the sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Genesis spirit week was very exciting for some of these specific individuals and was a definite success.
One of Interquest’s dogs is in the process of searching a classroom. (Photo courtesy of Interquest Detection Canines)
Interquest Detection Canines, a nationwide detection canine service, had its first patrol on campus on Jan. 10.
They used canines to search the area for drugs, such as marajuana or cocaine, as well as gunpowder, pyrotechnics, and fireworks. The Redlands Unified School District had originally utilized the Redlands Police department for these services, but due to capacity limits, are no longer able to. This caused RUSD to look into Interquest, which leaves students and staff that knew Interquest was contracted, wondering who they are and what to expect.
Interquest’s main purpose, as stated before, is to find drugs and gunpowder related substances on someone’s person. They operate on school campuses and workplace environments as well as giving services as counseling and comfort dogs. Interquest utilizes non-aggressive, retriever, dog breeds, most notably being the golden and Labrador retrievers which have been extensively trained to detect the listed substances. Interquest has provided successful services for over 1,200 different school districts and private schools as well.
Interquest uses an extensive process in order to locate contraband items and Cameron Nabhan, Vice Principal at Citrus Valley High School, provided detailed information of that process.
According to Nabhan, the entire visit is completely unannounced in order to be “completely random” and avoid “any accusations of unfairness or profiling or anything like that.”
The search started with the E building with a classroom that is randomly selected, according to Nabhan.
Nabhan says that from that point, all the students are asked to wait outside as the “dog goes in and does multiple sweeps of all the bags and backpacks in the room, and if the dog has a cue to alert the handler if there’s something that they smell and they identify, the handler will instruct the dog to continue searching other things and then reroute them and have them come back to it.”
After the bag is checked by the handler to make sure a substance has been found, one of the campus security officers’ present will place the bag on a table just so, as the dog continues to search, grab the right bag after the search is completed. Once the search is complete, students are allowed to return to the classroom, and if a student is marked with a substance, they are taken into a room that is not being used and are questioned regarding the marked bag, away from other students.
Nabhan has said that “each student was cooperative ” and had no problems answering all questions asked by school security. This is most likely because most students have nothing to hide, as of the five classrooms’ searched, “seven bags were identified by the canine and of those seven bags, only one was found to be in possession of illegal substance.” Most of the bags identified were identified due to residual odor, which is a smell that remains after the source has been removed. This is most likely from an older relative or friend smoking drugs of some sort, around the student, which then gets the scent on their bag.
Nabhan says that this project comes from the goal “to be proactive about campus safety and to promote, as a part of the campus community, that administration and safety will take any preventative measures and proactive measures that we can take to kind of ensure the safety of every student.” The project spawned from observations from campus security, the most prevalent one being the frequent bathroom visits by individual students, who are even skipping class to do so. This has even caused security to close the girls bathroom in the B building during passing periods and lunch.
Students at CV haven’t had the most positive reaction to the canine searches on campus, with sophomore Marcus Perry saying, “It’s a little bit scary having them search us sometimes” and that “it should probably be a little bit more of a last resort kind of thing cause they’re a little spooky.”
CV sophomore, Noah Jaffer, put his thoughts out simply and clearly, saying that he thinks the program is “not gonna stop people from doing drugs.”
Due to their unpredictable nature, it is unknown when Interquest is going to return to Citrus Valley. Nabhan says that “3 [or 4] more visits” are scheduled with Interquest this semester, giving them more time to show the school, and the district as a whole, what value they can bring and how effective they are at keeping schools safe.
Mauricio Arellano, the current Superintendent of the RUSD. (Redlands Unified School District)
As of 9:00 am on February 8 2023, Mauricio Arellano, the Superintendent of Redlands Unified School District, announced that he will be leaving his position with RUSD.
In Arellano’s letter to RUSD parents and staff, he states that he has “accepted the position of Superintendent for the San Bernardino Unified School District” and will be leaving within the next few months. The plans moving forward have not yet been released.
The Board of Education president, Melissa Ayala-Quintero, also sent out an email to RUSD families saying “Although we will surely miss him, we will not forget the positive and profound impact he has made in our District these past years.”
Information regarding the new change will be released at a later date.
Actor Jeremy Renner had gotten into a snow plowing accident, On Jan. 1, 2023, outside of his home in Reno, Nevada. Jeremy Renner is a 52-year-old American actor who is known as the beloved Marvel character “Hawkeye”.
Renner was crushed by his snow plow machine on new years day when he was clearing snow on his driveway. Once he had gotten out of the snowplow to help someone with their vehicle, the machine started to roll and ran over Renner, causing him deadly injuries. Fortunately, his neighbor, who is a doctor, was available to treat his leg and other injuries until he was airlifted to the hospital. After the accident, Renner suffered blunt chest trauma and other orthopedic injuries.
Actor Jeremy Renner at a premiere. (File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI)
The 911 call was later released, saying how he was crushed under the vehicle, had breathing difficulties, and that he was in “rough shape”. It was also said that the right side of his chest had collapsed and his upper torso was crushed. Renner’s neighbor had called 911 which lasted over twenty minutes. During the call, Renner’s breathing was becoming shallow and he kept drifting off. Emergency services came and he was flown to the hospital by a helicopter.
Renner’s hospital selfie responding to all questions and love being sent from all over the world. (Jeremy Renner/Instagram)
On Jan. 3, 2023, Renner posted on his Instagram account that he was well and expressed his gratitude to everyone sending their regards saying, “Too messed up now to type. But I send love to you all.” Renner had spent his 52nd birthday in the hospital and was in the intensive care unit after he had undergone two surgeries. He would often post himself near his family, friends, and his doctors. Sophomore Mandy Espinoza stated, “ I was very surprised when I found out about the accident” when asked about her reaction to finding out about the accident. She also said that she was “happy and glad” that Renner was okay and healing.
On Jan. 16, 2023, he posted on his Twitter account stating, “Outside my brain fog in recovery, I was very excited to watch episode 201 with my family at home” revealing that he was released from the hospital. Renner is now healing in his home with his family.
Citrus Valley’s first spirit week of Jan. 17-20 2023 consisted of the student body’s favorite spirit weeks from previous years. The spirit days were leading up to the rally of the 2023 year. The Associated Study Body (ASB) of Citrus Valley brought back “Anything but a backpack,” “Barbecue dads versus Soccer Moms,” “White Lies,” and “2000’s day.”
TUESDAY
Tuesday’s theme was “Anything but a backpack.” Students were to bring items that could hold their school supplies that was ‘anything but a backpack’.
Image 1: Freshman Iris Price holds a store bag with her school supplies for ‘Anything but a Backpack’ day. (Marshall Scott/ Ethic News Photo)
Image 2: Sophomore Taylor Baumann poses with a suitcase for spirit day. (Marshall Scott/ Ethics News Photo)
Image 3: Freshman Alexander Carreon holds a child’s Lightning McQueen ride-on for spirit week. (Marshall Scott/ Ethic News Photo)
WEDNESDAY
The theme for Wednesday was “BBQ dads vs Soccer Moms.” Students had to dress as their interpretations of what Barbeque dads and Soccer moms meant.
Image 1: Madison Sauerbrun, a freshman at CV poses as a ‘soccer mom’ for spirit-week. (Marshall Scott/ Ethic News Photo)
Image 2: Micheal Carballo, a Freshman, dresses as a barbecue dad for CV’s ‘Throwback’ spirit-week. (Marshall Scott/Ethic News Photo).
Elliot Anderson, a Math teacher at CV dresses as a barbecue dad with his big smile for Wednesday’s ‘BBQ Dads vs Soccer Moms.’ (Marshall Scott/ Ethic News Photo).
THURSDAY
The theme students had to follow for Thursday was “White Lies or Wear White.” Students had to write untrue statements on white shirts/papers/paper plates and wear them around campus.
Image 1: Freshman, Monserrat Barrera, poses with her white lie ‘I am 6′ 1’ for spirit-week. (Marshall Scott/ Ethic News Photo)
Image 2: Juniors, Riley Houser and Julian Ramos wear white for Thursday’s ‘White Lies’ spirit-week. (Marshall Scott/ Ethic News Photo)
Image 3: Martin Lopez, a Junior, wore a shirt saying “School security can catch me.” for “White Lies” spirit day. (Marshall Scott/ Ethic News Photo)
FRIDAY
The last day of Spirit week went back in time as students dressed up in 2000’s clothing trends. The official theme being “2000’s day or wear black and gold.” Students had the choice of wearing CV gear or 2000’s clothing.
Image 1: Junior Jazz Daughtrey poses in her Britney Spears inspired 2000’s outfit. (Monique Valera/Ethic News Photo)
Image 2: Sophomores Abigail Landa, Mackayla Herrera, and Amaya Pantaleon pose with Junior Leila Clemons in their CV and black and gold attire. (Monique Valera/Ethic News Photo)
Image 3: Sophomores Todd Hessell and Elise pose together wearing 2000’s wear for Friday’s “2000’s day” theme. (Monique Varela/Ethic News Photo)
The Redlands Scholarship Foundation application process is being offered at each Redlands Unified School District high school to give seniors the chance to earn money for their education.
The applications opened Friday, Jan. 30, at 6 a.m. The deadline to submit applications is Feb. 6.
Students may use scholarships towards community college, university and maybe even trade school.
The scholarship foundation was created as a memorial in 1966. On the RCSF website it states that “inspired community members created the first scholarship to honor Mr. Kenneth Hurlbert, Assistant Superintendent”.
According to RCSF website, they have been “supporting over 131 community, business,educational, and individual donors who desire to make a positive impact on students’ lives.”
Seniors have a week to prepare their main essay and any additional essays for a chance to earn a scholarship at whichever high school the senior attends.
Citrus Valley High School’s mock trial team won the semi finals against Oak Hills Red on Jan. 12.
After winning against Oak Hills Red, Citrus Valley mock trial became the top team in San Bernardino County.
Acuna states, “This is my first time winning semi finals and I’m nervous but more excited.”
The mock trial team’s teacher coaches are Kathryn Fonken-Stoker and Debbie Muniz.
Fonken-Stoker states, “The team is very slightly nervous, but we’re excited.”
The team will compete in the finals on Saturday, Jan. 14. If the team wins this match, they will advance to state finals and compete to win the title of mock trial state champions.
Juliana Acuna, senior at Citrus Valley, was awarded the MVP title for her role as witness. (MEANNA SMITH/ETHIC NEWS)
High Schools across Redlands competed in a hot cocoa competition. The competition tookplace on Dec. 9 between Citrus Valley High School, Redlands East Valley High School and Redlands High School.
Citrus Valley High School, Redlands High School and Redlands East Valley High School each promoted the hot cocoa competition on their instagram accounts. (Instagram screenshots/ Ethic News media)
The competition was also named the “Mug-of-War” contest.
Kylie McCue, a Citrus Valley junior, said,”It was good. Participation was good and hopefully it will be an annual thing.”
At each high school, the student government representatives scanned identification cards, filled cups with water, and provided hot chocolate packets. Students had to come before school to have their cups filled. Citrus Valley also went out of their way to provide disposable cups to anyone who did not bring their own cup.
The winner was announced at the end of lunch. The results were posted on Instagram announcing that RHS had won the competition by 45 cups with Citrus Valley coming in second and REV placing third.
Citrus Valley junior Riley Brossia said,”Even though we lost, I think it really rallied our school spirit.”
All three high schools posted the results of the “Mug-of-War” on their instagram accounts. Citrus Valley High School and Redlands East Valley High School congratulated Redlands High School for their win. (Instagram screenshot/ Ethic News media)
Overall the competition was a big success with Citrus Valley, REV and RHS all receiving high participation in the first “Mug-of-War” hot cocoa challenge.
It was announced that this was going to be an annual tradition and this year was the first.
Upon entering, to the left is a display of outfits showing what can be put together based on what the store offers. The third mannequin has on a shirt from the popular Netflix show, Stranger Things, and its season three character, Eddie Munson’s Dungeons and Dragons campaign long sleeved tee shirt. (ALEX VERDUZCO/ Ethic News photo)
One of the newest locations of the popular retailer Hot Topic has launched and officially opened during the week of Nov. 18. This Hot Topic is located in Redlands in the Mountain Grove shopping center near popular retailers such as Tilly’s, Ulta and GAP. On the other side are restaurants like Mod Pizza, Chipotle and Waba Grill. With this new addition, it is expected to add to the teenage audience and broaden the selection of stores available in the shopping center.
In the first photo, a display case shows merchandise highlighting the Kirby character from a video game company, Nintendo. On the left a selection of shirts can be seen. Featured on their right is a little bit of their Funko Pop collectible toys that are for sale. In the second photo, a different view of the shirt selection offered at Hot Topic is shown. This specific angle features television shows, movies and characters.(ALEX VERDUZCO/ Ethic News photo)
Giavonna Galloway, a Redlands East Valley sophomore says, “I am intrigued but I’m not really excited because I don’t normally like what they sell. I’m probably going to check it out anyway because I like some of the jewelry.”
The Redlands Hot Topic location offers a replica of the Byers’ home from season one of Netflix original, Stranger Things. In this scene, Joyce Byers hangs up Christmas lights on her living room wall to communicate with her son.
(ALEX VERDUZCO/ Ethic News photo)
REV senior Eva Valtierrez says, “I think the new Hot Topic is a really cool place to shop at and it has a lot of merchandise that I really enjoy liking and purchasing. I admire the amount of accessories I’m interested in and I like that they sell little elements from my favorite movies, tv shows and bands.”
This section of Hot Topic houses a display case of horror movie merchandise such as, Halloween, that stands in front of the character tee shirts, Kirby display, and selection of Funko Pop collectibles. (ALEX VERDUZCO/ Ethic News photo)
REV junior, Brittany Arreola adds, “I like that they cater to niche interests.”
Kelly Welch, REV senior, says, “I think Hot Topic and their fanbase have shifted a lot from the 2010’s. I used to shop there religiously, but it still holds a special place in my heart.”
Hot Topic carries apparel as well as accessories such as keychains, blankets and bags ranging from Loungefly character backpacks to totebags and more. Along with the array of shirts, there is an assortment of sweaters and hoodies with character and brand merchandise.
The United States and Russia made a prisoner exchange on Dec. 8.
Brittney Griner is a professional basketball player who was captured by Russian forces in Russia. Victor Bout is an arms dealer captured by U.S. forces.
The U.S tried to include Paul Whelan in the trade but couldn’t do so. Paul Whellan is a former veteran who was captured by the Russians.
“Everything is possible,”Putin said when communicating with American officials.
He is talking about possibly trading someone else we have for Paull Whellan. The Russians really want Vadim Krasikov.
When he heard the news that he would not be included in the prisoner exchange, Whellan told CNN that he is “greatly disappointed…I don’t understand why I’m still sitting here.”
Paul Whellan has been captured and held in Russia for four years. While Griner hasn’t been there for less than one year.
The prisoner exchange has given people mixed feelings towards the decision government officials made. Some are happy that the U.S. got back an American from Russia custody. Others are upset that we gave away an arms dealer nicknamed “The Merchant of Death.”
Many people are happy to see Brittney Griner return to her home. MAny people also are upset and think the U.S. got the worst part of the deal.
The new Arrow line service opened for commuters to ride starting Oct. 24. As an extension of the MetroLink lines through San Bernardino’s transit hub, the Arrow train will connect the East Valley of San Bernardino to the rest of the Metrolink network via the San Bernardino Downtown station. It is also referred to as “The Redlands Passenger Rail Project” with most of the stops along the line being located in Redlands.
People fill the Redlands Downtown station during the ribbon cutting ceremony next to one of the Arrow trains which was open to the public for viewing on Oct. 21. (JOHNATHAN GHAZAL/Ethic News photo)
The rail project “has been more than a decade in the making, featuring new tracks, enhanced street crossings, quiet zones, and five stations along the nine mile route between downtown San Bernardino and downtown Redlands,” according to the San Bernardino County Rail Authority.
A dedication ceremony was held to mark the opening of the Arrow Rail line to the public on Oct. 21. Representative Pete Aguilar was one of the speakers at the event who spoke about the importance of new infrastructure in our community and the use of energy-efficient trains in its rolling stock.
Many important figures, including California Representative Pete Aguilar, D-California 31, participated in the ribbon-cutting event during the dedication ceremony on Oct. 21 to commemorate the opening of the Arrow rail line at the Redlands Downtown station. (JOHNATHAN GHAZAL/Ethic News photo)
Afterward, attendees were permitted to tour one of the new Arrow trains, which was displayed at the Redlands Downtown station. They had the opportunity to walk through coaches and get a glimpse of the experience of coming onboard the train and feeling the modern design inside.
One of the new Arrow trains arrived at the Downtown Redlands station in the early morning for the first day of revenue service on Monday, Oct. 24. (JOHNATHAN GHAZAL/Ethic News photo)
The line was officially opened for revenue service on Monday, Oct. 24. The first trains arrived in Redlands around 6 a.m. Small crowds were grouped together in the frigid temperatures to watch the train, now open to the public. It was a mostly uneventful morning with fewer people boarding the train than standing on the platforms. To commemorate the opening of the Redlands University station, the University of Redlands offered refreshments to onlookers and passengers at the station.
All the trains in the rolling stock are all energy efficient by utilizing hybrid engines which will later be replaced by fully electric engines in years to come.
As Congressman Aguilar said, “until those oil companies stop gouging us at the pump, we’re going to have to get more creative with what we do. Investments in transit… one way we can do that.” The trains were originally meant to be light rail vehicles, but it would have surpassed the budget given by the state grant. Instead, the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority opted for heavy diesel trains.
Passengers wait for the Sante Fe passenger train as seen in this historic photograph from more than 90 years ago. (Credit: Redlands Area Historical Society)
The historic Sante Fe train line ran through Redlands starting with the construction of the original Redlands Sante Fe Depot in 1888, but the building we are familiar with today as the Redlands Downtown station was built in 1909 to replace the former structure, according to the National Register of Historical Places. Service of the Sante Fe line ended its passenger service in 1938. The introduction of the train was vital to the city’s export of oranges, as can be seen with the last operating packing house located along the train route.
The opening of the station to passengers after more than 80 years is a momentous occasion for the City of Redlands and its residents. Redlanders will now have access to the large Metrolink network, connecting commuters across Southern California.
With the end of the midterm elections Donald Trump announced his 2024 presidential campaign.
On Tuesday night Trump presented a speech with the announcement at one of his estates in Florida which will be the head office for his campaign.
“In order to make America great and glorious again, I am tonight announcing my candidacy for president of the United States,” Trump stated.
In Trump’s speech he recalls his first-term as president and states all of the accomplishments he made. While also contrasting those accomplishments with the economy and current policies with Biden’s presidency.
Trump claimed about inflation, “As we speak, inflation is the highest in over 50 years.”
Trump referred to the withdrawal from Afghanistan as “perhaps the most embarrassing moment in the history of our country, where we lost lives, left Americans behind and surrendered $85 billion worth of the finest military equipment anywhere in the world.”
Though the United States did leave lots of military equipment worth billions, Trump’s criticism with the US withdrawal of Afghanistan is false. Estimated by the Defense Department it was actually estimated to be about $7.1 billion.
In Trump’s speech he also comments on the high prices of gas.
“We were $1.87 a gallon for gasoline, and now it’s sitting at five, six, seven and even eight dollars, and it’s gonna go really bad.”
The 2024 election will be the first presidential election after electoral votes are redistributed with the 2020 census.
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