Esri Hosts Screening Ending Redlands Quasquicentennial

As the yearlong celebration of the Redlands Quasquicentennial came to an end, community members gathered for a night filled with history. On Nov. 27, Esri of Redlands hosted a film screening of the film entitled "Redlands: A Celebration of 125 years." The documentary had a run time of 70 minutes and covered the history of Redlands from 1888 through the present day. Redlands Mayor Pro Tem Paul Foster was featured throughout the film and briefly explained its significance. “What we wanted to do was highlight philanthropy and volunteerism and how it built the community,” said Foster. Furthermore, Foster stated that production of the film wouldn’t have been possible without the donations of Kaiser Permanente. According to the film, Redlands is unique due to its high rate of volunteerism and philanthropy. The film covered private philanthropists and how they contributed to the Redlands community. For example, the film highlighted how the A.K. Smiley Library was constructed as a result of donations from Albert Smiley. However, not everyone has money to donate, and that’s where volunteering comes into play. For example, according to the film, the annual Redlands Bike Classic utilizes around 300 volunteers each year to ensure that the race proceeds smoothly. In addition to the abundance of volunteers and generous philanthropists of the Redlands community, the film discussed some of the rich history embedded within the city's limits. For example, during the 1950s, Redlands was one of the largest naval producing cities in the world. As the documentary came to an end, attendees were invited to indulge in refreshments provided by local bakery Martha Green. Community member and Esri Industry Manager Shelli Stockton grew up in Redlands and expressed the passion she has for her hometown. “I feel very fortunate to have been born here,” said Stockton. According to Stockton, living in a town where the community is so eager to give back makes Redlands an ideal place to live.