How many local businesses can celebrate 125 years of service to Redlands and tout being the oldest member of the Redlands Chamber of Commerce? Only one-Citrograph Printing Co., the oldest continuously running business in Redlands, oldest continuously running print house in California and first member of the Chamber.

Citrograph’s story began more than one year before the city of Redlands became incorporated. Owner Scipio Craig founded the company and established the town’s first newspaper, “The Citrograph” in 1887. Though the newspaper presses stopped when Craig passed away, as he had planned, the printing side of the company continued.

It operated in three different locations before it landed on State Street and has had six different owners. After his death, Craig’s family sold the business to Robert Hornbeck, who later sold it to employee Ernest Truesdail, who sold it to his employee Richard Caudle. His son, Richard Caudle, Jr., assumed the business in 1992. When he was ready to retire, he offered to sell the business to current owners Ryan Bailey, who was at the time the company’s graphic designer and Al Hernandez. The duo purchased the business in 2002.

Though the shop’s decor is reminiscent of days gone by, business at Citrograph includes 21st century printing services, promotional advertising, website design/maintenance/hosting and graphic design.
“Citrograph is an institution in Redlands and we will continue to honor the name that has come to mean reliable quality of service while at the same time bringing Citrograph into the 21st century with expanded services and products,” Bailey said.

It wasn’t long after buying the company that Hernandez and Bailey founded the Citrograph Scholarship Fund through the Redlands Community Foundation—a nonprofit liaison between donors and recipients—providing scholarships to students at the University of Redlands. In 2003, the first scholarship was awarded to a University of Redlands student in the music program.

This year, Bailey and Hernandez celebrated distribution of more than $80,000 in scholarships and the 10th anniversary of both events they host annually to fund the scholarships—“Vintage Redlands”, a walking wine tour, and “For the Love of Food and Wine”, a dinner and wine pairing at Farm Artisan Foods.

The duo also serve on boards and committees, including the University of Redlands Town & Gown, Redlands Community Foundation, and Family Service Association of Redlands, and Redlands Sunrise Rotary to name a few.They are proud to be the chamber’s oldest members.

“I don’t think any other business comes close to our 125-year-member standing in the chamber,” Hernandez said. “But I do hope all businesses will recognize our commitment to the chamber, and follow suit by joining or maintaining membership in this important organization. The chamber is as strong as its membership.”

I can’t believe this is my last article as your Chamber President. It’s been an honor and a pleasure serving. I would like to thank the Board of Directors, Chamber staff, the members of the Presidents Circle and the entire membership for all their hard work and support.

The City of Redlands is a wonderful place to live, but if you have a business here we have our challenges. The Chamber is here to help, support and lobby on your behalf, to be your squeaky wheel to improve conditions and pave the way to success. If you are not a chamber member this is the time to join and give us the help and support that will allow us to continue to assist all businesses in our area. Your voice can make a difference. Please make Redlands a great place to start and grow your business.

The holiday season is in full swing so shop Redlands first…it pays to support local businesses. Remember to bring in your receipt of $25 or more from local shops and receive a chance to win one of 2 $100 prizes from local businesses. (If your receipt is from a chamber member you’ll get two chances at the prizes).

Once again thank you for your support over the year and be assured I will continue to work to make the Redlands Chamber of Commerce one of the best in the region.

Keeping tax dollars in town is an important part of the equation when talking about the city’s financial well-being, but more importantly shopping locally supports the local businesses, helps retain jobs, and circulates dollars in the community.

Small businesses employ local people local people. They support local charities and offer personal services. Local businesses patronizes local businesses, they join local service clubs and support local athletic programs.

You really can find almost anything you need here in Redlands.

We have:

• Retail and wholesale
• Restaurants and caterers
• Printers, writers and designers
• Gift shops, ice cream and toy stores
• Bike shops and car dealers
• Home improvement stores and maintenance servers
• Photographers, artisans and musicians
• Pet stores and services
• Gourmet food and wine
• Personal and professional services

So before you make a purchase ask yourself if you can Shop Redlands first.

The City of Redlands has begun the first phase of a project to eventually convert all of the City’s street lights to more efficient, longer-lasting Light Emitting Diode (LED) lighting, beginning with some 250 street lights in the historic downtown.  Meeting a commitment to the City Council last summer to complete the first phase of the lighting conversion before the Dec. 1 Redlands Christmas Parade, City staff began work Nov. 12 and have replaced high pressure sodium bulbs in more than 200 decorative “acorn” street lights downtown with the new LED lights. In addition, almost 50 cobra head street lights downtown have also been converted from HPS to LED lights. The remainder of the Phase I conversion is expected to be complete by the end of November.

On July 26, the City Council awarded the contract for Phase I of the LED Streetlight Conversion Project to Chino-based Flatiron Electric Group. Phase I included the area of Orange Street from Pearl Avenue to Citrus Avenue, State Street from Orange Street to Redlands Boulevard and Fifth and Ninth Streets from State Street to Citrus Avenue.

The decorative acorn lights found in downtown Redlands used a 70-watt HPS light. A 55-watt LED light provides the same luminance using 21 percent less energy. Similarly, 200-watt and 150-watt HPS cobra heads can be converted to 106-watt and 67-watt LED lights, providing the same luminance at an energy savings of 47 percent and 55 percent respectively.

While the luminance of the lower watt LED lights is the same as the higher watt HPS bulbs, in some areas the new lights may appear even brighter because the more focused beams of the LED lights throw more light directly on the ground.

In addition, LED fixtures have a longer useful life than HPS fixtures. The life expectancy of an LED light is 50,000 hours, vastly exceeding the life expectancy of HPS, between 7,000-15,000 hours. With the City typically powering its streetlights for 11 hours per day, HPS lights would need to be replaced every 5 1/2 years, while LED lights would last more than 12 years.

The $211,000 Phase I conversion project is partially paid for through more than $61,000 in Southern California Edison rebates, including more than $11,000 for LED rebates. In addition, the City estimates nearly $20,000 in annual energy savings and $30,000 in one-time salary savings as part of the project.

In comparison to HPS streetlights, LED streetlights are innovative, energy efficient, environmentally friendly and in-line with the City of Redlands’ goal of being a progressive and sustainable city.

Few municipalities have even considered LED technology for their street light program. By developing and implementing a comprehensive master plan for conversion of HPS to energy-saving LED lighting, Redlands is leading the way in taking advantage of this advanced technology.

Additional areas will be converted as the City realizes savings from the LED conversion and other funding becomes available.