COLTON COURIER Weekly
July 24, 2025
Vol 153, NO. 32
Joe Baca Middle School Awarded $88K for Energy Upgrade, Saving Power Equal to 25 Homes a Year
IECN.com
Assemblymember Ramos Secures $10M to Pursue Calif.’s First Federally Accredited Tribal College Pg. 4
PHOTO I-REN Colton Joint Unified School District officials and I-REN representatives celebrate the presentation of an $88,348.99 energy efficiency incentive check at the July 17, 2025 board meeting.
By IECN Staff
J
oe Baca Middle School is expected to cut its annual energy use by more than 173,000 kilowatt-hours following a lighting retrofit funded through an $88,348 incentive check from the Inland Regional Energy Network. The check, presented last week to the
Colton Joint Unified School District, recognizes the completion of an energy efficiency project at the Bloomington campus. The interior lighting retrofit included the installation of high-efficiency LED fixtures and optimized wattage levels throughout the school, which serves nearly 800 students. The district partnered with I-REN through its Cash-for-Kilowatts program, which pro-
vides incentives to public agencies and school districts for implementing measurable energy-saving upgrades. The project qualified for I-REN’s highest incentive rate. The improvements are projected to save the district more than $40,000 annually and reduce energy usage equivalent to the CJUSD, cont. next pg.
San Bernardino Transforms Downtown With $770K Sole Alley, a Community-Driven Arts District of Murals & Culture Birdcage Comics Cafe Employees Allege Labor Abuse at San Bernardino Protest Pg. 5
Naiping Hou Vanishes from Rancho Home; Crypto Executive Son Shares Chilling Details, Offers $250K Reward Pg. 8
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PHOTO MANNY SANDOVAL Arts Connection Executive Director Alejandro Gutierrez Chavez speaks at the Sole Alley unveiling, highlighting how the project built on decades of local creative energy.
PHOTO MARIBEL SANTA CRUZ Arts Connection, Realicore Real Estate, CalTrans, the City of San Bernardino and local artists cut the ribbon on Sole Alley’s $770,000 community-driven arts district.
By Manny Sandoval
local creatives.
A
Located on West Fourth Street between D and E streets in the heart of the city’s Historic Arts District, Sole Alley now features community murals, brick-laid pavement, upgraded lighting, public seating, and a neon-lit archway entrance bearing the words “Sole Alley,” flanked by neon shoes and the phrase “Love and Unity.” “This project represents collaboration,
once-overlooked alleyway in downtown San Bernardino has been transformed into a vibrant public art corridor, now known as Sole Alley — a $770,000 investment made possible through the Clean California Grant and collaboration between the City of San Bernardino, CalTrans, Arts Connection, Realicore Real Estate, and
creativity, and community pride,” said Mayor Helen Tran during the ribbon cutting event on July 18. “Sole Alley is now a destination where people can connect, reflect, and celebrate the people of San Bernardino.” Tran also recognized contributing artist Brenda Angel and added, “A heartfelt thank you to Arts Connection. Your comSole Alley cont. next pg.