Category: Inland Empire

The City of Riverside plans to build nine new pickleball courts at Arlington Park as part of its effort to meet growing demand and revitalize a neglected area at the corner of Van Buren Boulevard and Magnolia Avenue. “The Riverside Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Department designs recreational amenities that deliver innovative experiences and unite community members,” said Anthony Zamora, parks deputy director. “The future pickleball complex at Arlington Park exemplifies our commitment to fostering connections, encouraging active lifestyles, and creating an inclusive space for all residents.” The Arlington Park Pickleball Court Project will include two courts designed for tournament play with spectator bleachers. Plans also call for shaded waiting areas, drinking fountains with bottle fillers, and LED lighting for evening play. The City will host a groundbreaking ceremony for the project on March 26 from 1-3 p.m. This development is part of a broader effort to revitalize the Van Buren and Magnolia intersection, which has suffered neglect in recent years. While these municipal projects take shape, community-driven pickleball opportunities have already flourished. Riverside Pickleball organizes free play sessions at Shamel Park, located at 3650 Arlington Ave., on Friday evenings and Sunday mornings. The group provides instruction for

Scotland has the Loch Ness monster, Tibet has the yeti, and the Pacific Northwest has Bigfoot. Cryptozoology is the study of such creatures—legendary animals which may or may not be real. Riverside has its own cryptozoological species: the chupacabra. The Chupacabra The origin of the chupacabra is younger than I am. Reports of mysteriously killed livestock with all of their blood drained, vampire-style, first occurred in Puerto Rico in 1995. More reports followed, combined with sightings of a red-eyed, huge-fanged, giant lizard with spikes along its backbone. The sightings spread rapidly through the island and then to other parts of Hispanic America. A Puerto Rican comic named this creature “chupacabra” (= “goat-sucker”) after its blood-sucking habits. Tales of chupacabra sightings have since accumulated from throughout the Western Hemisphere, and even as far flung as the Philippines, Portugal, Spain, and Russia. The chupacabra’s notoriety inspired a 1997 episode of the TV show The X Files set in California and Mexico. (For fans, that’s season 4, episode 11, “El Mundo Gira”). The show’s description of the beast as a part of “ancient Mexican folklore” is erroneous in

City Council unanimously approved a new ordinance Tuesday, March 11, aimed at curbing rampant copper wire and scrap metal theft that has cost the city and local businesses millions in damages and repairs. The ordinance adds Chapter 5.85 to the Riverside Municipal Code and establishes strict regulations for junk dealers and scrap metal recyclers operating within city limits. “Our businesses and the city itself has seen an increase in theft of our copper wire and other copper piping and other scrap materials,” Councilmember Sean Mill said. “It’s costing millions both for private industry and for the city itself.” Mill spearheaded the initiative. Public Safety Concerns Mill emphasized the public safety concerns stemming from these thefts, noting a recent incident. “All the lights along Magnolia Avenue were out from Harrison to Jackson and it was completely pitch black,” he said. “It made it unsafe for everyone in the community.” Councilmember Philip Falcone noted the widespread impact of these thefts on city infrastructure, mentioning several areas with outages including Van Buren Boulevard and multiple parks. New Requirements The new regulations require junk dealers and scrap metal recyclers to obtain

The Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce has announced John and Janet Gless as the 2024 Citizens of the Year. The longtime citrus farmers, agriculture policy, and community advocates will be honored at the chamber’s 125th inaugural celebration on Thursday, March 20. The Glesses, founders of the Gless Ranch Farmer’s Market and fruit stands, have been instrumental in preserving and promoting agriculture in Riverside for more than four decades. As pioneers of citrus farming in Woodcrest, the couple demonstrated the area’s agricultural potential in the 1960s. Their advocacy secured crucial water delivery from the Western Municipal Water District, laying the foundation for what would become a thriving farming region. Their successful ventures attracted Orange County investors seeking John’s expertise in planting and cultivation. “Gless Ranch has strived to be at the forefront of agriculture preservation in the greenbelt and Citrus State Historic Park through investment into state of the art techniques and equipment for grove care,” said Janet and John Gless in a joint statement. “Whether it be drought, pests or the many other challenges farmers face, modern farming requires advocacy at the local, state and national levels

The grand jury of San Bernardino County has faulted Upland for its potholes. “Driving through and around potholes is a safety hazard in the community,” the grand jury opined, “and can often feel like driving through an obstacle course.” In this, the grand jury speaks for us all. If Upland is known for anything beyond tree-lined Euclid Avenue, it’s for bumpy streets. Some roadways are more akin to washboards. The president could legitimately refer to Upland as “one of those pothole countries.” The city might one day be considered part of the “axle of evil.” Unafraid to tackle the truly important issues, the grand jury investigated Upland’s potholes and issued a report in December. Its title: “When is a pothole a pothole?” Very philosophical. The report itself offers a more direct answer: “Potholes occur when cracks grow large enough to allow water to seep into the asphalt and break apart.” Jurors did give credit to Upland’s Public Works Department for diligence, saying its four-person pothole team was doing the best it could to keep up. But the report said employees didn’t appear to have enough

The highest-ranking independent judge at the California Department of Insurance has been placed on leave after ruling that the agency wrongly avoided public hearings when insurers were seeking to raise premiums. Chief Administrative Law Judge Kristin Rosi was removed from her post earlier this year, although department officials would not say why. She was the senior judge at the agency’s Administrative Hearing Bureau, which operates as an independent venue where insurers and consumers present evidence and judges decide how to resolve disputes over proposed rate increases, regulatory appeals and other issues. Rosi’s departure, which leaves the independent bureau with just one judge on staff, came months after she publicly accused state Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara of violating state law in the way applications for rate increases are processed. It also comes as California faces an unprecedented challenge in the insurance market, which was reeling from a spate of policy cancelations even before 15,000-plus homes and businesses were destroyed in the Los Angeles County wildfires in January. The Department of Insurance, a sprawling agency that regulates some $300 billion worth of insurance policies issued in California

Pomona teacher Mireya Jimenez is known for her close ties to students. Consider what happened when Jimenez learned she had been named the California Association for Bilingual Education’s 2025 Teacher of the Year. “When (Jimenez) received the call, she put it on speaker so her kids could hear, and the room filled with their cheering and clapping,” Juan Ortiz, Pomona schools’ director of English learner and multilingual student programs, said in a news release. “She is deeply connected to her students and helps them take risks.” Jimenez’s 30 years at the Pomona Unified School District’s Westmont Elementary School has built that bond. Mireya Jiménez, maestra de sexto grado de español en el programa de inmersión bilingüe en la Escuela Primaria Westmont de Pomona, lee en clase el lunes 10 de marzo de 2025. La Asociación de Educación Bilingüe de California la nombró Maestra del Año 2025. (Foto de Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG) Mireya Jiménez, maestra de sexto grado de inmersión en español en dos idiomas, de la Escuela Primaria Westmont, saluda a un estudiante que ingresa a clase en Pomona el lunes 10

The Riverside City Firefighters Association’s Pipe and Drum Band will lead its 5th Annual St. Paddy’s Day Pub Crawl through Downtown Riverside on March 17, celebrating Irish and Scottish firefighting traditions with live music, food, and drinks. Founded in 2018 by Capt. Ben Hunt and a small group of local firefighters, the band draws inspiration from the centuries-old tradition brought to America by Irish and Scottish immigrants who joined firefighting ranks in the 18th and 19th centuries. The band’s powerful blend of bagpipes and drums has become a local symbol of pride and remembrance. “There’s something about the sound of the pipes and drums—it cuts right through you,” said Capt. Ben Hunt. “It’s a way to honor those who came before us and remind ourselves of the brotherhood we share.” The event, open to the public, kicks off at 6 p.m. at ProAbition, where attendees can enjoy live performances, food, and firefighter-themed merchandise. From there, the band will march through the streets of Riverside, making stops at two additional downtown venues. The Pub Crawl Route 6 p.m. – ProAbition: The night begins with the first round of performances, food, and merchandise

Can the stroke of a paint brush or the swipe of a colored pencil improve a person’s health? A UC Riverside medical student thinks so. Zayan Musa, herself a painter, is doing a study at a downtown Riverside facility to test her theory. UC Riverside medical student Zayan Musa, right, watches as The Grove Care and Wellness facility stroke patient Amalia Reynoso, 78, uses a coloring book in Riverside on Wednesday, March 5, 2025. “Drawing makes me mentally clear,” Reynoso said. Musa, who also paints as a hobby, hopes the painting therapy will help patients who have suffered strokes and other medical setbacks regain the steadiness of their hands and help with mental health. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG) UC Riverside medical student Zayan Musa, right, watches as The Grove Care and Wellness facility stroke patient Amalia Reynoso, 78, uses a coloring book in Riverside on Wednesday, March 5, 2025. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG) Amalia Reynoso, a 78-year-old stroke patient at The Grove Care and Wellness facility in Riverside, colors Wednesday, March 5, 2025, as she works to

The Camp Cajon team is planning a guided tour to the historic site this month. From 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on March 22, participants will be guided by local historians on short hikes over historic trails and roads that passed by Camp Cajon. For centuries, the Cajon Pass has been a primary corridor into Southern California, beginning with footpaths created by the local Native American tribes. In the early 1800s, the Old Spanish Trail became the primary trading route in the Southwest between Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Los Angeles. The trail passed through the Cajon Pass via Crowder Canyon, just a few hundred feet south of Camp Cajon. The Camp Cajon site during a 2023 event. From left, 1917 Pioneer Monument, Camp Cajon picnic table, Camp Cajon Monument replica, and the informational kiosk. The road in the foreground is a section of Route 66 from 1953, which is now Wagon Train Road. (Photo by Mark Landis) Beginning in 1848, the early Mormon roads and the John Brown Toll Road (1861-1881) used sections of the Old Spanish Trail in Crowder Canyon. In 1913, the

Welcome to our weekly digest on public meetings and agenda items worthy of your attention in the next week. This guide is part of our mission to provide everyday Riversiders like you with the information to speak up on the issues you care about. City Council City Council will meet in closed and open sessions on Tuesday, Mar. 11, in afternoon sessions at 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. (agenda). The agenda includes: Establishing new regulations for junk dealers and scrap metal recyclers that restrict operating hours, mandate transaction reporting, and create penalties to reduce copper wire theft. Formally reviewing the annual progress report that measures the City’s success in implementing its General Plan goals for State-mandated housing development targets and city improvement projects before the legally required submission to state agencies. Reviewing proposed increases to construction and building permit fees would ensure developers who use these special services pay for them directly rather than having all taxpayers subsidize building projects. Land Use Committee The Land Use Committee (Councilmembers Mill, Falcone, and Cervantes) meets on Monday, Mar. 10, at 9:00 a.m. (agenda) to consider options for creating a retail sign design handbook with the goal of improving the quality of commercial signage throughout the City.

What began as a classroom assignment in 2001 has grown into one of the nation’s largest veteran tribute programs. At Martin Luther King High School in Riverside, a project that started with a handful of students interviewing veterans now fills the gymnasium each spring, drawing about 200 veterans, 600 students, and the entire community. John Corona, a U.S. history teacher who launched the project, said he was inspired after realizing many of his students lacked direct connections to World War II and Korean War veterans. “Everybody has a story,” Corona said, a mantra that has guided the program’s growth. The annual event allows students to interview veterans, preserving their stories and fostering intergenerational understanding. Small groups of students are paired with a veteran, asking questions from a short list of open-ended prompts. The goal is for students to prepare a brief biography, but the impact of these conversations extends far beyond a typical 11th-grade project. Bridging Generations The program also challenges stereotypes about young people’s readiness to inherit the world. During this year’s event, Korean War veteran Walter Parks shared stories with four students assigned to his table. Parks, from describing

Have you had a torta ahogada? The name of this Guadalajaran specialty translates literally to “drowned sandwich.” It’s in the same juicy branch of the sandwich family tree as LA’s French Dip and Chicago’s Italian Beef, a sandwich subcategory characterized by the fact that the whole shebang, bread meat and all, is dunked in a soupy concoction just before being served. Whereas the French Dip and the Italian Beef are dipped in au jus repurposed from the cooking pot, the torta ahogada is drenched in a spicy chili sauce (or milder tomato salsa) and served in a bowl or a plastic-lined basket with a spoon to facilitate further basting as needed if unsoaked bread presents itself. According to my buddy Michael, some specialists in Mexico go so far as to provide a plastic glove along with the sandwich to make it easier to get a hold of the slippery beast without drowning your hand in salsa along with the torta.  Unlike other Mexican tortas, which are often assembled on a fluffy light bolillo roll, tortas ahogadas are traditionally served on birotes, sturdy Jalisciense sourdough demi-baguettes

Dee Keoski has called Riverside home for 40 years. She and her husband raised their children here, and Dee’s deep commitment to the community has been evident through her many volunteer efforts. From working with the Salvation Army in the late 1980s to serving as a PTA officer and helping build a library in Woodcrest, Dee’s dedication to Riverside is unwavering. After earning her Bachelor’s, Master’s, and teaching credentials, she spent years as a public school teacher, finishing her career in Corona before retiring. Dee has volunteered and worked for the Janet Goeske Center for many years, assisting Riverside senior citizens with everything from navigating the DMV website to assessing housing options for seniors in the area. As a kindly clever neighbor, she continues to serve as a Senior Resource Advisor at the Goeske Center, helping seniors navigate complex systems and advocating for their needs. What does Riverside mean to you? I’m originally from the East Coast, and after living in several Southern California cities, Riverside stood out for its clear identity and history. I became a Realtor and learned every neighborhood in Riverside, which