Category: Inland Empire

The Governmental Processes Committee of the City Council has proposed a six-month trial period limiting remote call-in public comments to a single period at the beginning of city meetings. The compromise, reached during Wednesday’s committee meeting, aims to balance public accessibility with meeting efficiency. Under the proposed change, members of the public would have one opportunity to call in and comment on any agenda item during the general public comment period at the start of each meeting. This would apply to both afternoon and evening sessions of City Council meetings, as well as board and commission meetings. “I appreciate your willingness to compromise on that. That’s solid,” said Committee Member Chuck Conder, who initially agreed with the proposal to eliminate remote call-in options entirely. The committee’s decision comes as cities across California reassess their public comment procedures following the end of COVID-19 emergency measures. Riverside had implemented remote call-in options during the pandemic when in-person attendance was restricted. Committee Chair Philip Falcone emphasized the importance of maintaining public access while improving meeting efficiency. “Between e-comment, email, call me on my cell phone, call me on

Do you have a Washington Navel tree in your yard? If so, chances are that you can thank Riversider and geneticist par excellence Dr. Howard Brett Frost. His contributions to the global citrus industry were immense, and he was a legend in his own time, partially due to his unique personality. The vast majority of Washington Navel oranges should be properly called “Frost Washington Navel Orange.” Dr. Frost came to Riverside to join the newly formed University of California Citrus Research Station in October 1913 when it was still west of downtown on the slope of Mt. Rubidoux. He had been hired to become its first citrus breeder.  Genetics as a field was still largely in its infancy. Remember, Mendel’s ignored work had not been rediscovered until 1900.  Cornell University became the hotbed for merging the study of genetics with plant breeding. Frost, who grew up in New York state, enrolled at Cornell after a stint teaching at a rural one-room elementary school. He received a B.S. there in 1908, his M.S., and eventually a Ph.D. in Genetics in 1913. It must have been an

After nearly two years and several delays, the downtown Upland parklets are completed and open for use on both Second Avenue and Ninth Street. Originally proposed in November 2021, the parklets feature brick wall seating areas and green benches that surround an embossed magnolia in the pavement, calling back to a time when the city was known as Magnolia. The $1.3 million project suffered some delays — construction bids came in higher than expected, and tree removal and redesigns took time — but the work was completed this summer as part of the city’s effort to revitalize the commercial area and attract more visitors. The newly finished parklets in Downtown Upland area are seen on Monday, Sept. 30, 2024. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG) The newly finished parklets that serve the Downtown Upland area are seen Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Photo taken by: Mercedes Cannon-Tran/SCNG) The newly finished parklets that serve the Downtown Upland area are seen Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (Photo taken by: Mercedes Cannon-Tran/SCNG) A women walks through the newly finished parklets in Downtown Upland area are seen on Monday, Sept. 30

The holiday season brings out the crafty in all of us, and October ArtsWalk gets it going. Aside from the Halloween theme for the Vendors on Main, there is plenty to do at the downtown museums and galleries. You probably won’t need a sweater, but we can still bring the fall spirit. Ada M. Passaro Ada has an art career spanning 80 years. She is a Riverside treasure and is turning 100 years old this month. During ArtsWalk, you can see her art on the Mezzanine at the RAM and at the RCAA gallery on Lemon at no cost. You can also join Ada for her closing reception and birthday celebration at the RCAA Gallery on October 19th . Guap Walk John “Guap” Soto hosts a photo walk every ArtsWalk. You can meet him and the group at the Riverside Food Lab at 6 PM. You don’t have to have a fancy camera or be professionally trained. Guap Walk is about getting out there and doing it. Last chance for the Morgan retrospective at RAM If you haven’t made time to see 3425 Mission Inn

Attorneys for 22 cities have filed a petition asking the California Supreme Court to review the Los Angeles County Superior Court’s implementation of a zero-bail policy last year that eliminated cash bail for all but the most serious of crimes. The Petition for Review, filed Sept. 22, alleges zero-bail fails to uphold the Superior Court’s “mandatory constitutional and statutory duties to give paramount importance to victim and public safety in adopting such bail schedules” and is based on “faulty, insufficient data,” according to the filing. The cities opposing zero-bail include Arcadia, Artesia, Azusa, Beverly Hills, Cerritos, Covina, Downey, Duarte, Glendora, Industry, Irwindale, La Mirada, La Verne, Lakewood, Lancaster, Norwalk, Paramount, Rosemead, San Dimas, Santa Clarita and Santa Fe Springs. “Rather than meeting statutory and constitutional obligations, LASC capitulated to political and legal pressure, dispensing with all money bail for nearly all misdemeanors and substantial numbers of felonies,” wrote attorney Kimberly Hall Barlow in the petition. “These actions and the resulting schedules thus are a violation of law.” A spokesperson for the Superior Court declined to comment due to the pending litigation. The Superior Court implemented

The General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC) Colton Woman’s Club announced the kickoff of the inaugural National Day of Service (NDS), spotlighting food insecurity and hunger in the United States. This year’s NDS was  scheduled for Saturday, September 28, nationwide. GFWC clubs nationwide are participating to  help increase public awareness and to provide food resources to residents/families in their communities.   “The GFWC National Day of Service is an exciting opportunity for our clubwomen to demonstrate their volunteer know-how,” said Suellen Brazil, International President. “The  GFWC tagline is ‘Living the Volunteer Spirit!,’ which is the essence of this national public  awareness campaign about hunger and food insecurity. It takes a village of concerned community leaders, public servants, and compassionate neighbors to solve hunger.”   According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 34 million people in the U.S. are food insecure, 9 million children are hungry, 53 million people turned to food banks following COVID 19 due to unemployment, and 100 percent of U.S. counties have families suffering from food insecurity. “These statistics are staggering”, said Delma Ledesma, GFWC Colton Woman’s  Club President; “GFWC Clubwomen work tirelessly to be of service to

RIVERSIDE — At least four youths or young adults participating in an athletic event at the Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center near Riverside on Tuesday suffered health complications that required medical attention. Firefighters were called to the sheriff’s training grounds, off Davis Avenue and 11th Street, shortly after 4 p.m., according to the Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department. The agency said that crews discovered the patients on the ground, possibly suffering heat exhaustion amid triple-digit temperatures. The victims were taking part in a track-and-field type of contest, according to reports from the scene. Four ambulances were called to the location as paramedics triaged and treated the parties. As of 5:20 p.m., they were awaiting transportation to a hospital for further evaluation. Temperatures at nearby March Air Reserve Base climbed Tuesday to 102 degrees, National Weather Service data show. Related Articles Crime and Public Safety | Second Rancho Cucamonga teen suicide spurs more conversations around ‘love’ and ‘support’ Crime and Public Safety | LA County reports first West Nile death of 2024 Crime and Public Safety | The US is mailing Americans free COVID tests

History is a big part of the identity of civic culture here in Riverside. We are proud of our city for what it is now and for all it has been. History means very little, however, without anyone to tell the tales. The Riverside Historical Society (RHS) is more than up to the task. History is a combination of meticulous attention to the details of the known past, as well as an optimism that there are new old stories not yet discovered. With a passion for Riverside and a rigorous respect for the craft, historians like Dr. Vince Moses, Glenn Wenzel, Steve Lech, and others make sure the story of Riverside is well told. The 4th Annual Local History Book Fair, sponsored by the RHS, is happening on Sunday, October 6, 2024, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Riverside Medical Clinic basement at 7117 Brockton Avenue. This year, seven brand-new local history books will be presented and written by local historians and authors. You’ll also get a chance to meet the authors, explore rare books and ephemera through a silent auction, and listen

Postal workers rallied in Redlands on Tuesday, Oct. 1, calling on the U.S. Postal Service to bolster its performance year-round — not just during election season. Leaders of the American Postal Workers Union applauded the service’s work surrounding elections. But they said the agency’s job on its many other tasks leaves much to be desired. Sethi Gray and members of the American Postal Workers Union rally Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024, in front of the U.S. Postal Service processing and distribution center in Redlands. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer) Members of the American Postal Workers Union protest Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024, in front of the U.S. Postal Service processing and distribution center in Redlands. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer) Assad Conley leads a Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024, rally with members of the American Postal Workers Union in front of the U.S. Postal Service processing and distribution center in Redlands. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer) Assad Conley leads an American Postal Workers Union protest Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024, in front of the U.S. Postal Service processing and distribution center in Redlands. (Photo by Milka

Today’s post-vacation column is kind of a grab bag — not to be confused with a “go bag.” Although yours truly was on the go with two bags. Anyway, let’s see what’s in the bag that I can grab. At the top are a couple of items that have been bumped from recent columns more than once, and now in a moment of desperation they’ll get their moment in the sun. Stuffed My July 31 column on the Museum of Riverside’s 100th anniversary exhibit — in place through Jan. 5 at ​3865 Market St. — lingered on the stuffed mountain lion, a favorite of local youngsters for decades. Some 20 years ago, longtime visitor Christina Miller of Riverside took a granddaughter. The mountain lion and other taxidermied animals made quite an impression. The 4-year-old was later heard telling someone excitedly: “My grandmother took me to the dead animal zoo!” Meanwhile, the stuffed donkey at the entrance to L.A.’s Olvera Street, a photo op for generations of kids, is gone due to a lease dispute. But in news reports, it was the local angle that captivated

This Halloween, we’re on the hunt for the best-decorated houses in the Inland Empire. We’re looking for graveyard scenes, front-yard haunted houses, pirate ships and any other festive theme you created. Related Articles Local News | 15 free things to do in October 2024 in Southern California Local News | MAP: Here’s all the Spirit Halloween stores in Southern California Local News | For Halloween, send us your scary stories from the Inland Empire Local News | Cal Poly Pomona’s Pumpkin Fest returns for its 31st year Local News | I was a deranged clown at Six Flags Fright Fest They can be scary, fun or something in between. Give us the details by filling out our online form. We’ll publish information and photos of some of the best displays in an upcoming story.

In a “first-of-its-kind” settlement announced Monday, Sept. 30, the city of San Bernardino has agreed to a new policy that will prevent the destruction of homeless people’s property and ensure reasonable accommodations for the unhoused with disabilities. Additionally, unless there is an immediate public health or safety concern, the city has agreed not to displace the homeless during sweeps of encampments and cleanups unless they offer emergency interim housing options such as hotels, according to the ACLU Foundation of Southern California. “This agreement ensures other people will have their rights protected going forward,” said Lenka John, one of six plaintiffs who filed a lawsuit against the city in August 2023, in a statement Monday. “San Bernardino should meet the needs of our unhoused neighbors by offering housing and services that are voluntary, humane and dignified.” The lawsuit alleged the city disregarded their constitutional rights, destroyed their personal property — including medicine, vital documents, medical equipment and tents — and left them in dangerous situations when they were ordered to vacate city parks where they were living. Plaintiff Noel Harner, who uses a wheelchair, alleged in

The 40th annual Long Beach Marathon returns this weekend, as thousands of runners take over city streets. Long Beach will soon welcome more than 22,000 runners who are set to participate this year, organizers said, starting on Friday, Oct. 4, through Sunday, Oct. 6. There are four different events, including the marathon, half marathon, 20-mile bike tour, and Saturday’s Aquarium of the Pacific 5K. There will also be a two-day health and fitness expo. Participants will get views of Long Beach’s waterfront such as the Queen Mary and Shoreline Village. The first Long Beach Marathon was held in 1982, the brainchild of local YMCA members who wanted to bring a marathon to their own city amidst the running boom in the late 1970s, according to a press release. “Long Beach is a great city, and running is part of it,” former race director Joe Carlson said in a statement. “There’s a rich history here.” Carlson has lived all 73 years of his life in Long Beach and was the Long Beach Marathon race director for nine years from 1984 through 1992. About 1,600 runners participated

A bill requiring local schools to implement protocols for extreme weather situations has been signed into law. Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed a bill requiring schools to create extreme weather guidelines after the 2023 death of 12-year-old Yahushua Robinson, who collapsed in the heat during PE class at Canyon Lake Middle School. (Via GoFundMe) Senate Bill 1248, nicknamed Yahushua’s Law, is in honor of a 12-year-old boy who died during PE  at Canyon Lake Middle School during a summer 2023 heatwave. Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Sunday, Sept. 22, that he had signed the bill, which received bipartisan support in the state Senate. The bill introduced by State Sen. Melissa Hurtado, D-Bakersfield, who co-authored it with Assemblymember Akilah Weber, D-La Mesa, was first suggested by a representative of Yahushua Robinson’s family. Hurtado said that the boy’s death should have been prevented and that, if the school had a policy in place, he would still be alive today. She said she was approached by one of Yahushua’s loved ones about the bill and she wanted to honor him and his spirit while also protecting students. Members of

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 a closed session on Tuesday, October 1, at 11:00 a.m. (agenda) for the “selection of Interim City Attorney.” Governmental Processes Committee The Governmental Processes Committee (Councilmembers Falcone, Perry, and Conder) meets on Wednesday, October 2, at 9:00 a.m. (agenda) to consider ending remote public comment options for city meetings. “This simply reverts back to the way our government operated for decades prior to COVID,” said Councilmember Falcone in response to a comment on Instagram last week. “Over a dozen local and similar-sized cities have already done this. Call-in public comment is rarely used and costs significantly in staffing.” If the committee recommends reverting to the old policy, the full City Council will decide at a future meeting. Whatever decision is made will not impact the City’s e-comment option, which allows Riversiders to comment in writing on specific agenda items. If you have never used this feature, you can comment on this agenda item before

The Riverside Neighborhood Partnership (RNP) celebrated outstanding individuals and groups dedicated to enhancing Riverside at its 12th Annual Awards Dinner. The event, held on September 26 at the Evergreen Masonic Center, brought together residents, neighborhood groups, elected officials, and small business owners to recognize exceptional service and leadership. Three winners emerged from 17 nominations across three award categories, each demonstrating remarkable commitment to their communities. Riverside Neighbors Opposing Warehouses (R-NOW) received the Neighborhood Spirit Award for its grassroots activism against a large-scale warehouse development in the Orangecrest and Mission Grove neighborhoods. R-NOW’s efforts included organizing thousands of petition signatures, speaking at public meetings, and rallying over 500 community members to attend a crucial March JPA Commission meeting. “R-NOW’s efforts have set an inspiring example of community-driven advocacy and environmental stewardship,” said RNP President Aram Ayra. Pete Benavidez earned the Neighborhood Hero Award for his decades-long leadership of Blindness Support Services (BSS). Under Benavidez’s guidance, BSS has expanded into a vital organization empowering individuals with vision loss throughout Inland Southern California. Benavidez’s community involvement extends beyond BSS. He serves on the City of Riverside Charter Review

We are taught that slavery was eliminated during the Civil War by the Emancipation Proclamation, but that was hardly the end of the story. History only occasionally talks about the lives of freed African Americans pushed out into an unforgiving world with little education or training and sometimes without even a surname. While their stories are rarely documented, there are some exceptions, such as the 100 years lived by Lucy Vaughn, a former slave who as a free woman charmed most everyone she met. She was warmly called “Grandma” by those in Riverside during the last years she lived there, more than a century ago. Virtually blind and not very mobile, Vaughn in those final days had but one request – that she not be buried in a potter’s field, the forgotten burial places where indigent people or those without relatives usually ended up. Neither she nor her granddaughter with whom she lived had much money for a formal funeral and gravesite, wrote the Riverside Daily Press, Oct. 1, 1913. But out in Riverside’s Evergreen Memorial Park today, there’s a rather impressive gravestone remembering the

Everyone’s got a spooky story to tell. Did Grandma spin a tale that sent chills up your spine? Ever hear strange noises in the middle of the night? Related Articles Local News | 15 free things to do in October 2024 in Southern California Local News | We’re looking for the best home Halloween displays in the Inland Empire Local News | MAP: Here’s all the Spirit Halloween stores in Southern California Local News | Cal Poly Pomona’s Pumpkin Fest returns for its 31st year Local News | I was a deranged clown at Six Flags Fright Fest Did you ever see a ghost? If so, tell us about it. We’re looking for the best scary stories from Inland Empire residents. Give us all the details by filling out this form. We’ll publish some of your tales in an upcoming story. Happy Halloween.

Gerri Norington, 78, never wanted to be on her own as she grew old. But her first marriage ended in divorce and her second husband died more than 30 years ago. When a five-year relationship came to a close in 2006, she found herself alone — a situation that has lasted since. “I miss having a companion who I can talk to and ask ‘How was your day?’ or ‘What do you think of what’s going on in the world?’” said Norington, who lives in an apartment building for seniors on the South Side of Chicago. Although she has a loving daughter in the city, “I don’t want to be a burden to her,” she said. Norington is part of a large but often overlooked group: the more than 16 million Americans living alone while growing old. Surprisingly little is known about their experiences. This slice of the older population has significant health issues: Nearly 4 in 10 seniors living alone have vision or hearing loss, difficulty caring for themselves and living independently, problems with cognition, or other disabilities, according to a KFF analysis of

Riverside packs a lot into the holiday season, starting with plenty to do in October. October is the month when things cool down a bit and start to get spooky. Our monthly guide is by no means comprehensive, but it offers plenty of reasons to get out of the house this month, ranked from “Not Spooky At All” to “Mommy, Hold Me!” Not Spooky At All Goeske Center Health Fair – October 2 Not taking care of yourself can be scary. The Janet Goeske Center provides essential care and companionship for our most experienced Riversiders. The Fifty & Better Health Fair is an opportunity to see what’s happening at the Goeske Center. The event is free and open to the public. Riverside Historical Society Book Fair – October 6 Don’t worry! You didn’t forget to study for your final exam in history class—that would be spooky. The Riverside Historical Society is having another book sale, and if you love local history, come listen to the experts share things you don’t know about our city. This is your first chance to buy the Historical Society’s new