Category: Inland Empire

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

Community members gathered Saturday, March 8, for the Harriet Tubman Unity Walk in Pomona. The walk, in its fourth year in the city, honors the legacy of Tubman, the abolitionist and social activist who escaped slavery and also helped others escape. The Harriet Tubman Unity Walk starts Saturday, March 8, 2025, from the African American Advisory Alliance’s Cultural Center in downtown Pomona. (Photo by James Quigg, Contributing Photographer) The Harriet Tubman Unity Walk moves through downtown Pomona on Saturday, March 8, 2025. (Photo by James Quigg, Contributing Photographer) Pomona High School’s drum line performs Saturday, March 8, 2025, before the Harriet Tubman Unity Walk at the African American Advisory Alliance Cultural Center in Pomona. The drumline led the walk from the center to the Harriet Tubman statue in Lincoln Park. (Photo by James Quigg, Contributing Photographer) Participants in the Harriet Tubman Unity Walk pose for selfies Saturday, March 8, 2025, at the Harriet Tubman statue in Lincoln Park in Pomona. (Photo by James Quigg, Contributing Photographer) The Pomona High School drumline leads the Harriet Tubman Unity Walk from the African American Advisory Alliance’s Cultural Center

California Credit Union Foundation and North Island Credit Union Foundation invite Southern California teachers who have innovative class project ideas to apply for grants through the foundations’ spring Teacher Grant program. In the spring program, 10 grants of $500 each will be awarded in April to teachers in San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Orange and Ventura counties, and 10 grants will go to teachers in Riverside and San Diego counties. The grants are available to full-time teachers in those counties, or to credit union members teaching in California, to fund learning opportunities for their students. The projects should have clearly defined learning objectives tied to students’ academic needs, should display creativity and should benefit a significant number of students, according to a news release. For information and to apply, go to ccu.com/teachergrant/. Application deadline is March 28. Since it was created in 2012, the program has awarded in $205,000 in teacher grants to benefit students across Southern California, according to the news release. The fall grant program funded projects including starting an after-school computer science club, conducting plastic decomposition experiments, creating comic books, developing art therapy projects

Greetings, fellow embracers of the blank page! Last week, we delved into the vast creative potential within a simple sheet of paper, discovering its ability to inspire a variety of creative activities such as origami, weaving, and even blind contour drawing. Did you fold a paper crane, create a delicate paper snowflake, or perhaps uncover hidden textures by rubbing outsome mysterious images onto that untouched canvas? This week, we’re embarking on a journey into the ethereal realm of dreams. Sometimes dismissed as fleeting and inconsequential, dreams hold a wealth of creative inspiration waiting to be unlocked. Humans across history have thought of dreams as a window into our subconscious minds, a playground for our imaginations, and a source of unexpected ideas and insights. I try not to read too much into my dreams, but when I have a good one, I use it as an excuse to have a nice day. Dreams have captivated humanity for millennia. Some civilizations believe dreams are messages from the gods or glimpses into the future or even journeys outside of normal space and time. The first agrarian cultures documented their dreams on papyrus scrolls, while the Greeks

By Greg Archer | Contributing Columnist A recent grant from Inland Empire Community Foundation, is helping one Riverside County nonprofit expand its efforts to create solutions for the growing issue of restraining order violations. Domestic Violence and Abuse Protection, Inc., or DVAP, is strengthening its partnership with domestic violence advocacy groups to provide alternative resources to ensure the safety for victims of violated protection or restraining orders. Victims and families of victims can be protected in their own homes. DVAP founder Jeffrey Lee points out that the nonprofit partners with the security company Branch Management Protection, which provides physical security at no cost to victims of stalking, abuse, and violence. “These people are literally in danger, physically being threatened or even being killed, or maimed, or raped,” Lee said of some victims with restraining orders. “We’re the first in the nation to do anything like this. Our organization doesn’t exist anywhere else except with us right now. We’re hoping to build on that.” Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin, left, with Melissa Montoya, board president of Domestic Violence and Abuse Protection Inc. in August 2023.

Local athletes are making headlines with standout performances on the mat, the court, and the road to state championships. From ML King’s Giada Tanahara’s impressive run at the CIF State Wrestling Championships to CBU and UCR basketball teams fighting for postseason glory, here’s a look at the top stories and games to watch this week. Boy’s Basketball CIF State Tournament The Ramona Rams and Poly Bears both played second-round games on Thursday night in the CIF State Boy’s Basketball Tournament. The Bears hosted St. Augustine from San Diego. The game was close, with several lead changes in the fourth quarter. Standout Senior Guard Chris Holland secured the 68-67 victory with a clutch jumper at the buzzer.The Rams also kept it close at the end but weren’t able to secure the away victory and lost 61-63 vs. Fresno Christian. Congratulations to all the boys. Bears, we will see you on Saturday in the semifinal. CIF Girl’s Wrestling ML King Junior Giada (Gigi) Tanahara finished sixth overall in her weight class at the State Wrestling Championships in Bakersfield, California, last weekend. Tanahara finished third in the 110-pound division

For 40 years, Project Food has served meals to those in need from the basement of First Congregational Church (FCCR) on Lemon and Mission Inn Avenue. Each Wednesday at 5:30 p.m., a diverse group gathers for a free meal and essential supplies. The atmosphere resembles a bustling high school cafeteria, a casual dignity of people gathering and eating. A community of volunteers ensures everyone is fed. Sandra Soares, Project Food chairperson, said, “Many guests are food insecure, not homeless. They may struggle to feed extended households or must prioritize rent and utilities over groceries.” Rain affected turnout during a recent Wednesday, with volunteers serving around 50 people. Soares said pre-pandemic numbers reached 200 meals. Volunteers include church members and community members. “”Project Food is a ministry of this church, but it belongs to the community,”” Soares said. The church’schurch’s role extends beyond the basement. Bi-weekly on Wednesdays, the Riverside Free Clinic (RFC) transforms the rest of the church into a medical hub. For 21 years, the clinic has provided no-cost medical and mental health services. Matching those who need services and those who can provide them is at the heart

Drivers navigating downtown Riverside now face right-turn-only restrictions at the Market and Sixth streets intersection as the City implements new traffic patterns while formal approval from the City Council is still pending. The newly implemented 12-month pilot project, which began Jan. 22, prohibits through traffic and left turns on Sixth St. at Market St., forcing drivers to make right turns only in both eastbound and westbound directions. The project will go directly to the City Council for review after a Transportation Board meeting scheduled for Wednesday was canceled due to lack of a quorum. “Should the city decide not to approve the proposed 12-month pilot project, city staff will remove the constructed temporary improvements immediately,” the staff report states. The project follows a successful one-month pilot conducted from June 3 to July 7, 2024, which demonstrated improvements in traffic flow at the intersection. The proposed changes are consistent with traffic mitigation measures required in the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Fox Plaza Project, which were also applied to “The Mark” apartment complex located on the southeast corner of Market Street at Sixth Street. Safety

Jeff Lapides of Sierra Madre, a jewelry photographer and book designer, will present “Passage to El Dorado,” about Rudolph d’Heureuse, who photographed the Mojave Road in 1863, in a program Monday, March 10, sponsored by the La Verne Historical Society. Lapides’ presentation will be at 7 p.m. in the meeting house at the Hillcrest retirement community, 2705 Mountain View Drive, La Verne. It is free and open to the public. Rudolph d’Heureuse, a naturalized German-American, was a surveyor, cartographer, civil engineer, mining engineer, oenologist and inventor. On his journey in 1863, he photographed the Mojave Road in the desert West from the shores of the Pacific Ocean to the banks of the Colorado River and the mines of Eldorado Canyon in what is now Nevada. This was many years before anyone else took the next photo of that desert and its travelers, crossroads, forts, soldiers and watering holes, according to a news release from the La Verne Historical Society. Jeff Lapides’ previous book designs include Michele Zack’s “Southern California Story: Seeking the Better Life in Sierra Madre,” Elizabeth Pomeroy’s “San Marino: A Centennial History” and

Ontario Heritage will hold its seventh annual St. Paddy’s Golf Tournament March 14 at Whispering Lakes Golf Course in Ontario. Registration will be 7-7:30 a.m., with shotgun start at 8 a.m. Entry fee is $125 per person or $500 for a foursome, and the fee includes breakfast burrito, green fees, cart, goody bag, lunch and awards ceremony, according to the event flyer. To register, go to ontarioheritage.org/. For questions, contact Joe Caskey at 909-732-6352. Ontario Heritage’s mission is to preserve, protect and promote the cultural, historical and architectural heritage of Ontario. Since 1976, the nonprofit organization has relied on the support of local businesses and individuals to fund its programs, including the Louise Melton Grant Program for historic property restorations, landmark plaque dedications and educational initiatives, according to a news release. Proceeds from the St. Paddy’s Golf Tournament support Ontario Heritage’s programs.

San Bernardino County Supervisor Joe Baca Jr.’s former chief of staff has accused him of creating a toxic work environment filled with harassment and misconduct, according to a claim filed with the county. Sonja Pang, the former district director and acting chief of staff for Baca Jr., filed the claim on Feb. 27. The claim alleges Pang also suffered bullying and wage disparities, among other things. Pang was promoted to the director position in Baca Jr.’s office in September 2022. Her employment was terminated Feb. 21, according to her claim. “This is a case about a hardworking woman, a single mom, who just wanted to do her job and do it well,” Pang’s attorney, Joe L. Richardson, said in a statement. “In return for her efforts, she was subjected to alleged discrimination, retaliation and harassment.” According to the claim, Baca Jr. made it clear that he “preferred female job candidates that were physically attractive, did not have children, and did not have a political background (the less they knew the better).” Additionally, the claim alleges that Baca Jr. made Pang and other female staff uncomfortable