Beautiful clouds over Lake Mathews. (Ken Crawford) Have a photo that captures the spirit of Riverside? Share it with us and help celebrate the beauty of our community!
Friday Gazette: September 26, 2025
Hello Riverside, and Happy Friday! Looking for something fun to do this weekend? Check out our Community Calendar for live theater, spooky haunted tours, book tastings and more. From the Full Circle Players’ Fall Repertory Productions to Downtown Haunted Tours and the Book Buffet at the Main Library, there’s plenty happening in our great City to make your weekend memorable!
New Eastside Elementary School Breaks Ground on Promises Kept to Community
Ofelia Valdez-Yeager Eastside Elementary School represents decades of community advocacy, funded through Measure O bonds.
The Valdez-Yeager family breaking ground at the school named for their wife, mother, and grandmother. (Juan Navarro)
Officials and community members gathered Thursday to break ground on the Ofelia Valdez-Yeager Eastside Elementary School, marking a milestone 60 years after the Lowell School arson highlighted educational inequities in the neighborhood.
Driving the news: The new school represents Riverside Unified School District's commitment to educational equity across underserved areas, funded by Measure O bonds championed by Valdez-Yeager.
The campus will be built at 14th Street and Park Avenue, serving families in the surrounding Eastside neighborhood.
Why it matters: The groundbreaking symbolizes progress from the 1965 Lowell School burning, which became a symbol of educational challenges facing the predominantly Latino community.
It follows the recent opening of Casa Blanca Elementary as part of the district's equity initiative.
The big picture: RUSD is expanding access to modern facilities in historically underserved areas, addressing long-standing community needs for neighborhood-based elementary education.
Construction is expected to continue through the coming months, with efforts to minimize disruption to local traffic patterns.
What they're saying: "This school represents promises kept to the Eastside neighborhood," said Brent Lee, president of the RUSD board of education.
What's next: The district will continue working on ensuring all students from all neighborhoods receive quality educational facilities.
Riverside Students Invited to Submit Art for City Cleanup T-shirt Contest
Middle and high schoolers have until Dec. 19 to enter Clean Campus Competition.
Middle and high school students in Riverside have until Dec. 19 to submit artwork for the city's 2026 Greatest American Cleanup event T-shirt design contest. The winning design will be featured on shirts worn during the citywide cleanup effort coinciding with America's 250th birthday celebration.
Driving the news: Keep Riverside Clean & Beautiful (KRCB) is accepting submissions for its Clean Campus Competition Art Contest, open to students in grades 7-12 attending school within Riverside.
The contest aims to foster creativity, environmental pride, and community ownership among students.
Why it matters: The competition connects student artistry with civic engagement, promoting community values and environmental responsibility.
The winning design will be prominently displayed during a major citywide event.
The details: Students must submit original artwork related to KRCB's mission along with an artist statement explaining their creative intent.
Entries will be judged on theme interpretation, creativity, connection to KRCB's mission, artist statement quality, and design transferability for printing.
The prize: The winner receives a $100 gift certificate, social media recognition, and honors at the Greatest American Cleanup reception.
Meet this week’s featured furry friend from the Mary S. Roberts Pet Adoption Center. Dedicated to eliminating pet homelessness, the center provides compassionate care and facilitates adoptions for animals in need of loving homes. Find your new companion and help support their mission of humane care and responsible pet ownership.
🐾 Alumni Update: Houston (cat) was adopted. Houston (new nickname Hugh McCutikens) was fostered as a trial, and they adopted him. Once shy and scared, he now loudly demands cuddles.
Woody is a shy but sweet 9-month-old pup with plenty of puppy playfulness and a love for adventure! Since arriving in July, he's watched his siblings find their homes, and now it's his turn to shine. Woody loves swimming, romping in the play yard, and making new furry friends, though he can be a little jumpy with excitement. With his joyful spirit, love of treats, and easygoing nature on walks, he's ready to bring fun and love to the right family.
Come meet Woody and all the adoptable pets at the Mary S. Roberts Pet Adoption Center in person. Stop by any day except Tuesdays, from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m., or learn more at petsadoption.org.
See something? Say something. Your tips and ideas are what fuel The Raincross Gazette. If you know of something newsworthy happening in our city, please share it with us.
Professional men’s and women’s soccer coming to Riverside through USL expansion, plus Games of the Week: water polo all weekend and the city’s top matchup.
Chamber honors young entrepreneur’s lemonade stand and the Housing Committee revisits mobile home rent control despite Council’s recent 2.8% cap approval.
City planners question local impact of transit housing mandates, Riverside offers micro luxury escapes and the city debuts AI assistant Rivy on its website.
No City Council meeting this week; other agendas include $1.44M for Wilderness Substation upgrades and affordable housing updates. Plus, the Museum of Riverside explores how repatriation and museums can collaborate.
