The U.S. Postal Service says postmarks are applied at processing facilities, not when mail is collected, meaning a ballot dropped in a collection box on Election Day may not be postmarked until the next day and could go uncounted.
Members of Mariachi Campana de Riverside perform on stage during a concert. The ensemble recently placed third at the Tucson International Mariachi Conference. (Riverside Arts Academy)
Riverside Arts Academy's Mariachi Campana returned home with a third-place finish at the Tucson International Mariachi Conference, earning the distinction of highest-ranking mariachi ensemble from California at this year's event.
The Tucson International Mariachi Conference draws student ensembles and musicians from across the United States and Mexico and is considered one of the top mariachi competitions in the country. The ensemble competed under the direction of Alex Treviño II, RAA's head of mariachi programs, alongside assistant directors Yamila De La Rosa and Angel Chavez.
"This accomplishment reflects the incredible dedication, discipline, and passion of our students," Treviño told the Gazette. "To compete among the very best mariachi programs and return as the top-ranked group from California is an honor for our students, families, and community."
The trip to Tucson was funded through a combination of donor support and a grassroots fundraising campaign. Adam Karelin-Anderson, RAA's executive and artistic director, said the community response made the journey possible.
"Seeing our region mobilize to empower our students on their journey reminds us that behind all successful young musicians are supportive communities cheering them on," Karelin-Anderson said in a statement.
Riverside Arts Academy is a nonprofit organization that provides music education programs for youth in the Inland Empire.
A Riverside man who took up cycling on doctor's orders after an arthritis diagnosis will ride 525 miles from San Francisco to Los Angeles in September, and he wants company.
