🗞️ Riverside News- April 28, 2026

Tuesday Gazette: April 28, 2026

Hello Riverside, and Happy Tuesday! Today is National Superhero Day, though the heroes it honors don't have capes or superpowers. They're the firefighters, nurses, soup kitchen volunteers, and neighbors who show up for people every day. If someone in your life fits that description, nominate them for Neighbor of the Week. Questions? Reach us at newsroom@raincrossgazette.com.

See you tomorrow!

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BUSINESS

From Farm Stand to Farmers Market: Woodcrest Collective Takes Root

What started as a shuttered farm stand became the foundation for a thriving Riverside market.

A Riverside resident turned a shutdown farm stand into a thriving community market — and it's already expanding.

Why it matters: The Woodcrest Collective brings local vendors directly to a neighborhood that doesn't have a dedicated marketplace, with everything from açai bowls to fresh produce available twice monthly near Woodcrest Library.

The backstory: Laura Wright and her husband Brandon launched the market in December 2025 after the city shut down their Groovy Gopher Lavender Farm stand weeks after it opened.

• "When that door closed, we realized it was an opportunity to do something bigger and better," Wright said.

Driving the news: The collective held its latest market April 18, drawing vendors ranging from Whitegates Country Cottage (jams, jellies, nut butters) to Viuearth Water, an Irvine-based company selling vapor-distilled water.

What's next: Starting in June, the market shifts to morning hours — 8 a.m. to noon — while keeping its first-and-third-Saturday schedule.

• Location: Behind Woodcrest Library, 16625 Krameria Ave. Follow @woodcrestmarketcollective on Instagram for vendor updates.

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COMMUNITY

Riverside 4-Year-Old Is One Vote Away From a National Wildlife Win

Zephyr Bolaños, born and raised in Riverside, is in first place in the Ranger Rick Jr. Ranger contest — but the voting window closes Thursday.

Zephyr Bolaños, a Riverside boy raised on Mt. Rubidoux hikes and backyard monarch butterflies, is currently in first place in the 2026 Jr. Ranger contest — and needs local votes to advance.

Why it matters: Riverside readers can vote free, once daily, to help Zephyr win a $20,000 education fund and a national feature that his mom says would spotlight the city that shaped him.

Driving the news: The voting window for the current round closes Thursday, April 30 at 7 p.m. PDT at jr-ranger.org.

The backstory: Zephyr, born at Parkview Community Hospital in 2022, has grown up exploring Riverside's outdoors — sunrise hikes up Mt. Rubidoux, visits to California Citrus State Historic Park, and wildlife encounters in the San Bernardino mountains.

By the numbers: The grand prize includes a hands-on wildlife experience with biologist and TV host Jeff Corwin, a feature profile in Ranger Rick magazine, and $20,000 in education funds for Zephyr and his older brother.

What's next: Cast a free daily vote at jr-ranger.org through Thursday. The overall contest runs through June 4, 2026.

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Noteworthy

Sherman Indian High School's 40th Annual Youth Pow Wow returned to Riverside on April 18 after a year's absence, drawing Native American tribal members from across North America for dancing, drumming, and cultural competition on the school's football field.

No. 7 RCC baseball erupted for 21 runs in a 21-3 blowout of Fullerton College at Evans Sports Complex, with sophomore Grant Gray going 4-for-6 with six RBIs as the Tigers improved to 29-10 overall.

UCR School of Medicine researchers have discovered previously unrecognized immune "sentinel" cells inside hair follicles that may explain how skin monitors microbial threats despite its thick, multi-layered structure.

This Week in Riverside

Today

• Special Seminar: Avocado, Cherimoya, and Mango Flowering Basics at LandUse Learning Center
• MSRPAC's Monthly Community Cat Spay/Neuter Day at Mary S. Roberts Pet Adoption Center's Spay-Neuter Clinic ($45)
• Karaoke Tuesday Competition at The Hideaway

Tomorrow

• Riverside East Rotary Club at Civil Rights Institute of Inland Southern
• Stretch & Dance Class at Janet Goeske Senior Center
• Reading Assistance Program at My Learning Studio
• The Comedy Lobby at The Lobby ($9.85)
• History on the Rocks - Round Two! Presented by The Mission Inn Foundation at Mission Inn Foundation ($71.21)
• Out in the I.E. at Civil Rights Institute of Inland Southern
• Riverside Mission Belles at Victoria Presbyterian Church
• Riverside Open Mic Music Series at BACK TO THE GRIND
• Raincross Gazette: Ward 4 Community Forum at Riverside Citrus State Park - Sunkist Center

Save the Date

• April 29: Raincross Gazette: Ward 4 Community Forum at Riverside Citrus State Park - Sunkist Center
• April 30: Raincross Gazette: Ward 6 Community Forum at Altura Credit Union (10725 Magnolia Ave.)
• April 30: INVITE: Green Secretary of State candidate Michael Feinstein at Tio Tacos
• May 1: Riverside Sunrise Rotary Club Meeting at Zacatecas Café
• May 3: "The Sound of Riverside" - The 2026 Riverside Arts Academy Gala at UCR University Theatre ($150- $325)
• May 6: Senior Conference at Janet Goeske Center
• May 13: Level Up Your Network: The Pick Group 2026 Membership Summit at Killer Queens Social House
• May 16: Vintage Home Tour “Age is a Work of Art” at Peter J Weber House ($30)
• May 17: Old-Fashioned Ice Cream Social at Riverside's Heritage House
• June 1: REEF's 27th Annual Golf Tournament at Canyon Crest Country Club ($140- $175)

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