Sunday Gazette: August 2, 2026
Hello Riverside, and Happy Sunday! Today's National Friendship Day, and it's got us thinking — we text our friends constantly, but when's the last time one of them got something from us in the mail? A little sentimental, sure, but there's something nice about a friend opening an actual envelope instead of another meme. Might be a fun way to spend a few minutes today.
See you tomorrow!
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HISTORY
New Magnolia Avenue
How a 1912 fill project connected Riverside's grandest avenue to its downtown core.
Through postcards, stereoviews, and other advertising and promotional material, Magnolia Avenue became famous even outside of Riverside. Extending southwest from Arlington Avenue, the picturesque avenue with a tree-lined center strip showcased the homes of early citrus growers. However, the street was not directly connected to downtown Riverside. For example, the Riverside and Arlington Electric Railway ran up Magnolia, turned right at Arlington Avenue, then left onto Brockton Avenue before proceeding north to downtown.
A more direct route was wished for by many. By 1908, plans were underway to accomplish this. The newspaper announced that rights-of-way were secured from Arlington Avenue to Thirteenth Street. The only question was whether to build a bridge over Arroyo, such as was built on Victoria Avenue, or to fill in the ravine. The decision was made to fill in the Tequesquite Arroyo as the new road approached the mile square of downtown Riverside.
A new road was built from Arlington Avenue to Jurupa Avenue through the Government Land Tract. The new route made a slight right bend as it left Arlington and, at Jurupa, joined Cypress Avenue, which was renamed Magnolia Avenue.
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NEIGHBOR OF THE WEEK
Mauryce A. Kennon
Neighbor of the Week is a series profiling the hidden heroes of Riverside, doing incredible works of service throughout our different neighborhoods.
Mauryce A. Kennon has served the Riverside community for more than 32 years, working along the way as a youth counselor, violence intervention specialist, recreational leader, mentor, coach, and entrepreneur. Born and raised in Riverside, he founded FeedDemKids, a nonprofit that started small, with a group of friends adopting families for Christmas. Over the years it has grown to include back to school giveaways and holiday activities, along with support from several major sponsors, all while Mauryce stays hands on with the kids and families the organization serves. He also makes a point of including seniors in the community in his work.
Mauryce says he's guided by transparency, compassion, empathy, work ethos, and love, and by a belief that "the stronger the citizens, the stronger the community."
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RAINCROSS RUNDOWN
The Best of Riverside in August 2026
The heat's still on and backpacks are out, but August isn't slowing down. From walking tours to trivia nights to a fundraiser for young musicians, here's what's worth your time this month.
Summer's not done with us yet — the heat's still hanging around and those first "back to school" signs are popping up on lawns and storefronts. But before the routines of fall settle back in, there's still plenty of August left to enjoy. Whether you're squeezing in one more walking tour, testing your trivia knowledge on a Wednesday night, or coming out to support Riverside Arts Academy's young musicians at their summer fundraiser, there's a little something for everyone this month. Here's what's on our radar.
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CREATIVE PROMPTS
Bean There
A prompt to encourage your practice of creativity this week from Riversider and local author Larry Burns.
This week, we are reaching into the pantry for a creative staple: the bean.
I’m picturing the prototypical bean—kidney, pinto or black—but “bean” covers an enormous family of edible seeds and bean-adjacent legumes. We also use the shape to describe swimming pools, bags, or a slang term for someone’s head. Change the spelling and it becomes a word containing everything that has already happened.
Beans also occupy a durable place in storytelling. In fairytales, beans are counted, planted, spilled, and transformative. They can represent abundance or scarcity, depending on whether you have a pantry full of them or a handful of them after selling your cow.
As a kid, my best friends Robert and Erick lived in a house where a cast-iron skillet of fresh refried beans seemed permanently available in the kitchen. Sadly, I was a picky eater and maintained a diet with all the adventurous range of a fast food menu. I didn’t appreciate those beans until adulthood.
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This Week in Riverside
Sunday, August 2
- Prayers and Public Information Meeting at Riverside Baha'i Center
- Architectural Walking Tour of Downtown Riverside at Mission Inn Foundation & Visitor Center ($21.20)
- FREE YOGA - The Evolution of Ashtanga with Kristin Varner at Community Yoga Center
- Volunteer Orientation at UCR Botanic Gardens
- Gardening for Butterflies at UCR Botanic Gardens
- Learn Origami at UCR Botanic Gardens
- Origami with Michelle at Botanic Gardens
- Storytime in the Gardens at UCR Botanic Gardens
Monday, August 3
- FREE YOGA - The Evolution of Ashtanga with Kristin Varner at Community Yoga Center
Tuesday, August 4
- ScotSurplus Sale at Corporation Yard
- Karaoke Tuesday Competition at The Hideaway
Wednesday, August 5
- Riverside East Rotary Club at Civil Rights Institute of Inland Southern
- Stretch & Dance Class at Janet Goeske Senior Center
- FREE YOGA - Seated Yoga with Kristin Varner at All Saints Episcopal Church
- How Will California Educate Its Future Workforce? at Riverside Convention Center
- The Wonders of Waste with Riverside Public Works at Cactus Cantina
Thursday, August 6
- FREE ADMISSION - First Thursday of every month during Riverside ArtsWalk at Riverside Art Museum
Friday, August 7
- Murder Mystery Co. Dinner Theater Show at The Old Spaghetti Factory ($69)
- Jo Jo Jorge Falcon at Fox Performing Arts Center
Saturday, August 8
- Off the Block on the Screen at Culver Center of the Arts
- Casino Night with CARE at Riverside Airport Cafe ($50)
- Joyas Prestadas - The Jenni Rivera Tribute Band at Fox Performing Arts Center
- Summer-Ween RIP Summer Comedy Sip and Paint Event at BACK TO THE GRIND ($23.18)
- Surely Tempo at Riverside Municipal Auditorium- Garden Room
Save the Date
- August 10: FREE YOGA - Moody Mondays with Cherie Amour at Community Yoga Center
- September 9: Beginning Square Dance Lessons with Line Dancing at Cowtown Square Dance Center
- October 7: Fifty & Better Health Fair at Janet Goeske Center
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🏆 Nominate a remarkable Riversider as Neighbor of the Week.