The historic Peace Tower catches golden sunrise light atop Mount Rubidoux. (Luke López) Have a photo that captures the spirit of Riverside? Share it with us and help celebrate the beauty of our community!
Wednesday Gazette: February 4, 2026
Hello Riverside, and Happy Wednesday!
Our Annual Reader Survey remains open with 170 responses so far—just 230 away from our 400-response goal. Your feedback will help us chart a course to better serve you in 2026, and your anonymous demographic information helps us tell advertisers the kind of Riversiders reading The Gazette.
Each subscriber who completes the survey will be entered to win prizes from My Learning Studio, Riverside Art Museum, Bar Ni Modo, Mission Inn Museum Foundation and Old Riverside Foundation.
City Awards $1.9M Contract to Preserve 11.6 Miles of Streets
Project will extend pavement life on streets across all seven wards.
Eileen Street just northwest of California Avenue. The street is among 11.6 miles citywide scheduled for preventative maintenance work under a $1.9 million contract awarded to Union Pavement Services, Inc.
Riverside will resurface 11.6 miles of streets across all seven wards using preventative treatments that cost one-eighth the price of full repaving.
Why it matters: Your neighborhood streets could see slurry seal or cape seal work starting this spring — treatments that extend pavement life before expensive repairs become necessary.
Driving the news: Council voted unanimously Monday to hire Union Pavement Services of Jurupa Valley for the preservation work.
The project targets streets still in good condition (pavement scores of 60 or higher) to prevent deterioration.
What's happening:
9.5 miles get slurry seal (protective asphalt coating)
2.1 miles get cape seal (asphalt-rubber membrane layer)
All locations receive new traffic markings and signage
By the numbers: The preventative approach costs $1.9 million versus an estimated $16 million for full resurfacing of the same mileage, Public Works Director Alex Ramirez said.
The big picture: This is the second major street contract in two months — Council awarded $5.56 million in January for resurfacing work at different locations across five wards.
What's next: Work begins spring 2026. Track the project at the City's interactive paving map.
Pain Sugar Gallery hosts a retrospective celebrating Irvin Kyle "TOFU" Guzman's whimsical characters and electric palette.
Irvin Kyle "TOFU" Guzman at work, creating the art that helped build the creative community thriving in Riverside today. (Courtesy of Richie Velazquez)
It is tragically common that the truly talented leave us early. The beauty of creatives is that they leave artifacts; they leave their work to tell their story even after they are gone. Riverside lost Irvin Kyle "TOFU" Guzman, leaving a big hole in the art community. But he leaves us with a body of work that sparks true joy, from whimsical characters to his electric palette. There is an energy about his work that is generating power even after he is gone.
Artist Richie Velasquez reflects: "Irvin, to Riverside, was a pioneer not just as a gifted artist, but as a truly original individual and world-builder. He followed his own heart with his characters and his vision, never bending it to fit expectations. For Riverside, he played a huge role in showing other artists how to put their names out there and believe in their own paths. He was a deeply talented human being, and more than that, an amazing friend. He would remind us that everything was temporary and Everyday Ends…"
February's ArtsWalk, the first of 2026, honors TOFU's life through his art while celebrating the continued vitality of the creative community he helped build. As always, support the local artists and artisans lining Main Street with handcrafted work that makes Downtown's pedestrian mall come alive.
Seven Honorees Recognized for Downtown Contributions at RDP's 38th Annual Ceremony
Annual ceremony honors bookstore owner, volunteer fundraiser, and five programs shaping Downtown.
Rose Mayes, 2025 Recipient of RDP Chair's Award sponsored by Dhalla Orthopedic Center. (Courtesy of Riverside Downtown Partnership)
Riverside Downtown Partnership will recognize seven award recipients Feb. 19, from Dr. Jungmiwha Bullock's revitalized Downtowne Bookstore to RPD's Park and Neighborhood Specialist program.
Why it matters: The 38th Annual Meeting spotlights businesses and programs shaping Downtown's growth — from public art installations to community events attracting families.
What's new: This year's honorees share "entrepreneurial spirit, focused business effort, and extraordinary vision," Executive Director Janice Penner said.
All recognized that Downtown is "an amazing place to invest and grow."
The honorees:
Business Activity: Dr. Bullock purchased Downtowne Bookstore in July 2023, expanding into additional Main Street space for community events
Downtown Safety: RPD's Park and Neighborhood Specialists patrol city parks and adjacent neighborhoods
Arts and Culture: Riverside Community Arts Association (established 1989) promotes member artwork
Downtown Event: Junior League's Truck-a-Palooza lets kids explore construction and emergency vehicles
Downtown Improvement: Arts and Culture District banners and signage along Main Street
Chair's Award: MBG Lifestyle Group's five McGuire brothers support Miracle on Main through their Miracles and Dreams Foundation
Volunteer of the Year: Kathy Allavie drove fundraising for public art installations including oversized orange sculptures
What's next: The ceremony happens Feb. 19 at the Riverside Convention Center's Raincross Ballroom.
The American Red Cross faces a national blood shortage after winter weather disrupted donations, with the organization collecting 7,000 fewer blood products than needed and urging Riverside residents to donate immediately to prevent delays in critical patient care.
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