Sunday Gazette: July 19, 2026
Hello Riverside, and Happy Sunday! Today we want to pull back the curtain on our Neighbor of the Week feature, and what it's really about. Over the last few weeks, we've highlighted people who show up quietly. There was the counselor who has spent decades helping Riverside families navigate grief, dementia, and loss, work that grew out of her own losses and never once for the spotlight. There was the coffee shop owner who opened his doors on University Avenue nearly thirty years ago and simply kept them open for whoever needed a place to gather. And there was the longtime server at a Downtown restaurant who still remembers regulars' orders before they sit down. None of them set out to be recognized. This feature has never been about award winners or celebrities. It's about the unsung people who make Riverside feel like a neighborhood.
Here's something we don't always share: when we reach out to a nominee, plenty of them hesitate. They ask if they really need to be featured, because they didn't do what they did for recognition. When that happens, we remind them why this feature exists at all. Our mission is simple: we publish news and events that increase the spirit of neighborliness in Riverside. What we know about our city determines what we believe about it, and what we believe about our city determines its future.
If there's someone in your life who shows up for others without expecting anything back, we'd love to hear their name. Nominate a neighbor.
Advertisement (Become an advertiser)
HISTORY
Royalty Visits the Mission Inn
In July 1926, Swedish royalty stopped at the Mission Inn for a concert, a banquet, and an impromptu tribute to California oranges.
Over the years, many celebrities have visited and stayed at the Mission Inn. One hundred years ago, in July 1926, royalty stopped in for a quick visit with Frank Miller. Crown Prince Gustavus Adolphus and Princess Louise of Sweden undertook a world tour to promote Sweden. The couple set sail from Stockholm in the middle of May on board the Gripsholm bound for New York.
From New York, the Prince and Princess traveled to Washington, D.C., for the dedication of the John Ericsson monument. Ericsson, a Swedish-born engineer, invented the screw propeller for ships and designed the plans for the iron-clad USS Monitor.
With official duties in Washington finished, the royal pair embarked on a cross-country trip via private Pullman cars. After days of traveling and sightseeing, the party arrived in California. Here, the prince took the time to greet the engineer of the Santa Fe engine pulling his train consist of cars and to ask his name. When the engineer replied that his name was Julius Jensen, the prince exclaimed: "Oh, another Swede!" After shaking the man's hand, he climbed up into the engine cab for a photo.
Read and share the complete story...
Advertisement (Become an advertiser)
COMMUNITY
Food Bank's Health Partnership Model Draws National Praise
A new national report shows how FARSB's FoodRx program is helping Inland Empire neighbors eat better and stay healthier close to home.
For families across Riverside and San Bernardino counties, a box of groceries can mean more than a full pantry. It can mean fewer trips to the emergency room and one less thing to worry about.
That's the idea behind FoodRx, a program run by Feeding America Riverside | San Bernardino (FARSB) that pairs local health clinics with fresh food and nutrition support for neighbors facing hunger. Since 2021, the program has connected thousands of patients to food boxes, nutrition education and other resources right where they already go for care.
"[FoodRx] helps me a lot right now because my husband is working very little right now, and I have five kids, so it helps me make snacks and give them something to eat," one program participant, identified only as a FARSB neighbor, said in a statement.
Read and share the complete story...
Advertisement (Become an advertiser)
CREATIVE PROMPTS
Mat-ter of Fact
A prompt to encourage your practice of creativity this week from Riversider and local author Larry Burns.
This week, we continue tracking the evidence of where we have been, but we’re moving from the kitchen counter to the front door. Our creative nudge this week is the doormat.
A doormat is a staple of modern residence, a point of orientation and entrance. I just can’t climb into my neighbor’s window, even if I’m carrying fresh baked muffins. There are customs to observe. I knock, ring a bell, or wave at the camera. I wait outside until invited in and, without prompting, I wipe my feet on the doormat.
The doormat helps encourage this civilized behavior. Some homes go one better: wipe your shoes, then remove them entirely before wandering around inside. The doormat is both greeter and bouncer. It says welcome, but also says, “You’re not bringing that drama in here.”
Read and share the complete prompt...
This Week in Riverside
Sunday, July 19
- Prayers and Public Information Meeting at Riverside Baha'i Center
- Dancing for Fun at Janet Goeske Center
- Architectural Walking Tour of Downtown Riverside at Mission Inn Foundation & Visitor Center ($21.20)
- FREE ASHTANGA VINYASA YOGA at Community Yoga Center
- Gardening for Butterflies at UCR Botanic Gardens
- Summer Zine Workshop Series with Brookes Reeder at Riverside Art Museum
- Sunday Experiment After Dark at Downtown Experiment
Monday, July 20
- Volunteer Interest Hour at Riverside Meals on Wheels
- Animal Kids Camp - Summer Sessions at Mary S. Roberts pet Adoption Center ($240)
- Camp Riverside with IE Kids Outdoors at California State Citrus Heritage Park ($200)
- Health Coverage Assistance at Martin Luther King Building
- Goeske Bingo at Janet Goeske Center ($20- $100)
- Park and Recreation Commission at Riverside City Hall
Tuesday, July 21
- The Art of Reading & Writing at My Learning Studio ($57)
- Reading Comprehension Group at My Learning Studio ($57)
- Study Skills- Test Taking at My Learning Studio ($57.00)
- Summer Seed Exchange at Marcy Library
- Karaoke Tuesday Competition at the Hideaway at The Hideaway
Wednesday, July 22
- Riverside East Rotary Club at Civil Rights Institute of Inland Southern
- Stretch & Dance Class at Janet Goeske Senior Center
- Strawberry Tote Bags at Marcy Library
- Community Police Review Commission at Riverside City Hall
- County Planning Commission Meeting at 4080 Lemon St., 1st Floor
Thursday, July 23
- Archiving IE Black History: Stories and Maps that Bring the Past to Life at Riverside Main Library (Community Room)
- History on the Rocks! Presented by The Mission Inn Foundation at Mission Inn Foundation ($65.50 - $71.21)
Friday, July 24
- Riverside Sunrise Rotary Club Meeting at Zacatecas Café
- Creative Arts at My Learning Studio ($57)
- Multiplication Madness (MM) at My Learning Studio ($57)
- Reading Assistance Program (RAP) at My Learning Studio ($57)
- Movies on the Lawn - 250th Edition: "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" at Heritage House
- Tina & The Stones - Tribute to Tina Turner & The Rolling Stones at Fox Performing Arts Center
- Club90sMJ Night Summer 2026Tour (18+) at Riverside Municipal Auditorium
Saturday, July 25
- ScotSurplus Sale at Corporation Yard
- Little LandUse Learners Spring/Summer Programming at LandUse Learning Center
- Low-Cost Vaccination Clinic at Mary S. Roberts Pet Adoption Center's Spay-Neuter Clinic ($10- $28)
- Water Smarts 101 at Western Municipal Water District
- Reading Foundational Skills (RFS) at My Learning Studio ($196)
- Banished Citizens Community Stories & Conversation at Civil Rights Institute Inland Southern California
- Zonta’s Club of Riverside Christmas in July Bunco at Riverside Arlington Library Community Room ($20)
- The Charities w/ Cafe Canela at Farm House Collective
- The JRock Community Camp at UCR Student Recreational Center North
- Rewind: The Ultimate 2000s Rave (18+) at Riverside Municipal Auditorium
Save the Date
- July 26: FREE ASHTANGA VINYASA YOGA at Community Yoga Center
- July 27: Sip with a Scientist at Bar Ni Modo
- July 31: Riverside Sunrise Rotary Club Meeting at Zacatecas Café
- October 7: Fifty & Better Health Fair at Janet Goeske Center
🗓️ See More Events 📝 Submit Your Event
📸 Submit a photo to be featured in our newsletters and social media accounts.
🏆 Nominate a remarkable Riversider as Neighbor of the Week.