Wednesday Gazette: March 11, 2026
Hello Riverside, and Happy Wednesday! Today is National Plumber Day, and it's a good reminder of how much we rely on people with skills and knowledge most of us simply don't have. When something goes wrong behind the walls of your home, you know exactly who to call.
It also brings to mind one of our favorite Neighbor of the Week features: John "Riverside's Plumber" Dixon, a local fixture who brings that same hands-on dedication to everything he does, from unclogging drains to digging into Riverside's history and culture. John is exactly the kind of person Neighbor of the Week was made for: a regular Riversider doing exceptional things.
Who do you know like that? A neighbor, a coworker, a familiar face in your community who quietly makes Riverside a better place. We'd love to hear about them. Nominate someone for Neighbor of the Week and help us tell their story.
See you tomorrow!
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COMMUNITY
Blue Zones Project names City Hall its First Approved Government Worksite in Riverside
The milestone is part of a broader effort to bring Blue Zones worksite certification to major employers across the city.
Riverside City Hall is now a certified Blue Zones Project Approved Worksite — the first government building in the city to earn the designation.
Why it matters: The certification signals a shift in how the city invests in its workforce, with direct changes to the physical environment where hundreds of municipal employees spend their days.
Driving the news: Officials held a ribbon-cutting Wednesday, unveiling a new employee "downshift space" on the second-floor walkway between City Hall and the parking garage.
- The space features seating, plants, and healthy snacks designed for decompression and connection during the workday.
By the numbers: City Hall's designation brings Riverside's total Blue Zones-approved worksites to 8. The program has also certified 3 local restaurants and expects its first grocery store by end of March.
Catch up quick: Blue Zones Project Riverside is a five-year public-private partnership the City Council endorsed in August 2024, funded by a coalition including IEHP, Kaiser Permanente, Molina Healthcare, and the City of Riverside.
What's new: Other City Hall changes under the framework include box-breathing screensavers on all city computers and designated parking spots positioned to add steps to employees' workdays.
What's next: Employers interested in Blue Zones worksite certification can submit an interest form at the Blue Zones Project Riverside website.
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NATURALLY RIVERSIDE
Watch Out for Big Red
As the hills turn green, keep an eye out for the red diamond rattlesnake — beautiful, common, and best admired from a distance.
It's March, and our thoughts turn to snakes. Well, in the case of St. Patrick's Day, it is the LACK of snakes that is significant. St. Patrick reputedly drove all the snakes out of Ireland. Specifically, it is said that he drove them all into the sea when they interrupted him while fasting. And indeed, Ireland is a snakeless land. In fact, Ireland is home to a single species of terrestrial reptile, the viviparous lizard. Modern science has challenged the story of Patrick's snake eradication efforts. There's no evidence, fossil or otherwise, that snakes EVER inhabited the isolated and chilly island.
In contrast, numerous species of snakes call Riverside home. One species is particularly noticeable – and notable. In my 40-plus years in Riverside, I have encountered the red diamond rattlesnake more times than any other snake. Crotalus ruber ("the red rattle") has a lot of features that make it easy to see. Adults are three to five feet long and about two inches wide, mostly covered with a pattern of large, white-edged rufous diamonds. The head is triangular. The tail is black and white striped and tipped with the eponymous rattle. Also, these snakes are not shy. They do not seem bothered by buildings, traffic, or nearby people when they enter the urban-wildland interface. On the other hand, red diamond rattlesnakes are generally not aggressive to humans. They would rather retreat than get nasty.
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Noteworthy
RCC men's tennis swept Orange Coast College 9-0 to extend its win streak to four, improving the Tigers' record to 10–2 overall and 3–1 in conference play.
La Sierra University named psychology professor Leslie Martin as provost following a nine-month national search, elevating the 30-year faculty veteran who had been serving in the role on an interim basis.
A UCR-led study found that surging AI and cloud computing demand could require up to $58 billion in new water infrastructure as data center cooling systems strain municipal water supplies during peak summer heat.
Riverside City College's Women of Color in Administration panel brought together five campus leaders to discuss representation and resilience, reflecting a college workforce where women hold 53.7% of positions.
What's Happening in Riverside
Today
- 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
- Riverside Mission Belles at Victoria Presbyterian Church
- Riverside Open Mic Music Series at Back to the Grind
- Shelf Life | Your Story, Your Way | Personalized Journals at Marcy Library
- History on the Rocks - Round Two! Presented by The Mission Inn Foundation at Mission Inn Foundation ($60)
Tomorrow
- Saint Patrick's Day Activity at Marcy Library
- Micro Operas at Culver Center of the Arts
- Neighbors of the Wood Streets at Eden Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall
- History on the Rocks! Presented by The Mission Inn Foundation at Mission Inn Foundation Store ($60)
Save the Date
- March 14: Olivewood Cemetery Tour at Olivewood Cemetery ($21.20)
- March 14: Riverside Sunrise Rotary 22nd Annual Black Tie Bingo at Riverside Convention Center ($130- $250)
- March 19: Empowered Leadership: Cultivating Influence and Impact at Work Well ($165)
- March 21: LiTEArature: A Fairy-Themed Afternoon Tea - SOLD OUT at Heritage House ($25)
- March 26: She Built This City: Women and the Making of Riverside at Riverside Main Library
- March 28: Goeske Spring Festival at Janet Goeske Center
- March 30: Sip with a Scientist at Bar Ni Modo
- April 12: The Expeditions of Juan Bautista de Anza through Riverside County at Riverside Medical Clinic Basement Meeting Room
- April 17: Frozen: The Broadway Musical at Woodcrest Christian School Royals Pavilion ($15- $20)
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