A lush trail winds up the west side of Mount Rubidoux amid spring grasses. (Brad Curry) Have a photo that captures the spirit of Riverside? Share it with us and help celebrate the beauty of our community!
Tuesday Gazette: March 10, 2026
Hello Riverside, and Happy Tuesday! Today is Harriet Tubman Day, and with Women's History Month well underway, it feels like a good moment to pause and take stock of what courage really looks like. Tubman was born into slavery, escaped on her own, and then went back. Again and again. She led roughly 70 people to freedom through the Underground Railroad, served as a spy for the Union Army, and spent her later years fighting for women's suffrage. She did all of this without ever learning to read or write. Today is a chance to honor a life that refused to stop at freedom for one, when freedom for many was still possible.
King High Remembers Connects Students With Veterans for 26th Year
The annual event pairs juniors with veterans from across the military branches for one-on-one interviews - and its founder says both sides leave with something irreplaceable.
More than 180 veterans and King High juniors gathered in the school gym on March 6 for the 26th annual King High Remembers event. (Erik Chen)
King High Remembers brought more than 180 veterans to Martin Luther King High School Friday for one-on-one student interviews — now in its 26th year.
Why it matters: The program gives Riverside juniors direct access to living history, pairing them with veterans for structured interviews that become part of a permanent school archive.
Driving the news: The March 6 event drew veterans from across military branches — Coast Guard to Air Force — continuing a tradition founder John Corona started in 2000 after an impromptu classroom experiment with WWII veterans.
How it works: Only juniors enrolled in social studies are eligible. Students interview an assigned veteran, complete a class project, and submit it to their veteran for approval before it enters the school's archive.
What they're saying: Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Bill Baltazar, a Vietnam veteran, described surviving a mission in which his B-52 formation was targeted by 26 surface-to-air missiles — then thanked the students after the interview.
"You're worth it," he told them.
What's next: History department chair Courtney Temple, who took over after Corona retired, will continue leading the program. No date announced yet for the 2026 event.
Putting the 'Lake' Back in Riverside: Hole Lake Revitalization Project to Begin This Year
Councilmember Steve Hemenway envisions cafes, trails, and waterfront gathering spots where illegal dumping and overgrown brush now reign.
Councilmember Steve Hemenway surveys the Hole Lake site, where he envisions a community gathering place on Riverside's west side. (Justin Pardee)
A long-neglected southwestern Riverside reservoir could become the city's next major outdoor destination — if a years-long planning process gets underway this year.
Why it matters: If you live near the Casa Blanca area, this project could transform an overgrown dumping ground into a park, sports fields, or waterfront dining just blocks from your neighborhood.
Driving the news: Councilmember Steve Hemenway is championing Hole Lake's revitalization as a companion to Mayor Patricia Lock-Dawson's push to reconnect Riverside with the Santa Ana River.
The lake sits about a mile south of the river and would serve as a western bookend to the city's river corridor.
Catch up quick: Built in the 1910s as an agricultural reservoir, Hole Lake was drained in the 1970s and has sat dry since — plagued today by illegal dumping, overgrown vegetation, and encampments.
What's next: The city plans to hire a design consultant this year to develop a master plan and host community input meetings.
Construction won't begin until a master plan is finalized, environmental clearance is secured, and grant funding is in place — a timeline Parks Director Pamela Galera describes as unknown.
The big picture: Ideas floated for the site include nature trails, fishing, water sports, playgrounds, and even cafes — though designers must navigate airport flight paths, migratory bird patterns, and state-protected habitat zones.
The Friends of California Citrus Park will host the 4th Annual Citrus Festival at California Citrus State Historic Park, 9400 Dufferin Ave., on Saturday, March 28, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The event marks the height of the citrus season at one of Riverside's most historically significant landmarks, a 247-acre park that has preserved the region's citrus heritage since the Friends organization was founded in 1994.
This year's festival includes citrus tastings, cultural and educational booths, craft vendors, cooking demonstrations by Saboreé Catering & Events, and live music by local band Southbound & Company. A kids' corner will offer games, crafts, a learning lab, and story time. Food, beverages, and a beer garden will also be available.
Parking is available at Arlington High School and Bethel Christian School, with free shuttle service to the park. Disabled parking is available on-site. Parking costs $10 at all locations.
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