Sunday Gazette: March 8, 2026
Hello Riverside, and Happy Sunday! We sprung forward overnight, which means you're reading this on one less hour of sleep. The good news: longer evenings are here, and that extra daylight after work is genuinely good for your mood and your motivation to get outside. The not-so-great news: your body knows something shifted, even if your clock doesn't show it. Be gentle with yourself this week. Don't pile too much on your plate, and give yourself a few days to settle in.
See you tomorrow!
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GARDENS
From the Kitchen Garden: March, The False Spring Edition
Tips on what to plant, when to pick, and what to watch out for in your home garden.
It's technically still winter here in Riverside, but if you've stepped outside lately, you can feel the shift. The sun is warmer, afternoons are stretching longer, and everyone is asking me the same question: "Is it time to plant tomatoes?"
Not yet. In Zone 9B, this is the season of patience. While it feels like spring, our soil temperatures are still cool — and warm-season crops like tomatoes, peppers, and squash need consistent heat to truly thrive. Planting too early often means stalled growth, stressed plants, and discouraged beginner gardeners.
March is also prep season. Refresh your beds with compost, check your irrigation for leaks or clogs, and top off mulch before temperatures spike. Think of it as "set the stage" month. A little attention now makes spring planting smooth and successful.
Read and share the full March Gardening Guide...
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NEIGHBOR OF THE WEEK
Neighbor of the Week: Laniea Dominguez
Neighbor of the Week is a series profiling the hidden heroes of Riverside, doing incredible works of service throughout our different neighborhoods.
Laniea Dominguez has been working in the City of Riverside for nearly two decades — but it wasn't until about six years ago that she finally made it home. And once she did, she dove in headfirst. Here at the Raincross Gazette, we know Laniea as the newest member of our staff — more on that tomorrow.
With more than 20 years in advertising and marketing, Laniea has worked with an impressive range of clients — from cities and hospitals to casinos and automotive brands — helping businesses across Southern California grow their reach and impact.
But Laniea's impact on the community goes well beyond her professional work. In 2011, she founded Comedy for Causes, a fundraising initiative that does exactly what its name suggests: uses the power of laughter to lift up those in need. Through live comedy events and community partnerships, the program has helped raise over $500,000 for nonprofit organizations — and earned coverage from FOX 11 News, Spectrum News, and LA Voyage Magazine along the way.
These days, Laniea is channeling that same energy toward a cause close to her heart: raising funds and awareness for Riverside's unhoused community. If you've ever wanted proof that creativity and compassion make a powerful combination, look no further.
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CREATIVE PROMPTS
Running in Place
A prompt to encourage your practice of creativity this week from Riversider and local author Larry Burns.
This week’s creative nudge also involves movement… but with a twist. It moves without going anywhere. It promises miles yet remains fixed to the same square footage of your home. They are a mainstay of any at home fitness regimen. We’re talking about the treadmill.
It has been two months since many of us made bold declarations involving the phrase “this is the year.” By now, some of us have logged thousands of steps towards a healthier 2026. Others might be getting more work out of their gym equipment using them to dry laundry. No judgment. In fact, if you need to move some clothes to fully appreciate this week’s creative nudge, consider that your warm-up stretch.
The treadmill is an absurd invention. Humans evolved to roam and follow their curiosity (and hunger), to track, to migrate, to explore borders and beyond them. Then we invented a machine that lets us simulate all of that while facing a wall. There are, of course, excellent reasons: safety, weather, convenience, time. But the absurdity remains delightful. We pay for the privilege of running nowhere.
Read and share this week's full Creative Prompt...
This Week in Riverside
Sunday, March 8
- Prayers and Public Information Meeting at Riverside Baha'i Center
- UCR Choirs: Chamber Singers and Chorale at University Theatre
- The Zonta Club of Riverside presents Join me for a Cup of Coffee or Tea at SSgt Salvador J. Lara Casa Blanca Library
Monday, March 9
- Volunteer Interest Hour at Riverside Meals on Wheels
- Goeske Bingo at Janet Goeske Center ($20- $100)
- Interfaith Prayer Meeting at Riverside Baha'i Center
- Monday Carillon Recitals at University of California, Riverside
- REEF's Best Event Ever! Take 9! at Fox Performing Arts Center ($10- $75)
- R'Hours at the R'Garden at University of California, Riverside
Tuesday, March 10
- Main Library | Riverside Reads Book Discussion at Main Library
- Inland Empire Chorus Rehearsal at Temple Beth El Synagogue
- Karaoke Tuesday Competition at the Hideaway at The Hideaway
- Taiko Ensemble Recital at The Barn, Outdoor Stage
Wednesday, March 11
- 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)
Thursday, March 12
- 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)
Friday, March 13
- Certified Farmers Market at Farm House Collective
- Family Storytime at Ameal Moore Nature Center
- Koffin Kats! w/ Left Alone! at The Concert Lounge - Romano's Mission Grove
- Courthouse, Murals and Heroes Walking Tour at Mission Inn Foundation ($23.18)
- Elefante 30 Years Tour at Fox Performing Arts Center
- Oddly Manors Nu Metal Night at The Raincross District ($12.51)
Saturday, March 14
- Truck-A-Palooza at Downtown Riverside
- Learn about Native Birds and How to Monitor Bluebirds at Land Use Learning Center
- Permaculture Design Training and Certificate at Land Use Learning Center
- Riverside Sunrise Rotary 22nd Annual Black Tie Bingo at Riverside Convention Center ($130- $250)
- Olivewood Cemetery Tour at Olivewood Cemetery ($21.20)
- A Victorian Naturalist: Riverside's Butterfly Man - Exhibition Opening at Heritage House
- Bingo Loco (21+) at Riverside Municipal Auditorium
- Cinderella Ballet Audition at Inland Empire Contemporary Ballet
- For All The Ghosts Artist Talk at Culver Center of the Arts
- Master Plant Painting at Pi Day Comedy Sip and Paint Event at Back to the Grind
- Mt. Rubidoux Walking Tour at Mt. Rubidoux Trailhead, a short walk from Ryan Bonaminio Park. ($21.20)
- Painting Pi Day, a Comedy Paint and Sip at Back to the Grind
Save the Date
- March 19: Empowered Leadership: Cultivating Influence and Impact at Work Well ($165)
- March 21: LiTEArature: A Fairy-Themed Afternoon Tea - JOIN WAITLIST at Heritage House ($25)
- March 28: Goeske Spring Festival at Janet Goeske Center
- March 30: Sip with a Scientist at Bar Ni Modo
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