Yellow bells glow against a fading sunset sky in Hawarden Hills. (Rosalyn Anderson) Have a photo that captures the spirit of Riverside? Share it with us and help celebrate the beauty of our community!
Tuesday Gazette: May 26, 2026
Hello Riverside, and Happy Tuesday! One week from today, polls close on the June 2 election. If you haven't voted yet, now is a good time to pull out your ballot — and our 2026 Election Guide is a good place to start if you still have questions about who's on it.
If you're planning to mail your ballot, today is the day. The City's recommended mail-by date is Wednesday, May 27, but mailing by today gives your ballot a bit of extra cushion to arrive on time. No stamp needed: every ballot comes with a prepaid return envelope from the Registrar. A reminder on why the postmark date matters more than you might think.
Riverside Cleanup Group Expands Into Highgrove and University for First Time
Keep Riverside Clean and Beautiful is recruiting volunteers for two Saturday morning cleanups in June across the unincorporated communities.
Volunteers with Keep Riverside Clean and Beautiful collect litter and debris during a previous cleanup event. (Photo courtesy of KRCB)
Keep Riverside Clean and Beautiful is heading outside city limits for the first time, organizing volunteer cleanups in Highgrove and University this month.
Why it matters: If you live in or near these unincorporated communities, you can now join a cleanup effort that's never reached your neighborhood before.
Driving the news: KRCB reached an agreement with Riverside County in March, partnering with First District Supervisor Jose Medina to extend the program beyond city jurisdiction.
What's happening: Volunteer cleanups run 7:30–10:30 a.m. on June 13 (Highgrove) and June 20 (University), focusing on litter pickup, graffiti removal, and brush maintenance.
What's next: Registration is required in advance — meeting location details are provided at signup. Visit krcb.com to register.
Riverside Educator and Nonprofit Founder Lorna Jenkins Receives 2025 Spirit Award
The City Council honor recognizes her nearly two decades building free tutoring services and community events for Riverside families.
Lorna Jenkins receives the 2025 City Spirit Award from Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson at Riverside City Hall, surrounded by members of the City Council. (Courtesy My Learning Studio)
Lorna Jenkins, founder of a Riverside nonprofit that has delivered more than 13,000 hours of free and reduced-cost tutoring since 2008, received the city's 2025 Spirit Award in a 6-1 Council vote Monday.
Why it matters: My Learning Studio OUTREACH serves low-income, foster, and court-appointed youth at no cost — if you know a family who could use academic support, Jenkins is asking them to reach out.
The Spirit Award goes to residents who demonstrate extraordinary dedication to improving quality of life in Riverside. Past recipients include retired Sen. Richard Roth, Rose Mayes, and Gordon Bourns.
Beyond the classroom: Jenkins has hosted Riverside's largest National Night Out event for nine consecutive years, led free civic walking tours through her Explore Riverside Together program, and authored a book about the city.
She also organizes the Pardi Gras Pub Crawl, the nonprofit's largest annual fundraiser.
What they're saying: "My greatest unmet need is to teach children," Jenkins told the Gazette.
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