Dramatic clouds painted in gold and amber drift across the evening sky above 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!
Friday Gazette: November 14, 2025
Hello Riverside, and Happy Friday! Can you believe Thanksgiving is just 13 days away? Just like that, the holidays are here.
Here at The Gazette, we're putting together a holiday donation drive guide to help connect our generous community with opportunities to give back this season. If you're organizing a donation drive, know of one happening in Riverside, or have seen information about one, we'd love to hear from you. Please take a moment to reply to this email or send details to newsroom@raincrossgazette.com, and we'll be happy to add it to our guide.
Let's make this holiday season a little brighter together, Riverside.
Passions Soar Over March Field Air Museum's Flight Path
Debate over governance and direction highlights museum's importance to Riverside.
Historic military aircraft on display at March Field Air Museum, where community members and the museum board are debating the institution's future direction following the October departure of five staff members. (Bob Sirotnik)
A fierce debate over March Field Air Museum's future has divided board leadership and community advocates, with both sides claiming they want to save the 46-year-old institution but disagreeing fundamentally on how.
Driving the news: The controversy erupted after five staff members departed in October, prompting hundreds of community members to join a "Save March" organizing effort while the museum board defends eliminating collections positions to hire a competitive executive director.
The museum operates on a $1.3 million annual budget with no government funding, relying entirely on admissions, gift shop sales, tours and event rentals.
The board's position: Museum leadership says it must become "economically strong" by focusing resources on hiring a qualified executive director rather than maintaining full-time collections staff. Board President Jamil Dada says the previous $85,000 salary offer wasn't competitive enough to attract qualified candidates.
The board has paused archival work and new donations "until these activities can be reviewed and brought into alignment with the Museum's mission."
The opposition: Attorney Bethany Everson Na, leading the organizing effort, raises concerns about possible bylaw violations, including taking actions without board approval and removing executive board members before their terms ended.
Former Director of Collections Jeff Houlihan resigned in protest after the board eliminated three positions on his collections team.
The controversy: Multiple attendees of an Oct. 17 volunteer meeting say board leaders discussed plans to eliminate archives and sell aircraft, though the board's written statement says "there are no current plans to dispose of any aircraft or artifacts."
What's next: The board votes on hiring a new executive director at its Nov. 21 meeting.
Mike Vahl Announces Bid for Ward 2 City Council Seat
IT consultant enters four-way race with private-sector experience, emphasizing results-driven approach.
Mike Vahl (left) and his wife Lisa with their family; Vahl, a longtime Riverside resident, is running for the Ward 2 City Council seat in the June 2026 election. (Courtesy of vahl4riverside.com)
Mike Vahl, a financial and IT consultant with more than 34 years in Riverside's Mission Grove/Canyon Crest area, announces his candidacy for the Ward 2 City Council seat. He joins a competitive four-way race that includes Budget Engagement Commissioner Aram Ayra, social media entrepreneur Christen Montero, and Western Municipal Water District Director Gracie Torres.
Driving the news: Vahl brings decades of private-sector experience managing multi-million-dollar budgets and pledges to address city inefficiencies with "result-driven experience" rather than politics.
The founder of Vahl Software Group cites examples including a costing system that increased a manufacturer's gross margin by 15% and improved financial accountability systems for organizations.
His platform: Vahl focuses on five key priorities including expanding public safety infrastructure with a police substation on Alessandro Boulevard, addressing water billing disparities for Ward 2 residents, implementing new approaches to homelessness with greater spending transparency, streamlining city processes, and investing in arts and innovation.
On water billing, Vahl proposes the city purchase the pumping and distribution system serving "up the hill" residents to ensure fairness and local control.
Community credentials: Vahl currently chairs the Measure C Bond Oversight Committee for Riverside Community College District and has served as Treasurer of the California Riverside Ballet and Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus.
What's next: The primary election is scheduled for June 2, 2026, with the filing deadline in early 2026. The winner replaces Clarissa Cervantes, who now seeks State Assembly District 58.
Riverside Signs Agreement With Korean EV Company Exploring U.S. Expansion
Chaevi Co. plans to open a Riverside office in January as part of a potential $100 million investment in the city.
Miranda Evans, Deputy Director of Community and Economic Development, meets with Chaevi officials at the South Korean company's EV manufacturing facility. (Courtesy of the City of Riverside)
The City of Riverside enters a partnership with Chaevi Co., a South Korean electric vehicle infrastructure company, to potentially establish the firm's U.S. manufacturing headquarters in the city.
Driving the news: A memorandum of understanding signed Nov. 10 in Korea outlines a multi-phase partnership supporting Chaevi's $100 million U.S. market entry and could bring new jobs and investment to Riverside's developing green technology sector.
Chaevi plans to open a Riverside office in January as a first step in the partnership.
The backstory: Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson and Councilmember Steven Robillard met with Chaevi executives during a September economic development trip to South Korea focused on attracting foreign investment.
What's included: The agreement establishes collaboration to identify funding strategies and develop a five-year plan to advance Riverside's clean energy and transportation goals.
Initial discussions include installing at least 45 electric vehicle chargers in Riverside over two years.
Why it matters: "Our trip emphasized how serious Riverside is about growing our green technology hub, and our conversations with Chaevi have generated promising results," Lock Dawson says.
The fine print: The memorandum is non-binding and creates no legal or financial obligations. Any binding commitments, including purchases or contracts, will require future City Council approval.
Meet this week’s featured furry friend from the Mary S. Roberts Pet Adoption Center. Dedicated to eliminating pet homelessness, the center provides compassionate care and facilitates adoptions for animals in need of loving homes. Find your new companion and help support their mission of humane care and responsible pet ownership.
Rey is a young pup (only 6 months old) who has been growing up in a kennel. She's spent three months waiting for a new home instead of romping, rolling, playing, etc. - all the things a young pup loves. This beautiful gal is friendly and affectionate. She loves to play and explore but can be a little timid in new surroundings (only because she hasn't had those experiences). Are you ready to gift Rey with her second chance? She's ready and can't wait to meet you.
Come meet Rey and all the adoptable pets at the Mary S. Roberts Pet Adoption Center in person. Stop by any day except Tuesdays, from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m., or learn more at petsadoption.org.
Riverside's Community Budget Forums give residents a chance to influence the city's next biennial budget, with the final session scheduled for November 19 at Joyce Jackson Community Center covering public works and economic development.
UC Riverside research analyzing over 4,300 bee behaviors found that invasive Argentine ants distract bumble bees from foraging, forcing already-stressed pollinators into energy-wasting fights rather than collecting food for their hives.
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