A supermoon rises behind a Meyer lemon tree at Sunset Ridge on Hawarden Hills, showcasing Riverside's citrus heritage with golden fruit silhouetted against the evening sky. (William S. Willis) Have a photo that captures the spirit of Riverside? Share it with us and help celebrate the beauty of our community!
Sunday Gazette: December 7, 2025
Hello Riverside, and Happy Sunday!
Today, I'm launching our year-end campaign with a very specific goal: I'm asking 253 of you to become new paid members of The Raincross Gazette. Nearly five years ago, I started this newsroom to restore the local news coverage Riverside deserves. The next five years start with 253 of you.
Why 253? Right now, less than 5% of you support this work financially. Other successful independent newsrooms run at 6-7%. That difference—253 people—is what takes us from making it work to making it last.
Five years of building this newsroom has taught me one thing: what keeps us stable and strong is monthly and annual memberships. Not one-time contributions (and they make a difference). Not advertising alone (though we have great partners). And definitely not contracts that compromise the journalism (more on that later this week).
The Gazette publishes everything for free: I've never put up a paywall. I've never blocked a single story. This is fundamentally different than a traditional newspaper which you have to pay to receive. I believe if I build something of value, Riversiders will support it.
If The Raincross Gazette brings you value—if our coverage helps you understand and love Riverside better—I'm asking you to help us deepen and expand that value. Not just for the 12,481 people reading this, but for all 320,000+ Riversiders.
I know this is the season when everyone is asking for money. I know you get fundraising emails from a dozen organizations. But here's the thing: supporting local news means supporting the entire community. Every week, we're giving away free advertising, writing stories about local organizations and small businesses, promoting community events. A strong Raincross Gazette means a strong Riverside.
Thank you to the Subscribers who became paid supporters this week: Jan Erickson, Debbie Kelmar Schwartz and Willow Smith. Your ongoing financial support is vital to our success in serving Riverside with the news it deserves!
Frank B. Devine: Pioneer of Riverside's Citrus Packing Industry
From New York businessman to Sunbeam brand founder, Devine shaped local citrus shipping for nearly four decades.
Photo of Devine House in November 2025. (Glenn Wenzel)
Among the many early Riversiders involved in the citrus industry was Francis B. Devine (sometimes spelled DeVine). Devine was born in Rochester, New York, in 1848. He began his business career in Rochester before relocating to New York City in 1870. In 1887, he married Vinie Collier in Patterson, New Jersey. The couple moved to Southern California in 1884 and settled in Los Angeles. There, he worked as a director for the German Fruit Company.
The German Fruit Company established a branch in Riverside in 1885, and Francis Devine was appointed general manager. Two years later, Devine went out on his own and teamed with John Boyd to form the packing house firm of Boyd and Devine. They built a brick structure on the corner of Eighth and Pachappa Streets. They shipped raisins, oranges, dried fruit, and honey under the "Sunbeam" brand.
Three Poly Grads Turn Holiday Window Painting Into Year-Round Business
RCC students Jewell, Ariel and Felicity bring hand-painted nostalgia to neighborhood windows.
From left to right: Jewell, Ariel and Felicity pose with their Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer window painting at Kim Marlowe Beckwith's mid-century home. The Poly High graduates launched Raincross Window Painting three years ago. (Brenda Flowers)
Three Riverside City College students launched a window painting business after their high school art teacher asked them to transform her home's windows into a Charlie Brown Thanksgiving scene.
Why it matters: Raincross Window Painting offers custom hand-painted holiday designs for Riverside homes and businesses — bringing nostalgic seasonal scenes to neighborhoods across the city.
How it works: Jewell, Ariel and Felicity sketch storyboards showing how characters flow across window panels, then spend about two days painting custom designs. This year's Rudolph project connects Santa, the Yeti, and Misfit Toys across multiple windows into one narrative.
The backstory: Former Poly art teacher Kim Marlowe and her husband Ted Beckwith commissioned the first painting three years ago and requests new holiday themes annually. The trio honed their skills in AP Art class with teacher Mr. Garrett during their senior year.
Beyond holidays: The group plans to expand beyond seasonal work to year-round designs — birthdays, graduations, business displays, and local Riverside themes.
What neighbors say: Residents stop to watch the work in progress. "They tell us they look forward to the new piece every year," Jewell said. "The whole neighborhood is part of it."
This week’s creative nudge, an ice cube, introduces some time limits to what we create. The ice cube is staple of modernity, yet it is fragile and temperamental. When you think about how important ice is to a thriving human society, it is no surprise to see why many of us have machines in our homes that can generate frozen water on demand to fit inside our cold-but-not-quite-frozen drinks.
I’m pretty dependent on a steady supply of ice cubes to make my life more pleasurable. My first beverage after my morning cups of hot coffee is usually an iced cup of coffee. Then there's the silliness of our dog, who begs for ice cubes as if they were a high-value treat. My daughter conducts "science experiments" in the freezer, exploring the odd distortions and refractions that happen when you play around with ice.
Share Your Favorite Holiday Light Displays: Riverside Family Shines on National TV
The Kopatz family brought holiday cheer to national television this week, competing on ABC's "The Great Christmas Light Fight" on Dec. 4.
Handmade wooden reindeer with children's names on scrolls at the Kopatz family's Christmas display in Riverside. (Courtesy of A&S Christmas House/Facebook)
Alan and Susan Kopatz of Riverside competed against families from across the country on the Dec. 4 episode. While a Phoenix family took home the prize, locals can experience the Kopatz's elaborate display in person.
The Gazette is compiling a guide to Riverside's best holiday light displays. Know of an amazing neighborhood show? Submit addresses and contact information to newsroom@raincrossgazette.com to help neighbors find seasonal cheer around the City.
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