A fraudster collected cash from victims after breaking into a home for sale and posing as the landlord. RPD's Economic Crimes Unit fields 4-5 similar reports monthly.
Fiery autumn sunset illuminates Canyon Crest's Via Vista, painting the sky in brilliant oranges and deep grays as the season's blazing colors fill the evening horizon. (Bob Sirotnik) Have a photo that captures the spirit of Riverside? Share it with us and help celebrate the beauty of our community!
Thursday Gazette: October 16, 2025
Hello Riverside, and Happy Thursday! The weekend's almost here, and our community calendar is packed with fantastic events. Theatre fans won't want to miss "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown" opening tomorrow night at 7pm, perfect for the whole family! History buffs have two great options: today's "History on the Rocks" at 5 p.m., presented by the Mission Inn Foundation, and the Olivewood Memorial Park Historical Cemetery Tour offering a fascinating glimpse into Riverside's past. Art lovers can celebrate creativity and community at ARToberfest, while community heroes can join the Pink on Parade Breast Cancer Awareness Walk Saturday morning at 7am to support and honor those affected by breast cancer. Find complete details and more weekend activities at raincrossgazette.com/calendar. See you out there!
Rental Scam Targets Riverside Home, Victims Out $6,500
A fraudster collected cash from victims after breaking into a home for sale and posing as the landlord. RPD's Economic Crimes Unit fields 4-5 similar reports monthly.
A home on Elsinore Road was targeted in a rental scam where a fraudster broke in, changed the locks, and posed as the landlord. Inset: Fake lease documents show $3,500 in cash payments collected from victims who believed they were legitimately renting the property. (Inset courtesy James Monks/Tower Agency)
A fraudster posing as a landlord collected $6,500 in cash for a Riverside home that wasn't actually for rent. The scammer broke into a vacant property for sale, changed the locks, and conducted a fake rental transaction with unsuspecting tenants.
Driving the news: Realtor James Monks discovered the scam when he arrived to show the Elsinore Road property to a legitimate buyer, finding the locks changed and lease documents left behind.
The scammer gained access through a damaged window and left receipts for cash payments to a fictitious landlord named "Terry Greenway."
Why it matters: Rental scams are a widespread issue, with Riverside Police receiving 4-5 similar reports monthly.
Officer Ryan Railsback warns that most suspects operate from outside the U.S., making investigations challenging.
The bottom line: Renters should never use cash or money transfer apps with strangers, verify property ownership, and finalize transactions in person after confirming identities.
Victims should report incidents to local police and the FBI at www.ic3.gov.
UCR ARTS Exhibit of Sherman Indian High School Student Photography Closes Nov. 2
Two-year collaboration between artist and students documents contemporary Native American boarding school life.
Installation view, Off Reservation: Sofia Valiente and the Photo Students of Sherman Indian High School. UCR ARTS: Culver Center of the Arts, 2025. Photo by Nikolay Maslov, courtesy of UCR ARTS.
A UCR ARTS exhibition featuring nearly 800 photographs documenting life at Sherman Indian High School will close Nov. 2 at the Culver Center of the Arts in Riverside.
Driving the news: The exhibition, "Off Reservation," is the result of a two-year collaboration between UCR MFA alumna Sofia Valiente and students in Monica Royalty's film photography class at Sherman, one of only four remaining Native American boarding schools in the U.S.
The project marks the latest in a 28-year relationship between Sherman and UCR's Gluck Fellows Program of the Arts.
Why it matters: Sherman Indian High School represents a complex chapter in American history, transitioning from a forced assimilation institution to one that now embraces and preserves indigenous culture.
Today, Native American staff, board members, and students manage the school, serving high school students from reservations across the country.
The big picture: The exhibition prioritizes student voices, featuring their reflections throughout the gallery and centering on contemporary student perspectives.
All participating students received printed copies of "TRBL," a photo book created with Valiente, along with copies of their photographs included in the book.
What's next: The exhibition takes on added significance as Sherman currently lacks an art teacher, leaving the school without a formal art education program.
"Put One Foot in Front of the Other": Cancer Survivor Leads Pink on Parade's Mission
Three years after her breast cancer diagnosis, Dawnesha Beaver will join 1,200+ Riversiders Saturday morning for Pink on Parade—the annual walk up Mount Rubidoux that funds the free cancer support services she now leads as a survivor.
Dawnesha Beaver, diagnosed with breast cancer in October 2022, stands in front of Mt. Rubidoux, where the Pink on Parade event will take place Saturday.
Riverside Community Health Foundation's annual Pink on Parade breast cancer awareness walk returns this Saturday, October 18, at Ryan Bonaminio Park. The event funds critical support services for cancer patients and survivors in the community.
Driving the news: Dawnesha Beaver, a breast cancer survivor and now Vice President of Programs and Services at the foundation, will participate in her first Pink on Parade since her 2022 diagnosis.
Beaver's experience navigating cancer treatment inspired her to lead programs supporting other patients and survivors.
Why it matters: Last year's walk raised $66,400, funding free services including wigs, prostheses, and chemo comfort kits for cancer patients.
The foundation served over 580 people with cancer in 2024 and provided navigation services to 178 clients.
The details: The event features a 5K walk up Mount Rubidoux and a 1.8K Family Fun Walk. A Survivor Pavilion offers pampering services and a VIP experience for cancer survivors and those in treatment.
Registration costs $30 for adults, $20 for youth and seniors, and is free for children under 10.
What they're saying: "Take a walk of faith. Put one step in front of the other and show up," Beaver encourages those hesitant to attend.
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