From warty heirlooms to classic carving pumpkins, endless variety marks National Pumpkin Day. (Bob Sirotnik) Have a photo that captures the spirit of Riverside? Share it with us and help celebrate the beauty of our community!
Sunday Gazette: October 26, 2025
Hello Riverside, and Happy Sunday! October wouldn't be complete without pumpkins, those cheerful orange ambassadors of fall that transform our porches, tables, and neighborhoods into autumn wonderlands. Today marks National Pumpkin Day, the perfect time to celebrate everything we love about these versatile gourds.
Speaking of celebrating, Taco Station is hosting a pumpkin decorating contest that's bringing out the creativity in our community. We love seeing local businesses and neighbors come together to make the season special.
Happy National Pumpkin Day, Riverside!
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Thank you to the Subscribers who became paid supporters this week: Summer Berriel and Stephanie Meador. Your ongoing financial support is vital to our success in serving Riverside with the news it deserves!
A series by Anthony Solorzano exploring Riverside through the eyes of a transplant, as the memory of a hometown slowly fades.
(Anthony Solorzano)
Hunger is a common feeling after my commute from work. But my tiredness is an unmatched obstacle standing in my way. Sometimes you just need to grab a hamburger on your way home and call it a day.
Unfortunately, I don't know where all the good burger joints are in Riverside. In my previous life, Tom's was my main choice. I wouldn't say it's a diner that falls under the category of "must try." For locals, it is probably an establishment that has provided food for them since they were kids. It's not a staple of Pomona, but it is a burger you can count on. What can possibly replace that for me in the city of the Raincross?
Here's the thing: There is an art to looking for the right burger to quench my hunger when I don't want to cook for myself.
Each week, we will introduce a new neighbor. This is not a who's who list. These are regular Riversiders doing exceptional things.
(Brenda Flowers)
In honor of upcoming Day of the Dead, we're featuring Laura Pulido Vasquez again this year. Last year's Neighbor of the Week inspired our community by creating a large ofrenda outside her Riverside home that welcomed all neighbors to participate. Her generous spirit and dedication to sharing Día de los Muertos traditions made this sacred holiday more accessible and meaningful for Riversiders, showing how one person's cultural celebration can bring an entire neighborhood together.
DoorDash Brings Autonomous Delivery Robot to Riverside Streets
Electric robot 'Dot' makes Main Street debut as DoorDash explores Riverside operations hub.
DoorDash's autonomous delivery robot crosses Main Street at Mission Inn Avenue during Friday's demonstration, carrying peach cobbler from Gram's BBQ to Riverside City Hall. (Justin Pardee)
DoorDash introduced its self-driving delivery robot "Dot" in Riverside, California, marking a significant step in automated last-mile delivery and strengthening ties with local businesses.
Driving the news: The electric robot made its debut at Gram's BBQ on Main Street, delivering peach cobbler to city officials at City Hall.
Dot can travel up to 20 mph and cover a 3-to-5-mile radius, navigating bike lanes, sidewalks, and road shoulders.
Why it matters: The autonomous delivery program aims to reduce vehicle traffic and emissions while supporting local businesses.
DoorDash currently partners with nearly 700 Riverside businesses.
The big picture: DoorDash is exploring real estate options in Riverside for an operational headquarters, planning to use the city as its Inland Empire anchor.
The company intends to hire locally and has joined the Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce.
What's next: DoorDash plans a "robust community engagement plan" to educate residents about the technology at local events.
The deployment requires extensive preparation, including training for first responders and police on interacting with the robots.
This week, we’re moving from the heavy metal staying power of staples and taking a moment with our softer side. This week’s creative nudge, the adhesive bandage, like any cool character, goes by many names like “plasters” if you need one traveling England. I looked up what Aussies call them because generally, they’re a go-to for silly names of things. But like most Americans, they use the brand name Band-Aid instead of the generic and way less poetic “adhesive bandage.”
It's a strange thing: I open the medicine cabinet and a dizzying waterfall of sizes, shapes, and styles of bandages spill out. Is all this “choice” really helping me solve my problem? Or just leaving me feeling ill-equipped and doubtful about what to do?
See something? Say something. Your tips and ideas are what fuel The Raincross Gazette. If you know of something newsworthy happening in our city, please share it with us.
