On Aug. 4, 1985, Riverside’s bells, including Mount Rubidoux’s Peace Tower, rang out in solidarity with a nationwide “Peace Happening” marking the 40th anniversary of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Ponytail palm in full bloom, showcasing stunning gradient blossoms of pink, white, and yellow in a Downtown yard. (Maria Driver)
Sunday Gazette: August 3, 2025
Hello Riverside, and Happy Sunday! One of the greatest privileges of publishing The Raincross Gazette is sharing the unique and special stories of Riverside and the people who make it shine. Today, we’re featuring a young Riversider who’s been bringing smiles—and a little refreshment—to her neighborhood.
If you know someone who adds an extra dose of cheer, offers a helping hand or quietly cares for their corner of our community, we’d love to hear about them. Just reply to this email or nominate them as a Neighbor of the Week so we can celebrate the heart and kindness that make Riverside home.
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Thank you to the Subscribers who became paid supporters this week: Julie Boyes, Ring Carde, Isaac Lopez, Gail Scott, Doug Smith and Lugena Wahlquist. Your ongoing financial support is vital to our success in serving Riverside with the news it deserves!
Ukrainian Refugee Girl Finds American Dream One Cup at a Time
Young entrepreneur's journey from trials to triumph on neighborhood bike path.
Along the Victoria bike path near Jane Street, 9-year-old Meliia serves up lemonade and cookies with a smile, building toward her dream one cup at a time. (Brenda Flowers)
Along the Victoria bike path near Jane Street, a 9-year-old girl named Meliia runs a lemonade stand that has captured neighborhood attention.
The Ukrainian refugee, preparing to enter fifth grade, arrived in the United States less than three years ago fleeing war.
Meliia sits at her stand alongside her grandmother, the same woman who helped her navigate bomb shelters and later, armed only with a handwritten note, enrolled her in an American school where neither spoke English.
"Meliia was born and lived in Ukraine. Then the war began. Six months after it started, we moved to the United States," said her mother, Alina. "During rocket attacks, she would go down to the basement with us, hearing and seeing explosions in the sky. I truly hope that, in time, she will be able to forget all of this."
Bell Rings for Peace Happening: Riverside Joins National Call for Nuclear Disarmament
On Aug. 4, 1985, Riverside’s bells, including Mount Rubidoux’s Peace Tower, rang out in solidarity with a nationwide “Peace Happening” marking the 40th anniversary of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Postcard of UCR Carillon. (Author’s Collection)
To mark the 40th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, groups across the nation planned events on Sunday, Aug. 4, 1985, to remember the results of the bombing and the call for peace. The most significant event happened in Washington, D.C., where about 15,000 demonstrators gathered and strung a 13-mile-long “Ribbon of Peace” around the Capitol, the Mall, the Washington Monument, the Ellipse, the Vietnam Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial and the Pentagon. On the ribbon segments, groups, families and individuals were asked to depict the answer to the question, “What could you not bear to lose in a nuclear war?” Two of the sections were made in Riverside.
In Riverside, the commemorative events centered on bells ringing at noon on Sunday, Aug. 4. The initial plans called for bells ringing at six area churches and the carillon at the University of California, Riverside campus. The churches were St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, St. Thomas Catholic Church, St. Catherine’s Catholic Church, La Sierra Collegiate Church of the Seventh-day Adventists, First United Methodist Church and Highgrove United Methodist Church. The bells rang out over the city for about five minutes. Organizers emphasized that the bell ringing was not a protest but a simple statement of concern for world peace.
This week, we're checking out an object cherished by readers: a library book—or any borrowed book you might have on hand. For many, books are precious, meant to be preserved—especially those pristine dust jackets, just in case the author achieves fame (or infamy!) one day. So, no cutting, gluing or permanent alterations this week! Our mission is to engage creatively with these borrowed treasures in a way that ensures they can be returned to their shelves just as they were found.
Do you know the feeling of having several books going at once? It can be quite a juggling act keeping track of them all! Sometimes, I'll rediscover a library book months after borrowing it, tucked away in an unexpected spot, like the bag I used once then left in my trunk. Thank goodness the Riverside Public Library eliminated book fines a few years ago—a true blessing for those of us with a scattered reading habit!
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.
The story “Spirit Halloween to Open Temporarily in Future High-End Liquor Store Location,” published July 16, 2025, initially lacked necessary context to fully represent the facts. We are accountable to our readers and welcome feedback that helps us improve. Mr. Patel has purchased the building and plans to open a high-end liquor store in the former Alin Party Supply space. The project has drawn significant community opposition, and it remains subject to official review and approval before any further development can proceed. In the meantime, the space will be temporarily leased to Spirit Halloween as a seasonal retail store.
Baseball memories wanted for a special history project, August brings art, sports, and parades, and Riverside seeks final input on future housing designs.
Your ideas wanted for Riverside history coverage, where to donate school supplies before classes start and St. Michael’s Apartments faces ongoing community concerns.
