🍊 Sunday Gazette: August 10, 2025

Sunday Gazette: August 10, 2025

Hello Riverside, and Happy Sunday! Back-to-school season is here for most Riverside families with school-aged kids. While the return to routine is welcome for many, there’s also a little grieving—of lazy days in the sun, road trips, vacations, camping, and all the small freedoms summer brings.

So in honor of National S’mores Day (yes, it’s today!), we want to see your best summer vacation photos. If you’ve got a photo or two you’re proud of, send them our way—and be sure to tell us where you went and your favorite moment from the trip. Your memory just might be featured in an upcoming newsletter.

NEIGHBOR OF THE WEEK

Neighbor of the Week: Dr. Mark Harris

Each week, we will introduce a new neighbor. This is not a who's who list. These are regular Riversiders doing exceptional things.

Dr. Harris isn’t just a great dentist—he’s a true community builder with a deep love for Riverside. Since moving to the city in 1995 to pursue his education, he immediately embraced the community and began giving back through outreach programs like Give Kids a Smile, Tri-County Dental Society, Headstart, Riverside Community Health Foundation, and Project K.I.N.D. He has been an active member of the Riverside Chamber of Commerce and The Pick Group, always seeking opportunities to support local businesses and connect with neighbors.

His dental office reflects that same spirit of connection and pride. A colorful mural in the parking lot, unveiled with the help of the mayor, celebrates Riverside’s unique heritage, while playful painted rocks and seasonal decorations create a welcoming atmosphere for patients. Inside, a free little library and local photography bring Riverside’s character to life, turning appointments into moments of community connection.

Beyond dentistry, Dr. Harris organizes patient group hikes up Mt. Rubidoux, book clubs, and other events designed to bring people together. His passion for Riverside is evident in everything he does—from preserving local history and celebrating its beauty to supporting small businesses and artists. Dr. Harris and his team embody how professional excellence and genuine community spirit can come together to make a lasting difference.

Get to know Mark...

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ART

Artists Transform Junk Into Social Commentary at Division 9 Gallery

Richie "Deladeso" Velazquez and Cosme Cordova's "Yonque" exhibition uses discarded materials to critique consumer culture and personal complicity.

Two local artists open "Yonque" exhibition at Division 9 Gallery, turning discarded materials into a vibrant critique of consumer culture. The show, running through the end of the month, balances serious themes with humor and accessibility.

Driving the news: Richie "Deladeso" Velazquez and Cosme Cordova's collaborative exhibition tackles social, political, and cultural issues through art created from found objects and trash.

• The title "Yonque" refers to the Spanish word for junkyard, now used to describe anything cheap or discarded.

Why it matters: The exhibition highlights society's obsession with mass consumption while exploring individual complicity in throwaway culture.

• Installations recreate familiar consumer environments, including a convenience store setting with an ICE machine and cartoon characters.

The big picture: Artists use bold colors and playful visuals to deliver heavy messages with a light touch, making the critique more accessible to viewers.

• Painted works incorporate shipping boxes and packaging materials while maintaining a bright cartoon style.

What's next: Division 9 Gallery will host a RAM TAKE OVER event series, culminating in a concert featuring Milpa and Quitapenas during the next ArtsWalk.

Go deeper: More information about the exhibition and artists is available on Instagram @division9gallery and @deladeso.

Read and share the complete story...

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CREATIVE PROMPTS

Bristling Brilliance

A prompt to encourage your practice of creativity this week from Riversider and local author Larry Burns.

If what you read in that borrowed book was some hair-raising fiction, this creative nudge will do wonders for your ’do. This week, we're reaching for an everyday object intimately connected to personal care and mundane routine: the hairbrush. Whether it’s a brush, comb or pick you use to tame your own locks or one for a beloved pet, this tool made for grooming and styling is our ticket to several minutes of creative contemplation.

There's something uniquely intimate about a hairbrush. It plays a role in how we present ourselves, how we feel, and how we care for others. (Think of brushing a child’s hair or a pet’s fur.) But what if we looked past its practical function and saw it as a gateway to deeper creative insights?

Read and share the complete story...

End of Summer Sale – 50% Off All Raincross Gazette Shirts!
Our neighbors at Feeding America are repping their Riverside pride – now it’s your turn! All Raincross Gazette shirts are 50% off for our End of Summer Sale. Stock up while supplies last and wear your local love loud.

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This Week in Riverside

Sunday, August 10

• Blue Zones Project Riverside Hiking Moai at Mt. Rubidoux
• Chalk the Walk at Marcy Library
• National Book Lover's Day | Origami Bookmarks at Marcy Library
• Summer Sundays with Sebraé! at Riverside Art Museum
• Your Place: The Unexpected Power of Writing About Place at Inlandia Institute ($150- $350)

Monday, August 11

• Adult Ballet Classes all levels at Riverside Ballet Arts ($25- $144)
• Assistance League Thrift Shop Accepting Donations at Assistance League Riverside Thrift Shop
• Board of Library Trustees at Riverside City Hall
• Board of Public Utilities at Riverside City Hall
• Interfaith Prayer Meeting at Riverside Baha'i Center

Tuesday, August 12

• Find Your Voice in Picture Books at Inlandia Institute ($150- $350)
• Inland Empire Chorus Rehearsal at Temple Beth El Synagogue
• Tuesday Karaoke at The Hideaway

Wednesday, August 13

• Stretch & Dance at Janet Goeske Senior Center
• Left Handers Day at Marcy Library
• Riverside Open Mic Music Series at Back to the Grind

Thursday, August 14

• Volunteer Interest Hour at Riverside Meals on Wheels, Inc
• Architectural Walking Tour of Downtown Riverside at Mission Inn Foundation & Visitor Center ($21.20)
• Find Your Voice in Picture Books at Inlandia Institute ($150- $350)
• The Linkin Park Tribute Band! at The Concert Lounge - Romano's Mission Grove
• Rio Da Yung Og at Riverside Municipal Auditorium ($30- $50)
• Dareyes de La Sierra - Redención Tour at Fox Performing Arts Center

Friday, August 15

• Courthouse, Murals and Heroes Walking Tour at Mission Inn Foundation ($23.18)
• Special Topics Half-Price Sale at Friends of the Library Bookstore
• Godspell: The Musical at Antioch
• Electric Feels (18+) at Riverside Municipal Auditorium
• The Linkin Park Tribute by In the End at The Concert Lounge - Romano's Mission Grove
• Teo Gonzalez & Mario Aguilar: 90 vs 60 La Comedia Perfecta at Fox Performing Arts Center

Saturday, August 16

• Bingo at the Janet Goeske Center at Janet Goeske Center ($20- $100)
• The Guana Batz, Bebo & the Good Time Boys and No Que No at The Hideaway at The Hideaway Cafe & Lounge
• Historic Churches of Downtown Riverside at Chinese Pavilion ($20)
• Jeanne Dielman, 23, quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles at Culver Center of the Arts
• Ripperside Cinema Galore at Back to the Grind
• Riverside Psychic and Healing Arts Fair at Riverside Convention Center
• UCR Botanic Gardens Twilight Tour at UCR Botanic Gardens

Save the date

• August 22: Goeske Talent Show at Janet Goeske Foundation ($10)
• October 18: The Riverside Citrus Classic Bike Rideat Riverside Plaza ($15- $80)

🗓️ See More Events     📝 Submit Your Event

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🏆 Nominate a remarkable Riversider as Neighbor of the Week.