Sunday Gazette: January 26, 2025

Hello Riverside, and Happy Sunday!

Because of you, The Gazette passed a new milestone late last week and now has over 8,000 Riversiders subscribed. 8,000 is particularly meaningful because it means we're ending the first month of 2025 halfway and on track toward our end-of-year goal of 16,000 subscribers, which would represent 5% of the city's population.

We're committed to this work, and over this coming year, we'll onboard a dedicated City Hall reporter and add Tuesday and Thursday mornings to our publication schedule to move closer to becoming the newsroom our city deserves.

Thank you for welcoming us into your inboxes four times a week; it means the world to our small team.

HISTORY

Hollywood Comes to Riverside: Fox Film Shoots "David Harum" at Local Fairgrounds

Will Rogers stars in adaptation of bestselling novel, bringing 150-person crew and hiring hundreds of local extras.

Hollywood invaded Riverside for a few days in early January 1934. Starting at 8:30 on Monday morning, January 8, Fox Film Corporation arrived with a crew of 150 people to film scenes for their new picture, "David Harum." The crew was housed at both the Mission Inn and the Reynolds Hotel.

The movie was an adaptation of Edward Noyes Westcott's 1898 best-selling novel David Harum: A Story of American Life. The main character was David Harum, a small-town banker and horse trader.  The movie climaxed with a sulky or harness race in which John Lenox, a bank teller who worked for Harum, won a 10 to 1 odds bet to gain enough money to propose to his sweetheart, Anne Madison. The two rival racers were David Harum and Deacon Perkins. 

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NEIGHBOR OF THE WEEK

Neighbor of the Week: Diana Saenz

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

Diana is the owner of TruBliss Fitness in Riverside, where she has created a welcoming space that empowers women on their fitness and wellness journeys. A passionate advocate for women’s health, she uses her gym as a hub for promoting physical and mental well-being, while also fostering a sense of community. Diana has been deeply involved with the PTA, serving in various roles at local schools, Riverside Council PTA, and 23rd District PTA, and continues to support students through scholarships for graduating seniors in the Riverside Unified School District. Beyond her business, she gives back generously by supporting local schools, first responders, veterans groups, and animal organizations. She also organizes fundraisers for breast cancer awareness and champions shopping small to uplift local businesses. Diana’s dedication to service and her inspiring leadership shine brightly in Riverside, where she and her husband are raising their three children in Woodcrest.

Get to know Diana...

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CREATIVE PROMPTS

Zip It

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

This week, we're continuing our exploration of fashion-inspired creativity with a focus on the indispensable zipper. This ingenious invention, with its interlocking teeth and smooth gliding action, has revolutionized the way we fasten our clothes, secure our belongings, and interact with the world around us.  In pop cultural terms, "zip it" is another way to shut someone down verbally.

Zippers are not merely functional objects or interjections; they're also tactile and visual delights. The rhythmic sound of a zipper opening and closing, the visual patterns created by the interlocking teeth, and even the existential fear of walking about with your zipper down can spark our imaginations and unlock new creative pathways. Anyone who has figured out discreet ways to check our zippers without being caught at the task can attest to the creativity required!

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This Week in Riverside

Sunday, January 26

• 13th Annual 2025 Riverside Lunar Festival at Downtown Riverside
• Intercepted at Culver Center of the Arts

Monday, January 27

• Housing and Homelessness Committee at Riverside City Hall
• Ward 1 Community Conversation Office Hours at RCC Alumni House

Tuesday, January 28

• City Council at Riverside City Hall
• Inland Empire Chorus Rehearsal at Temple Beth El Synagogue
• Tuesday Karaoke at The Hideaway
• The Book of Mormon at Fox Performing Arts Center

Wednesday, January 29

• Certified Farmers Market at 10th & Lemon Streets
• Riverside East Rotary Club at Civil Rights Institute of Inland Southern
• Commission on Aging at Riverside City Hall
• Stretch & Dance Class at Janet Goeske Senior Center
• Homegrown Heroes at Civil Rights Institute of Inland Southern
• Zine-Making with Found Materials at Marcy Library
• The Book of Mormon at Fox Performing Arts Center

Thursday, January 30

• Men's Basketball vs. UC Davis at SRC Arena
• R'Pantry 10th Anniversary at UCR Hinderaker Lawn

Friday, January 31

• Riverside Sunrise Rotary at Zacatecas Mexican Cafe
• The Killing Floors, Wyld Gooms, Thee Almighty Majestics, Los Lonely Stars at The Hideaway Cafe & Lounge

Saturday, February 1

• Downtown Certified Farmers Market at Main Street at 5th
• Scion Exchange & Backyard Fruit Growing at RCRCD LandUse Learning Center
• Cars and Coffee at Harvest Church at Harvest Church
• Drag Queen Storytime is back to celebrate Valentine's Day! at Cellar Door Bookstore
• DIY Makeup class- Make your own pressed powder, eye shadow, and lip gloss at Riverside Rustic
• Riverside Arts Academy: Rising Stars Gala at Coil School for the Arts ($125.00 - $175)
• Cal Poly Mustangs at UC Riverside Highlanders Mens Basketball at SRC Arena
• The Rhythm Shakers, 3LH, Los Pakalolos, 60s Sirens Burly at The Hideaway Cafe & Lounge
• Rage Against the Machine Tribute at The Concert Lounge-Romano's Mission Grove

Sunday, February 2

• First Sundays with Inlandia and RAM Present: Soar with Dragons! at Inlandia Institute
• Plant Pop Up Shop & Orchid Presentation at UCR Botanic Gardens
• Riverside Historical Society Talk on the History of La Sierra University at Riverside Medical Clinic- Basement

Save The Date

• February 19: Galentine's Day - Women's Health Event at Janet Goeske Center
• March 7: Pardi Gras Pub Crawl 2025 at Loft 84 Wedding & Event Center ($35)

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🏆 Nominate a remarkable Riversider as Neighbor of the Week.