City planners question local impact of transit housing mandates, Riverside offers micro luxury escapes and the city debuts AI assistant Rivy on its website.
Buena Vista Bridge endures as a gateway to Riverside’s past, Neighbor of the Week features Eliel Quiles of Knitters Hideout, and this week’s creative prompt takes inspiration from the blinking cursor.
Early morning burros resting at Islander Park. (Rosemary Neal) Have a photo that captures the spirit of Riverside? Share it with us and help celebrate the beauty of our community!
Sunday Gazette: September 21, 2025
Hello Riverside, and Happy Sunday! Tomorrow is California Car Free Day! Riverside makes it easy to join in with plenty of ways to go car free. Even better, the Riverside Transit Agency is offering free rides on all local, CommuterLink and GoMicro buses. Whether you’re headed to work, school, or just exploring the city, it’s the perfect day to give your car a rest and enjoy a cleaner, greener Riverside.
See you tomorrow!
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Buena Vista Bridge Endures as Gateway to Riverside’s Past
Built in 1907 and rebuilt in 1932, the Buena Vista Bridge connected travelers to Mt. Rubidoux and remains a city landmark nearly a century later.
Buena Vista Bridge construction. Gunnar Kjellburg in a dark suit at the far left. (Author’s Collection)
Good View, or in Spanish Buena Vista, is the name of a short segment of road that curves around the northern edge of Mt. Rubidoux, connecting Seventh Street (now Mission Inn Avenue) to Mission Boulevard across the Santa Ana River in Jurupa Valley. No one seems to know why this segment was named Buena Vista Avenue (sometimes referred to as Drive). Was it for the good view of Mt. Rubidoux on one side and Little Rubidoux on the other? Or was it the view as travelers crossed the Santa Ana River and entered Riverside? Buena Vista begins at the end of Seventh Street, near today’s Afron Way (Rose Way on early maps), and extends to the river.
As Frank Miller, part of the Huntington Park Association, developed Mt. Rubidoux, he hired Hiram Chittenden of the Army Corps of Engineers to design a road up and down the mountain for tourists. As travelers left the Mission Inn and drove up Seventh Street, they had to connect to the road, Huntington Drive, that was being built. They did this via an incline at the end of Seventh Street, which bent to the left and crossed over Buena Vista Avenue. The bridge over the road was designed by Arthur Benton, architect of the Mission Inn. His original plans called for only the roadway, but he revised them to include a pedestrian walkway on one side.
Each week, we will introduce a new neighbor. This is not a who's who list. These are regular Riversiders doing exceptional things.
Eliel at Knitters Hideout, where yarn, creativity, and community come together. (Brenda Flowers)
Eliel, a longtime Riverside resident, is the owner of Knitters Hideout in Brockton Plaza. His shop has become more than just a place to buy yarn, it’s a welcoming space where anyone can drop in during the day to knit, crochet or simply connect. On Tuesday evenings, he also hosts Knit Nite from 5 to 8, creating an important “third space” for people of all ages to gather.
The shop feels a lot like a moai, a circle of community and support, similar to those celebrated in the Blue Zones Project Riverside. Eliel himself describes his role simply: “I’m just a small business owner trying to bring a sense of community and be part of what makes Riverside special.” Easygoing, fun, and deeply welcoming, Eliel has built a gem of a neighborhood spot that brings people together through creativity and care.
For this week’s creative nudge, we’re swapping the tactile for the technological and fixating our gaze on something many of us face every day with a mix of dread and hope: the blinking cursor.
For anyone who has ever stared at a blank screen, that tiny pulsing line is a metronome of pressure, a relentless reminder of what you are not doing—building a to-do list, coding a cool new app, or creating that next best seller. I know the feeling well.
What about the frustration of losing that blinking cursor as a placeholder the moment I finally think of something worth writing down? Yes, I still sit and think of words (sometimes) to write in this age of generative AI tools. Writers like me see it as the silent judge of our digital lives, a tiny, demanding spotlight.
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.
City planners question local impact of transit housing mandates, Riverside offers micro luxury escapes and the city debuts AI assistant Rivy on its website.
No City Council meeting this week; other agendas include $1.44M for Wilderness Substation upgrades and affordable housing updates. Plus, the Museum of Riverside explores how repatriation and museums can collaborate.
Annual DeaFestival returns to City Hall Sept. 20, Council targets false emergency calls with new fees, and trims Budget Engagement Commission to resolve quorum issues.
New La Sierra food hub connects local farmers and restaurants, undefeated Ramona Rams face Riverside Poly in Friday’s Solar Bowl, and Fire Department seeks input on its 10–15 year master plan (survey open through Sept. 29).
