A glimpse of past fall color along Victoria Avenue — a cooling sight for these sweltering summer days. (Bob Sirotnik) Have a photo that captures the spirit of Riverside? Share it with us and help celebrate the beauty of our community!
Thursday Gazette: July 16, 2025
Hello Riverside, and Happy Thursday! We’re deep into summer—how’s it going for you? Have you made it to any concerts or movies in the park? Caught a live music set, local theatre performance, or dipped into a city pool to cool off? Maybe you’ve wandered a museum, biked the Santa Ana River Trail or tried a new farmers market or food spot?
We’d love to hear what Riverside summer fun you’ve been up to—and even more, we’d love to see it. Send us your photos and you just might be featured in an upcoming edition of the Gazette!
Council Finalizes Cannabis Rules, Clearing Path for First Retail Dispensaries
Council votes 4-1 to limit dispensaries to one per ward, prohibit locations in Downtown and Midtown areas, and increase distance requirements from parks.
The Riverside City Council voted 4-1 to amend the city's cannabis ordinance, limiting retail dispensaries to one per ward and clearing the path for the first retail cannabis shops to open since legalization in 2023.
Driving the news: The amendments address concentration concerns while honoring voter intent, reducing the total number of initial permits from 14 to seven.
The changes prohibit dispensaries in Downtown and Midtown areas and increase the required distance from parks to 1,000 feet.
Why it matters: The ordinance represents the culmination of a process active since 2021, with implementation delayed by ongoing debates over location restrictions and permit allocation.
Councilmember Sean Mill emphasized the amendments as a compromise, stating, "The voters of Riverside spoke and overwhelmingly said they wanted cannabis dispensaries."
What's next: If approved at the second reading on Aug. 5, the ordinance takes effect Sept. 5, allowing the first seven dispensaries to move forward with the permitting process.
Staff plans to return to council on Aug. 19 with recommended changes to permitting guidelines and establishment of related fees.
The bottom line: The new preferred site location selection process begins Sept. 5, marking a significant step towards implementing retail cannabis sales in Riverside.
Mission Inn Foundation Partners with School District to Engage ELL Students in Local History
Program connects non-English speaking students to Riverside's heritage through hands-on curriculum.
Mission Inn Museum and Foundation docents, from left to right: Patti Koesling, Adele Burns, Dottie Smith and Foundation President Jennifer Gamble, in front of some of the student projects. (Ken Crawford)
The Mission Inn Foundation and Riverside Unified School District have collaborated to create a comprehensive local history curriculum for English language learning students. The program, which emphasizes Riverside's history and community connections, has already garnered interest from neighboring districts.
Driving the news: Foundation docents stepped in to completely revise the existing program after the district's usual education coordinator became unavailable.
The curriculum now includes neighborhood mapping, citrus history education, downtown tours, and library research training.
Why it matters: The program serves students from diverse backgrounds, many with limited English skills, helping them connect with their adopted community through historical knowledge.
Students from China, Vietnam, and Hispanic countries participated, using translation tools to overcome language barriers.
The impact: Participants created their own "Riverside Magazine," featuring articles and artwork about their discoveries, and conducted live interviews with community members.
The projects are currently displayed at the Mission Inn Foundation headquarters and museum store.
What's next: Alvord School District has requested to participate in next year's program, expanding the foundation's reach to serve additional English language learners.
Old Riverside Foundation Presents Architect's Honeymoon Adventure
Historical presentation highlights Depression-era European journey as part of broader archival project.
Photo of Isola dei Pescatori in Piedmont, Northern Italy. (From the Collection of the Old Riverside Foundation)
The Old Riverside Foundation will showcase the interwar-era European adventure of Riverside architect Peter J. Weber and his wife, Clara, in a 45-minute presentation on July 19 at the Izaak Walton Building in Fairmount Park.
Driving the news: Foundation president Dave Stolte and researcher Ruth West spent 14 months creating a digital archive from Weber's original 35mm film negatives and documenting his life during Riverside's early 20th-century development.
The presentation features 8,008 photographs and letters from the Webers' 14-month journey across the United States, Europe, and North Africa in 1931-1932.
Why it matters: The collection captures a world in transition, showcasing the shift from old, timeless ways to the rapidly changing 20th century, as fascism was rising and the Great Depression had spread globally.
The research represents rigorous historical scholarship aimed at preserving Weber's legacy and documenting his contributions to Riverside's development.
What's next: The foundation is preparing a book about Weber, with art scheduled for printing by mid-August and release targeted for early October.
The book will provide a comprehensive look at Weber's architectural work and life in Riverside.
The bottom line: The presentation offers a unique glimpse into the past through the eyes of a talented and sensitive Riversider, preserving an important piece of local history.
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