Golden sunlight over Downtown Riverside, as seen from Mt. Rubidoux. (Amy LĂłpez)
Thursday Gazette: May 1, 2025
Hello Riverside, and Happy Thursday!
That was fun to type.
If you missed yesterday's announcement, The Gazette is adding Tuesdays and Thursdays to our publishing schedule andwe will now be in your inboxes every morning (except Saturdays) at 5 a.m.
In all honesty, we're making this move a bit before we feel ready. We're making the leap because our vision for our relationship with you is so strong; we want to help you kick off each day with everything you need to make the most of living or working in Riverside. It's wonderful here and your active engagement only makes it better.
Raincross Rundown: The Best of Riverside in May 2025
A curated list of upcoming events and happenings The Gazette team is most excited about.
La Tardeada Festival 2024. (Ken Crawford)
Your May Raincross Rundown is here! From banda beats in North Park to Victorian ice cream socials and anime conventions, this month’s events reflect the full range of Riverside’s creative, cultural, and community spirit. We’ve highlighted the shows, festivals, exhibits, and gatherings we’re most excited about—whether you’re into soul music, cosplay, classic cars, or guided history tours. Start bookmarking now: there’s something happening almost every weekend.
New Casa Blanca Elementary Nears Completion for Fall Opening
Historic name returns for Riverside’s first purpose-built STEAM campus.
Casa Blanca Elementary is in final stages of construction and on schedule to open to students in the Fall. (Courtesy of Riverside Unified School District)
Riverside's Casa Blanca Elementary School is set to open for the 2025-26 school year, marking a significant investment in the Hispanic neighborhood's educational future. The state-of-the-art campus on Lincoln Avenue will be the first in the district designed with STEAM integration as its foundational concept.
Driving the news: The school represents a pioneering approach to early education, bridging the gap between elementary learning and workforce readiness.
The facility features learning spaces equipped with technology and resources to support project-based education.
Why it matters: The new school revives the Casa Blanca name, holding deep significance for community members who advocated for a neighborhood school that celebrates local identity.
The original Casa Blanca school closed in 1965 during the integration of Riverside schools.
The big picture: Casa Blanca Elementary aims to form strong connections with local organizations and industry leaders to provide real-world learning opportunities.
The school's design and programming honor the neighborhood's cultural heritage while preparing students for future workforce demands.
What's next: Saturday morning tours are currently available for community members interested in seeing the innovative campus before its official opening.
Art exhibition captures allure of addictive substances through contrasting visual techniques.
Allyn Hawthorne stands next to one of his photographs from his “Vices” exhibit. (Ken Crawford)
Allyn Hawthorne's "Vices" exhibition at Cal State Fullerton presents a powerful dichotomy, contrasting gritty subject matter with immaculate presentation. The Riverside native's senior solo show for his BFA in experimental photography explores urban decay motifs while questioning marketing tactics for vices.
Driving the news: Hawthorne's work portrays vices as tantalizing rather than dangerous, inviting viewers to consider their own relationships with these substances.
The exhibition features thoughtfully composed film photographs and well-crafted props, including a giant "Vape" with a video monitor display.
Why it matters: The project aims to spark discussions about the marketing tactics that have ensured lifelong battles with vices for younger generations.
Hawthorne's goal is to engage individuals who share similar experiences and hardships related to vices.
The big picture: By romanticizing the visual experience of smoke shops and liquor stores, the exhibition raises questions about the allure of vices and their acquisition process.
The artist suggests that most people will have indulged in their vice by the end of the day, despite knowing it's not in their best interest.
What's next: Although the exhibit has closed, Hawthorne plans to continue exploring this theme and encouraging dialogue about the impact of vice marketing on society.
Letter to the Editor: Build Communities, Not Warehouses
As the May 12 vote nears, Riverside residents urge the March JPA Commission to reject a rebranded warehouse project that threatens neighborhood health, safety, and quality of life.
(Brenda Flowers)
On May 12, 2025, at 6:30 p.m., the March Joint Powers Commission will vote on a proposal to build a complex of industrial warehouses in Riverside’s Orangecrest and Mission Grove neighborhoods. The West Campus Upper Plateau project, which the developer has attempted to rebrand as the “March Innovation Hub,” would sit on land formerly owned by the March Air Force Base—the site of munitions bunkers that housed nuclear and conventional weapons. The proposed project, which would be adjacent to the Grove Community Church and surrounded on more than three sides by homes, has been almost unanimously opposed by residents over the past three years.
Riverside Unified School District seeks community input on qualities desired in the next superintendent as Renee Hill prepares to retire; offering participation through an online survey open until May 21 and three public meetings beginning May 7.
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