Dramatic twilight sky over Mt. Rubidoux after evening rain, with hikers gathering at the cross. (Alison Presser) Have a photo that captures the spirit of Riverside? Share it with us and help celebrate the beauty of our community!
Thursday Gazette: October 9, 2025
Hello Riverside and Happy Thursday! It's World Post Day! Our mail carriers work hard connecting our neighborhoods daily. Show your appreciation with a thank-you note, a cold drink by the mailbox or a small treat. These simple gestures mean the world to those who serve our community rain or shine.
New City Purchasing Reforms to Include Monthly Vendor Workshops, Price Monitoring
Improvements aim to help Riverside businesses compete for city contracts as part of overhaul set for March completion.
Purchasing Manager Jennifer McCoy addresses the Finance Committee on Oct. 8 about reforms to city purchasing practices. (File photo)
The city is implementing reforms to make it easier for local businesses to compete for city contracts. The changes include monthly vendor workshops, periodic price monitoring, and improved transparency in purchasing practices.
Driving the news: Councilmember Steven Robillard raised concerns about pricing discrepancies after discovering a significant price difference for an office chair between a vendor's public website and the city's cooperative contract system.
The city's purchasing reform project, set to be completed by March, aims to address these issues and enhance efficiency.
Key improvements:
Periodic price benchmarking to prevent overpaying on long-term contracts.
Monthly workshops for vendors on how to do business with the city.
More accessible procurement documentation, including a potential online portal for comparing contracts and pricing options.
Why it matters: The reforms aim to demystify the process of doing business with the government and give local businesses a better chance at securing city contracts.
"I want to make sure our local businesses have a fighting chance," Robillard said.
What's next: The purchasing department will provide an update to the Finance Committee on the implementation of these improvements once the reform project is completed in March.
Inaugural Book Festival Brings Authors, Storytellers to Main Library October 11
Public Library partners with Inlandia Institute for free community event featuring California Poet Laureate, local and national writers.
Riverside Main Library, 3900 Mission Inn Avenue in Downtown. (File photo)
The inaugural Riverside Book Festival will bring together over 50 authors, booksellers, and cultural organizations at the Main Library on October 11, offering a day of literary celebration and family-friendly activities.
Driving the news: The free event, a collaboration between Inlandia Institute and Riverside Public Library, aims to promote literacy and showcase the library's role as a cultural hub.
California Poet Laureate Lee Herrick will deliver the keynote address, sharing his journey as the first Asian American to hold the position.
Why it matters: The festival highlights the importance of storytelling in building community and encourages lifelong learning.
Events include bilingual storytelling, puppet shows, and panels featuring nationally acclaimed authors.
The details: The festival runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Main Library, 3900 Mission Inn Avenue.
Attendees can explore the Children's Pavilion, Local History & Culture Tent, and New Books Discovery Zone.
Go deeper: VIP tickets are available for $75, offering a social hour with headlining authors.
The event is supported by various local organizations and foundations, underscoring community involvement in promoting literature.
We’ve got you covered every day this weekend, and Girls Flag Football wraps up the season, we will have playoff tournament info next week.
Girls flag football tournament seeding will be set after this week's play. (Ken Crawford)
Games of the Week
Friday, Oct. 10: Corona @ King - High School Football - 7 p.m. at Martin Luther King Jr. High School, Riverside (Riverside live game of the week - watch on RiversideTV)
Saturday, Oct. 11: UCR vs. Sacramento State - Men's Soccer - 7 p.m. at UCR Soccer Stadium, Riverside (Tickets)
Sunday, Oct. 12: CBU vs. Grand Canyon University - Men's Soccer - Time TBA at CBU Soccer Stadium, Riverside (Tickets)
Monday, Oct. 13: Hillcrest @ Poly - Girls Flag Football - 7 p.m. at Poly High School, Riverside
A UCR-led study shows the STOP COVID-19 CA network's community-first approach surveyed over 11,000 Californians and strengthened health equity partnerships between 11 universities and 75+ community organizations across 14 counties.
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