🍊 Thursday Gazette: October 9, 2025

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.

See you tomorrow!

GOVERNMENT

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.

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:

1. Periodic price benchmarking to prevent overpaying on long-term contracts.
2. Monthly workshops for vendors on how to do business with the city.
3. 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.

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COMMUNITY

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.

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.

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SPORTS

Games of the Week: October 9

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.

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

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Noteworthy

Riverside Community Hospital's Neonatal Transport Team completed intensive training for 24 caregivers to strengthen emergency response capabilities, utilizing a specialized ambulance exclusively on standby for neonatal transports across the Inland Empire.

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.

What's Happening in Riverside

Today

• Volunteer Interest Hour at Riverside Meals on Wheels, Inc
• 40th Annual Beautification Awards at Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce
• Keep Riverside Clean & Beautiful Business Closet at Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce
• Clean Campus Competition Art Contest at Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce
• Airport Commission at Riverside City Hall
• Downtown Riverside Haunted Tours Presented by The Mission Inn Foundation at Tour Starts In front of Eliza Tibbets Statue ($39.19)
• Empty the Shelters - Reduced Fee Adoption Event at Mary S. Roberts Pet Adoption Center ($30- $70)
• Riverside Unified 2025 State of the District at Riverside Convention Center
• UC Riverside Highlanders Women's Volleyball vs. Long Beach State at UC Riverside Student Recreation Center
• Women's Volleyball vs. Long Beach State at SRC Arena

Tomorrow

• Love Riverside Serve Weekend at Citywide
• Tigers Jaw at Riverside Municipal Auditorium
• Cruise Night at Tuxie's Drive In
• Live Rock en Espanol tribute at The Hideaway Cafe & Lounge
• Los Caligaris at Riverside Municipal Auditorium
• THE SPAZMATICS! at The Concert Lounge - Romano's Mission Grove

Save the Date

• October 18: ARToberfest at Riverside Art Museum ($45- $50)
• October 18: Pink on Parade Breast Cancer Awareness Walk at Ryan Bonaminio Park ($22.20 - $32.80)
• October 18: The Riverside Citrus Classic Bike Rideat Riverside Plaza ($15- $80)
• October 19: Blue Zones Project Riverside - Mission Inn Run Cheer Squad at Mission Inn
• October 19: Free Christian Art Exhibit: Icons in Transformation at Immanuel Lutheran Church
• October 25: Aquamotion Aquathon at Shamel Park Pool
• October 25: Friends of the Mission Inn Present: Nosferatu - a Silent Movie at The Mission Inn ($30- $35)
• November 15: NORA's 44th Annual Dinner & Auction Gala at Victoria Club ($175)
• December 6: Home and Story: Growing Up with the Museum at Riverside City College | Salvatore G. Rotella Digital Library and Learning Resource Center ($35- $50)

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