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).
The undefeated Ramona Rams will put their perfect season on the line Friday when they face Riverside Poly in the Solar Bowl at 7 p.m. at Wheelock Field on the RCC campus.
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).
Overlooking Sycamore Canyon Park as a storm rolls in. (J.Michel Carpenter) Have a photo that captures the spirit of Riverside? Share it with us and help celebrate the beauty of our community!
Thursday Gazette: September 18, 2025
Hello Riverside, and Happy Thursday! We made it past the midweek stretch. Here’s hoping the rest of your week goes smoothly. Take care of yourself and keep an eye out for your neighbors too.
New Food Hub Opens in La Sierra to Serve Local Farmers, Restaurants
Inland Empire Regional Food Hub fills gap left by RUSD closure, processes $80,000 in local produce weekly.
Ward 6 Councilmember Jim Perry addresses the crowd at the ribbon-cutting event. (Ken Crawford)
A new food distribution center has opened in La Sierra, filling the gap left by the closure of Riverside Unified School District's food hub. The Inland Empire Regional Food Hub processes and distributes produce from farms within 50 miles of Riverside, connecting local growers with restaurants and food service organizations.
Driving the news: The facility currently packs about 3,000 boxes weekly and purchases $80,000 in produce from local growers each week.
The hub represents a growing trend toward regional food distribution systems that support local agriculture while providing consumers access to fresh, locally grown produce.
Why it matters: The hub streamlines sales for local farmers while providing restaurants and consumers access to hyperlocal produce.
"It's a win, win," said Paloma Montes of Blue Zones Project Riverside, which donated $18,000 for central processing equipment.
The big picture: The hub sells wholesale to restaurants and food service organizations, while consumers can access the produce through the separate Riverside Food Co-op.
School districts have expressed interest in sourcing local produce, which could provide steady institutional contracts to support the hub's growth.
What's next: The Riverside Food Co-op plans to open a retail store once membership reaches sufficient levels to support a physical location.
"We want more farmers," said Berndt, who is building the network of local growers.
The undefeated Ramona Rams will put their perfect season on the line Friday when they face Riverside Poly in the Solar Bowl at 7 p.m. at Wheelock Field on the RCC campus.
A sparsely populated Wheelock Field will be standing room only for Friday’s Solar Bowl. (Ken Crawford)
Ramona enters at 4-0 after a 28-21 victory over Rancho Mirage, where sophomore Marcus Abrams sealed the win with a late interception. The Rams have been led by running back Lorenzo Sims, who rushed for 177 yards against Rancho Mirage, and quarterback Jesus Gonzalez, who has connected well with receiver Isaac Mata.
Poly comes in at 2-2 following a disappointing loss to King High School, where the Bears struggled to generate offensive production. The setback adds urgency to their preparation for their biggest rival.
This matchup carries special significance as a rematch of the 2023 CIF Southern Section Division 11 championship game, where Ramona defeated Poly 38-17 to claim the title. The championship meeting marked the first time these programs had faced each other in postseason play.
Fire Department Seeks Community Input for Long-Term Master Plan
Survey open through Sept. 29 to guide department priorities for next 10-15 years.
(File photo)
Riverside's Fire Department is developing a strategic roadmap for the next decade and wants residents to weigh in. An online survey, available until Sept. 29, aims to gather community feedback on service priorities and expectations.
Driving the news: The department has partnered with AP Triton, LLC, a public safety consulting firm, to create a comprehensive master plan guiding operations for the next 10 to 15 years.
The survey takes approximately 10 minutes to complete and covers key areas such as important services, planning priorities, and response time expectations.
Why it matters: Community input is crucial for shaping the future of fire services in Riverside. The department emphasizes that resident feedback is essential for a meaningful survey and ultimately, an effective master plan.
What's next: AP Triton will compile the survey results in their final report, with all responses remaining confidential. The completed master plan will serve as a blueprint for the Fire Department's efforts in the coming years.
How to participate: Residents can access the survey at surveymonkey.com before the 5 p.m. deadline on Monday, Sept. 29.
UC Riverside researchers secured $2.25 million to advance their experimental drug Targefrin, which tricks cancer cells into destroying EphA2—a protein that helps aggressive tumors spread—toward human trials for pancreatic and other deadly cancers.
đź“Ł
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.
This week’s agendas include a Council vote on a 45-day smoke shop moratorium and a $19.7M Chavez Center renovation, plus earthquake prep tips and a water update.
