Chamber honors young entrepreneur’s lemonade stand and the Housing Committee revisits mobile home rent control despite Council’s recent 2.8% cap approval.
Last summer sunset as seen from Victoria Woods. (Judith Glenn) Have a photo that captures the spirit of Riverside? Share it with us and help celebrate the beauty of our community!
Wednesday Gazette: September 24, 2025
Hello Riverside, and Happy Wednesday! Does your hump day need a little something fun and new? Tonight is Board Game & Bingo Night at the Farm House Collective. Gather friends, family, or go solo and check out their Instagram for details.
Chamber Honors Young Entrepreneur’s Lemonade Stand
Ukrainian refugee earns community recognition for business acumen.
A shaded bench marks the corner of Jane and Victoria, where Meliia's lemonade stand brings sweet refreshment to the neighborhood. (Ken Crawford)
The Riverside Chamber of Commerce will celebrate a young entrepreneur's lemonade stand with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Oct. 1. Meliia, a 9-year-old Ukrainian refugee, has operated her business along the Victoria bike path for months, impressing the community with her dedication and resilience.
Her lemonade stand, made from a storage bin and blanket, aims to fund a trip to Disneyland.
Why it matters: The recognition highlights Riverside's community spirit and the enduring appeal of the American dream.
Chamber President Nick Adcock calls Meliia's story "a powerful reminder that with a little creativity and a lot of heart, anything is possible."
The backstory: Meliia and her family fled Ukraine six months after the war began, initially living in a Motel 6 while her parents worked cleaning jobs.
She discovered that American children can run their own businesses, a concept impossible in Ukraine.
What's next: The 4 to 5:30 p.m. ceremony caps Meliia's remarkable journey and offers neighbors a chance to support a symbol of determination and ingenuity.
Housing Committee Discusses Mobile Home Rent Control Despite Council's Recent 2.8% Cap Approval
Committee debates further amendments less than a week after City Council set annual increase limit for 2026.
Santiago Estates Mobile Home Park. (File photo)
The Housing and Homeless Committee discussed additional amendments to the city's Mobile Home Parks Rent Stabilization Ordinance, just days after the City Council approved a 2.8% annual rent increase cap starting in 2026.
Driving the meeting: The committee explored proposals for transparency requirements and restrictions on family transfer rent increases, despite the council's recent action.
The discussion occurred six days after the City Council's decision, which exceeded resident requests by setting a lower cap than the 3% sought.
Why it matters: The ordinance affects approximately 497 mobile home spaces in Riverside's rent stabilization program, including 169 permanent supportive housing units.
Residents expressed gratitude for the new cap but cited ongoing concerns about utility billing transparency and charges for adding family members to leases.
The other side: Park owner representatives argued that continued amendments create instability and harm park operations.
Julie Poley of the Western Manufactured Housing Communities Association called the amendments "endless threats" that make park operations unstable.
What's next: The committee took no votes on the proposed amendments, but Councilmember Jim Perry suggested informal discussions between residents and park owners about pass-through charges and transparency issues.
The new 2.8% cap is set to take effect in 2026, replacing the current 2-4% increase range.
The U.S. Postal Service invites the public to vote for their favorite stamp to be reissued, with the winning design to be announced at the Boston 2026 World Expo in May.
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Professional men’s and women’s soccer coming to Riverside through USL expansion, plus Games of the Week: water polo all weekend and the city’s top matchup.
City planners question local impact of transit housing mandates, Riverside offers micro luxury escapes and the city debuts AI assistant Rivy on its website.
No City Council meeting this week; other agendas include $1.44M for Wilderness Substation upgrades and affordable housing updates. Plus, the Museum of Riverside explores how repatriation and museums can collaborate.
