A review of outdoor lighting and "live performance" noise regulations and the nomination of the Trujillo Adobe for the National Register of Historic Places are all on this week's agendas.
The nave of All Saints Episcopal Church, located on Terracina Dr., is decorated with palm fronds to mark the start of Holy Week on Palm Sunday. (Lindy Colaluca-Polling)
Sunday Gazette: April 13, 2025
Hello Riverside, and Happy Sunday!
Today marks the beginning of Holy Week for many in our community—a time of reflection, tradition, and connection with family and faith. Whether you're observing the season or simply soaking in the magic of spring, I hope you both find and create peace this week.
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Thank you to the Subscribers who became paid supporters this week: Dale Green, Charity Schiller and Rich Vandenberg. Your ongoing financial support is vital to our success in serving Riverside with the news it deserves!
Planning Commission: Yes to Church-Nonprofit Partnership to House Aged-Out Foster Youth
Olive Crest and Crest Community Church to create 'home with purpose' on church property
Tracy Fitzsimmons of Olive Crest and Pastor John Dixon of Crest Community Church stand on the vacant portion of church property where the planned "Crest Cottages" housing development will provide homes and support services for aged-out foster youth.
The Planning Commission unanimously approved a project to create housing for foster youth and struggling families. The development, called Crest Cottages, is a partnership between Olive Crest and Crest Community Church on Mount Vernon Avenue.
Driving the news: The project will feature 11 dwelling units, a multipurpose room, and outdoor amenities on church property, with groundbreaking expected this summer.
The development aims to provide housing stability and support services for young adults and families transitioning to independence.
Why it matters: The partnership addresses Riverside's housing crisis while fostering community engagement and support for vulnerable populations.
Pastor John Dixon of Crest Community Church describes the housing crisis as fundamentally a "crisis of community" or a "poverty of relationships."
The details: The site will include 10 two-bedroom units, one three-bedroom staff unit, and a multipurpose building for community activities.
Security features, modern bungalow-style design, and landscaping with native and edible plants are part of the plan.
What they're saying: Nicholas Adcock, president and CEO of the Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce, told commissioners the project addresses crucial community needs.
Neighbors, including long-time resident Noriko Shimoji Cuaron, have endorsed the project, believing it will benefit both vulnerable youth and the broader community.
Eat This Riverside: Lunch at the new Tuesday Farmers Market at Riverside Community Hospital
There’s a new weekly community market in Riverside. Stop by on Tuesdays and you might catch Seth chowing down on pupusas and Thai desserts in the shadow of the Riverside Community Hospital parking complex.
The Market View at the Riverside Magnolia Farmers Market at the Riverside Community Hospital. (Seth Zurer)
Seth never misses a market—and Riverside’s newest might be his favorite yet. Whether he's nibbling pickled herring in Amsterdam or chasing porchetta in Italy, Seth always finds his way to the local market. So when a new Tuesday farmers market popped up outside Riverside Community Hospital, he was first in line. Focused more on lunch than groceries, the market features samosas made by a retired LA shopkeeper, Sonoran hot dogs, Thai desserts, fresh produce, and a mix of crafty vendors.
Each week, we will introduce a new neighbor. This is not a who's who list. These are regular Riversiders doing exceptional things.
Jesse stands proudly with the three palm trees behind him, a symbol of his Casa Blanca roots.(Brenda Flowers)
After 25 years in concrete construction, Jesse discovered a new creative path rooted in nature. Blending his longtime love of music with a passion for plants, he became a DJ and plant artist, launching a portable plant shop called Succs 2 B You. His inventive style and plant-forward creativity earned him the 2024 Mayor's Ball for the Arts Wild Card award for his Plant Art Exhibit at the Riverside Art Museum.
Born and raised in Casa Blanca, Jesse credits his neighborhood as the foundation of his journey. The community was the first place that embraced his DJ aspirations and provided positive role models that shaped his path. Through his creative ventures in plants and art, Jesse has brought unique perspectives to Riverside's creative scene. Plants have become more than a business for him; they've been therapeutic, helping with anxiety. All who know him—or even just work near him—say he fills every space with contagious joy. Whether spinning records or arranging greenery, Jesse brings a playful, vibrant energy to Riverside while proudly representing where he came from.
A prompt to encourage your practice of creativity this week from Riversider and local author Larry Burns.
(Titus Pardee)
This week, I’m reaching into the toolbox I’ve used for decades as a teacher for this week’s creative nudge: a piece of chalk. Sure, modern classrooms feature “smartboards” or dry erase markers, but like the newspaper, it’s competing with a lot of advanced technology, and still finding ways to be relevant.
At home, we use a small kitchen chalkboard that keeps track of who is cooking, alongside a running list of supplies needed from the store. It’s a tactile and visual way to keep in touch households connected without starting another group chat to get annoyed with!
In Friday’s newsletter, we mentioned an upcoming “Meet the Author” event with David Allen at the Riverside Woman’s Club and incorrectly stated the date as Thursday, April 17. The correct date is Tuesday, April 15. Sorry for the mix-up—please see details in the link below.
