Tag Archives: City of Riverside

Eastside Garden Gives Riverside Students Hands-On Learning Experience

by

The Eastside Community Garden at Emerson Elementary School is a shining example of Riverside’s unified spirit working together for the common good of the city as a whole.

On February 23, the Press-Enterprise published a story written by correspondent Kevin Keckeisen about the collaborative effort between Riverside Parks and Recreation Department and Riverside Unified School District. The garden is part of the school district’s Farmers Market Salad Bar program.  The following is an excerpt from the story:

First-grader Kalia Cook, 6, inspects lettuce plants with the rest of her class at the Eastside Community Garden at Emerson Elementary School in Riverside. (photo by Kevin Keickerson; source: PE.com)

First-grader Kalia Cook, 6, inspects lettuce plants with the rest of her class at the Eastside Community Garden at Emerson Elementary School in Riverside. (photo by Kevin Keckeison; source: PE.com)

Nearly two dozen different crops such as squash, tomatoes, eggplants, lettuce and onions are grown. The produce provides students nutrition at the school salad bar, and some is sent to RUSD Nutrition Services to be centrally prepared and distributed to other schools in the city.

“Kids don’t have the foggiest idea where this stuff comes from. It comes from the grocery store as far as they’re concerned,” said Tony Inaba, caretaker of the garden and Riverside parks commissioner.

Students do most of the planning and weeding, and they observe. They work on the garden once every other week, and so do students with disabilities from North High School. It’s a learning process and part of their curriculum, Inaba said.

The community also has access to the garden.  According to the Eastside Community Garden Facebook page, this is the city’s oldest community garden and has been in existence since approximately 1980. In 2004, Emerson Elementary and the City of Riverside Parks and Recreation Services Department joined forces.  Since then, the operation has won national attention for it’s ‘garden to salad bar’ participation by the Emerson Elementary students five years in a row.

Click here to read the full story as published in the Press-Enterprise.

For more information on the garden, visit the group’s Facebook page.

Riversiders Come Together as a Unified Community in Prayer, Solidarity

by
The following includes excerpts from the article written by PE Correspondent, Alicia Robinson, as published on February 7, 2013 by the Press-Enterprise:

Quietly bundled in sweatshirts, coats and scarves against a chilly night, a small crowd of Riverside residents came together to show support for their police department Thursday, Feb. 7, after the shooting of two officers that morning.

One officer — an 11-year veteran of the department — was killed, and the other — a trainee who joined the department a month ago — is reportedly recovering at Riverside Community Hospital. Police have not released their names and asked the media to refrain from reporting them for the safety of their families while the suspected shooter, Christopher Dorner, remains at large.

(photo source: Press-Enterprise)

Thursday’s vigil on the plaza in front of City Hall drew about 150 people, who heard a short prayer by Riverside police Chaplain Steve Ballinger and then broke into smaller groups to pray with other chaplains and clergy or to chat in low voices.

Mayor William “Rusty” Bailey, who said a few words before introducing Ballinger, reassured people that Riverside is a safe city. He also echoed what some in the crowd felt when he said, “We are a unified city and I want the world to know that.”

Riverside resident Henry Ross said he came to the vigil to show “solidarity. We’ve suffered a tragic loss today and it’s close to home.”

Ballinger, his voice unamplified and his face bathed in the lights from several TV cameras, told the crowd a Bible story in which Jesus and his disciples were caught in a tempest while crossing the Sea of Galilee.

They were afraid, but they asked God for help and they did not abandon the boat, he said.

“We’re in a storm, and as a community let’s all stay in the boat together,” Ballinger said.

To read the full article as published on www.PE.com, click here.

-> Special message from the Riverside Police Department: 

The men and women of the Riverside Police Department would like to thank the community for their support during this difficult time.

In response to the many requests, the following information is provided should anyone wish to make a donation to the family of our fallen police officer. Such donations will be provided to the family through the Riverside Police Officers Association in order to assist the family with the many financial needs they will undoubtedly face.  Thank you again for your support.

Please mail checks to:

Riverside Police Officers Association Assistance Fund or RPOA
1965 Chicago Ave, Suite B.,
Riverside, California 92507

How Can You Make a Difference in Riverside’s Future?

by

Riversiders often ask how they can help further the Seizing Our Destiny movement. The answer is simply to get involved – nonprofit, neighborhood, faith-based or civic organizations all have opportunities to help improve quality of life, attract diverse and dynamic people, encourage innovation and work together for the common good.

City Boards and Commissions are a prime example of this as they are the underpinnings of our community – they are how the community navigates the daily and weekly decisions that help make Riverside run smoothly to become the kind of community we all want.

Diversity and inclusion is key to ensuring a collective voice that represents the Riverside community and now the City Charter requires each board or commission to have at least one member from each Council Ward.

These are voluntary positions and to be eligible a citizen must reside in Riverside and be a registered voter. The terms of office are four years and members may serve as many as two consecutive terms.

Application deadline is Friday, December 14th.

Click here to view all of the open positions. Applications may be picked up at the City Clerk’s Office, 7th floor of City Hall, 3900 Main Street or by calling 826-5557.  You may also download the application by selecting:

Give BIG Riverside Proves to Be Much More than a Fundraising Campaign

by

Several months ago, leaders of local nonprofits came together in an effort to improve the culture of giving in Riverside and develop a way to build capacity in organizations whose mission relies heavily on the financial support of the community.

Although charitable giving is a battle that the Inland Southern California region has struggled with for several years, the severity of the situation was brought to the forefront upon the release of the first-ever community-wide Quality of Life Index. It showed that while the region has many dedicated and compassionate residents and business owners, some of the community’s lowest quality-of-life scores were in areas of volunteerism and philanthropy.

The recent national economic recession certainly did not help the situation, but nonprofit leaders Pam Hogan, Kid’s Rock Free, and Bobbie Neff, Community Connect, believed the problem was not in the community’s willingness or ability to donate, but that the greater issue was simply lack of awareness.

As Neff explained, “We wanted to help all of us in the non-profit sector realize that the way to raise funds has changed dramatically; the Internet and social media must be a major component in a nonprofit organization’s business plan in order to effectively build relationships and increase engagement and support.”

Several other nonprofits and The Community Foundation rallied around this notion and the concept of a one-day event in which Riverside supporters could donate funds on-line to one or several organizations of their choice was born.

A potential donor learns more about the
Family Services Association
at the 11.13.12 Give BIG Riverside event.
(photo courtesy GBR)

In the months leading up to the Give BIG Riverside event, groups received educational trainings and were given “toolkits” for their own individual campaigns.  Resources such as email and flyer templates and how-to guides for setting up Give BIG landing pages helped participants refine their marketing messages.

This pre-campaign work was eye-opening to many of the nearly 100 non-profits participating in the event. According to  executive director Gail Egenes, “Prepping for Give BIG Riverside had an added benefit for Riverside Land Conservancy. We had to re-shape our messages to be succinct yet inspiring for online and social media promotion. We learned a lot and feel better prepared to connect with younger generations who love our natural environment.”

The day following the event, Veronica Dover of Family Services Association (FSA) explained  “I just got to spend an hour and half listening to our behind the scenes staff (administrative, HR and Accounting) share about how the Give BIG campaign gave them an opportunity to tell the FSA story and about the work we do and how much impact it has on the region.  Regardless of the dollars raised, that connection to mission and passion for our services is invaluable.”

Volunteers worked around the clock to raise
money & awareness for their nonprofits.
(photo courtesy GBR)

Dover’s reaction seemed to be a common experience by the participating nonprofits. Drew Oberjuerge of the Riverside Art Museum also reported that they had met and exceeded their Give BIG Riverside goal, and that although they had been talking for some time about the need to do a social media campaign, the day of giving caused them to execute an online giving event and that the organization looks forward to building on its 2012 success.

The event itself raised $207,0450 from 1,953 unique donors who made 2,701 gifts.  Aaron Norris, the social media and marketing wizard behind the inaugural day of giving and Vice President of The Norris Group (a presenting sponsor of the event), attributed this accomplishment to the unprecedented team effort.

“Riverside has spirit and pride – give us the opportunity to make a difference and we will. People were excited to participate and surprised by how much was happening in their community.”

In a Facebook post on the Give BIG Riverside fan page, Samantha Lynn Wilson of the Child Leader Project eloquently summarized the success:

“The goal was to empower, connect and inspire Riverside to give and care for each other– and, therefore, far surpassed the goal into an embodied vision.”

For more information on Give BIG Riverside and the sponsors that made the event possible and participating nonprofit organizations, visit www.GiveBIGRiverside.com or follow the efforts on Facebook or Twitter.

Riverside Community Hospital Announces Expansion Plans

by

$315 million-dollar project expected to add 400 temporary construction jobs and 300 full-time permanent hospital positions

From the Riverside Office of Economic Development via Riverside Community Hospital & City of Riverside 

Today, officials at Riverside Community Hospital announced plans for a $315 million expansion on the facility’s campus that is needed to improve access to healthcare for a growing population. Construction and a groundbreaking are anticipated to begin in early 2013 and the expansion project is expected to be complete in 2018.

Rendering of the New RCH Tower

View of new patient tower; rendering subject to change

Officials of the 373-bed hospital describe the centerpiece of the expansion being a seven-floor, 292,000 square-foot tower which will house 12 intensive care patient rooms, 60 medical and surgical patient rooms, a laboratory and food services operations.  The expansion project will include several major components including:

  • A new 4-level, 861-space Parking Garage;
  • A new 3-floor, 60,000 square-foot Medical Office Building;
  • A seismic retrofit and cosmetic upgrades to an existing patient tower; and
  • Imaging Department equipment additions and replacements with facility updates and expansion.

In addition, the expansion project will enable Riverside Community Hospital to offer 72 private rooms in the new seven-floor tower, providing more space to accommodate families and expanding its service offerings to more critically ill patients. Several floors of the patient tower will be shelled space available for future growth and expansion.

According to the RCH press release, the project is anticipated to create nearly 400 temporary jobs in various construction trades and nearly 300 full-time hospital positions when completed.

For several years Riverside has been taking bold steps to ensure its place as a center of world-class healthcare. HCA and Riverside Community Hospital’s expansion is complemented by the recent announcement of the UC Riverside School of Medicine accreditation, both of which will significantly impact the quality of life for current and future residents of Inland Southern California for decades to come.

Read the full article posted by the Riverside Office of Economic Development here.

Riverside Receives Prestigious Economic Development Leadership Award at Southern California Corporate Real Estate Gala

by

On November 8, 2012, the Riverside was honored for their forward-looking economic development practices at the CoreNet Global Southern California REMMYS.

The Leadership in Economic Development award was judged based on criteria that demonstrated creativity and the successful implementation of major win-win projects in a community and/or region in Southern California, emphasizing innovation.  Riverside earned the recognition for its Completion Counts learning partnership program. The business-education-government partnership is working aggressively to increase the college-going rate in the community in an effort to build its knowledge-based workforce and future talent capital in the region.

“Riverside has made a commitment to doing whatever it can to help our businesses create jobs for the community and region;” explained Riverside Mayor Ronald O. Loveridge, “we are constantly developing cutting-edge and best-practice programs for real estate, business and our residents that increase the quality of life in our city, as well as provide a stable, fertile ground for our companies.”

The award demonstrates the community’s commitment to ensuring Intelligent Growth through a dedication to lifelong learning and increased quality of life.

Riverside Community College District Renaissance Block Adds More Arts & Culture to Downtown Riverside

by
(includes excerpts from the article written by Dayna Straehley and published in the Press-Enterprise on 10/26/12)

The new Center for Social Justice & Civil Liberties;  
photo by PE staff writer Dayna Straehley

RCC’s Culinary Arts Academy, the future Coil School for the Arts and a gallery showcasing local civil rights leaders are featured in a planned Renaissance Block.

The projects, which include a rooftop pavilion where culinary students can cater special events and a midsize performing arts venue, will attract people downtown, said Virginia Blumenthal, a college district trustee who has led committees planning the projects. “I’m very excited about it,” she said.

So far, only the Center for Social Justice and Civil Liberties occupies the block. Funded by Riverside redevelopment pass-through money, the roughly 12,000-square-foot center is housed in a renovated Spanish baroque style bank building and will include displays and videos about Riverside civil rights pioneers and preserved art pieces showcased there. It is open by appointment and times can be scheduled by calling 951-222-8854 or emailing to socialjustice@rccd.edu.

The remaining phases are in the planning stages, with construction scheduled to begin in 2014 after a delay for required state approval of the plans. Completion is anticipated for May 30, 2016, which Riverside City College President Cynthia Azari said would coincide with RCC’s centennial celebration.

The school of the arts has been in the planning stages about 20 years, Riverside Unified School District board member Chuck Beaty said. Beaty served on a planning committee when he was on the City Council. The project has evolved, he said.

A combination of funding Henry W. Coil Jr., of Riverside, dedicated $5 million for programming for the arts school in memory of his parents, Henry W. Coil Sr. and Alice Edna Coil.

In addition to a performance space that seats approximately 450, the 34,700-square-foot arts school will also include classrooms, practice rooms, a choral room, band room, orchestra room, a piano lab, and a state-of-the-art recording studio.

The Culinary Arts Academy will include a demonstration kitchen and street-level dining room, which Blumenthal said gives students practical experience preparing and serving breakfasts and lunches.

By bringing people downtown, the projects will benefit all of Riverside, Blumenthal said.

RCC’s commitment to integrating fine arts, culture and history into the Downtown helps solidify Riverside’s place as a center for creativity and lifelong learning while creating interesting, inviting places and venues for students, residents and visitors.

To read the full Press-Enterprise article that includes additional details on the project, funding and timing, click here.

Additional links:

RCCD Community Excellence projects

RCCD Center for Social Justice & Civil Liberties

RCC Culinary Academy

Riverside Public Utilities Honored with Gold and Silver Awards for Innovative Business Programs

by

The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) presented Riverside Public Utilities (RPU) with Gold and Silver awards during its annual Excellence in Economic Development Awards ceremony held on October 2, 2012. The IEDC’s professional economic development awards recognize excellence performed in the economic development field around the globe by individuals and organizations whose efforts have created positive change in urban, suburban and rural communities.

Riverside Public Utilities’ Economic Development and Business Retention Rates, designed to support the economic health of the City of Riverside by offering existing, expanding and new commercial energy customers discounts on electric rates, received Gold recognition by the IEDC.

Meanwhile, RPU’s informative “Business Book” publication, which outlines available rebate and incentives programs offered by the utility for commercial customers, received a Silver award in the Special Purpose Brochure category.

“We’re very pleased to receive these prestigious recognitions,” said RPU Assistant General Manager Mike Bacich. “We are proud of the programs we create in Riverside which help our customers and our community thrive during these challenging economic times.”

These recognitions are yet another example of “telling the Riverside story” as the community continues to be a model for progressive, sustainable economic development.

Municipal Auditorium Rededicated To Celebrate Completion of Renovations

by

Riverside Municipal Auditorium before the renovations.

The Riverside Municipal Auditorium has long served the City of Riverside as both a premier entertainment venue and a historic gem in the heart of Downtown. To celebrate the Auditorium’s heritage, the City of Riverside hosted a rededication ceremony on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 followed by tours of the newly renovated building.

The Mission/Spanish Revival building located at 3485 Mission Inn Avenue was originally opened on November 12, 1928 and served as a memorial to 87 service members from Riverside County who died in World War I.  On March 31, 1978 the Municipal Auditorium was added to the National Registry of Historic Places .

The Auditorium recently underwent a nearly one year restoration effort, which began in October 2011 and was completed this summer at a final cost of $9.5 million. The retrofit preserved the integrity of the facility with seismic work throughout, including re-roofing, and new electrical, plumbing and communication systems. In addition, the exterior façade and walls were restored. While the Riverside Convention Center undergoes renovations, the Municipal Auditorium will serve as the main venue for major events. (Click here to view images of the renovation project from Stronghold Engineering)

Riverside is proud of its historical heritage and the rededication after the Auditorium’s renovation demonstrates the City’s commitment to preserving our history while also providing unique high-quality entertainment venues in our Downtown. Riverside is a location of choice to live, work and play because it continues to preserve and respectfully develop its historical heritage and spaces into undeniably inviting places that create a cultural oasis for visitors, residents and artists to enjoy year-round.

Read the full September 18, 2012 Press Release from the City of Riverside here.

For more information about the Riverside Municipal Auditorium, visit the Riverside Convention and Visitors Bureau website.

Riverside Welcomes Larry Vaupel As New Economic Development Manager

by

Larry Vaupel, Economic Development Manager, City of Riverside

Riverside City Manager Scott Barber announced today, August 22, 2012 the appointment of Larry Vaupel as the City’s Economic Development Manager.  Mr. Vaupel comes to Riverside from Illinois where he has worked in economic development for 19 years, most recently as Chief Executive Officer of the Greater Livingston County Economic Development Council.  As Economic Development Manager, Mr. Vaupel will manage the City’s programs to help businesses create jobs for our community.

Mr. Vaupel was chosen following a highly competitive national recruitment.  City Manager Scott Barber said “I’m excited to have Larry join our team as we employ modern economic development strategies to increase the community’s quality of life, fuel intelligent growth, encourage innovation and position Riverside as the location of choice.”

Mr. Vaupel holds a Masters of Public Administration from Northern Illinois University and a Bachelor of Science in Government from Liberty University and is a Ph.D. candidate in Public Administration at Northern Illinois University.  Mr. Vaupel’s varied background includes planning and economic development positions in four cities, including serving as director of economic development for two of them, working as director of planning and entitlements for a private development company and operating his own real estate company, in addition to his present position with the Greater Livingston County EDC.

Mr. Vaupel fills the position previously held by Tricia Braun, who relocated to Madison, WI.  Mr. Vaupel will begin his new position in Riverside on September 10.

Read the full August 22, 2012 News Release from the City of Riverside.