Riverside Beautiful is a monthly newsletter published by Keep
Riverside Clean and Beautiful. It details all of the projects our organization has worked
on in the past months and what's coming up for us in our future. The newsletter is one
tool we like to use to recognize all of our volunteers and donors for their contributions
to each of the projects.
Be sure to bookmark the KRCB site and check back monthly to see what we have been up to. We do projects all over town and may be coming to your part of town soon.
Citizen's Patrol Streets For Taggers
The Riverside Against Taggers (RAT) Patrol is now recruiting new volunteers. The RAT Patrol works in conjunction with the Riverside Police Department to help catch graffiti taggers in the act. The RAT Patrol has been in effect since 1993 and has been successful in deterring tagging due to public awareness of the group.
The RAT Patrol is a group of dedicated citizens who volunteer their time to do the surveillance work to prohibit tagging. The hours of surveillance usually are held on the weekends in the late evening (when tagging crimes are at their peak). A mandatory eight-hour training class, conducted by the Police Department, must be completed before becoming an official Patrol member.
"It is very gratifying to actually be doing something about the problem instead of just complaining about it," commented Liz Saxton, owner of Tin Lizzy’s Cookie Café in Downtown Riverside. Saxton became a member of the RAT Patrol last summer after her frustrations with graffiti occurring on her downtown business. "I think if more people knew about the patrol, they would want to join."
To be a member of the RAT Patrol, you must meet the following qualifications:
1. Be a resident or business owner within the City of Riverside
2. Be at least 18 years of age
3. Possess a valid California Driver’s License
4. Maintain a satisfactory driving record
5. Have no felony convictions
6. Have no outstanding warrants for arrest
7. Sign a "Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce Voluntary Waiver, Release, Assumption of Risk and Indemnity Agreement"
Possible RAT Patrol dates are January 20th and January 27th. For more information on joining the RAT Patrol, contact Jenny at (909) 683-7100.
Time To Recycle Cell Phone Batteries
Have you been wondering what to do with your cell phone batteries that no longer hold a charge? There is a new recycling program in town called "Charge-Up To Recycle" endorsed by Keep America Beautiful. Headed by the non-profit Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC), this program promotes the recycling of Nickel Cadmium (Ni-Cd) rechargeable batteries. RBRC currently promotes this program in both the United States and Canada.
Batteries currently accepted are the small dry-cell Nickel-Cadmium (Ni-Cd) rechargeable batteries such as the ones found in cordless power tools, cordless and cellular phones and camcorders. About 95% of U.S. households own at least one type of cordless product using Ni-Cd batteries. Beginning later this year, RBRC will also begin accepting other batteries including Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH), Lithium Ion (Li-ion) and Small Sealed Lead Acid (Pb).
RBRC was founded in 1994 and is dedicated to educating rechargeable power makers, resellers and users in North America about the benefits and accessibility of Ni-Cd battery recycling, and to implement recycling programs where none exist. Due to their efforts there has been a significant reduction in the amount of Nickel Cadmium that enters our solid waste stream. That means a safer, cleaner, healthier environment for everyone.
Recycling locations in Riverside include Target, Radio Shack, Circuit City and Wal-Mart. There are many more drop-off points in the city and the Inland Empire. For complete locations within the City of Riverside, call KRCB at (909) 683-7100. For other locations, call 1-800-8-battery. For more information on the "Charge-Up to Recycle" Program and to find out when other rechargeable batteries will be accepted, visit the web site at www.rbrc.org.
There were 47 volunteers who pitched in with the Ward 5 Cleanup on January 6th. The volunteer staff was made up of members from the UECC AmeriCorps, KRCB staff, and Mitch Adkinson, son of Ward 5 Councilman Ed Adkinson. More than 1,500 pounds of trash removed from the area which includes Van Buren Avenue from Lincoln to Arlington Park, Garfield to California, the empty lot behind the ARCO gas station, Arlington Park, Indiana Avenue, the inbound Van Buren off-ramp, and the old Indiana Chicken and Ribs building.
With energy slowly seeping out of the Arlanza Community Garden, a new collaborative was established early last November between the Alvord Unified School District, the City of Riverside, and KRCB along with other interested members of the community. The Garden’s revitalization, like all good things, will take time.
We made a huge dent in the project on Dec. 16, 2000 with the energetic UECC AmeriCorps group. AmeriCorps did all of the prep work necessary for the city to come in and "disc" the soil, turning it into what the collaborative hopes will be a fresh start. Hoses were moved, leaves were raked, litter removed, bulbs and roses transplanted, and giant garden beds were raised and moved!
Thank you AmeriCorps! For information about the Arlanza Community Garden and how to participate, call Shanna at 683-7100.
The number of trees in Riverside is growing as the School Tree Plantings continue. Total trees planted from October through December are:
School Campuses
October - 78 trees
November - 51 trees
December - 55 trees
Streets and Parks
October - 38 trees
November - 74 trees
TOTAL TREES PLANTED: 296 trees
On December 14th twelve trees were planted at Mountain View Elementary. There were 295 students, 12 teachers and staff, and three members of the Arlington Kiwanis Club to help plant the trees.
It doesn’t stop there! The remainder of January will find KRCB staff planting 69 trees on eight campuses throughout Riverside and Alvord Unified School Districts. Approximately 200 students will be assisting with the tree plantings and learning of their benefit to our environment. These students also commit to care for the trees planted on their campuses.
For more information on tree planting in the Riverside community, call KRCB at (909) 683-7100.
Riverside Celebrates Trees
This annual event brings together volunteers for food, fun, entertainment, and a bit of
tree planting on the side. On March 17th, KRCB is teaming up with California Baptist
University to plant 150 trees on Magnolia Avenue between Cortez and Overland streets.
Volunteers are needed to help plant trees and celebrate! Leave your mark on Magnolia
Avenue, call Jenny at (909) 683-7100, or fill out and mail in the volunteer form inside
this newsletter.
CDBG Clean-up
Casa Blanca is the location of the next CDBG clean-up. KRCB volunteers in conjunction with
the Casa Blanca Neighborhood Advisory Committee will be cleaning up Railroad Avenue
beginning at Madison Street on January 27th.
If you would like to be a part of this neighborhood project, call Shanna at (909) 683-7100.
Day Of Caring
KRCB is partnering with Team BankAmerica and other volunteers in a major park refurbishing
project. Three Riverside parks are targeted for painting, cleaning and tree planting on
January 20th. For details, call Nancy at (909) 683-7100.
Thank you to the following businesses for their donations to the KRCB program
Farmer Boys
University Ave. & Lime St.
Donated 50 Hamburgers & Fries for the Dec. 9th Downtown CDBG Cleanup
Linda Fujiu, AUSD
Donated Soda, Water & Donuts for the Dec. 16th Arlanza Garden Project
Adopt-A-Street Groups
Clean Up Riverside Streets
These groups are local organizations, businesses and individuals who have made a commitment to clean-up a particular section of road or area in Riverside in need of regular attention. Groups who participate with the adopt-a-street program do clean-ups every other month and are recognized with two KRCB signs placed on either side of the adopted area.
Thank You to
Ability Counts
for their efforts in keeping these areas clean.
Monthly Adopt-A-Street Groups
Week of January 1st
California Baptist University
Riverside Plaza
Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity - Eta Zeta Chapter
Anheuser-Busch Sales Co.
Boy Scout Troop #109
Kiwanis Club of Riverside
Norte Vista High School-Students
Week of January 8th
Mount Rubidoux Manor Residents
The Sutter Family
Girl Scout Troop #1484
Mujeres Unidas
Riverside Landscape & Irrigation, Inc.
Central Community Christian Fellowship
Magnolia Avenue Baptist Church
La Union Estudiantil de la Raza
Charter Communications
First Christian Church
California School for the Deaf, Riverside
Faith Community Church
Girl Scout Brownie Troop #1471
Leivas Kanouse & Associates
Teen Challenge
Jefferson House
Week of January 15th
Delta Sigma Pi - Professional Co-ed Business Fraternity
Chinese Student Association
Girl Scout Troop #285
Arizona Intermediate School PSIA/Arlington Rotary
Wal-Mart
Kool Aide Klubhouse
Wiest Rentals and Sales
Erickson Business Parks
Arlington Interact Club
Dr. Harold Krajian -Optometrist
Church of Christ and Latter Day Saints
Dr. Ted W. Pena
Week of January 22nd
Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity, The
All Saints Episcopal Church
Mission Grove Plaza
PIP Printing of Riverside
Abraham Lincoln High School
Gage Middle School
Tri-Co Disposal/A Burrtec Co.
Clean Clean Clean
Riverside Bicycle Club, Inc.
Vine Life Christian Fellowship
Alvord High School
Arlington High School National Honor Society
Fremont Elementary School
John Adams Elementary School PTA
Madison Elementary Eco-Club
Monroe Elementary Peace Patrol
Victoria Presbyterian Church
Sherman Indian High School
Cole Vocational Services - Riv 3
Alvord Educators Association
Well Intermediate School
Week of January 29th
Delta Tau Delta Fraternity
First Step Independent Living of Corona
Kansas Ave. Pathfinder Club
Martin Collen, M.D.
The Salvation Army - Riverside Sunbeams
California School for the Deaf, Riverside - Special Needs Dept.
St. Paul Lutheran Church
Youth Ministry of Palm Baptist Church
Earhart Middle School Honor Society