W e e k l y RIALTO RECORD
Vol 24, NO. 38
April 30, 2026
Rialto to Honor Military Veterans With $135,000 Granite Monoliths
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PHOTO CHRISTOPHER SALAZAR The Rialto Library will soon feature a veterans monument.
By Christopher Salazar
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he Rialto Civic Center campus will soon feature a veterans monument. Already home to the city’s library and council chambers, the campus will soon be adorned with 8-foot-tall granite monoliths north of the fire station, just beyond the shade of the library's towering pines. Approved by the Council on April 14, the $135,000 contract with the Cold Spring Granite Company initiates Rialto’s
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PHOTO CHRISTOPHER SALAZAR The future site of the veterans monument, located near the Rialto Library at the intersection of Willow Ave. and W. First St.
stone homage to its military service members. Originated by the Rialto Veterans Committee, the project includes three large monoliths arranged semi-triangularly, with a fourth, smaller one etched with the history of the city, its veterans and their contributions. For visitors, the installation features two semi-circular benches enclosed by a brick walkway leading to the intersection at Willow Ave and W. First St., inviting
passersby to rest and reflect. Mayor Joe Baca Sr., an Army veteran and former paratrooper, said the installation is meant to honor those who served “in time of peace and in time of war,” adding that the freedoms Americans enjoy are rooted in that service. He noted that the project reflects years of effort to expand support for veterans locally. Veterans Monument cont. on next pg.
Rialto USD’s RITZ Gala Marks 20 Years of Student Talent, Raises $30,000 for the Arts
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PHOTO MANNY SANDOVAL Superintendent Dr. Alejandro Alvarez, Board Clerk Dakira Williams, Board Member Evelyn Dominguez, Mobley, "Mr. RITZ" Logan Dominguez, Gilbert, "Miss RITZ" Zayla Williams, Board Member Dr. Stephanie Lewis, Student Member Audrey Gonzalez, and Board Vice President Edgar Montes.
By Manny Sandoval Inland Empire Community Newspapers Office: (909) 381-9898 Editorial: iecn1@mac.com Advertising: iecn1@mac.com Legals : iecnlegals@gmail.com
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he 20th Annual RITZ Gala, short for Rialto’s Incredible Talent Zone, was true to the event’s name: “incredible.” The annual student talent spectacle belongs to the Rialto Unified School
PHOTO MANNY SANDOVAL A stage full of student performers gathers for a final curtain call, celebrating the successful conclusion of the 20th Annual RITZ Gala. The evening, which raises funds for arts education, showcased a diverse range of visual and performing arts, culminating with this group standing before a packed auditorium of supporters.
District education community and is the largest student-centered arts Gala in the Inland Empire. Filled with a spirit of unity to support students’ talents, the 20th edition of the RITZ Gala proved to be a resounding success on April 25, 2026, drawing a packed audience for an evening that celebrated student creativity, community spirit, and educational excellence.
Held at Wilmer Amina Carter High School Theater Hall, this year’s Gala featured 47 top student performances, with 18 acts spanning music, dance, and visual arts, all brought together under the guidance of Talent Director Sandra Cordasco. The evening emcee, Joel Greene, host of the nationally syndicated show, Curiosity RITZ Gala cont. next pg.