W e e k l y RIALTO RECORD
Vol 24, NO. 06
September 18, 2025
Rialto USD Schools Kick Off Hispanic Heritage Month with Music, Art, and Stories
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Police Mask Restrictions and Protester Bans Face Constitutional Challenges Pg. 3
PHOTO MANNY SANDOVAL Students at Simpson Elementary School clap, sing, and dance along as Grammy-winning duo 1 2 3 Andrés perform a lively bilingual music show. The performance kicked off Rialto Unified School District’s celebrations for Hispanic Heritage Month, a month-long series of events across schools honoring culture, diversity, and inclusion.
By Manny Sandoval
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elebrating the power of diversity through music, art, and storytelling, Rialto Unified School District recently opened National Hispanic Heritage Month with school-wide assemblies — just the beginning of a month-long series of events spotlighting culture, inclusion, and community pride.
Inland Empire PRISM Collective to Host Lavender Gala, Seeks Sponsors to Strengthen LGBTQ+ Advocacy
Students across the District enjoyed events ranging from a lively bilingual music performance at Simpson Elementary School to a book reading and live illustration at Fitzgerald Elementary School. Both events highlighted the values of inclusion and cultural appreciation at the heart of the monthlong celebration, which runs annually from September 15 through October 15. To kick off a month of celebrations,
Simpson Elementary School recently hosted Grammy-winning duo 1 2 3 Andrés, who energized students and families with a bilingual music performance filled with singing, dancing, and clapping along. The husbandand-wife team, Andrés and Christina, are internationally known for their lively shows that blend English and Spanish while promoting the benefits of bilingualism and culRUSD, cont. on next pg.
Triumphant Inland Film Fest Empowers Filmmakers to Own Their Narrative, Right On! Wins Top Award
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HOW TO REACH US Volunteers Needed Inland 20 Empire Community Sept. at Riverside’s Newspapers Martha McLean-Anza Office: (909) 381-9898 Narrowsiecn1@mac.com Park for Editorial: Cleanup Advertising: sales@iecn.com Legals : iecnlegals@hotmail.com
PHOTO MANNY SANDOVAL Phase 3 celebrating right before “The Insight” Best of screening on September 13th at Regal San Bernardino.
HOW TO REACH US
By Manny Sandoval
Inland Empire Community Newspapers Office: (909) 381-9898 Editorial: iecn1@mac.com Advertising: iecn1@mac.com Legals : iecnlegals@gmail.com
he Inland Film Fest returned in triumph September 13–14, drawing nearly 1,000 attendees to Regal San Bernardino and the University of Redlands’ Orton Center for two days of screenings and celebration of Inland Empire voices.
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PHOTO MANNY SANDOVAL The “Best Of” panel featured filmmakers such as Sophia Figueroa (center), director of “The Warehouse Empire” (which also won an Emmy) and “Off the Rails.”
More than 65 short films were presented across categories ranging from live-action and documentary to animation, experimental, and student films. With 80 percent of selections highlighting San Bernardino and Riverside County filmmakers, the festival reinforced its role as both a showcase and a workforce initiative, equipping artists with the training and resources to expand their craft.
Founded in 2023 with support from the Creative Corps Grant and originally organized by the Garcia Center for the Arts, the festival is now led by Arts Connection – The Arts Council of San Bernardino County. Under new stewardship, it has quickly become a centerpiece of the region’s creative economy, spotlighting Inland Film Fest, cont. on next pg.