Hazy September morning view of City Hall. (Ken Crawford)
Friday Gazette: September 27, 2024
I wanted to give you all a little update on what’s been happening since the fire. The emergency phase is over, and we are safe, out of the hotel, and settled into a long-term rental here in Riverside. The contractor says the rebuild of our home will take at least a year, so it’s a relief to be back in town and in a very nice place for now.
I can’t thank you enough for the support—both financial and in your kind words and encouragement. I deeply appreciate everyone who donated and reached out to me personally. You’ve shown what I’ve always known about Riversiders: this is a community that cares. I’m committed to giving back and keeping the focus on all that’s great about Riverside, right here at the Gazette. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, from me and my family.
Riverside Considers Ending Remote Public Comment Option
Committee report cites return to pre-pandemic conditions and lack of increased participation as reasons for potential change.
The City Council’s Governmental Processes Committee is considering ending remote public comment options for city meetings; the decision will be discussed at the committee’s meeting next Wednesday, October 2, at 9:00 a.m.
Driving the meeting: Councilmember Philip Falcone, who chairs the committee, is leading the review of whether to stop allowing remote and call-in public comments during meetings.
The committee will debate returning to in-person comments only.
Why it matters: City staff report that the remote call-in option hasn't increased public participation and causes delays in the meeting process.
The option was introduced when council chambers were closed to the public during the pandemic.
The big picture: California's State of Emergency ended on February 28, 2023, and Riverside's City Council Chambers have been open for in-person participation since June 1, 2021.
What's next: The committee, including Councilmembers Chuck Conder and Jim Perry, will discuss the issue on October 2 at 9:00 a.m.
Go deeper: Other cities in the area, including Anaheim, Bakersfield, and Long Beach, have already discontinued remote public comment options.
Janet Goeske Center to Hold Health Fair on October 2
The Fifty Plus Health Fair will showcase the services provided at the center.
Janet Goeske Center members playing cards. (Courtesy of Janet Goeske Center)
The Fifty & Better Health Fair, hosted by the Janet Goeske Foundation, is a free event designed to support the health and wellness of Riverside’s older adult community. It will occur on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 5257 Sierra Street, Riverside. This health fair offers various resources to promote healthy living and active aging.
Attendees can access vaccine clinics to stay up-to-date on immunizations and medication disposal services to safely discard expired or unused prescriptions. Health screenings will be available for those looking to assess their well-being, ensuring visitors can monitor vital health markers like blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
Sports Shorts:UCR vs. CBU, High School Football, and Hall of Fame Honors
Your weekly update on Riverside sports: college rivalries, high school football, and community honors.
Three time WAC Goalkeeper of the Week, Hugo DeRego lays out for a save. (Courtesy of California Baptist University)
Every Friday, we bring you a quick rundown of Riversiders achieving athletic excellence and a guide to sporting events around the city. These events provide affordable, family-friendly entertainment and foster civic pride and community connections. See you in the bleachers!
The Riverside Derby
The California Baptist University Lancers and the UCR Highlanders battled to a scoreless draw Wednesday night at the Crosstown Showdown. Both teams had four shots on goal, with the biggest play being CBU’s three-time WAC goalkeeper of the week, Hugo DeRego, coming up big with a penalty save. Both teams have been on a bit of a scoring drought and will need to figure it out with conference play starting next week. Good luck to the Lancers and Highlanders on the rest of their season. Hopefully, we’ll see you both in the NCAA tournament again!
Poly Hall of Fame and Homecoming
It’s a light schedule for high school football this weekend, with many local schools not seeing action until next week. Poly will host Redlands at Wheelock Stadium for their Homecoming Game on Saturday at 7:00 PM.
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