Brooke Nol performs “Let It Go” in Frozen: The Broadway Musical at Woodcrest Christian School in Riverside, which drew nearly 1,000 attendees on opening weekend and continues with additional performances this week. The production features a talented student cast, immersive visuals, and powerful vocals that bring this beloved story to life for audiences of all ages. (Courtesy of Woodcrest Christian School) Have a photo that captures the spirit of Riverside? Share it with us and help celebrate the beauty of our community!
Wednesday Gazette: April 22, 2026
Hello Riverside, and Happy Wednesday! The Ward 2 candidate forum is TOMORROW! If you have a seat reserved, we'll see you there. If you haven't registered yet, there's still time to grab a spot before doors open. Ward 4 and Ward 6 forums are right around the corner as well.
All three forums are free and open to every Riverside resident. Register today.
Downtown Lime Street Portion Named to Honor Fallen Riverside Firefighter
Signs honoring Captain Tim Strack went up Tuesday along the stretch of Lime between 3rd and 14th streets, where Strack once served at Station 1.
Strack family members and Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson, right, hold up the new "Captain Tim Strack Parkway" street sign alongside the existing Lime Street sign during a ceremony at Riverside Fire Station 1 on Tuesday.
A stretch of Downtown Lime Street now carries a second name honoring Captain Tim Strack, a 28-year Riverside firefighter who died in April 2023.
Why it matters: The renaming is ceremonial — residents and businesses on the corridor between 3rd and 14th streets won't need to update their addresses. But the new signs mark a permanent public tribute to a firefighter who shaped both local and statewide labor advocacy.
Driving the news: City officials, firefighters, and Strack's family gathered Tuesday outside Fire Station 1 — along the renamed stretch — for a sign unveiling ceremony.
One of the new green signs, signed by attendees at the ceremony, will eventually be given to the Strack family.
The backstory: Strack served as president of Riverside City Firefighters' Association Local 1067 for 21 years — the longest in the union's 100-year history. He also spent a decade as 1st District Vice President of California Professional Firefighters, lobbying in Sacramento and Washington for firefighter safety standards.
What they're saying: Fire Chief Steve McKinster called the renamed street "a tribute traveled daily by our members and the community — a constant reminder of Tim's dedication."
What's next: The signs are installed. The stretch between 3rd and 14th streets will now display "Lime Street" as the primary name with "Captain Tim Strack Parkway" in smaller lettering below.
A Call for Higher Standards in Public Comment at City Council Meetings
We can debate policy without demeaning people.
I want to address the tone and conduct that has developed across more than six recent meetings. Healthy debate is expected in this chamber. Strong disagreement is expected. But the repeated pattern of baseless accusations, personal attacks, and shaming directed at Councilmembers is NG (No Good).
It does not strengthen arguments, and it does not improve outcomes.
Across these meetings, coordinated groups have delivered harsh and personal language toward the dais. In one instance, a speaker even accused the council of "mocking" them because of a facial expression. Councilmembers are human. They listen, they react, they think. Interpreting normal human reactions as disrespect, while delivering aggressive or accusatory comments, creates an unhealthy double standard.
NORA brings Denim Day to Banner Bank on April 29, rallying community support for sexual violence survivors.
Why it matters: If you want to show solidarity with survivors, this is a low-barrier way to do it — just wear denim and show up.
Driving the news: The Network of Organizations for Resiliency and Advocacy (NORA) hosts the free event Wednesday, April 29, noon–3 p.m. at Banner Bank, 5030 Arlington Ave., with a brief program at 12:30 p.m.
What they're saying: "We invite the community to join us as we bring awareness to supporting survivors and standing against violence," said Elgin James, Banner Bank's vice president and branch manager.
A UC Riverside-led study of 2,459 emergency department patients found widespread MMR vaccine knowledge gaps and under-vaccination tied to race, language, and insurance status, as California reports its highest measles case count in seven years.
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