Riverside's longest-serving fire chief modernized the department, survived smoke inhalation and a bicycle crash, and never asked his men to face dangers he wouldn't confront himself.
High schoolers from across the district transform from strangers to collaborators through months of rehearsals, gaining professional theater experience and life skills that extend far beyond the stage.
Riverside winter oranges hang plentiful and beautiful on a tree in the Hawarden Hills neighborhood. (Rosalyn Anderson) Have a photo that captures the spirit of Riverside? Share it with us and help celebrate the beauty of our community!
Sunday Gazette: January 18, 2026
Hello Riverside, and Happy Sunday! In today's edition, we're featuring the Riverside Unified School District Honors Musical production of "Singin' in the Rain" at the Fox Theatre, a show that packed the house and reminded our community what's possible when students, teachers, staff, and volunteers come together.
Longtime Riverside resident Mark Balys wrote to us about the experience:
"With all the domestic and international turmoil that we are exposed to on a daily basis I had the exceptional opportunity to attend the Riverside Unified School District/ Honors Musical presentation of "Singing in the Rain" at the Riverside Fox Theatre. This presentation included students from all RUSD High Schools and an orchestra of student musicians. Applause and kudos must be given to all the students, staff, teachers, and volunteers for the many hours that were necessary to achieve such an outstanding show. The Fox Theatre was packed to capacity.
While we hear of the many problems that exist with our youth, as a long-time resident of the City of Riverside it made me proud to know that there is hope for a better future. The young people that participated in this effort reminded me of this."
We couldn't agree more. Read the full story in today's edition, and if you have news tips, events, or stories that celebrate our community, send them to newsroom@raincrossgazette.com.
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Thank you to the Subscribers who became paid supporters this week: Linae DiGangi, Carol Hicks, Nathaniel M Olivas, John Sommerhauser and Andrew Villalobos. Your ongoing financial support is vital to our success in serving Riverside with the news it deserves!
Riverside's longest-serving fire chief modernized the department, survived smoke inhalation and a bicycle crash, and never asked his men to face dangers he wouldn't confront himself.
Postcard of the Fire Station at Eighth and Lime Bell on Tower is on the roof in upper right. (Author's Collection)
Ding dong bell! Ding dong bell!List to the call of the old fire bell.Heed it well! Heed it well!Joe's off to the fire in mad pell-mell. -Joseph Schneider – Fireman Extraordinary
This short poem appeared in the January 5, 1921, issue of the Riverside Daily Press, calling attention to Riverside Fire Chief Joseph Schneider, who served the city fire department for 46 years, the longest tenure in the history of the Riverside Fire Department.
Joseph Schneider was born on March 7, 1863, in Sainte Marie, a small village in southeastern Illinois. At the age of 13, he left school and went to work in trades such as farming and railroading. In 1886, young Joseph came West, settling in Riverside with one year in Perris. He worked in various grocery stores, including the Blue Front, J. R. Newberry, and Witherspoon Grocery. On Nov. 4, 1890, he married Nettie Jackson, who had moved to Riverside from Canada. The couple had two daughters – Rena and Muriel.
While still in the grocery trade, in 1888, just two years after arriving in the city, he became a volunteer or "call man" for the Riverside Fire Department, the start of his 46 years of service. Leaving the grocery business in 1898, Schneider was appointed constable for Riverside Township, a post he held for several years.
RUSD Honors Musical Brings Students Together Under the Spotlight
High schoolers from across the district transform from strangers to collaborators through months of rehearsals, gaining professional theater experience and life skills that extend far beyond the stage.
Rowan Gilstrap, a senior at Martin Luther King High School who plays Don Lockwood, performing his solo song "Singing in the Rain". (David Fouts)
Riverside Unified's Honors Musical program connects 36 students from different high schools with professional theater crews—and some are landing paying jobs.
Why it matters: High schoolers aren't just performing—they're getting hands-on training from Live Nation stagehands, lighting designers, and vocal coaches at the Fox Theater, building skills that translate directly into entertainment industry careers.
The big picture: The program launched to unite RUSD students across campuses while partnering with local arts organizations like the Fox Riverside Theater Foundation.
Students work alongside professionals throughout the entire production process, learning everything from lighting design to stage management.
What's new: Christopher Guzman, 18, started in the program at Matthew Gage Middle School and was hired by Live Nation while still in high school.
He's now preparing to join IATSE, the union representing professional stagehands.
What they're saying: "We're going to be working with people that we meet for the first time when we walk in the doors on the first day," said Caden Schive, a North High junior who played Cosmo Brown. "I think it's really important that we do that now."
By the numbers: The latest production featured 36 students from across RUSD performing "Singing In the Rain."
The bottom line: Students balance homework and rehearsals, but leave with professional experience that opens doors to entertainment careers—not just applause.
Civil Rights Institute Opens LGBTQ+ History Exhibition
"Out in the I.E." traces decades of activism, community care and cultural impact across the Inland Empire.
Dr. Audrey Maier (right) and co-curator Jill Surdzial address attendees at Thursday's opening celebration for "Out in the I.E." at the Civil Rights Institute. (Isabelle Lopez)
"Out in the I.E." documents six decades of LGBTQ+ contributions across Riverside and San Bernardino counties through 46 oral histories and 1,500 square feet of artifacts.
Why it matters: The exhibition preserves stories from the region's LGBTQ+ elders—including AIDS crisis experiences and early organizing efforts—before they're lost, while showing young people they're part of a long local legacy.
What's on display: Ten themes spanning art, AIDS, political representation, student movements, drag culture, faith communities and queer futures.
Curators conducted 46 oral history interviews (about 3 hours each) now available through the institute's digital archive by month's end.
What they're saying: "Memory is holy work because when a people's story is preserved, it's not just information, it's affirmation, it's evidence, it's survival," said Bishop Benita Ramsey, who served on the advisory committee.
Driving the news: Thursday's opening packed the Bank of America Diversity Center with overflow crowds, drawing State Sen. Sabrina Cervantes, Redlands Councilmember Denise Davis, and other elected officials.
The California State Library funded the project with a January 2025 grant.
By the numbers: The exhibition expands from a June 2024 Pride Month pop-up focused on Riverside's LGBTQ+ Historic Context Statement.
What's next: The exhibition runs through June 30. Visit free Wednesday-Friday, noon-5 p.m. at 3933 Mission Inn Ave., Suite 103. Book group tours at inlandcivilrights.org.
A prompt to encourage your practice of creativity this week from Riversider and local author Larry Burns.
Greetings, fellow humans. It’s great to be back after a short winter nap; I firmly This week’s creative nudge comes from the soft underbelly of domestic life: dust bunnies. I love that we call them that. Not dust clumps. Not lint aggregations. Bunnies. As if our own little tumbleweeds of hair and fiber are breeding quietly behind the couch, waiting for dusk. The name alone suggests movement, intention, maybe even a family structure. We don’t admit, “I have a dust problem.” We say, “The dust bunnies are back,” like they’ve been out foraging and avoiding predators while we slept.
The 31st Annual MLK Walk-A-Thon on Monday honors Dr. King's legacy with registration at 7:30 a.m. and the walk starting at 10 a.m. from Stratton Community Center to Riverside Main Library, organized by the Riverside African American Historical Society.
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