Wednesday Gazette: September 23, 2026
Hello Riverside, and Happy Wednesday! Today is Za'atar Day, a nod to the tangy, herby spice blend that's a pantry staple across the Middle East. Traditionally made from dried thyme, sumac, toasted sesame seeds, and salt, za'atar gets sprinkled over flatbread, stirred into olive oil for dipping, or spooned over hummus and labneh. Want to make your own? Toast two tablespoons of sesame seeds in a dry pan until golden, then stir in a quarter cup of dried thyme, two tablespoons of ground sumac, and a teaspoon of salt. Store it in a sealed jar, and mix with olive oil whenever you're ready to use it.
Here's what is happening around town:
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CITY HALL
Nichols Park Center Could Triple in Size, Add Emergency Shelter and Deaf Cultural Space
The Park and Recreation Commission reviewed the expanded concept Monday, but how much gets built depends on grants the city has yet to win.
Riverside advanced plans for a bigger Nichols Park Community Center, but funding for the $30 million project remains uncertain.
Why it matters: If you use the Nichols Park center for classes or basketball, an expanded version could add a gym, adaptive sports space and emergency shelter — but the city still needs $18.5 million in grants to build it.
Driving the news: The Park and Recreation Commission voted unanimously Monday to receive and file an update on the proposal — a procedural step, not construction approval.
- Staff are seeking $18.5 million in grants toward a project now estimated to cost up to $30 million.
What's new: The concept calls for a building up to 30,000 square feet — triple the size of the 1977 center — with a gym, adaptive sports space and a Deaf Cultural Center featuring a 99-seat theater.
- The building would also serve as emergency shelter during extreme heat, wildfire smoke and power outages.
By the numbers: The city plans to seek $10 million through a state Community Resilience Center grant this month and $8.5 million through a Statewide Parks Program grant in December.
- Neither grant requires matching funds, according to the staff report.
What they're saying: Commissioner Thomas Forbes said crowded rooms and rising temperatures have driven her from classes at the current center.
- "The need is paramount," Forbes said, urging fellow commissioners to visit the park.
Yes, but: Commissioner Kevin Dawson questioned the cost and the process, saying the larger plan should have gone to the commission before the City Council's Sept. 15 grant action.
- "Show me the numbers," Dawson said, pressing staff on rising operating and maintenance costs.
What's next: Staff will bring updated plans and funding details back to the commission, with the City Council making the final call on what gets built.
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COMMUNITY
Zonta Club Volunteers Pack Care Bags for Meals on Wheels Seniors
The Riverside service organization filled the bags with personal care items and notes of encouragement for homebound residents.
Zonta Club of Riverside paired Meals on Wheels deliveries with personal care items and notes for isolated seniors.
Why it matters: Homebound Meals on Wheels recipients now get more than food — care bags add a personal touch meant to ease isolation.
What's new: Members gathered at La Sierra Community Room on Sept. 19 to assemble the bags for local Meals on Wheels recipients.
What they're saying: Debbie Waltzer, Zonta Club of Riverside president, said the effort lets recipients know "they are valued and remembered."
What's next: The club's next meeting is Oct. 24 at 1 p.m. at the SSgt. Salvador J. Lara Casa Blanca Library, where members will assemble Zonta Birthing Kits for underserved women abroad.
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What's Happening in Riverside
Today
- Riverside East Rotary Club at Civil Rights Institute of Inland Southern
- Stretch & Dance Class at Janet Goeske Senior Center
- Riverside Mission Belles at Victoria Presbyterian Church ($25)
- FREE YOGA - Seated Yoga with Kristin Varner at All Saints Episcopal Church
- History on the Rocks - Round Two! Presented by The Mission Inn Foundation at Mission Inn Foundation ($71.21)
- Rayland Baxter :: Farm House Collective at Farm House Collective
- FREE Beginning Square Dance Lessons with Line Dancing at Cowtown Square Dance Center
- Riverside Jams at Carbon Nation Brewery
- Riverside City Council Candidate Forum: Values and Vision for tour Future at Temple Beth El
Tomorrow
- Where are Riverside County's Ballots and How Secure Are Its Elections? at The Cheech Marin Center
- Bluey's Big Play at Fox Performing Arts Center
- DIY Bird Seed Feeders at Marcy Library
- Financial Aid Fall Refunds Disbursed at University of California, Riverside
- The Front Bottoms - 11 Years of Back On Top at Riverside Municipal Auditorium
- History on the Rocks! Presented by The Mission Inn Foundation at Mission Inn Foundation ($71.21)
- Remnants of a Century-Old Japantown: Historic Wintersburg, Huntington Beach at Riverside Main Library
Save the Date
- Sep 25: FREE YOGA - The Evolution of Ashtanga with Kristin Varner at Community Yoga Center
- Sep 25: Moon Festival at Heritage House
- Sep 25: Riverside Sunrise Rotary Club Meeting at Zacatecas Café
- Sep 26: FREE YOGA - The Art of Vinyasa with Catherine Murray at Community Yoga Center
- Sep 26: FREE YOGA - Yin Yoga with Kristin Varner at Community Yoga Center
- Sep 28: FREE YOGA - Moody Mondays with Cherie Amour at Community Yoga Center
- Sep 30: FREE YOGA - Seated Yoga with Kristin Varner at All Saints Episcopal Church
- Oct 3: Aquamotion Aquathon at Shamel Pool
- Oct 4: Riverside Historical Society Local History Book Fair at Villegas Community Center
- Oct 7: Fifty & Better Health Fair at Janet Goeske Center
- Oct 17: Spooky Music Organ Concert at First Congregational Church of Riverside ($30.00)
- Oct 22: Experience RUSD, Riverside Unified State of the District at Riverside Municipal Airport
- Oct 24: Vintage Car and Warbird Show at Riverside Airport - Commemorative Air Force Hanger and Museum
- Nov 14: Riverside Veterans Parade - Downtown Riverside/Market St.
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