Oct. 3 Daily Briefing: Roadway reopens, CARE Court starts, Spencer’s special visitors, and more

🌴Happy Tuesday! Even though the temps are cooling down a bit from the ferocious summer heat, it can still get toasty if you’re not in the shade. A new Los Angeles Times article dives deep into the issue of shade, particularly the lack of shade from palm trees. While we love our picturesque palms, the spindly species doesn’t provide much shade relief. Still, some cities want to change that. Could Palm Springs be one of them? Councilmember Christy Holstege posted on social media yesterday that the city is “starting to work on this.”

🎶 Setting the mood: Pink + White by Frank Ocean

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LEADING OFF

Indian Canyon Drive opens ahead of schedule

North Indian Canyon Drive through the wash has now partially reopened as of Monday afternoon.

Driving the news: City officials announced street crews were able to open two newly constructed temporary lanes along North Indian Canyon Drive at the wash, once again opening a crucial path into the city and Desert Regional Medical Center.

• A new four-way stop has also been installed at Palm Springs Station Road and North Indian Canyon Drive. Motorists are advised to use caution when crossing the construction zone.

Looking back: Tropical Storm Hilary laid waste to Indian Canyon and several other streets throughout the Coachella Valley. Most other roads had opened, except for this one.

• The reopening comes ahead of schedule. As of late August, city officials predicted it could close well into October. 

Background: It’s no surprise the road was damaged during the storm. It’s frequently closed when there’s rain or wind. But this time, it closed for several weeks because four feet of mud needed to be removed to rebuild the street.

• Utility lines and fiber optic cables also needed to be repaired, further delaying reopening.

Zoom out: The latest closure highlights the need for state money to help fund a pre-fabricated bridge for $75 million that can be installed over the road. At the most recent Palm Springs City Council meeting, councilmembers and staff said they have had discussions with the governor’s staff to keep the issue at the top of their minds.

• “I want to say that they were extremely receptive,” Councilmember Lisa Middleton said of the city’s request for $50 million in state funding.
• The rest of the money would come from the other nine valley cities that comprise the Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG).

What to watch for: Middleton also mentioned that the city has met with Rep. Ken Calvert to look into the opportunity for federal funding for another solution on Gene Autry Trail.

• She wanted to remind residents that the city has secured federal funding for a project on Vista Chino, but it has yet to start.

Bottom line: “A big thank you to our street crews for their hard work and ingenuity making this happen,” said City Manager Scott Stiles of the Monday opening. “I am extremely proud of this incredibly dedicated team for putting in the hours and going the extra mile.”

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BRIEFLY

🧑‍⚖️CARE Court begins in county

Riverside County became one of the first in the state to launch a program designed to take advantage of a new California law addressing untreated mental health disorders on Monday. 

• The Community Assistance, Recovery and Empowerment (CARE) Act, signed into law in 2022, allows family members, first responders, and others to petition for a court-mandated mental health treatment plan for individuals with certain disorders.
  
  
• Among those the CARE Court program could help are unhoused residents, including hundreds in Palm Springs who live outside. 
  
  
• Bottom line: Last year, we reported that the county had concerns about meeting the demand. But court officials told The Desert Sun recently they’ve spent the last year preparing and are ready for the court petitions.

❤️District offers support after unexpected death

The Palm Springs Unified School District (PSUSD) shared news recently of an online fundraiser to support the family of Ana Castillo, a Head Start teacher who passed away last week.

• The fundraiser is seeking $15,000 to cover funeral expenses and to fly out family members from Mexico.
  
  
• Castillo was described as a dedicated teacher who was pursuing her master’s degree and had a strong connection with the children and families she worked with.

Details: As of Monday evening, the GoFundMe had raised just over $7,000.

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TODAY’S EVENTS

So You Want to Write?
3 p.m. | Palm Springs Public Library
Register online for the free event hosted by the Palm Springs Writers Guild. The lecture will focus on how to get started, what to expect when dealing with agents and publishers, and much more. 

HIV/AIDS Survivors Roundtable
4 p.m. | Online
A weekly discussion group for long-term HIV/AIDS survivors in the Coachella Valley.

National Night Out
5:30 p.m. | Palm Springs Stadium
The Palm Springs Police Department (PSPD) hosts this family-friendly event and community safety fair every year. In addition to a police K-9 and information on safety, there will also be face painting, games, and free food.

HIV+Aging Positive Life Series
6 p.m. | Cultural Center
This month’s talk, with Jim Osburn from Thera Technologies, is about med resistance and HIV.

PS Rewinds: “An American Werewolf in London”
7 p.m. | The Palm Springs Cultural Center 
Every Tuesday in October, the PSCC is bringing you a classic horror flick to get you in the mood for spooky season! ($12)

Tiki & Trivia Tuesdays
8 p.m. | Quadz
Tiki-themed cocktails will accompany this fun night of trivia hosted by Aunt Lyla.

SAVE THE DATE

• Coachella Valley Filipino Festival  at the Cultural Center on Oct. 8.
  
  
• Lesley Zerebny Memorial Softball Game at Big League Dreams on Oct. 14.
  
  
• Evening Under The Stars benefitting AAP – Food Samaritans on Oct. 14 ($200)
  
  
• Modernism Week October  from Oct. 19-22.
  
  
• Center Stage 2023 benefitting The Center on Oct. 20 ($350)
  
  
• Human Rights Campaign  PS Garden Party on Nov. 4 ($175)
  

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AND FINALLY …

🐏 Diners at Spencer’s Restaurant were treated to the view of some desert wildlife last week.

Driving the news: Julieta, a manager at the restaurant, snapped this picture on Thursday. She said it’s unusual to see bighorn sheep in that location, and she’s seen about 20 adult sheep and lambs so far. 

What they’re saying: “They were really close,” Julieta said. “That upper lawn is where we have our weddings.”Bottom line: Since then, no additional sightings of the majestic creatures have been reported. But customers and staff will definitely be paying closer attention to the mountainside!