April 9 Daily Briefing: ‘Pillars’ installation begins, animal shelter’s next move, celebrating Library Week, and more

Happy Tuesday, everyone, where we’d like to take a moment to thank all the library workers in our community on National Library Worker Day, which falls on the second day of National Library Week (📚 🥳). We’d need multiple newsletters to tell you all about the fantastic programs available through our city’s library, so we invite you to dive in on those here. One event we’re particularly keen on this week is an exploration of libraries in film and TV, presented tomorrow at the main library at 6 p.m. by Deserted Films. Go check it out!

🎶 Setting the mood: “Blinded By The Light” by Bruce Springsteen (as suggested by a reader after yesterday’s solar eclipse)

LEADING OFF

Pillars art installation to welcome visitors to Palm Springs this week

The Pillars of Palm Springs art installation is scheduled to be installed this week. Here’s what you need to know.

Driving the news: Six new sculptures are coming to the median on East Tahquitz Canyon Way between Sunrise Way and El Cielo Road, replacing “The Art of Taming Horses” sculpture put in place during Desert X in 2021.

How we got here: The $300,000 pillars project was approved by the City Council one year ago and the installation of the pillars this week coincides with World Art Day on April 15.

Why it matters: The idea behind the art pieces is to welcome visitors to Palm Springs as they drive into the heart of the city from the airport. Each of the six pillars represent one of six principles that guide the city: creativity, equality, serenity, diversity, civility, and community.

Dive deeper: Four of the six artists are from the Palm Springs area. The pillars are between six and 12 feet tall.

The layout: The cactus sculpture representing creativity will be installed closest to sunrise, and the equality sculpture with the rainbow light rods will be installed right outside city hall.

What they’re saying: Public Art Commission Chair Gary Armstrong explained to the Human Rights Commission during Monday’s meeting, “The idea was that we want to tell people when they arrive in the Palm Springs from the airport these are the things that Palm Springs represents,” he said. “And as they’re leaving Palm Springs from the airport, you will see all these things that remind you of what you experienced in the city.”

Timeline: One of the pillars was already installed on Monday, and the rest will be installed on Wednesday, so expect traffic slowdowns along Tahquitz that day.

What to watch for: There will be a dedication ceremony for the new sculptures at City Hall on April 15 at 10 a.m., attended by commission members, city councilmembers, and other city officials.

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BRIEFLY

🐍 Palm Springs Animal Shelter to open Desert Wildlife Center in Indio

The Friends of the Palm Springs Animal Shelter announced Monday the planned opening of the Desert Wildlife Center in Indio, set for later this year.

• The organization secured a lease agreement with the Valley Sanitary District for the facility previously occupied by the Coachella Valley Wild Bird Center, which closed in the summer of 2023. 
  
  
• The center will initially focus on serving birds, with plans to expand its services to reptiles and mammals within the next two to four years.
  
  
• The Desert Wildlife Center also plans to provide educational programs to foster community advocacy for wildlife and habitat preservation.
  
  
• Bottom line: “With the increasing threats posed by human activity, including development and climate change, it’s more important than ever to provide a safe haven for our local wildlife,” said Tamara Hedges, a member of the FPSA Board of Directors.

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TODAY’S FEATURED EVENTS

Palm Springs Sunshine Sisters Coffee Meet-Up
8 a.m. | Koffi Central
Join the Sunshine Sisters for coffee and conversation at the Koffi on East Tahquitz Canyon Way.

Author Talk
6 p.m. | Palm Springs Public Library
Dr. Jason Powell, Director of Strings and Choirs at Palm Springs High School, will discuss his book “Red-Headed Stepchild.” 

Palm Springs Toastmasters
6 p.m. | Palm Springs Toastmasters Club
Learn to speak with confidence with the Palm Springs Toastmasters and practice with friends. Guests always welcome.

Board of Education
6 p.m. | District Headquarters
The Palm Springs Unified School District Board of Education holds a regular meeting this evening at 150 District Center Dr. An agenda can be found here.

SAVE THE DATE

• Drive the Plaza Theatre into the Future on April 19 at the Prescott Collection Hangar.
  
  
• Coachella Acappella performs at Palm Desert High School on April 20.
  
  
• Palm Springs Entertainment Convention on May 4 at the Palm Springs Convention Center.
  
  
• Desert Winds Freedom Band Concert on May 4 at Temple Isaiah.
  
  
• PSUSD Multicultural Festival on May 4 at the Palm Springs Air Museum.
  
  
• Palm Springs International ShortFest from June 18 -24.

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AND FINALLY …

As fire season nears, The Palm Springs Fire Department is reminding city residents to manage vegetation on their properties to reduce wildfire risks, particularly in high hazard zones.

At issue: By maintaining clearances and implementing special construction features, the likelihood of ignition can be significantly lowered, the department said in a recent social media post.

• The department’s mantra for residents is: “Clear Early, Clear Often.”

Zoom in: Residents in the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone (seen mostly along the western hillsides in this map) must adhere to the 2022 California Fire Code and the city’s vegetation management guideline. 

• This includes maintaining a clearance of 200 feet from structures or buildings and 10 feet from combustible fences or roadways.

Details: You can view the guidelines here, and also reach out to the Fire Department at 760-778-8434, or by emailing this address.