July 22 Daily Briefing: Big bloom surprises staff, Prescott Preserve on agenda, Loco Charlies mystery, and more

Welcome to Monday, everyone. If you didn’t see our special Friday evening email in your inbox or our story online about alleged wrongdoing with $700,000 in taxpayer funds, we’d encourage you to read it now. We won’t be rehashing it in this morning’s newsletter, but we don’t consider it “old news.” We will continue to inform you of the latest developments, including those that other media might report as they catch up to us. Please know that we get no joy in bringing you bad news, but it’s sometimes important that we do. We also truly appreciate everyone who has thanked us for our reporting and would like to remind you that our work directly results from your ongoing encouragement and support.

🎶 Setting the mood: “The Bare Necessities” by Phil Harris, Bruce Reitherman

LEADING OFF

Desert miracle? Plant in city library blooms for first time in 50 years

A Monstera Deliciosa plant at the Palm Springs Public Library has flowered for the first time in nearly five decades, surprising and delighting staff and visitors alike.

Driving the news: The plant, believed to have been in the library since 1975, has produced its first flower after overcoming a recent bout with scale disease.

• The Monstera, also known as the fruit salad plant, produces a fruit that tastes like a combination of apples, mangoes, bananas, and pineapple when ripe.

What happened: Library officials said the rare event followed a recent setback when the plant was infected with scale disease, forcing librarians to prune it extensively.

• “Now that it’s grown back in, it looks healthier than ever,” said Madison Maler, a reference librarian, “and I kind of think that’s what it ended up needing because now it’s given us that flower.”

Looking back: The library’s Monstera has adapted to significant changes over the years. In the early 2000s, the library converted its pond into a self-sustaining ecosystem with koi fish and other plants.

Details: If you’d like to visit the plant (and the library), it’s located at 300 South Sunrise Way. To learn more about the Monstera Deliciosa Fruit, including how to attempt to grow and harvest your own, visit this page.

Dive deeper with Henry Braun’s complete story here.

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BRIEFLY

🌵 Prescott Preserve project on upcoming Planning Commission agenda

The Palm Springs Planning Commission is set to review an amendment to city rules next week that would advance a plan to restore a former golf course to native desert habitat. The project, proposed by the Oswit Land Trust (OLT), aims to convert 90 acres of the former Mesquite Golf and Country Club into the Prescott Preserve.

• The project has faced challenges, including pushback from nearby homeowners, delays in grant funding, and unauthorized activities by OLT. A lawsuit filed by homeowners claims the property cannot be redeveloped without prior approval from the homeowners’ association.
  
  
• If approved, the restoration would establish various desert habitats and preserve existing ponds and trails. Full-time rangers would be employed to address security concerns, and trails would remain open to the public.

Bottom line: The Planning Commission’s decision could resolve code enforcement issues and move the project forward. OLT would have two years to begin work, potentially allowing time to resolve the ongoing lawsuit and secure necessary funding.

Dive deeper with our complete story here.

☀️ Local solar company furloughs employees amid partner’s collapse

Renova Energy, a Coachella Valley-based solar panel installation company, is furloughing its employees for at least three weeks due to a cashflow crisis caused by its partner and major investor, SunPower. 

• CEO Vincent J. Battaglia informed current customers of the decision in an email Friday. He said SunPower failed to make a payment owed to Renova Energy.
  
  
• SunPower, which had invested in Renova Energy in 2022, is facing its own crises, including plummeting sales and an SEC subpoena. The company is undergoing restructuring and may eventually be delisted from the stock exchange.

Next steps: Battaglia plans to seek other investors to ensure the company is no longer dependent on SunPower. He hopes to bring back 60 or 70 of the company’s 350 employees by September and gradually increase the numbers.

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TODAY’S FEATURED EVENTS

City of Palm Springs Parking Community Meeting
7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. | City Hall
The city is inviting business owners, employees, and interested community members to a conversation about parking in Downtown Palm Springs. There is an opportunity to attend in the morning at 7:30 a.m. and one in the evening at 5:30 p.m.

Open Play Bridge
9 a.m. | The Center
Come have some fun and enjoy playing Bridge in a casual and safe environment.

Monday Men’s Coffee
5 p.m. | Play Lounge PS
Come have coffee and chat with other men about issues that are on your mind. No RSVP required — just drop in!

Therapy in Motion
5:15 p.m. | Scott Hines Behavioral Health Clinic
Therapy in Motion is a fun, energetic, and affirming dance class for anyone who wants to move. Dance at your own pace to choreographed pop music and cultivate self-care and wellness in a fun way. Dress to sweat!

Parks and Recreation Commission
5:30 p.m. | City Hall
According to the agenda, commissioners will consider playground equipment for Ruth Hardy Park and hear updates on the Demuth Park project.

Adult Tap Dance Class
6:30 p.m. | Leisure Center Dance Studio
Adult intermediate tap starts at 6:30 p.m., and “absolute beginners” adult tap is at 7:30 p.m. (“Two left feet are optional.”) ($20)

Fabulous Bingo
7 p.m. | Kings Highway at Ace Hotel
Join Bella Da Ball for a night of fabulous bingo. (Must spend $30 at Kings Highway to participate.)

SAVE THE DATE

• Craft Beer Fest at the Ace Hotel & Swim Club on Saturday.
  
  
• Merienda Filipino Halo-Halo workshop at Play Lounge & Cafe on July 28.
  
  
• Mrs. Frisky’s Cats & Eccles Cakes Night at Frisky Business Cat Cafe on Aug. 2.
  
  
• Summer Sunday: Weaving Patterns at the Agua Caliente Cultural Museum on Aug. 4.
  
  
• The Great Catsby Book Club at Frisky Business on Aug. 8.

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AND FINALLY …

Over the years, customers of Loco Charlies Mexican Grill off North Sunrise Way have not only been able to enjoy delicious food (as one of our waistlines can attest), but also find themselves surrounded by a delightful motif. But now we’ve learned there might be something sinister afoot (cue late-night mystery music)!

Driving the news: Adorning every wall of the eatery is a whimsical design that features multiple chili peppers enjoying the beauty of our local desert. Each of the cartoon characters wears a sombrero with the name of an employee written in cursive on the brim.

• Throughout the establishment you’re introduced to “Loco Aldo,” “Loco Michella,” “Loco Mauro,” and of course, “Loco Charlie” himself.

Yes, but: On two recent visits, we noticed the red pepper on the north wall no longer had a name. So we asked our favorite employee, Nora, “What gives?” It turns out there’s a reason, and that the poor little pepper might be a bit of a voodoo doll.

• Nora informed us that “the last three or four” employees whose names were written on the pepper’s brim were eventually let go. So, it was decided to just leave that space blank.

But wait: If you enjoy the art on the restaurant’s wall, you can thank artist Marisol Gomez. Take a look at her other work on her Instagram page here.