September 4 Daily Briefing: Historic status recommendation, COD listening sessions, and more

Happy Wednesday! While it might not seem like it’s ever going to happen, rainy season will eventually get here, and with it will be road closures at the various washes both during and after flood waters pass through. Although it took most motorists by surprise (and wasn’t announced via text like similar events), pre-planning for the rains was the reason there was a closure of East Vista Chino at the wash yesterday. The city announced it had to close the roadway as it conducted grading and sand drift repositioning. The road was back open later in the day and should remain open today. Still, you might want to check the city government’s Facebook page here for any status updates before heading out in that direction.

🎶 Setting the mood: “Changes” by David Bowie

LEADING OFF

Financial district landmark recommended for historic status

The Palm Springs Historic Site Preservation Board voted Tuesday to recommend the former Merrill Lynch Building for designation as a Class 1 Historic Resource, potentially adding another landmark to the city’s collection of mid-century modern architecture.

Why it matters: The 1971 structure at 415 South Palm Canyon Drive, designed by master architect Donald Wexler, currently houses and Eisenhower Health location, and is considered an exceptional example of New Formalist style architecture.

Zoom in: City staff said The structure meets the criteria for historic designation based on its reflection of a particular period of local history and its association with a master architect.

• Examples of New Formalism are rare in Palm Springs, the report states, making this building particularly significant.

Looking back: In 2014, the building underwent a significant restoration and adaptive reuse, becoming Eisenhower Health’s Palm Springs clinic. Wexler was involved in the restoration process.

• “Don was so humble, but so pleased with what was happening to the building,” said Sidney Williams, former curator of architecture and design at the Palm Springs Art Museum, who was quoted in the nearly 60-page nomination application prepared by Steven Keylon for the Palm Springs Preservation Foundation.

What’s next: If approved by the City Council at a later date, the Merrill Lynch Building will join more than 100 other Class 1 Historic Sites in Palm Springs.

Dive deeper with our complete story.

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BRIEFLY

🎓 COD listening sessions kick off today

The recruitment process for the next superintendent/president of College of the Desert (COD) is underway, and listening sessions planned this week will help the firm working on recruitment refine key themes for the leadership profile.

• Online listening sessions are planned for today (Wednesday) and tomorrow (Thursday) and an online survey to gather community feedback is ongoing. A schedule for the feedback sessions is available online here, and the survey can be taken here.
  
  
• COD aims to appoint its next leader by February 2025, following a timeline recently approved by the board of trustees. The search, led by AGB Search, includes a 20-member committee and stakeholder input sessions. Laura Hope, the current interim superintendent/president, intends to apply for the permanent position. 
  
  
• Bottom line: The search coincides with COD’s efforts to boost enrollment amid state budget deficits. The college risks losing $4.4 million if enrollment targets aren’t met by the end of the academic year.

🏈 PSHS back home for Friday game

Palm Springs High School’s varsity football team will play their first official home game of the season this Friday at 7 p.m. against Eisenhower High School at Ralph Watt Stadium.

• The stadium reopened this week after a two-week closure due to significant damage caused by a main water break. 
  
  
• The district is ahead of schedule in reopening the stadium, having originally hoped to be back home by Sept. 19.
  
  
• Bottom line: The Indians are 1-1 on the season, coming off a 33-21 win over Grand Terrace at Rancho Mirage High School’s stadium last week.

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TODAY’S FEATURED EVENTS

Sunshine Sisters Breakfast
7 a.m. | Rick’s
Join other members of the Palm Springs-based organization this morning for breakfast. Learn how to join the organization here on Meetup.

COD Listening Sessions
9 a.m. until 5 p.m. | Virtual
Members of the community, organizations, staff and students are invited to weigh in on the selection of a new superintendent/president for College of the Desert at multiple one-hour sessions. Check the Zoom schedule here.

Pet Bereavement Support Group
10 a.m. | Animal Shelter
Sammy’s Circle is a safe place to grieve and to share the stories of our beloved pets, both those who have recently left us, as well as those whose memories have long lingered in our hearts.

Library Board
5:30 p.m. | City Hall
The Board meets on the first Wednesday of each month at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall in The Large Conference Room (unless otherwise noted).

LOOKING AHEAD

• PSUSD Diversity & Racial Equity Conference at the Palm Springs Convention Center on Saturday.
  
  
• Palm Springs Genealogical Society meets on Saturday and monthly after then.
  
  
• Cat Show at the Palm Springs Convention Center on Sept. 14.
  
  
• Audition for the Modern Men Chorus on Sept. 9 and Sept. 14 at United Methodist Church of Palm Springs.
  
  
• Business Expo & Taste of Palm Springs at Indian Canyons Golf Resort on Sept. 18.
  
  
• Healthy Desert, Healthy You summit on Sept. 20 and 21.
  
  
• Evening Under The Stars benefit for AAP – Food Samaritans on Oct. 13.
  
  
• Pride on the Page Book Festival on Oct. 20.
  
  
• Palm Springs Speaks first speaker appears in town on Oct. 22.

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AND FINALLY …

🐾 Each week, The Post partners with a local animal shelter to feature one or more of the many animal companions ready for a new home in our community. 

Today we invite you to meet Anabel, a 1-year-old domestic mix cat available for adoption at the Palm Springs Animal Shelter.

• Staff at the shelter say she loves playing and snuggling, and will give you a head butt to say hello when you meet her.
  
  
• She is not fond of other cats, however, so she will need to be the only one in your home.

If you’re interested: You can visit the shelter at 4575 E. Mesquite Ave. Hours are 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. on all days except for Mondays (open for intake only) and Thursdays (1 p.m. until 7 p.m.). You can always call the shelter at (760) 416-5718.

• Make sure to check out all the other pets at the shelter here. And, you can get a jump start on adoption by completing the form here.