March 7 Daily Briefing: ‘Laundry Love,’ LGBTQ+ monument support, teachers honored, and more

TGIF, everyone, where we’re not really looking forward to the weekend for a change. That’s because come Monday morning, we’re all going to be a bit more tired. If you haven’t heard, we need to “Spring forward” and move our clocks ahead one hour early Sunday morning, or as we’re going to bed Saturday evening, or on Monday morning when we glance down at the clock in our car and realize something is wrong. We’ll spare you the usual complaint we offer in this space about why continuing to practice Daylight Saving Time is a pain. If you want to explore that topic, turn here.    

🎶 Setting the mood: “Last Nite” by The Strokes

LEADING OFF

Laundry Love project provides clean clothes, dignity

Mike Mullins’ Episcopal deacon training led him to establish a Laundry Love chapter in Palm Springs, providing free laundry services to low-income and unhoused residents. The initiative, which serves 40-50 people monthly at Wash Time Coin Laundry, emphasizes building relationships over charity.

Driving the news: The program, held on the third Wednesday of each month from 6 p.m. until 10 p.m. at Wash Time Coin Laundry in Palm Springs, allows participants to wash up to nine loads of laundry free of charge while volunteers manage the logistics.

• Each event uses approximately $500 worth of quarters, which Mullins fundraises from the community.

Why it matters: Clean clothes are essential for social integration, employment opportunities, and basic dignity, Mullins explained.

• “If you don’t have clean clothes, it’s impossible [to get a job], and it’s socially almost impossible for people that don’t have these basic tools that we take for granted,” he said.

Behind the scenes: A volunteer team took over operations from Mullins in January, with co-organizers Megan Goehring and Ray Tackett describing the fast-paced environment as “a beautiful mess.”

• Volunteers come from various organizations including local churches, Cal State University’s nursing program, and Palm Springs High School.

Success stories: Three former laundry recipients have become volunteers themselves, including Juan Carlos Sanchez, who was previously unhoused.

• “I now have an awesome place to live. I’m set because of what they taught me. So now it’s my mission to give all that network and all that information to them as well,” Sanchez said.

What’s next: The group plans to launch a second monthly event for those unable to attend evening sessions, with details forthcoming.

• You can contribute to the cause by going online and selecting Laundry Love in the “Fund” drop-down on this page.

Read Maggie Miles’ complete story online

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BRIEFLY

🏳️‍🌈 Monument one step closer to reality

The Palm Springs Public Arts Commission has approved $70,000 for a portion of an LGBTQ+ monument to be placed in Frances Stevens Park at the corner of Indian Canyon Drive and East Alejo Road.

• Greater Palm Springs Pride, which is donating the artwork to the city, estimates the total cost to be around $500,000. The $70,000 from the commission will go toward installation costs like off-site assembly, the foundation, hardware, and other elements. Local artist Jim Isermann is designing the piece.
  
• During a special session Thursday evening, commissioners reviewed and approved the budget and digital content plans for the monument, which had been conditionally approved in a previous meeting. The approval comes with conditions over the digital component of the piece.
  
• What’s next: As the project progresses, the city attorney must approve parts of the digital content. More details about maintenance and stewardship will also be addressed.

🏭 Environmental group takes aim at warehouse project

A Southern California organization that litigates environmental and land use issues has set its sights on Palm Springs, filing a court petition over a planned warehouse in the city’s northern part.

• The petition, filed in February by Advocates for the Environment, comes after the Palm Springs City Council approved the project despite objections from some residents. It also names the project’s developer, PS Canyon Development LLC.
  
• “Our lawsuit basically says the city of Palm Springs should require full mitigation of this project’s greenhouse gases and it’s not,” Dean Wallraff, executive director of the organization, told The Desert Sun. The 739,360-square-foot warehouse is expected to generate about 9,438.5 metric tons of carbon dioxide and equivalent greenhouse gases annually.
  
• Bottom line: The advocacy group, as it has in several similar filings, argues that the developer could purchase carbon offsets to reduce the project’s overall carbon footprint. A city spokesperson told the newspaper that officials are confident in the environmental review process the project went through.

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YOUR WEEKEND

MULTIPLE DAYS

• Desert X starts Saturday and runs through May 10.
  
• “Grand Concourse” at Dezart Performs runs all weekend. ($53)
  
• “Jesus Christ Superstar” at CV Repertory at 7 p.m. ($90)

TODAY

• “Proof Sheet” neo-noir film screening at the Cultural Center at 2:30 p.m. ($25)
  
• Foodie Fridays at the Cultural Center from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m.
  
• TGIF Trivia at Play Lounge & Cafe at 6:30 p.m.
  
• Glenn Miller Orchestra at the Cultural Center at 7 p.m. ($54)
  
• An Evening of Dance with Nickerson-Rossi at the Palm Springs Art Museum at 7 p.m. ($65)
  
• Comedy Night at Hotel Zoso at 8 p.m. ($15)

SATURDAY

• Richard M. Milanovich Legacy Hike and 5K Run at Indian Canyons. Check-in starts at 6:30 a.m. ($12) 
  
• Certified Farmers’ Market at the Cultural Center from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m.
  
• International Women’s Day Protest & Rally at the Downtown Park at 10 a.m.
  
• Rotary Club of Palm Springs Sunup blood drive at Double Tree in Palm Springs at 10 a.m.
  
• A Night at the Chi-Chi Fundraiser for Palm Springs Gay Men’s Chorus at PS Underground. ($150)
  
• Country Western Dancing at 7 p.m. ($5)

SUNDAY

• That’s Amore: An Italian Musical Feast at PS Underground at 4 p.m. ($150)

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AND FINALLY …

We close the week with more good news to report for two of our city’s many amazing educators — they’ve been honored again!

Looking back: Last month, we told you that Cahuilla Elementary transitional kindergarten teacher Kate Ambrose and Katherine Finchy Elementary STEAM teacher Evan Boomer (pictured above holding potted plants) were among the dozens of educators honored by The Palm Springs Unified School District (PSUSD) with Teacher of the Year awards.

• During district officials ‘ site visits, seven teachers from Palm Springs schools were named teachers of the year at their respective schools.  

Driving the news: Those officials were back to visit both Ambrose and Boomer this week to let them know they are two of the three PSUSD site Teachers of the Year selected as District Teachers of the Year.

• They are now vying for Riverside County Teacher of the Year honors.

Looking ahead: The countywide award will be handed out later this year. The winner of that recognition goes on to be considered for statewide recognition.

• Four years ago, Nichi Aviña, a science teacher at Cielo Vista Charter School in Palm Springs, was named one of the California State Teachers of the Year.