Aug. 6 Daily Briefing: New life for old plant, PSFD crews at Rosa Fire, popular venue relocating, and more

Welcome to Wednesday,  and welcome back to school for students and staff! Yes, it’s early August. And, yes, that seems like an odd time to start school for most of us. But starting in early August means getting out in early June, offering students a fighting chance against the “real” heat for much of summer. No matter when your school year was, today is a good day for motorists to be reminded that you should always pay extra close attention to your surroundings when near schools and neighborhoods. As for students: There’s only 138 days until winter break!

🎶 Setting the mood: “The Subway” by Chappell Roan

LEADING OFF

Librarian saves 50-year-old library plant through community clipping program

A 50-year-old Monstera plant at the Palm Springs Public Library is getting a second chance at life through a community-driven clipping distribution program. Reference librarian Madison Maler discovered the massive plant was severely infested with scale insects and has been giving away cuttings to preserve it during the library’s upcoming renovation.

Driving the news: Maler identified the infestation about a year ago after posting a photo to Reddit, where hundreds of users told her the plant was covered in millions of tiny bugs that were slowly killing it.

• The 15-foot-diameter plant may have been suffering from scale insects for years, with the bugs sucking moisture from leaves and gradually killing the plant.

What happened: Maler took matters into her own hands, donning her uncle’s waders and hopping into the pond to clean the leaves.

Why it matters: The plant sits at the center of a pond with koi fish, creating a self-sustaining ecosystem that has lasted decades. With the library’s upcoming 18-month, $42.5 million renovation Maler needed to find a new home for the giant plant.

The response: More than 100 people requested cuttings after Maler posted about the plant online, with interest extending from Florida to New York.

• Maler has given away over 60 cuttings in recent weeks, including 40 at the library’s going-away party three weeks ago.

What’s next: The library closes Friday and will operate from a temporary location, where a piece of the Monstera will continue growing.

• Maler is still seeking a home for the plant’s massive root ball system and plans to contact College of the Desert’s landscaping program this week.

What they’re saying: “Just thank you to everybody who loved this plant and who is so invested in making sure that it lives on,” Maler said. “The library is always going to have its koi, and it’s always going to have a lot of greenery.”

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BRIEFLY

🚒 Palm Springs firefighters among those battling Rosa Fire

Four Palm Springs firefighters have been sent to help battle the Rosa Fire with assignments that remained fluid as conditions change, according to a PSFD spokesperson. The firefighters and their apparatus were deployed to assist with the blaze off Highway 74, which as of this morning had burned approximately 1,658 acres and reached 15% containment.

• The department sent its specialized “brush one” vehicle designed for wildland firefighting operations that can navigate the rough mountainous terrain off Highway 74. The deployment comes as the department continues regular operations and has annual wildland fire safety training scheduled for the coming week.
  
• The latest: Evacuation orders are in effect for areas around Alpine Village and Ribbonwood, with portions of Highway 74 closed until at least the weekend. The South Coast Air Quality Management District issued an air quality advisory for the Coachella Valley due to smoke.

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TODAY’S FEATURED EVENTS

Sunshine Sisters Breakfast
8 a.m. | Rick’s Restaurant
Start the day with other Palm Springs Sunshine Sisters with breakfast and conversation.

Core & More
9 a.m. | The Center
The Core & More class teaches students to conquer the art of balance while having a blast. It improves not only stability but helps prevent falls as well. ($60)

Sammy’s Circle Pet Bereavement 
10 a.m. | Palm Springs Animal Shelter
Sammy’s Circle is a safe place to share our grief 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.

6th Annual Photography Exhibit Opening Reception
5 p.m. | Stephen Baumbach Gallery
Join us as we open our 6th annual photography exhibit with our most diverse and creative group of talented photographers.

See all events here

SAVE THE DATE

• Decriminalize Nature Palm Springs event at Mizell Center on Saturday
  
• Second Saturday in Downtown Indio on Saturday
  
• Retreat to the Heat presented by The Palm Springs Writers’ Guild Sunday through Aug. 13
  
• Resident Discount Day at the Palm Springs Surf Club on Aug. 13 ($20)
  
• Pool Party for a Cause benefiting Palm Springs Animal Shelter on Aug. 15 
  
• Rotary Club of Palm Springs Sunup Blood Drive on Aug. 16
  
• Fix-It-Fair at the Mizell Center on Aug. 23

Submit your event here

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AND FINALLY …

After 18 years of live music, cold beer, and what owners Greg and Eleanor Rivers describe as everything from “Desert Heat Bike Weekend” to actual Budweiser Clydesdales delivering beer “right off the wagon,” The Palm Canyon Roadhouse has closed its doors at 535 South Palm Canyon Drive.

Driving the news: The owners announced Saturday on social media that the longtime Palm Springs establishment couldn’t secure a lease renewal and elected to shutter during the slower summer season to make the transition easier. 

• The Rivers are planning to reopen as “Roadhouse 2.0” at a new location once they navigate what they call “a pathway of red tape” including liquor license posting, permits, and inspections.

Behind the scenes: An adjacent business at the intersection of Ramon Road and South Palm Canyon Drive, H3K Design, also closed recently — moving to Palm Desert — also after failing to secure a new lease. 

• The Rivers said the property shared by the two businesses is slated for redevelopment. The city has not received any notification or applications for that redevelopment, yet, and may not since the land belongs to individual members of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians.

Bottom line: The closure marks the end of an era for a venue that hosted everything from Sunday jams to celebrity drop-ins, though the owners promise the new location will be “all new, yet all familiar too.”

• While regulars wait for The Roadhouse’s reopening, the Rivers directed customers to other local establishments, specifically mentioning the Fireside Lounge and Hunters as places where “they always have a spot for one more.”

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