Daily Briefing: End of an era at PSHS, a warning for pets, stoles gifted, and more

? It’s Tuesday, 5/17.

?  Today’s weather: Sunny and 99 degrees.

? Setting the mood: “Lose My Cool (Franc Moody Remix)” by Amber Mark

? Situational awareness: The city announced last night that the statue of former Mayor Frank Bogert would be removed from in front of City Hall this morning at around 8 a.m. The Art Collective, a Palm Desert-based fine art services company, will remove and transport the statue for storage at City Yard.

• The City Council’s decision to remove the statue was met with cheers and jeers last year, as well as a civil suit last month.

This is a 4-minute read. Ready, set, go  …

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Leading off: End of an era at PSHS

Palm Springs High School band director Brian Ingelson and visual corps director Beverley Ingelson are preparing to retire after more than a quarter-century at the school. They get a big sendoff this week.

Driving the news: The couple will be celebrated Wednesday evening during a “Final Blast Concert” at 6:30 p.m. at the high school’s Richards Center for the Arts.

Turning point: They decided to stop trying to collect trophies and instead collect memories years ago. Even more unique, no student who wants to be part of the band or the visual corps is turned away.

• Said Beverley: “We don’t hold auditions. We accept everybody. As long as we’ve worked together, inclusion has been the basis, not exclusion.”

Worldwide sensation: To say the band and visual corps get around is an understatement. During the Ingelson’s tenure, students under their tutelage have performed on the main stage at the Sydney Opera House, at Westminster Hall in London, on the Great Wall of China, on the steps of Cape Town City Hall, and a dozen more world capitals.

• “Instead of sharing music for an award, why don’t we go and share our music for an experience the students will never forget?” Brian said. “That way, we’re serving a higher purpose.”

Next moves: Brian hopes to continue advocating for school music programs and helping the next generation of band directors (including their son, Matt, the band director at Desert Hot Springs High School). Beverley, a registered nurse, is pursuing her doctorate in philosophy of nursing.

Dive deeper with Kendall Balchan’s complete story.

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In brief: It’s getting hot out there

By now, you’ve noticed the temperatures are starting to return to the familiar triple digits. That means it’s time for the yearly reminder: Keep your pets out of your hot car and off the hot asphalt!

Why cars get so hot: With more windows, sunlight pours into the cabin, heating up the dashboard, seats, and steering wheel, which all radiate the heat back out, turning your car into a greenhouse.

Research shows how fast it takes for a car to heat up. The first 30 minutes see the fastest rate of increase; temperatures can rise by one degree a minute.

• After 60 minutes: the average in-car temperature is 43 degrees higher than the outside temperature.

What the law says: In California, concerned citizens who believe an animal is in danger inside a hot car can rescue the dog and are protected from liability. Read more here.

Don’t forget about the asphalt: If the temperature is just 87 degrees, the asphalt can be as hot as 143 degrees.

• Place your hand on the pavement for 10 seconds to test the heat. If it’s too hot for you, it’s too hot for your dog.

Know the signs of dehydration in dogs:

• Dry nose
• Reduced energy and lethargy
• Panting
• Thick Saliva

Read more from the American Kennel Club.

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? AM Roundup: Grab a cup & catch up

? A teen is accused of armed carjacking at the Desert Regional Medical Center parking structure. (KESQ)

? Inland Empire homeownership ranks 18th in the country. (The Press Enterprise)

? Local breweries get a shoutout from a San Francisco publication. (SF Gate)

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? On tap

With Sunday night’s magnitude 3.7 earthquake still on the mind, now’s the perfect time to brush up on your disaster preparedness skills ahead of The Big One.

Details: The Earthquake Country Alliance (ECA) is holding its timely fifth webinar with the Coachella Valley Disaster Preparedness Network (CVDPN) today at 3 p.m (registration is free).

Why it matters: We live between two major faults, the San Andreas and the San Jacinto. 

• If you’ve lived in the desert or Southern California long enough, there’s probably at least one big earthquake burned into your memory.

Who’s involved: The ECA has held similar webinars all over the state, from LA to San Francisco. The CVDPN has worked with local governments for years by offering training and education to residents on how best to prepare for earthquakes.

• If you can’t make it to the webinar, brush up on your earthquake preparedness with the ECA’s “Seven Steps to Earthquake Safety.”

? Our Take: If Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s seminal film San Andreas is to be believed, you may need to brush up on your helicopter rescue skills when the big one hits.

? Also today: 

• The Palm Springs Sustainability Commission holds its monthly meeting tonight on Zoom starting at 5:30 p.m.
  
  
• Toastmasters starts at 6 p.m. online. Check here for information, including a special offer for subscribers to The Post.
  
  
•  An interfaith peace service is planned for today at 6:30 p.m. at United Methodist Church of Palm Springs.
  
  
• Jazz on the 2nd Floor runs from 5 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. at the Palm Springs Cultural Center.

? Looking ahead:

• The 3rd Wednesday Speaker Series, held at the Mizell Center, is Wednesday at 6 p.m. This month features a presentation titled “Everyone’s Right to Vote.” Registration is required.
  
  
• A Ride of Silence in remembrance of bicycle riders who have been struck and killed by vehicles is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
  
  
• The next REAF-PS House Party, benefitting the Cathedral City Senior Center, is planned for Saturday at 5 p.m.

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And finally …

A Monday evening ceremony at Rancho Mirage High School was an opportunity to celebrate the success of roughly 120 African-American graduating seniors and some underclassmen in the Palm Springs Unified School District.

The event: The district’s Anti Racism Coalition and African American Parent Advisory Council (AAPAC) honored students from all grade levels at each area high school and presented outgoing seniors with Kente stoles.

• “The stoles represent your connection to Africa,” Jarvis Crawford, AAPAC chair of student enrichment, told students who took the stage.
   
• “This is a love gift that we give to you,” added Jackie Terry, AAPAC secretary. 

Special year: Everyone in the room had extra reason to celebrate this school year. For the first time, two dozen students from the district took part in a tour of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in April (We told that story here).

• The tour was driven by AAPAC President Charlie Ervin and supported by $60,000 from the district and $4,000 in donations from the community.

What it means: Tiffany Moore, whose son Dennis was one of the students who went on the HBCU tour, spoke to the audience Monday and offered not only heartfelt thanks but valuable words of advice to students.

• “There is more to this world than these palm trees and these mountains. So, dream big and see what this world has to offer.” 

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? Kendall has retreated to the library because she can no longer work outside a coffee shop without her laptop overheating.

? Mark is wondering if “senior skip day” is still a thing and whether it can include a senior editor this year.

? Miss a day? Read past newsletters here.

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