A project aimed at providing bikes for children, as well as adults needing transportation options, is in full gear this month.
Vic Yepello, who recently opened Jade Bicycle Detailing & Repair in Palm Springs, teamed with John Siegel to start refurbishing two dozen donated bicycles on June 4. Parts for the bikes, totaling $650, are on order, courtesy of Hot Purple Energy, whose president, Nate Otto, was on hand for the repair session.
“The kids bikes will go to the Palm Springs Boys and Girls Club and the adult bikes will be transported to Coachella for donation to those who are in need of transportation,” Yepello said. “Once the parts arrive, we will then go to work doing the final repairs and cleaning which will happen around mid-June.”
Volunteers can join in the efforts when that moment arrives. Aside from help cleaning the bikes, Yepello said, “anyone who can replace a chain or a tire, replace cables, etc., will be welcomed to join.”
More bikes are welcome as well.
“We are still accepting bikes, and in fact do so year round,” Yepello said. “They can be brought to Hot Purple Energy this week to get in on this round, or anytime there after.”
Interested in helping with the bikes? Contact Yepello at vyepello@gmail.com
Have a bike to donate? Hot Purple Energy is at 810 N. Farrell Dr. in Palm Springs
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BRIEFLY
MARILYN STATUE ARRIVES: A 26-foot-tall statue of actress Marilyn Monroe has officially arrived, in pieces, ready for installation once again in downtown Palm Springs. “Forever Marilyn,” purchased in 2020 by a local hotel association, was previously installed downtown between 2012-2014 and proved to be a popular attraction for visitors. The statue’s arrival follows a lawsuit and other efforts to stop its installation in the middle of newly-constructed Museum Way instead of a city park as previously planned. A Riverside County judge recently ruled against the group that brought the lawsuit.
FAMED HOME SELLS: A home that once belonged to Elvis Presley’s manager, “Colonel” Tom Parker, has sold, according to Scott Histed, Luxe Director at Bennion Deville Homes. Histed said Tuesday he sold the home, at 1166 Vista Vespero, for $2.3 million. The 1957 Alexander, described as “a one-of-a-kind midcentury gem,” was designed by renowned architects Palmer and Krisel. It is near the famed Elvis Honeymoon House, also known as The House of Tomorrow, in the Vista Las Palmas neighborhood. Parker is credited with discovering the then-unknown Elvis Presley in 1955.
CITY RESIDENT AMONG ARRESTEES: A Palm Springs man was among more than two dozen arrested during an operation aimed at stopping child predators, it was announced Tuesday. The 40-year-old is suspected of soliciting a minor and arranging to meet with the intent to engage in lewd sex acts with a minor. Dubbed “Operation Intercept,” the monthlong undercover enforcement operation was undertaken with the intent to locate possible sexual predators who actively look for minors on social media platforms for the purpose of committing lewd acts. The Riverside County Child Exploitation Team (RCCET), which is led by the District Attorney’s Bureau of Investigation, worked in partnership with the Riverside County Anti-Human Trafficking (RCAHT) task force during the operation that resulted in the arrests of 25 suspected child predators, including 10 from the Coachella Valley.
TODAY’S EVENTS
- MIZELL CENTER: The Mizell Center hold four events today. For a complete list, you can see the facility’s calendar for today here.
- PLANNING COMMISSION: The city Planning Commission meets at 5:30 PM. Information on participating in the meeting can be found here. Among items up for discussion are revised plans for the property formerly known as the Andaz Hotel, 414 N Palm Canyon Dr., as well as a possible vote on a housing project that could threaten an endangered beetle, first reported in The Post on Tuesday.
ONGOING
- VACCINES: Anyone 12 and older now qualifies for a COVID-19 vaccine in Riverside County. If you qualify, you can get one at the Palm Springs Convention Center, 277 North Avenida Caballeros, from 8:30 AM until 4:30 PM Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and from 8:30 AM until 7 PM on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Appointments are not required, and those age 12-17 need to be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. You can also find a list of community providers such as pharmacies here.
UPCOMING
- LISTENING SESSIONS: Residents are invited to participate in a series of four neighborhood community listening sessions June 15-28. Conducted in English and Spanish, the goal of the sessions is obtaining input related to the future of Palm Springs. To find out where and how to participate, turn here.
COMMUNITY CONNECTION
Want to know what’s happening in your city and at agencies that make decisions affecting your neighborhood? The following links should help:
City of Palm Springs calendar of events
Police reports | Submit a police report
Code compliance reports | Report a code violation
Current road projects and closures
Currently active development projects
