Feb. 16 Daily Briefing: A veteran remembered, more warnings via helicopter, baseball playoffs start, and more

TGIF everyone! We try not to be The Pickleball Post, but there are a few items sitting in our inbox about the sport that we thought you’d like to know about. First up is an early reminder that the city’s third open house regarding expansion of the Demuth Park pickleball courts is coming up Feb. 27 at 5 p.m. at Demuth Community Center (see our earlier report here). Second is news via press release that when the  National Pickleball League doubles in size later this year — going from six teams to 12 — The Coachella Valley Scorpions will be one of the new teams. Read all about it here.

🎶 Setting the mood: “Fast Car” by Tracy Chapman

LEADING OFF

Private ceremony planned to honor life of local WWII veteran and filmmaker

World War II Veteran George Ciampa passed away last month in Palm Springs. His family is holding a celebration of life at Palm Springs American Legion Post 519 this weekend.

Driving the news: Ciampa was only 18 and weighed 112 pounds when he landed in France on D-Day with the 607th Graves Registration Company. It was their job to bury the bodies of German and American soldiers in temporary graves. His unit gathered about 75,000 corpses.

• Ciampa was there for the Battle of the Bulge and the occupation of Germany.
  
  
• He received several awards and honors, including the Meritorious Unit Commendation Wreath, the French Croix de Guerre, the French Legion of Honor and the U.S. Army’s Meritorious Service Award.

Looking back: Ciampa didn’t speak about his time in the war with anyone until he visited Normandy for the 50th anniversary of the invasion. Gradually, he started to share more and more of his story with students in the U.S., France, and Belgium.

Documenting history: Ciampa produced six documentaries and started a nonprofit organization, Let Freedom Ring, to document and preserve the memories of veterans.

Why it matters: Less than 1% of the 16.1 million Americans who served in WWII are still alive. As we move further and further away from the war, fewer students are learning about the true scope of the war.

• One of the crucial ways some students learned about the war was by hearing directly from veterans or holocaust survivors. Now, reports note a lack of basic knowledge about the Holocaust among Gen Z and Millenials.

Details: The celebration of life is not open to the public, but it’s estimated about 100 friends and others who knew him will be in attendance.

Dive deeper with our complete story online here.

BRIEFLY

🚌 College of the Desert launches free shuttle service for students

College of the Desert is celebrating the launch of its new shuttle service, the Roadrunner Express, designed to provide free inter-campus transportation to students.

• All riders have to do to board is show their student ID, and they can travel between campuses for classes, sports, and other extracurricular activities.
  
  
• Superintendent/President Laura Hope said the shuttle was born out of her many conversations with students who were burdened by lack of transportation options.
  
  
• Bottom line: “Many students don’t have their own vehicle,” Hope said. “They can get a ride to campus, but traveling to other campuses can be difficult.”

🚁 Residents alarmed, again, by helicopter search for suspect

For the second time in recent weeks, some residents of Palm Springs were alarmed when a law enforcement helicopter flying above their homes warned them to stay inside. 

• In the latest incident, which occurred Thursday evening around 7 p.m., residents of the area around Ruth Hardy Park were told via loudspeaker from a helicopter to remain indoors and to avoid the area. 
  
  
• Roughly one hour after the warnings were issued, Palm Springs police said via email that the warning stemmed from the search for a burglary suspect and that officers were unable to locate the suspect.
  
  
• At issue: A similar incident occurred earlier this month in the city. During that event, however, Palm Springs police were unaware that a neighboring jurisdiction was conducting a search in the city via helicopter. That led to efforts by PSPD leadership to ask for better coordination between all local law enforcement agencies.

💼 New Business Center opens for mission-driven entrepreneurs

The Caravanserai Project officially opened its Small Business Development Center (SDBC) in Palm Springs on Thursday. 

• The business center, on Tahquitz Canyon Way between Farrell Drive and Sunrise Way, aims to provide crucial support and resources to aspiring and mission-driven entrepreneurs, with a particular focus on Spanish-speaking individuals looking to start a business.
  
  
• Members of the Palm Springs City Council and officials from the SBDC network were on hand to give remarks at the grand opening. 
  
  
• Next steps: The city plans to make an investment in the center, with Mayor Jeffrey Bernstein stating, “This new pilot program is a step in the right direction when it comes to ensuring Palm Springs is a place for everyone who wants to start a new business.”

---

YOUR WEEKEND

ALL WEEKEND

Modernism Week
It’s the first weekend of Modernism Week, and there are still events with tickets, according to the website. 

“Mid-Century Moderns”
Friday & Saturday | Revolution Stage Company
Catch this homegrown musical comedy this weekend at Revolution Stage Company. (Tickets start at $55, but you can get $20 off using promo code REV20 at checkout.)

“The New Century”
Friday – Sunday | Palm Springs Cultural Center
It’s the last weekend to see “The New Century,” directed by Stan Zimmerman, a funny and outrageous comedy that also raises questions that aren’t easily answered. ($40)

“Something Rotten!”
Friday – Sunday | Palm Canyon Theatre
In this mash-up of sixteenth-century Shakespeare and twenty-first-century Broadway, brothers Nick and Nigel are desperate to write a hit play but are stuck in the shadow of the master playwright known as “The Bard.” ($38)

“Witchland”
Saturday & Sunday | Revolution Stage Company
“Witchland” combines elements of traditional theatrical storytelling with immersive haunted elements. The story is based on the author’s experiences growing up in Richland, Washington, deemed the most toxic place in the Western Hemisphere. ($25)

TODAY

“Past Lives”
2:45 p.m. | Palm Springs Public Library
The library is screening a film nominated for Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay, “Past Lives,” a film about childhood best friends reunited after decades. Check out the rest of the movies that will be screened here.

First Friday of Lent Fish Fry
5 p.m. | St. Theresa School Gym
Join the Knights of Columbus for the first Friday of Lent Fish Fry. Proceeds from the sale of the delicious cod and french fries will go to the Knights of Columbus Council. ($15)

Cinema on Ice: “Snowpiercer”
6 p.m. | Palm Springs Cultural Center
Deserted Films continues its Cinema on Ice series with the 2013 post-apocalyptic thriller set on a train in a frozen world. From the Oscar-winning director of “Parasite,” Bong Joon-ho. Check out the rest of the movies in the series here. ($12)

SATURDAY

Certified Farmers’ Market
8 a.m. – 1 p.m. | Palm Springs Cultural Center
The market returns to its outdoor location, with local farmers and vendors offering fresh agri­cul­tural and related products.

Tahquitz Creek Cleanup
8 a.m. | Tahquitz Creek Foot Bridge
Gloves and trash bags will be provided for this monthly clean up effort. Meet at the south side of the pedestrian bridge.

Flagging in the Desert
10:30 a.m. | Ruth Hardy Park
An instructional class precedes the event, and at 11:30 a.m., the DJ will start the party. Attendees are invited to dance, flag, or just watch. 

Gettysburg: Three Days that Changed America
1 p.m. | Palm Springs Air Museum
Dr. Edward Gordon presents an engaging history inspired by his personal visits to the battlefield.

SUNDAY

Palm Springs Vintage Market
8 a.m. | Palm Springs Cultural Center
The vintage market returns for Modernism Week, featuring unique and quirky furniture, décor, clothing, accessories, and more. Come enjoy the shopping, or just browse and take in the music and food. ($10 early entry at 7 a.m.; $5 regular admission at 8 a.m.)

SAVE THE DATE

• Dann Foley Lifestyle Pop-Up Shop opening on Feb. 24.
  
  
• Palm Springs International Jazz Festival on Feb. 24 and 25.
  
  
• Mizell Center Third Wednesday Speaker Series on Feb. 28.
  
  
• An evening with PSIPC and Friends on Feb. 29.
  
  
• 26th Annual Hike 4 Hope at the Art Smith Trailhead on March 3.

---

AND FINALLY …

The California Winter League (CWL) playoffs begin today at Palm Springs Stadium, and Palm Springs has two teams in the running.

Driving the news: The Palm Springs Chill is ranked fourth in the league, and the Palm Springs Power are faring a bit worse in sixth, having lost the last game to the top-ranked Blue Sox 8-1.

Context: The league’s eight teams feature 54 players from abroad, including a delegation from MLB Development Center China.

• The CWL is known for assisting players to secure professional contracts. Last season, 32% of its players were offered professional opportunities. 

The plan: The Palm Springs Chill take on the Oregon Lumberjacks at 9 a.m. on the auxiliary field, and the Palm Springs Power face off against the Washington Blue Sox on the main field at 10 a.m.

• The semi-finals are on Saturday, and the championship game will be on Sunday at noon.

Details: Today, all Canadian residents get general admission tickets for $5 each and on Saturday, attendees can enjoy $3 beer. Find out how to get tickets here.