Oct. 7 Daily Briefing: Matzner memorial set, committee reviews major projects, celebrating tacos, and more

Happy National Taco Day, everyone, where we are here to fill you in on some interesting taco trivia. The day we celebrate tacos shifted just last year from Oct. 4 to the first Tuesday in October — which happens to be today. That’s because in 2023, after decades of legal battles, Taco John’s gave up its 34-year trademark on the phrase “Taco Tuesday,” freeing restaurants everywhere to use it without fear of cease-and-desist letters. That’s a delicious bit of calendar alignment we’re as grateful for as we are for tacos of all types!

🎶 Setting the mood: “Harvest Moon” by Neil Young

LEADING OFF

ARC tackles four major projects, sends two back to drawing board

The Palm Springs Architectural Review Committee (ARC) approved two major developments Monday but voted to send a controversial hillside home and a storage facility back to the drawing board.

Driving the news: The committee unanimously rejected plans for a nearly 5,000-square-foot home near the city’s only designated historic ruins at the western terminus of Santa Rosa Drive, citing concerns about scale and impact on neighbors.

• Neighbors also raised concerns about bighorn sheep that frequent the site and potential impacts to the ruins, a Class 1 historic resource.

What else: The committee voted 5-to-1 to re-study a proposed 90,000-square-foot storage facility with 41 RV parking spaces at the southeast corner of North Gene Autry Trail and District Center Drive.

• They said the facility looked too generic and wasn’t in line with the rest of the city.

Meanwhile: The committee greenlit a massive warehouse development featuring two buildings totaling more than 1.9 million square feet to be located at the southwest corner of North Indian Canyon Drive and 18th Avenue.

Also approved: A Sun Community Federal Credit Union drive-through facility at the southeast corner of East Ramon Road and South Calle Santa Cruz, though two members voted against it.

Dive deeper with our complete story here.

BRIEFLY

🕊️ Celebration of life set for Harold Matzner

• A celebration of life for philanthropist and business leader Harold Matzner will take place Oct. 21 at 5 p.m. at the McCallum Theatre in Palm Desert. The program will include tributes from family, friends and community leaders, followed by a reception.
  
• Doors open at 4 p.m., and guests are encouraged to arrive early as all attendees will go through security screening and bag checks. The service begins promptly at 5 p.m.
  
• Details: For those unable to attend in person, a livestream will be available beginning at 4:30 p.m. on his website here. The McCallum Theatre is located at 73000 Fred Waring Dr.

🏳️‍🌈 City, Transgender Health Center to receive HRC awards

• The City of Palm Springs and the Transgender Health & Wellness Center will be honored at the 24th Human Rights Campaign Palm Springs Garden Party on Nov. 8. Palm Springs will receive the Community Leadership Award, while the Transgender Health & Wellness Center will receive the Community Impact Award.
  
• The fundraiser takes place from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at a private estate and will feature remarks from Brandon Wolf, HRC national press secretary. The awards will be presented by Andy Linsky, a long-serving HRC board member, and Alexandra Billings, an actress and professor at USC’s School of Dramatic Arts.
  
• Details: Tickets and sponsorship packages are available at www.hrc.org/PSGardenParty. The event includes a silent auction featuring donated products, services and experiences to benefit HRC’s mission.

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TODAY’S FEATURED EVENTS

Desert Water Agency Board Meeting
8 a.m. | DWA Office
Held on the first and third Tuesday of each month. You can see today’s agenda here. 

Yoga With Mariana
10 a.m. & 2 p.m. | Palm Springs Leaisure Center
The perfect way to recharge your body, mind, and spirit for much less than the big studios. ($12)

Leads Lunch
12 p.m. | Kaiser Grille
Join the Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce for its October Leads lunch at Kaiser Grille. No RSVP needed, just cover the cost of your lunch!

Queer Colon Care Collective
5 p.m. | Virtual
This support group is open to LGBTQ+ colorectal cancer patients, survivors, or caregivers. Organizers will offer resources and a sense of community in a safe place to share experiences. 

Historic Site Preservation Board
5:30 p.m. | City Hall
Board members will meet to go over applications for alterations to historically significant properties or nominations for new historic properties.

See all events here

SAVE THE DATE

• Woodman Shimko Gallery Reopening on Friday
  
• Junior Ranger Expo at Indian Canyons on Saturday
  
• Kick Bullying to the Curb at Palm Springs Stadium on Saturday
  
• Architectural Preservation Awards on Saturday
  
• Modernism Week October starting Oct. 16
  
• Wet + Wild Party Benefitting Palm Springs Police and Fire at Desert Hand Car Wash on Oct. 23
  
• Pride Equality Walk on Oct. 25
  
• “Be A Hero For Kids” Halloween Bash on Oct. 26
  
• Pride on the Page on Nov. 1
  
• Palm Springs Pride Nov. 6 through 9
  
• Palm Springs Pride 5K Run & Walk on Nov. 8

Submit your event here

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AND FINALLY …

🐾 Each week, The Post partners with a local animal shelter to feature one or more of the many animal companions ready for a new home in our community. 

Today we invite you to start your engines because this week’s pet is Porsche,  a 1-year-old male domestic shorthair who’s been one of the longer-staying residents at the shelter. Staff at the shelter say this little guy will steer his way into your heart in no time

• Staff also said he can go from zero to sixty in seconds when toys are involved. They did note that he should be the only cat in your home, though, so keep that in mind.

If you’re interested: You can visit the shelter at 4575 E. Mesquite Ave. Hours are 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. on all days except for Mondays (open for intake only) and Thursdays (1 p.m. until 7 p.m.). You can always call the shelter at (760) 416-5718.

• Make sure to check out all the other pets at the shelter here.