Oct. 9 Daily Briefing: Town & Country’s condition, airport fire drills, our pet of the week, and more

Welcome to Wednesday, everyone. At the start of Tuesday’s ONE-PS meeting, PSPD Sgt. Miguel Torres led attendees in a moment of silence to honor the lives of officers Jose “Gil” Vega and Lesley Zerebny. It was eight years ago yesterday — Oct. 8, 2016 — that they were killed while responding to a domestic disturbance call. Tuesday’s moment was a somber one, but Torres also reflected on how the community rallied around a department during a moment of great tragedy. We offer our thoughts to all who were impacted by this event and encourage you to think of these officers as you pass by the mural that honors them downtown.

🎶 Setting the mood:  “Darn That Dream” by Ella Fitzgerald & Nelson Riddle

LEADING OFF

Town & Country Center maintenance woes persist

The Palm Springs’ Historic Site Preservation Board (HSPB) and the head of the city’s Planning Department addressed frustration over ongoing maintenance issues at the Town & Country Center, at an HSPB meeting earlier this month.

Driving the news: Board Member Peter Moruzzi, a historian and preservationist who founded the Palm Springs Modern Committee, questioned city staff about the status of efforts to address disrepair at the historic property. 

• Planning Director Christopher Hadwin acknowledged the complex situation, citing ongoing negotiations with the property owner, Grit Development.

Why it matters: The Town & Country Center is a mid-century modern complex designated as a Class 1 Historic Site in 2016. At the Oct. 3 HSPB meeting, its deterioration raised concerns about the effectiveness of city property maintenance codes.

The big picture: While improvements have been made to buildings fronting Palm Canyon Drive, the Indian Canyon Drive portion remains neglected.

• Moruzzi expressed concern that the situation has lasted longer than other high-profile cases of property disrepair in Palm Springs, such as the Orchid Tree Hotel site.

What’s next: City officials are working to balance code enforcement with property owner negotiations to resolve the maintenance problems.

• Hadwin assured the board that staff continues to address the issue despite the lack of visible progress.

Dive deeper with our complete story

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BRIEFLY

🚒 Firefighters conduct crucial ‘live burn’ training at airport

Palm Springs International Airport’s firefighting team is undergoing federally mandated “live burn” training to enhance their readiness for potential aircraft emergencies this week.

• The specialized training, required by the Federal Aviation Administration, utilizes a realistic aircraft prop emitting propane flames, allowing first responders to practice managing fires under controlled yet intense conditions.
  
  
• The drills focus on different fire scenarios, including various fuel levels onboard an aircraft, to ensure crews are well-prepared for large-scale flames.
  
  
• Bottom line: “We don’t obviously get plane crashes very often,” says Capt. Jason Vaccarello of the Palm Springs Fire Department. “When they do happen, unfortunately, we need to be ready to be able to perform the tasks needed perfectly in order to save lives and property.”

Dive deeper

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TODAY’S FEATURED EVENTS

Rotary Club of Palm Springs
12 p.m. | Hilton Palm Springs
One hour luncheon gathering with weekly changing programs. See newsletter for update.

Mod Squad Variety Show
5 p.m. | VIP Lounge at the Cultural Center
Come on up and enjoy an evening of live music featuring Palm Springs’ very own favorite musical trio, The Mod Squad! ($12)

Open Mic Night
5:30 p.m. | Play Lounge & Cafe
Join Joel Baker on piano and Brian Alec Thom as we sing the night away! Bring your own sheet music for Joel to play and listen to the joy of others as we gather and sing. ($10 to sing)

Planning Commission
5:30 p.m. | City Hall 
This commission usually meets twice a month. Its meetings are broadcast on the city’s YouTube channel. An agenda can be found here.

Human Rights Commission
5:30 p.m. | City Hall Large Conference Room
Discussion items for this special meeting include: Listening Session, status of regular meetings, and participation at forthcoming parades.

Director’s Choice: Blazing Saddles
6 p.m. | Camelot Theatres
This fall celebrate the artistry of three legendary filmmakers: Mel Brooks, Billy Wilder, and Howard Hawks – on the big screen!

The Dirty Show with Skyler Gentry
7 p.m. | Dietlart Gallery
America’s favorite actor-singer-dancer-psychic, Skyler Gentry, is back with his third all-new, original show aimed at audiences 21 and older. The outrageous show is filled with raunchy new songs, comedy bits, and “psychic readings” with the audience!  ($28.50)

SAVE THE DATE

• Amy’s Purpose non-profit fundraiser celebrating the legacy of Liberace on Sunday.
  
  
• Evening Under The Stars benefit for AAP – Food Samaritans on Sunday.
  
  
• Shredding event at the Convention Center on Oct. 19.
  
  
• Center Stage benefiting LGBTQ+ Center of the Desert on Oct. 19.
  
  
• Pride on the Page Book Festival on Oct. 20.
  
  
• Palm Springs Speaks first speaker on Oct. 22.
  
  
• Durk Dehner in conversation with Jamison Rockmore at Mizell Center on Oct. 23.
  
  
• Modernism Week October from the 24th through 27th.
  
  
• Be A Hero for Kids Halloween Bash on Oct. 27.
  
  
• Annual Palm Springs State of the City on Oct. 30.
  
  
• Palm Springs Pride 5K Run & Walk on Nov. 2.

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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 come in and meet Alex, one of the many felines available for adoption at Frisky Business Cat Cafe.

• Owner Claire Rogers says Alex is ready for you to be a treat dispenser and will reward you by eating all the treats.

If you’re interested in adoption: You can visit Frisky Business at Rimrock Plaza (where Von’s is located) at 4781 E. Palm Canyon Dr., Suite F. Look for the cafe’s current hours here.

• All cats available at Frisky Business come from the Palm Springs Animal Shelter. They are spayed or neutered and can be adopted while you sip a delicious beverage or enjoy a tasty treat. 

But wait: Don’t want to adopt but still enjoy cats? You can book a time to hang out in the cat lounge by clicking here.