Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: How one Palm Springs leader quietly reshaped opportunities for 20,000 students

And check out Marinelli Bros Circus presents: The Magic of Christmas! on the Palm Springs Patch calendar

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Friday December 19th Patch AM
Friday December 19th Patch AM (Patch graphic)

Greetings Palm Springs! We’re your go-to source for what’s happening in town. Read on to get plugged in! ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • How one Palm Springs leader quietly reshaped opportunities for 20,000 students
  • Are Palm Springs power surges putting your home and wallet at risk?
  • Why the Palm Springs basic income fraud case just hit another snag

Also on today's calendar: Marinelli Bros Circus presents: The Magic of Christmas! and 5 more events.

Find out what's happening in Palm Springsfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Today's riddle: What did one astronaut stranded on the moon say to another? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

Find out what's happening in Palm Springsfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

  • Friday: Very warm, with a high of 85 and low of 56 degrees.
  • Saturday: Partly sunny, temps: high: 80, low: 57.
  • Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high of 80 and low of 56 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Meet Ellen Goodman, our Palm Springs Person of the Year for 2025 ⋆ The Palm Springs Post (thepalmspringspost.com) — Palm Springs residents are getting to know Ellen Goodman, the longtime executive director of the Foundation for Palm Springs Unified School District, newly honored as the Palm Springs Post’s 2025 Person of the Year. Her fundraising and program-building have brought millions to local schools, expanding arts, mentoring, technology, and wellness services for students from Palm Springs to neighboring valley communities.
   

2. Palm Springs residents lose thousands of dollars after repeated power surges (kesq.com) — Palm Springs residents in Camino Del Sol and 43@Racquet Club say repeated power surges have destroyed appliances, cost thousands of dollars, and raised fears of home fires. Southern California Edison attributes the surges to weather-related outages, outlines a claims process, and stresses it’s not automatically liable, while neighbors push for clearer answers and stronger protections.
   

3. Queer Works CEO fraud case faces delay after mental health diversion motion (kesq.com) — A high-profile fraud case tied to a Palm Springs universal basic income program has been delayed again as the former Queer Works CEO seeks mental health diversion in Riverside County court. Prosecutors strongly oppose the request, arguing the diagnosis is unreliable and noting no restitution has been paid, with the case now pushed to February 2026.
   

4. Fresno's potential new ordinances could mean jail time for violations like public camping (kmph.com) — Palm Springs’ tough approach to public camping and encampments is being closely watched as Fresno considers similar ordinances that could bring jail time for violations like public camping or taking trash bins. Palm Springs’ police chief says their policy, backed by a navigation center and enforcement, has sharply reduced the local unhoused population and improved residents’ sense of safety.
   

📸 Around Palm Springs

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Palm Springs

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📣 Palm Springs Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

    Friday December 19
  • 1st / Kipoka - WInter Concert
    Rio Vista Elementary Cathedral City, CA 92234
    8:45 am
  • Western X-Mas: Holiday Bear Retreat 2025
    CCBC Resort Hotel , 68-300 Gay Resort Dr , Cathedral City
    10:00 am
  • When the Job is Done
    Pinot's Palette , 71680 CA-111 suite d , Rancho Mirage
    4:00 pm
  • Winter Festival
    Agua Caliente Elementary Cathedral City, CA 92234
    5:00 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

 

Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Palm Springs PatchAM possible:

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Riverside police are investigating an incident involving an injured officer and a detained suspect near Dwight Avenue and University Avenue, with significant police presence and road closures in the area.
    8:32PM on Dec 17: Police activity reported at Dwight Ave. and University Ave. in Riverside, California. (Nextdoor )
  • Thank you for helping me feed these beautiful creatures, last night and every night.
    They’re just looking for survival, they’re just looking for a little bit of food shelter, something to help their bellies from growling. Just three… (Nextdoor The Movie Colony)
  • Unifi Aviation, LLC posted a job opening for AS Airport Ramp Agent - PSP in Palm Springs. Apply here.
  • Unifi posted a job opening for Airport Ramp Agent in Palm Springs. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Palm Springs here.

Ok Palm Springs! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don’t think you know the gravity of this situation.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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