🌱 Playground Overhauls + Fire Season Prep + Babies Head To Tijuana

Morning, everybody! Today’s National Star Wars Day. Did you know that the phrase “may the fourth be with you” was coined in 1979, when Margaret Thatcher was elected Prime Minister in Britain? I'm back as promised with your fresh copy of the Palm Springs Patch newsletter. Today's issue includes news on...

• ⚠️ An emergency at Paseo De Anza.
• 🔥 Fire season preparation.
• 🚓 Traffic rule enforcement in May.

💗 Please help us grow! Send a friend or neighbor this link, so they can be in the know, like you!

🌧️ But first, today's weather: A shower; breezy in the p.m. High: 74 Low: 56.

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⛽ Three of the Cheapest Gas Stations Around Palm Springs

• Vons at 4701 East Palm Canyon Drive, $4.29
• Tower Market at 3201 North Indian Canyon Drive, $4.45
• ARCO at 1717 East Vista Chino, $4.59

🍷 Hobby Poll!
Everybody has hobbies. If time and money were no object this summer, which new hobby would you like to learn or take up? So far, 20% pick traveling, and 10% each select horseback riding, flying, ballroom dancing, crocheting, Mahjong, basket making, and fly-fishing. A new write-in – at 10% – is dog training and showing.

📰 Here are the top stories today in Palm Springs:

1. A 57-year-old neighbor drowned in a pool on Monday. First responders raced to the 2300 block of Paseo De Anza, hoping to rescue the individual. Sadly, they couldn’t. The police department said that “there is no evidence of foul play.” (KESQ)
2. New playground equipment and shade structures are coming to Victoria and Demuth parks. The City Council voted to replace the current structures that had been in use for two decades. After an expenditure of $1.3 million and playground closures until spring 2024, kids can look forward to shade structures, “climbing structures, slides, swings, and more, (that) will sit atop newly installed rubber surfacing.” We don’t know if the city will incorporate a water play area, which parents strongly recommended. (The Palm Springs Post)
3. The Palm Springs Fire Department is preparing for the inevitable fire season. “We're starting to bring on additional equipment, placing more aircraft in certain locations to get ready,” Cal Fire’s representative said earlier this week. And, with the prolific growth of vegetation after the rains we had, firefighters are beginning to clear what’ll turn into fire starters. Officials identified 1,300 high-risk properties; they’re clearing 200 feet around the structures and ten feet from the fence and roadway. (KESQ)
4. The downtown babies are moving to Tijuana, Mexico! In June, sculptor David Černý will be leaving, taking the nine baby statues with him. After receiving a fresh coat of paint, the babies will go on exhibition in Mexico on June 30. We have no word what’ll happen to the sculptures after January, when the exhibit comes to a close. There’s some scuttlebutt that they’ll go to Prague to be displayed in the artist’s museum. Do you remember the hullabaloo of those loving or hating the statues when they were first unveiled in 2018? (Desert Sun)
5. If you’re seeing more traffic enforcement happening this month, it’s not an accident. The Palm Springs Police Department said that May is National Bicycle Safety Month, and it will “conduct a traffic safety operation throughout the month.” The goal is to help drivers unlearn behaviors that put cyclists and pedestrians in danger. Officers will look for drivers who’re speeding, failing to yield, running red lights, making illegal turns, or doing the infamous California Roll. (City of Palm Springs)

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📆 Today in Palm Springs:

• The PrimeTimers of the Desert meet for the Thursday Morning Breakfast Club at IHOP (9:30 AM)
• Bring the toddlers to Preschool Story Time at the Palm Springs Public Library (10:30 AM)
• Come to the Career & Technical Education Showcase at the Palm Springs Air Museum (4 PM)
• Have fun at the Palm Springs VillageFest on Palm Canyon Drive (6 PM)
• It's Trappea Thursday with DJs CC Love & Gracy D at 383 South Palm Canyon Drive (9 PM)

🖊️ From my notebook:

• "The Palm Springs Certified Farmers Market is held outdoors on Saturdays
  from October to May. Location: Palm Springs Cultural Center (home of the historic Camelot Theatres) Parking Lot at 2300 E. Baristo Road." (Palm Springs Cultural Center)
• "Palm Desert residents and workers are invited to enjoy a day at the Palm Springs Air Museum free of charge this Saturday, May 6, as the popular attraction celebrates Palm Desert Day." (City of Palm Desert)
• "June gloom stands no chance against this super bloom. Pool season returns June 9-11 in Palm Springs — remaining GA passes on sale this Friday at 10 a.m. PT: https://splashhouse.com." (Splash House)
• "Supt. of Schools Dr. Mike Swize and Asst. Supt. of Business Services Dr. Brian Murray are in the house to celebrate our District Educators of the Year including Classified Administrator of the Year La Sonya Pitts, Classified Employee of the Year Edgar Ramos and Certificated Administrator of the Year Laura Dyson. Other PSUSD honorees who could not attend include Principal of the Year Eric Antuna, Site Support Educator of the Year Sandra Wiemeyer, Counselor of the Year Stephen Castillo, Confidential Employee of the Year Martha Haro and District Teachers of the Year for 2022-23 Elizabeth Coats, Jacqueline Mantz and Nichelle Webb. Emcees for the event included PSUSD Riverside County 2022 honorees Ioana Robles, Damon Bonelli, and California Teacher of the Year Nichi Avina." (Palm Springs Unified School District)
• "Extremely hyped to share that I'll be casting the BSS TCG Grand Open this coming weekend in Palm Springs, California! Hope I'll see some of you there!" (Erik DoA Lonnquist)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured events:

• Around the World in 60 Minutes Dance Class! (May 6)
• Academy of Musical Performance at The River! (May 6)
• Add your event

Thanks for following along and staying informed! See you all Saturday morning for your next update.

— Sylvia Cochran

About me: Sylvia Cochran works out of sunny Southern California and has been freelance writing full-time since 2005. She loves dogs, cats, books, plays Bee Swarm Simulator (don't judge), embraces social justice, and tries to live out Micah 6:8.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Palm Springs Patch newsletter? Contact me at palmsprings-ca@patch.com