🌱 Backstreet Art District In Distress + SCE Outages + Guilty Plea

Hello, neighbors! Today’s National Gingersnap Day; did you know that while they’ve been around for a while, the first written mention of an American Gingersnap was in 1805? Sylvia here with your fresh copy of the Palm Springs Patch newsletter, including news on...

• 🔧 Aerial Tramway has a loose wire.
• 🔥 Homeless man pleads guilty to starting a brush fire.
• 💰 Homeless navigation center gets another $5 million.

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☀️ But first, today's weather: Hot with plenty of sunshine. High: 115 Low: 85.

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⛽ Three of the Cheapest Gas Stations Around Palm Springs

• ARCO at 3689 N. Indian Canyon Drive, $4.39
• Vons at 4701 E. Palm Canyon Drive, $4.49
• Tower Market at 33447 Date Palm Drive, $4.59

🥤 Summer Drink Poll!
It’s heating up! Besides water, what is your favorite summertime drink? So far, 23.5 percent like frozen margaritas. Another 17.6 percent each like lemonade, an Arnold Palmer, or Coca-Cola. For 11.8 percent, iced tea is the drink of choice. The final 5.9 percent each grab an ice-cold beer or watermelon punch.

📰 Here are the top stories today in Palm Springs:

1. What happened Thursday with the Aerial Tramway? Ticket sales stopped at 4 p.m. It turns out that 375 guests were stuck at the mountain station because of a loose electrical wire. It took until 6:15 p.m. to fix the issue and return folks to the bottom. Guests did receive a complimentary dinner offer. (KESQ)
2. A 33-year-old homeless man pleaded guilty to starting the Prescott Preserve fire in April. You may remember that firefighters responded to the 1000 block of South El Cielo Road and connected with a witness who tipped them off to the suspect’s whereabouts. The man, on probation for a burglary conviction, was “sentenced to two years in state prison.” (Patch, KESQ)
3. The city council committed another $5 million to the McCarthy Road homeless navigation center. As a result, construction is scheduled to begin at the end of July, which could put project completion into February. Critics claim that the “navigation center is being expanded beyond what the city has promised its neighbors during outreach discussions.” (The Palm Springs Post)
4. Southern California Edison scheduled planned power outages just as temperatures hit the triple digits. On the bright side, they should go from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. You may be affected if you live to the north of Tahquitz Canyon Way. And, yes, the city council is aware. It already communicated to the utility that there was “an increase in recent outages and a lack of timely notice.” (yahoo! News)
5. The construction of the Riverside County flood control project is creating problems for the Backstreet Art District. A lack of apparent customer access has resulted in “a significant decline in business.” Besides that, business owners mentioned dirt piles, constant noise, and construction equipment everywhere. While construction is supposed to be finished by the third quarter, “there is a growing fear that the galleries in the Backstreet Art District may be forced to close their doors permanently.” (KESQ)

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📆 Today in Palm Springs:

Saturday, July 1

• Certified Farmers Market inside the Palm Springs Pavilion (8 AM)
• Join a State Park Interpretive Specialist on a Desert View Discovery Hike at 1 Tram Way (11 AM)
• Equality Wine Fest at 1600 N. Indian Canyon Drive (11 AM)
• Psychic/Healing Arts Fair at Crystal Fantasy (11 AM)
• Flamingo Pool Party at Hotel Zoso with DJ Pico (12 PM)

🖊️ From my notebook:

• "The Palm Springs Fire Department wants residents to be aware that all fireworks, including 'Safe and Sane' fireworks, are illegal in the city." (Channel 3)
• "We're off to the Reno Air Races this September! Help Us Get to Reno by making a donation! The Palm Springs Air Museum will race not one, but two renovated P-51 Mustangs alongside our P-63 Kingcobra, Pretty Polly." (PS Air Museum)
• "PSP to Dallas (DFW) & Phoenix (PHX) are available year-round on American Air! Psst: flights to Austin (AUS) & Chicago (ORD) return in October!" (Fly PSP)
• "Come celebrate Independence Day in Palm Springs and bring the whole family to the City's 'All American Fourth of July' weekend of events, July 1-4. Enjoy a series of FREE family-friendly festivities, including movie nights, concerts, a cool pool party — and more! It all culminates with Power baseball and the City's magnificent 'All American Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular' at Palm Springs Stadium on Tuesday, July 4. Fireworks start at 9:15 p.m. sharp!" (City of Palm Springs)
• "DWA’s Board of Directors approved the first increases of a multi-year rate plan. Most customers will see this on bills in early 2024. Visit http://dwa.org/rates to learn more." (Desert Water Agency)

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Featured events:

• Picasso Wine Glass Painting Class at The River! (July 19)
• The Altis Community MOTHER OF ALL YARD SALES! (July 22)
• Add your event

You're officially in the loop for today. I'll see you soon!

— Sylvia Cochran

About me: Christ follower. Wife. Book dragon. Proud supporter of the Oxford comma.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Palm Springs Patch newsletter? Contact me at [email protected]