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Wednesday, March 11 | ☀️ 85°/55°
Welcome to Wednesday! There’s been a lot of news about bridges in the city lately, and on Tuesday, City Manager Scott Stiles had some more at the monthly ONE-PS meeting. Stiles told the audience that the $48 million Ramon Road bridge widening project will begin construction in December, with a nine-month community engagement plan starting soon to prepare residents and businesses on both sides of the bridge for the work ahead. The project will widen the current four-lane bottleneck to six lanes while maintaining two lanes of traffic in each direction for most of the construction period. Short-term pain = long-term gain, people!
🎶 Setting the mood: "Gamesofluck" by Parcels
Leading Off
The exterior of the Palm Springs Boys & Girls Club. (File photo)
Boys and Girls Club seeks community support amid funding uncertainty, security concerns
The Palm Springs Boys & Girls Club is confronting federal funding delays, immigration enforcement concerns, and a public awareness gap that its top leader says threatens the organization's ability to serve the valley's most vulnerable children.
Driving the news: CEO and Executive Director Margaret Keung appeared before the Palm Springs Human Rights Commission on Monday, describing a club that serves approximately 300 enrolled members—nearly all from disadvantaged households—while absorbing financial and security pressures on multiple fronts.
Close to 97% of members qualify for reduced or no-cost meal programs, and nearly one in three children in the Coachella Valley lives below the poverty line, Keung said.
By the numbers: A federal funding freeze delayed approximately $200,000 in pass-through funding the club had been counting on, compounding a separate drop in donor contributions last year.
Membership fees are $20 per year for teens and $40 for younger children. The club does not turn away members for financial reasons, with scholarships available.
In addition: Keung said the club has been closely monitoring ICE enforcement activity after agents posing as building inspectors attempted to enter a Boys & Girls Club in Riverside, behaving aggressively while searching for someone.
Keung said ICE agents were also circling local schools during the Christmas holiday period while children were present at the Palm Springs club.
Why it matters: The club provides after-school programming, sports, arts, water safety instruction, and a cannabis prevention center Keung described as the first of its kind in the Boys & Girls Club of America network.
What's next: The club is exploring a mobile program to serve children in Desert Hot Springs and plans to expand its age range to include pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students.
Briefly
Council Chambers at Palm Springs City Hall. (File photo)
🏨 Orchid Tree, Dream hotels both on City Council agenda tonight
The embattled Orchid Tree and Dream hotels both have separate items on tonight’s City Council agenda. The Orchid Tree, located at 284 Baristo Road, has submitted the required materials to meet its extending milestone that the city approved a year ago. The next milestone is in October, when the developer is required to have secured proper entitlements for the project that has been in the works for more than 10 years.
As for the Dream Hotel, located at the northwest corner of Avenida Caballeros and East Amado Road, councilmembers will consider adding an amendment to a previous settlement with the developers that would update the projects schedule of performance and clarify oversight obligations. That project dates back to the late 1990s.
Also on the agenda: Approval for a $3 million funding request for the development of a 72-unit affordable senior housing project on Alejo Road and a discussion of the action plan for the Community Development Block Grant. Tune in live on YouTube tonight at 5:30 p.m, and submit public comment on the city’s website or by emailing [email protected].
A MESSAGE FROM
PALM SPRINGS WINDMILL TOURS
Whether you take our self-driving tour or a guided golf cart tour, our expert guides will easily be able to describe the inner workings of wind turbines and how it contributes to our energy grid. From the novice tour participant to engineer types, everyone will be able to leave the tour with a better understanding of this renewable energy is an integral part of our energy solution.
📆 Featured Events
2nd Annual Business Partner Expo
11:30 a.m. | Mizell Center
Mizell's Business Partner Expo highlights local businesses that support seniors in our community. Visitors will enjoy staffed tables, speak directly with business representatives, and learn about a variety of services designed to support health, independence, and daily living.
Palm Springs City Council
5:30 p.m. | City Hall
The City of Palm Springs welcomes community input on matters before the City Council. The meeting can be viewed at palmspringsca.gov/psctv, YouTube, or Channel 17 (Spectrum).
Agua Caliente Desert Blues Revival
7 p.m. | Agua Caliente Casino
Come listen to authentic Blues, Soul, R&B, and Rock from around the globe every Wednesday right here in your backyard. ($17)
An Evening at the Museum to Benefit Jewish Family Services
7 p.m. | Palm Springs Art Museum
An Evening at the Museum benefiting Jewish Family Service of the Desert features exclusive gallery access, heavy appetizer stations by Eight4Nine Fine Catering & Events, and a live performance by Chris Ruggiero in The Annenberg Theatre. This year's event honors Joanne and Myron Mintz with the 2026 JFS Humanitarian Award.
Solid Gold Soul
7:30 p.m. | The Plaza Theatre
Solid Gold Soul comes to The Plaza Theatre for one night only, featuring impersonators of The Temptations, Ray Charles, Michael Jackson, James Brown, Stevie Wonder, and more, backed by a 60s-style Soul Band. After Palm Springs, the show heads on a nationwide tour.
📌 Save the Date
Palm Springs Parks Foundation Listening Session on Thursday and on March 26
The L-Fund presents: Luck be a Lady on Saturday
INNERBLOOM: 2026 Annual Spring Exhibition on Saturday at Janssen Artspace
Bloom in the Desert annual fundraiser at Palm Canyon Theatre on March 20
17th Annual ONE-PS Picnic & Community Expo on March 21 at Ruth Hardy Park
AmDocs Film Festival on March 26
Palm Springs Book Festival from March 27 through 29
Trans Pride 2026 on March 28 and 29 at Frances Stevens Park
Palm Springs Fire Foundation’s Annual Easter Egg Hunt on March 29 at Ruth Hardy Park
Palm Springs Speaks: CeCe Moore on March 30
🚠 And Finally …
Then-Mayor Ron deHarte speaks during the 2025 State of the City. (File photo)
Palm Springs City Councilmember Ron deHarte — who served as the city's 27th mayor from late 2024 until late 2025 — has announced he's running for re-election to his District 3 seat, making it official Tuesday morning.
Driving the news: DeHarte, first elected to the council in 2022 with 65% of the vote, is centering his campaign on fiscal accountability, economic development, and what he calls "radical transparency" in city spending.
What he's saying: Although he is a proponent of exploring the elected mayor role again, deHarte said Tuesday that, "District 3 is where my work begins and ends.”
“I want to be clear that I am not running for mayor,” he added. “My focus remains on providing our residents with an experienced voice dedicated to the essentials: public safety, street maintenance, and local representation."
Zoom in: District 3 covers the central portion of western Palm Springs between Vista Chino and Ramon Road.
More information is available at his campaign website, rondeharte.com.
In Case You Missed It
Recently published stories
☕️ Kendall wonders how early is too early in the day to start eating chocolate-covered espresso beans.
🍪 Mark may have eaten more than his fair share of cookies at the ONE-PS meeting yesterday. He offers his sincerest apologies to anyone who had their eye on the chocolate chip treats.
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