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Monday, Feb. 2 | ☀️ 72°/56°
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LEADING OFF |
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Business owners who rely on this parking lot to the south of Fire Station 1 are speaking out about plans to expand the station onto the property. |
Fire department plans open house as downtown parking concerns surface over Station 1 expansion |
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As concerns mount about the project's potential impact on nearby parking, the Palm Springs Fire Department has scheduled a community open house for later this month to discuss plans to modernize the aging downtown Fire Station 1.
Driving the news: The department will host the event from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 23, at the station, located at 277 North Indian Canyon Road.
The backstory: The announcement comes after multiple residents and business owners used last week's City Council meeting to voice strong opposition to any plan that would eliminate an existing downtown parking lot to accommodate the expansion.
What they're saying: Several speakers suggested alternatives they said could allow the fire station project to move forward without sacrificing parking spaces, ranging from building upward rather than outward to purchasing nearby property or incorporating replacement parking into the project design.
Why it matters: Fire Station 1 no longer meets current operational needs. The proposed expansion would preserve the historic building while constructing new facilities to accommodate modern equipment and increased staffing needs driven by higher call volume and continued downtown development.
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BRIEFLY |
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Fire crews battle a vegetation fire at Prescott Preserve on Sunday. (Submitted photo: Barb Hornak)
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🔥 Fire destroys palm oasis at Prescott Preserve
- The Palm Springs Fire Department contained a 3.5-acre vegetation fire at Prescott Preserve on Sunday afternoon that destroyed approximately 100 palm trees near the pond area between Farrell Drive and Compadre Road. Firefighters responded at 2:17 p.m. and upgraded to a second alarm as flames spread rapidly through the vegetation.
- A spokesperson for Oswit Land Trust, which manages the preserve, said the organization believes the fire was human-caused and said an arson investigation will take place this week. No structures were damaged, and no injuries were reported, but the extent of damage to wildlife, including turtles, owls, bats, and coots has not yet been assessed.
- Bottom line: Trails on the east side of Farrell will remain closed until further notice, and all recovery and replanting efforts will require donations since the palm oasis was not included in the organization's restoration grant.
Dive deeper with our complete story |
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🗳️ Garner launches re-election campaign for District 1 Council seat
- Palm Springs District 1 City Councilmember Grace Garner kicked off her re-election campaign Sunday at Demuth Park ahead of November's election. Garner has served on the council since December 2019 and is currently its most senior member.
- She identified pedestrian and traffic safety as a renewed focus area and pointed to ongoing citywide projects, including the convention center, library, airport, and Fire Station 1, as priorities requiring experienced leadership. She also highlighted the Tramview Heights specific plan as instrumental for bringing diversified housing and retail to the northern part of her district.
- Zoom out: Two other council seats are on the ballot this year — District 2, held by Jeffrey Bernstein, who launched his re-election campaign last October, and District 3, held by Ron deHarte, who has not yet held a formal kickoff but filed a statement of intention to run with the City Clerk’s office last year.
Dive deeper with our complete story |
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A MESSAGE FROM DAP HEALTH |
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If you haven’t yet had a chance to secure your tickets to The Chase, our annual fundraising gala, you can still do so here. Can’t attend this year? You can still bid on more than 200 fabulous items in our silent auction — online! |
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To read our preview, please click here. |
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TODAY'S FEATURED EVENTS |
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BROUGHT TO YOU BY |
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AND FINALLY ... |
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Araceli Ramirez (foreground) speaks on Sunday while Gina Garcia (seated) is comforted. Garcia arranged the memorial walk and vigil for Ricardo Marano.
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Nearly 100 people walked a mile through Palm Springs on Sunday to honor Ricardo Marano, the 56-year-old pedestrian known affectionately as "The Walking Man," who was killed in a hit-and-run crash Jan. 18.
Driving the news: The community gathered outside Marano's condominium complex and walked to Ruth Hardy Park, retracing a route he walked daily — sometimes covering more than 30 miles in a single day.
- Marano was struck by a vehicle near the 1000 block of East Vista Chino around 3:30 a.m. Jan. 18. Police recovered a black 2005 Chevrolet Silverado believed to be involved, but no arrests have been made.
Why it matters: For many residents, Marano's presence had become part of the rhythm of daily life in Palm Springs — a familiar figure who drew waves, conversations, and comfort simply by being there.
What they're saying: "To know him was to realize that he possessed a truly magnetic personality," his sister wrote in a letter read at the vigil. "He was simply the kind of person who naturally drew people in."
- Neighbors described a minimalist who loved plants, worked as a hair stylist, and found peace in walking the city streets at all hours.
The bigger picture: Attendees said after the vigil that they hope not only that justice is eventually served, but that the tragedy brings renewed attention to pedestrian safety in a tourism-heavy city where unfamiliar drivers navigate dark roads.
Read our complete story and see more images from the walk and vigil |
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IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Recently published stories
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Copyright © 02/06/2026 Valley Voice Media, All rights reserved.
The Post is proudly produced in District 1. Typos are intentional
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