Dear Neighbors,

After seeing the devastating scenes from The Bahamas, it is easier to tolerate the humidity we have experienced here in Indio of late. It is remarkable how many first responders and humanitarians step forward at times like this. 

Here in Indio, I am so appreciative of my City teammates who work outside in the extreme heat. We do our best to limit their exposure to the worst of it, but our staff is out there serving the public, and they earn my respect every day. And of course, employees from the City of Indio are are part of a much bigger world of workers who grow our food, fix our cars, maintain our landscapes, police our streets, fight our fires, repair our utility lines, pave our streets, etc. Thank you to every one of them. 

And of course, the worst of all summers are suffered by those who live on the streets or without cooling. A growing number of governments, nonprofit service providers, religious institutions and caring volunteers step up each day to address these time-critical needs. These humanitarians/heroes get better and more efficient in their efforts every year. I am so inspired every time I visit places like the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission, Martha’s Village, FIND Food Bank, and other frontline providers. I wish I could name them all. And people do not know how the medical community is involved, but they are. Thank you to JFK Hospital for the Emergency Service they provide to people in desperate need, and thank you to the community care facilities and “wrap-around” service providers who help people get off the street and back into happier lives.

Our Community recently voted to expand the boundaries of the Desert Healthcare District into the East Coachella Valley. They have immediately jumped into the homelessness arena to provide leadership and coordination that we have not had previously. We have also benefitted from enhanced leadership from Riverside County, and the Coachella Valley cities and tribal entities who are working through the Coachella Valley Association of Governments on a daily basis to bring focus and strategic direction to these important issues.

Our circumstances pale by comparison to the tragedy in The Bahamas, but you serve the needs of people one person at a time. I am so inspired by the capacities of strong communities like ours to address the needs of their neighbors. 

Speaking of which—let me also acknowledge what started centuries ago as a post-harvest American tradition of sending our kids back to school in August or September. It is a time of hope and love. Without a doubt, our teachers and their support teams are a treasure!

Mark Scott

City Manager

[email protected]

Third Annual Cop

on a Roof

Do not worry if you see a police officer on the Dunkin’ Donuts (42225 Jackson St.) rooftop in North Indio on September 12 from 6 - 10 a.m. That morning, the Indio Police Department will take their levels of commitment to new heights as they stake out on the rooftop of Dunkin’ to raise awareness and funds for the Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) for Special Olympics Southern California.

Every dollar raised at Cop on a Rooftop helps fund Special Olympics programs in our community. Special Olympics Southern California enriches the lives of athletes with intellectual disabilities and their communities through sports, education, and athlete health.

The Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics is a volunteer movement that was established by members of the law enforcement community to support Special Olympics. The mission of LETR is to increase awareness and raise funds for the Special Olympics movement through events like Cop on a Rooftop . 

Stop by Dunkin' Donuts for a coffee and a donut on September 12th and support the Law Enforcement Torch Run. For more information on Cop on a Rooftop, contact Luke Farnell at  [email protected] with the Special Olympics Southern California.

Desert TheatreWorks receives an Astounding Nominations for 2018/2019 Season 

Desert Theatreworks (DTW) has received 63 nominations for its 2018-2019 season by The Desert Theatre League for its annual Desert Star Awards. The Desert Theatre League adjudicates well over 100 productions annually throughout the Coachella Valley and High Desert. This year DTW received nominations in 38 categories. 

 

 “We at DTW are delighted to have the most nominations of any theatre company this past season,” says Artistic Director Lance Phillips-Martinez. “The annual awards ceremony is a wonderful time for everyone to celebrate the dedication and hard-work of everyone from our entire theatre community.” 

 

Desert Theatreworks nominations include: Murder on the Nile (5 nominations), Sound of Music (5 Nominations), Hairspray (5 nominations), Real Women Have Curves (7 nominations), Some Enchanted Evening (8 nominations), Brighton Beach Memoirs (9 nominations), Southern Fried Funeral (10 nominations), and our production of Into the Woods (a whopping 14 nominations). The full list of nominations can be found at deserttheatreleague.org . The awards ceremony will be held on Sunday, October 13, 2019 at Sun City Palm Desert. 

For more information on the 2019/2020 season with DTW, visit dtworks.org .

American Heart Association Classes to be held at the Indio Senior Center

We all deserve to live a long, healthy and happy life. However, heart disease and stroke are robbing too many from this innate entitlement. The American Heart Association is working to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to live their best life. The Indio Senior Center is proud to partner with the American Heart Association and their local  Life is Why  sponsor, Desert Oasis Healthcare in presenting four educational classes to help educate and fight cardiovascular disease and stroke: 

These classes will be held at the Indio Senior Center located at 45700 Aladdin Street, Indio from 12:45-1:45 p.m. on the scheduled days. Attendees must be Indio Senior Center members. To become a member of the Indio Senior Center, please visit indio.org/seniorcenter . 

Corazon de Mexico at t he Coachella Valley History Museum

The Coachella Valley History Museum, located at 82616 Miles Avenue in Indio, has received a collection of over 100 pieces of original, authentic folk art from a donor who has spent years living and traveling throughout Mexico. The collection will be featured in an exhibit titled  Corazon de Mexico: Folk Art From The Heart Of Mexico . The exhibit will open on October 4, 2019 and will continue until October 2021.

The Coachella Valley has a rich history of Mexican settlement. Folk art has been described as decorative as well as utilitarian. No other exhibit of this type has ever been displayed in the Coachella Valley. The intent of the exhibit is for visitors to the Valley and for residents who live here to develop a deeper understanding and appreciation of Mexican Folk Art. The goal is to instill pride in our local Mexican population for the rich cultures of Oaxaca and Michoacán, Mexico. For those who are not of Hispanic heritage, the exhibit will open their minds to how people can take utilitarian objects and create art influenced by their history and their environment.

Check the Museum's website, cvhm.org, for additional information about this and many other exhibits.   

The Inspiration for Flight Plan: The Birds of Sunnylands at CVHM

The Coachella Valley History Museum is pleased to announce one of their newest exhibits Flight Plan: The Birds of Sunnylands . This exhibit focuses on the sanctuary that Walter and Leonore Annenberg created for birds at their home in Rancho Mirage. Today, a wide and colorful variety of birds reside within, or migrate through, the 200-acre estate and the Center & Gardens. Through photographs, the exhibition tells the story of the Annenbergs’ careful cultivation of a desert environment where birds are encouraged to visit.

The Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands commissioned National Geographic photographer Tim Laman to document the range of bird species found at Sunnylands. Over a two-year period, he captured detailed images of bird behavior including courtship dances, hunting habits, and mid-air acrobatics. A selection of the more than 130 species of birds that have been identified at Sunnylands are included in the exhibition that can now be seen at The Coachella Valley History Museum. With an artistic eye, Laman photographed the birds in their natural habitat, resulting in arresting images that highlight bird behavior. 

For more information on this latest exhibit at CVHM, visit cvhm.org .

Renovations at The Lights at Indio Golf Course

The Lights at Indio Golf Course is excited to announce some renovations that have been completed at the Valley’s only night-lighted golf course this summer. Twelve out of the 18 tees have been regraded and replanted for the Men’s and Lady’s tees. Golfers will notice newly planted trees on holes 1, 2, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18. A few of the tees have been extended to allow golfers more of a challenge. 

 

On the driving range, target greens have been created to give a better simulation of playing a golf course. The driving range teeing area has been top-dressed to improve the quality of grass on the tee. Golfers will also enjoy new range golf balls.

 

The palm trees have been trimmed and they are beautiful under the lights at night.

 

Another noticeable upgrade at The Lights are brand new golf carts! Forty-four new carts have arrived for golfer comfort. The new carts have a built-in GPS system, radio and Bluetooth.

 

Please come see us! To review the current golf specials, book your tee time or schedule your next golf lesson, visit  indiogolf.com .

Arriola’s Tortilleria in Indio has sold tortillas longer than anyone in Southern California

Southern California is home to many tortillerias run by families for generations. To find the oldest, continuously operating tortilleria in Southern California, you only need to look at short distance to downtown Indio and Arriola’s Tortilleria. They have been making fresh corn and flour tortillas out of their low-profile location on Wilson Street since 1965, but founders Herlindo and Eulalia Arriola started making and selling tortillas out of their home around the corner in 1927. That makes 92 years of tortilla-making! 

Click here to read the full story featured on KCRW by Gustavo Arellano.

Indio Now Accepting Applications for Community Grant Sponsorship Opportunities



The City of Indio is inviting nonprofit organizations or local governmental agencies to apply for funding under its annual Community Grant/Sponsorship Program. Made available by the Indio City Council, the program is for the current fiscal year, which runs through June 30, 2020. The deadline to apply is September 30, 2019. For requirements and applications please visit the City of Indio’s home page,  indio.org . 

 

“The Indio Community Grant/Sponsorship Program helps to create new opportunities to improve the quality of life for our residents or to strengthen our business community,” said Indio Mayor Lupe Ramos Amith. “There are many amazing local organizations in Indio and the Coachella Valley. This program provides small grants or fee waivers to encourage them in their service missions. We look forward to partnering with them through this program.”

   

Questions about the application process may be addressed to Jim Curtis, Community Services Manager, at (760) 391-4174 or  [email protected] . 

ADA Accessibility Public Input Survey  

The City of Indio, in keeping with its ongoing efforts to serve all members of the community, is updating its Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) transition plan and self-evaluation. The accessibility plan provides a comprehensive plan for access for individuals with disabilities to City facilities, parks, programs, services, activities and events, and helps to address and prioritize current and future needs. Complete the online survey here . Deadline to submit your survey is September 30, 2019. If you have questions or comments or would like to request a survey in an alternate format, please contact Juan Raya, ADA Coordinator, at [email protected] or (760) 541-4225.  

The City of Indio is the largest and fastest growing city in the Coachella Valley with more than with more than 89,000 residents. Nearly 1.4 million people visit Indio every year to attend its world famous arts, food, and music festivals. With nationally recognized public safety services, exceptional schools, great parks and senior and teen centers, no wonder more than 2,700 new housing units are in construction or being planned throughout the city in addition to new hotels, restaurants and retailers. Indio was the first city incorporated in the Coachella Valley on May 16, 1930, and is governed by an elected City Council that employs a City Manager. The City of Indio embraces its diversity and provides outstanding municipal services to enhance the quality of life for its residents, visitors and business community.