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Thursday, July 30 | ☀️ 111°/84°
Happy Thursday! Last week we told you all about how to run for election for the Indio City Council. There’s also a spot up for grabs on Desert Sands Unified School District (DSUSD). Area 5 seat, representing parts of north Indio and currently held by Michael Duran, is up for election, and prospective candidates have until 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7, to file for a spot on the Nov. 3 ballot, which comes with a four-year term; not sure if you live in Trustee Area 5? Check this map to find out. Whether you're thinking about running yourself or just want to know who's representing your kids' schools, now's a great time to get in the loop!
🎶 Setting the mood: "July" by Hozier
Leading Off
Previous IID tree programs have provided trees for private residents throughout the East Valley.
Indio to plant 500 shade trees across parks and private yards to fight extreme heat
Indio will receive 500 native and drought-tolerant trees through a regional grant program aimed at cooling desert neighborhoods, city staff told the Sustainability Commission on Monday.
Driving the news: The Coachella Valley Association of Governments and the Imperial Irrigation District secured a $2.9 million grant through the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and the federal Inflation Reduction Act for the Shade Trees for Southern California's Deserts initiative.
The trees will be split evenly, with 250 going to private properties and 250 to public parks and streets, staff said.
Why it matters: The program is designed to reduce extreme heat, improve air quality, lower energy use and build climate resilience, particularly in disadvantaged and underserved communities, though the trees will be available citywide.
How it works: IID and CVAG will manage outreach and intake for trees planted on private property, while city departments will decide placement of trees in public spaces.
Staff said species and location decisions will be "a collaborative effort" among city departments, including parks and streets staff.
By the numbers: Trees will arrive in 15-gallon containers, and the city will take on long-term care of the public trees after planting. Most are desert species that shouldn't need irrigation once established, staff said.
What's next: Trees are expected to be planted across Indio by the end of 2027.
Briefly
Following a citywide expansion of fiber lines along major streets, Indio engineers are preparing to connect individual mobile homes starting this fall.
📶 Indio to bring fiber internet to mobile home parks
Indio is preparing to extend fiber optic broadband into three mobile home parks — Arabian Gardens, Towne Mobile Homes and Indian Wells — starting this fall, following an $8 million grant aimed at underserved communities.
The city has already installed fiber backbone along Jefferson Street, Highway 111 and Jackson Street, engineering official Don Ueno told the Mobile Home Fair Practices Commission last week. The next phase connects that infrastructure to individual homes through partner company Onward, which Ueno said will offer service around $30 a month, cheaper than Frontier, Verizon or AT&T.
Details: Installation is expected between October and March, and connecting will not be mandatory. Ueno said the city originally partnered with a different company that later withdrew, prompting a search that led to Onward. Other mobile home parks were contacted but didn't reach agreements, partly due to distance from existing fiber lines.
🔒 California tool lets residents delete data from brokers
California residents can now use a single online request, called DROP (Delete Request and Opt-out Platform), to ask all data brokers registered in the state to delete their personal information and stop selling or sharing it. A single request currently reaches 614 brokers.
The tool launched Jan. 1, but brokers don't have to comply until Aug. 1, after which they'll have 45 days to respond. Requests can cover information such as Social Security numbers, geolocation, browsing history and inferred data like health or political views, though public records such as vehicle or real estate ownership are excluded.
Bottom line: The tool only works for California residents, and opt-outs don't stop future data collection by non-brokers or new brokers that register later. Go here to start the process or learn more.
A MESSAGE FROM
DAP HEALTH
Breastfeeding provides powerful health benefits for both babies and moms, but the journey isn’t always easy. Understanding common challenges, knowing when to seek support, and giving women grace can help them make informed nursing decisions that prioritize their family’s health, well-being, and unique circumstances.
📅 Featured events
Books & Brews
Today | 6 p.m. | Indio Brewing
Local author Aneta Cruz will sign copies of her romance novel “Bohemian Girl in Ruins”. Attendees can browse romance titles, bookish merchandise, and local craft beer while meeting fellow readers.
Balance and Burn workout class
Friday | 9 a.m. | Indio Community Center
Balance & Burn Dance Class (formerly Salsaerobics) combines a dynamic warm-up, dance interval workout, and cool-down to improve flexibility and fitness. The class welcomes all fitness levels. ($10 drop-in)
Synth Circle
Friday | 2:30 p.m. | The Place
Synth Circle returns with Teenage Engineering Pocket Operators available for attendees to try out.
Indio's Food Truck Fridays
Friday | 5 p.m. | Downtown Indio (Towne St. & Bliss Ave.)
Indio's weekly food truck tradition features a rotating vendor lineup offering sweet treats, snacks, meals, and beverages. The family- and pet-friendly event also includes live music and themed days. Free
Build a Backpack Dinner
Friday | 5 p.m. | Indio Elks Lodge
Indio Elks Lodge #1643 will host a spaghetti and meatballs dinner to benefit local children in need, with proceeds supporting backpack donations for area schoolchildren. ($15)
Candles and Cheer
Friday | 6:30 p.m. | The Place
Gear It Forward and the Latina Entrepreneur Network host an evening of candle making to benefit the community. A portion of proceeds will help local families cover cheer uniforms, equipment, and competition fees. ($66)
Moving Moms Run Club
Saturday | 5:30 a.m. | Indio Sports Park
Moving Moms Run Club meets every Saturday morning for a walk, jog, or run open to all paces. The group emphasizes community and encouragement for participants.
Pressed Flower Framing
Saturday | 10 a.m. | Temalpakh Farm
Create a framed ornament using local, sourced pressed flowers. All supplies and a medium smoothie are included. ($50)
Local Closet Sale
Saturday | 10 a.m. | 82545 Showcase Pkwy Unit 110
A multi-vendor sale features local boutiques and consignment clothing, accessories, and jewelry. Food vendors include Rusty's Coffee Bar, Dose & Goods, Bouquets Bellas, Sincerely Acai, and KTSU, alongside additional vendors Stonned Studios, CutStoned, and R&CO.
Valley Kids PlayFest
Saturday | 11:30 a.m. | Indio Library
Valley Kids PlayFest celebrates the International Day of Play with a tech-free day of hands-on activities. The event includes STEM stations and creative play for families.
Indoor Bird Watch
Saturday | 2 p.m. | La Quinta Museum
An indoor birdwatching event features feathered friends from Avian Behavior International.
Open turntables
Sunday | 4 p.m. | Rosemary HiFi
Rosemary HiFi will host an open turntables session, inviting DJs to bring an hour's worth of deep cut music for one-hour spin sets. Free
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📣 And Finally …
The Coachella Valley Lakers are an minor league affiliate team created to serve as the development pipeline for the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers.
Get in the paint, literally, and you could represent Indio at Acrisure Arena ahead of the inaugural season of the Coachella Valley Lakers.
Driving the news: Acrisure Arena is inviting one visual artist from each of the valley's nine cities to design a custom basketball incorporating their city's culture and the CV Lakers logo, with the finished pieces unveiled together at the team's home opener this fall.
Artists have until Aug. 6 to submit a portfolio for consideration.
The perks: Selected artists will receive a $250 stipend, game tickets and social media coverage, and their painting process will be featured in a weekly summer video series.
Once chosen, artists will have two weeks to complete their basketball after their design sketch is approved by the Lakers brand.
The rules: Artwork must be original, free of copyrighted material and can't depict any human likeness.
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