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Thursday, May 21 | ☀️ 97°/71°
Happy Thursday! If you’re like us, you’ve been anxiously watching the calendar as we creep ever closer to summer. Yes because of the heat, but mostly because that means our options for Farmers Markets and fresh produce stands start to dwindle. Indio doesn’t currently have a Certified Farmers Market, we do have Madison Street Produce (our editor Kendall luckily lives right down the block) but that is closing up shop for the season on Sunday along with the La Quinta Farmers Market and other nearby options. But we do have some good news! Instead of trekking all the way to Palm Springs for their indoor market, Palm Desert is opening up an indoor option at Canyon Creek Mushroom’s indoor farm north of the freeway. Check out all the details in our sister publication, The Palm Desert Post.
🎶 Setting the mood: "Scarborough Fair/Canticle" by Simon & Garfunkel
Leading Off
Current and former members of Indio High School's FFA and Agriculture Program rallied at Tuesday's meeting to show their support for the program. (Photo: Riverside County Farm Bureau)
DSUSD superintendent: Indio High agriculture program on pause for 'facelift,' not elimination
Facing a room packed with students, parents, farmers, and community leaders, Desert Sands Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Kelly May-Vollmar pledged Tuesday night that the district has no intention of permanently eliminating Indio High School's agriculture and Future Farmers of America program.
Driving the news: May-Vollmar told the board the program's troubles are rooted in declining student enrollment, not budget constraints. She described the district's plan as a "pause" to redesign and modernize the curriculum, including potential partnerships with university programs such as one at UC Riverside.
The program's agriculture teacher, Mamie Powell, is retiring at the end of the school year. The closure was announced earlier this month by Principal Monica Rodriguez, who said enrollment had made it "no longer sustainable to support a full-time teaching position."
The pushback: 19 speakers urged the board to save the program, including Indio High FFA President Roberto Sanchez, a senior who said he collected signatures from 224 students who expressed interest in taking an agriculture class.
A representative from the Riverside County Agricultural Commissioner's office cited the Coachella Valley's estimated $840 million crop value in calling the program "a significant investment in our local youth."
What they're saying: Indio City Councilmember Glenn Miller, whose two children went through the FFA program, said the city paid $2 million to DSUSD during a remodel of Indio High — partly to ensure the agriculture program received proper facilities. "This program is definitely needed," he said.
What's next: No action items related to the agriculture program were on Tuesday's agenda. The board's next regularly scheduled meeting is June 9.
Briefly
The bridge has been closed since 2023, and had been flooded multiple times before.Caption
🌉 Indio's Avenue 44 bridge reopens after two-year closure
The City of Indio opened the new Avenue 44 All-Weather Bridge to the public Tuesday afternoon, ending a closure that began in August 2023 when Tropical Storm Hilary washed out the roadway at the Coachella Valley Storm Water Channel.
The $35.1 million structure spans Avenue 44 between Palo Verde Street and Aztec Street, replacing a low-water crossing that had been damaged by flooding in 2010, 2013, 2017, 2019, and 2020. The road was widened to two lanes in each direction and includes new sidewalks, a CV Link connection, curbs, gutters, and upgraded street lighting.
Details: The project was funded through the Federal Highway Bridge Program, Measure A Funds, Coachella Valley Association of Governments Transportation Uniform Mitigation Fees, and Development Impact Fees for roads.
⚾️ Indio Sports Park is open, but future expansions remain unclear
The Indio Sports Park opened May 16, but city officials say completing the 30-acre Market Street facility is far from over after the city failed to receive a state grant needed to fund Phase 2 expansion.
Phase 2 could add a splash pad, pickleball and tennis courts, and dog parks. City staff is pursuing another grant while proposing to set aside $1 million in the upcoming budget for interim improvements. The location of a long-planned skate park also remains unresolved, with councilmembers favoring Miles Avenue Park as its site.
Details: Staff will develop skate park designs and return to the council with a recommendation. A $1 million budget could support a modular above-ground facility, though a concrete bowl-style park could cost $4 to $6 million. Residents with questions about reservations or field access should contact the Desert Recreation District.
A MESSAGE FROM CITY OF PALM SPRINGS
📅 Featured events
Chick-fil-A Indio Grand Opening
Today | 6:30 a.m. | Chick-fil-A Indio
Chick-fil-A celebrates the opening of its Indio location. The first 100 dine-in guests will receive a tote bag filled with Chick-fil-A goodies.
Supper Club: Seafood Boil
Today | 6 p.m. | Cork and Fork
Monthly prix fixe dinner with a different theme each month. This month is seafood boil, next month is Summer in Italy. ($70)
Desert Beat at the Dune Room
Today | 6 p.m. | Dune Room
A live music songwriting showcase hosted by Brad Parker featuring performers Rick Shelley, Lisa Rae Black, Nigel Roman, Krystal Khali, Lorna Adams, Karla Anderson, Josh Kjerstad, and Harold Payne.
Indio's Food Truck Fridays
Friday | 5 p.m. | Downtown Indio
Indio's weekly food truck gathering features rotating vendors, live music, family-friendly activities, and themed nights. Pets welcome.
Desert X Art Club Exhibition Opening
Friday | 5 p.m. | Melissa Morgan Fine Art, Palm Desert
Student artwork from Desert Ridge Academy, Indio Middle School, John Glenn Middle School, Gerald Ford Elementary, and Carrillo Ranch Elementary is on display. The exhibition runs through June 7.
5k and 10k Run
Saturday | 5:30 a.m. | Saguaro Coffee
Group run meetup at Saguaro Coffee in Indio for a 5k or 10k (3 or 6 miles); walkers are welcome.
Morning Yoga
Saturday | 11 a.m. | Indio Public Library
Morning yoga session at the Indio Public Library.
Afternoon Listening – Ryan Güt: The Shastafarian
Saturday | 2 p.m. | Rosemary HiFi
An intentional high-fidelity listening session of Ryan Güt's "The Shastafarian" followed by open discussion hosted by the artist. A $10 bar credit is included with every ticket. 21+. ($18)
Indio Brewing Memorial Day BBQ Potluck
Saturday | 5 p.m. | Indio Brewing
Inaugural Memorial Day BBQ Potluck — bring a dish to share and vote for the People's Choice winner, announced at 7 p.m. Food runs while supplies last; early arrival recommended.
UPALV Run Club Memorial Day Murph
Sunday | 6 p.m. | La Quinta Park
A Memorial Day tribute workout consisting of a 1-mile run, 100 pull-ups, 200 push-ups, 300 squats, and a final 1-mile run. Those unable to attend in person can complete the workout and log it on Strava.
Memorial Day Ceremony
Monday | 9 a.m. | Coachella Valley Public Cemetery District
The Coachella Valley Public Cemetery District will host its annual Memorial Day ceremony at the Veterans Memorial on the cemetery grounds, organized in collaboration with American Legion Post 739 of Indio.
📣 And Finally …
Plans for the revamped festival have it taking over several streets downtown, and feature lower fees and more accessible options for families. (Photo: Indio International Tamale Festival)
Indio's most famous food festival is heading home. The International Tamale Festival is returning to downtown Indio this year after several years at Miles Avenue Park — a location that, as one councilmember put it, was "never suited" for the event.
Driving the news: The Indio City Council Wednesday night heard about revamped plans for the 2026 festival centered on lower vendor costs, expanded family options, and a return to the downtown streets where the event was born.
The festival's move to Miles Avenue Park was always meant to be temporary, prompted by construction that brought a new public library and City Hall to the downtown core.
The new setup: Three stages, a free kids' zone, and more affordable carnival rides are planned, along with booth space offered at no cost to downtown businesses to offset any disruption to their storefronts.
By the numbers: Tamale vendor fees are set at $450, merchandise vendors at $700, and nonprofit food vendors at $250.
What they're saying: City Economic Development Director Miguel Ramirez-Cornejo said the goal isn't profit — it's scale. "We want the 100-plus tamale vendors," he said, adding that the city hopes to eventually claim a Guinness World Record for the largest tamale festival in the world.
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