The winter rains often close Vista Chino where it crosses Whitewater River east of Gene Autry Trail. The City of Palm Springs plans to replace the 4-lane, low-water crossing on Vista Chino with a 4-lane bridge across Whitewater River.
On January 23, 2017, Caltrans approved an additional $7,082,000 in federal funding to complete the final design phase for the project.The City is excited to move forward with the final design of this important project, which has now been approved with $8.6M in federal funds to date.
The half-mile bridge is projected to be completed around 2020/2021.
Several VLPNO homeowners have reported that their mail boxes have been broken into over the past couple of weeks, most recently on Stevens Road and Camino Norte.
Please keep a watchful eye out in the neighborhood and call the Palm Springs Police Department 911 if you see any suspicious activity.
If you would like to become a member of the Vista Las Palmas Neighborhood Organization (VLPNO), membership dues are $40/year. You can pay online by PayPal or credit card here.
If you prefer to pay by check, please make the check out to Vista Las Palmas Neighborhood Organization (please do not abbreviate), and mail to 755 Camino Sur, Palm Springs, CA 92262.
If you are already a member but have not paid your dues for 2017, you can do so online as described above.
For the past three years Vista Las Palmas Neighborhood Organization (VLPNO) has supported a program called Build-A-Bike that is overseen by Riverside County Family Services (RCFS). RCFS help people who are in need of assistance. On a daily basis people come into their office who need help paying for electricity, heating, food and everyday necessities. It is run by the County of Riverside to help people over a rough period in their lives until they can get on their feet, and it is very strictly monitored.
At Christmas time people and organizations donate to the Build-A-Bike Fund and Larry Singh, the director at RCFS, purchases and assembles bikes for kids whose family cannot afford to buy them a bike. Riverside County Family Services compiles a list of families, (number and ages of kids) that meet their criteria. Family names are put into a hat when the time comes to pick the recipients. The family is contacted and given a time to come and “see Santa”.
Each bike has a sign with the child’s name and the donor’s name. They give 2 wheelers, some with training wheels if needed, 3 wheelers for the small kids and teddy bear’s for those too young for a bike. Each bike, whether a 2 or 3 wheeler comes with a helmet. Infants get car seats and the police make sure they installed correctly.
Sheila Cobrin attended the Santa event in December. She says, “All in all it is a wonderful event that really makes you feel good to have a child come up to you and give you a hug or a kiss and say thank you. Wide eyes and smiles say so much.”
VLPNO’s Membership Dues make it possible for us to participate in this most needed and appreciated program. Thank you Members!
Howard Hawkes has graciously agreed to chair the VLPNO Social Committee again this year. Two “Happy Hour” events were held in 2016 – one at Dish and one at Rendezvous at the Arrive Hotel.
We hope to have even more events in 2017. Stay tuned!
