Good morning, Escondido.

The Rotary Club of Escondido hosted its annual Coeur de Cuisine gala at the California Center for the Arts and raised $194,000 to fund local nonprofit grants, scholarships and service projects.

The event honored Danny and Norma Sherlock for decades of community service (supporting youth and education initiatives).

Escondido hosted a busy Street Fair on Sunday with many vendors and guests enjoying the new downtown roundabouts and wider sidewalks—locals noted a rise in new shops and dining options.

Valentine Studios at 240 East Grand opened for local services while Firangi SD will open soon at 201 East Grand—both supported by the Downtown Business Association since 1962.

The 2025 Point-in-Time count shows a 7% drop in homelessness in San Diego County and a 2% decrease in Escondido, which still has over 300 unsheltered residents—307 to be exact.

Greg Anglea from Interfaith Community Services said new resources like the Escondido Family Shelter and Turk Recuperative Care Center helped lower unsheltered numbers and that more work remains to further reduce homelessness.

The California Center for the Arts, Escondido has launched the first-ever North County Arts Awards to honor local talent in 18 categories across visual, culinary, and performing arts—with a formal black-tie dinner scheduled for June 28 at the CCAE Conference Center.

Nominations opened May 12 and will close on June 1—and community write-in submissions will narrow each category to the top five finalists, with nominees required to be based in North County.

On May 19, Nashville-based country singer Steven Cade performed a mini concert at San Pasqual High School and donated five new guitars to its music program—local school leaders and officials, including Mayor Dane White, were present as students got a chance to receive autographs and ask questions after the performance.

On May 14, the Escondido City Council awarded a construction contract for the Library Infrastructure Improvement Project to Southwest Construction Services Inc. (cost $6,266,583) and moved the library operations to the mall while work is expected to take about a year.

The council also adopted Ordinance 2025-03 (defining fire hazard zones based on Cal Fire data) which will require new safety measures and better disclosure by real estate agents.

Lawrence Welk's Villas on the Greens Stay

May 23-30 — Villas on the Greens, Escondido, CA — From $2,900 — Enjoy a luxurious one-bedroom stay at a resort with golf, theater, and family-friendly activities.

Escondido Choral Arts Concert

3-6 p.m. — California Center for the Arts, Escondido — Ticket prices vary — Enjoy a captivating performance featuring Dan Forrest’s Requiem for the Living and full orchestra.

Palomar Gem and Mineral Show

10 a.m. - 5 p.m., 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. — California Center for the Arts, Escondido — Entry fee TBD — Discover beautiful mineral specimens, cut gems, fossils, and exquisite jewelry crafted from the earth's treasures.