Good morning, Escondido.

The Escondido Chamber Cup Challenge 2026 raised over $50,000 for local charities (with $15K for the chamber, $5K for PAL, and $5K for the Rising Stars Escondido program) on Aug.

28 at Native Oaks Golf Course in Valley Center; VIPs including Mayor Dane White attended the event.

Beloved restaurateur Joe Onda was posthumously honored by USN SEALS for his military support, and his daughter Angelina now leads the iconic Italian restaurant in Escondido.

The Grand Tea Room will host ‘Moriarty: A New Sherlock Holmes Story’ from Sept.

10 to 27 — the immersive dinner theater features actors like Josh Click as Sherlock Holmes and offers guests a full English high tea service.

Escondido Choral Arts kicks off its 14th season with auditions on Monday, Sept.

14 at the California Center for the Arts Conference Center. The season will feature performances of Byrd's Mass for Four Voices on Nov. 15 and Handel’s Messiah on Dec. 21.

This Saturday, Sept. 12, downtown Escondido will come alive with art exhibits, live music by Jah Ollin, and craft activities for families.

Local spots including the California Center for the Arts Museum (offering guided tours) and CoLabCrafts will host free admission events.

Carol Rogers ended her two-year term as chair of the Escondido Arts Commission on June 15 and remains as a commissioner until March 2027.

New chair Mimi Ovanessoff will lead monthly meetings to guide a more open process for choosing local public art — a change aimed at boosting transparency.

California Center for the Arts Museum will host Blood Memory, a multidisciplinary exhibit featuring Native and indigenous artists exploring ancestral knowledge and cultural memory.

An opening reception is set for Saturday, Sept. 12, 5 to 7 p.m. and the exhibit runs until Feb. 28, 2027.

William Sharer's painting 'Passageway to the Sun' will be permanently installed at the California Center for the Arts and unveiled Tuesday, Sept.

8 at 4:30 p.m. at 340 N. Escondido Blvd; Mayor Dane White will present the piece and call for donations to aid flood and mudslide victims in Nepal.

A longtime Escondido resident said rising brush fire risks have forced insurers to drop full fire coverage, pushing homeowners into costly CA Fair state policies.

He urged local officials to act on the hazard posed by a high-risk hill near several HOA developments.

The Crusaders won the inaugural North County Flag Football Alliance opener on Aug.

26 at Calvin Christian in Escondido, building on a 28-7 halftime lead to win 41-15 over High Tech High North County; coach Eric Miedema said the team executed well.

Last Friday, the unbeaten White Tigers won big with scores of 48-0 against Foothills Christian and 53-13 over O’Farrell Charter, while the Caimans shut out the Cougars 42-0 with a strong running game led by senior Daine Gonzalez.

Teams will meet again in upcoming high school matchups.