Good morning, Escondido.

On November 13, Escondido Together held an interfaith Thanksgiving service at Trinity Church with a soup supper and a stone soup poster activity that brought different faith groups together—local leaders spoke and music filled the room—and an offering was given to Interfaith Community Services.

On Veterans Day, the American Legion and the Brothers of Six hosted the 6th annual North County VetFest at American Legion Post 149, drawing local officials, vendors, and families to a lively ceremony and celebration.

Korean War veteran David Valley reenacted General MacArthur’s speech and received a commendation from Supervisor Jim Desmond’s office—while food trucks and music kept the crowd engaged as the festival continued into the later hours.

California Center for the Arts, Escondido Foundation will host its annual Winter Wonderland from December 6 to 7 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. — the free event will offer real snow, Santa Claus, holiday crafts and a market with local food and handmade gifts for families.

The Screwtape Letters play will be at the California Center for the Arts on Sunday, January 18 at 3 p.m.—it is a stage adaptation of C.S.

Lewis’s book that follows demon Screwtape as he trains a new demon to tempt a human.

The Frontmen—a country supergroup with former lead singers of Restless Heart, Little Texas, and Lonestar—will perform at the California Center for the Arts in Escondido on December 4, marking their first show at the venue.

They have recorded new versions of past hits and will collaborate with additional artists on new duos over the next six months.

Escondido Creek Conservancy raised over $100,000 at its second annual outdoor education event at Mountain Meadow Preserve on October 25 and received a $50,000 matching gift from sponsors—doubling funds to support programs that reach over 7,000 community members and launch new initiatives for high school students and habitat restoration. Nearly 100 local attendees contributed to making the event a success.

On November 12, the Escondido City Council voted 3-2 to approve a permit for the ISKCON temple project at 1365 Rincon Ave.—The permit allows building an 11,767-square-foot temple with a dorm for four monks and requires safety measures for fire and traffic after hours of testimony from supporters and opponents.

Dr. Darshana Patel from Assembly District 76 said the state secured a loan extension for Palomar Health—staving off a collapse that threatened to cut emergency and maternity care, though gaps in psychiatric services remain as federal cuts add to the pressure.

She is now pushing for new funding and state support to ensure that North County patients get timely treatment.

Supervisor Jim Desmond warned that rising home prices and bulk purchases by foreign investors have pushed homeownership out of reach for many young residents in Escondido—local median prices near $937,000 keep first-time buyers from entering the market.

He proposed limits on foreign-linked investments in single-family homes but his measure was rejected.

Six local high school runners from Escondido braved rainy, muddy conditions at last Saturday’s CIF cross country event on a 2.9-mile course at Morley Field.

Gunner Silva of Classical Academy finished second behind Sage Creek’s Josiah Bowman while Samuel Bitner, Lindsey Billotte, Cara Barao Smith, Maxine Douillet and Charlie Nosti also earned top-10 finishes — demonstrating strong local talent.

Randy Jones, the Padres' first Cy Young Award winner, died Tuesday at age 75, the team said.

He had set many pitching records with the Padres and later became a respected ambassador in the community.

International Ballet Stars

2-3:30 p.m. — California Center for the Arts, Escondido — Ticket prices vary — Experience an enchanting afternoon of dance featuring talented ballet performers.

Holiday Wreath Workshop

11:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. — Domaine Artefact Vineyard & Winery — $80.00 — Craft custom holiday wreaths with fresh greenery and enjoy winery views.

World Ballet Company - The Nutcracker

7:00 – 8:30 PM — California Center for the Arts, Escondido — $60.00 - $138.00 — Experience a timeless holiday classic where dreams and reality blend in a magical ballet journey.

Golden State Ballet Presents The Nutcracker

2:00 – 3:30 PM — California Center for the Arts, Escondido — Ticket prices vary — Experience the magic of the season with a classic ballet performance.

A Charlie Brown Christmas 5K/10K

7:00 AM - 11:59 PM — Kit Carson Park — $42.95+ — Celebrate 60 years of 'A Charlie Brown Christmas' with family-friendly runs and festive activities.