🌱 Patch AM: Which Escondido kindergarten teacher just earned statewide recognition?

Good morning Escondido! Your connection to what's happening around town is here. Take a sip of coffee and read on. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• Which Escondido kindergarten teacher just earned statewide recognition?
• Did Escondido hand San Ysidro another loss or fuel their turnaround?

Also on today's calendar: Kids Science Camp Dec. 29-30th - Fizzing Bath Bombs & Slime Transformation Lab and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: What did the clock say when it ran out of batteries? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Friday: Cloudy, showers around; cool, with a high of 63 and low of 46 degrees.
• Saturday: A couple of showers, temps: high: 64, low: 39.
• Sunday: Plenty of sunshine, with a high of 70 and low of 45 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Monrovia Teacher Named 2026 California Teacher of the Year (coloradoboulevard.net) — An Escondido Union School District kindergarten teacher, Corina Martinez of Pioneer Elementary, has been named one of California’s 2026 Teachers of the Year, putting local classrooms in the statewide spotlight. The main honoree is Monrovia’s Heather Povinelli, recognized for inclusive, innovative teaching that promotes equity and student confidence across California schools.
   

• Basketball Recap: San Ysidro Drops Season-High Score on Hilltop (maxpreps.com) — Escondido hoops fans will want to note that San Ysidro’s boys team has already played its next matchup against Escondido, though the score wasn’t yet posted when this recap ran. The story highlights San Ysidro’s season-best 63 points in a win over Hilltop, ending the Cougars’ long losing streak and setting up their still-unreported game against Escondido.
   

📸 Around Escondido

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Escondido

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Monday December 29

• Kids Science Camp Dec. 29-30th - Fizzing Bath Bombs & Slime Transformation Lab
  16787 Bernardo Center Dr, San Diego
  9:00 am

Wednesday December 31

• Peace Out 2025 - NYE at the Living Coast
  Living Coast Discovery Center, 1000 Gunpowder Point Dr, Chula Vista
  6:00 pm

Sunday January 18

• Crossing Over with Psychic Medium John Edward live in San Diego, CA!
  San Diego Marriott Del Mar, 11966 El Camino Real, San Diego
  1:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Saturday December 27

• The Raclette Stand
  Domaine Artefact Vineyard & Winery , 15406 Highland Valley Rd , Escondido
  12:30 pm
• The Addams Family – Patio Playhouse
  Kit Carson Park , Kit Carson Pk , 3333 Bear Valley Pkwy , Escondido
  7:00 pm
• Cocktail Hour: The Songs of the Rat Pack
  California Center for the Arts, Escondido , 340 N Escondido Blvd , Escondido
  7:30 pm

Sunday December 28

• Sunday Funday with Kathryn the Grape — North County Mall
  Mershops North County Mall , 272 E Via Rancho Pkwy , Escondido
  11:00 am
• Cocktail Hour: The Songs of the Rat Pack
  California Center for the Arts, Escondido , 340 N Escondido Blvd , Escondido
  2:00 pm
• Live Music – Matt Heinecke
  Orfila Vineyards and Winery , 13455 San Pasqual Rd , Escondido
  4:00 pm
• Countdown on Grand at the Historic Ritz Theater
  The Grand | Ritz Theater , 301 E Grand Ave , Escondido
  5:30 pm

Monday December 29

• Winter Camp
  Children's Museum of Discovery , 320 N Broadway , Escondido
  9:00 am

Wednesday December 31

• Noon Year's Eve
  Children's Museum of Discovery , 320 N Broadway , Escondido
  9:30 am

📣 Escondido Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Escondido PatchAM possible:

• The Ultrasound Experience — (760) 744-3733
  Spacious and Comfortable family theater environment!
• Bella Vida MedSpa — (951) 296-9988
  Viral K-Beauty Skin Tightening Tech XERF - Now in Temecula
• Off Duty Officers — (888) 841-5658
  Providing Professional Security Guards since 1993
• Mindsee.it — (646) 663-8317
  Teach your kids they can achieve the impossible!

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• We worked really hard in our lights this year!
  Come check it out. 2520 Honeybell Lane, Escondido (Nextdoor East Escondido)
• Found a stray dog on Christmas Eve.
  It’s a sweet small dog and very wet and lost. We would love to find the owner and reunite them. This is boy. (Nextdoor North El Norte)

• Merry Maids posted a job opening for House Cleaner in Escondido. Apply here.
• CROSSMARK posted a job opening for (Immediate Hire) Retail Merchandiser in Escondido. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Escondido here.

🗞 Nearby News

San Marcos

• Intrepid Fiber expands to California (bizwest.com)
• Collision on San Elijo Road in San Marcos leaves one driver dead (10news.com)
• Powerful Storm Disrupts Holiday Travel, Sex Trafficking Sting, Bay Area Quake: CA In Brief (patch.com)

Valley Center

• 'Porch pirate' arrest leads to recovery of stolen property, weapons, drugs (valleycenter.com)

Ok Escondido! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I guess I’m out of time.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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