🌱 How one Cal State San Marcos mom graduated early with a toddler

Hello San Marcos! Stay connected with the latest updates from around town. Let's dive in! ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• How one Cal State San Marcos mom graduated early with a toddler
• How a nearby farm’s housing violations led to $245,000 in penalties
• What this new sewage deal could mean for San Marcos residents

Also on today's calendar: Real Estate & Economic Update Webinar: A Look Ahead to 2026 and 9 more events.

📸 Have a great pic of holiday decorations from around San Marcos? Post it to San Marcos photos of the day! ☃️ 🟢-🟠-🟣-🔴-🟡-🔵 ☃️

Today's riddle: Can February March? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Tuesday: Mostly sunny and nice, with a high of 72 and low of 39 degrees.
• Wednesday: Mostly sunny and nice, temps: high: 72, low: 41.
• Thursday: Partly sunny and pleasant, with a high of 76 and low of 40 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Labor of Love: New Mom Graduating Early (csusm.edu) — A determined Cal State San Marcos student is wrapping up her degree a semester early while raising her one-year-old daughter and commuting daily from Murrieta. Cameron Aquino has maintained a strong GPA and frequent Dean’s List honors, crediting careful planning, family support, and flexible CSUSM faculty for helping her balance motherhood and academics.
   

• San Marcos farm illegally charged workers for unsafe, unsanitary housing, U.S. labor agency says (sanluisobispo.com) — A farm just north of San Marcos has been ordered to repay more than $245,000 after federal investigators found 30 workers were illegally charged rent for unsafe, unsanitary housing. The U.S. Department of Labor cited Lucky Growers for substandard conditions and record-keeping violations, stressing that local farmworkers’ housing and job rights are protected by federal law.
   

• Trump Administration Announces Another Historic Milestone Toward Implementing 100% Solution to the Tijuana River Sewage Crisis (epa.gov) — A new U.S.-Mexico agreement called Minute 333 aims to tackle the long-running Tijuana River sewage crisis that has polluted beaches and harmed public health across San Diego County. Federal officials tout faster timelines, new Mexican infrastructure commitments, and stricter accountability. San Marcos Mayor Rebecca Jones joins other regional leaders in calling this a meaningful step toward a permanent solution for local residents.
   

📸 Around San Marcos

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in San Marcos

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Wednesday December 17

• Real Estate & Economic Update Webinar: A Look Ahead to 2026
  Online Zoom,
  6:00 pm

Friday December 19

• Holiday Lights
  2040 N Santa Fe Ave, Vista
  5:00 pm

Wednesday December 24

• Christmas Eve Festival of Lessons & Carols
  2549 Ocean St, Carlsbad
  6:30 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Wednesday December 17

• CLR-1 CHRISTMAS PARTY
  Veterans Association of North County , 1617 Mission Ave , Oceanside
  4:00 pm
• CLR # 1 CHRISTMAS PARTY
  Veterans Association of North County 1617 Mission Ave, Oceanside, CA 92058
  5:00 pm
• Holiday Swing!
  Howard Brubeck Theatre , 1140 W Mission Rd , San Marcos
  7:00 pm

Thursday December 18

• Holiday Mixer
  San Marcos Chamber of Commerce Union Cowork 251 North City Drive, Suite 128F San Marcos, CA 92078
  4:00 pm
• Holiday Mixer at Union Cowork
  Union Cowork , 251 North City Drive, Suite 128F , San Marcos
  4:00 pm
• CLB-15 Christmas Party
  Veterans Association of North County 1617 Mission Ave, Oceanside, CA 92058
  5:00 pm

Friday December 19

• Donnie Fernandez AD Retirement
  Veterans Association of North County 1617 Mission Ave, Oceanside, CA 92058
  1:00 pm
• Farmers Market - San Marcos
  San Marcos Chamber of Commerce 251 N City Dr #128, San Marcos, CA 92078
  4:00 pm

Saturday December 20

• Brunch with Santa
  TERI Common Grounds Café & Coffee Bar , 555 Deer Springs Rd , San Marcos
  8:00 am

📣 San Marcos 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.

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

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• I want to foster a small dog or kitten over the holidays can anyone guide me to something that isn’t complicated thank you in advance.
  I just feel sorry for all the animals that are in kennels and need a home and a quiet space would love to help so they can be adopted. Thanks in… (Nextdoor Lake San Marcos)
• As many of you know i have been using AI to create videos for my book.
  However I wanted to share a love story today. My parents, married 50 plus years and now gone 20. I used AI to capture their real adoration over… (Nextdoor Rancho Dorado)

• The University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences posted a job opening for Clinical Support Specialist (Administrative Assistant) in San Marcos. Apply here.
• Home Depot (Retail) posted a job opening for Freight/Receiving in San Marcos. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near San Marcos here.

🗞 Nearby News

Vista

• Vista completes parks master plan; O'Donnell named deputy mayor (thecoastnews.com)
• Clean Energy Alliance seeking applicants for Community Advisory Committee (sandiegouniontribune.com)

Escondido

• Who's News: 12/19/25 (thecoastnews.com)
• More 'desirable breeds' came though San Diego Humane Society's doors in 2025 (kpbs.org)
• With the need greater this year, families shop for free gifts at holiday giveaway in Escondido (sandiegouniontribune.com)

Carlsbad

Ok San Marcos! 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 don't know, but April May!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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