City Council Approves Funding for New Community Center
The Escondido City Council approved $15 million in funding to build a new 20,000-square-foot community center downtown at their meeting last night. The center will replace the aging Civic Center facility on Elm Street and provide more space and amenities for residents.
Mayor Paul McNamara said, “This new community center will be a wonderful asset for Escondido. It will give residents a larger, more modern space to gather for events, take classes, or just spend time with friends and family. The Civic Center has served us well for many years but it’s simply too small now for our growing city. This investment of funds will go a long way in improving quality of life here in Escondido.”
Construction on the project is slated to begin next spring, with an expected completion date of late 2024. The architect’s renderings to the council show an attractive two-story building with an open floor plan, a full commercial kitchen, large meeting rooms, and an outside courtyard area. City staff will now work on finalizing design details and putting the project out to bid.
Escondido Police Make Drug Bust, Seize Over $1 Million in Narcotics
In a major drug bust this week, Escondido Police arrested four individuals and seized over $1 million worth of illegal narcotics, including cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine.
Acting on a tip from an anonymous source, police conducted surveillance on a suspected drug house in central Escondido for over a month. On Tuesday morning, with a search warrant in hand, officers entered the home on Oak Street and found large amounts of drugs packaged for sale. Also discovered was $30,000 in cash believed to be proceeds from drug dealing.
Those arrested were Ricardo Sanchez, age 34, Miguel Gomez, age 28, Ana Ruiz, age 23, and Efrain Diaz, age 19, all residents of Escondido. They have been charged with possession and intent to distribute controlled substances.
Police Chief Todd Ribakat stated, “This was a major drug trafficking ring we were able to dismantle with this bust. Getting over a million dollars’ worth of dangerous narcotics off our streets will hopefully reduce the availability of these drugs and the temptation to use them. I want to commend our officers for their diligent work in this investigation.”
Escondido Creek Bike Trail Extension Moving Forward
In conjunction with the city council’s approval of the new community center, they also voted to allocate $500,000 to extend the famous Escondido Creek Trail another mile to the south. The multi-use path is a beautiful community asset that walkers, runners, and cyclists love.
The current trail runs 3 miles from north Escondido down to Mission Avenue. The approved extension will continue another mile further south to El Norte Parkway. This will provide access to even more residential neighborhoods and connect to a planned bike route on El Norte.
Scott Donohue of the Escondido Parks and Recreation Department stated, “This trail extension has been in our plans for some time but needed funding. Now that it’s secured we can move forward with design and construction. The extension will make the trail more useful to more people by opening up yet another mile of safe, off-road access through the beautiful creekside habitat.”
Work on the extension is expected to begin next summer. In the meantime, trail users can still enjoy the existing smooth concrete route with its shaded trees and flowing creek waters. The ever-popular Thursday night “Twilight on the Trail” summer concert series will return for another season along the established sections.
Local High School Football Teams Gear Up For Playoffs
As the fall high school football season winds down, the local Escondido teams are battling for playoff spots in their respective leagues.
In the Valley League, Escondido High has had an up-and-down campaign but clinched a playoff berth with their 7-3 victory over Rancho Buena Vista last Friday night. Senior quarterback Andrew Lopez has had a breakout season, throwing over 1000 yards and 10 touchdowns. They will be the #4 seed in D2 and host Scripps Ranch in the opening round.
At Orange Glen High, the Patriots stamped their ticket to the postseason by defeating El Camino 38-12 in their season finale. Dual-threat QB Isaiah Solis has had an outstanding junior campaign, racking up over 1500 total yards and 20 total touchdowns between rushing and passing. Orange Glen enters the D4 playoffs as the #6 seed and will host Hilltop in their first playoff game.
In the Palomar League, Escondido Charter has secured the #8 seed in D6. Their decisive ground game, led by bruising RB Cesar Bravo, will look to grind out some wins on the road. They travel to Creekside Christian in their playoff opener.
Local football fans will be in force the next two weekends, cheering on these Escondido teams as they battle for section championships on the high school gridiron. Best of luck to all in the CIF playoffs!
New Vietnamese Restaurant Opens in Downtown
A new Vietnamese restaurant called Phở King has opened its doors at 123 Main St. in downtown Escondido. Owners Mike and Lan Nguyen renovated the space, which a sandwich shop formerly occupied. Phở King serves classic Vietnamese dishes like phở, bánh mì sandwiches, rice plates and bubble tea. Mike said they wanted to bring more Asian cuisine options to downtown. The restaurant has been getting busy since its grand opening two weeks ago.
Escondido Public Library Hosts College Essay Workshop
The Escondido Public Library will host a free college essay writing workshop this Saturday for local high school students applying to colleges this fall. The seminar from 11 am to 1 pm will give an overview of the types of essays required with applications such as personal statements, supplemental essays, and short answer questions. A representative from the admissions office at Cal State San Marcos will be on hand to offer guidance and answer questions. Light refreshments will be provided. Students can drop in anytime during the workshop hours.
New Traffic Signal Installed at Valley Parkway and El Norte
After years of requests from residents, a new traffic signal has been installed at the intersection of Valley Parkway and El Norte Parkway in northern Escondido. The California Department of Transportation completed the project this month after a study showed increasing traffic volumes warranting the additional control. The signal is fully operational with red-yellow-green lights in all directions and advanced left turn phases. City officials hope it will improve traffic flow and safety around the previously controlled intersection with a four-way stop.
Escondido Humane Society Waives Adoption Fees Through October
Throughout October, the Escondido Humane Society is waiving all adoption fees to find loving homes for pets in need. The open-admission shelter currently has over 150 dogs, cats, and other small animals for adoption. All animals have been vaccinated, microchipped, and spayed/neutered before being placed in homes. Shelter manager Lisa Bond hopes the incentive of free adoptions will encourage more Escondido residents to give a shelter pet a second chance at happiness. Stop by the Humane Society at 3450 E Valley Parkway to meet your new furry family member!
City Offers Free Compost Giveaway to Residents
For November, the City of Escondido holds a free compost giveaway at Kit Carson Park on the first and third Saturdays from 9 am-1 pm. Residents can come to load up the nutrient-rich compost created by the city’s green waste program free of charge. A limit of two cubic yards per household will be enforced. The compost is excellent for landscaping, vegetable gardens, flower beds, and more. It’s an easy way for locals to beautify their yards while diverting waste from landfills. No reservation is needed; bring a truck or trailer to haul it away.
Local Soccer Club Kicks Off Fundraiser
The Escondido FC Youth Soccer Club has kickstarted its annual fundraising campaign to help offset league and equipment costs for over 300 youth players. The club, which fields both boys and girls teams from ages 5-18, has been a staple in the community for over 25 years, providing affordable recreational and competitive soccer opportunities. Through November 30th, the club sells raffle tickets for $20 each with prizes including a 55″ TV, iPad, and $500 cash. Tickets can be purchased from any Escondido FC player/parent or escondidofc.org. All proceeds will go towards new jerseys, balls, nets, field upgrades, and coach training for the upcoming season.
Conclusion
In conclusion, this article updated current news around Escondido, California, related to the specified focus keyword and topic. Significant breaking news from the police drug bust was reported, along with ongoing projects to improve parks and transportation in the city by expanding the famous bike trail. Local high school football playoff matchups were previewed as the fall season ended. Overall, the article shared informative and interesting news relevant to residents of Escondido.
