Maintenance of Vinehenge Play Structure in Grape Day Park Complete
The Vinehenge play area in Grape Day Park has been fully restored using a high strength polymer to fill in cracks and sculpt the areas to blend in with the existing vines. An industrial epoxy coating was then used to seal to structure, which increases the longevity of the piece while restoring the structures beautiful vibrant color. The structure will reopen on Friday, February 19.

Library Board of Trustees Volunteer Opportunity
There is still time to apply! The City is seeking a volunteer to apply to serve on the Escondido Public Library Board of Trustees. For information on qualifications and an application form visit: https://www.escondido.org/boards-commissions

The deadline to apply is February 26, 2021.

Palomar Health offers COVID Vaccines, Testing, and Antibody Therapy at Former Hospital
Palomar Health has partnered with the County of San Diego to open a drive-thru COVID-19 Resource Clinic at the former hospital located at 555 E. Valley Parkway in downtown Escondido.
COVID-19 vaccines will be available by appointment only to those who meet current eligibility criteria. The vaccination site will be open Tuesday - Saturday from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. To make an appointment, visit the COVID-19 Resource Clinic webpage under the "Vaccination Appointments" section: https://bit.ly/3d1Vv50
In addition to vaccine appointments, the resource clinic will provide COVID-19 testing and antibody therapy by appointment. More information about the Resource Clinic can be found here.
The San Diego Union Tribune covered the new COVID clinic and spoke with hospital leadership in the article below.
Escondido’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is supporting this vaccination site by providing traffic safety support. These volunteers are committed to helping Escondido residents get their vaccines.

Escondido Hero Banners
The Escondido Hero Banner Program honors men and women who serve, or have served, in the U.S. Armed Forces, Police, or Fire by offering personalized banners that will be hung around downtown Escondido.
Banners are now available to order and include a photo of the hero, their name, and text that includes their branch/agency.
They are on display from approximately mid-May (Memorial Day) through mid-November (Veterans Day).

For more information and to order, click here. 

Innovate78 Manufacturing Study
Are you curious about how important manufacturing is to North County’s economy?
Tune in on February 25 for a discussion with Innovate78 where they'll unveil the results of their new Manufacturing Study and discuss emerging trends with regional industry leaders.
Register here.

Escondido Public Library Web Pay Upgrade
In another effort to make City services more self-serve and accessible, and to reduce the amount of in-person interaction, the Library has rolled out new “web pay” technology. Patrons can now pay fines online through their account in the Library’s catalog with a credit card.

Escondido Wins Healthy Infrastructure Award
The City of Escondido has been awarded the 2020 National Fitness Campaign Healthy Infrastructure Award for the Mountain View Fitness Court in the category of Innovation for cultivating: “the most forward-thinking, unique and powerful strategy, idea or campaign element that can be shared as “best practice” to all Campaign partners in the following year.”

Read more about the award here:
https://nationalfitnesscampaign.com/news/2020-healthy-infrastructure-award-winners

Escondido’s first Fitness Court was installed and opened in Mountain View Park, with more locations on the way. For more information about the court, visit:
https://recreation.escondido.org/fitness-court  

February Business Newsletter
The February Economic Development newsletter is out now. This issue highlights COVID-19 resources as well as a business spotlight and information about the Escondido Creek Trail. Read and subscribe here.

Follow the City on Social Media
To stay up to date with the latest happenings in Escondido, follow the City on social media.
We share important information, articles, photography, events and more on all of our platforms.

• Facebook: @CityofEscondido
• Instagram: @CityofEscondido
• Twitter: @Escondido_CA
• NextDoor: Escondido, CA

Regional Stay Home Order Lifted
The State of CA has lifted the Regional Stay Home Order. San Diego County is now in Tier 1, or Purple Tier, of the state's Blueprint for a Safer Economy.

Please continue to practice social distancing and wear a facial covering. For a full list of what has changed, visit www.coronavirus-sd.com
For Escondido business resources visit:
https://www.escondido.org/business

For more information about Escondido’s response to COVID-19 visit: https://www.escondido.org/covid-19

Escondido AD Facility is First in Southern California
On November 28, 2018, the Recycling and Waste Reduction Division first presented the Organics Recycling Program information to the Escondido City Council. 

In addition to outlining state mandates requiring organics recycling, it included plans from the City’s franchised waste hauler, Escondido Disposal, to build an anaerobic digestion facility in Escondido. While construction is not complete, the two green tubes are prepared to receive residential green waste beginning February 1, 2021.

If you live in Escondido, you can now put food waste in the green cart with your yard waste. To learn more about the state-of-the-art facility or how to dispose of food waste, please visit the EDI website:
https://www.escondidodisposal.com/residential-waste-services/curbside-pickup/organic-recycling/

Library Board of Trustees – Volunteer Needed
The City is seeking a volunteer to apply to serve on the Escondido Public Library Board of Trustees.

For information on qualifications and an application form click here.

The deadline to apply is February 26, 2021.
Information is also available at:
https://www.escondido.org/boards-commissions

Escondido Public Library Reopening
The Library will reopen for limited in-person services on Monday, February 1, 2021.

Library hours will be 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Holds can be picked up on the self-service shelves during Library open hours. Additionally, curbside pickup service for holds will be offered Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., and Wednesdays from 2 p.m. – 3 p.m. For information on how curbside pickup works, visit www.escondidolibrary.org/curbside. At this time, the Friends Book Shop, Literacy Learning Center and Pioneer Room remain closed. Donations are not being accepted at this time.

Patrons will be able to browse the stacks and check out books, audio books, and DVDs. Time in the library will be limited to two hours maximum each day in order to adhere to the limited 20% capacity guidelines. All in-person programs have been suspended, but many regular programs such as book clubs and storytimes are being held online. Visit www.escondidolibrary.org/digital for a full schedule of virtual events.

Roller Skating at the Escondido Sports Center
The Community Services Department is excited to introduce Roller Skating at the Escondido Sports Center in Kit Carson Park!  Bring your skates and your family for a fun and safe outdoor recreational opportunity.  Under the current public health order, sessions are limited to 12 people in order maintain social distancing at all times.  Please come with your skates (required) and safety equipment (optional) as we do not have any rentals.  Whether you are an expert or a first timer, there’s plenty of space to practice while grooving to some music. Sessions will be held weekly each Friday and Saturday from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. and Sunday from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. on the Escondido Sports Center hockey rinks starting February 5, 2021 until further notice. The cost is $5 for the 2-hour session and masks are required at all times.  Reservations are strongly encouraged and will open each Monday at 3:00 p.m. for the following week, to make reservations, please call (760) 839-5426.  More information at: www.Recreation.Escondido.org