🌱 Patch AM: How a Mobile sneaker designer turned Christmas into a huge giveaway

Cheers Mobile! We’re back, helping you stay up to date with what’s happening. Let's take on the day together! ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• How a Mobile sneaker designer turned Christmas into a huge giveaway
• How new state grants will expand veteran mental health care in Mobile
• Where and how Mobile residents can legally access medical cannabis soon

Today's riddle: What did the balloon say to the doctor? 🤔 (Answer below!)

From our Partner
Today's Mobile Patch AM is brought to you in part by T-Mobile. Everyone deserves to be connected. That's why T-Mobile and UScellular have joined forces to connect people from big cities to small towns and everywhere in between. UScellular is now a part of T-Mobile. Find out more at T-Mobile.com/Better-Together.
Find a T-Mobile store near Mobile.

Weather forecast:

• Sunday: Cloudy with a shower or two, with a high of 71 and low of 58 degrees.
• Monday: Mostly cloudy, temps: high: 70, low: 50.
• Tuesday: Partly sunny and warm, with a high of 75 and low of 54 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Mobile children enjoy Christmas Extravaganza Saturday (fox10tv.com) — Mobile families packed the James Seals Community Center Saturday for a city-sponsored Christmas Extravaganza featuring free toys, games, and music for kids 12 and under. The event, created with Mobile native and shoe designer Tyler Bailey, highlighted local entrepreneurs giving back and is already planned to return next year, offering another festive, family-friendly tradition close to home.
   

2. Alabama Giving $3M in Grants to Boost Veteran Mental Health Services (military.com) — Mobile-based AltaPointe is receiving part of more than $3 million in new state grants aimed at expanding mental health and addiction services for Alabama veterans. The funding, drawn from opioid settlement money, will support referrals, crisis care, and education, and ties into a new statewide Veterans Resource Center opening in Montgomery to connect veterans with mental health, career, and transition support.
   

3. Is weed legal in Alabama after Trump signs order to reclassify marijuana? (tuscaloosanews.com) — Medical marijuana dispensaries are expected to open in Mobile under Alabama’s tightly regulated medical cannabis program, even though recreational use remains illegal. After Trump’s order reclassifying marijuana federally, the article explains Alabama’s criminal penalties, medical-only rules, product limits, and where licensed dispensaries will operate across the state.
   

4. Michael Joseph Sorocak, Newton Falls, Ohio (wkbn.com) — Longtime Mobile resident Michael “Mike” Sorocak, 86, has passed away after spending 47 years deeply involved in local civic life, sports officiating, and Westminster Presbyterian. A chemical engineer who moved here with Union Carbide, he later volunteered at the Mobile Museum of History and supported children’s ministries before relocating to Huntsville to be closer to family.
   

5. Despite initial claims, records show Prichard has gotten $9.1 million from internet sales tax (fox10tv.com) — Mobile has collected more than $85 million from Alabama’s internet sales tax but city leaders argue they’d get far more if their full 5% local rate applied. The dispute has split area cities, with Mobile siding against Prichard and several smaller neighbors in a high-stakes lawsuit that could reshape how online tax dollars are shared across Alabama.
   

📸 Around Mobile

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📣 Mobile Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

Sunday December 21

• Brunch & Rally
  OWA , Pickleball @ OWA , Point Clear
  1:00 pm
• Island Movie Nights at OWA
  Downtown OWA
  3:00 pm
• Allen D Rice Foundation Christmas Gala
  Calirojae' , 1004 Dauphin Island Pkwy , Mobile
  6:00 pm

Monday December 22

• OWA's Breakfast with Santa
  Downtown OWA Location:
  9:00 am
• Environmental Advisory
  Daphne, AL Calendar , 1705 Main Street , Daphne
  4:00 pm
• Chess Club at Saraland
  Saraland Public Library , 111 Saraland Loop , Saraland
  4:00 pm
• Daphne Public School Commission
  1705 Main St , Daphne
  11:30 pm

Tuesday December 23

• Library closes early at 4:30
  Spanish Fort Public Library , 7361 Spanish Fort Boulevard , Spanish Fort
• Tuesday Time Out Storytime
  Grand Bay Library - Mobile Public Library , 10329 Freeland Ave , Grand Bay
  11:00 am
• Eastern Shore Republican Women Evening Meeting at The Original Oyster House
  Original Oyster House , 3733 Battleship Pkwy. , Spanish Fort
  5:00 pm
• Comedy, Magic & Impressions! Brandon Styles VARIETY SHOW
  Brandon Styles Theater , 1501 South OWA Blvd. , Foley
  7:00 pm

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 Mobile PatchAM possible:

• Bryant Bank — (205) 710-6100
  Bryant Bank Breaks Ground on New Mobile Office

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

• FOREVER HOME NEEDED!
  We found this sweet girl near Satsuma High School while picking my daughter up from a game. She was thin and covered in fleas, so we brought her home… (Nextdoor Bromley)
• My dog got out of front door.
  Her name is dixie. She is a pit/bulldog breed but still a puppy. Turns 1 on new years eve. I was changing collars and got a pink one on. But no name… (Nextdoor Woodbridge)

• MOBILE Dec 19 Climate: High: 65 Low: 46 Precip:" Snow: Missing... (X: iembot_mob)
• Holiday travel and gatherings are increasing the chances of exposure to respiratory viruses and measles right now. To see a holiday safety checklist... (X: ILoveMCHD)

• Alabama State Department of Education posted a job opening for Afternoon Custodian in Mobile. Apply here.
• Bridge Senior Living posted a job opening for Housekeeper in Mobile. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Mobile here.

Ok Mobile! 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 feel lightheaded!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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