Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: How will Tucson’s new year-long park patrols change your neighborhood?
And on the Tucson Patch calendar - Candlelight: Christmas Carols on Strings
What's up Tucson! Let's start this morning right by getting caught up on what's going on around town. Keep reading to stay in the loop. ☀️
In today's newsletter:
- How will Tucson’s new year-long park patrols change your neighborhood?
- How will Tucson’s new pawn shop fee hike affect you?
- How will Tucson’s new $500k transit plan change your bus ride?
Also on today's calendar: Candlelight: Christmas Carols on Strings and 8 more events.
Find out what's happening in Tucsonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
📸 Have a great pic of holiday decorations from around Tucson? Post it to Tucson photos of the day! ☃️ 🟢-🟠-🟣-🔴-🟡-🔵 ☃️
Today's riddle: The doctor told me to drink carrot juice after a hot bath. - Did it help? 🤔 (Answer below!)
Find out what's happening in Tucsonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
From our Partner
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Find a T-Mobile store near Tucson.
- Wednesday: Mostly sunny and pleasant, with a high of 77 and low of 46 degrees.
- Thursday: Mostly sunny and pleasant, temps: high: 78, low: 51.
- Friday: Sunny and very warm, with a high of 83 and low of 53 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
1. Operation Relay: Tucson police launch year-long operation to improve safety at Midtown parks (kgun9.com) — Tucson Police are rolling out a year-long “Operation Relay” to boost safety at 18 Midtown parks, increasing patrols and monthly monitoring of park conditions. Community Service Officers will focus on prevention, help connect unhoused people to services, and escalate to uniformed officers only when needed, while residents are urged to talk with on-site officers or call 311 for non-emergencies. 
2. Tucson City Council approves fee increase for pawn shops, thrift stores (kold.com) — Tucson residents should know the City Council has approved raising the per-transaction fee on pawn and second-hand shop deals from $1 to $3 starting March 1, 2026, to help close a $21 million budget deficit. City leaders say the change could bring in about $400,000 a year, while pawnshop owners warn the added cost will likely hit already struggling customers.
3. Tucson boosts bus safety with $500k for officers, bus stop visibility (kvoa.com) — Tucson is putting $500,000 into making bus rides safer, funding off-duty police officers and better-lit, more visible bus stops as part of a new Transit Safety and Security Action Plan. City officials, riders, and the drivers’ union all weighed in, and live camera access from select buses to the city’s safety center could begin in early 2026.
4. Neighbors Feeding Neighbors easing food insecurity among seniors (tucsonfoodie.com) — Thousands of Tucson residents, including many seniors, struggle with food insecurity, and a small church-based project is stepping up to help. Neighbors Feeding Neighbors prepares and freezes about 145 meals a week, relying on volunteers, donations, and contributions from local restaurants to support older adults and some unhoused neighbors. Organizers hope the meals ease both hunger and financial strain.
5. New science center opens at Tucson's Kitt Peak Observatory (kvoa.com) — A new astronomy outreach center has opened at Kitt Peak National Observatory, about an hour from Tucson, giving locals hands-on ways to explore the sun, planets, and deep space. Housed in the historic McMath-Pierce Solar Telescope, the Windows on the Universe Center offers interactive exhibits, a giant planetary sphere, and an educational film daily from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
📸 Around Tucson
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 Tucson
- Movie: The Wild Robot
Flowing Wells , 1730 W. Wetmore Rd. , Tucson
1:15 pm - Visit the Bookmobile at Ghost Ranch Lodge
Ghost Ranch Lodge , 801 W Miracle Mile , Tucson
10:00 am - Silly Sock Puppet Studio
Flowing Wells , 1730 W. Wetmore Rd. , Tucson
3:30 pm - Candlelight: Christmas Carols on Strings
Grace St. Paul's Episcopal Church , 2331 E Adams St , Tucson
8:45 pm - Tucson Terror & Oddities Krampus Holiday Market
The Coalition Space , 311 E 7th St , Tucson
10:00 am - Movie: The Shop Around the Corner
Flowing Wells Library , 1730 W. Wetmore Rd. , Tucson
1:00 pm - Garden Talk: 10 Steps to Healthier and More Productive Citrus Trees
Valencia Branch Library , 202 West Valencia Road , Tucson
1:30 pm - Homework Help
Valencia Branch Library , 202 West Valencia Road , Tucson
4:00 pm - Toddler Storytime
Flowing Wells Library , 1730 W. Wetmore Rd. , Tucson
10:15 am - Preschool Storytime
Flowing Wells Library , 1730 W. Wetmore Rd. , Tucson
11:15 am - Arizona National Livestock Show
Arizona State Fair , 1826 W McDowell Rd , Phoenix
8:00 am
Thursday December 18
Friday December 19
Saturday December 20
Monday December 22
Tuesday December 23
Saturday December 27
📣 Tucson Shout Outs!
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
🗓 Events Nearby
- Craft Table
Sam Lena-South Tucson Branch Library , 1607 South Sixth Avenue , Tucson
9:00 am - Homeless Resource Navigator
Sam Lena-South Tucson Branch Library , 1607 South Sixth Avenue , Tucson
1:00 pm - Tween Crafternoon
Joel D Valdez Main Library , 101 North Stone Avenue , Tucson
3:30 pm - Mobile Farmer's Market - Mercado Móvil
Quincie Douglas Branch Library , 1585 East 36th Street , Tucson
10:00 am
Wednesday December 17
Thursday December 18
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 Tucson PatchAM possible:
- Junk King Tucson — (520) 549-5865
The Greenest, Cleanest Junk Removal in the Desert! - Sunrise Roofers LLC — (520) 668-6638
Roofing Contractor in Tucson, Arizona.
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- Please let us know if you recognize this little man.
Lost and Stray Response Squad volunteers arrived to assist him on 12/15 near 22nd and Osborne ave. A kind person reached out for assistance after… (Nextdoor Roberts) - ***Update I found her*****.
Hello. my three-year-old German Shepherd named Gaia got out this morning. She’s never done this before. please if anyone sees her she is super nice… (Nextdoor River Road Estates)
- Watermark Retirement Communities, Inc. posted a job opening for Housekeeper in Tucson. Apply here.
- Zumiez Inc. posted a job opening for _1st Assistant Manager in Tucson. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Tucson here.
Ok Tucson! 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. I can never finish drinking the hot bath!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!
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