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🌱 Patch AM: Planning your 2025 drive through Fresno’s famous Christmas Tree Lane?

Coming up: Just The Tips Comedy + Open Mic on the Fresno Patch calendar

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Wednesday December 17th Patch AM
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Good day Fresno! We're here again with what you need to know today. Grab a cup of coffee and read on. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • Planning your 2025 drive through Fresno’s famous Christmas Tree Lane?
  • Why a popular northeast Fresno restaurant suddenly changed its name
  • What Fresno State is doing after anti-Semitic vandalism on campus

Also on today's calendar: Comedy Show : Just The Tips headlining Danny Minch and 9 more events.

Find out what's happening in Fresnofor free with the latest updates from Patch.

📸 Have a great pic of holiday decorations from around Fresno? Post it to Fresno 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 Fresnofor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Weather forecast:

  • Wednesday: Low clouds breaking, with a high of 54 and low of 45 degrees.
  • Thursday: Fog will lift in the morning, temps: high: 58, low: 47.
  • Friday: Times of clouds and sun, with a high of 50 and low of 47 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. 300,000 People Visit This Century-Old Christmas Light Display In California Every Year — Featuring 140 Decorated Houses And 300 Lighted Trees (secretsanfrancisco.com) — Fresno’s century-old Christmas Tree Lane is open for 2025, drawing about 300,000 visitors to its two-mile stretch of more than 140 decorated homes and 300 lit trees on North Van Ness Boulevard. The free, drive-through-only display runs nightly from 6–10 p.m. on weeknights and until 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, with donations encouraged to keep the tradition going.
   

2. Northeast Fresno Bobby Salazar's franchise rebrands to Mama Iguana's (abc30.com) — A longtime northeast Fresno Mexican restaurant at Champlain and Perrin has dropped the Bobby Salazar’s name and is now operating as Mama Iguana’s under the same local ownership. Owners say the rebrand has hurt name recognition but insist the staff and recipes remain the same. Meanwhile, namesake Fresno businessman Bobby Salazar continues to face arson-related and firearms charges in an ongoing criminal case.
   

3. Anti-Semitic vandalism discovered at Fresno State: ‘Hate and violence have no place' (yourcentralvalley.com) — Anti-Semitic vandalism was recently found on Fresno State’s campus, prompting a firm response from the university president, who says hate and violence have no place at the school. Campus leaders are working closely with Fresno’s Temple Beth Israel as the investigation continues. Community members are being urged to report any similar incidents while local Jewish leaders emphasize resilience and solidarity.
   

4. Fresno Unified fears southeastern development will impact district (yourcentralvalley.com) — Fresno leaders are weighing a major Southeast Development Area Plan that would annex 9,000 acres, with immediate focus on 2,000 acres for housing and advanced manufacturing jobs. Mayor Jerry Dyer says safeguards will limit sprawl, while Fresno Unified and teachers warn the project could drain students, funding, and even force school closures. The council takes up the issue Thursday afternoon, though no final vote is scheduled yet.
   

5. Caltrans warns Fresno's 45,000 home plan will create traffic bottlenecks in these places (yourcentralvalley.com) — Fresno’s massive Southeast Development Area plan could bring up to 45,000 new homes and 37,000 jobs, but Caltrans warns it may also clog key routes like Highway 180 ramps near Clovis and Temperance. State transportation officials say the project could add more than 860,000 daily trips and urge road widening and other fixes as the Fresno City Council prepares to consider the plan this week.
   

📸 Around Fresno

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Update: he is now at Fresno Animal Center, where we adopted our sweet boy.
    This little guy followed my dog and I home today. Seems like he is an older chihuahua/terrier mix, no collar. He has been fed at our house and seems… (Nextdoor Old Fig Garden)
  • Update: Pet Reunited
    Azul, a dog who went missing in Fresno, CA, has been safely reunited with their family after 18 hours, 24 minutes. Message from Owner: "She is… (Nextdoor Fresno/First/McKinley/Weldon)
  • Oakmont Management Group posted a job opening for Activity Assistant in Fresno. Apply here.
  • TradeJobsWorkforce posted a job opening for Housekeeper in Fresno. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Fresno here.

Ok Fresno! 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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