Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: Man Shoots Himself Near 3 SMC Schools, Church
Coming up on the Menlo Park Patch calendar: AutoVino Hosts Cars & Cabernet Toys for Tots Drive
Good morning to you Menlo Park! Catch up on our news and events right here. Keep reading to stay in the know. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
- Lockdowns near Menlo Park schools after armed man found dead
- How could Menlo Park’s downtown parking lots transform into affordable housing?
- How hot did Menlo Park’s luxury home market get in 2025?
Also on today's calendar: AutoVino Hosts Cars & Cabernet Toys for Tots Drive and 8 more events.
Find out what's happening in Menlo Park-Athertonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Today's riddle: My brother swallowed a box of firecrackers. - Is he all right now? 🤔 (Answer below!)
Find out what's happening in Menlo Park-Athertonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
- Thursday: Areas of morning fog, with a high of 59 and low of 50 degrees.
- Friday: A little afternoon rain, temps: high: 60, low: 54.
- Saturday: A little afternoon rain, with a high of 61 and low of 54 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
1. Man Shoots Himself Near 3 SMC Schools, Church (patch.com) — Menlo Park police locked down a church, nearby schools, and homes after locating a missing, reportedly suicidal 22-year-old man with a handgun parked on Avy Avenue. Crisis negotiators and tactical teams tried to reach him, but he was later found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot, prompting early student dismissals and shelter-in-place measures at local campuses. 
2. Three proposals received related to developing Menlo Park owned parking plazas (inmenlo.com) — Menlo Park has received three development proposals to turn downtown city-owned parking plazas into projects that would include 345 units of affordable housing while replacing public parking. City staff will review the plans and bring recommendations to the City Council in early 2026, with more chances for residents to weigh in online and at future meetings.
3. Midpeninsula luxury market sees record-breaking year in 2025 (almanacnews.com) — Menlo Park’s luxury housing market surged in 2025, with 21% of home sales topping $5 million, 18 sales above $8 million, and median prices edging up to $3.3 million. The story compares Menlo Park with Palo Alto, Los Altos, and Atherton, highlighting intense demand from AI-fueled wealth and a growing share of all-cash buyers.
4. Woodside considers exemptions to gas leaf blower ban (almanacnews.com) — Woodside is moving toward a July 2026 ban on gas-powered leaf blowers, following nearby cities like Menlo Park that already prohibit them. The town is weighing exemptions for large, fire-prone properties while emphasizing education over strict enforcement, and plans a final vote in January 2026.
5. Meta Tests Limiting External Link Posts on Facebook for Non-Verified Creators (techdator.net) — Menlo Park–based Meta is testing a new Facebook rule that would sharply limit how many posts with external links non‑verified professional creators can share unless they pay for Meta Verified. While publishers and Meta-owned links are exempt, many smaller creators worry this could further reduce traffic to blogs, newsletters, and shops. The company hasn’t said if or when the Menlo Park trial will expand.
📸 Around Menlo Park
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🗓 Upcoming Events in Menlo Park
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
★ Featured events ★
- AutoVino Hosts Cars & Cabernet Toys for Tots Drive
380 Industrial Rd, San Carlos
11:30 am - Crossing Over with Psychic Medium John Edward live in San Francisco, CA!
The Westin San Francisco Airport, 1 Old Bayshore Hwy, Millbrae
7:00 pm
Sunday December 21
Friday January 9
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
- SUPER DIAMOND - The Neil Diamond Tribute in Menlo Park, CA
The Guild Theatre , 949 El Camino Real , Menlo Park
7:00 pm - Family Storytime with Stay and Play!
Atherton Library , 2 Dinkelspiel Station Lane , Atherton
10:30 am - ❂ IN-PERSON POP*UP: Self-Care Saturdays - Hypnosis Meditation & Sound Bath
Hotel Nia, Autograph Collection , 200 Independence Dr , Menlo Park
10:45 am - Maker Exploration for Families
Atherton Library , 2 Dinkelspiel Station Lane , Atherton
11:00 am - The Great Winter Puzzle Race
Atherton Library , 2 Dinkelspiel Station Lane , Atherton
2:30 pm - Celebrating Yalda Night
Children's Library , 1276 Harriet Street , Palo Alto
3:00 pm - Terrapin Family Band
The Guild Theatre , 949 El Camino Real , Menlo Park
7:00 pm - It's Sew Easy: Gift Bags
Atherton Library , 2 Dinkelspiel Station Lane , Atherton
12:00 pm - Beach Break Film Festival
1167 Main St , Half Moon Bay
3:30 pm
Friday December 19
Saturday December 20
Sunday December 21
Sunday December 28
📣 Menlo Park 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
- U.S. Postal Service Job Fair - PALO ALTO
United States Postal Service , 2085 E Bayshore Rd , East Palo Alto
10:00 am - Toddler/Preschool Storytime @ Redwood Shores
Redwood Shores Branch Library , 399 Marine Pkwy , Redwood City
10:30 am - Baby Bounce Storytime
Woodside Library , 3140 Woodside Road , Woodside
10:30 am - Musical Jamboree With Stay and Play!
2 Dinkelspiel Station Ln , Atherton
10:30 am
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 Menlo Park PatchAM possible:
- Cool Aid Air Conditioning and Refrigeration — (800) 266-5243
Voted Best HVAC & Refrigeration Company in the Bay Area - The Harker School — (408) 345-9200
Magic Happens at Harker - Atherton Inn Bed & Breakfast — (650) 474-2777
Luxury five room boutique hotel w/FULL breakfast - Samaritan House — (650) 347-3648
Fighting Poverty. Lifting Lives - Amara — (650) 486-1703
A California cuisine restaurant with mediterranean leaning.
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
- Hi my name is Sergio,
I know how to do siding jobs as well as anything with construction. If you have any jobs that you need done, please contact me . Thank you. (Nextdoor Central Menlo) - All clear following police activity in Menlo Park, California.
1:22PM on Dec 16: "Avoid the area" for police activity in Menlo Park, California. 1:14PM on Dec 16: Menlo Park Police advise to avoid the area of… (Nextdoor )
- Rosewood Hotels & Resorts posted a job opening for Spa Attendant in Menlo Park. Apply here.
- SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory posted a job opening for Construction Quality Assurance Program Manager in Menlo Park. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Menlo Park here.
Ok Menlo Park! 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 haven’t heard the last report.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!
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