Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: How a Palo Alto High program could reshape students’ economic futures

Spotted on the Palo Alto calendar: Crossing Over with Psychic Medium John Edward live in San Francisco, CA!

Patch AM Team's profile picture
Patch AM Team, Patch StaffVerified Patch Staff Badge
Friday December 26th Patch AM
Friday December 26th Patch AM (Patch graphic)

Hi there, Palo Alto! We've got your morning read ready! Read on to stay connected. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • How a Palo Alto High program could reshape students’ economic futures
  • How a tiny green envelope is transforming holidays for Palo Alto families
  • How a Palo Alto listing went viral and sold $712,000 over ask

Also on today's calendar: Crossing Over with Psychic Medium John Edward live in San Francisco, CA! and 9 more events.

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

Today's riddle: What did the clock say when it ran out of batteries? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

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

  • Friday: A couple of showers, with a high of 59 and low of 47 degrees.
  • Saturday: Times of clouds and sun, temps: high: 60, low: 38.
  • Sunday: Partly to mostly sunny, with a high of 59 and low of 37 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. It pays to have friends in high places – more than we thought, according to research (nbcbayarea.com) — Palo Alto High School is piloting a peer mentorship program that intentionally pairs students from Palo Alto and East Palo Alto to build cross-income friendships and boost academic success. Early results show higher GPAs and stronger connections, echoing new research that social ties across class lines can significantly improve kids’ future economic prospects.
   

2. Small gifts, big impact (thecampanile.org) — A long-running Palo Alto tradition, now called the Green Envelope Fund, is quietly channeling small holiday donations into direct cash support for about 2,500 low-income residents, including many PAUSD families. Working with Alta Housing and local schools, the all-volunteer nonprofit helps neighbors buy warm clothing, food, and essentials that wealthier residents may not realize many Palo Altans lack.
   

3. Viral listings, record deals and landmark estates: Peninsula homes that defined 2025 (paloaltoonline.com) — A Palo Alto Spanish-style home in the Adobe Meadow–Meadow Park neighborhood became one of 2025’s most talked-about listings, selling for well over its $4.89 million asking price after going viral online. The story places that sale alongside other eye-popping Peninsula estate deals in Woodside, Portola Valley, Los Altos Hills and Hillsborough that reshaped the region’s luxury market this year.
   

4. Holiday Fund: Hope's Corner provides meals and joy to people in need in Mountain View (mv-voice.com) — A Mountain View nonprofit, Hope's Corner, is ramping up free meals, showers, laundry and bike repairs for unhoused and low-income neighbors, including guests staying at a women’s cold-weather shelter in Palo Alto. Supported by the Mountain View Voice Holiday Fund, the group has already served over 60,000 meals this year and plans to expand services as demand and food costs rise.
   

📸 Around Palo Alto

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 Palo Alto

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

📣 Palo Alto Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

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 Palo Alto PatchAM possible:

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

  • I-280 is closed in both directions due to a crash, with all traffic diverted to SR-85, but the southbound lane is now open.
    10:36PM on Dec 24: I-280 is closed in both directions due to a crash, with all traffic being diverted to SR-85. (Nextdoor )
  • Is this your cat?
    Collar is black and blue without a tag. Very vocal and very friendly but a bit timid. Has been sitting in front of our house since yesterday. We live… (Nextdoor Midtown)
  • Government Jobs posted a job opening for Police Officer Academy Graduate in Palo Alto. Apply here.
  • career posted a job opening for Product Builder in Palo Alto. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Palo Alto here.

Ok Palo Alto! 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 guess I’m out of time.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

👉 Help make Patch AM better

We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what’s happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

Share to NextDoor     Share to Facebook

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

More from Palo Alto