🌱 Patch AM: How a pre-dawn Stewart Avenue fire upended one Walnut Creek family

Hello Walnut Creek! Here's our latest buzz. Let's get into it. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• How a pre-dawn Stewart Avenue fire upended one Walnut Creek family
• Could your favorite Walnut Creek chains be on the 2026 closure list?

Also on today's calendar: Joybound People & Pets Free Pet Food Pantry and 8 more events.

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

Weather forecast:

• Friday: Breezy with showers around, with a high of 57 and low of 43 degrees.
• Saturday: Times of clouds and sun, temps: high: 59, low: 36.
• Sunday: Sunny to partly cloudy, with a high of 57 and low of 36 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Home Fire Displaces Family Of 6 (patch.com) — An early-morning garage fire on Stewart Avenue in south Walnut Creek has displaced a family of six just before the holidays, though nearby roads have since reopened. Contra Costa County Fire crews quickly knocked down the flames, and the American Red Cross is now helping the residents with emergency shelter and support.
   

• Retailers and restaurants that have already announced closures for 2026 (wane.com) — Several major chains, including Wendy’s, Macy’s, Walgreens, and Kroger, are planning widespread store closures in 2026 that could affect shopping and dining options nationwide. A photo of a Wendy’s in Walnut Creek underscores that even familiar local storefronts may be at risk as companies target underperforming locations and shift strategies for the coming years.
   

📸 Around Walnut Creek

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 Walnut Creek

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Tuesday December 30

• Joybound People & Pets Free Pet Food Pantry
  2890 Mitchell Dr, Walnut Creek
  2:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Saturday December 27

• StoryWalkÂŽ with Dougherty Station and San Ramon Libraries
  San Ramon Library , 100 Montgomery St , San Ramon
• Drop-in 3D Printing Information Booth
  San Ramon Library , 100 Montgomery St , San Ramon
  3:00 pm
• Frosh Boys Basketball @ Dougherty Valley
  Dougherty Valley High School , 10550 Albion Rd , San Ramon
  4:00 pm
• Varsity Boys Basketball @ American
  American High School , 36300 Fremont Blvd , Fremont
  5:00 pm

Sunday December 28

• StoryWalkÂŽ with Dougherty Station and San Ramon Libraries
  San Ramon Library , 100 Montgomery St , San Ramon
• Salsa & Bachata Sunday in Walnut Creek
  Bourbon Highway Country Bar , 1677 N Main St Suite A , Walnut Creek
  6:00 pm

Monday December 29

• Gentle Yoga and Meditation
  Ygnacio Valley Library , 2661 Oak Grove Rd , Walnut Creek
  10:30 am
• Frosh Boys Basketball @ Dougherty Valley
  Dougherty Valley High School , 10550 Albion Rd , San Ramon
  4:00 pm

Thursday January 1

• "Voting Challenges Ahead" by League of Women Voters, Diablo Valley
  Diablo Valley Area
  9:00 am

Thursday January 8

• Mt.Diablo Village Book Talk: "Super Agers" by Dr. Eric Topol
  Hillside Covenant Church , 2060 Magnolia Way , Walnut Creek
  3:00 pm

📣 Walnut Creek 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

Friday December 26

• ❄️ WINTER ALL DAY CAMP week 1: Polar Explorers + Mythical Creatures
  Sparkologie | Art Design STEM Classes , 1941 Oak Park Blvd # 70 , Pleasant Hill
  9:00 am
• Jonathan Low-Fi — Templeton Mercantile
  Templeton Mercantile , 508 S Main St , Templeton
  7:30 pm

Saturday December 27

• StoryWalkÂŽ with Dougherty Station and San Ramon Libraries
  San Ramon Library , 100 Montgomery St , San Ramon
• Lego Club: Free play
  San Miguel Public Library , 254 13th St , San Miguel
  1:00 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 Walnut Creek PatchAM possible:

• Downtown Walnut Creek Ace Hardware — (925) 705-7500
  Master Nursery, Benjamin Moore Paint, BBQ Center & More
• Mindsee.it — (646) 663-8317
  Teach your kids they can achieve the impossible!
• Diablo Escapes — (925) 393-7171
  Epic Escape Room Adventures at Diablo Escapes

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

• Lost dog, GSP.
  His name is Ritz and accidentally escaped out the garage on dec 24 around 1pm. He is very sweet, super food motivated and has no collar on. If you… (Nextdoor Saranap)
• I know this is Christmas Eve.
  Milky Way needs a foster home by this Friday as his current foster can no longer keep him as of 12/26/25. Sadly, if he doesn't have a foster before… (Nextdoor Rossmoor Golden Rain)

• The Bay Club Company posted a job opening for Housekeeping Attendant in Walnut Creek. Apply here.
• USA Jobs posted a job opening for Bookkeeper in Walnut Creek. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Walnut Creek here.

🗞 Nearby News

Pleasant Hill

• Contra Costa County Friendly Food Fight Returns (contracosta.news)
• Toll increases at 7 Bay Area bridges beginning Jan. 1 (contracostaherald.com)
• ‘Stranger Things' Series Finale Hits the Big Screen at 20+ Bay Area Theaters (funcheap.com)

Concord

Ok Walnut Creek! 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!

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