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🌱 Patch AM: Where and when to recycle your Christmas tree for free

And on the Albuquerque Patch calendar - Christmas Carols with a Tahitian twist

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Wednesday December 17th Patch AM
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Hey hey Albuquerque! Your one-stop source for local news is here. Continue reading for all the updates. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • Where and when to recycle your Christmas tree for free
  • Why Range Cafe is shutting its longtime East Downtown Albuquerque spot
  • How Tiguex Park just turned into Albuquerque’s newest outdoor science lab

Also on today's calendar: Christmas Carols with a Tahitian twist and 9 more events.

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

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

From our Partner
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Weather forecast:

  • Wednesday: Mostly sunny and nice, with a high of 60 and low of 39 degrees.
  • Thursday: Partly sunny, temps: high: 63, low: 36.
  • Friday: Plenty of sunshine, with a high of 64 and low of 37 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Albuquerque Expands Annual Treecycling Efforts (environmentenergyleader.com) — Albuquerque residents can recycle up to five live Christmas trees for free between December 29 and January 11 at three city drop-off sites, turning holiday waste into useful mulch. The program keeps thousands of trees out of Cerro Colorado Landfill, supports erosion control, and offers free mulch for home landscaping, all through a partnership of city departments and PNM.
   

2. Range Cafe to close east downtown location in Albuquerque (kob.com) — Range Cafe is closing its East Downtown Albuquerque location on Central Avenue on Dec. 27 after nearly 20 years, due to a likely building sale. The company says its business remains strong, other locations in Albuquerque and nearby towns stay open, and Central Avenue employees will be offered positions elsewhere as they invite locals in for a final visit.
   

3. ‘All science begins with curiosity': Tiguex Park offers interactive, outdoor learning (krqe.com) — A new “Family Science at Tiguex Park” installation is now open in the heart of Albuquerque, turning the park between Explora and nearby museums into an outdoor science classroom. Funded by a federal grant and city matching funds, the nine interactive exhibits use light, sound, wind, and math to spark curiosity for kids and adults. City officials hope to expand similar learning installations to other Albuquerque parks.
   

4. Albuquerque gets $5M grant for ADA upgrades at Balloon Fiesta Park (kob.com) — Albuquerque has secured a $5 million state grant to make Balloon Fiesta Park more accessible and fix chronic flooding that leaves a large lake in its center. Construction starting in January will repair uneven pavement, improve ADA access, and wrap up by June so visitors, including those with disabilities, can safely enjoy next October’s Balloon Fiesta.
   

5. Roadrunner Food Bank gets $225K donation from AARP (koat.com) — Roadrunner Food Bank, which runs a food pantry and community resource center in Albuquerque, just received a $225,000 donation from the AARP Foundation to help meet surging demand. With more people seeking food and federal supplies shrinking, the funding will support hunger relief for older adults across New Mexico and bolster services in Albuquerque’s underserved communities.
   

📸 Around Albuquerque

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Please share & repost to help reunite this lost dog!
    Lulu was LOST on December 15, 2025 in Albuquerque, NM 87107 near Mission and edith Sharing for a neighbor. For the latest information or to contact… (Nextdoor Monkbridge Gardens)
  • Is there anyone on here that knows any autistic resources or is autistic that might be able to help an individual having an autistic meltdown?
    My neighbor is autistic and I can hear them crying through the walls. I want to help but don’t know what to do. I can hear that they are at the end… (Nextdoor Huning Highland)
  • Cintas Corporation posted a job opening for Warehouse Associate - Wastewater Technician - 2nd Shift in Albuquerque. Apply here.
  • Parnall Law posted a job opening for Intern/Mail Clerk in Albuquerque. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Albuquerque here.

Ok Albuquerque! 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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