Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: See which big Salem projects are finally rising — and which aren’t
Happening soon: Candlelight: Tribute to The Beatles on the Salem Patch calendar
What's up Salem! Let's start this morning right by getting caught up on what's going on around town. Keep reading to stay in the loop. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
- See which big Salem projects are finally rising — and which aren’t
- How Salem police uncovered 13 hidden guns and pounds of drugs
- How are Salem-area tree farms weathering drought, tariffs and fake trees?
Today's riddle: What did the little needle say to the mother needle when it brought home a failing report card? 🤔 (Answer below!)
Find out what's happening in Salemfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
- Thursday: Cloudy with a few showers, with a high of 53 and low of 39 degrees.
- Friday: A brief shower or two, temps: high: 48, low: 39.
- Saturday: An a.m. shower; mostly cloudy, with a high of 47 and low of 32 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
1. See photos of apartments, housing and more going up in Salem (statesmanjournal.com) — New housing, retail, and mixed-use projects are reshaping key corners of Salem, from West Salem’s Titan Hill Apartments to Gussie Belle Commons opening to tenants on Jan. 1. Downtown sites like the long-empty “pit,” former JCPenney, and future Block 45 and Block 50 projects highlight both stalled and fast-moving changes that will affect shopping, housing, and traffic patterns citywide. 
Find out what's happening in Salemfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
2. Strategic Salem Police Investigations Unit Nets 13 Firearms and Significant Drug Haul (kykn.com) — Salem police detectives seized 13 firearms and large quantities of meth, fentanyl and cocaine while serving a search warrant at a northeast Salem home tied to an ongoing investigation. The arrest and search are part of the department’s Community Violence Reduction Initiative, which has taken more than 290 crime-linked guns off local streets this year.
3. Christmas tree industry challenged, but proving reslient (capitalpress.com) — Several Christmas tree growers in and around Salem, including BTN of Oregon and farms near the city, say demand for real trees remains steady even as long-term sales decline. Salem-area families are helping new local farms like the Buckendorf Family Tree Farm get off to a strong start, while regional growers grapple with drought, tariffs, and competition from artificial trees. Despite challenges, many are still planting for the future.
4. 100 years ago, Christmas dinner in Salem meant 2,500 pounds of chicken (salemreporter.com) — A look back at Christmas 1925 shows Salem bustling with shoppers, charity drives, and huge holiday feasts at local institutions like the state hospital, penitentiary and city jail. From kids cheering Santa at the Salem Armory to charity funds supporting “worthy families,” the story paints a vivid picture of how Salem residents celebrated the season a century ago.
5. Win for Bearcats bigger than Capitol City Classic championship (lincolnparishjournal.com) — A high school basketball tournament in Salem just crowned Ruston High’s Bearcats as champions of the 2025 Capitol City Classic at Willamette University. Over five days and four straight wins, the Louisiana team bonded off the court, visited Nike’s headquarters, and edged St. Mary’s in a tight title game. Salem fans saw multiple MVP performances and a dramatic finish.
📸 Around Salem
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 Salem
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
★ Featured events ★
- Candlelight: Tribute to The Beatles
Willamette Heritage Center, 1313 Mill St SE, Salem
8:30 pm
Sunday December 28
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
- No Greeters
Salem Area Chamber of Commerce , 1110 Commercial St NE , Salem - "Noon" Year's Eve
Gilbert House Children's Museum , 116 Marion St NE , Salem
10:00 am - Wrestling: G/V
North Salem High School
7:00 am
Friday December 26
Wednesday December 31
Saturday January 3
📣 Salem 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
- Indy Coffee Club for Startups and Entrepreneurs
Indy Commons , 154 S Main St , Independence
9:00 am - No Greeters
Salem Area Chamber of Commerce , 1110 Commercial St NE , Salem - CAREER CENTER– COMPUTER BASICS (SALEM)
Goodwill Industries of the Columbia Willamette , 3535 Lancaster Dr NE , Salem
9:00 am - CAREER CENTER– GMAIL, DRIVE, DOCS (SALEM)
Goodwill Industries of the Columbia Willamette , 3535 Lancaster Dr NE , Salem
1:00 pm - Friday Funnies @ Elysium Botanicals Wines & Vineyard in Independence, OR
Elysium Botanicals Wines and Vineyard , 8175 Buena Vista Rd , Independence
7:00 pm - GLOW Christmas Light Adventure at Volcanoes Stadium
Volcanoes Stadium , 6700 Field Of Dreams Way Northeast Suite 101 , Keizer
4:45 pm - Shapes - Les Mills
Physiq Fitness , 451 Lancaster Dr NE , Salem
9:00 am - Troop 121 Christmas Tree Recycling
Willamette Valley Bank , River Road , Keizer
9:00 am
Thursday December 25
Friday December 26
Saturday December 27
Sunday December 28
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 Salem PatchAM possible:
- Mindsee.it — (646) 663-8317
Teach your kids they can achieve the impossible!
Click here to show your appreciation! 💚
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💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- Desperately needing a good home for this sweet little guy.
He was found wandering the streets, scared, and about to get hit by cars going by. We have been trying to find the owners for a month now. I wish I… (Nextdoor Morningside) - UPDATE: Storm was downgraded!
Mark Nelson,meteorologist on channel 12 (KPTV), is saying he thinks many of us are going to be without power Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Says he… (Nextdoor Northeast Salem)
- Kellermeyer Bergensons Services posted a job opening for Janitorial Crew Member in Salem. Apply here.
- ServiceMASTER Clean posted a job opening for Janitor in Salem. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Salem here.
Ok Salem! 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 not as sharp as I thought.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!
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