Good morning, Salinas.

Monterey's Shoreline Church is preparing for a holiday dinner + gift giveaway next Tuesday for homeless women and children.

Over 150 volunteers will serve dinner, music, and arts and crafts to 350 guests.

Sweet Reba’s, a Monterey Peninsula bakery, opened its Oldtown Salinas location on Wednesday (Dec.

4) at 268 Main Street after a long wait marked by a 'coming soon' sign. The shop offers cakes, cookies, brownies, and breakfast burritos and is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Streets of Bethlehem returns for its 34th year as First Baptist Church hosts a free live nativity experience with walk-through reenactments of the first Christmas, featuring actors, animals, and historical settings from 6 to 8 p.m. each night from Thursday to Sunday (free shuttle from Park Row is available).

Today, filming for the movie The Rooster Prince takes place along Big Sur between Carmel and Point Sur Lighthouse from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. with intermittent Highway 1 delays from mile marker 45.84 to 72.90 & a planned fashion shoot; the production donated to the Mid Coast Fire Brigade.

King tide season is here Thursday through Saturday, and local agencies are warning residents to stay away from slippery rocks and strong waves.

Experts caution surfers and tidepoolers to be extra careful today as waves could reach up to six feet along the coast.

Scientists from SJSU's Moss Landing Marine Labs found 55,000 pounds of heavy metals in the soil of Elkhorn Slough after last winter’s fire at the Vistra battery plant, raising concerns for wildlife & local residents.

Monitoring will continue as researchers track the fire’s long-term impact on the sensitive wetland.

Monterey County's transportation agency is launching a study to use nature-based solutions to protect Highway 1 and rail tracks in Moss Landing from rising sea levels, with over $2 million in state funding + public input to shape the plan and safeguard the Elkhorn Slough habitat.

Monterey County warned residents after hospitals reported a rise in wild mushroom poisonings earlier this week.

Health officer Dr. Edward Moreno advised that only those with training should eat foraged mushrooms — they may closely resemble safe varieties.

Monterey County Health Department will hold its listening session on the mental health rehab center proposal tomorrow at 10 a.m. in the Whitney Room at 1270 Natividad Road, with a Zoom option and Spanish interpretation; the project will be reviewed by the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday at 1:30 p.m.

Boys’ soccer rankings released today list Alvarez, Gonzales and Alisal among the top teams, with Salinas ranking ninth.

The list also names Harbor, Pajaro Valley, Santa Cruz, Watsonville and King City as teams on the bubble.