happening today -- glide church's annual christmas eve celebrations... including a luncheon sponsored by the house of prime rib. over 37-hundred pounds of prime rib and an array of delicious side dishes are expected to be handed out as part of the christmas eve tradition. it all starts at 10:30 this morning in glide's dining room. we spoke with glide founder cecil williams at a past event about the importance of helping the less fortunate. (marty) glide is also hosting glide is also hosting christmas eve morning celebrations today at 9 and 11 o clock. (marty) in the east bay -- authorities are offering a 10-thousand dollar reward for information on suspects who robbed two mail trucks in antioch. on monday... the first mail truck was broken into on texas street. it happened again on tuesday. a different mail truck was robbed on south francisco court. about 130 residents were possibly affected by both crimes. people have been told to contact the post office to report their missing packages and letters. (marty) and porch package snatching is increasing as well, with thieves now targeting homes in danville. the latest incidents happened thursday along valley creek lane. there, two suspects were stealing packages from multiple homes. police say this picture is of one of the crooks. neighbors confronted the duo -- who ran away -- and remain at large. (marty) more and more people are doing their christmas shopping online. that means packages left on porches or doorsteps are easy targets for thieves. dan lieberman has more on how police are stepping up their efforts to fight this crime. -nats "as you can see he's thinking about it walks right up to the front there. goes ahead takes the package.. double middle finger."it's something that's happening all across the country...some of it...caught on camera.-nats- kevin fitzharris/detective, franklin township police: "absolutely, i think it's becoming quite the epidemic." one survey found that 23 million americans have had a package stolen.and this holiday season may be the biggest heist yet...with more than a billion packages being delivered as more people do their shopping online. -nats- this police unit is trying to catch package thieves in the act.-nats-dl-so you got a flat screen tvkevin---, blue ray player, made to look authentic dl-so someone trying to steal this will be pretty disappointed when they open it upkevin-absolutelydl-so as someone tries to steal this you'll jump out and arrest them?kevin-correct mark reiner/lieutenant, franklin township police: "we have two surveillance teams on packages placed at people's doorsteps//the chances of one of them getting stolen is possible."lt. reiner says it's all too easy for thieves to snatch up these packages.mark reiner/lieutenant, franklin township police: "this is a prime example of how easy it is to commit one of these thefts, package visible from road on high traveled street." so far, his department's recovered more than 100 packages this season...that they hope to return to their rightful owners -nats-packages have already been returned...but a lot of people are still missing their gifts. mark reiner/lieutenant, franklin township police: "we all have families and want to put smiles on children's faces on christmas morning just to find out an individual stole a package it's heartbreaking." (marty) coming up... the alleged terror plot to attack pier 39 on christmas -- thwarted by the f-b-i. we'll hear from family members of the suspect in custody. (marty) and thousands of children in california are in need of a foster family this holiday season... we'll show you an east bay child that now has a "forever home" (marty) and... it's a tree that only a mother could love. or perhaps in this case -- a "mamma." after the break -- why some italian taxpayers are crying foul over this christmas tree. really? really? really? really? really? really? see zero in a whole new way. get zero down, zero deposit, zero first month's payment, and zero due at signing on select volkswagen models. now with the people first warranty. last minute presents are on their way... here is what one small u-p-s plane looked before heading from oakland airport to ukiah. the cessna 402 was packed with packages. this year, ups predicted that it would deliver 750 million packages around the world between thanksgiving and christmas. ( marty ) some people in rome were shocked when the christmas tree the city ordered turned out to be less than perfect. some residents are even angry about the ugly and droopy tree... calling it mangy or baldy. it cost 60-thousand dollars of taxpayer money. experts have been brought in to measure the density of the pine needles and a court case has been filed. however some people have been leaving love notes for the tree -- with one of the notes saying "the important thing, is to be beautiful on the inside." ( dave )clouds persist and cool. your holiday forecast is next ! ( marty ) for the weekend: it's the free pancake breakfast in oakland. come out and enjoy some free pancakes, eggs, bacon and juice. it's all happening at the abundant life christian center fellowship from 10 to 10:55. the event is free to attend. do you need the most trusted batmaybe not.holiday? (screaming) maybe you could trust the world would be just as happy without them. maybe you could trust you wouldn't be replaced. have your sleigh repossessed. and end up living in the middle of nowhere with the only friend you have left in the entire world. no! or you could just trust duracell. ♪ my wish was a clubhouse, but we call it "the wish house." people visit national parks from all over the world. food tastes better when you don't have to cook it. he was just supposed to be my dog. i don't know why. (vo) we're proud that, on behalf of our owners, the subaru share the love event will have donated over one hundred fifteen million dollars in just ten years. get 0% financing for 63 months on select models. plus we'll donate $250 to charity. ♪ ♪ i'm gonna let it shine.e, ♪ it's energy saving time, ♪ i'm gonna reduce mine. ♪ californians all align ♪ to let our great state shine. ♪ let it shine, ♪ the power's ours to let it shine! ♪ unplug chargers - go, ♪ devices go off-line. turn thermostats down low, ♪ led's shine mighty fine. ♪ small actions quickly grow, ♪ to let our great state shine. ♪ energy upgrade california, will let us shine. ♪ here's a live look at the embarcadero this morning. and here's a look at santa tracker this morning... toss to weather. (dave)a dissipating weather system is forecast to move through the region this afternoon and evening, however only a few sprinkles or isolated light rain showers are expected from san francisco northward. otherwise, dry weather conditions along with seasonal temperatures will persist through the forecast period. (marty) we continue to follow a big story this morning. a suspected terror attack on pier 39 in san francisco... foiled by the f-b-i just days before christmas. now a former u.s. marine ... who allegedly expressed loyalty to isis... is now facing federal charges. kim hutcherson had a chance to speak with the suspect's family. sarah jameson / everitt's aunt: "it's like their talking about somebody else."family members still in shock after news broke that their loved one was allegedly planning a terror attack here on u.s. soil.on friday, the fbi foiled a terror plot that targeted san francisco...and the man authorities say was behind it... 26- year old everitt aaron jameson.sarah jameson / everitt's aunt: "i can't explain it any other way it's not my nephew that they're talking about." jameson, an ex-marine, was allegedly planning to stage the attack on pier 39 over the holiday weekend.according to the affidavit, jameson met with an undercover employee on december 16 and told them he wanted to conduct a terror attack using weapons and explosives at pier 39.the fbi started watching jameson back in september... after flagging social media activity in which he "liked" posts about terror attacks and isis.authorities who were tracking him online say he was modeling his planned attack on those over the past few years... like san bernadino back in 2015... and more recently in new york city. jameson was later arrested and charged with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization. a preliminary hearing is set for january 5th.the modesto bee reports that he's denied the allegation against him.if convicted, jameson could be sentenced to 20 years in prison. i'm kim hutcherson reporting. (marty) and we continue to cover this story on our website... there you can read all of the documents released by the f-b-i. we also have information on how to protect yourself from a potential terror attack. it's all on kron-4 dot com. ( marty ) now to a story you will only see on kron four... with christmas just one day away, thousands of foster kids in california are wondering when they'll get to spend the holidays with a forever family. an east bay family shared their success story of foster care that ultimately led to an adoption. kron four's spencer blake reports from brentwood. "he was just a little thing!" as d-j terrell and his mom, francine, look through old photos, they both agree - he has come a long way since the foster system first placed him in the terrells' lives."he prayed for a family like this, and when i heard that i knew that he was the right child because i had been praying for a child that would fit into our family."as a child, d-j had been in seven foster homes, and attended nine different schools.when he was in fifth grade, francine and her then-husband took him into their home, along with their older daughter jasmine.now, as a junior in high school, d-j and his family just celebrated the one-year anniversary of his official adoption. "christmas is a warm feeling. i don't need to worry about if i'm getting loved. i get love all the time. i'm finally part of the family. no matter what happens, i'm always gonna be with them, ya know?"he's one of the lucky ones.a clinician from the agency that guided him and his family through foster care and adoption...says there are 60 thousand kids in california who are in the foster system waiting for adoption, or at least some form of permanency. the holidays can be an especially hard time of year for them."many don't know where their forever home is gonna be and so as a therapist, many do come to me and say, 'when can i go home? when am i going to have my forever family?'"adoption into his forever family has helped d-j in more ways than just a place to live.he used to cry all night, every night when he first came into francine's home.he got in trouble at school every day.but all that has improved, as the young man who runs cross country can tell you now.and for any parents even considering foster care or adoption...he says"just give it a chance. give it a try! a miracle might happen to you as well, like happened to them, happened to me. a miracle will happen." (reporter)d-j is now a counselor at a summer camp that helps foster kids...he volunteers for and speaks to foster families all the time. he has an open relationship with his birth mother and her family...and he tells me, he wants to adopt a child one day, too.in brentwood, spencer blake, kron four news. (marty) still ahead on the kron4 morning news -- the whirlwind journey of this simple organ made in small- town u.s.a -- all the way to the vatican for for christmas eve services. live look outside... richmond bridge ♪ [ splash ] [ horn sounds ] dang! ok, i gotta run. hey, wait, there's something i need to tell you- dang. dang! dang! dang. dang. see zero in a whole new way. get zero down, zero deposit, zero first month's payment, and zero due at signing on select volkswagen models. now with the people first warranty. for 100 years, heritage and innovation have made gillette the #1 shave in america. now get gillette quality at lower prices -- every day. brought to you by 1200 workers in boston -- we're proud of giving you our best. gillette. the best a man can get. millions from around the world will watch this christmas eve, as the pope celebrates mass at the vatican. and if you watch, look closely, and you'll see a small in pennsylvania town represented -- front-and- center -- in st. peter's basilica. if you can't see it, then listen for it. joy howe reports. when the order first came into allen organ((nat pop organ playing ))it came from the very top.steven a. markowitz, president, allen organ company "we had some moments like, 'wow, this is unbelievable." in october, president steve markowitz got a phone call from the vatican. they'd heard the sounds of an allen organ, and decided that's what they needed - and they needed it fast.steven a. markowitz, president, allen organ company "there were custom requirements of this order that required employees to stop what they were doing and get on this project and they went the extra step because they knew how important this project could be." within three weeks, it was ready - and it, along with steve and his team, headed overseas knowing they'd end up somewhere important...but still, with a lot of unknowns. steven a. markowitz, president, allen organ company "we weren't exactly sure where we were or where we were going..."they went through a back door, and then realized, they were standing in st. peter's basilica.seven a. markowitz, president, allen organ company"and the next thing you know, we're walking in by the altar and to our surprise, the organs were in crates, 50 feet from the altar." the next couple of days, were spent perfecting the sound. there was a reason the vatican had chosen allen organ. st. peter's houses 12,000 people during mass, and the current pipe organ was too loud up front, and not loud enough for the back. but steve's product, with the internal computer audio board and speaker system, was perfect.there it was, their mcgungie built allen organ, now permanently sitting in one of the most famous places in the world.steven a. markowitz, president, allen organ company "it's a very humbling experience, because in our craft, i mean, the way we look at our success is not only the satisfaction of our customers, and the people who play and hear our instruments, but also who requests us.and in a group, when you're talking about the vatican, that there are not many equals." on christmas eve, millions around the world will tune in for mass.and the sound they'll hear, will be divine - kind of like the story that's come full circle.steven a. markowitz, president, allen organ company"my father's first sale was to a very small church that grew and became the cathedral of the diocese of allentown. so to come full circle from that humble beginning to this, is just incredible." there are allen organs in countries all over the world and celebrity's homes, but unless they get a call from an even higher power, for all those at allan organ this one, will be hard to top.steven a. markowitz, president, allen organ company "on an emotional level, there's nothing higher."nats live look outside... golden gate bridge from the sutro cam. today we're out here to test people's knowledge about type 2 diabetes. so you have type 2 diabetes? yes i do. true or false... type 2 diabetes more than doubles your chance of dying from a cardiovascular event, like a heart attack or a stroke. that can't be true, can it? actually, it is true. and with heart disease, your risk is even higher. in fact, cardiovascular disease is the #1 cause of death for adults with type 2 diabetes and heart disease. but there is good news. jardiance is the only type 2 diabetes pill with a lifesaving cardiovascular benefit. jardiance is proven to both significantly reduce the chance of dying from a cardiovascular event in adults who have type 2 diabetes and heart disease and lower your a1c. that's good to know. jardiance can cause serious side effects including dehydration. this may cause you to feel dizzy, faint, or lightheaded, or weak upon standing. ketoacidosis is a serious side effect that may be fatal. symptoms include nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, tiredness, and trouble breathing. stop taking jardiance and call your doctor right away if you have symptoms of ketoacidosis or an allergic reaction. symptoms of an allergic reaction include rash, swelling, and difficulty breathing or swallowing. do not take jardiance if you are on dialysis or have severe kidney problems. other side effects are sudden kidney problems, genital yeast infections, increased bad cholesterol, and urinary tract infections, which may be serious. taking jardiance with a sulfonylurea or insulin may cause low blood sugar. tell your doctor about all the medicines you take and if you have any medical conditions. isn't it time to talk to your doctor about jardiance? absolutely. ask your doctor about jardiance. and get to the heart of what matters. welcome back to the kron4 morning news. here's a live look outside...sutro cam. ( marty ) dave spahr has your forecast... (dave)a dissipating weather system is forecast to move through the region this afternoon and evening, however only a few sprinkles or isolated light rain showers are expected from san francisco northward. otherwise, dry weather conditions along with seasonal temperatures will persist through the forecast period. happening today -- glide church's annual christmas eve celebrations... including a luncheon sponsored by a san francisco institution. kron4's camila bernal is there.... joined by one of the holiday coordinators at glide this morning. thanks camila. http://kron4.com/2 015/07/21/earthquake-emergency- kits-what-you-need/( marty ) a small earthquake hit near gilroy saturday. a three-point-four magnitude quake hit at around 4:30 yesterday afternoon about eight miles from the city.. no reports of any damage or injuries. this may have been a relatively small earthquake. but another reminder to make sure your earthquake kit is fully stocked. we have a full page dedicated to earthquakes on our website... there is an interactive map, along with what to do when a quake hits and what you need in your emergency kit. that is at kron four dot com. ( marty ) the legalization of recreational marijuana in california is among the new laws for 20-18. but law enforcement officials are warning people that while sales and use may be legal, driving high is not. kron 4's dan kerman has more. while the sale and use of marijuana for recreation purposes becomes legal in california january first, the highway patrol wants those lighting up to know that getting behind the wheel after smoking pot is notááá sot officer vu williams/chp 13-21 whether it's legal or not it's still dangerous to operate a vehicle of any kind if you are impaired, whether it's drugs, whether its marijuana, whether it's alcohol chp officer vu williams says all chp officers have now taken an advanced class to identify roadside impairment and will be putting that knowledge to the test with field sobriety tests. sotthese are tests to see if you can follow directions, whether you can multi task, whether your motor skills are impaired or not. things that you use when you drive a vehicle. whether we have a blood test or not is not what we are looking at on the side of the raod, we are looking at those tests and determining if they are impaired and making an arrest based on that. and while arrests may be as straight forward as they were before getting a conviction may be harder. ááásot bill fazio/criminal defense attorney 109-120they can quantify alcohol .08, that's a matter of law the same doesn't apply to any drugs including marijuana so it will be more difficult at least initially. criminial defense attorney bill fazio says the lack of specificity when it comes to marijuana gives defense attorneys more options when in trial.sot coming up on the kron4 morning news -- what this little girl wants for christmas in the aftermath of hurricane harvey will break your heart. see her letter to santa this year. see ya. -take care. ♪ so probably take it at night. and if you have any questions, the instructions are here in spanish as you requested. gracias. ♪ at walgreens, how we care will change over time, but why we care remains the same treating everyone with the care and attention they deserve. walgreens. trusted since 1901. really? really? really? really? really? see zero in a whole new way. get zero down, zero deposit, zero first month's payment, and zero due at signing on select volkswagen models. now with the people first warranty. a heartbreaking story out of texas... an eight- year-old girl wrote a letter to santa, but did not ask for any gifts. instead, she only wants her dad to get better - and their home hit by hurricane harvey to be fixed. christine dobbyn has the story. natsotshe wrote her christmas wish list at a friend's house. it's gone viral.betzabe gomez, wrote letter to santa:"i don't know what she did but it got all over the internet and i got really surprised." her video has too.betzabe gomez, wrote letter to santa:"i don't know what she did, but got all over the internet and i was really surprised."there are no toys on the list, just requests from betzabe, the youngest of five children. betzabe gomez, wrote letter to santa:"i don't really want anything just for my house to get better and my dad too."a gaping hole in their roof since harvey they haven't been able to afford to fix. dripping water has caused more mold and her sick father on dialysis breathing it in. betzabe gomez, wrote letter to santa:"sometimes when he gets home from dialysis he feels really tired."the gomez's story captured the attention of their state representative. he's gotten to know them this week. they've been denied by fema and sba for post harvey help.armando walle, texas state representative:"i think it's a travesty they were denied, we're helping them appeal with congressman green's office. i read the letter it indicated there weren't enough damages and threat to the health and safety of these folks. mold to me is a threat to health and safety of a family."an anonymous donor has helped pay for back taxes the family incurred while the father has been sick. that's one of the first steps in moving forward with repairs or a new house. it's just one example of the many families still hurting from harvey and the kids like betzabe whose wish list reminds us all what the holidays are all about.betzabe gomez, wrote letter to santa: "we've been going through a lot and i don't want any more children to go through this." ( marty ) that was christine dobbyn reporting. betzabe celebrated her 9th birthday yesterday. representative walle threw her a party - and he's appealing for donations on the family's "you-caring" page. and after the break... our travel expert takes us to some european christmas markets that you have to see to believe. this year, start a new holiday tradition. delicious recipes made with nutella! the holidays never tasted this good. discover holiday recipes at nutella.com. (dave)a dissipating weather system is forecast to move through the region this afternoon and evening, however only a few sprinkles or isolated light rain showers are expected from san francisco northward. otherwise, dry weather conditions along with seasonal temperatures will persist through the forecast period. it's tough to feel like scrooge when you're like scrooge it's tough to feel period.forecast through the will persist through the forecast period. it's tough to feel like scrooge when you're surrounded by scenery like this. this is cologne, germany, home to not just one, but about a half- dozen christmas markets. the markets here attract the likes of two million visitors every year, and it's easy to understand why. i was on a river cruise with ama waterways on the rhine river, and there were a number of markets within easy walking distance from where the ship docked on the rhine river. which made it nice because you could wander and come back and take a break when you'd had enough, or wanted to simply warm up. the wooden stalls are loaded with an assortment of goods, everything from handmade holiday decorations to pretzels. ice rinks go up, ferris wheels and carousels go around and around. it attracts tourists, but it's embraced by locals. cologne's christmas markets can be very crowded, especially on weekend nights. for a quieter, more old school take.. let's keep heading down the rhine river.. (toward switzerland) ((wipe nats full vo tape 2)) cg2= r÷desheim christmas markets "christmas carol" welcome to r÷desheim (rude-is-heim). with a population of about 7,000 people (compared to cologne's million) the experience here is much different. artisans working in christmas stalls will have time to strike up a conversation with you, because they have the time to talk to you. there will be local kids running through the streets. you'll hear christmas music playing throughout the city, and plenty of lights. and again, less than a 10-minute walk from the ship to the center of town, so easy to go back and take a break, maybe drop off shopping bags, when needed. though it is important to know, r÷desheim rolls up the sidewalks pretty early, so you'll want to enjoy the market sooner as opposed to later. i went for a walk after dinner around 8:30pm, and i had the place to myself. (sun-thu 11am-8pm fri-sat 11am- 9pm) ((wipe vo tape 3)) cg2= heidelberg christmas markets our next stop comes complete with a castle.. welcome to heidelberg. we're working our way through germany. the christmas market here is scattered in squares throughout the old town. a long pedestrian stretch connects one square to the next, but with winding alleys and streets it's a fun place to wander. heidelberg has a population of about 150,000 thousand - more than 30,000 are college students. (it's home to the largest university in germany.) so much bigger than r÷desheim, it has that classic academic feel. there are certain things you can expect at all christmas markets like mulled wine - called gl÷hwein (glue-vine), big gingerbread cookies, wooden toys and crafts - but you'll also notice different things at each market based on holiday traditions and local culture. ((wipe vo tape 4)) cg2= gegenbach christmas markets welcome to gengenbach (gangen-bach). take a close look at that building.. the city hall with 24 windows doubles as an advent calendar during the holiday season. the surrounding market was my favorite of the bunch, because it was everything i envisioned a european christmas market would be, and it was very local. i met a sister from a local monastery selling paper stars and baked goods. when i asked one of the artists a question in german, it was the first time someone actually responded in german and kept going. the town has a population of 10,000. but it's not a popular stop with tour companies. i believe amawaterways is the only river cruise line that takes guests into gengenbach, so the locals dramatically outnumbered the visitors. ( marty ) an update this morning on the georgia cat who ran away to california on the 4th of july. "kitty bitty" was discovered at a pepsi facility in riverside, after stowing away on one of the company's cross-country trucks. animal control officials say the cat was underweight and dehydrated when he was found. kitty bitty was treated and prepared for the trip home. his georgia owners reunited with their pet on friday. they say they are grateful to have him home for the holidays. ( dave )clouds persist and cool. your holiday forecast is next ! (camilla) glide christmas eve celebrations and prime rib luncheon. toasting dad: i'm not one for speeches. but here's to... to many more years of friendship. and feasts! crowd: [laughing, cheering] to presents! a mi familia que lo es todo. ♪ to being right here, right now, with you. sfx: dog bark. and you. toasting dad: i guess what i'm trying to say is, here's to family. we're proud to bring your family amazing value every day. t.j. maxx. marshalls. homegoods. family is the greatest gift. but this guy is in a hurry. this van is going, uh, i was in a hurry this morning. barely had time for breakfast. growl. grumpy! jack's gonna crash your crave hey guys. try my country scrambler plate, with jimmy dean sausage, homestyle potatoes and scrambled eggs mixed with bacon, ham and cheese. careful out there, jack, i heard there's some crazy driver in a van. (laughing) it's him! i'm talking about him! try my brunchfast country scrambler plate with jimmy dean sausage. crave van! producer: sophie silletto x 8982 desk: x8905 ( marty ) here is a live look at the embarcadero. here is dave spahr with the (dave)a dissipating weather system is forecast to move through the region this afternoon and evening, however only a few sprinkles or isolated light rain showers are expected from san francisco northward. otherwise, dry weather conditions along with seasonal temperatures will persist through the forecast period. happening today -- glide church's annual christmas eve celebrations... including a luncheon sponsored by a san francisco institution. kron4's camila bernal is there. happening today -- glide church's annual christmas eve celebrations... including a luncheon sponsored by the house of prime rib. over 37-hundred pounds of prime rib and an array of delicious side dishes are expected to be handed out as part of the christmas eve tradition. it all starts at 10:30 this morning in glide's dining room. thanks camila. (marty) in the east bay -- authorities are offering a 10-thousand dollar reward for information on suspects who robbed two mail trucks in antioch. on monday... the first mail truck was broken into on texas street. it happened again on tuesday. a different mail truck was robbed on south francisco court. about 130 residents were possibly affected by both crimes. people have been told to contact the post office to report their missing packages and letters. (marty) and porch package snatching is increasing as well, with thieves now targeting homes in danville. the latest incidents happened thursday along valley creek lane. there, two suspects were stealing packages from multiple homes. police say this picture is of one of the crooks. neighbors confronted the duo -- who ran away -- and remain at large. (marty) more and more people are doing their christmas shopping online. that means packages left on porches or doorsteps are easy targets for thieves. dan lieberman has more on how police are stepping up their efforts to fight this crime. -nats "as you can see he's thinking about it walks right up to the front there. goes ahead takes the package.. double middle finger."it's something that's happening all across the country...some of it...caught on camera.-nats- kevin fitzharris/detective, franklin township police: "absolutely, i think it's becoming quite the epidemic." one survey found that 23 million americans have had a package stolen.and this holiday season may be the biggest heist yet...with more than a billion packages being delivered as more people do their shopping online. -nats- this police unit is trying to catch package thieves in the act.-nats-dl-so you got a flat screen tvkevin---, blue ray player, made to look authentic dl-so someone trying to steal this will be pretty disappointed when they open it upkevin-absolutelydl-so as someone tries to steal this you'll jump out and arrest them?kevin-correct mark reiner/lieutenant, franklin township police: "we have two surveillance teams on packages placed at people's doorsteps//the chances of one of them getting stolen is possible."lt. reiner says it's all too easy for thieves to snatch up these packages.mark reiner/lieutenant, franklin township police: "this is a prime example of how easy it is to commit one of these thefts, package visible from road on high traveled street." so far, his department's recovered more than 100 packages this season...that they hope to return to their rightful owners -nats-packages have already been returned...but a lot of people are still missing their gifts. mark reiner/lieutenant, franklin township police: "we all have families and want to put smiles on children's faces on christmas morning just to find out an individual stole a package it's heartbreaking." (marty) coming up... the alleged terror plot to attack pier 39 on christmas -- thwarted by the f-b-i. we'll hear from family members of the suspect in custody. (marty) and thousands of children in california are in need of a foster family this holiday season... we'll show you an east bay child that now has a "forever home" (marty) and... it's a tree that only a mother could love. or perhaps in this case -- a "mamma." after the break -- why some italian taxpayers are crying foul over this christmas tree. last minute presents are on their way... here is what one small u-p-s plane looked before heading from oakland airport to ukiah. the cessna 402 was packed with packages. this year, ups predicted that it would deliver 750 million packages around the world between thanksgiving and christmas. ( marty ) some people in rome were shocked when the christmas tree the city ordered turned out to be less than perfect. some residents are even angry about the ugly and droopy tree... calling it mangy or baldy. it cost 60-thousand dollars of taxpayer money. experts have been brought in to measure the density of the pine needles and a court case has been filed. however some people have been leaving love notes for the tree -- with one of the notes saying "the important thing, is to be beautiful on the inside." ( dave )clouds persist and cool. your holiday forecast is next ! for the weekend: it's the pottery holiday show in berkeley. come out and enjoy a beautiful gallery with an intriguing theme. it's all happening at potters guild from 11 to 5. the event is free to attend. toasting dad: i'm not one for speeches. but here's to... to many more years of friendship. and feasts! crowd: [laughing, cheering] to presents! a mi familia que lo es todo. ♪ to being right here, right now, with you. sfx: dog bark. and you. toasting dad: i guess what i'm trying to say is, here's to family. we're proud to bring your family amazing value every day. t.j. maxx. marshalls. homegoods. family is the greatest gift. [ splash ] [ horn sounds ] dang! ok, i gotta run. hey, wait, there's something i need to tell you- dang. dang! dang! dang. dang. see zero in a whole new way. get zero down, zero deposit, zero first month's payment, and zero due at signing on select volkswagen models. now with the people first warranty. for 100 years, heritage and innovation have made gillette the #1 shave in america. now get gillette quality at lower prices -- every day. brought to you by 1200 workers in boston -- we're proud of giving you our best. gillette. the best a man can get. here's a live look at the embarcadero this morning. and here's a look at santa tracker this morning... toss to weather. (dave)a dissipating weather system is forecast to move through the region this afternoon and evening, however only a few sprinkles or isolated light rain showers are expected from san francisco northward. otherwise, dry weather conditions along with seasonal temperatures will persist through the forecast period. ( marty @ landing) back to a big story we've been following. an christmas attack foiled. as this former marine, who officials say was plotting the attack, is in jail. he is accused by the fbi of planning violence in san francisco. kron 4's ella sogomonian reports on the undercover investigation that led to everitt jameson's arrest. (nats)pier 39 in san francisco is a tourist staple drawing large crowds every day. it's for that very reason the fbi claims 26-year-old everitt jameson of modesto told undercover agents he would target the area and set off explosives in the name of isis. sot: larry courter, pier 39 visitor//"i was a little scared, we come down here a lot, friends and i. we live in sacramento but we come down here a lot and you never know. you could be here and the next thing it could happen."sot: ray montgomery, pier 39 visitor// "he's doing it because there's a lot of people there;s a lot of mass there's a lot of footwork through here so he's doing it because of that but reaction is crazy i didn't even expect that to happen."following jameson's arrest his family told kron 4 they knew he converted to (marty) and we continue to cover this story on our website... there you can read all of the documents released by the f-b-i. we also have information on how to protect yourself from a potential terror attack. it's all on kron-4 dot com. ( marty ) now to a story you will only see on kron four... with christmas just one day away, thousands of foster kids in california are wondering when they'll get to spend the holidays with a forever family. an east bay family shared their success story of foster care that ultimately led to an adoption. kron four's spencer blake reports from brentwood. "he was just a little thing!" as d-j terrell and his mom, francine, look through old photos, they both agree - he has come a long way since the foster system first placed him in the terrells' lives."he prayed for a family like this, and when i heard that i knew that he was the right child because i had been praying for a child that would fit into our family."as a child, d-j had been in seven foster homes, and attended nine different schools.when he was in fifth grade, francine and her then-husband took him into their home, along with their older daughter jasmine.now, as a junior in high school, d-j and his family just celebrated the one-year anniversary of his official adoption. "christmas is a warm feeling. i don't need to worry about if i'm getting loved. i get love all the time. i'm finally part of the family. no matter what happens, i'm always gonna be with them, ya know?"he's one of the lucky ones.a clinician from the agency that guided him and his family through foster care and adoption...says there are 60 thousand kids in california who are in the foster system waiting for adoption, or at least some form of permanency. the holidays can be an especially hard time of year for them."many don't know where their forever home is gonna be and so as a therapist, many do come to me and say, 'when can i go home? when am i going to have my forever family?'"adoption into his forever family has helped d-j in more ways than just a place to live.he used to cry all night, every night when he first came into francine's home.he got in trouble at school every day.but all that has improved, as the young man who runs cross country can tell you now.and for any parents even considering foster care or adoption...he says"just give it a chance. give it a try! a miracle might happen to you as well, like happened to them, happened to me. a miracle will happen." (reporter)d-j is now a counselor at a summer camp that helps foster kids...he volunteers for and speaks to foster families all the time. he has an open relationship with his birth mother and her family...and he tells me, he wants to adopt a child one day, too.in brentwood, spencer blake, kron four news. (marty) still ahead on the kron4 morning news -- the whirlwind journey of this simple organ made in small-town u.s.a -- all the way to the vatican for for christmas eve services. live look outside... richmond bridge this is what i make... honey bunches of oats. it's crispy sweetened flakes, plus crunchy granola clusters, plus a touch of honey. it is 'mmmm', is good! it all adds up to a mouthful of joy. honey bunches of oats. have you tried it yet? millions from around the world will watch this christmas eve, as the pope celebrates mass at the vatican. and if you watch, look closely, and you'll see a small pennsylvania town represented -- front-and- center -- in st. peter's basilica. if you can't see it, then listen for it. joy howe reports. when the order first came into allen organ((nat pop organ playing ))it came from the very top.steven a. markowitz, president, allen organ company "we had some moments like, 'wow, this is unbelievable." in october, president steve markowitz got a phone call from the vatican. they'd heard the sounds of an allen organ, and decided that's what they needed - and they needed it fast.steven a. markowitz, president, allen organ company "there were custom requirements of this order that required employees to stop what they were doing and get on this project and they went the extra step because they knew how important this project could be." within three weeks, it was ready - and it, along with steve and his team, headed overseas knowing they'd end up somewhere important...but still, with a lot of unknowns. steven a. markowitz, president, allen organ company "we weren't exactly sure where we were or where we were going..."they went through a back door, and then realized, they were standing in st. peter's basilica.seven a. markowitz, president, allen organ company"and the next thing you know, we're walking in by the altar and to our surprise, the organs were in crates, 50 feet from the altar." the next couple of days, were spent perfecting the sound. there was a reason the vatican had chosen allen organ. st. peter's houses 12,000 people during mass, and the current pipe organ was too loud up front, and not loud enough for the back. but steve's product, with the internal computer audio board and speaker system, was perfect.there it was, their mcgungie built allen organ, now permanently sitting in one of the most famous places in the world.steven a. markowitz, president, allen organ company "it's a very humbling experience, because in our craft, i mean, the way we look at our success is not only the satisfaction of our customers, and the people who play and hear our instruments, but also who requests us.and in a group, when you're talking about the vatican, that there are not many equals." on christmas eve, millions around the world will tune in for mass.and the sound they'll hear, will be divine - kind of like the story that's come full circle.steven a. markowitz, president, allen organ company"my father's first sale was to a very small church that grew and became the cathedral of the diocese of allentown. so to come full circle from that humble beginning to this, is just incredible." there are allen organs in countries all over the celebrity's but unless from an even higher power, for all those at allan organ this one, will be hard to live look outside... golden gate bridge from the sutro cam. welcome back to the kron4 morning news. here's a live look outside...sutro cam. ( marty ) dave spahr has your forecast... (dave)a dissipating weather system is forecast to move through the region this afternoon and evening, however only a few sprinkles or isolated light rain showers are expected from san francisco northward. otherwise, dry weather conditions along with seasonal temperatures will persist through the forecast period. ( marty ) more than 400 kids will have a happier holiday thanks to san francisco firefighters. their annual toy giveaway is a bay area tradition where kids write essays explaining why they want a bike for the holidays. kron 4's camila bernal was there when the kids received bags of toys and a new bike. pkg"it's a miracle"11-year old corban wagner, described saturday morning as a miracle for a number of reasons1:36:31 because i didn't get a lot of presents this year and now i have a bag full of presents and i have new stuffed animals a couple of months ago, he wrote a letter to the firefighters, explaining what he wanted this holiday season 1:36::03 i wanted a bike because my dad is in jail and my mom couldn't afford a bike this yearhundreds of kids wrote letters, and the san francisco firefighters local 798 was able to fulfil the wishes of more than 400 kids 1:32:05 i never had a bike, only a little bike and i always wanted a big bike and now i have itin addition to getting a bike, the kids were able to look through hundreds of toys, picking a handful of their favorites1:33:40 another lego kit and lego friends i think and i got a new bikethe toy program was created in 1949 but it gets bigger each year, helping put a smile on the face of a growing number of kids in the bay area 1:31:13 their faces light up they get to see that there are people that are giving and it's not just coming from us, it's people that want to give to themin san francisco camila bernal kron 4 news. é( marty ) family, friends, and governor jerry brown gathered to say goodbye to one of the firefighters killed battling the thomas fire. a service for "cal fire" engineer cory iverson was held in san diego yesterday morning. the 32-year old died of burns and smoke inhalation on december 14-th. iverson served as a firefighter for eight years. iverson's pregnant wife said he was the most devoted man she knew, a superhero. and the greatest father to their two-year-old daughter. http://kron4.com/2 015/07/21/earthquake-emergency- kits-what-you-need/( marty ) a small earthquake hit near gilroy saturday. a three- point-four magnitude quake hit at around 4:30 yesterday afternoon about eight miles from the city.. no reports of any damage or injuries. this may have been a relatively small earthquake. but another reminder to make sure your earthquake kit is fully stocked. we have a full page dedicated to earthquakes on our website... there is an interactive map, along with what to do when a quake hits and what you need in your emergency kit. that is at kron four dot com. ( marty ) the legalization of recreational marijuana in california is among the new laws for 20-18. but law enforcement officials are warning people that while sales and use may be legal, driving high is not. kron 4's dan kerman has more. while the sale and use of marijuana for recreation purposes becomes legal in california january first, the highway patrol wants those lighting up to know that getting behind the wheel after smoking pot is notááá sot officer vu williams/chp 13-21 whether it's legal or not it's still dangerous to operate a vehicle of any kind if you are impaired, whether it's drugs, whether its marijuana, whether it's alcohol chp officer vu williams says all chp officers have now taken an advanced class to identify roadside impairment and will be putting that knowledge to the test with field sobriety tests. sotthese are tests to see if you can follow directions, whether you can multi task, whether your motor skills are impaired or not. things that you use when you drive a vehicle. whether we have a blood test or not is not what we are looking at on the side of the raod, we are looking at those tests and determining if they are impaired and making an arrest based on that. and while arrests may be as straight forward as they were before getting a conviction may be harder. ááásot bill fazio/criminal defense attorney 109-120they can quantify alcohol .08, that's a matter of law the same doesn't apply to any drugs including marijuana so it will be more difficult at least initially. criminial defense attorney bill fazio says the lack of specificity when it comes to marijuana gives defense attorneys more options when in trial.sot coming up on the kron4 morning news -- what this little girl wants for christmas in the aftermath of hurricane harvey will break your heart. see her letter to santa this year. a heartbreaking story out of texas... an eight- year-old girl wrote a letter to santa, but did not ask for any gifts. instead, she only wants her dad to get better - and their home hit by hurricane harvey to be fixed. christine dobbyn has the story. natsotshe wrote her christmas wish list at a friend's house. it's gone viral.betzabe gomez, wrote letter to santa:"i don't know what she did but it got all over the internet and i got really surprised." her video has too.betzabe gomez, wrote letter to santa:"i don't know what she did, but got all over the internet and i was really surprised."there are no toys on the list, just requests from betzabe, the youngest of five children. betzabe gomez, wrote letter to santa:"i don't really want anything just for my house to get better and my dad too."a gaping hole in their roof since harvey they haven't been able to afford to fix. dripping water has caused more mold and her sick father on dialysis breathing it in. betzabe gomez, wrote letter to santa:"sometimes when he gets home from dialysis he feels really tired."the gomez's story captured the attention of their state representative. he's gotten to know them this week. they've been denied by fema and sba for post harvey help.armando walle, texas state representative:"i think it's a travesty they were denied, we're helping them appeal with congressman green's office. i read the letter it indicated there weren't enough damages and threat to the health and safety of these folks. mold to me is a threat to health and safety of a family."an anonymous donor has helped pay for back taxes the family incurred while the father has been sick. that's one of the first steps in moving forward with repairs or a new house. it's just one example of the many families still hurting ( marty ) that was christine dobbyn reporting. betzabe celebrated her 9th birthday yesterday. representative walle threw her a party - and he's appealing for donations on the family's "you-caring" page. and after the break... our travel expert takes us to some european christmas markets that you have to see to believe. (dave)a dissipating weather system is forecast to move through the region this afternoon and evening, however only a few sprinkles or isolated light rain showers are expected from san francisco northward. otherwise, dry weather conditions along with seasonal temperatures will persist through the forecast period. it's tough to feel like scrooge when you're surrounded by scenery like this. this is cologne, germany, home to not just one, but about a half- dozen christmas markets. the markets here attract the likes of two million visitors every year, and it's easy to understand why. i was on a river cruise with ama waterways on the rhine river, and there were a number of markets within easy walking distance from where the ship docked on the rhine river. which made it nice because you could wander and come back and take a break when you'd had enough, or wanted to simply warm up. the wooden stalls are loaded with an assortment of goods, everything from handmade holiday decorations to pretzels. ice rinks go up, ferris wheels and carousels go around and around. it attracts tourists, but it's embraced by locals. cologne's christmas markets can be very crowded, especially on weekend nights. for a quieter, more old school take.. let's keep heading down the rhine river.. (toward switzerland) ((wipe nats full vo tape 2)) cg2= r÷desheim christmas markets "christmas carol" welcome to r÷desheim (rude-is-heim). with a population of about 7,000 people (compared to cologne's million) the experience here is much different. artisans working in christmas stalls will have time to strike up a conversation with you, because they have the time to talk to you. there will be local kids running through the streets. you'll hear christmas music playing throughout the city, and plenty of lights. and again, less than a 10-minute walk from the ship to the center of town, so easy to go back and take a break, maybe drop off shopping bags, when needed. though it is important to know, r÷desheim rolls up the sidewalks pretty early, so you'll want to enjoy the market sooner as opposed to later. i went for a walk after dinner around 8:30pm, and i had the place to myself. (sun-thu 11am-8pm fri-sat 11am- 9pm) ((wipe vo tape 3)) cg2= heidelberg christmas markets our next stop comes complete with a castle.. welcome to heidelberg. we're working our way through germany. the christmas market here is scattered in squares throughout the old town. a long pedestrian stretch connects one square to the next, but with winding alleys and streets it's a fun place to wander. heidelberg has a population of about 150,000 thousand - more than 30,000 are college students. (it's home to the largest university in germany.) so much bigger than r÷desheim, it has that classic academic feel. there are certain things you can expect at all christmas markets like mulled wine - called gl÷hwein (glue-vine), big gingerbread cookies, wooden toys and crafts - but you'll also notice different things at each market based on holiday traditions and local culture. ((wipe vo tape 4)) cg2= gegenbach christmas markets welcome to gengenbach (gangen-bach). take a close look at that building.. the city hall with 24 windows doubles as an advent calendar during the holiday season. the surrounding market was my favorite of the bunch, because it was everything i envisioned a european christmas market would be, and it was very local. i met a sister from a local monastery selling paper stars and baked goods. when i asked one of the artists a question in german, it was the first time someone actually responded in german and kept going. the town has a population of 10,000. but it's not a popular stop with tour companies. i believe amawaterways is the only river cruise line that takes guests into gengenbach, so the locals dramatically outnumbered the visitors. ( marty ) really? really? really? really? really? really? see zero in a whole new way. get zero down, zero deposit, zero first month's payment, and zero due at signing on select volkswagen models. now with the people first warranty. join kron 4 for our annual new year's eve special. this year... we will have expanded coverage on new years eve. starting at 8-p-m... we will have new years live from las vegas with musical and entertainment acts. then at 11:30... grant lodes and justine waldman... along with jr stone... will host new years live from san francisco. we will bring you the fun and fireworks from along the embarcadero. join us starting at 8-p-m on new years eve. ( marty ) an update this morning on the georgia cat who ran away to california on the 4th of july. "kitty bitty" was discovered at a pepsi facility in riverside, after stowing away on one of the company's cross-country trucks. animal control officials say the cat was underweight and dehydrated when he was found. kitty bitty was treated and prepared for the trip home. his georgia owners reunited with their pet on friday. they say they are grateful to have him home for the holidays. ( marty ) kitty bitty made lots of friends on his journey who all said their goodbyes and signed his crate before sending him home. ( dave ) ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ the things that matter most happen one morning and one cup at a time. ♪ ♪ here is a live look at the embarcadero. ( marty ) here is dave spahr with the weather. (dave)a dissipating weather system is forecast to move through the region this afternoon and evening, however only a few sprinkles or isolated light rain showers are expected from san francisco northward. otherwise, dry weather conditions along with seasonal temperatures will persist through the forecast period. happening today -- glide church's annual christmas eve celebrations... including a luncheon sponsored by a san francisco institution. kron4's camila bernal is there. thanks camila. (marty) in the east bay -- authorities are offering a 10-thousand dollar reward for information on suspects who robbed two mail trucks in antioch. on monday... the first mail truck was broken into on texas street. it happened again on tuesday. a different mail truck was robbed on south francisco court. about 130 residents were possibly affected by both crimes. people have been told to contact the post office to report their missing packages and letters. (marty) and porch package snatching is increasing as well, with thieves now targeting homes in danville. the latest incidents happened thursday along valley creek lane. there, two suspects were stealing packages from multiple homes. police say this picture is of one of the crooks. neighbors confronted the duo -- who ran away -- and remain at large. (marty) more and more people are doing their christmas shopping online. that means packages left on porches or doorsteps are easy targets for thieves. dan lieberman has more on how police are stepping up their efforts to fight this crime. -nats "as you can see he's thinking about it walks right up to the front there. goes ahead takes the package.. double middle finger."it's something that's happening all across the country...some of it...caught on camera.-nats- kevin fitzharris/detective, franklin township police: "absolutely, i think it's becoming quite the epidemic." one survey found that 23 million americans have had a package stolen.and this holiday season may be the biggest heist yet...with more than a billion packages being delivered as more people do their shopping online. -nats-this police unit is trying to catch package thieves in the act. -nats-dl-so you got a flat screen tvkevin---, blue ray player, made to look authentic dl-so someone trying to steal this will be pretty disappointed when they open it upkevin-absolutelydl-so as someone tries to steal this you'll jump out and arrest them?kevin-correct mark reiner/lieutenant, franklin township police: "we have two surveillance teams on packages placed at people's doorsteps//the chances of one of them getting stolen is possible."lt. reiner says it's all too easy for thieves to snatch up these packages.mark reiner/lieutenant, franklin township police: "this is a prime example of how easy it is to commit one of these thefts, package visible from road on high traveled street." so far, his department's recovered more than 100 packages this season...that they hope to return to their rightful owners -nats-packages have already been returned...but a lot of people are still missing their gifts. mark reiner/lieutenant, franklin township police: "we all have families and want to put smiles on children's faces on christmas morning just to find out an individual stole a package it's heartbreaking." (marty) coming up... the alleged terror plot to attack pier 39 on christmas -- thwarted by the f-b-i. we'll hear from family members of the suspect in custody. (marty) and thousands of children in california are in need of a foster family this holiday season... we'll show you an east bay child that now has a "forever home" (marty) and... it's a tree that only a mother could love. or perhaps in this case -- a "mamma." after the break -- why some italian taxpayers are crying foul over this christmas tree. ♪ toyland, toyland ♪ little girl and boy land ♪ while you dwell within it ♪ you are ever happy there daddy, it's christmas! ♪ childhood's joy land never let go of your dreams. the mercedes-benz winter event is back. lease the e300 sedan for $569 a month at your local mercedes-benz dealer. mercedes-benz. the best or nothing. ( marty ) last minute presents are on their way... here is what one small u-p-s plane looked before heading from oakland airport to ukiah. the cessna 402 was packed with packages. this year, ups predicted that it would deliver 750 million packages around the world between thanksgiving and christmas. ( marty ) some people in rome were shocked when the christmas tree the city ordered turned out to be less than perfect. some residents are even angry about the ugly and droopy tree... calling it mangy or baldy. it cost 60-thousand dollars of taxpayer money. experts have been brought in to measure the density of the pine needles and a court case has been filed. however some people have been leaving love notes for the tree -- with one of the notes saying "the important thing, is to be beautiful on the inside." ( dave )clouds persist and cool. your holiday forecast is next ! ( marty ) for the weekend: it's the free pancake breakfast in oakland. come out and enjoy some free pancakes, eggs, bacon and juice. it's all happening at the abundant life christian center fellowship from 10 to 10:55. the event is free to attend. here's a live look at the embarcadero this morning. and here's a look at santa tracker this morning... toss to weather. (dave)a dissipating weather system is forecast to move through the region this afternoon and evening, however only a few sprinkles or isolated light rain showers are expected from san francisco northward. otherwise, dry weather conditions along with seasonal temperatures will persist through the forecast period. (marty) we continue to follow a big story this morning. a suspected terror attack on pier 39 in san francisco... foiled by the f-b-i just days before christmas. now a former u.s. marine ... who allegedly expressed loyalty to isis... is now facing federal charges. kim hutcherson had a chance to speak with the suspect's family. sarah jameson / everitt's aunt: "it's like their talking about somebody else."family members still in shock after news broke that their loved one was allegedly planning a terror attack here on u.s. soil.on friday, the fbi foiled a terror plot that targeted san francisco...and the man authorities say was behind it... 26- year old everitt aaron jameson.sarah jameson / everitt's aunt: "i can't explain it any other way it's not my nephew that they're talking about."jameson, an ex- marine, was allegedly planning to stage the attack on pier 39 over the holiday weekend. according to the affidavit, jameson met with an undercover employee on december 16 and told them he wanted to conduct a terror attack using weapons and explosives at pier 39.the fbi started watching jameson back in september... after flagging social media activity in which he "liked" posts about terror attacks and isis. authorities who were tracking him online say he was modeling his planned attack on those over the past few years... like san bernadino back in 2015... and more recently in new york city.jameson was later arrested and charged with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization.a preliminary hearing is set for january 5th.the modesto bee reports that he's denied the allegation against him.if convicted, jameson could be sentenced to 20 years in prison. i'm kim hutcherson reporting. (marty) and we continue to cover this story on our website... there you can read all of the documents released by the f-b-i. we also have information on how to protect yourself from a potential terror attack. it's all on kron-4 dot com. ( marty ) now to a story you will only see on kron four... with christmas just one day away, thousands of foster kids in california are wondering when they'll get to spend the holidays with a forever family. an east bay family shared their success story of foster care that ultimately led to an adoption. kron four's spencer blake reports from brentwood. "he was just a little thing!" as d-j terrell and his mom, francine, look through old photos, they both agree - he has come a long way since the foster system first placed him in the terrells' lives."he prayed for a family like this, and when i heard that i knew that he was the right child because i had been praying for a child that would fit into our family."as a child, d-j had been in seven foster homes, and attended nine different schools.when he was in fifth grade, francine and her then-husband took him into their home, along with their older daughter jasmine.now, as a junior in high school, d-j and his family just celebrated the one-year anniversary of his official adoption. "christmas is a warm feeling. i don't need to worry about if i'm getting loved. i get love all the time. i'm finally part of the family. no matter what happens, i'm always gonna be with them, ya know?"he's one of the lucky ones.a clinician from the agency that guided him and his family through foster care and adoption...says there are 60 thousand kids in california who are in the foster system waiting for adoption, or at least some form of permanency. the holidays can be an especially hard time of year for them."many don't know where their forever home is gonna be and so as a therapist, many do come to me and say, 'when can i go home? when am i going to have my forever family?'"adoption into his forever family has helped d-j in more ways than just a place to live.he used to cry all night, every night when he first came into francine's home.he got in trouble at school every day.but all that has improved, as the young man who runs cross country can tell you now.and for any parents even considering foster care or adoption...he says"just give it a chance. give it a try! a miracle might happen to you as well, like happened to them, happened to me. a miracle will happen." (reporter)d-j is now a counselor at a summer camp that helps foster kids...he volunteers for and speaks to foster families all the time. he has an open relationship with his birth mother and her family...and he tells me, he wants to adopt a child one day, too.in brentwood, spencer blake, kron four news. (marty) still ahead on the kron4 morning news -- the whirlwind journey of this simple organ made in small- town u.s.a -- all the way to the vatican for for christmas eve services. live look outside... richmond bridge really? really? really? really? really? really? see zero in a whole new way. get zero down, zero deposit, zero first month's payment, and zero due at signing on select volkswagen models. now with the people first warranty. millions from around the world will watch this christmas eve, as the pope celebrates mass at the vatican. and if you watch, look closely, and you'll see a small pennsylvania town represented -- front-and- center -- in st. peter's basilica. if you can't see it, then listen for it. joy howe reports. when the order first came into allen organ((nat pop organ playing ))it came from the very top.steven a. markowitz, president, allen organ company "we had some moments like, 'wow, this is unbelievable." in october, president steve markowitz got a phone call from the vatican. they'd heard the sounds of an allen organ, and decided that's what they needed - and they needed it fast.steven a. markowitz, president, allen organ company "there were custom requirements of this order that required employees to stop what they were doing and get on this project and they went the extra step because they knew how important this project could be." within three weeks, it was ready - and it, along with steve and his team, headed overseas knowing they'd end up somewhere important...but still, with a lot of unknowns. steven a. markowitz, president, allen organ company "we weren't exactly sure where we were or where we were going..."they went through a back door, and then realized, they were standing in st. peter's basilica.seven a. markowitz, president, allen organ company"and the next thing you know, we're walking in by the altar and to our surprise, the organs were in crates, 50 feet from the altar." the next couple of days, were spent perfecting the sound. there was a reason the vatican had chosen allen organ. st. peter's houses 12,000 people during mass, and the current pipe organ was too loud up front, and not loud enough for the back. but steve's product, with the internal computer audio board and speaker system, was perfect.there it was, their mcgungie built allen organ, now permanently sitting in one of the most famous places in the world.steven a. markowitz, president, allen organ company "it's a very humbling experience, because in our craft, i mean, the way we look at our success is not only the satisfaction of our customers, and the people who play and hear our instruments, but also who requests us.and in a group, when you're talking about the vatican, that there are not many equals." on christmas eve, millions around the world will live look outside... golden gate bridge from the sutro cam. ( marty ) welcome back to the kron4 morning news. here's a live look outside...sutro cam. ( marty ) dave spahr has your forecast... (dave)a dissipating weather system is forecast to move through the region this afternoon and evening, however only a few sprinkles or isolated light rain showers are expected from san francisco northward. otherwise, dry weather conditions along with seasonal temperatures will persist through the forecast period. ( marty ) more than 400 kids will have a happier holiday thanks to san francisco firefighters. their annual toy giveaway is a bay area tradition where kids write essays explaining why they want a bike for the holidays. kron 4's camila bernal was there when the kids received bags of toys and a new bike. pkg"it's a miracle"11-year old corban wagner, described saturday morning as a miracle for a number of reasons1:36:31 because i didn't get a lot of presents this year and now i have a bag full of presents and i have new stuffed animals a couple of months ago, he wrote a letter to the firefighters, explaining what he wanted this holiday season 1:36::03 i wanted a bike because my dad is in jail and my mom couldn't afford a bike this yearhundreds of kids wrote letters, and the san francisco firefighters local 798 was able to fulfil the wishes of more than 400 kids 1:32:05 i never had a bike, only a little bike and i always wanted a big bike and now i have itin addition to getting a bike, the kids were able to look through hundreds of toys, picking a handful of their favorites1:33:40 another lego kit and lego friends i think and i got a new bikethe toy program was created in 1949 but it gets bigger each year, helping put a smile on the face of a growing number of kids in the bay area 1:31:13 their faces light up they get to see that there are people that are giving and it's not just coming from us, it's people that want to give to themin san francisco camila bernal kron 4 news. http://kron4.com/2 015/07/21/earthquake-emergency- kits-what-you-need/( marty ) a small earthquake hit near gilroy saturday. a three-point-four magnitude quake hit at around 4:30 yesterday afternoon about eight miles from the city.. no reports of any damage or injuries. this may have been a relatively small earthquake. but another reminder to make sure your earthquake kit is fully stocked. we have a full page dedicated to earthquakes on our website... there is an interactive map, along with what to do when a quake hits and what you need in your emergency kit. that is at kron four dot com. ( marty ) the legalization of recreational marijuana in california is among the new laws for 20-18. but law enforcement officials are warning people that while sales and use may be legal, driving high is not. kron 4's dan kerman has more. while the sale and use of marijuana for recreation purposes becomes legal in california january first, the highway patrol wants those lighting up to know that getting behind the wheel after smoking pot is notááá sot officer vu williams/chp 13-21 whether it's legal or not it's still dangerous to operate a vehicle of any kind if you are impaired, whether it's drugs, whether its marijuana, whether it's alcohol chp officer vu williams says all chp officers have now taken an advanced class to identify roadside impairment and will be putting that knowledge to the test with field sobriety tests. sotthese are tests to see if you can follow directions, whether you can multi task, whether your motor skills are impaired or not. things that you use when you drive a vehicle. whether we have a blood test or not is not what we are looking at on the side of the raod, we are looking at those tests and determining if they are impaired and making an arrest based on that. and while arrests may be as straight forward as they were before getting a conviction may be harder. ááásot bill fazio/criminal defense attorney 109-120they can quantify alcohol .08, that's a matter of law the same doesn't apply to any drugs including marijuana so it will be more difficult at least initially. criminial defense attorney bill fazio says the lack of specificity when it comes to marijuana gives defense attorneys more options when in trial.sot coming up on the kron4 morning news -- what this little girl wants for christmas in the aftermath of hurricane harvey will break your heart. see her letter to santa this year. live look outside... san mateo bridge. a heartbreaking story out of texas... an eight- year-old girl wrote a letter to santa, but did not ask for any gifts. instead, she only wants her dad to get better - and their home hit by hurricane harvey to be fixed. christine dobbyn has the story. natsotshe wrote her christmas wish list at a friend's house. it's gone viral.betzabe gomez, wrote letter to santa:"i don't know what she did but it got all over the internet and i got really surprised." her video has too.betzabe gomez, wrote letter to santa:"i don't know what she did, but got all over the internet and i was really surprised."there are no toys on the list, just requests from betzabe, the youngest of five children. betzabe gomez, wrote letter to santa:"i don't really want anything just for my house to get better and my dad too."a gaping hole in their roof since harvey they haven't been able to afford to fix. dripping water has caused more mold and her sick father on dialysis breathing it in. betzabe gomez, wrote letter to santa:"sometimes when he gets home from dialysis he feels really tired."the gomez's story captured the attention of their state representative. he's gotten to know them this week. they've been denied by fema and sba for post harvey help.armando walle, texas state representative:"i think it's a travesty they were denied, we're helping them appeal with congressman green's office. i read the letter it indicated there weren't enough damages and threat to the health and safety of these folks. mold to me is a threat to health and safety of a family."an anonymous donor has helped pay for back taxes the family incurred while the father has been sick. that's one of the first steps in moving forward with repairs or a new house. it's just one example of the many families still hurting from harvey and the kids like betzabe whose wish list reminds us all what the holidays are all about.betzabe gomez, wrote letter to santa: "we've been going through a lot and i don't want any more children to go through this." ( marty ) that was christine dobbyn reporting. betzabe celebrated her 9th birthday yesterday. representative walle threw her a party - and he's appealing for donations on the family's "you-caring" page. and after the break... our travel expert takes us to some european christmas markets that you have to see to believe. (dave)a dissipating weather system is forecast to move through the region this afternoon and evening, however only a few sprinkles or isolated light rain showers are expected from san francisco northward. otherwise, dry weather conditions along with seasonal temperatures will persist through the forecast period. period.forecast through the forecast period. it's tough to feel like scrooge when you're surrounded by scenery like this. this is cologne, germany, home to not just one, but about a half- dozen christmas markets. the markets here attract the likes of two million visitors every year, and it's easy to understand why. i was on a river cruise with ama waterways on the rhine river, and there were a number of markets within easy walking distance from where the ship docked on the rhine river. which made it nice because you could wander and come back and take a break when you'd had enough, or wanted to simply warm up. the wooden stalls are loaded with an assortment of goods, everything from handmade holiday decorations to pretzels. ice rinks go up, ferris wheels and carousels go around and around. it attracts tourists, but it's embraced by locals. cologne's christmas markets can be very crowded, especially on weekend nights. for a quieter, more old school take.. let's keep heading down the rhine river.. (toward switzerland) ((wipe nats full vo tape 2)) cg2= r÷desheim christmas markets "christmas carol" welcome to r÷desheim (rude-is-heim). with a population of about 7,000 people (compared to cologne's million) the experience here is much different. artisans working in christmas stalls will have time to strike up a conversation with you, because they have the time to talk to you. there will be local kids running through the streets. you'll hear christmas music playing throughout the city, and plenty of lights. and again, less than a 10-minute walk from the ship to the center of town, so easy to go back and take a break, maybe drop off shopping bags, when needed. though it is important to know, r÷desheim rolls up the sidewalks pretty early, so you'll want to enjoy the market sooner as opposed to later. i went for a walk after dinner around 8:30pm, and i had the place to myself. (sun-thu 11am-8pm fri-sat 11am- 9pm) ((wipe vo tape 3)) cg2= heidelberg christmas markets our next stop comes complete with a castle.. welcome to heidelberg. we're working our way through germany. the christmas market here is scattered in squares throughout the old town. a long pedestrian stretch connects one square to the next, but with winding alleys and streets it's a fun place to wander. heidelberg has a population of about 150,000 thousand - more than 30,000 are college students. (it's home to the largest university in germany.) so much bigger than r÷desheim, it has that classic academic feel. there are certain things you can expect at all christmas markets like mulled wine - called gl÷hwein (glue-vine), big gingerbread cookies, wooden toys and crafts - but you'll also notice different things at each market based on holiday traditions and local culture. ((wipe vo tape 4)) cg2= gegenbach christmas markets welcome to gengenbach (gangen-bach). take a close look at that building.. the city hall with 24 windows doubles as an advent calendar during the holiday season. the surrounding market was my favorite of the bunch, because it was everything i envisioned a european christmas market would be, and it was very local. i met a sister from a local monastery selling paper stars and baked goods. when i asked one of the artists a question in german, it was the first time someone actually responded in german and kept going. the town has a population of 10,000. but it's not a popular stop with tour companies. i believe amawaterways is the only river cruise line that takes guests into gengenbach, so the locals dramatically outnumbered the visitors. ( marty ) an update this morning on the georgia cat who ran away to california on the 4th of july. "kitty bitty" was discovered at a pepsi facility in riverside, after stowing away on one of the company's cross-country trucks. animal control officials say the cat was underweight and dehydrated when he was found. kitty bitty was treated and prepared for the trip home. his georgia owners reunited with their pet on friday. they say they are grateful to have him home for the holidays. adlib seven day. thats kron 4 news weekend for this saturday morning... i'm marty gonzalez. from all of us thanks for watching. join us for kron4 news weekend tomorrow morning starting at 8 o'clock ... and tonight for kron 4 ♪ [ splash ] [ horn sounds ] dang! ok, i gotta run. hey, wait, there's something i need to tell you- dang. dang! dang! dang. dang. see zero in a whole new way. get zero down, zero deposit, zero first month's payment, and zero due at signing on select volkswagen models. now with the people first warranty. [music] >> joel: well, god bless you. it's a joy to come into your homes. and if you're ever in our area, please stop by and be a part of one of our services. i promise you, we'll make you feel right at home. i like to start with something funny. i heard about this mother, she had two young boys that were known for their mischievous behavior. anytime trouble occurred, they were certain to be a part. she decided to take them one at a time to see their pastor. the pastor said to the first young boy, "son, where is god?" he sat there silently. he asked again, "where is god?"