christmas bruce mertz has been putting lights up for 30 years. at age 85, he says, this is it, the last light extravaganza. thank you for the memories. >>> thank you. everybody here has done such an extraordinary service on behalf of the country. >> president obama and the first lady took time to speak to a manner core base this christmas. the president used the time to talk about the end of the war in afghanistan. he told the vast majority of the troops should be out of the countries by year's end. >>> across the country and around the world today, people celebrated christmas a. season for making people smile. many celebrated christmas far from home. [ music playing ] >> reporter: around america and abroad, even outer space, christ imagination is celebrated. nasa astronauts. >> we want to take the opportunity just briefly to wish you all a merry christmas and a happy new year. >> reporter: from church services to service in the community, to afghanistan, sacrifice and commitment were themes of the day. >> i love you, i miss you. i hope you enjoy

andria borba is at the grand finale. 03.17.20.13 nats santa baby ...hurry down the >> reporter: bruce mertz, mr. christmas, is pulling the plug on a holiday tradition that has brightened the concord neighborhood for 30 sick years. me alive. it's what kept me gog for a long time. when bruced he was handing in his elf hat...neighbors knew they ho throw him a christmas party his front [ singing ] s one last time and not having anybodye to show him how much those years have meant, wa ord came out to bask >> reporter: after stringing miles of nights for wide eyes and ohs and ahs -- >> my mom took me here when i was really little. >> reporter: the twinkle is leaving olive drive. bruce and his display have their own documentary, but back surgery, a heart attack and pacemaker have taken their toll. >> this is what kept me going for a long time. >> reporter: when bruce said he was handing in his elf hat, neighbors knew they had to throw him a christmas party worthy of the show in his front yard. [ singing ] >> the idea of him unplugging the lights one last time and not having anybody here to support

also known as bruce mertz, age 85. a man who likes to tinker, clearly. and after 36 years, his tinkering has turned into this extravaganza, christmas on steroids. a tradition. >> since i was 17. >> reporter: jackie, now all grown up and a mother of two, says it wouldn't be christmas without mr. christmas and his christmas house. >> he changes it a little bit every year. he adds something new. >> reporter: the wrinkle this year, not one on which anyone had planned. this is the last christmas house. mr. christmas not feeling as spry as he used to. >> so i can't do any -- i can't climb any ladders and that kind of thing. >> reporter: can't tend to the 50,000 lights. can't even take them down, frankly. tonight, mr. christmas is in for a surprise. >> it would be kind of sad if he ended this year just unplugging his lights and having -- not having, you know, the recognition from the community. >> reporter: so tonight, they are coming. lots of them. the kids who had kids who also had kids, generations worth of kids. here to make mr. christmas smile after 36 yea

. >> reporter: bruce mertz mr. christmas is pulling the plug on a holiday tradition that has brightened a concord neighborhood for 36 years. ♪ after stringing miles of lights for wide eyed and oohs and aahs. >> my mom took me here when i was really little. >> reporter: the twinkle is leaving olive drive. it's been a tough year for the guy in the lightup jacket. back surgery, a heart attack and a pacemaker have taken their toll. >> this is what kept me alive -- kept me going for long time. >> reporter: when bruce said he was handing in his elf hat. neighbors knew they had to throw him a christmas party worthy of the show in his front yard. ♪ >> the idea of him unplugging the lights one last time and not having anybody here to support him and to show him how much the 36 years have meant, is a really sad one. >> reporter: concord came out to bask in the flow of the lights and -- glow of the lights and bruce one last time. >> god -- i guess. it was amazing. i didn't think there would ever be that much response. >> repo

this display belongs to bruce mertz. better known as mr. christmas. he has been putting lights up for 30 years. obviously he has it down. at age 85, he says this is going to be the last year for his 50,000 light extravaganza. >>> tens of thousands of people gathered in st. peter's square this morning as pope francis gave his christmas day address. a band opened the ceremony. in his speech, pope francis spoke of the world's refugees and exiles and those suffering from religious persecution. he called for increased humanitarian aid and praised those helping in the fight against ebola. the annual address is in latin city to the world directed at the world's 1.2 billion catholics. >>> it's a holiday greeting to the men and women serving overseas. during today's weekly address, the first lady joined president obama to pay tribute to the troops. >> as a country, that also means celebrating and honoring those who have served and sacrificed for all of us. >> we're able to gather with family and friends because our troops are willing to hug theirs goodbye and

"bruce mertz" ha decorado su casa en concord por 36 aÑos consecutivos....de salud... dice que este aÑo ser el ltimo. ---si quiere apreciar la casa est ubicada en la calle "olive" cerca de la carretera "kirker pass". cesar --y estamos siguiendo la trayectoria de santa en su trineo tirado por nueve renos... tres de ellos son rudolph... donner y blitzen... cesar ---no se mueva porque al regresar de cortes comerciales... take vo --dicen que los gatos tienen 9 vidas... pero ahora un perro parece contar con eso mismo... take sot cont vo --y no todos pueden pasar estos dias con sus seres queridos... una organizacion local hace lo que puede para ayudar con la tristeza que algunos sienten al estar lejos de sus paises... live weather cam cesar ---escuche esta historia! ¿que es autenticidad? ¿es de donde eres tu? ¿o de donde es tu padre? ¿o es quien eres tu por dentro y quien escoges ser? la autenticidad puede ser ilusiva, pero ya no mas. por primera vez la cerveza mexicana montejo esta disponible en los estados unidos. por mas de cien años de orgullo, autenticad y pa

if you live in that area, you may know bruce mertz, better known as mr.mas, and he has been putting lights up since his wife died in 1985, more than 50,000 lights, including the extravagant displays you see there. he's 85 and dealing with health issues, and this will be his last year, so check it out if you can. >>> welcome back. as protests continue over police shootings nationwide, many are asking whether these often disruptive demonstrations will lead to any lasting change. in tonight's reality check, nbc bay area sam brock looks to the history books for an answer. >> in 1968 speech, dr. martin luther king jr. once said, quote, a riot is the language of the unheard. protests play a pivotal role in our country's history. will the latest outcry over police force and an alleged lack of justice actually lead to meaningful change? let's look to history for some clues. >> no justice, no peace! >> nobody is doing anything about it. you can be the fourth day or fifth day until somebody does something about it. >> reporter: it's a question without an obvious an

. >> not santa claus but his name is bruce mertz, hung extravagant lights on his home in concord for past 36 years. health issues are forcing him to say this year will be his last. his efforts have not gone unnoticed. several hundred neighbors came out last night to see the lights and say thank you. >> they all came out in force. and really showed me what a community spirit is like. >> the lights will stay on until january 2nd so if you want to check them out, his home is on the 5200 block of olive drive in concord. that's not far from kirker pass road. >>> happening now, san jose mayor-elect sam luke cardioteaming one giants world champion travis i shall kara to pass out food to thousands of families in need. the pair joined volunteers and workers with the reaching out food center at the cathedral of faith in san jose. they are providing holiday meals for nearly 39,000 fans. >>> well, still to come, how dinner at one restaurant could cost you your smartphone. >> a popular coffee make issuing a massive recall. we will tell you which model kurig says could spray you with scalding wate

. ♪ >> well, bruce mertz has had a huge christmas display at his home on olive drive for 36 years now he's had a pretty tough year with back surgery and a heart attack and a pacemaker. so this is the last year for his holiday show and last night his neighbors came out to thank him. >> god -- i guess. it was -- it was amazing. i didn't think there would ever be that much response. >> the idea of him unplugging the lights one last time and not having anybody here to sport him and show him how much the 36 years have meant is a really sad one. >> it looks like a great sendoff. the display will go dark on january 2nd. >> we heard pg&e is shedding a tear too. [ laughter ] >> i better this. >> can you imagine? >>> how about traffic liza what's going on on this tuesday before the big holiday? >> i can't imagine what his electricity bill is like. can you imagine? >> expensive. >> yes big one. good morning everybody. the commute frank and michelle looking good. traffic for the most part doing well. as much lighter traffic than usual on this holiday week. the fog is going to be an issue. the chp

. ♪ >> bruce mertz has had a huge christmas display on his home on olive drive for 36 straight years.ut he's had a tough year. low back surgery and had a heart attack and a pacemaker so this will be the funnel year for the big -- final year for the big holiday show and last night all the neighbors came out to say thank you. >> good -- i guess. it was amazing. i didn't think there would ever be that much response. >> the idea of him unplugging the lights one last time and not having anybody here to support him and to show him how much that the 36 years have meant is a really sad one. >> the display will go dark on january 2nd. >>> well, maybe a neighbor will take over for him. in the neighborhood right? >> i wonder how the neighbors feel about that display. >> i'm sure they love it. >> a lot of folks knocking on your door. >> i think there's a disclosure there wean you buy in that -- when you buy in that neighborhood. >> i think so. >> why are all the cars here? >> that's true. >>> what are we doing traffic wise? >> doing much better. we had earlier b.a.r.t. delays and b.a.r.t. delays

christmas, bruce mertz, says this will be his final christmas lights display. the past 36 years he has wowed the young and old alike with this elaborate light show. if you'd like to check it out, it ae's on olive drive in conco. we'll be right back. >> announcer: you're watching "today in the bay." >>> from kandahar, afghanistan, wanting to wish my family and friends in sunnyvale, california, a merry christmas, happy new year. >> this is sergeant vargas in the united koing.com. i want to wish my mom in san jose, california, a merry christmas. >> holidays are a great time to appreciate the troops abroad and all they do for us. 5:15 right now. >>> los gatos-based netflix is the source of one of the hottest gifts. gift cards are selling out all over new york city. the cards are apparently all snatched up at a number of stores, including staples and game stop. they were first made available several months ago and come in $30 and $60 denominations. that would be enough to pay for three or six months streaming subscriptions. the cards were also recently given away on

bruce mertz has hung lights for 36 years. health issues forcing him say farewell.on olive drive. >> 6:42. last-ditch effort to make sure ol kids have something special to open up christmas morning. >> two police officers hurt after running into a burning apartment building. details next. >> oh my gord. >> go, go, go. >> road rage all caught on camera. what led to the chaos, crazy story, coming up. >>> live look outside now at the golden gate bridge, traffic moving very well this hour. we are back with 15 minutes of nonstop news, traffic, and weather. >>> 15 minutes of continuous news, weather and traffic on "today in the bay." >> happening now, there's a last-minute push to provide christmas cheer for less fortunate kids in san francisco. >> stephanie chuang live from lefty o'doul's, toys are going to be collected until the christmas deadline there. good morning, steph. >> reporter: good morning to you, vicki and sam. guess who showed up it's santa claus. next to him is the police chief, and to other side, the fire chief. we've got a full, packed house here. now, j

christmas, bruce mertz, says this will be his last christmas lights display. 36 years he has wowed the yungs and old awliek this collection of lights. if you want to check it out, it's on olive drive in concord. we'll be right back. c can. >>> how are you doing? i wanted to shout out to my family and friends in california. happy holidays to all of you. go raiders! >> hi, i'm lieutenant andre todd. i'd like to say hi to my wife and my daughters. i'd also like to say hi to my town, oakland, california, and where i was reared, pittsburg, california. happy holidays, i'll be coming home soon. >>> here is a look at today's tom stories. four people out of a home this morning after their oakland home caught fire overnight. one person had to jump to get out, he was taken to the hospital with a broken leg. the cause of the fire still under investigation. >>> protesters say they are not taking the day off just because it's christmas. in oakland, a group has planned a into time off black lives matter christmas day march starting at 5:00 p.m. and last night testers took to