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🌱 Patch AM: Armed Robbers Steal From Jewelry Store Holding Employees At Gunpoint In Marin County: Police

Spotted on the Novato calendar: Timothy O'Neil

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Thursday January 8th Patch AM
Thursday January 8th Patch AM (Patch graphic)

Hello again Novato! We’re bringing you the latest town highlights. Don’t miss out, keep going! ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • Gunpoint jewelry heist in Novato leaves police seeking witnesses
  • Novato ushers in new mayor and mayor pro tem for 2026
  • How much more will Novato MCE customers pay on power bills?

Also on today's calendar: The Story Shuffle (storytelling show) and 6 more events.

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

Today's riddle: After dinner, my parents asked if I could clear the table. 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

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

  • Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high of 59 and low of 36 degrees.
  • Friday: Sunny to partly cloudy, temps: high: 58, low: 37.
  • Saturday: Periods of sun, with a high of 57 and low of 36 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Armed Robbers Steal From Jewelry Store Holding Employees At Gunpoint In Marin County: Police (patch.com) — Residents in Novato are being urged to come forward with any information after four masked suspects robbed a Diablo Avenue jewelry store at gunpoint just before closing time Monday. Police say the group stole jewelry and valuables, used pepper spray, and fled in a stolen black Infiniti later found abandoned on Nave Court, and the investigation remains active.
   

• Novato City Council Names New Mayor And Mayor Pro Tem For 2026 (patch.com) — Novato residents will see new leadership at City Hall as the City Council unanimously selected Rachel Farac as mayor and Kevin Jacobs as mayor pro tem for 2026. During a warm, community-focused ceremony, Farac emphasized collaboration, better roads, park improvements, and a new strategic plan while involving local children in the evening’s closing moments.
   

• MCE says it will offset recent PG&E electricity price hikes (pressdemocrat.com) — Electricity customers in Novato and the rest of Marin could see their MCE-powered bills rise about $20 a month because of higher PG&E delivery and PCIA charges, even as PG&E’s own customers see modest bill reductions. MCE says it will propose cutting its generation rates in February to partially offset those hikes while still prioritizing renewable energy and climate goals.
   

📸 Around Novato

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Novato

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

    Thursday January 8
  • Timothy O'Neil
    Finnegan's Marin Restaurant & Bar, 877 Grant Ave, Novato
    8:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

📣 Novato Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

    Thursday January 8
  • Noontime Networking - January 2026
    Vinny G's Pizza and Cocktails , 1535 South Novato Blvd. , Novato
    12:00 pm
  • 2026 Novato Chamber Honors Dinner
    Bill and Adele Jonas Center , 1800 Ignacio Blvd. Building 19 , Novato
    5:00 pm
  • Lawrence Hall of Science Event
    Lawrence Hall of Science San Rafael, CA 94903
    5:30 pm
    • Friday January 9
  • Jazzercise Novato CardioSculpt HIIT Class
    Margaret Todd Senior Center , 1560 Hill Road , Novato
    9:15 am

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

 

Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Novato PatchAM possible:

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Hi, I'm Mishel.
    I have a 4-month-old daughter and I'm looking for a babysitting or nannying job that allows me to bring my baby to work ideally in Novato. I drive… (Nextdoor Rowland-Sunset Parkway)
  • Are you a wine lover or collector?
    Please go to For Sale section and check out the listing for lots of affordable wine and a crazy discounted Vino Temp cooler. This is not the listing,… (Nextdoor McKeon Ct)
  • Novato Healthcare Center posted a job opening for Activity Assistant - Novato in Novato. Apply here.
  • ABM posted a job opening for Cleanroom Cleaner in Novato. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Novato here.

🗞 Nearby News

San Rafael

  • Bay Area theater veteran named Lark Theater's new executive artistic director (marinij.com)
  • Marin Transit adopts bus yard environmental assessment (marinij.com)
  • In Your Town for Jan. 8, 2026 (marinij.com)

Fairfax

  • The Kid LAROI Announces Complex Pop-Ups in NY and LA: What You Need to Know (complex.com)
  • Santa Cruz features prominently in '60s-set thriller ‘Peace, Love & Haight' (mercurynews.com)

Petaluma

Ok Novato! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I needed a running start, but I made it!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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