🌱 Patch AM: Downtown Novato Liquor Store Damaged In Large Morning Fire

Cheers Novato! We’re back, helping you stay up to date with what’s happening. Let's take on the day together! ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• Early-morning blaze heavily damages Old Town Liquor in downtown Novato
• How 500 holiday gifts came together at a Novato shelter
• How a Novato menorah lighting became a statement of global solidarity

Also on today's calendar: Crossing Over with Psychic Medium John Edward live in Santa Rosa, CA! and 9 more events.

📸 Have a great pic of holiday decorations from around Novato? Post it to Novato photos of the day! ☃️ 🟢-🟠-🟣-🔴-🟡-🔵 ☃️

Today's riddle: The doctor told me to drink carrot juice after a hot bath. - Did it help? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Wednesday: A brief morning shower or two, with a high of 62 and low of 44 degrees.
• Thursday: Partly sunny, temps: high: 57, low: 50.
• Friday: A couple of afternoon showers, with a high of 57 and low of 51 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Downtown Novato Liquor Store Damaged In Large Morning Fire (patch.com) — Novato residents are learning more about a major Sunday morning fire that heavily damaged Old Town Liquor on Grant Avenue, drawing a large response from local fire crews. Firefighters used coordinated hose lines and roof ventilation to stop the flames from spreading to the attic or neighboring buildings, and no injuries were reported. The cause is still under investigation, with help from nearby fire agencies and Novato police.
   

2. Homeward Bound of Marin hosts holiday gift wrapping event (marinij.com) — Volunteers in Novato wrapped more than 500 holiday gifts at Homeward Bound of Marin, ensuring every person in its shelters and transitional housing receives a present. Local sponsors including the Presbyterian Church of Novato, Rotary Clubs of Marin, Marin Sanitary, First Federal of San Rafael and Bank of America branches helped support the effort for the Novato-based nonprofit.
   

3. Marin marks Hanukkah, reflects on Bondi shooting (marinij.com) — Novato residents joined Rabbi Menachem Landa of Chabad of Novato for a menorah lighting that doubled as a show of resilience after the deadly Hanukkah shooting in Australia. The next night, Marin neighbors gathered again in Sausalito’s Vina del Mar Park, where interfaith leaders and local officials emphasized solidarity, joy, and community strength during Hanukkah.
   

4. Lions stay confident as playoff hopes take hit with loss to Rams (espn.com) — Novato gets a brief spotlight as hometown of Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff, who threw for 338 yards and three touchdowns in a tough 41-34 loss to the Rams. The story focuses on Detroit’s slipping playoff odds and coach Dan Campbell’s push to keep the team confident over its final three games.
   

📸 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 ★

Sunday January 11

• Crossing Over with Psychic Medium John Edward live in Santa Rosa, CA!
  Luther Burbank Center for the Arts, 50 Mark West Springs Rd, Santa Rosa
  12:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Thursday December 18

• Chamber Mixer: December 2025
  Novato Chamber , 869 Grant Ave. , Novato
  5:30 pm
• Country Line Dancing
  HopMonk Tavern Novato , 224 Vintage Way , Novato
  6:00 pm

Friday December 19

• Jazzercise Novato CardioSculpt HIIT Class
  Margaret Todd Senior Center , 1560 Hill Road , Novato
  9:15 am

Saturday December 20

• Story Time with Mr. Brian
  South Novato Library , 931 C St , Novato
  11:00 am
• COME ONE, COME ALL - 4th Annual Caroling Fun for the Whole Family
  Hamilton Amphitheatre Park , 500-598 Hamilton Pkwy , Novato
  3:00 pm
• Holiday Sip and Shop and Photos with Santa
  1017 Reichert Avenue
  3:00 pm

Sunday December 21

• Winter Solstice: A Magical Sound Bath Journey
  333 Ellen Dr , San Rafael
  6:00 pm

Monday December 22

• Jazzercise Novato CardioSculpt HIIT Class
  Margaret Todd Senior Center , 1560 Hill Road , Novato
  9:15 am

Tuesday December 23

• Kids Eat Free on Tuesdays - World Famous Hot Boys
  World Famous Hot Boys , 807 De Long Ave , Novato
• Grace Generation: Evening Kids Program
  Presbyterian Church of Novato , 710 Wilson Ave , Novato
  5:30 pm
• Josh Brough String Band | Free Beergarden Show
  HopMonk Novato , 224 Vintage Way , Novato
  6:00 pm

📣 Novato Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

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:

• Hamilton's Smog — (415) 493-8801
  Smog checks available now—always ready when you are
• Maud Powell String Institute
  Local to Novato Pay-What-You-Can music program

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Happy Monday!!!
  Everyone might have heard some form or another of the Frog and The Scorpion but I love this one too. The moral of the story: Some people (or… (Nextdoor Scottsdale Pond)
• Just in time for the holidays!
  Meet sweet little boy, Roo, available for adoption through loveslegacyrescue.com. He’s an English Bulldog/Husky/Shepherd mix… (Nextdoor Pacheco Valle Woods)

• MarinHealth posted a job opening for Referral and Authorizations Coordinator, Access Department, (Novato), Full-Time, Days in Novato. Apply here.
• Ferguson Enterprises, LLC. posted a job opening for Buyer Associate in Novato. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Novato here.

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 don’t know. I can never finish drinking the hot bath!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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