Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: Outgoing Novato Mayor Reflects On Year Of Progress, Resilience And Community Spirit

And on the Novato Patch calendar - Knowledge-A-Bowl: Monthly Trivia for Adults

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Friday January 9th Patch AM
Friday January 9th 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:

  • Outgoing mayor touts Novato’s progress, unity and business-friendly momentum
  • What will Novato’s new mayor focus on first in 2026?
  • How a Novato survivor turned unimaginable trauma into a global message.

Also on today's calendar: Regular Board Meeting and 7 more events.

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

Today's riddle: What did the shovel say to the dirt? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

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

  • Friday: Sunny to partly cloudy, with a high of 57 and low of 36 degrees.
  • Saturday: Periods of sun, temps: high: 59, low: 36.
  • Sunday: Periods of clouds and sun, with a high of 58 and low of 35 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Outgoing Novato Mayor Reflects On Year Of Progress, Resilience And Community Spirit (patch.com) — Novato residents hear outgoing Mayor Tim O’Connor reflect on a year marked by financial progress, new business support programs, and over $1 million directed to affordable housing. He and Novato business leaders highlight stronger collaboration between City Hall and local businesses, as well as the community’s shared grief and unity after Councilmember Mark Milberg’s death. The message heading into 2026 is one of resilience, partnership, and a city that is open for business.
   

• Novato City Council Names New Mayor And Mayor Pro Tem For 2026 (patch.com) — Novato has a new leadership team for 2026, with Rachel Farac unanimously appointed mayor and Kevin Jacobs named mayor pro tem at the City Council’s Dec. 16 reorganization meeting. In a warm, community-focused ceremony at City Hall, Farac emphasized collaboration, better roads, and more park renovations while celebrating Novato’s strong sense of neighbors showing up for one another.
   

• Novato burn survivor turns life experiences into messages of hope (marinij.com) — A Novato resident who survived a devastating 1998 car fire has turned her recovery into a nationally recognized speaking career, recently earning the National Speakers Association’s Speaker Hall of Fame honor. From her Novato home base, Allison Massari now travels widely, sharing messages about resilience, compassion in health care, and finding meaning after trauma to audiences across many industries.
   

📸 Around Novato

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Novato

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★ Featured events ★

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Other local events

📣 Novato Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

    Friday January 9
  • Jazzercise Novato CardioSculpt HIIT Class
    Margaret Todd Senior Center , 1560 Hill Road , Novato
    9:15 am
    • Saturday January 10
  • San Rafael Repair Fair — Reuse Alliance
    San Rafael Community Center , 618 B St , San Rafael
    1:00 pm
  • Jack Justice Band
    Pond Farm Brewing Co. , 1848 4th St , San Rafael
    5:00 pm
    • Monday January 12
  • Apoyo a Negocios
    Novato Chamber , 711 Grand Ave. , San Rafael
    6:00 pm

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:

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • We are looking to re-home these two mature American Shorthair cats because their owner (a close friend of ours) sadly passed away recently and her family is unable to take them.
    Both are about 10 years old and up to date on vaccinations. Please direct message me if you are interested in either one or both of them. (Nextdoor NE Novato)
  • Best vet for cats?
    Near Novato or Petaluma. My 9 year old cat has been seen by two vets. He seems super healthy and active and happy. He was diagnosed by the… (Nextdoor NE Novato)
  • Costco Wholesale Corporation posted a job opening for Meat Cutter in Novato. Apply here.
  • Super Soccer Stars posted a job opening for Youth Soccer Coach & Development Coordinator - Year Round in Novato. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Novato here.

🗞 Nearby News

San Rafael

  • San Rafael school district plans $5.5M in budget cuts (marinij.com)
  • The Magic Flute Marks 50 Years Serving Marin County Musicians with Rentals, Repairs, Lessons, and Community Events (apnews.com)
  • Worst flooding in decades submerges Highway 101, Tiburon Peninsula roads, knocks out 911 (thearknewspaper.com)

Fairfax

  • Timothée Chalamet & Adam Sandler Take on Teens in Viral Basketball Clip (mandatory.com)
  • Santa Cruz features prominently in '60s-set thriller ‘Peace, Love & Haight' (mercurynews.com)

Mill Valley

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 really dig you!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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