🌱 Patch AM: Why Costco’s new Novato gas station is facing fierce pushback

What's up Novato! Let's start this morning right by getting caught up on what's going on around town. Keep reading to stay in the loop. ☕️️

Before we get to what's happening, a big thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Novato PatchAM possible. Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

• 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

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In today's newsletter:

• Why Costco’s new Novato gas station is facing fierce pushback
• Why Novato’s new Highway 101 ramp meters were suddenly pushed back
• Which Novato Mustang just powered San Marin to a tournament title?

Also on today's calendar: Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at First Presbyterian Church San Rafael and 7 more events.

Today's riddle: What did one magnet say to the other magnet? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Tuesday: Cloudy, showers; breezy, with a high of 58 and low of 48 degrees.
• Wednesday: A morning shower, then rain, temps: high: 61, low: 51.
• Thursday: Breezy with occasional rain, with a high of 56 and low of 43 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Costco's Mega Gas Station Plan Sparks Outrage In CA (slashgear.com) — A proposed Costco gas station at Vintage Oaks in Novato is drawing strong opposition from residents concerned about traffic, climate impacts, and its proximity to a pediatric clinic and nearby wetlands. The project is exempt from Novato’s 2022 new-gas-station ban because it was submitted earlier, but still must clear a final Environmental Impact Report vote by the city’s planning commission.
   

• In Your Town for Dec. 23, 2025 (marinij.com) — Novato drivers should know Caltrans has delayed turning on new ramp meters from Rowland Boulevard to southbound Highway 101 until early next year, tying activation to completion of the Marin-Sonoma Narrows project and other Novato meters. Nearby towns also report a renewed mosquito-control board term, a San Anselmo backyard project approval, and an upcoming San Rafael blood drive.
   

• Preps of the week: Morgan leads host San Marin to tournament title (marinij.com) — San Marin High athletes in Novato are in the spotlight this week, led by Miller Morgan’s MVP run as the Mustangs captured their own Mustang Invitational basketball tournament. Other Marin standouts, including Terra Linda’s Remi David scoring twice against Novato in girls soccer and Branson’s Kate Spaulding in a Novato game, also turned in big performances.
   

📸 Around Novato

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Novato

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Wednesday December 24

• Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at First Presbyterian Church San Rafael
  1510 Fifth Ave, San Rafael
  5:00 pm

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

Tuesday December 23

• Bingo at Trek Winery
  Trek Winery , 1026 Machin Ave , Novato
  6:30 pm

Wednesday December 24

• Jazzercise Novato CardioSculpt HIIT Class
  Margaret Todd Senior Center , 1560 Hill Road , Novato
  9:15 am
• Novato Christmas Alcathon
  Novato Druids 113 , 801 Grant Ave , Novato
  5:00 pm
• Multicultural Advisory Commission Meeting
  City of Novato City Hall , 901 Sherman Ave , Novato
  6:00 pm

Thursday December 25

• Raise Your Spiritual IQ
  Hill Community Room , 1560 Hill Road , Novato
  6:30 pm

Friday December 26

• Jazzercise Novato CardioSculpt HIIT Class
  Margaret Todd Senior Center , 1560 Hill Road , Novato
  9:15 am
• Holiday Break Gymnastics Camp (FRI)
  Novato Gymnastics Center , 950 7th St , Novato
  10:00 am

Saturday December 27

• Saturday Cinema: Roman Holiday
  Novato Library , 1720 Novato Blvd , Novato
  2:30 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!

🗓 Events Nearby

Tuesday December 23

• Babysitter Training Course
  Marinwood Community Center , 775 Miller Creek Rd , San Rafael
  9:30 am
• 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 , Black Point-Green Point
  6:00 pm

Wednesday December 24

• 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.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• 10:05pm
  Just heard a huge boom over by the 7-Eleven on South Novato. Anyone know what that was? (Nextdoor Scottsdale Pond)
• I have a question about public laundry room etiquette .
  I just got yelled at at a public laundry by a woman who said it was rude to take someone else’s laundry out of the washer . I felt waiting 5 minutes… (Nextdoor Meadow Park)

• ABM posted a job opening for Cleanroom Cleaner in Novato. Apply here.
• Burger King posted a job opening for Team Member in Novato. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Novato here.

🗞 Nearby News

San Rafael

• The Evolution of 420 Culture Beyond 4/20 (nugmag.com)
• Elegance Over Excess, Grateful Voodoo, Wild Worlds and More (pacificsun.com)
• Sausalito mapping supports hillside building ordinance (marinij.com)

Fairfax

• Editorial: Misguided state housing rules have Fairfax spinning (marinij.com)
• Bib Gourmand restaurants in Los Angeles (mediabistro.com)
• Palisades starts out as City Section basketball favorite in top 10 rankings (latimes.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 find you very attractive!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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