Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: Why did Novato suddenly halt the mobile home park purchase talks?
Coming up: NEW YEAR'S EVE 70s BASH FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY! on the Novato Patch calendar

Good morning Novato! Your connection to what's happening around town is here. Take a sip of coffee and read on. ☀️
In today's newsletter:
- Why did Novato suddenly halt the mobile home park purchase talks?
- Which Novato restaurants closed and opened in 2025?
- How Novato QB Gabe Casanovas earned a D-II football scholarship
Also on today's calendar: NEW YEAR’S EVE 70s BASH FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY! and 7 more events.
Find out what's happening in Novatofor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Find out what's happening in Novatofor free with the latest updates from Patch.
- Wednesday: Mostly cloudy, showers around, with a high of 53 and low of 47 degrees.
- Thursday: Periods of rain, temps: high: 57, low: 51.
- Friday: Breezy with rain and drizzle, with a high of 60 and low of 50 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
• Novato ends talks with mobile home residents over purchase deal (marinij.com) — Novato has ended formal negotiations with residents of the Marin Valley Mobile Country Club who hoped to buy their 63-acre, city-owned mobile home park, saying their financing wouldn’t keep rents stable. Residents, many of them seniors, insist the park is self-sustaining and are vowing to keep pushing for resident ownership as talks with the City Council continue into the new year.
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• What's come and gone in Marin's food scene in 2025 (marinij.com) — Novato diners saw big changes in 2025, with longtime favorites like Dragon Cafe and Mantra Wines closing, Local Kitchens and Aloh-O Poke shutting down, and The Keg Stand Brewing Co. moving into the former Indian Valley Brewing space. Hamilton Marketplace gained a new Rustic Bakery location, while other Marin towns experienced a flurry of restaurant openings, rebrandings, and closures that could reshape where locals eat and drink in 2026.
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• Prep football: St. Vincent's passer Casanovas commits to Western Oregon (marinij.com) — Novato quarterback Gabe Casanovas, who starred at St. Vincent de Paul in Petaluma, has committed to Division II Western Oregon University after leading his team to back-to-back state titles. The three-star passer reflects on his record-setting high school career, recent injury, and hopes to help another under-the-radar program grow into a contender.
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📸 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 ★
- NEW YEAR’S EVE 70s BASH FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY!
Fairfax Pavilion, Fairfax
7:30 pm - 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
Wednesday December 31
Sunday January 11
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
- Stu Allen & Mars Hotel | New Year's Eve
HopMonk Tavern Novato , 224 Vintage Way , Novato
8:00 pm - Jazzercise Novato CardioSculpt HIIT Class
Margaret Todd Senior Center , 1560 Hill Road , Novato
9:15 am - Kids Eat Free on Tuesdays - World Famous Hot Boys
Novato Chamber , 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 - Jazzercise Novato CardioSculpt HIIT Class
Margaret Todd Senior Center , 1560 Hill Road , Novato
9:15 am - 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
Wednesday December 31
Friday January 2
Tuesday January 6
Wednesday January 7
Thursday January 8
📣 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
- Jazzercise Novato CardioSculpt HIIT Class
Margaret Todd Senior Center , 1560 Hill Road , Novato
9:15 am - Bouncy Ball New Year
Downtown Novato Center , 1761 Grant Ave , Novato
12:00 pm - El Chit Chat Club - English conversations group
Marin County Free Library , 3501 Civic Center Drive, Suite 427 , San Rafael
6:00 pm - Danny Click Concert
Studio Fourth Street , 1569 4th St , San Rafael
7:00 pm
Wednesday December 31
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:
- Maud Powell String Institute
Local to Novato Pay-What-You-Can music program - Hamilton's Smog — (415) 493-8801
Smog checks available now—always ready when you are - Mindsee.it — (646) 663-8317
Teach your kids they can achieve the impossible!
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
- Loose dogs on Indian Valley Road
I’m at 1647 Indian Valley Rd. just after the pencil belly curve there are two loose little dogs that have been here before, but are impossible to… (Nextdoor Indian Valley) - Why do people walk in the street when’s it’s dark.
I often see people wearing dark clothes with their dogs in the street instead of using the sidewalks. Is everyone assuming since pedestrians have… (Nextdoor Marin Highlands)
- Costco Wholesale Corporation posted a job opening for Stocker in Novato. Apply here.
- DriveSavers Data Recovery posted a job opening for Shipping & Receiving Associate - DriveSavers Data Recovery in Novato. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Novato here.
🗞 Nearby News
San Rafael
- Pilot Program To Halt Financial Abuse Of Older Residents Launched In Marin County (patch.com)
- Sports Briefs: Aguillon propels San Rafael boys in 2OT victory (marinij.com)
- Marin to install $1.1M broadcast system in supervisors' chambers (marinij.com)
Fairfax
- The story of the Bay Area's queen of jeans who dressed the icons (fresnobee.com)
- 5 fun New Year's Eve events in Marin (marinij.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 heard there’s only a 50 percent chance of snow.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!
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