🌱 Patch AM: How Petaluma police cracked a racist vandalism case downtown

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

In today's newsletter:

• How Petaluma police cracked a racist vandalism case downtown
• See how a Petaluma charter school ranks among California’s best

Also on today's calendar: Crossing Over with Psychic Medium John Edward live in Santa Rosa, CA! and 1 more event.

Today's riddle: What two things can you never eat for breakfast? . 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Monday: Plenty of sunshine, with a high of 61 and low of 39 degrees.
• Tuesday: Sunshine and a few clouds, temps: high: 61, low: 44.
• Wednesday: Rain and drizzle in the p.m., with a high of 53 and low of 46 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Bay Area man arrested in racist vandalism of youth basketball coach's vehicle (mercurynews.com) — Petaluma police arrested a 20-year-old local man in connection with racist vandalism targeting a well-known youth basketball coach’s SUV in a downtown garage. The coach, a Black former Harlem Globetrotter who’s lived in Petaluma for five years, says the hate symbols and slurs have shaken his sense of safety, while police emphasize they treat bias-motivated crimes very seriously.
   

• CAs Best Schools 2025: Rankings For Elementary, Middle, High School, College (patch.com) — Petaluma families can take pride that Petaluma Accelerated Charter School is ranked among California’s top public middle schools by U.S. News & World Report. The statewide roundup also highlights leading elementary, high schools, districts, and colleges, offering context on how local schools stack up against other top performers across California.
   

📸 Around Petaluma

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 Petaluma

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

Wednesday January 7

• Kids in the Kitchen
  Chabad Jewish Center of Petaluma , 205 Keller St , Petaluma
  4:00 pm
• Album release party for "Stories In The Heart" by Back pOrchEstra Peacetown Sebastopol Jan 7 Wed 6p
  6:00 pm

Thursday January 8

• Sourdough Made Simple
  Chabad Jewish Center of Petaluma , 205 Keller St , Petaluma
  7:00 pm

📣 Petaluma 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

Monday December 29

• Winter Break Camp-Evergreen (1st & 2nd grade) Week 2
  Marinwood Community Center , 775 Miller Creek Rd , San Rafael
  9:00 am
• Winter Break Camp-Winterberry (3rd-6th grade) Week 2
  Marinwood Community Center , 775 Miller Creek Rd , San Rafael
  9:00 am
• Jazzercise Novato CardioSculpt HIIT Class
  Margaret Todd Senior Center , 1560 Hill Road , Novato
  9:15 am

Tuesday December 30

• Kids Eat Free on Tuesdays - World Famous Hot Boys
  Novato Chamber , 807 De Long Ave , Novato
• Free Zero Waste Sonoma Compost Hub
  Children's Museum , 1835 W. Steele Lane , Santa Rosa
  9:00 am
• Grace Generation: Evening Kids Program
  Presbyterian Church of Novato , 710 Wilson Ave , Novato
  5:30 pm
• Taco Tuesday Bike Ride
  Santa Rosa Junior College , 1501 Mendocino Ave , Santa Rosa
  5:30 pm
• Josh Brough String Band | Free Beergarden Show
  HopMonk Novato , 224 Vintage Way , Novato
  6:00 pm
• Roseland Teen Manga Club
  Roseland Regional Library , 470 Sebastopol Rd , Santa Rosa
  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 Petaluma PatchAM possible:

• Hamilton's Smog — (415) 493-8801
  Smog checks available now—always ready when you are
• Cheryl Teach Music — (707) 326-8797
  Award Winning Music Teacher and Music School
• RF Sealcoating and Striping — (707) 867-6289
  🚧 Winter Rains Damaged Your Driveway or Parking Lot?
• 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

• UPDATE: Willow reunited with her family!
  - My daughter found this sweet little female lab roaming Clelia Ct around 3am last night. We are taking her to see if she is chipped. DM me if you… (Nextdoor Crinella)
• Any Great Pyrenees lovers out there that can give a home to this shy but so sweet girl?
  Raya is a calm, affectionate, loving 5 year old dog who has been at the Jelly’s Place shelter in San Pablo for more than a year. She has been… (Nextdoor Oak Hill)

• Molly Maid posted a job opening for House Cleaner in Petaluma. Apply here.
• California Staffing posted a job opening for Security Officer - Facility Patrol Driver in Petaluma. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Petaluma here.

🗞 Nearby News

Penngrove

• What are the 5 most expensive homes that sold in Penngrove, reported last week? (pressdemocrat.com)

Cotati

• Sylvia Lemus to make history as first Latina to serve as Cotati mayor (pressdemocrat.com)

Rohnert Park

Ok Petaluma! 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: Lunch and dinner. (From Norine S.)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

👉 Help make Patch AM better

• Help us grow by suggesting local news sources.
• Shape this newsletter with your feedback.
• List items for sale or services offered

We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what’s happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

Share to NextDoor     Share to Facebook