Novato, CA
News Feed
Events
Local Businesses
Classifieds
Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: How a downtown Novato studio became a full-time creative career hub

Happening soon: Forever Friends Event at Five Little Monkeys! on the Novato Patch calendar

Thursday April 16th Patch AM (Patch graphic)

Hey there, Novato! Let's get started with what's happening in and around town. Read on and stay in the loop. ☀️

Subscribe

In today's newsletter:

  • How a downtown Novato studio became a full-time creative career hub
  • How a Novato warehouse is turning donated furniture into stability for teens
  • Could California’s countertop ban reshape what Novato homeowners can install?

Also on today's calendar: Forever Friends Event at Five Little Monkeys! and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: What can go UP the chimney DOWN; but can't come down the chimney UP? 🤔 (Answer below!)


From our Partner Today's Novato Patch AM is brought to you in part by T-Mobile. After investing billions to light up their network from big cities to small towns, T-Mobile is America's best mobile network in the US, according to Ookla Speedtest. We thank T-Mobile for their support in helping to keep communities like ours connected and for making today's Novato Patch AM possible. Find a T-Mobile store near Novato.


Weather forecast:

  • Thursday: Mostly sunny and pleasant, with a high of 75 and low of 48 degrees.
  • Friday: Partly sunny and pleasant, temps: high: 72, low: 44.
  • Saturday: Sun mixing with clouds, with a high of 72 and low of 46 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Making Art Work: Four Women Artists on Turning Craft Into a Career (marinmagazine.com) — One of the featured artists, Ellen Levine Dodd, works full time as a painter, teacher, and mentor from her studio in downtown Novato, making this story especially relevant if you’re curious about local creative careers. The piece follows four women artists connected to Marin Open Studios as they explain how they turned their passion into income, adapted to social media and AI, and share practical advice for emerging artists.    

2. Marin agency awards $306K to at-risk youth nonprofits (marinij.com) — A Marin nonprofit funding drive is sending $306,000 to 58 youth-focused agencies, including Make It Home’s new warehouse in Novato that furnishes at-risk teens and low-income families. Other grants back programs in Terra Linda and countywide that expand housing stability, enrichment, and career pathways for local youth.    

3. California May Ban Artificial-Stone Countertops (publichealthwatch.org) — A Novato-based attorney is among the experts urging California regulators to consider banning engineered-stone countertops because of a deadly silicosis outbreak among fabrication workers. The article explains the proposed statewide prohibition, mounting case numbers, industry pushback, and upcoming Cal/OSHA standards board meetings that could determine whether artificial stone disappears from California homes and businesses.    

4. What a $200,000 salary can actually buy you in the Bay Area housing market (sfchronicle.com) — If you’re trying to buy a home in Novato on a $200,000 household income, experts say options exist but will be “very few and far between” as Bay Area prices soar. The piece explains how much house that salary can realistically buy, compares different Bay Area cities, and offers guidance on budgeting, tradeoffs, and whether renting might still make more sense.    

5. Sports Briefs: Crews' blast boosts Tam softball past MC (marinij.com) — Novato softball fell 5-1 to Redwood in Marin County Athletic League play, with the Hornets’ lone run driven in by Giana Flores. The roundup also highlights strong performances by Tam, Terra Linda, Dominican University athletes and others across multiple sports.    


📸 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

Want to see your event featured? Click here!


Other local events

📣 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 these businesses for making Novato PatchAM possible:

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

  • Lost dog sighting!!
    At about 530 this morning I saw a small, 10-15 pound, mostly white with black patches dog running up and down Main Gate Road near the Hamilton SMART… (Nextdoor Hamilton)
  • I recently did something that just about everybody I know wants to do.....
    I crossed the country by rail. I had a coach seat for the twenty hour trip to Chicago from NY on the Lakeshore Limited, a trip I would not recommend… (Nextdoor West Novato)
  • Peet's Coffee & Tea posted a job opening for Shift Lead - Hamilton in Novato. Apply here.
  • Wedgewood Weddings posted a job opening for Wedding Banquet Server - No Experience Required 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: UMBRELLA (Thank you JEANNE S. for sending it in!)Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!


👉 Help make Patch AM better

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

More from Novato, CA
News | 10h
News | 9h
News | 16h
See more on Patch >

Sign up for free local newsletters and alerts for the
Novato, CA Patch

Patch.com is the nationwide leader in hyperlocal news.
Visit Patch.com to find your town today.

©2026 Patch Media. All Rights Reserved

Do Not Sell My Personal Information