Smog checks available now—always ready when you are

Hamilton's Smog

Grab a coupon or to book online: https://sites.google.com/view/hamiltons-smog/home?pli=1 We test all vehicle, all ages 1976-2026. Experience quick and convenient service at Hamilton's STAR Smog Check, your local Novato inspection station. Since 2021, we've been serving the community with efficient smog checks for all types of vehicles, including gasoline, diesel, and hybrid cars, as well as large trucks and RVs. Our certified technicians perform both STAR and non-STAR inspections, ensuring your vehicle meets all state requirements. Simply drive in for a hassle-free inspection, with most vehicles completed in under 30 minutes.

Marin County

Albert Gregory

Bay Area

Novato

California

Grab a coupon or to book online: https://sites.google.com/view/hamiltons-smog/home?pli=1 We test all vehicle, all ages 1976-2026. Experience quick...

Gaspare's Pizzeria Ristorante & Bar

Gaspare’s Pizzeria Ristorante &amp; Bar is a family-owned Italian restaurant proudly serving the community since 2008. We offer a full menu of classic Italian dishes, handcrafted pizzas, and comforting favorites made with quality ingredients. Whether you're joining us for a relaxed dinner, meeting friends for drinks, or catching the game at the bar, you can expect great food and genuine hospitality every time. Visit us and experience the difference.

San Rafael

Gaspare’s Pizzeria Ristorante & Bar is a family-owned Italian restaurant proudly serving the community since 2008. We offer a full menu of classic...

Local to Novato Pay-What-You-Can music program

Maud Powell String Institute 

We are a high quality and highly accessible music nonprofit for immigrant and underserved communities in Novato, CA. We have a Pay-What-You-Can tuition system in place for low income families. We also provide the instruments to all our students.

We are a high quality and highly accessible music nonprofit for immigrant and underserved communities in Novato, CA. We have a Pay-What-You-Can...

The baseball team improved to 22-5 on the season with a 5-3 victory over Sonoma Valley in the North Coast Section playoffs Wednesday, according to <a href="http://www.marinij.com/prepcentral/ci_18187894" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">this account</a>. The Mustang softball team wasn't as lucky in the semifinals, falling 10-2 to Alhambra in a game played in Martinez, <a href="http://www.marinij.com/prepcentral/ci_18188126" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">according to this account</a>.

The baseball team improved to 22-5 on the season with a 5-3 victory over Sonoma Valley in the North Coast Section playoffs Wednesday, according to <a href="http://www.marinij.com/prepcentral/ci_18187894" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">this account</a>.

The Mustang softball team wasn't as lucky in the semifinals, falling 10-2 to Alhambra in a game played in Martinez, <a href="http://www.marinij.com/prepcentral/ci_18188126" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">according to this account</a>.

Mustang baseball team tops Sonoma Valley 5-3 in North Coast Section playoffs; softballers beaten by Alhambra of Martinez

San Marin Sports Update: Baseball Advances, Softball Season Ends

Sports

San Anselmo-Fairfax

Sonoma County

Angela Woodall

Petaluma

Larkspur-Corte Madera

Mill Valley

Sonoma Valley

Contra Costa County

Pinole-Hercules

El Cerrito

Rohnert Park-Cotati

Alameda County

Albany

Nativity of Christ Greek Orthodox Church

The Annual Marin Greek Festival will take place over Memorial Day Weekend. The Festival is renowned for its delicious Greek food and pastries prepared with recipes handed down from generation to generation. The bouzouki beat of Kymata Greek band accompanies Greek line dancing each day of the Festival. The award-winning Minoan Dancers will perform daily and will also provide Greek dance lessons each afternoon.
Greek import booths and delicatessen will offer specialty items. Byzantine Chanting and tours of the Church are a part of the schedule as well as activities for children.Listen to renowned speakers and learn about Greek history, music dance and faith.Greek cooking demonstrations will take place daily.

Local Event: Marin Greek Festival

Marin Greek Festival

The Annual Marin Greek Festival will take place over Memorial Day Weekend. The Festival is renowned for its delicious Greek...

The Sonoma Valley community will gather at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, May 25, at Sonoma Veterans Memorial Park for the 68th Annual Sonoma Valley Joint Memorial Day Observance, presented by the Sonoma Veterans Memorial Park Association. The location address is: 126 First Street West, Sonoma, CA 95476 (Adjacent to the Sonoma Veterans Building). 
This year’s Guest of Honor and keynote speaker will be retired United States Marine Corps Colonel Harry “Bucky” Peterson, a Sonoma resident and distinguished 33-year Marine Corps veteran whose service included combat and leadership assignments in Vietnam, the Middle East, Somalia, Kuwait, Iraq, and Afghanistan. During his military career, Colonel Peterson commanded units ranging from rifle platoons in Vietnam to an entire Marine Infantry Regiment. Following his retirement in 1999, he returned to active duty after the September 11 attacks to help oversee Marine operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. His military honors include the Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal, two Legion of Merit awards, and three Combat Action Ribbons.
The ceremony will include the traditional Grand March of Veterans, with all veterans encouraged to arrive by 10:30 a.m., as seating is limited. Additional program highlights will include patriotic performances by the Sonoma Hometown Band under the direction of Therese Pasquale Hill; Color Guard presentations by both the United States Marine Corps and the Civil Air Patrol Cadet Color Guard; and a Rifle Salute presented by local veterans’ organizations.
Musical tributes will feature the National Anthem performed by Miss Sonoma County 2026 Addison Carver, “God Bless America” sung by vocalist Cathy Slack, and ceremonial selections by bagpiper John Noonan and bugler Therese Pasquale Hill. Korean War veteran Olyn Hicks will present a Memorial Day poem, while regional pageant titleholders will lead the Pledge of Allegiance.
Additional participants will include Sonoma Mayor Ron Wellander, who will deliver an official proclamation; Vietnam veteran Gene Campagna, who will offer the invocation; and Reverend Peadar A. Dalton, who will deliver the benediction. The ceremony will also feature a civilian aerial flyover provided by the Sonoma Sky Park Aviators.
Serving as Master of Ceremonies will be Carl “Chip” H. Allen, a graduate of the United States Naval Academy and former U.S. Navy Polaris submarine officer.
Immediately following the ceremony, guests are invited to attend the complimentary “All-American Picnic” hosted by the three Sonoma Rotary Clubs and the Native Daughters of the Golden West at the Sonoma Veterans Memorial Building.
Guests will also have an opportunity to contribute to the ongoing Star of Honor pledge drive, which supports the preservation of Sonoma Veterans Memorial Park and its black marble Star of Honor Fountain — a lasting tribute inspired by the late World War II Navy veteran James “Jim” L. Parks.

Local Event: The 68th Annual Sonoma Valley Joint Memorial Day  Observance 

The 68th Annual Sonoma Valley Joint Memorial...

The Sonoma Valley community will gather at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, May 25, at Sonoma Veterans Memorial Park for the 68th Annual...

The 68th Annual Sonoma Valley Joint Memorial Day  Observance 

If you are searching for a staffing agency in the San Francisco Bay Area, you will find no shortage of options ranging from global staffing giants to boutique local firms. The Bay Area job market spans wildly different communities: San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, Silicon Valley, the East Bay, and the North Bay including Marin County and Sonoma County. Each submarket has its own hiring culture, salary norms, and employer base.
Not every staffing agency serves every Bay Area market equally. Some are national chains with Bay Area offices. Some are San Francisco-focused firms with limited reach across the bridge. A select few are genuinely rooted in specific Bay Area communities. This guide breaks down the top staffing firms across the full Bay Area, compares their strengths and limitations, and helps both employers and job seekers find the right partner for their situation.
Quick comparison: Bay Area staffing agencies at a glance
Bay Area Focus Locally rooted Bay Area firm SF / Bay HQ Bay Area headquartered National National chain, Bay Area office Agency Founded Bay Area Presence Temp Staffing Direct Hire Govt / Nonprofit Perfect Timing Personnel Services	1988	Bay Area Focus	Yes	Yes	Yes Nelson Connects	~1970	SF / Bay HQ	Yes	Yes	Limited Certified Employment Group	~1980s	SF / Bay HQ	Yes	Yes	Limited Scion Staffing	2006	SF / Bay HQ	Yes	Yes	Nonprofit McCall Staffing	~1980s	SF / Bay HQ	Yes	Yes	Nonprofit Career Group Companies	~1981	SF / Bay HQ	Yes	Yes	Limited Star Staffing	1995	SF / Bay HQ	Yes	Limited	No Robert Half	1948	National	Yes	Yes	No Insight Global	2001	National	Yes	Yes	No 
Agency-by-agency breakdown
Perfect Timing Personnel Services Best for the San Francisco Bay Area, Locally Owned
San Rafael, CA | Founded 1988 | North Bay HQ
Perfect Timing Personnel Services is the only staffing agency headquartered in San Rafael with a primary focus on the broader Bay Area region. It's been recognized as one of the top Bay Area Staffing firms by the Marin Independent Journal for the past 10+ years. Founded in 1988, the firm has operated continuously in the Bay Area for over 35 years, making it one of the most tenured locally owned staffing companies in the entire Bay Area.
Perfect Timing specializes in temp, temp-to-hire, and direct hire placements across administrative support, accounting, finance, healthcare, government, and nonprofit sectors. The firm holds long-standing institutional contracts with some of the region's most respected employers, including Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (a client since 2011). That kind of deep institutional trust is rare in the staffing industry and speaks directly to the quality and consistency of the firm's placements.
Perfect Timing brings a people-first philosophy to recruiting. Candidates are not treated as transactions. The firm's recruiters build real relationships with both employers and job seekers throughout the Bay Area.
Strengths
<ul><li>35+ years serving Bay Area employers</li><li>Deep government and nonprofit expertise</li><li>Institutional contracts with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory</li><li>Community-rooted, boutique firm</li><li>Covers the full Bay Area</li><li>HQ'd in San Rafael</li></ul>
Limitations
<ul><li>Not focused on tech or engineering roles &zwj;</li></ul>
<a href="www.perfecttiming.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">www.perfecttiming.com</a>

Learn more at <a href="www.perfecttiming.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">www.perfecttiming.com</a>

The Best Staffing Agencies in the San Francisco...

If you are searching for a staffing agency in the San Francisco Bay Area, you will find no shortage of options ranging from global staffing giants...

The Best Staffing Agencies in the San Francisco Bay Area: An Honest Comparison for 2026

🌱 Patch AM: Could Novato’s bus routes make your...

Make time for Marin Greek Festival on the Novato Patch calendar

🌱 Patch AM: Could Novato’s bus routes make your commute cheaper and less stressful?

Community Corner

San Francisco County

San Francisco

12-Year-Old Sexually Assaulted In Dorm | Turtle...

MORE: Masseuse Sexually Battered Clients, Man Told Cops He Attacked Woman Because Of Her Race, Cold Case Killer Arrested Three Decades Later

12-Year-Old Sexually Assaulted In Dorm | Turtle Smuggling Thwarted | Man Drives Off 500-Foot Cliff: Patch PM

12-Year-Old Sexually Assaulted In Dorm | Turtle Smuggling Scheme Thwarted: Patch PM

San Mateo County

San Mateo

Dying Hiker Revived By Bystander, Police...

A defibrillator carried in a patrol car delivered the shock that restored the man's pulse after he went into cardiac arrest, police said. 

Dying Hiker Revived By Bystander, Police Officer In Bay Area

Crime & Safety

North Bay Man Drives Off 500 Foot Cliff On...

The cause of the crash remains under investigation; authorities said it is unknown whether alcohol or drugs were factors.

North Bay Man Drives Off 500 Foot Cliff On Highway 1 In Santa Cruz County: Police

Marin County Opens Second Round of Community...

Residents as young as 14, regardless of immigration status, can submit ideas and  vote on how to spend public funds.

Marin County Opens Second Round of Community-Driven Budgeting, With $2.5 Million Up for Grabs

Quail Party Of 5: Photos Of The Week 

Patch loves photos! Share your photos with your local Patch, and your work could be featured.

Emily Rahhal 

3 Marin Restaurants On 2022 Wine Spectator List

A glass of wine is nice with dinner but these Marin restaurants go above and beyond with their extensive lists and service. 

Nearby Communities

State Edition

National Edition

Sports

San Marin Sports Update: Baseball Advances, Softball Season Ends

Mustang baseball team tops Sonoma Valley 5-3 in North Coast Section playoffs; softballers beaten by Alhambra of Martinez

Brent Ainsworth, Patch Staff

More from Novato

Marin County Opens Second Round of Community-Driven Budgeting, With $2.5 Million Up for Grabs

Road Closure Announced In Novato For Clean Energy Event: Police

Man Sentenced For Crash That Killed 14-Year-Old Girl In Novato: DA

Marin Greek Festival

The 68th Annual Sonoma Valley Joint Memorial Day  Observance

The Best Staffing Agencies in the San Francisco Bay Area: An Honest Comparison for 2026

Gaspare's Pizzeria Ristorante & Bar

Hamilton's Smog

Maud Powell String Institute

Nearby Communities

State Edition

National Edition

San Marin Sports Update: Baseball Advances, Softball Season Ends

Mustang baseball team tops Sonoma Valley 5-3 in North Coast Section playoffs; softballers beaten by Alhambra of Martinez

Brent Ainsworth, Patch Staff<img alt="Verified Patch Staff Badge" class="styles_Badge__np_hU" src="https://patch.com/img/cdn/assets/layout/badges/verified-patch-staff.svg"/>

Brent Ainsworth, Patch Staff