Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: Brothers Lose Mother, Family Dog In Deadly Novato Crash
Coming up: Join us for SoulSong service on Wednesday September 2 at 5:30 pm on the Novato Patch calendar
Good morning to you Novato! Catch up on our news and events right here. Keep reading to stay in the know. ☀️
Before we get to what's happening, a big thank you 👏👏👏 to these businesses for making Novato PatchAM possible. Click here to show your appreciation! 💚
- Gaspare's Pizzeria Ristorante & Bar — (415) 999-8467
- Maud Powell String Institute
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In today's newsletter:
- Community rallies after fatal Novato Boulevard crash kills mother and dog
- What this three-year extension means for Novato's Wood Hollow housing project
- Which Novato athletes delivered standout performances to open the season?
Also on today's calendar: Join us for SoulSong service on Wednesday September 2 at 5:30 pm and 9 more events.
Today's riddle: What is the 1 way to guarantee winning a small fortune at the casino? 🤔 (Answer below!)
- Tuesday: Areas of low clouds, then sun, with a high of 74 and low of 55 degrees.
- Wednesday: A morning shower in places, temps: high: 77, low: 57.
- Thursday: Rain and drizzle in the a.m., with a high of 74 and low of 51 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
1. Brothers Lose Mother, Family Dog In Deadly Novato Crash (patch.com) — Novato neighbors are rallying around two brothers after their mother, longtime Safeway employee Mary Coleen Murphy, and the family dog were fatally struck while crossing Novato Boulevard. A GoFundMe and meal train are helping Emmett and Shane Murphy cover funeral costs and living expenses as Novato police continue investigating the nighttime collision. 
2. In Your Town for Aug. 31, 2026 (marinij.com) — Novato officials have granted a three-year extension for a 66-home project at 100 Wood Hollow Drive, keeping plans alive for new two-story houses, including nine reserved for low-income residents. The Planning Commission's recent approval, driven by the developer's difficulty finding a builder, means nearby neighbors and future buyers should expect the project to move forward more slowly than first planned.
3. Preps of the week: San Rafael, Redwood wins among the gridiron highlights (marinij.com) — Novato athletes are in the spotlight as Hornets running back Diego Sacche powers a season-opening football win and several San Marin teams notch big weeks in flag football, volleyball, and tennis. The roundup also tracks strong starts from nearby schools, giving Novato fans a quick look at who's hot across Marin preps.
4. Teachers at Novato school share car pool, and gene pool (pressdemocrat.com) — Two fifth-grade teachers at Olive Elementary in Novato happen to be a father-daughter duo, commuting from Rohnert Park and teaching side-by-side classrooms. Their shared curriculum, long ties to the school, and close-knit family routine are reshaping daily life on campus and giving local students a unique, multi-generational classroom experience.
5. How Female Biology Could Solve the Mystery of Longevity (medscape.com subscription) — A major new aging study features work from the Buck Institute for Research on Aging in Novato, highlighting how female reproductive biology may help explain longer lifespans and healthier aging. Researchers outline a "reproductive resilience" hypothesis that puts the ovary at the center of whole‑body health, suggesting future treatments could better tailor care for women and potentially benefit men as well.
📸 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 ★
- Join us for SoulSong service on Wednesday September 2 at 5:30 pm →
First Presbyterian Church, 1510 Fifth Ave, San Rafael
5:30 pm
Wednesday September 2
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
- Jazzercise Novato CardioSculpt HIIT Class
Novato Chamber Margaret Todd Senior Center 1560 Hill Road Novato CA 94947
9:15 am - Restoration at Hal Brown Park
County of Marin Hal Brown Park
2:00 pm - Marin Farmers Markets
County of Marin Marin Veterans' Memorial AuditoriumParking Lot10 A
8:00 am - Jazzercise Novato CardioSculpt HIIT Class
Novato Chamber Margaret Todd Senior Center 1560 Hill Road Novato CA 94947
9:15 am - Kent Island Restoration
County of Marin Bolinas Lagoon Preserve
10:00 am - Frank Lloyd Wright Civic Center Tours
County of Marin Civic Center3501 Civic Center Drive San Rafael, CA 94903
10:30 am - 17th Annual Greek & Middle Eastern Festival →
St. George Orthodox Church, 7311 College View Dr, Rohnert Park
12:00 pm - 4th Annual Opera In The Amphitheater Park →
Hamilton Amphitheatre Park, 500-598 Hamilton Pkwy, Novato
5:00 pm - BBQ Brews & Comedy →
Jonas Center, 1800 Ignacio Blvd, Novato
5:30 pm - The Story Shuffle →
Courtyard by Marriott Novato Marin/Sonoma, 1400 Hamilton Pkwy, Novato
7:00 pm - 2026 Trash to Treasures Fall Flea Market →
1560 Hill Rd, Novato
9:00 am
Wednesday September 2
Thursday September 3
Friday September 4
Saturday September 12
Saturday September 19
📣 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.
💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- She's Home!
I don't know how to thank everyone for the beautiful humanitarian efforts, thoughts and prayers.. it all worked. I am eternally grateful for the… (Nextdoor Rowland-Sunset Parkway) - HELP NEEDED..
Our brand new rescue dog bolted out of our car and we have been looking everywhere. . She is micro chipped in my name. She has a striped collar on, … (Nextdoor Rowland-Sunset Parkway)
- Rebel Convenience Stores posted a job opening for Cashier - Novato in Novato. Apply here.
- O'Reilly Auto Parts posted a job opening for Retail Service Specialist in San Rafael. 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: By starting with a large fortune. (Thank you Kourtney Z. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
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