​Richard Habib, the owner of Alexander’s Artisan Rugs in Mill Valley, is ostensibly in the rug business. But anyone who has followed his career knows that he throws one heck of a party.

Joined by his Paseo Lane neighbors at Poet and/the Bench and The Living Room Collective, the "El Paseo Merchants," who are excitedly awaiting the opening of Paseo: California Bistro in the coming months, hosted a Toys for Tots Drive earlier this month that was far more than a well-placed donation bin.

Habib, who has been a DJ for decades, DJ'ed the event and was accompanied by Kashia T on live percussion. Santa Claus (Ken Brooks) made an appearance and Mill Valley’s own Judy’s Bread Sticks' Lynda Najarian sponsored holiday treats, beverages and more. 

​"The box was over-flowing when the Mill Valley Fire Department came to collect the donations, and that was all that mattered," Habib says. 

The 411: Alexander’s Artisan Rugs, Poet and/the Bench and The Living Room Collective hosted a multi-faceted Toys for Tots Drive on El Paseo Lane in downtown Mill Valley. 

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The next chapter for the ever-evolving 127-acre former Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary in Strawberry – believed to be the largest single piece of property held by one owner in Southern Marin – has just taken a wild twist, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

The Chronicle reports that Oxford University, "the prestigious institution that has educated British prime ministers and other world leaders for over 1,000 years, is in negotiations to open a center for advanced study on the property. The facility – which would convene academic, policy and business leaders around technology issues – would be part of a mixed-use development that would also include 234 units of housing, 47 of which would be affordable, as well as a 150-unit continuing care retirement community and 84 acres of open space."

After the Marin County Board of Supervisors rejected its appeal to extend a master plan and potentially allow them to redevelop housing and academic facilities on the site in 2017, North Coast Land Holdings struck a a deal with Olivet University, a private Christian university, to lease most of the 120,000-square-foot academic campus on the property. The three-year lease allows Olivet to use the academic campus through August 2021 while North Coast Land Holdings, which bought the property in 2014, “works with the local community on a long-term vision for the site.”

That long-term vision has had several iterations as the property owner seeks to identify a redevelopment plan that garners the supporting of the surrounding Strawberry community despite traffic concerns.

​The previous master plan allowed the Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary, which had been in Marin since 1959, to have up to 1,000 students and 304 residential units to provide on-site housing for students, faculty and staff, as well as up to 192,600 square feet, nearly 75,000 more square feet than exists there now.

Of the latest proposal, attorney Riley Hurd, who has represented Seminary neighbors opposed to prior proposals, including a new campus for the private Branson School, currently located in Ross, told the Chronicle: “They are willing to accept change, but they want the character of the Strawberry community they bought into to be preserved." "Instead of trying to do housing, the senior retirement community and an institution of higher learning, the developer should “choose two,” he added. “It’s like the Coco Chanel quote: ‘Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and take one thing off,’” he said. “You’ve got too many things going on.”

READ THE FULL STORY HERE.

The 411: The Seminary at Strawberry is located at 201 Seminary Drive. MORE INFO.

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Father Maria Joseph Savariappan's impromptu visit to Our Lady of Mount Carmel to step in for a vacationing Pastor Pat Michaels in 2017 has had cascading impacts thousands of miles away.

The Indian-born priest parishioners about the longstanding history of prejudice and generational poverty faced by the Santal tribe in India. Parishioners acted quickly, launching an Advent sponsorship program, with donations of $35 a month or $420 a year providing education, meals, boarding and uniforms for one student.

But in the year-plus since, those efforts have gone into overdrive, with parishioners galvanizing around Tribe Rising India, a nonprofit organization created by Mt. Carmel parishioners Paul and Annette Venables that has raised $150,000 to date to help tribal children in one small village by expanding the capacity of the school which currently ends at the fourth grade, according to the Catholic San Francisco news organization.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE.

MORE INFO ON TRIBE RISING INDIA HERE.

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If you live in Mill Valley and ever leave your house, chances are pretty good that you interact in some way with the vast array of programs, parks, landmarks and open spaces that fall under the umbrella Mill Valley Parks and Recreation programs.

From soccer, baseball, lacrosse and football teams playing on sports fields and residents of all ages using the community center pool and fitness center to vital community gathering points like Downtown Plaza and the community gardens, the presence of parks and recreation is ubiquitous.

With that in mind, the Mill Valley Friends of Parks and Recreation works with the city to ensure that Mill Valley’s fields, recreation programs and facilities continue to be a first-class experience. Recent projects the organization has helped fund include the Skate Park renovation, improvements at the Mill Valley Golf Course, landscaping outside the Community Center, the new Community Garden annex, the Dog Park Agility Course, a scholarship matching program and more sports field renovations.

In an effort to raise money towards that mission, the organization is hosting a fundraiser at the Mill Valley Community Center on Thursday, February 6. The event, which includes cocktails, dinner, auctions and special guest performers. 100% of funds raised will go towards Parks and Recreation projects. 

The 411: Mill Valley Friends of Parks and Recreation's annual fundraiser is set for Thursday, February 6 at 5:30pm at the Mill Valley Community Center. Tickets are $100, $500 for preferred seating at the performance, and $10,000 for all of the above and a 10-person table. MORE INFO & BUY TIX. If you are unable to attend the event but would like to contribute, you can do so at www.mvfriends.org/donate.

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As part of our EMV Films series highlighting some of the myriad creative businesses, organizations and people in Mill Valley, California, we're spotlighting a trio of businesses whose deep roots and committed engagement here have woven them into the fabric of our community: La Ginestra, Piazza D'Angelo and Malugani Tire Shop. We'll be highlighting more of these businesses in the coming months!

What gives customers the warm and fuzzies that go way beyond the transaction?

The video below tells the story of three family-owned businesses that have captured that essence of community, from La Ginestra's hugs and warmth at "our Italian kitchen away from home" and Piazza D'Angelo's authenticity that leaves both locals and Italian visitors feeling like they're in Italy to the longstanding relations engendered by the owners of Malugani Tire Shop, whose history dates back to 1948.

Salvatore and Maria Aversa moved to Mill Valley as a recently married couple after emigrating from Sorrento, Italy. They opened their restaurant in May 1964 and named it La Ginestra after the Scotch broom vegetation that was prevalent in both the wilderness of Mount Tamalpais and in the hills surrounding their hometown. The couple raised their three children – Lucia, Fabio and Tino – in Mill Valley. Maria Aversa and her children and family continue to greet customers at the door when they arrive.

Around the corner, although they've passed the proverbial baton to their respective children, Felicia Ferguson and Luigi Petrone, Domenico and Paolo Petrone, who opened Piazza D'Angelo in 1981, drawing inspiration from their hometown of Decollatura in Calabria, the “toe” of the Italian peninsula, continue to be mainstays at a downtown hub that exudes authenticity. 

And a few blocks away on Miller Avenue, five family members run Malugani, and their extended next generation of family regularly take summer jobs at a business that Dan Malugani Sr. opened more than 70 years ago. Malugani's Mill Valley Little League team is called the Lugnuts, and customers like Scott Valley resident Carol Lenherr are aghast when they referred to as such. “Customers? They're family. We never even thought of them as friends. You couldn’t hope to know better people in the world than them – what you see is what you get.”

"We're about we're about relationships," owner Kendal Savelli says.

Video by Summertime Films, commissioned by the Mill Valley Chamber. Thanks to Norm Hunter and his team. Many more films to come showcasing the boundless innovation, community vitality and entrepreneurial spirit of Mill Valley.

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The Mill Valley Planning Commission unanimously approved a proposed renovation of the 54-year-old, two-story, approximately 16,000-square-foot Shapiro building that includes Mama’s Royal Cafe, Jolly King Liquors, Marin Theatre Company and much more at 387-397 Miller Avenue.

The commission did so with minimal dispute over the proposed changes, lauding the application for simply modernizing one of the most dated buildings in town.

“It’s not an attractive building and you’re doing a great service to Mill Valley by improving this thing,” Planning Commission Chair Urban Carmel said in a hearing last month. 

“This is a great contemporary upgrade to what appears to be a pretty dated building,” added Commissioner Nate Bosshard.

In approving the application, the commission lauded the aesthetic upgrades, reconfiguration of a parking plan in a lot rife with stowaway cars, installation of floodgates given its proximity to the Arroyo Corte Madera del Presidio creek and replacement of fabric awnings with those made of metal and wood. They also urged the Shapiro family, which dates back to the early decades of Mill Valley and which was represented at the hearing by Scott Meyers of Crome Architecture, to consider some landscaping improvements as well.

The commission’s only stern push back was to the city’s own parking requirements, which commissioner Greg Hildebrand called antiquated, specifically that the need to provide 131 parking spaces as part of the project made it more difficult for the restaurants to utilize features like outdoor seating.

“The city has invested a lot of money in that whole Miller corridor, talking a lot about sustainable design and how can we activate Miller,” he said. “What I have heard tonight is all about parking. I don’t know how we can get retail to be successful if we force people to increase parking and not have any outdoor space. Our parking requirements are preventing this from being an active retail spot. How can we evolve as a community for the future if what we are talking about is parking as opposed to design and community and activity. And wouldn’t it be nice if there was landscaping and seating outside the restaurant?”

Here are aerial looks at the property:

​Meyers says the renovation, which includes the installation of an elevator, could take 9-12 months once permits are issued. Mill Valley native Justus Jennings, the new proprietor of Pilgrimage, the replacement restaurant for Mama’s Royal Cafe after purchasing it from Candace Paine, says he’s unsure how the renovation will directly impact his own tenant improvements of the space. 

“I hope to accomplish my renovations to coincide with the work they are planning,” he adds. “The old Mama’s space will rise again, by a born and raised local, for the locals and visitors alike.”

In an interesting wrinkle, the commission’s approval coincided with the filing of a lawsuit by Shapiro Associates against at least a half dozen of current and past owners of Think Clean Cleaners, a longtime tenant in the building. The list of defendants include current owners Soon Tae Yang and Mi J. Yang, as well Think Clean operators dating back to 1970.

The Nov. 22 filing alleges the defendants are responsible for impacting the site with hazardous waste including tetrachloroethylene, and trichloroethylene, dichloroethene (DCE) and vinyl chloride, among others. Shapiro Associates is seeking compensatory damages of more than $5 million, according to the filing by John Till and Melanie Mariotti of The Paladin Law Group LLP in Walnut Creek.  

In the filing, Shapiro alleges Think Clean Cleaners “spilled, released, and discharged” hazardous chemicals “at the site due to the willful, intentional, reckless, negligent, or improper use, handling, storage, and/or disposal practices of the dry-cleaning operations.”

Shapiro alleges that they incurred costs from being required to enter into a cleanup agreement with the Department of Toxic Substances Control in order to investigate and remediate the contamination at the site.

Here's the staff report on the renovation.

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Mill Valley is brimming with holiday events this week, and the folks at the Mill Valley Lumber Yard continues its ​holiday event series on Dec. 19 (4-7pm) with another one, with the gathering hub at 129 Miller Avenue throwing a multi-faceted evening featuring many of the shops at MVLY.

​That includes a visit from Santa, a pair of donation stations for both Toys for Tots and One Warm Coat, live music from Cole & Mikki of the Cole Tate Band, curated Spirited Marin gift boxes, holiday cookie decoration at Brit Morin's Makeshop, wine and olive oil tastings at McEvoy Ranch, a Dear Santa station at Once Around including stationery, typewriter and exclusive access to one of Santa's mailboxes.

All of the other shops and restaurants at MVLY are also participating in their own way, from giveaways to in-store bites & nibbles, including Watershed Restaurant from Ged Robertson and Kyle Swain, Stacy King's Lulu Design Jewelry, Heather Hardcastle and Rick Perko's Flour Craft Bakery, innovative bike shop Mad Dogs & Englishman, Molly de Vries' Ambatalia and Gayle Nicoletti’s Bloomingayles, Serena Armstrong’s FarmHouseUrban, Suzy Ekman’s Makers Market, Amy Lowery’s The Edit, Chelsea Hutchison’s BOL Superfood Cafe, and Paige Mycoskie's Aviator Nation. 

The 411: Mill Valley Lumber Yard hosts a holiday event on Dec. 19 (4-7pm). 129 Miller Avenue. Free. MORE INFO. Here's a taste of Cole and Mikki's music: 

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Zephyr Real Estate, a longtime Bay Area real estate that opened in San Francisco in 1978 and launched an office in Greenbrae in 2015, is opening an office at 12 Locust Avenue, its first dedicated Mill Valley office, later this month.

"We've had a great footprint in Mill Valley for many years, and as we've continued to grow in the 94941, it has become a high priority for us to have a physical space there as well," says Zephyr's Jenn Pfeiffer. "We're thrilled to have been able to find an office along the gorgeous Miller Avenue corridor."

"Our 300+ exceptional agents who generate over $2.3 billion in annual sales thrive out of our five San Francisco offices, our central Marin office and two affiliate brokerages in Sonoma," adds Demski. "Through our enduring efforts, we have fostered a strong brand to become the number one property seller in San Francisco (handling 1 in 8 transactions) and the fastest growing company in Marin County."

The 411: Zephyr Real Estate is opening an office at 12 Locust Avenue, its first dedicated Mill Valley office, later this month. MORE INFO.

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During PG&E’s multi-day Public Safety Power Shutoff in October, the owners, managers and employees of the Mill Valley Market, for what seemed like the umpteenth time in the market's history, went way beyond simply selling groceries, proving to be an essential local business that stayed opened throughout the shutoff, setting up charging stations, finding extra shipments of ice and generally serving as a much-needed gathering place for the community.

They did so, in part, because they’d brought in a generator powerful enough to keep the market’s operations running throughout. Earlier this month, the Mill Valley City Council unanimously approved a plan that will ensure the market’s ability to do so in the likely event of future shutoffs.

The council, backed a plan to allow the market, which is adjacent to City Hall, to lease a portion of the City’s parking lot for 10 years for $1 per year, with the option to extend it for an additional five years, so that they can permanently install a generator. The specific location will require the removal of three immature redwood trees and the pouring of a concrete pad, according to City officials, and the market will pay for that work to occur.

“A grocery store is sensitive to power outages,” City Manager Jim McCann told the Marin Independent Journal. “All of their perishables are in jeopardy and Mill Valley saw a real threat to its economic viability. It would be out of business without power.”

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Larry "the Hat" Lautzker's Famous4 downtown clothing shop is seizing the "Super Bowl of retail" holiday season by hosting a series of events and adding a selection of CBD products.

"I have curated something for everyone," Lautzker says.

First up is a "one of a kind" handcrafted jewelry event featuring  the work of Alkemie, Rebecca Stone and Patricia Margolis, among many more, on Wednesday, Dec. 18, (5-8pm).

One day later, on Thursday, Dec. 19, features the Ori Bag Company, "a bold and unique lifestyle brand centered around progressive, functional, and affordable bags that are weather-resistant, durable and lightweight; made for any age, gender, season, purpose, or adventure." The event runs from 3-8pm at Famous4, with champagne, treats and music.

As he does each holiday season, Lautzker has added an array of Chachkies/Tchotchkes – a yiddish word for an inexpensive souvenir, trinket, or ornament that make for perfect stocking stuffers – to his shop. "In my case, I'm searching out cool functional items from books and pocket tools to campfire games, mini battery chargers and lotsa weird really fun stuff!" Lautzker says.

That also includes a wide variety of products featuring Cannabidiol, better known as CBD, from Mt. Tam CBD, including rubs, tinctures and salves. In 2018, clinical research on CBD included preliminary studies of anxiety, cognition, movement disorders, and pain.

The 411: Famous4 hosts a pair of holiday shopping events on Dec. 17-18 and a CBD pop-up. MORE INFO.

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In one of Mill Valley's many holiday traditions, the Throckmorton Chorus, which launched in 2014 as a group of 30 singers, is set to take the stage at the stage at the Throckmorton Theatre on Wednesday, Dec. 18 for its annual Winter Concert, "a celebratory evening of choral music."
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The Throckmorton Chorus was inspired by Bay Area master accompanist, teacher and composer Joe Bloom. Throckmorton Chorus celebrates the art of choral music and the pursuit of choral excellence in repertoire and performance. The chorus is directed by Tim Silva and accompanied by pianist Allegra Chapman. Section Leaders are: Jonah Hopton, Britt La Gatta, Tim Silva, Anayana White and Katarina Zosseder.

Following the concert, the Throckmorton hosts a meet-and-greet and complimentary champagne reception.

The 411: The Throckmorton Chorus perform a Winter 2019 Concert on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 8pm, at the Throckmorton Theatre, 142 Throckmorton Avenue. Free. MORE INFO.
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Looking to ring in the New Year with a live concert of today's hits and yesterday's classics? 

Famous4 Productions and Murphy Productions have what you ned at their New Year's Eve Roaring Dance Party on Tuesday, Dec. 31 at 9pm at the Mill Valley Community Center, featuring a live performance from the Flaming O's with an opening DJ set from Richard Habib.

The Flaming O’s say they're able to seamlessly transition from a Journey tune to a Katy Perry tune, from Adele to Bon Jovi,  Bruno Mars to Led Zeppelin, from Pink to Queen. They play solid dance rock grooves, sing honest to goodness four-part harmonies, and explode with real rock energy to hits of the ’70s, ’80s, ’90s, and today. 
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There will be complimentary party favors and prizes for Best Dressed individual and couple complements of Larry the Hat of Famous4. A No-Host Bar benefits O’Hanlon Center for the Arts , which celebrates 50 years this year as Mill Valley’s place for creative discovery.

The 411: Famous4 Productions and Murphy Productions host a New Year's Eve Roaring Dance Party on Tuesday, Dec. 31 at 9pm at the Mill Valley Community Center, featuring a live performance from the Flaming O's with an opening DJ set from Richard Habib. Advance general admission tix $35, $55 reserved seat at a table. Tix $45 at the door. MORE INFO & TIX.

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While the winter weather has us glancing at the forecast more often these days, a series of distinctive red and yellow thermometers around town are answering a different question: How close is Kiddo!, the Mill Valley Schools Community Foundation, to reaching its ever-climbing obligation to fund art, music, dance, drama and poetry programs at Mill Valley’s public elementary schools and middle school for the 2019-20 school year? 

Kiddo!'s 2019-20 goal for the approximately 2,850 students across the Mill Valley School District's five elementary schools and Mill Valley Middle School is $3.1 million, and the organization has received $2.5 million to date from parents and local businesses. In addition to the aforementioned programs, Kiddo! also funds classroom and library aides, elementary physical education programs, technology needs, teacher grant funding and more. Funds are raised through Kiddo!’s Annual Campaign, Business Partnerships, Endowment, and special events, and Kiddo! officials hope to receive more tax-deductible donations before December 31.

“Mill Valley schools are among the best anywhere... Our excellence is the fruit of purposeful and organized support from our community, including financial donations,” says Edna Maguire School Principal Leo Kostelnik. “Parcel taxes and donations to our PTAs and Kiddo! combine to bring our per-pupil funding up to the national average for public schools; this local funding pays for the people and programs that put us over the top in quality.” 

“Mill Valley is a special place to live, and we need to nurture the talent, intelligence, and potential in all our young students,” says Kiddo! Executive Director Bill Lampl. “Keeping the arts as part of the core curriculum in Mill Valley is only possible thanks to private contributions from parents, businesses, and the community.” 

The 411: Tax-deductible donations can be made online or mailed to 409 Sycamore Ave, Mill Valley, 94941. Kiddo! also accepts donations of appreciated stock, real estate, cars, and life insurance premiums, all of which have the potential to provide significant tax deductions for the donor. MORE INFO.

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Callahan Financial Planning, a fiduciary financial planning and investment advisory company, is opening an office at the Shoreline Office Center in Mill Valley, located at 100 Shoreline Hwy. Ste 100B in the building adjacent to Glassdoor.

Company founder William Callahan says his firm has seen significant growth since opening in 2010, as it pursues bringing its holistic, fee-only financial planning to more families across the country.

Callahan says he anticipates opening additional locations in the San Francisco Bay Area following this expansion, along with new offices in Denver, Colo. and Lincoln, Neb., in the future.

From the Mill Valley office, Callahan Financial Planning anticipates serving clients throughout Marin County, including residents of Mill Valley, Larkspur, Corte Madera, Novato, Sausalito, Tiburon, Fairfax, Marin City, Corte Madera, San Anselmo, Marinwood, and Lagunitas-Forest Knolls.
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The planning services provided at the Mill Valley office are designed to integrate one's life goals with strategic planning around retirement, investments, income tax, and estate planning.

The 411: Callahan Financial Planning is opening an office at the Shoreline Office Center in Mill Valley, located at 100 Shoreline Hwy. Ste 100B in the building adjacent to Glassdoor. MORE INFO.

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Any thoughts that a few drops of rain would diminish a wonderful 2019 Enjoy Mill Valley Winterfest on Sunday, Dec. 8 were swiftly swept away by the joy on the faces of children meeting Santa, the gorgeous music performed by the young and the young at heart, the dance moves of the limber-legged tappers, breakers and hip-hoppers and the incredible food served up by some of Mill Valley's best restaurants.

Produced by the Mill Valley Chamber and Team Pro Event with a plethora of help from the City of Mill Valley, Mill Valley Refuse and a legion of volunteers, this free holiday event drew families and friends from throughout Mill Valley and all over Marin to immerse themselves in the holiday spirit, complete with the midday arrival of Santa on a Mill Valley Fire truck.

​In addition to the jaw-droppingly large rainbow slide, a jumpee house and an array of activities and games for children, the event also basked in delicious, free sips and bites from fantastic local restaurants like Piazza D'Angelo, Good Earth Natural Foods, Super Duper Burger, Equator Coffees, Vitality Bowls and Brooklyn!

There was free bike and stroller parking throughout the day from the Marin County Bicycle Coalition with support from Tam Bikes.

The Incredible lineup of live music and dance featured Performing Arts Academy of Marin, the Tam High Holiday Ensemble, Happy Feet Dance School, Rock the Ages, Natalia Betzler & Noah Chann, Roco Dance and Singers Marin, as well as Mayoral Welcome from Mayor Jim Wickham and a Holiday Tree Lighting at the conclusion of the event. 

There was also donation stations for unwrapped toy donations for the Toys for Tots program and the Performing Stars of Marin via the Mill Valley Fire Department and warm coats for One Warm Coat.

Thanks to all of the people, businesses and organizations who helped make this free event possible, including our amazing sponsors Redwood Credit Union, Piazza D'Angelo, Good Earth Natural Foods, Budget Blinds, Dana Williams from Compass, Mathnasium, Upper Cervical of Marin, Redwood Trust, FastSigns, MCE Marin Clean Energy, WrapManager and Chambers + Chambers Architects, along with the amazing contributions of Ken Brooks, Gary Ferber Photography, ​Hamilton Ink and Kiddo!.

MORE INFO.

Here are a few of the performances at the 2019 EMV Winterfest: