In Your Town for April 17, 2024
News briefs from across Marin County.
NOVATO
Release denied for
pepper spray suspect
A suspect accused of assaulting a person at the Islamic Center of North Marin will remain in custody for now, a judge ruled.
David Jonathan Margoliash, 48, is charged with discharging pepper spray at the Novato center on March 11. A member of the center confronted the suspect when he appeared to be carrying a gun in his bag, Novato police reported.
Margoliash pleaded not guilty last month to charges of unlawfully using tear gas, being a convicted felon in possession of tear gas and displaying an imitation firearm in a public place.
In a hearing on Friday, Judge Kelly Simmons declined another request from Margoliash’s defense to release him from custody. Public defender Meredith McGuire noted that her client was visited by mental health professionals in jail.
Simmons reviewed oppositions to his release from the prosecution and a member of the Novato center. She agreed it was too soon to release him and set his next hearing for April 22.
SAN RAFAEL
Wellness event
set for May 18
A 5K is planned to raise awareness about mental health, substance use recovery and
overdose prevention.
“One Stride at a Time,” a 5K, is planned from 9 a.m. to noon May 18 at McInnis Park, 350 Smith Ranch Road.
The free event is hosted by Marin County Suicide Prevention Collaborative, OD Free Marin, the Marin County Office of Education, Marin 9 to 25 and Find Your Way Marin.
Register at bit.ly/4d3cX5N.
TIBURON
Appeal hearing set
on dispute over tree
A town decision to deny a tree removal permit has been appealed to the Design Review Board.
The coast live oak tree is at David Ehsan’s property at 16 Southridge Road East in the Reedlands neighborhood, Dina Tasini, the town’s community development director, wrote in a staff report. Ehsan applied for permission to remove the tree, citing its failing health, its sticky oozing, the encroachment of roots on neighboring properties and the shadow it casts on a neighbor’s solar panels.
The town staff denied the request because of the tree’s “protected” status.
“The denial was based on the fact that the tree was not found to be in bad health, there is no development that requires the removal of the tree to permit development, the removal of this tree will have an impact on privacy as well as neighborhood character, keeping the tree supports the Municipal Code requiring protection of any protected trees,” Tasini wrote.
Two neighbors, Andrew Thompson and Darryl DeVinney, appealed the decision because of issues similar to the ones raised by Ehsan. Other residents have filed letters with the town in defense of the tree.
“This lovely tree enhances the visual beauty of the neighborhood, in addition to its ecological importance and support for all property owners in the neighborhood,” wrote Kirsty Ellis, who identified herself as a Reedlands Property Owners Association board member.
“I believe this is an attempt to improve someone’s view,” wrote Christopher Wand, who identified himself as a former president of the association board. “Time and time again we have witnessed this just before a house is sold.”
The Design Review Board has scheduled a hearing on the appeal for its meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday.