Mike Read/Pages From The Past
100 Years Ago
January 1923
– At the third annual fruit show recently held by the University of California, Novato carried off three first prizes, which is another evidence of the adaptability of this valley for horticulture as well as for dairying and chicken raising. William Koch Was awarded two first prizes for almonds grown on his place at Pine Knoll. T. Callaghan captured first prize for sugar prunes.
– Although Petaluma is hailed as the world’s Egg Basket, we must not overlook the fact that Novato helps to fill quite a corner in the basket before they put the top layer on. Reports are current that the Gage hatchery is taxed to its capacity. Mr. Gage has purchased in the last year some purebred cockerels, and the laurels he won at the Petaluma Fair is worthy of notice. He aims to heed only the best. We also note with interest that Mr. Dettner’s hatchery will be running to its full capacity soon. Another busy bee after the holidays.
– E. R. MacDonald is building a large summer porch onto his already spacious bungalow on the Bide-a-Wee ranch.
75 Years Ago
January 1948
– Contractors Bormolini and Son have begun the erection of a bus station for Novato patrons. It will include a waiting room, an office and news stand.
– Dr. Paul Johnson, associate of Dr. R.J. Weseman has purchased the new home recently built by J. Jensen. The apartment in the medical building on Grant Avenue vacated by Johnsons, has been rented by Miss Edith Calvert, office nurse for the two doctors.
– Novato’s fire chief for the unexpired term of the late Fred W. Miller will be appointed at the next meeting of the Novato Fire Commissioners.
– Novato voters will go to the polls Saturday to ballot on the formation of a municipal water district, a long-sought proposal aimed at alleviating a serious water situation in that area of Marin County. Residents of the community and its environs met at Community Hall on Tuesday of commerce and Lions Club, and the consensus was for the district, no major objection to the plan for the district being raised.
50 Years Ago
January 1973
– Ben Ostlind, San Rafael realtor, yesterday served the city of Novato notice that he is claiming approximately $325,000 damages as a result of its refusal to grant a use permit for a restaurant in Novato Square. “Then we’ll file suit,” Ostlind told the Advance, “if the city wants to use the land the way it sees fit the city should buy the land.” The claim was filed in the name of Jean G. Ostlind, executrix of the estate of Beatrice I. Gallien who owned one-half interest in the Square which already has three restaurants (Denney’s, Pizza Hut and McDonald’s). Mrs. Gallen died in 1966 and Mrs. Ostlind later purchased the remaining half of the property, becoming sole owner. The total purchase price was said to approximate $325,000, according to the suit. The suit says-the city later passed several emergency ordinances directed solely at the Novato Square property and later designated the undeveloped portion of the Square for administrative-professional offices only rendering the property “economically worthless.”
– Fresh from the success of its “Christmas Sharing” program the board of directors of the Novato Human Needs Center will meet to figure out means to keep the momentum going. “We need people with ideas to help make the center a viable year-round operation,” says Chairman Bob Stockwell, who is inviting the public to attend Monday’s meeting. Stockwell has established a timetable of goals which calls for organizing a program for recruiting and training volunteers by March 1; the hiring of staff by March 15; the occupying of a building by April 1; and a grand opening by May 1.
– The question of whether an elementary school should be closed to adjust to declining enrollment will be discussed by the Novato school board at a special meeting. No specific school has been mentioned so far in discussions of the possibility of having to close a school. Since the enrollment drop is sharpest in the southern part of town— particularly at Hamilton Air Force Base—Pacheco has been rumored as a possibility for closure. Pacheco draws its enrollment mainly from Air Force families in Rafael Village, and it now has six empty classrooms. Aging Marion School, with its valuable Grant Avenue frontage; also, has been rumored as a possible candidate for closure.
–Novato’s Arnold Baptiste was elected chairman of the Mann board of supervisors yesterday and one of the first things he did as chairman was to request consideration of funding for the Novato Human Needs Center. Novato’s supervisor also suggested abolishing the county aviation commission. The matter came up in connection with appointments to the commission. Baptiste is beginning the third year of his four-year term. The local Human Needs Center had appealed to the county for funds to rent a building with the help of the county’s War on Poverty Programs budget.
25 Years Ago
January 1998
– Novato’s Top Newsmakers of 1997; 1. Ernie Gray. Twenty years on the Novato City Council and four terms as the city’s mayor earned him the title “Mayor Emeritus” when he retired from the council, 2. John Griffiths and William Cotton. Griffiths, the mediator hired to help facilitate a solution and Cotton, the engineer hired to find the problem, were the people to the eye of the Partridge Knolls storm. 3. Cynthia Murray, Pat Eklund, Mike Di Giorgio, Carole Dillonr-Knutson, Jim Henderson. By reelecting Eklund and electing Henderson to replace Gray, Novato sent a message they want a council that does things. Now it is up to the council led by new Mayor Dillon-Knutson, Murray and Di Giorgio to deliver. 4. Bill McDill. The wise-cracking, community-serving physical therapist was Novato’s Citizen of the Year. 5. Nicky Pantazelos. The courageous youngster touched many during his short five years of life and even more after he lost his lifelong battle against leukemia.
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