Mark Read/Pages From The Past
(Editor’s note: This feature chronicles Marin history through the pages of the Novato Advance.)
100 Years Ago
July 1920
— J. Maffer of Sonoma, driving a Willys-Knight, was arrested for blocking traffic by Traffic Officer Ambrose upon complaint of E. S. Burkhart. According to Burkhart, Maffer was ahead of him leaving Novato for San Rafael, going not more than 25 miles an hour and that every time that Burkhart signaled by horn that he wanted to pass him, Maffer would turn to the left instead of the right.
75 Years Ago
July 1945
— NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN: That the undersigned JAMES STEPHEN ROBERTS, is transacting business at Olive Avenue and Redwood Highway, Novato, Marin County, State of California, under the name and style of “NORTH BAY SERVICE CO.”; that I am the only person interested in such business and I reside at Olive Avenue and Redwood Highway, Novato, California. JAMES STEPHEN ROBERT
— At a meeting of the directors of the Chamber of Commerce Tuesday evening in the Community House, plans were made for a very interesting program to be presented at the annual membership meeting on August 14th. Some outstanding speakers, names to be announced later, will be present to discuss the future development of Novato, and in the main, speak of the advantages of incorporation of the town. Progress was reported in the securing of a Novato Memorial Park and the construction of a Novato Rock Memorial Shaft on the corner of the school grounds, in honor of Novato’s lost war heroes.
50 Years Ago
July 1970
— Membership entertainment, education and area improvement are among the purposes of the Marin Valley Mobile Home Country Club Association or Mar-Val, according to board director B. H. Fisher Mar-Val is a newly formed group of about 50 mobile homeowners living in the development south of Hamilton Air Force Base. Officers of the organization are Mrs. Herbert Prodger, president; Anthony Motta, vice president; and Mrs. Lyle Voss, secretary and treasurer. Meetings are the first Monday of each month except during the summer. The community is an adult park with no residents under the age of 18. It is not a retirement community though, as 75 per cent of the resident’s work, said Mr. Fisher. No motorcycle riders or hot rod drivers are admitted to the area, added Fisher. A $250,000 clubhouse is scheduled to open in two weeks. The development which opened last fall is planned for ultimate expansion of up to 400 mobile homes, according to Fisher.
25 Years Ago
July 1995
— John Gates is back in the florist business and Sally Clark could not be happier. Gates and wife Donna recently purchased Grant Avenue Florist, 1129 Grant Ave. (directly across from the Cacti Restaurant), from Clark, returning John to a business he left 26 years ago after operating a successful florist shop in San Francisco. Grant Avenue Florist was established in 1970 and the new owners promise they will continue to maintain the high standards set by the previous owner. For John and Donna, the opportunity to own their own business came at a time when, according to John, “We were ready to make a change in our lives.” The Gates have lived in Novato for 25 years and have two grown children, Lisa and Scott. “I have come full circle,” John explains. “I used to do a lot of travelling and now I’m really enjoying getting back into the florist business.
— CAESAR TAVERNA, A retired restaurateur, is still serving up food, but now he does it as a volunteer for Whistlestop North meals program. Serving up hot meals is only one-way Taverna serves the community of Novato. For his efforts, he is Marin County’s Senior Citizen of the Year.
— Novato Chamber of Commerce members now have a free listing on the Internet. This new benefit of Chamber membership makes local businesses accessible to the world through this advertising venue which lists them by category such as restaurant or accountant The Home Page also contains local events. A recent listing of the Novato Festival of Art, Wine & Music prompted a man from Atlanta to call the Chamber with questions. He attended the event while in the area for business. The Home Page will be continually updated with new members as well as other information for use by tourists and new residents. The Chamber’s Fast Facts, used predominantly by new Novatans, is already available on the Internet It offers information on everything from hooking up the electricity to average rainfall. The Chamber’s page is made possible by a new Chamber member and local company called Novato Virtual Village. The Home Page is located on the Internet at http://www.well.com/user/ mason 123/indcx.html.
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