[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 11 (Wednesday, January 27, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E99-E100]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     IN HONOR OF THE CITY OF NOVATO

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. LYNN C. WOOLSEY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 27, 2010

  Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, I rise with pleasure today to 
congratulate the City of Novato, California, on the fiftieth 
anniversary of its incorporation.
  Novatans are rightfully proud of their community, which has tripled 
in size since its founding without losing the warm, small-town 
atmosphere that makes it a charming place to live. As the city has 
grown from an agricultural settlement to a destination in its own 
right, residents have kept their focus on the qualities that make 
Novato unique--strong sense of community, attachment to the natural 
surroundings, and an appreciation of the region's vibrant and diverse 
history.
  Indeed, the history of Novato long predates its formal establishment 
half a century ago. Hundreds of years before the arrival of the 
Spanish, the Coast Miwok inhabited the area around Novato, valuing it 
for many of the same reasons that Novatans do today. The city's warm 
summers, tranquil hills, and fertile soil make it a unique corner of 
Marin County.
  Early European settlers realized this as well, and Novato quickly 
became the site of some of Alta California's early Mexican land grants, 
including the 1839 Rancho Novato grant that later gave the city its 
name. It was also during this time that another Novato rancho became 
one of the first in the region to experiment with growing wine grapes, 
an industry that has since contributed so much to the identity and 
economy of our region. After California joined the United States, 
Novato grew into a more diverse agricultural hub, attracting Portuguese 
and Swiss-Italian pioneers to farm the land.
  Since the 1930's, however, Novato has had to adapt to dramatic 
changes. During the Great Depression, as local farms struggled to 
survive, construction began on what would become Hamilton Air Force 
Base. The Base served as a critical center for defense and pilot 
training on the Pacific Coast, both during and after the Second World 
War. The city subsequently began a process of rapid development, 
attracting tens of thousands of new residents.
  In face of this change, Novatans chose to incorporate in 1960 (with 
72 percent of voters in favor) in order to take control over their 
collective future. They adopted their first General Plan in 1966 and 
have worked together ever since to maintain what matters to them. For 
instance, many of the structures that arose in the late 19th and early 
20th centuries are preserved in modern Novato as a treasured part of 
the community's heritage. The downtown area, first subdivided in 1888, 
still recalls its original spirit as a rural outpost far removed from 
the cares of urban life.

[[Page E100]]

  The story of Novato is one of reinvention and perseverance. From its 
rural beginnings, the city has grown into a home for innovators in 
industries from biotechnology to winemaking and from insurance to 
artisanal tea. From a small settlement of Mexican ranchos, Novato has 
become a thriving city and only the second in California governed by an 
all-woman city council.
  Hamilton Air Force Base, one of the most successful base closure 
efforts in the Nation, has been reclaimed as a vibrant, mixed-use 
community with one of the largest wetlands restoration projects in the 
State. I am especially proud to have worked in partnership with 
residents, city leaders, and government agencies in the ongoing efforts 
to achieve this transformation.
  This is also a community committed to a healthy and sustainable 
future. Novato offers recreational facilities and support programs for 
people of all ages, including one of the country's premier research 
institutes on aging. The city boasts 27 parks and over 3,600 acres of 
open space protected by urban growth boundaries. Even now, Novato 
residents are setting a leading example on promoting sustainable 
practices and adopting green building standards.
  Madam Speaker, I am proud to represent the City of Novato. I ask that 
you join me in celebrating its achievements and in wishing all its 
residents the best for the future. Congratulations, Novato, on your 
50th birthday!

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