[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 1]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 1019]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING PATRICIA ``PATTY'' BENNETT AS THE 2012 CITIZEN OF THE YEAR 
                   FOR THE TOWN OF NOVATO, CALIFORNIA

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JARED HUFFMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 6, 2013

  Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate Novato resident 
Patricia (Patty) Bennett as the 2012 Citizen of the Year for the Town 
of Novato located in Mann County in Northern California.
  Patty's enduring service to the town is marked by her quiet presence 
and many positive outcomes. As a local community activist committed to 
the growth and care of the Novato community, Patty has been serving on 
various committees around town for many years. Since 2004, Patty 
Bennett has served on the board of the Novato Youth Center (NYC), where 
in addition to her duties as Vice-President of the NYC Board and 
chairperson of the Development Committee, she founded and co-chairs 
their biannual fundraising event Cruisin' the Classics.
  Patty's strong compassion for working parents motivated her to join 
NYC board of directors in 2004 to help make accessible quality 
childcare for these parents. Among her many contributions as a 
director, Patty played a critical role in transitioning the leadership 
of the NYC after the retirement of an Executive Director who served 23 
years.
  Patty's dedication to Novato has remained constant though the years. 
She currently serves as Treasurer for ``Novato 2010--Celebrating 50 
years'' Birthday Celebration Steering Committee and has worked for many 
years on the Coordinating Committee for the Paint the Town Red event. 
She is also an Elder at the Presbyterian Church of Novato and has 
served as President of the Parent Teacher Association for Pleasant 
Valley Elementary School and on Leadership Councils for Novato Unified 
School District schools including Pleasant Valley Elementary, Sinaloa 
Middle and San Marin High School.
  Mr. Speaker and colleagues, it is appropriate that we honor Patty 
Bennett for her exceptional community service and civic engagement, 
commend her generosity of spirit and extend to her our congratulations 
for her selection as the 2012 Citizen of the Year.

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