Olompali is a sacred site for both Native Americans and hippies from the Haight-Ashbury days. The park is located three miles north of the Novato city limits on the eastern slope of Mount Burdell and only accessible from southbound Highway 101. Evidence of the presence of the Coast Miwok tribe, called the Southern People (Olompali), dates to 6,000 B.C. The tribe lived here until the 1850s and their descendants are still a recognized and organized group in the North Bay area. Many artifacts can be seen at the park as well as at the nearby Marin Museum of the American Indian. In the late 1960s, the Olompali land was privately owned and became a cultural gathering spot and commune. The Grateful Dead played here regularly. A fire at the house led to the commune's closing in 1969. Many artifacts were saved but have yet to be put on display. The park was opened as a state historic park in 1990. Today it features a small museum, a bookstore, picnic tables and hiking trails.
The Novato Chamber of Commerce is an organization of local businesses that aims to enhance the Novato economy through various programs, events and activities. The chamber also operates the Novato Visitor Center, where visitors can find a plethora of information about the local community. For more information, check out the Chamber of Commerce's Web Site.
Founded in 1969, the Nativity of Christ Greek Orthodox Church is located in the Pointe Marin area of Novato, Califonia. The main building was dedicated in 1980 and the fellowship hall was dedicated in 1992. Parishioners come from as far as the California cities of Ukiah and Fairfield to attend Father Constantine Efstathiu's services. The parish is renowned for its annual Greek Festival, which draws more than 1,000 people to enjoy Greek arts, entertainment, food and drink.
The Presbyterian Church of Novato dates to 1896 and can take credit for Novato's most recognized building, the former church at 901 Sherman Avenue that has been Novato City Hall since 1962. A year later, PCN held its first service at Trevitt Hall, the current home of the church on Wilson Avenue, about two miles west of the downtown area. The sanctuary where services are held today was constructed in 1977.
There are more than 400 members of PCN, where the Rev. Kent Webber has presided for 15 years. There are Sunday school programs for kids and teens as well as many outreach and study programs.
Residents 50 and over will find a wealth of resources and fun at the city-run Margaret Todd Senior Center. The facility is home to a popular banquet hall, countless events and classes for seniors, the Novato Independent Elders Program and the Novato Senior Citizens Club. Nearly every event there -- from dances to health fairs to computer classes to bingo -- is held to encourage seniors to connect with each other. The ballroom, with attached commercial kitchen, is available for rent and is used regularly by service groups such as the Rotary club. The city, which has experienced financial instability in recent years, is struggling to keep the senior center a funding priority. Organizers hope strong attendance at regular gatherings will convince the decision makers to keep the center open.
St. Anthony, established in 1968, is a medium-sized parish on Novato's south side that features four Masses on the weekends. They are held at 5 p.m. Saturdays and 7, 9 and 11 a.m. Sundays in addition to the daily 9 a.m. Mass. The parish, overseen by Father Toan Nguyen, is one of 14 that falls under the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese of San Francisco (there are two in Novato, including Our Lady of Loretto). St. Anthony is located at the south end of Cambridge Street and also has a driveway off South Novato Boulevard.
Miles is a social service organization established to assist Marin County residents through difficult times. Among other services, they help families and individuals find reasonable housing if they've been forced out of their home due to foreclosure or eviction. They also provide clothing, food, and transporation for the recently unemployed.
South Hamilton Park, aka Palmisano Park and formerly known as Hamilton Airport Park, is a seven-acre sanctuary replete with families and kids. It holds a flat, grassy area for soccer, the Dunphy Little League field, colorful play structures and trails that lead to the Hamilton Wetlands. The park is downhill from the renovated Hamilton Pool, which re-opened after a $5 million makeover in spring 2010.
In cooperation with the College of Marin, the Conservation Corp North Bay forged this farm, fostering education and outreach programs. This farm acts as a model for environmental awareness and sustainable living. Programs are available for middle school to college students and Bay Area residents.
The farm is located in the College of Marin campus, adjacent to the school athletic field.
Unity in Marin is a medium-sized, Spanish-style church in the center of Hamilton, formerly a U.S. Air Force base on Novato's south side. The elegant facility is one of Hamilton's gems and attracts several hundred people for its 9:30 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. Sunday services. The church, a member of the Association of Unity Churches International, welcomes people from many faiths and denominations. The meeting rooms and sanctuary are popular event rentals.
Marion is a downtown park that is popular with lunchtime players of ultimate frisbee and after-work soccer enthusiasts because of its flat, two-acre playing field. Youth T-ball and softball teams use the diamond on the west side of the park, and the east side is mostly used for soccer. There is a snack shack next to the diamond's backstop, but it is only open on game days. The park is located across Grant Avenue from a shopping center – a convenient stop for families attending games -- and next door to the Novato Unified School District headquarters.
Experts in meditation lead single-day workshops and overnight retreats at Anubhuti, a somewhat mysterious complex on a picturesque knoll in Bel Marin Keys. The retreats are designed to explore the deeper meaning to life and to sustain calmness and clarity, according to Anubhuti's website. The facility is one of more than 8,500 centers of the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University and also hosts seminars, lectures, special events and tai chi classes.
The Brahma Kumaris have their roots in Hinduism, but a spokeswoman said the group is more about nondenominational spirituality than strict religion. Literature circulated by the institution states, "We study spiritual knowledge that nurtures respect for all faith traditions, coherently explains the nature of soul, God, time and karma and delineates an enlightened lifestyle."
The facility, managed by a staff of eight, is available for rent for gatherings and celebrations.
Skaters from all over Marin County have enjoyed the Novato Skate Park since it opened in 2002. It is on Hamilton Parkway on the northwestern edge of the Hamilton area. The 15,000-square-foot skating area, designed by Santa Cruzan Zack Wormhoudt, has about 6-7 feet of depth and plenty of coping for grinding. The park also has a grassy area and picnic tables. The city will close the park for a minimum of two days if there are instances of graffiti or tagging. The bowl is for skateboarders and in-line skaters only.
For four decades, the Novato Human Needs Center has been helping the most needy people in Marin County's northernmost city. The nonprofit is entrenched in the community and has hundreds of volunteers who help with food distribution to those with low incomes. Programs help residents in dire circumstances move toward self-sustainability. Among the most popular events is the annual Holiday Share Program, which allows kids to pick out free gifts for their parents and parents to pick out free donated toys for the kids. Major sponsors of Novato Human Needs include the Marin Community Foundation, the City of Novato and the United Way.
Matrix Parent Network was formed in 1983 to aid families with children with disabilities. The network provides educational resources and help line support for multilingual and multicultural families at no cost. Donations are accepted via check in person or by the mail, or online via Visa, MasterCard or American Express.
Matrix Parent Network is conveniently located in the Bel Marin Keys area of Novato.
The main library on Novato Boulevard is a popular hangout for bibliophiles, students, seniors, job seekers and young parents and children.
The first Novato library was opened in 1927 at the old Novato Community House at the corner of De Long and Machin Avenues. It was moved to the Tresch Triangle shopping center (Center Road at Nave Lane) in 1965, and then permanently replaced with the current facility in 1971. A South Novato branch was opened in 1998. Suella Kennedy Fulmer is the branch manager for both Novato locations.
The main library, a branch of the Marin County Free Library, has more than 103,000 volumes. The staff offers monthly book club meetings, storytimes for young kids and occasional events for teens.
Since 1994, Marin Computer Resource Center has provided free, refurbished computers to those who need them. Used and discarded electronics and computers are reclaimed and reborn through their training program. To date, they've given away thousands of computers to schools, nonprofit organizations and economically or physically disadvantaged people. Volunteers learn to restore computers and electronics for home, school and office applications. Donations of computers, printers, monitors, TV's, VCR's, stereos, phones and all their accessories, working or not, are gratefully accepted.