Welcome!

2008 marked sixteen years of parade memories; we hope you will join us in 2009 to celebrate our seventeenth year! This year, our theme is “Novato Goes Green”. We hope to highlight the importance of energy conservation and of the environment in today's world.

Pre-parade Events

Second Annual 4th of July Run

Tamalpa is proud to present a “Four on the Fourth” four mile road race and a “Mayor's Mile” one mile family walk/jog.
You may pre-register for either or both races.

• Cost

  $15 (includes race mug & post-race goodies)

• Info

  http://www.marinruns.com

• 6:30 am Registration, 7th & Grant
• 7:20 am Four on the Fourth four mile race
• 7:30 am Mayor's Mile

Fifty-Sixth Annual Presbyterian Church Buckaroo Breakfast

Come enjoy eggs, pancakes, sausage, orange juice, and coffee! Hosted by the Presbyterian Church of Novato, all proceeds benefit a Novato community mission project.

• Suggested donation

  $5 adults, $3 children

• Info

  415 897 6152

7:30–10:00 am 1010 Grant Ave
(Redwood Credit Union parking lot)

Entertainment

9:00–9:45 am Pre-parade entertainment by the People of Note, Banjo Dave Marty, Abe van der Meule, and other street performers.

Get There

Our 2009 Grand Marshal

Joseph J. Garbarino, affectionately known as Joe Jr, is Chairman of the Board and co-owner of Marin Sanitary Service, Marin Recycling Center, and Marin Resource Recovery Center, and has been since 1956. Marin Sanitary Service started in 1948, and, with his partners, Joe Jr. built Marin Sanitary Service into the multi-faceted state-of-the-art, full service facility that it is today. Joe has personally worked in virtually every position that exists in the solid waste collection, recycling, and resource recovery industry, taking positions ranging from collection to implementation and management. He has developed and overseen sweeping technological improvements in solid waste disposal and recycling operations making Marin Sanitary Service and its subsidiaries one of the most innovative and successful waste disposal companies in the United States.

The company has received numerous awards over the years, which would not have been possible had Joe Jr. not been there working and directing the operations of the business, 365 days a year. Some of the awards received are:

• Governor’s Environmental Economic
  Leadership Award
  Category: Climate Change, 2008
• Marin County Board of Supervisors
  Golden Spire Outstanding Business of the Year, 2007
• Environmental Forum
  Marin Environmental Golden Acorn Award, 2006
• Pacific Sun: Best of Marin
  Reader’s Poll: Best Green (Environmentally Conscious)
  Business, 2006
• Family Works
  Family Business of the Year, 2005

Joe Jr. is a visionary in the fields of recycling and resource recovery, with awards and achievements that have occurred as a result of his forward-thinking ideas and innovations. Awards such as “Best Curbside Program in California”, “Outstanding Solid Waste Recovery Program in California”, and “Outstanding Regional Recycling Program”, highlight the extent to which Marin Sanitary Service has led the industry and set an example for the United States and the world.

Joe has been collecting and restoring WWII vehicles for the past twenty-five years from acquisitions and junk yards, from smelter plants and bombing ranges. Joe started this in an effort to preserve part of our history and demonstrate how these vehicles have helped to pursue the freedom we enjoy today.