Hear.. hear! Why others have not lit up the comment section of this piece is hard to understand. I have followed Toni's hard work and honest efforts from afar and have seen her in person, frequently downtown. Congratulations Ms. Shroyer..this is some recognition that is well deserved.

And by the way.. I concur completely with her summation of Novato: " I love living in Novato because the people are very down to earth, diverse, welcoming, friendly and kind."

Congratulation Toni, for winning this award; and congratulations to Novato for being lucky enough to have Toni as a resident. I don't know if I've met anyone with as much enthusiasm, or someone who cares as much for their community, as does Toni. This award is very well-deserved.

Congratulations Toni and thank you for working so hard to keep Novato a great place to live. We all know there is a lot work to be done to take back local government control. Hopefully there will be more citizen involvement going forward. Thank you again...

Well deserved if not for the graffiti clean-up alone. Congrats Toni and Thank You.

Wow Toni! Congratulations! You are an inspiration to us all! Don't give up the fight to keep Novato a wonderful community! All cities need more people like you! Thank you for all your hard work!

Yes, congratulations to Toni Shroyer, person of the year for Novato. It is amazing as to what one person can do when they set their minds to making our community a better place. Toni set the bar for 2012 for all of us to get or remain active in all parts of Novato from the smallest of recycling to learning and becoming involved in decision making about city plans for safety, development, transportation, housing and willing to write and speak about concerned issues. One issue is to understand those expensive, outside Novato agencies such as One Bay Area/Metropolitan Transportation Commission/ Associated Bay Area government and their plans for the city to build 1600 new homes and to question the numbers and how this will impact needs for more safety personnel, infrastructure, schools, community facilities and the nexus of costs placed on the residents to pay for the above. Toni is leading the way and making the connections between costs, crime, and quality of life for all of us. Again, thanks to her and bravo.

Congratulations Toni! It was an honor and a pleasure working with you on the City Manager's Working Group. Your passion and commitment are inspiring. We have so much more to do and I look forward to working side by side with you. Keep strong and carry on!

I have never known anyone with more energy, passion, and desire to improve the world than Toni Shroyer. Perfect choice! Bravo, Novato.

We are so blessed to have Toni's energy and advocacy for (in her words) "the good people of Novato." Toni always has a kind word and a smile. She's one of those people who does everything well because she's willing to put in the time and hard work. She's one heck of a tennis player too!

Pay attention everyone, see what this band of merry wealth redistribution people are up to: http://www.onebayarea.org/

I am so happy that Toni got "Novato Citizen of the Year". Her good heart, strong sense of fairness, boundless energy and effectiveness is an inspiration. Congratulations for an accolade well deserved.

Jim Phelps
Toni's one of the few people who isn't afraid of calling it the way it is. Thanks for keeping all sides of the issues in the public domain. Congratulations on being recognized for your vitally important role!

Congratulations Toni! You absolutely deserved this honor. We are grateful for your tireless efforts in trying to maintain and improve the quality of our Novato community.

Congratulations Toni! Thank you for being the force that Novato needed. You made all the difference!

Cheers and more cheers to you Toni! I'll never forget the first day I re-met you at the City Council meeting. We instantly had much in common and yet never knew how devoted and passionate you would become in this crusade to preserve Novato's democracy and champion for the rights of her people. Congrats for this much deserved award!

OMG....I am to happy to hear this great news. I have known Toni for a few years now and I am here to say she is the most wonderful friend and mother I have ever
known. I cannot believe the endless work she has done to save Novato and I know
this is the best way we can say THANK YOU TONI.....WE ALL LOVE YOU.

Yeah for you Toni! You and I were just talking about this award this morning...and here it is ...you got it! Too funny. So proud of you! xoxo

My husband and I have recently relocated to Novato from Ohio, because this little piece of paradise on the west coast had appeal. Deliberation over finding a place that had many perks brought us here, but LUCK brought me into Toni Shroyer's life. Her enthusiasm about pursuing the right things for Novato is so inspiring, and I have learned so much about this town through her. She is an incredibly genuine person whose passion is to make Novato one of the best places to live for all types of people. Kudos to Toni!

Congratulations Toni! Well deserved, you are an inspiration. Thank you for all you do for our beautiful town.

Just imagine what a fantastic world we would all live in if we had more Toni's! We could use truly caring people like Toni in our elected offices--at ALL levels of government. Yay, Fred, keep up all the great work!!!

Floyd Fulmer

There are many folks in Novato deserving of special recognition this past year and Toni is certainly a leader in the pack. Thanks for who you are and what you do!

Congratulations Toni! A well deserved recognition for all your hard work!

Between Toni and Tina, Novato has a well informed voice of the people

Can we clone her and put the clone on the city council?

Congratulations Toni, Your efforts to maintain our quality of life here in Novato are much appreciated. You do it with grace, class and respect to all.
Thanks

Congrats Toni! You are such a positive asset to the citizens of Novato. You would be a fabulous addition to our City Council presenting the citizens in this wonderful town.

Toni, that award had your name written over it right from the start! I know it has not been easy but you never gave up.
Thank you, my friend. More specifically Novato thanks you!!!

Congratulations Toni! Novato is fortunate that as a result of your hard work our city continues to be made safer. What I most appreciate is your willingness to voice the concerns that so many of us feel. I am amazed by your energy and your ability to persevere no matter how difficult the task. Hope comes in many forms. You make me hopeful that positive changes will continue to take place in local government. Thank you again for all your help to keep Novato a wonderful place to live.

Congratulations Toni. You are living proof that hard work pays off. You keep going girl!

Well deserved.........Congrats to you Toni and thanks for all you do for our community!

I can't imagine a better choice for Person of the Year. Congrats, Toni!! Your tireless energy and commitment to our community is most inspirational. Thank you for all you do.

Even here in southern Marin, we know about Toni's tireless passion and leadership to maintain local control and strengthen democracy. Hats off to the people of Novato for a first-rate choice for Person of the Year!

Thank you, Toni for all your time and effort. You are much appreicated. Wishing you and your family a successful, joyful, and healthy coming year.

Toni is wonderful and deserves this and more.

On a larger issue, and not directed particularly at Toni, how is it that someone so concerned, smart, and effective is not on the council? Either Toni or someone else, how do we get top notch people to run for office?

Toni, Congrats! No one is more deserving than you. Not only do you fight for what you believe in, but you inspire others. I believe you are Novato's leading person, not only are you involved and dedicated to the community, but the tireless volunteering you do for the schools in unbelievable. I'm so glad I know you.

A perfect choice in an imperfect world. I do not know anyone who has devoted more time and energy the last 18 months to standing up to the status quo and demanding we all do better for each other and our town. We all should take a moment and ask what we can do further the work Toni has begun for all our benefits.

Thank you Toni & congratulations on the recognition!

Congratulations Toni! You should be getting mother, wife, horsewoman and kind person of the year! Hope you are doing well. You look beautiful!

Congratulations, Toni! You have done more to improve conditions in Novato than anybody I know. Your are unstoppable, unbeatable, and unsinkable. If you lived within the city limits rather than only in Novato's sphere of influence, who knows what the Planning Commission might be doing today!

Congratulations Toni. We have never met but I have admired and applauded all your efforts on behalf of Novato this last year. Well done and much deserved!

Unfortunately, Toni couldn't bask in her glory today, because as she was in front of Costco this afternoon, collecting signatures for our petition to repeal Measure Q (with her kids I might add), she was bullied & harassed by one of the SMARTrider Coalition. He tried to stand between her ironing board & the voters to "block" them from signing the petition. The nice manager at Costco called security, who was unable to stop the man from letting Toni exercise her constitutional rights, so he had to call the police. She was nice enough to take a picture of him, which you can see at:

http://facebook.com/stopsmart

I guess that is the SMART way of congratulating Toni on her award.

Oh, and to answer some of you for her...Toni, like myself, lives in unincorporated Novato - so she is not eligible for the Council. But don't you think she would make an excellent Supervisor?

Congratulations Toni. You truly are an inspiration. Thanks for all of your hard work.
Novato needs you and more like you.

FYI, everyone: This recognition came straight from the votes of Novato Patch readers and should not be confused with Paint the Town Red's Novato Citizen of the Year award.

I think the Chamber does that. They make the decisions that put us in the red.

By the way-someone said Toni can't run for council because she lives in the unincorporated part of Novato. If we incorporated her area, we'd have a larger land mass that would bring the ghetto builders back, and her pasture looks like it could hold a few units. It's best just to vote for whom she likes.

Toni aside - Novato should expand boundary lines to capture the property tax from households they already service with police and fire. For example: there's no reason the houses towards the of Center Street, going towards Stafford Lake, are in county jurisdiction. That's all County up there, why? This is one small example of how Novato City gov't is asleep at the wheel unless it's a developer asking for giveaways.

Edwin

I've wondered about that too. I tried doing a search to come up with a map that shows which parts of Novato remain unincorporated. It would be interesting to see if Novato was able to claim those areas as city property if it would increase our property tax base or simply add more infrastructure cost.

Congratulations Toni. I've heard loads of only wonderful things about you. Thank you for all you do.

Funny how this celebration will end up being a story of county tax issues. Since the county gets paid for property taxes that we have to service, and dumps the affordable, non tax paying affordable housing on us, a good investigative reporter would have a good story to run. Unfortunately, all the print reporters feed at the county trough, so it'll fall to Tina, Toni, Edwin, and Bob Ratto to do the real work.

Toni
Sorry so late in congratulating you! Your work on so many fronts is appreciated by many and your passion for causes you believe in is simply awe inspiring. You are a fantastic asset to Novato, and I would be most pleased if you would consider running for county supervisor, as your knowledge and common sense would prove to be a huge upgrade from the current malaise/myopia that exists. Keep up the good work, and please be careful out there!

Congratulations Toni. I have admired your energy and convicitons for a long time. Happy and healthy New Year to you and yours. Hope to see you on the tennis courts again. Enjoy your wonderful family and thank you for all you do. What an inspiration. Love, Joyce (Lakritz)

Toni, "THE BEST" Thank you from all of us who care.