The Community Foundation of Santa Clara County is very grateful to the late Frank Nelson for his generosity, which has recently created a $3.4 million charitable fund for the benefit of Saratoga and the region. These funds will significantly augment the charitable gifts made by the Nelson Foundation, which since the 1950s has contributed to worthy causes in Saratoga and the surrounding community. However, by way of response to Dr. Francis Stutzman's Oct. 30 ad, I would like to clarify some of the facts surrounding the recent sale of the Nelson property on Saratoga Hills Road and Frank Nelson's charitable wishes.
It is true that Frank Nelson, and the Nelson Foundation trustees he appointed before his death, originally thought the property on Saratoga Hills Road might be preserved as an orchard. However, despite Frank's best efforts, no buyer was ever willing to purchase the property to maintain it as an orchard or park. Frank finally came to the conclusion that the proceeds from developing the property would create a much more useful charitable resource for the community. As Frank clearly stated in a taped message to the Saratoga City Council in January, 1988: "It is my intention to sell the property to increase the Florence Nelson Foundation assets and thereby increase charitable contributions." He specifically did not want the property left vacant or held indefinitely in the unrealistic hope that it could be transformed into a "garden."
The Florence Nelson Foundation, which merged with the Community Foundation in 1994, carefully sought to carry out the wishes of their good friend Frank Nelson to turn his vacant lot into a charitable fund. There was an extensive and open public process, including public hearings and the opportunity for other interested parties to make an offer on the land. No other offers came forward. The land was then sold to the Trinity Development Company.
The dedication and perseverance of the Nelson Foundation trustees has created a $3.4 million charitable fund and more than $500,000 which will be used by the City of Saratoga for improvements to the many fine Saratoga parks. The Community Foundation is pleased to have a part in helping Frank Nelson realize his charitable vision.
Peter Hero
Executive Director,
Community Foundation
of Santa Clara County
Your page one story in the Dec. 18 issue begs for a more compassionate response to the current problem facing the Saratoga Post Office and Postmaster James.
In three instances in the last seven days, my mail has been delivered between 7:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. The mail has arrived while I was relaxing in a nice, warm home having just enjoyed a hot and satisfying dinner. My immediate thoughts were of compassion for a mail carrier working late into the night to provide me with daily mail service.
I am dismayed with the seemingly thoughtless response of Marcia Fariss, Marlene Duffin and other unnamed members of the Good Government Group. Ms. Fariss, having already discussed the situation with postmaster James, having been made aware of the short-staffing problem at the post office, realizing that the heaviest mail delivery time of the year is upon us, pressed on to the Saratoga News to perpetuate her "cause."
Only Pat Andreson showed compassion and also a good deal of class and tolerance in her response to the Saratoga News.
Birkin Holbrook
Glen Brae Drive
We shouldn't need a law to preserve our history, but the sad truth is that we do. Some people have more money than taste and to them an older home is just something to tear down and replace.
Older homes are a priceless, irreplaceable part of our heritage and when they're gone, or remodeled beyond recognition, then the community as a whole suffers.
Please, from someone who lives in a 100-year-old home in Monte Sereno, I'm begging the new City Council to do the right thing, not only for our future but for our past.
Lana Malloy
Monte Sereno
This article appeared in the Saratoga News, January 1, 1997.
©1997 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.