Preservationist: Jill Hunter
New commissioner Jill Hunter wants a 'heritage tree society'
By Kara Chalmers
A strong advocate for saving the eucalyptus trees on the Saratoga School campus was sworn in as the city's new heritage preservation commissioner on April 19, at the City Council meeting.
Jill Hunter, 57, who in 1998 resigned from the Saratoga Unified School District after 10 years as a board member, will attend her first commission meeting as a commissioner in May. She is replacing Larry Fine, who resigned in March after 10 years on the commission.
Hunter resigned from the school district when the board voted to remove 10 eucalyptus trees as part of Saratoga School's renovation plan. The tree removal included two trees on the playground that Hunter and others consider historic
Months of debate preceded the school board's vote, after an architect's preliminary plan for the school included removing the two 76-year-old trees, citing safety reasons such as falling branches. In addition to safety, if the trees stayed, the school could not have a level playing field, according to the architect's plans.
The issue is heated once more, because the SUSD arborist, Deborah Ellis, will decide on May 1 which of the two playground trees to remove. In April 1999, after Hunter's resignation, the district voted to keep the two trees until May 2000, when Ellis would recommend the removal of the less healthy of the two trees. Hunter would like to see both trees left standing.
Hunter said that one of her priorities on the commission is to start a "heritage tree society." She said she would like to spearhead an effort to list any tree in the city that is 100 years or older, so that on each Arbor Day, one of the tree would be celebrated.
"During that time we would recognize one tree from the heritage list and celebrate the tree in some fashion," she said, suggesting a picnic under the tree as one idea.
Hunter, who has lived in Saratoga for 19 years, grew up in Westchester County, N.Y.
"Because I'm from the East Coast, where communities are preserved, I feel I have some good ideas of ways we can encourage people to preserve their old homes," Hunter said. She said in Ridgewood, New Jersey, where she lived, people celebrate the history of the town and honor the town's founders.
"We should really celebrate Big Basin Way, because it's one of the few historical areas left," she said. She suggests celebrating a day like Founders' Day. "There are still many of the old families in town," she added.
She said she also thinks it is important for school children to have a sense of the history of their community, be shown the old buildings and given tours of Saratoga's historical museum.
"In order to understand the future, you have to understand your past," Hunter said, adding that she would like to help Saratoga celebrate its past better and more often. "It helps you to have a better future."
She said that some of the things she would like to institute as a commissioner are placing optional plaques on older homes and buildings that people have tried to preserve and that would tell the structure's history. She also suggests more historical walks in the city.
Hunter noted that when she lived in New Jersey, the first thing someone did, when she moved in, was to bring her a book on the history of the town. She would like to do the same thing here in Saratoga.
About 30 years ago, Hunter's husband's business brought the family to the West Coast. They lived in Glendale in Southern California for 11 years before settling in Saratoga.
A teacher by profession, Hunter worked in Massachusetts in the 1960s, when her children were young. The youngest of her four sons just started at Santa Clara University. They all went to Saratoga schools
"The reason I wanted to be on the heritage commission was because I care very much for the heritage of this community," she said. "What I believe in is maintaining the quality of the old homes in the area and recognizing those people who keep their beautiful old homes in good condition."
During her 10 years on the school board, Hunter said she learned a lot about architecture and the maintenance of buildings, and will bring that knowledge to the commission.
"I'm looking forward to serving," she said. "I feel very strongly that you should serve your community in some fashion."
Heritage Preservation Commissioners Willys Peck, Norman Koepernick and Carolyn King were reappointed to the commission at the council meeting on April 19.
Saratoga, California Since 1955
