Saratoga News Saratoga Sampler Mary Ann Cook These garden digs churn up bits of history GARDEN FINDS: These local gardeners are making scientific news both above and below ground. The garden of Saratogans Doug and Nancy Anderson has been yielding some amazing artifacts through the years. When Doug dug (sorry) up some dirt some 18 inches deep in order to plant a tree sometime back, he found a circle of blackened stones. Although he's no anthropologist (his wife has the anthropology degree), he was astute enough to realize he may have just unearthed an Indian fire ring. Sure enough, a San Jose State University anthropologist was called in and verified that it was a bona fide fire setting. The ring was about two feet in diameter composed of eight or nine stones. The Andersons live near a creek, a typical Indian setting. Though Nancy has an anthropology degree, her grad work was in social services, and that's where her career was. Before going back to school she had tutored migrant children and mothers housed on Saratoga ranches. The Andersons retired 10 years ago--he from Lockheed, she from the county Department of Social Services. And gardening took more prominence in their lives. When Nancy spotted a request for beige flowers over the Internet, she answered the call. Virginia Walbot, professor of biological sciences at Stanford, is doing genetic research and Nancy invited her over to view her beige dahlia, "Cafe au Lait." The professor examined its petals under a microscope at the Andersons' and pronounced it valuable to her research. Since Nancy is a newly appointed Saratoga Heritage Preservation commissioner, she was glad to furnish a different kind of heritage information. She intends to report to the commission on the fire ring, too, which has since been covered up. Until now, the Andersons thought only innumerable birds and four raccoons thoroughly appreciated their garden. Now they've got the scientific community alerted to their bounty. HUMANITARIAN AWARD: Pat and Jim Compton of Saratoga are the regional recipients of a Humanitarian Award to be presented at an awards dinner at Hidden Villa Ranch in Los Altos Hills on Sept. 19. The awards honor Hidden Villa founders Josephine and Frank Duveneck, who were dedicated to "respect for human diversity and protection of the natural environment." Pat is a member of Hidden Villa's Sustainable Building Committee, and Jim heads his family foundation, upholding principles the Duvenecks embodied. Both Comptons are active on Montalvo's board; he was its president for six years and president of the San Jose Museum of Art for three. Jim was one of the first to chair the National Conference of Christians and Jews and is vice chairman of Kids in Common. Pat is active in arts and education causes and is the author of the Terrible Eek, an award-winning children's book based on a Japanese folk tale. She is a member of the boards of the Peninsula Open Space Trust and Planned Parenthood. Pat has a new job: executive director of the Silicon Valley chapter of the Commonwealth Club. Also honored at the dinner will be comedian Michael Pritchard and Superior Court Judge LaDoris Cordell. Both are strong advocates for children. An exhibit by local artists will precede the dinner. Award presenters are Becky Morgan, CEO of Joint Venture Silicon Valley Network, and Jim Morgan, CEO of Applied Materials, along with photographer Carolyn Caddes. "Listening to One Another and Listening to the Earth" is the motto of Hidden Villa, a 1,600-acre educational farm and wilderness preserve. CUM LAUDE: Patsy and Paul Rossetti witnessed the graduation of their granddaughter Christina Bell from Emory University in Atlanta this summer. Christina graduated with highest honors--Phi Beta Kappa, summa cum laude. She's the daughter of Paulise and Richard Bell and Paulise is a '69 grad of Saratoga High. Christina, a redhead, was a model for TV commercials such as Oreo cookie ice cream at age 6, spotted by an agency representative, so is evidently accustomed to the limelight. While in that part of the U.S., the Rossettis toured Savannah, Charleston and the Carolinas. Patsy is active in the Montalvo Service Group and Paul is a Realtor with National Funding in San Jose. SMALLEST? Is the Saratoga Tennis Club one of the smallest in the world? Maybe so. It was reportedly built by Villa Montalvo's James Phelan so that famed California champion Alice Marble would have a place to practice while on the Peninsula. There are three courts and they are tucked away just off Oak Street. BOOK SALES BRISK: This summer's unprecedented heat hasn't wilted sales at the Book-Go-Round. The used-book shop on Oak Street just off Highway 9 is run by volunteers of the Friends of the Saratoga Library. Book-Go-Round hours are noon to 5 daily. Money made by the bookshop is used to purchase materials and services for the library. There's a good selection of Asian children's books, reports Mary Jeanne Fenn, who is chief honcho. [ Back to Contents Page | Saratoga News Home Page | Archives ] This article appeared in the Saratoga News, August 26, 1998. ©1998 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.