TRANSFORMATIONS: Rancho de la Yedra at Pierce Road and Sarahills Drive is a microcosm of the evolution of Saratoga itself, representing several different phases of the city's history.
The ranch was first settled in the 1880s as a 50-acre private retreat, with an emphasis on horseback riding.
What with lush grounds, cottages and stables, and Calabazas Creek winding through it, it offered quite an oasis. But in the '20s the main house burned down. Then in '38, famed San Francisco architect T. L. Pflueger built a summer residence on the property for the St. John Whitney family.
Thad and Midge Binkley bought it in '43 and turned it into Binkley's Prune and Apricot Ranch. Present owner Bob Binkley grew up there. As a high school student he oversaw the fruit-drying operation. Hundreds of other Los Gatos High students worked there as well.
Today Rancho de la Yedra is being transformed by Linda and Bob Binkley into Sara Vineyards. Nine acres remain of the original parcel. In the '60s, part of the land was sold to form Sarahills Development. Besides marketing wine, the Binkleys are intent on restoring the house and grounds to their former glory.
They are refurnishing the '30s craftsman house as authentically as possible. Linda describes the house as "gracious, but in a wood and leather and lodge-like way." Workmen have praised the wood finishing inside and out.
The Binkleys have been able to reclaim articles that were in the house years ago. If anyone else has any artifacts from the property, they'd appreciate a call at 408.867.7050. In particular, they are looking for the old wooden apricot and prune crates stamped with Saratoga and the Binkley name.
Bob took over his father's civil-engineering firm, too, and now his daughter Elizabeth, also a Stanford civil engineer, is vice president of that operation. Thus, Bob can devote more time to the renovation project and Rancho de la Yedra's latest incarnation.
NEW APPOINTMENT: Saratogan Nancy Howe has been named the new community librarian for Morgan Hill, a position she has held in an acting capacity since March. Howe graduated from the UCLA School of Library and Information Science and has been a public librarian for 15 years in the county library system.
At Saratoga Library she managed teen and adult departments and coordinated staff development, bookmobile and outreach services, as well as the webpage for the county library. Earlier, at United Way, she oversaw the planning, fund distribution and community services department.
CHIP OFF OLD BLOCK: Natalie Sweet is a police investigator for the West Valley/Mission College district police. Her daughter Monica is a full-time student at San Francisco State, majoring in cinema. But one of Monica's acting jobs this year mimicked her mother's job.
Monica appeared on the Discovery Channel show "New Detectives," which aired in January but was reshown this summer. In the show, Monica played the girlfriend who blew the whistle on her boyfriend, who was accused and convicted of three random Santa Cruz killings of 20 years ago.
One of the film's consultants, who knew the woman Monica was playing, was amazed at the similarity of the two. The scene was filmed in Virginia (Discovery Channel's home) and Santa Cruz. Assuming center stage is nothing new for Monica: she's been publicly entertaining since she was 7.
At that age she climbed up on stage, unannounced, and began singing and dancing—and kept at it until 1 a.m. To maintain better hours for her daughter, mother Natalie directed the budding thespian to children's theater and school roles, which Monica embraced with gusto.
Monica has an agent, and her most recent screen appearance this year has been for Youthful Essence, a Susan Lucci cosmetic.
BRASS QUINTET: San Jose Brass Quintet will perform Sept. 14 at 2:30 p.m. at Los Gatos High, sponsored by the LGSaratoga Community Concert Association. The quintet's wide repertoire ranges from baroque to Dixieland. Tickets. For information, call Ray Strong at 408.377.1106.
Newly elected CCA board members are James Tobias, president; Lea Frey and Diana Pleasant, vice presidents; Ray Aylesworth, 2nd vice president; Jean Nelson, 3rd v.p.; Joan Schwimmer, secretary; and Bill Frey, treasurer. Board newcomer Saul Miano was welcomed.
ENERGY ISSUES: Jane Turnbull, state league energy committee chair, will address the state's energy agenda on Sept. 17 at a dinner meeting at La
Hacienda Restaurant, sponsored by the League of Women Voters. No-host bar at6:30, dinner at 7, speaker at 8. For tickets at $26 each send check to Dale Hill, 150 Robin Way, LG, 95032.
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By Mary Ann Cook