One important factor is the extent to which residents are concerned about the quality of living for the community at large. A town whose inhabitants are content simply to live within their own four walls, confining communications and activities mainly within their neighborhoods, is likely to be regarded as just an oversized subdivision, a housing development and nothing else.

But when the residents can broaden their interests to encompass cultural and artistic activities that benefit the community at large, and beyond, then there is the kind of identity that leads to genuine civic pride, something indeed to be cherished.

I like to think of Saratoga as being that kind of place, where creativity, if you will, runs loose, and we all reap the rewards. Here are a couple of examples. First is the effort led by Jill Hunter. Jill is a member and former chairwoman of the Saratoga Planning Commission, but she is emphatic in declaring that this civic connection has nothing to do with the Village Gardeners, a.k.a. the Gardening Guerrillas, which she heads in going out every Tuesday morning to care for the ornamental street plantings. As Jill puts it, they are "slowly making the Village the charming place it should be."

The work is all voluntary; supplies depend on donations--there has been a $100 contribution already--and Jill says the group could use contributions of some large pots, flowers and soil. Also, there is one couple that sends their home gardener to work on the Village project, and more such help would be welcome.

Then there is the issue of the North Campus, which has been getting considerable ink lately as a vexing issue for the city. This, too, has drawn considerable citizen input, mainly from the Citizens Committee to Save the North Campus, headed by John F. "Jack" Mallory. (I like the combination of Jack and Jill.

In talking about them as city activists, one could even work in the hill as an obstruction to be surmounted.) As a former city councilman, who served from 1980 to 1984, Jack is an old hand in dealing with local issues. He's also on the board of the Saratoga Historical Foundation.

For the benefit of those who may have arrived recently from another planet, the North Campus is the former Grace Methodist Church property on Prospect Road. It consists of four buildings, on 2.6 acres, and the city of Saratoga purchased it for $4.5 million in 2002. It has become a center of debate in view of the city's serious financial situation.

There seems to be no question that the North Campus is a valuable city asset. One building is already in use as a meeting hall, which generates some rental revenue. Discussion so far seems to center on the property's potential as a senior center, which is a needed municipal facility. The current senior facility at the civic center could use some expansion and improvement.

The North Campus location has been the topic of some discussion. Being located on the city border, it doesn't have the centrality of the Fruitvale Avenue Civic Center.

It can be argued, though, that the population in the northern part of the city is entitled to a civic installation, too. There is also the suggestion that if the Fruitvale Avenue facilities were enlarged to meet the need, such expansion might very well endanger the Heritage Orchard. I say, perish the thought!

So the North Campus controversy, if it can be called that, centers on the city's need for money. But for that rather critical issue, the matter of selling the property never would have come up.

So, if the city can't afford to keep it, who can? That's where the general public comes in. As Jack Mallory put it, "We saved Hakone Gardens, we saved the Heritage Orchard, and we can save this."

That would put it in the area of public fundraising, tax-deductible donations, the whole bit. It's been done before, and we've seen some examples, including the Performing Arts and Lecture Center (Saratoga's Acropolis). Isn't it time for another go at it?