Virginia is perched on a fence post next to the 76 gas station on Los Gatos Boulevard, near the Lark Avenue intersection. She's something of a landmark for the northern entrance to town.

Virginia is always in keeping with the season, so I very much hesitate to call her a dummy. She is currently wearing a blue baseball cap and a T-shirt emblazoned with the American flag. Her wardrobe is generally courtesy of Goodwill and, yes, she wears a wig.

Her owner/manager says he often takes her to family parties when his wife is out of town. He found Virginia in a dumpster and she took his fancy. And why is she named Virginia? She just looked like a Virginia, is the reply.

NAME DROPPING: Robert and Carol Wallace of Monte Sereno had lunch recently with Thomas and Nannette Kincaid and Pat and Debbie Boone, all of whom are personal friends. How's that for a gaggle of name dropping? Wallace is the financier who made artist Thomas Kincaid's galleries a nationwide retail establishment.

Did meeting all these folks light up Debbie Boone's life? I wondered. Since that time, Robert Wallace has left for New York to set up an office there, and Carol Wallace is marching on the campaign trail for the Republicans.

STANFORD RESIDENCY: Dr. Kjell Hult recently began his three-year residency at Stanford after interning at Huntington Hospital in Pasadena. Hult graduated from the UC-Davis School of Medicine in '01, earned honors at UCLA, graduating in biochemistry, and is a member of the LGHS class of '91.

He lives in Menlo Park with his wife, Katie, and their infant son, Chase. His parents are Bill and Vicci Hult of Los Gatos and grandparents are Al and Helen Grundmeier.

SOME LIKE IT HAUTE: The Junior League's Some Like it Haute Fashion Show fundraiser will be held Oct. 10 and 11 at the San Jose Fairmont. Models from Los Gatos are Amy Borgese, DebRenee Cooley, Karyn Gramling Denise Lukas, Robin Pendergraft and Tina Wood; and Pam Killion of Monte Sereno.

Male models include Paul Lukas of Los Gatos and Richard Brossart of Monte Sereno. Teen models are Josh Bays, Briana Bowen, Christy Cooley, Winston Duggan, Laura Garnett, Stephen Krach and Natasha Nanda, all of Los Gatos.

In addition, there's Kara and Vanessa Driscoll, Christina Graham and Steve Killion of Monte Sereno. Child models are Christian Gramling, Anjuli Nanda, Carina Lukas and Hunter and Randall Riedel of Los Gatos; plus Erika Driscoll and B.J. Graham of Monte Sereno.

SOLID SALE: The recent Friends of the Los Gatos Public Library book sale netted $1,776, a probable record, Funds will be used for library enhancements, children's activities, summer programs, librarian wish lists, and so on. Friends' focus at the moment is helping to promote and encourage the community to get solidly behind building a new library.

Library usage has doubled in the last few years, primarily the result of the lifting of the nonresident fee. The summer reading program for youngsters drew 1,240, a 6 percent increase over last year. So popular are children's programs throughout the year that the numbers have to be limited—or the programs held at the neighborhood center.

ART DOCENT BOARD: The Art Docents of Los Gatos' elected board officers are Alice Lopes and Zo Re, co-presidents; Brenda Slootman, vice president, programs; Nancy Defever, vice president, membership; Elaine Cardinale, vice president, fundraising; Kate Paisley, treasurer; and Sally Reagan, secretary. Others are Mary Ann Fasano, parliamentarian; and Carol Martin.

Appointed board members are Barbara Alioto, Barney Davidge, Stacy Hopkins, Amy Konsterlie, Christine Nichols, Mary Ann Park, Ann Katherine Walton and Terri and Bart Raynaud.

DIABETES STYMIED: Dr. Mike Nichols of the Tempus Clinic in Los Gatos prescribed a monitored, one-year program of diet and exercise for patient Jimmy Lee, 42, who had been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and was 60 pounds overweight.

Following the program, Lee says he feels healthier than when he was in high school and now has no symptoms of type 2 diabetes.

Nichols specializes in offsetting diabetic symptoms, reversing the effects of osteoporosis and helping the obese lose weight without drugs. Nichols' program is one of monitored exercise and nutrition. It's not easy—unfailing commitment is required—but the weight loss and the disappearance of symptoms speak for themselves.

ARTS AWARD NOMINEES: Marian Gault of Monte Sereno, president of the Alliance of Visual Artists, and Lynda Evjen of Los Gatos, CEO of the Buzzbee Group, have both been nominated for an ABBY, an award given by Arts Council Silicon Valley to individuals and businesses that are supporters of the arts in this area.

Got a tip? My email is maryanncook@earthlink.net.