Short Takes Short Takes (August 04, 2004)

Maximus! Maximus! Maximus!

He was one sick horse when he arrived at Peninsula Equine Group, but Maximus, a member of the San Jose Police Department's mounted unit, is on the mend. A half-dozen officers visited Max last week at Peninsula Equine, located near Portola Valley, where he is recuperating from life-threatening intestinal problems.

"If you could see this horse, you'd know why we're doing what we can," says Sgt. Greg Trapp.

A burly Belgian draft horse, Maximus is as sweet as he is big, Sgt. Trapp says.

The cash-strapped unit is fundraising to help pay Maximus' medical bill. Even with a hefty 40-percent discount, it's about $10,000, Sgt Trapp says.

"To us, he's priceless," says Sgt. Trapp. "We're really fortunate that Peninsula Equine decided they were going to save him, no matter what, but we want to help reimburse them for the costs they're out. "

Call Sgt. Trapp at (408) 277-5472 or send a tax-deductible donation to San Jose Police Mounted Unit Gift Trust, 2525 Kenoga Drive, San Jose, CA 95121.

Where's Charles Marsala?

The Atherton councilman reports that he has a cameo in a newspaper photo of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger enjoying birthday cake last week at the League of Cities shindig in Monterey.

The Governator flew into the meeting, the league's Mayors and Council Members Executive Forum, to announce the compromise deal on the state budget. Forum members were working with the governor on one aspect of the deal -- an initiative to amend the state constitution to protect local government funding from raids by the state.

Gov. Schwarzenegger delivered an impromptu speech, Mr. Marsala says, and was presented with a cake. A newspaper photo caught the governor pressing a piece of cake into the league president's face, he says.

"Most photos have my face in the bottom left corner," Mr. Marsala says. "It's kind of like, 'Where's Waldo?'"

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