Short Takes Short Takes (December 17, 2003)

Bring on the bingo

They show up in crowds, arriving early to nab their lucky seats, and talking is strictly taboo during the games. What inspires such devotion? Bingo. And it's coming to Little House.

The growing popularity of the game is why, starting January 7, the Menlo Park activity center will be holding Wednesday bingo nights with $250 jackpots.

Intended as fundraisers for Little House, the 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. events could attract 180 people or more of all ages, director Janice Pierce said. She said the scheduling was designed to avoid competition; as far as she knows, no other big bingo games are held in the area on Wednesdays.

For information, call Little House at 326-2025.

Keep the volunteers happy

Woodside's annual volunteer reception, which wines and dines the hard-working volunteer members of the town's various advisory committees, commissions and boards, is generally a good-humored affair. And that's a good thing, as this year's token of appreciation was a Leatherman-style multipurpose tool, complete with blade. Councilman Dave Tanner jokingly questioned the wisdom of crowding a bunch of people into Independence Hall, plying them with alcohol, and then handing them weapons.

History mystery

Atherton resident Tom Croft has a conundrum that he hopes Almanac readers can help him solve. He's trying to discover the provenance of a black wooden sign, about 7 feet long and 2 feet high, emblazoned with the words "Virgil McGee's" in fancy gold script.

Mr. Croft's Mouton Drive home was built between 1945 and 1947, and constructed largely of materials from nearby houses -- even whole rooms, he says, but he thinks the sign that came with the house predates World War II. The home's original owners and their children have passed away, and their grandchildren don't know anything about the sign, he says.

Anyone in the know may call Short Takes editor Andrea Gemmet at 854-2626 to be put in touch with Mr. Croft.

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