Short Takes Short Takes (May 19, 2004)

Truth in advertising

Spotted on the sign listing gas prices at the Shell gas station on El Camino Real at Glenwood Avenue in Menlo Park over the weekend -- Regular: $2.33 9/10; Plus: Arm 9/10; Premium: Leg 9/10.

Teeny-tiny TV stars

Fraternal twins Kendall Oliver and Michael Desmond Hook won't have to embarrass themselves on a reality TV show in order to get their 15 minutes of fame. The twins, the sons of John and Gina Hook, were televised minutes after their birth on May 11 on station KSAZ in Phoenix where their daddy is the evening news anchor.

Everyone is doing fine, report proud grandparents Betty and Oliver Hook of Sharon Heights.

Being on TV runs in the family -- mom, a former Miss America contestant, is also a television personality, appearing nationally in commercials and as a program host.

John Hook grew up in Menlo Park and graduated from Woodside High School in 1978. He's won six Emmys in the Rocky Mountain region for his Fox Network news program.

Little-known Swedish words

Being pro-horse in Woodside is tantamount to liking baseball, motherhood and apple pie. Being pro-bicycle, on the other hand ... let's say it's a less popular position to hold, especially when it comes to getting a seat on the town's Planning Commission. Woodside Bicycle Committee member Rick Anderson, who recently applied for a seat on the Planning Commission, adroitly sidestepped a query from the council on his support for equestrians by saying, "My last name is Anderson, which is, of course, Swedish for horse."

Town Council members dissolved into laughter. The previous successful candidate for the Planning Commission, Yvette Mah, told the council that she was a horse person because her last name means horse in Chinese. The strategy worked well for Mr. Anderson, who was appointed on a unanimous vote May 11.

Edited by Andrea Gemmet. Send ideas for items to agemmet@almanacnews.com.

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