Short Takes Short Takes (July 07, 2004)

Celebrating in style

First there was the June 17 party with more than 350 friends and business associates celebrating the 50th anniversary of Flegels Fine Furnishings in downtown Menlo Park. Five days later, while Mark and Anne Flegel were watching the San Francisco Giants defeat the L.A. Dodgers at SBC Park, the scoreboard flashed "Happy 50th anniversary, Flegels" and "Congratulations Mark Flegel" at the end of the fourth inning.

It was a complete surprise to Mr. Flegel, although his wife, Anne, was in on the deed.

Chivalry is not dead

Thank-yous are in order for the Good Samaritans who kindly offered to assist a damsel-in-distress reporter with a flat tire on Marsh Road in Menlo Park on June 29.

In the space of about 15 minutes, three men stopped to help. Kind of inflates your faith in mankind, doesn't it?

Woodside barn-raising

What's a farmhouse without a barn? Following the successful campaign to restore the old Mathisen farmhouse, which is now the Woodside Community Museum, Woodside History Committee members have set their sights on the old Mathisen barns.

The town was set to demolish the tumble-down structures, but the Town Council gave them a 90-day reprieve so preservationists can see whether at least one of the barns can be salvaged. If it's feasible, committee members will have to raise the money to do the work.

Councilman and equestrian Joe Putnam said he'd like to see horses in the old barn again.

Councilwoman Carroll Ann Hodges may have given the fundraising a head start when she teasingly told Mr. Putnam that, in that case, he should offer to put up some money for the project.

"I have. I did," Mr. Putnam replied.

"Good," she said.

"Is that in the (meeting) minutes?" she asked the town clerk.

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