Short Takes Short Takes (September 08, 2004)

Special-delivery heroes

Ed Kennedy didn't know what to expect when a big red fire truck pulled up at his Atherton home one recent evening. So he was utterly amazed when a couple of firefighters walked up to his door to make a special delivery: a package they had found on the side of U.S. 101 near the scene of an accident they had just responded to.

It was a package "with important business materials" that Mr. Kennedy had dropped off at a UPS store the week before to be shipped to Virginia -- and that had apparently taken a tumble from a delivery vehicle.

"Two of your guys had the interest and took the time to get this important, but somewhat beat-up document off the highway and returned to its sender -- me!" he wrote in a thank-you letter to Menlo Park Fire Protection District Chief Paul Wilson. "Great guys -- doing much more than just their jobs! We were very impressed with them ..." he added.

Chief Wilson credited Capt. Mike Sweeney and firefighters John Quadt and Greg Neel for the "beyond the call of duty" delivery that likely saved Mr. Kennedy from future headaches. Perhaps UPS could learn a few things from those guys ...

A tribute to Tom

To honor the late Tom Harrison's contributions to the city of Menlo Park, Mayor Lee Duboc wants to name a city building after the former Parks and Recreation Commissioner.

"Menlo Park is a better city for Tom's active involvement," she wrote in a recent e-mail, also citing his work as a substitute teacher and athletic coach.

While Ms. Duboc said she'd like the remodeled Burgess Pool at the Civic Center to be named after Mr. Harrison, she said she was open to other ideas from the community. The council will discuss the matter September 14.

Mr. Harrison, who died in February at the age of 64 after an illness, also worked hard on the successful 2001 campaign to pass Measure T. The $38 million bond measure is fueling myriad parks improvements, including the Burgess Pool project.

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