Short Takes Short Takes (October 27, 2004)

Planes, trains and automobiles

Despite intimations to the contrary in a certain daily newspaper, Atherton Councilman Bill Conwell reports that he did indeed soar through the skies over the Las Lomitas School District centennial celebration last week in one of his vintage airplanes with Rep. Anna Eshoo by his side.

The smoke circle he executed was a subtle plug for Atherton's parcel tax renewal, Measure O, he says, and the highlight was when Ms. Eshoo acquiesced to his request to do a roll on the way back to the airport.

"I'm not sure she'll recover," he cracked, adding with a mock long-suffering air: "The things I have to do for this town."

As for slightly less rarefied modes of transportation, for the next six months Atherton is offering free parking at its train station in an effort to boost ridership and give the town a stronger argument for increased service from Caltrain.

Owners go, cats stay

A couple of kitties, abandoned when their owner moved out of Woodside this summer, are now living the life of Riley with a real estate agent's family.

When the cats' plight was discovered, a neighbor began feeding them, and told a local real estate agent who was there to show the house. It took a few attempts, and at least one can of tuna, but both cats were eventually caught and relocated, and are living happily ever after, according to Almanac correspondent Kate Daly.

Power of the press?

Pam Bradley of Portola Valley's Spring Down Equestrian Center says the public response to fundraising efforts for Maximus, the late, beloved San Jose police horse, is thanks to the Almanac's Short Takes column for printing the story first. Over $23,000 was raised, enough to cover his medical bills from the attempts to save him, and to buy a new horse, she says.

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