Short Takes Short Takes (December 29, 2004)

The gift of giving

The generous spirit inspired by the holidays can wear off pretty quickly when the credit card bills start arriving in January. To that end, we've taken the time to check the state's unclaimed property Web site (https://scoweb.sco.ca.gov) for surprise windfalls awaiting local residents.

The Web site has a searchable database for money turned over to the state by companies that could not locate the money's rightful owners.

Steve Jobs, who plans to live in Woodside, is owed $37.91 from Apple Computer Inc. and two checks totaling $35.75 from IBM. (Hint to Apple Computer: next time, try sending the check to the CEO's office).

Baseball star Willie Mays has $172 coming to him from Security Pacific national bank and $70 in gift certificates from Gump's.

Southland Corp. owes Atherton Mayor Bill Conwell $54.59 and Escrow Control Co. owes Woodside Councilman Pete Sinclair $100.

Pacific Bell owes $34.51 to musician Neil Young, who lives in Skylonda, and Oracle CEO Larry Ellison is owed $51.43 by Zurich US-Maryland.

Wells Fargo Bank apparently gave up on trying to give $62.78 to David E. Kelley, who lives in Woodside with his wife, actress Michelle Pfeiffer, and their children. The Los Angeles Times failed to track down Woodside resident Tom Siebel's company, Siebel Systems, and hand over a check for $250.
The horsey set

Woodside Mayor Paul Goeld, who once confessed that he'd never ridden a horse that wasn't coin-operated, has apparently been converted. Ever since the Woodside Town Council held a special meeting on horseback in August to check out some of the town's new trails, he's been riding regularly.

In tribute to his new-found affinity for all things equestrian, Town Manager Susan George lassoed every horse-related metaphor in the English language in drafting a proclamation in honor of Mr. Goeld's service as mayor in 2004.

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