Short Takes Short Takes (August 17, 2005)

One man's trash ...

The San Mateo County History Museum is looking for a few strange knickknacks for an upcoming permanent exhibition on "Entrepreneurs Who Changed the World."

So, if anyone's garage is harboring old Ampex tape reels, Electronic Arts games, empty insulin bottles or vintage credit cards, contact Stephen Sutley at 299-0104.
Drivers slowing for motorcycle patrols

Last spring, using grant money provided by the state, the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office added two motorcycle patrols to a Woodside and Portola Valley traffic patrol group that had been cars-only.

Since then, the number of speeding citations in the two towns has gone up significantly and vehicle speeds on the roads are dropping, says Lt. Ken Jones of the Sheriff's Office.

"People are more on watch now because they know that motorcycles are not as visible as the (patrol) cars," he said.
Everything old is new again

Walk past the refreshment stand in the lobby of the recently re-renovated Stanford movie theater at 221 University Ave. in Palo Alto, and a look to the right will reveal a new room. It's part of an expansion set to eventually open to a larger space in the adjoining building. The theater was closed for most of the summer while work was being done.

The expansion will include new restrooms and space for film memorabilia, said manager Cyndi Mortensen. A grand opening celebration is planned for October.

The lobby has been repainted with a "warm gold color" with a border design of gold leaf and teal and new chandeliers above, to bring the space closer to its original 1925 look, said Ms. Mortensen.

A longtime Stanford theater-goer on the scene reported that, after taking a good look around, it looked pretty much the same as it always had.

For information on upcoming films, go to www.stanfordtheatre.org.

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