Short Takes Short Takes (August 24, 2005)

Local politicians are all wet

Looking for a socially acceptable way to give your local politico a piece of your mind?

Among the special exhibits at this Saturday's Victorian Days event is a dunk tank. For a mere $3 a ball, you can take aim at politicians, such as state Assemblyman Ira Ruskin, Redwood City Mayor Jeff Ira, and former county supervisor Mike Nevin, who is currently a member of Caltrain's Joint Powers Board.

Victorian Days is held at the San Mateo County History Museum, located at the old courthouse, 777 Hamilton St. in Redwood City, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on August 27. Politicians will be available for dunking from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is free. Call 299-0104 for information.
Baby, you can drive your car

Do you know what's depressing? Finding out exactly how much your commute is costing you. Thanks to a new "commute calculator" feature on Caltrain.com or Samtrans.org, drivers can plug in gas prices, their vehicles' mileage and the length of their commutes to find out exactly how much they spend every month driving to work.

The calculator offers the monthly cost of train and bus passes for comparison. Transit officials are hoping that the bad news is enough to drive people out of their cars.
Woodside's autism training heats up

Woodside fire Chief Mike Fuge, recently returned from the International Fire Chiefs Association's annual convention in Denver, said the fire district's delegation had great success in presenting its program, "When Words Are Not Enough."

The program teaches firefighters to use basic sign language and a booklet of symbols to communicate with autistic and other people with language-limiting disabilities. Everyone he talked to could think of times when the program would have been helpful, he said.

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