Short Takes Short Takes (December 21, 2005)

Thanks a million

The town of Woodside got an unexpected windfall of $1.1 million, thanks to the efforts of Portola Valley Town Attorney Sandy Sloan.

Ms. Sloan discovered that four San Mateo County towns, including Woodside and Portola Valley, weren't getting their full share of property tax revenues from the county.

The cool million was the money owed for the past two years, plus interest. Woodside expects to see an extra $500,000 a year flow into its coffers as a result.

Last week, an appreciative Woodside Town Council said a thank-you letter needed to be sent to Portola Valley officials.

"We've already sent flowers to their town attorney," said Susan George, Woodside's town manager.
Signs of the solstice

A ceremony celebrating the shortest day of the year is set for 4 to 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, December 21, at Bayfront Park in Menlo Park.

Menlo Park resident William Russ would like to remind everyone that the winter solstice on December 21 isn't any shorter than any other day; it's got the full 24 hours. But its daylight is of the shortest duration -- only nine hours and 33 minutes of it.

Local environmental group Acterra is cosponsoring the free Bayfront Park event so the community can "connect with the rhythms of the Earth and build our visions of the future."

Participants are invited to place a natural object in a reed spirit boat to symbolically free themselves of fear, anger and other psychological baggage; the boat will then be launched into the bay.

Bayfront Park is located at the corner of Marsh Road and Bayfront Expressway. Park on the right next to the pond, and gather on the top of the first hill.

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