Atherton mayor plans to leave council
Atherton Mayor Alan Carlson told the Almanac Thursday that he will be leaving town in the midst of his third term on the City Council. His four-year term ends in November 2010.
There’s been a good deal of speculation among council watchers ever since Mr. Carlson put his home up for sale at the beginning of September.
“My wife and I have sold our house, and we’re going to be leaving town at some point,” he said. “I do have plans to leave Atherton in the future, but not in the near future. I have some time.”
Mr. Carlson said he did not yet have a moving date, and he declined to say where he and his wife would relocate. He did say that he was not retiring.
Mr. Carlson is an employment attorney with Littler & Mendelson in San Jose, and he has served on the City Council longer than any of the current members.
Free lead tests for toys
Cheeky Monkey Toys in Menlo Park is offering free lead testing, so people can bring in toys to determine if they are contaminated with lead.
The Santa Cruz Avenue toy store is renting an X-ray fluorescence machine that checks for lead on the surface of toys, said owner Dexter Chow.
People can bring up to five toys from home to the store, located at 640 Santa Cruz Ave., on two dates: Sunday, Nov. 18, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; and Tuesday, Nov. 20, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
All purchases made at Cheeky Monkey Toys will also be checked for lead, Mr. Chow said.
People can also make an appointment to test toys for lead anytime before Dec. 3, although they will be charged a fee, Mr. Chow said.
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