By Nikki Silverstein
Hero: The Marin County Free Library (MCFL) just received a donation of $661,419, its largest single donation ever. Yowza. That’ll buy a bundle of books. Altruists John E. and Jan Zimmer, who lived in Mill Valley, specified that the money go to the Corte Madera Library, which is run by the MCFL. But, that’s not all. The Mill Valley and Larkspur libraries, operated by their respective cities, also received gifts of $661,419 from the Zimmer’s trust. John, a U.S. Army and National Guard veteran, died last year. Jan, a commercial artist, died in 2011. Family and friends described the generous couple as fans of libraries and said John learned how to use a computer at the library while in his 70s and found inspirations for the couple’s world travels.
Zero: Anyone who’s lost a family pet knows how devastating it feels. After a young man’s elderly dog died last week at the Pet Emergency and Specialty Center of Marin on East Francisco Boulevard, he allegedly threatened to kill the staff at the clinic. According to San Rafael police, Winston Eric Searles, 21, of Mill Valley, then left the location and an officer who responded to the call from employees found him still in the neighborhood. He made admissions to the police, and the District Attorney has now charged him with making criminal threats, a felony. At 21, he knows better and deserves punishment for his alleged Zero behavior; however, we hope that the court takes into account his age and the distress he felt under the circumstances.
