Reporters’ notebook

San Mateo’s City Clerk’s Office is organizing a care package drive and encourages the community to donate needed treats to fill the boxes. The following items are appreciated: deodorant sticks, sunscreen, socks – athletic and boot, T-shirts, bestseller books, baby wipes, laundry pods and dryer sheets, protein bars, jerky, dried fruit snacks, nuts and recently released DVDs. Each box will also contain an extra special gesture of appreciation — hand-written letters addressed to each soldier. Put your pen to paper to let our troop know that someone in San Mateo is thinking of them.

Drop off donated items to the City Clerk’s Office at San Mateo City Hall, 330 W. 20th Ave. by Friday, April 14. If you have questions or have ideas about how your organization can help contact Joan Diskin in the Clerk’s Office by calling (650) 522-7044 or emailing diskin@cityofsanmateo.org

***

In front of an enthusiastic crowd of 200 guests at the Rotary Club of Half Moon Bay’s annual fundraiser Magic of the Coastside, Mike Serdy was recognized as the 2017 recipient of the Service Above Self Award from the Rotary Club of Half Moon Bay’s annual fundraiser Magic of the Coastside, attended by 200 people. He received the top honor and was recognized along with his fellow finalists Duane Myers, Pat and Marc Strohlein and Barbara Von Glahn for their outstanding volunteer contributions to the coastside. This is the sixth year for this award. The Rotary Club of Half Moon Bay started this tradition to honor the Rotary ideal of Service Above Self, and actively seeks nominations from the local nonprofit community at large.

***

The Redwood City-based Kainos dance team received a gold medal for Team Dance at the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Graz, Austria. Comprised of six Kainos residents and five community volunteers, the team placed first in a team dance competition and performed in the closing ceremonies to conclude the games on March 24. The team was able to raise $24,000 with donations from family, friends and members of the community to fund their trip to the Special Olympics.

***

Saturday, April 15, marks the fourth annual Coastal Wildflower Day at Half Moon Bay State Beach. The event aims to inspire stewardship of diverse coastal ecosystem and highlight volunteer community restoration efforts at local coastside State Parks. There will be a variety of family-friendly activities, live music, food trucks, raffles and docent-led walks throughout the event that runs 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Native plants will also be for sale at the event and the proceeds used to benefit restoration efforts.

Visit coastalwildflowerday.org for more information or to participate in the coloring contest.

***

The city of San Bruno participating in the Second Harvest Food Bank’s “Stand Up for Kids” campaign, based on the premise that every child deserves the chance to have a healthy, productive life, and that starts with nutritious food. From March 30 through April 27, large food collection bins will be placed at the following three locations throughout the city: San Bruno Library, 701 West Angus Ave.; Recreation Center, 251 City Park Way; and the Police Department, 1177 Huntington Ave.

Donations being sought include meals in a can (soup, stew, chili), tuna or canned chicken, peanut butter, canned foods with pop-top lids, canned fruit in its own juice or water, low-sodium canned vegetables, olive or canola oil, spices, low-sugar whole grain cereals and healthy snacks (granola bars, nuts, dried fruit). Please avoid items packed in glass. No soda or candy please.

More information regarding this program and an opportunity to provide financial support can be found at shfb.org/standupforkids.

The Reporters’ Notebook is a weekly collection of facts culled from the notebooks of the Daily Journal staff. It appears in the weekend edition.