Reporters' notebook

***

Kiehl’s Since 1851, the New York-based purveyor of skin and hair care preparations, is opening its first free-standing store in San Mateo, at the Hillsdale Shopping Center. Kiehl’s at Hillsdale Shopping Center will host a three-day celebration, Friday, Nov. 4 through Sunday, Nov. 6 with raffles and complimentary refreshments.

***

Story Days are here, according to Ron Gordon, of "Square Root Day” local fame. As a way to encourage locals to think of math and have fun, Gordon is coming up with a contest to commemorate the two days in November that are more special than you thought: 11/1/11 and 11/11/11, "Ones Upon a Day.” After 11/11/11, there isn’t another until next century (1/1/2101).

The contest is this: Write the best (short) story or poem. It must start with "Ones Upon a Day.” The prize is $1,111.11 to be divided among the best 11+11+11 entries. Entries must be completed within 11+11+11 days (Oct. 21 through Nov. 22 and submitted in a message on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=108202592625326 (on Facebook, search: Ones Upon a Day Contest) or to rongordon135@gmail.com. Or mail to P.O. Box 5133, Redwood City, CA, 94063.

These days are like calendar comets, according to Gordon. You wait and wait and wait for them, then they brighten up your day — and poof — they’re gone!

***

Total tonnage for all commodities at the Port of Redwood City was up a whopping 63 percent over the same first quarter last year. The eye-raising figure is attributed less to a red-hot economic climate and more to logistics. In July, some vessels used to haul construction material from British Columbia to the Bay Area were too big for the Richmond Eagle Rock facility and were diverted to the Port of Redwood City. But even without this bump, construction aggregates moving through the port have been on a steady — if not dramatic — increase, said Port Executive Director Mike Giari, adding port officials are hopeful it continues.

***

But don’t let the previous item make you think nothing’s hopping in Redwood City. This week, the city announced that one-third of Silicon Valley’s top 51 fastest growing private companies for 2011 are in San Mateo County and a quarter of those are headquartered in Redwood City. Those four are Imperva, Merced Systems Inc., Equilar Inc. and Qualys Inc. The rankings were based on revenue growth over the last three fiscal years.

***

Although nearly three dozen San Mateo County law enforcement personnel helped Alameda County out last week with the Occupy Oakland protests, the team sat out last night’s planned general strike and associated events, said Sheriff’s Lt. Ray Lunny. As of Wednesday morning, no request had been made.

***

Still trying to come between your kids and their bags of Halloween candy? Clean house and help the San Carlos Education Foundation clean up by participating in the second annual San Carlos Halloween Candy Buy Back. Dentists Urmi Amin, Michael Change and Nancy Kaher have all pledged to pay $2 for every pound of wrapped candy donated by kids by Friday, Nov. 4. The Belmont UPS Store on Old County Road has even agreed to ship the loot overseas to troops via Operation Gratitude. Just deliver the unwanted sweets to any San Carlos school office.

The reporters’ notebook is a weekly collection of facts culled from the notebooks of the Daily Journal staff. It appears in the Thursday edition.