Reporters' notebook

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The Charlene A. Silva Healthy Communities Food Drive — the outgoing Health Services director’s alternative to a traditional retirement fete — collected more than $18,000 and 1,600 pounds of food for the Second Harvest Food Bank.

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The Silva food drive effort certainly contributed to Second Harvest’s year-end totals although the nonprofit reports food poundage did not quite make the target goal of 1.7 million pounds. Instead, it hit 1.6 million. However, the food bank surpassed its $8 million fundraising goal with donations and pledges equaling $10.5 million.

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Reece Computer Systems of Half Moon Bay won a 2009 Sustainability of the Year Award. The honorable mention is the first time Sustainable San Mateo County has awarded one to an information technology company. Reece stood out for "their strong commitment to environmentally friendly computer products and practices, their professional support of local charities and nonprofits and their contributions to the local economy...,” said Tyler Hammer, executive director of Sustainable San Mateo County.

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Speaking of winners, San Mateo-based real estate company Glenborough, LLC won California’s "Flex Your Power” award in recognition of its energy efficiency. According to the company, energy upgrades at 28 of its California properties have eliminated nearly 10 million kilowatt-hours of energy usage, reduced CO2 greenhouse gas emissions by more than 2.5 million pounds and saved more than $1.5 million annually.

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Jennifer Walsh, 36, of Colma, was appointed to the Area Board V on Developmental Disabilities. She served as a community connector for the Community Living Campaign since March 2008 and has been the San Francisco and Northern Alameda People First Chapter Advisor since 2004. Walsh was also a Partners in Policymaking California graduate and then went on to serve the following year’s 2008 class as an accessibility consultant.

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Local leaders will take time Friday night to discuss dealing with disaster over dinner. The Council of Cities will hold a program entitled "How to engage residents in your city in emergency preparedness and response,” featuring Terry Amsler of the Institute for Local Government who will discuss neighborhood-led efforts. Three dozen city leaders are expected to take part in the activities scheduled to take place at Millbrae’s Sixteen Mile House.

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Hoping to take a trip? Burlingame-based Virgin America is one more California destination to its flight roster — Orange County. Flights between San Francisco International and John Wayne International are set to begin April 30.

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Millions in upgrades are expected at the San Francisco International Logistics Center in South San Francisco. Centrum Properties announced intentions to begin a $23 million revamping of the regional distribution facility.

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At least one person at last week’s San Mateo City Council meeting was angry to see someone sit through the Pledge of Allegiance that she began asking about his identity after the meeting. She was informed that he was a Daily Post reporter. She declared she was going to write a letter — either to City Hall or the Palo Alto-based paper.

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