Reporters' notebook

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The Burlingame Library community had a "loaves and fishes” moment this past week when they found themselves with extra food from an event to celebrate library staff. Not knowing what to do with the extra food, they made a few calls and found a happy recipient in the form of First Step for families, a transitional housing shelter on Villa Terrace. The shelter managers were thrilled to receive the food and said the children there would enjoy the sandwiches (and a few cookies) for lunch the following day. first Step for Families is part of the Shelter Network. For more information visit http://www.shelternetwork.org/firststep.html.

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Redwood City Councilwoman Rosanne Foust, in her final remarks as mayor, said she appreciated meeting with children and said when talking with a group from Sandpiper School there was only one question she refused to answer — her weight.

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An article in Monday’s Daily Journal "A Day to Remember: Pearl Harbor survivor recalls Dec. 7, 1941” about Coast Guard Petty Officer George C. Larsen solicited phone calls and e-mails from World War II veterans from across the country. Larsen is the president of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association San Francisco/Bay Area Chapter 2 and said he was not aware of any Pearl Harbor survivors living in San Mateo County. Well, at least two contacted the paper and there are many more. San Mateo resident Henry James "Jim” Cathcart, 94, called the Daily Journal and shared his story with the newsroom and the niece of Richard "Jack” Frost contacted the Daily Journal to tell her uncle’s story. Frost, 89, was on the USS Tennessee when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. Frost also lives in San Mateo and meets with veterans from the era monthly to share drinks.

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The residents of the 700 block of North Amphlett Boulevard in San Mateo will host a Posada on Friday, Dec. 11 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. This neighborhood is the flagship project of the Peninsula Conflict Resolution Center (PCRC) Strengthening Neighborhoods program focused on community building and violence prevention. The Posada is a traditional Latino Christmas community celebration that re-enacts Mary and Joseph searching for shelter. The celebration at the 700 block of North Amphlett will include dinner prepared by the residents, dance performances, and carols with a candle-lit procession. San Mateo Chief of Police, Susan Manheimer, will attend this event that will also feature a special treat for children with a visit from Santa Claus on a fire truck. The blessing will be given by a priest from St. Matthew’s Church. The Posada is funded by a grant of $500 from the Our Sunday Visitor Foundation that was awarded after resident association came together and applied to their "Have the Biggest Posada” Program.

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