The reporters' notebook

***

So long, Foodville! The San Carlos grocery tradition will close after business Sunday, March 22. Owners Kevin and Chris Bianchini will operate their new location at 810 Laurel St. as Bianchini’s Market.

***

With all the bad economic news, Paul Spitz, owner of The Great Frame Up in San Mateo, offers up a bright spot — his business. Spitz let us know his 3-year-old store closed the books on his best month ever and he thanks all the customers who help him keep his doors open.

We’d also like to thank those who patronize all local businesses and help them stay open.

***

On March 11, Community Emergency Response Team volunteers delivered earthquake preparedness brochures to more than 14,000 households throughout the county to simulate the medicine that could be distributed following a health-related emergency. The three hours of delivery surpassed the 10,000-household target and involved 15 cities.

***

Teachers, administrators and community members donned pink last Friday as a protest to state cuts causing an increase in preliminary pink slips. Pink Friday, as it was called, resulted in at least one local superintendent purchasing a pink tie — one he is not sure there will be another reason to wear.

***

Assemblyman Ira Ruskin, D-Redwood City, wants you to "Retire your attire.” Clean out your closets and be part of the 12th annual retire your attire clothing drive benefiting Women Escaping a Violent Environment (WEAVE). All your clothing donations will benefit WEAVE clients who are re-entering the work force. WEAVE is looking for professional attire that women can wear for job interviews or in the workplace.

To donate clothes, please drop off your donations at Assemblymember Ruskin’s district office between now and March 27. Ruskin’s district office is located at 5050 El Camino Real, Suite 117, Los Altos, CA 94022. The phone number is 691-2121.

***

Ruskin also named Palo Alto’s Judy Kleinberg as Woman of the Year for the 21st Assembly District. Kleinberg is the former mayor of Palo Alto and an attorney.

***

In these tough economic times, one downtown San Mateo business is forgoing its own bottom line to help customers kick-start their day with free coffee. From 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. tomorrow, 3 Bees Coffee will give away 200 cups of coffee or tea to its patrons.

"This is the first time I have implemented a promotion like this,” said owner Rafat Haddad in a press release last week. "Part of it obviously is to incentivize customers and drive them through my doors, but I also like to think it’s 3 Bees way of saying thank you to all of our die-hard customers who have supported us since we have been in Downtown San Mateo.”

***

There’s an awful lot of press releases from the Downtown San Mateo Association nowadays. It might be because the association has hired the Larose Group to help it launch its new marketing campaign. Mark your calendars — the campaign kicks off on Monday with a press conference at the downtown main library.

***

Belmont Mayor David Braunstein will present his State of the City address on Tuesday, March 31 at 6 p.m. in the new Carlmont Theater, 1400 Alameda de las Pulgas in Belmont. There will be a reception immediately following the address.

***

Looking for the safest ATM in town? There’s going to be one at the new San Mateo Police Department, slated to open next month.

***

Longtime downtown business Carlyle jewelers on Fourth Avenue is slated to reopen with new ownership after it closed earlier this year. The previous owners, Harvey and Leslie Rosenberg retired, but found new owners to take over the space. The shop is set to reopen in early April.

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