THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, May 8, 1996 TAG: 9605080030
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: LARRY MADDRY
LENGTH: Medium: 82 lines
DRINKING WATER WEEK. Yep, in case you didn't notice, we are in the middle of National Drinking Water Week.
This information is provided by Andy Kleeger, who lives in the Camillia Shores section of Norfolk.
He learned about it, he said, by opening his water bill from the city of Norfolk.
Andy said a public service message was enclosed noting that May 5 to 11 is Drinking Water Week.
``The message also contained some tips on saving water,'' Andy said. He was very interested in tip No. 3, which offered a novel suggestion:
``Use a wastebasket or ash tray instead of the toilet. Every flush uses 3.5 gallons.''
Well, all riiight!
I guess a person has to get up pretty early in the morning to outthink those water department folks. And since you're up, why not tiptoe outside and use the bird bath on the lawn?
It isn't often that people own up to their mistakes. But Peg Nelson, a public information specialist with the city of Norfolk - and a good sport - phoned to say she was responsible for editing the water conservation tips.
This isn't the first time she's failed to make something clear either, she said.
Not long ago, Peg attended a meeting - ``Conserve 96'' - in Orlando, Fla.
At the meeting, the Hampton Roads Water Efficiency Team made a presentation titled ``Keeping Hampton Roads Wet.''
She said that after the meeting, a person approached her with a puzzled expression on her face and asked Peg, ``Why would you want to keep Hampton's roads wet?''
BRITTANY'S CRIB. Brittany Lemke, the terminally ill 4-year-old who needed a special crib, is getting one, thanks to the Make a Wish Foundation.
Brittany, who lives in Virginia Beach, was the subject of last Wednesday's column. Suffering from a rare brain disease, she needs a special crib - costing nearly $6,000 - which her parents can't afford.
Brittany has the mental capacity of a 9-month-old baby. Her parents - Kent and Lynn Garland - say she has literally shaken her present crib to pieces. They fear she will harm herself by falling out of her repaired crib.
Terri Baines, the local wish coordinator with the Make a Wish Foundation, said her group usually attempts to make the dreams of terminally ill children come true by providing trips they want to make or celebrities they'd like to meet.
``But since Brittany can't communicate, we will try to make her more comfortable,'' Baines said. She said the bed should arrive in about four weeks.
Michael Grantham - of QED Systems in Virginia Beach - said fund-raisers to help Brittany were held last weekend at Tango's Tavern and Captain Carl's Seafood Saloon in Virginia Beach.
``The money raised will be used to help pay for some of Brittany's medical bills,'' he said. ``They are well over $6,000.''
CINCO DE MAYO, HOLD DE LETTUCE. Last week, a huge banner was strung over Waterside Drive in Norfolk proclaiming the Cinco de Mayo celebration in Town Point Park. Cinco de what?
I had been so busy looking forward to Water Drinking Week that Cinco de Mayo (fifth of May ) had escaped my attention.
Festevents sponsored the celebration in the park, held two days before CdM Day. Lots of Corona beer for sale. Burritos. Tacos. Mariachi music. Nothing wrong with that.
But even at Festevents there has been confusion about the Cinco thang.
Bonnie Mims, Festevents marketing director, said the original fliers promoting the festival said it commemorated Mexican independence.
``We corrected the mistake,'' she said. The celebration honors a Mexican victory over an invading French army in 1862.
Bonnie wasn't sure whether CdM was an official holiday in Mexico. And it isn't. Mexicans barely celebrate the day themselves.
So why are we celebrating it in the United States?
Turns out about as I'd suspected. Remember UCLA in the '60s? That's where the American celebration of the holiday began.
The San Francisco Chronicle has reported that the celebration was started by UCLA student Carlos Munoz Jr. to give Mexican-Americans their own day to celebrate.
Now you know. Pass the Corona. by CNB