Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, October 21, 1993 TAG: 9310210007
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Ray Reed
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
A: Celebration. Decadence. Blowing the boss's money.
Any or all of these figure into the tradition of dousing teammates with the bubbly that's usually reserved for classy events.
Two wine institutes in California, and the Baseball Hall of Fame, don't have a clue about how the champagne tradition originated.
The emotional aspect is reasonably clear: Like the shipyard's launching of a ship, the champagne that goes with a league championship for professional ballplayers represents success, the achieving of a hard-earned goal.
Spraying champagne on a fellow player can only be done from behind; alcohol stings the eyes, and it's hard to hit a ducking target.
A teammate becomes a sitting duck, though, during a locker-room interview, and that's why we see so much of it on TV.
Champagne has been a victor's tradition since all of us baby boomers can remember, but it may have begun after prohibition and the Great Depression.
Ages mix; no `outcome'
Q: An item about Stewartsville Elementary School last week said the age groups are separated. My daughter is in a multi-age classroom where there are 6-, 7- and 8-year-olds. T.W., Stewartsville
A: Stewartsville has two programs at work: a conventional graded primary for kindergarten through third grade, and an "ungraded primary" in which pupils advance at their own rate.
Superintendent John Kent and I talked about this last week and we failed to communicate on the point that the ungraded primary has pupils from several age groups studying core subjects such as reading, math and writing. For music and physical education, age groups are separated.
A lot of parents support the ungraded primary. In fact, Kent received notice this week that the state Department of Education has approved a $25,000 grant for teachers to develop refinements for the program.
It was equally clear, from some calls I received, that other parents are suspicious that the multi-age grouping in the ungraded primary is somehow related to outcome-based education.
The governor killed outcome-based education several weeks ago. If the ungraded primary program were outcome-based, the state would not have approved the $25,000 grant, Kent said.
Old pressure driver
Q: On Jefferson Street near Clark Avenue, a sign says "Crystal Spring Steam Pump" and shows something like a paddle wheel. Where is the steam pump, and is it open to the public? R.W., Roanoke
A: It's in the old brick pump house next to the Crystal Spring tennis courts, which are built over the reservoir. It's open to the public Saturday and Sunday afternoons Memorial Day to Labor Day, and by special request to 981-2236.
The pump was restored in 1976 for the Bicentennial and operates today by a concealed electric motor that turns it at half speed. The steam pump kept pressure in the city's water lines from 1905 through 1957.
Got a question about something that might affect other people too? Give us a call at 981-3118. Maybe we can find the answer.
by CNB