THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, December 17, 1995 TAG: 9512150175
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Long : 134 lines
Wednesday, Dec. 6
8 a.m. - Virginia Beach Community Educators' meeting at the Central Library.
Fire educator Elayne Weinbrecht kicks off the monthly breakfast meeting at which people involved in educational programming in public and private agencies meet to exchange information.
For years Weinbrecht has been in the business of making children and adults aware of fire safety issues, especially the need to install, check and maintain smoke detectors.
Despite the fire department's best efforts, there had been another fatal fire in the city the day before, Weinbrecht tells the group. ``It was the same story,'' she says. ``There was a smoke detector, but no battery.''
Weinbrecht goes on to remind the group that the department, in cooperation with the Kiwanis Club, will donate and install detectors. ``We'll even provide for batteries for people who can't afford them. All they have to do is call Operation Smoke Detector at 471-5826,'' she adds. ``These deaths are preventable,'' she concludes, ``we don't want any more like this.''
Group members promise their support in getting the word out.
Despite everyone's efforts, by week's end there are two more fire fatalities in the city - again in a home with a smoke detector without a battery.
- Jo-Ann Clegg
3:30 p.m. - Rosemont Road.
A dark green Mitsubishi Eclipse stopped at the Holland Road intersection wears a license tag that inspires college students, credit card holders and Christmas shoppers alike. It reads: DET FREE.
- Holly Wester
Thursday, Dec. 7
6 p.m. - Virginia Beach SPCA.
It's graduation night for Pets and Pals, an activity where 8- to 11-year-olds in the Police Department's 4th Precinct Pal program are assigned an SPCA dog for a four-week obedience training course.
The kids learn that praise, patience and kindness work. The dogs, with a little training, become more adoptable.
All are going through their paces. The dogs sit, stay and heel for their masters - most of the time. Proud parents and the adoptive ``parents'' of some of the lucky dogs watch. Then the children present the dogs to their new owners. A big cake iced with all the kids' and dogs' names is served. There are dog bones for the dogs. As the event winds down, one youngster named Josh, who had worked with Buster, a lovable, brown Lab mix, goes up to Buster's new owners.
``Will you write down your phone number,'' he asks, ``and I will call you and ask you to bring Buster over to visit me.''
- Mary Reid Barrow
4 p.m. - Oceana Boulevard.
A red Geo Tracker puts a new twist on an environmental message. Its bumper sticker says: Support Wild Life - Throw a Party.
- Holly Wester
Friday, Dec. 8
6:15 p.m. - An Oceanfront restaurant.
A just-lit wood-burning stove is acting up, filling the back of the dimly lit eatery with thick black smoke. The powerful smell sends a beer-sipping female quartet - the only customers in the joint - toward the front door.
They're coughing and covering their faces - hoping to get a breath of fresh air.
The owner comes out to see what the problem is and one of the ladies - a regular - corners him at the end of the bar.
``I think I smell a lawsuit,'' she jokes, puffing on a cigarette and smiling.
``Well you know what we do to people who sue us?'' explains the dark-haired restaurateur, with an intimidating stare.
``We make 'em our partners!''
- Holly Wester
Saturday, Dec. 9
10:30 a.m. - Fast food restaurant on Laskin Road.
A handful of diners munch sausage and egg biscuits and hash browns and wash it all down with scalding coffee.
A television set suspended from the ceiling between tables provides customers with up-to-the-minute international and national news via the CNN channel.
Two young workmen, wearing flannel shirts and dirt-stained jeans are dawdling over the remains of their morning meal. One reads a newspaper. The other stares blankly ahead, but it is obvious that he is taking in some of the broadcast news.
``A recent survey shows that 53 percent of Americans support President Clinton's style of leadership,'' the announcer intones.
The young man's eyes snap into focus.
``Hmmph!'' he snorts. ``Nobody surveyed me!''
- Bill Reed
2 p.m. - Providence Road in front of Fairfield Shopping Center.
On a day when Santas are everywhere, the creature standing on the sidewalk waving a big sign stands out from the rest.
A jolly 6-foot rabbit decked out in full elf garb attempts to lure customers to one of the shopping center's businesses: a mailing outfit known as the Jack Rabbit Postal Center.
- Jo-Ann Clegg
10 p.m. - An Oceanfront restaurant.
A group of six college-age guys and gals, dressed in fancy gowns and suits, toss back imported beer and white wine in the back of the establishment.
They're laughing and having a good time until one of the ladies, a blonde named Elyse, finds more than alcohol at the bottom of her glass of rum and Coke.
``There's a bug in there,'' she says to the waitress, a redhead in a slinky black dress.
``I'm sorry,'' she answers. ``I'll get you another.''
Another drink apparently is not enough for Elyse's friend, Stephanie, who walks up to the bar and asks to speak to the owner.
He comes out, looks in the glass and sees the tiny black bug.
``Well?,'' inquires the young woman. ``What do you think about that?''
``I'll tell you what I think,'' he says, before guzzling the rest of the drink. ``I know I got my protein for the day!''
- Holly Wester
Sunday, Dec. 10
7 p.m. - Blockbuster Video on General Booth Boulevard.
An attractive young lady, oddly dressed in pink and white checkered pajamas, blue slippers and a black sweater hat, walks up to the counter to check out ``Pulp Fiction.''
While running her card through, the bald-headed male cashier looks at her strangely and says, ``Did someone get you out of bed to come up here?''
Before she can answer, her mother steps in and clears it all up. ``No, she did it voluntarily,'' Mom explains. ``She's a Yankee - what else can I say?''
- Holly Wester ILLUSTRATION: `Yes, I've been good, and I want . . .'
Staff photo by D. KEVIN ELLIOTT
Matthew Carlson, 4, son of Simi and Steve Carlson of Virginia Beach,
tells Santa what he wants for Christmas during a visit Thursday at
Pembroke Mall. With now only seven days till delivery night, Mr.
Claus is checking his list twice.
by CNB