THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 3, 1996 TAG: 9603010153
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Long : 106 lines
Sunday, Feb. 25
4 p.m. - Oceanfront.
Two young women power walking on the Boardwalk are commenting on all the attractive males out on this sunny, warm afternoon. There are lots of guys around, tackling every physical feat possible - from bike riding to running, skating and skate boarding.
``Why can't men be bad at anything?'' one questions her friend.
``They are,'' her friend answers sarcastically. ``Honesty, commitment, showing their feelings, losing . . . do you need me to continue?''
- Holly Wester
Monday, Feb. 26
11:30 a.m. - An office building in Virginia Beach.
Two middle-age men are standing outside smoking. A third man, aged 70, is talking to them.
``I tell you, the smoke sure smells good,'' he says. ``I had to give that up.''
He had triple-bypass open-heart surgery a couple of months ago, he says.
``Doctor said I had to give up smoking, eating red meat, cholesterol, everything. Told me I should walk two miles every day. This was five days after the surgery. He said give up everything and I'd live longer.
``I asked, `What for?' ''
- Gary Edwards
Tuesday, Feb. 27
2 p.m. - Virginia Beach SPCA.
Today is Spay Day USA and the folks at the SPCA are using Spay Day as one more opportunity to spread the word about the importance of spaying and neutering pets to reduce animal overpopulation.
The word has not reached one person, however. What should come over the shelter's fax machine but a poster advertising Doggie Date.
Doggie Date is a new computerized mating service for dogs and cats, the ad says. By listing your male dog with the service, he will have ``easy access to all the females in heat in the entire Tidewater area,'' the ad goes on.
``Isn't that ironic, to get that on Spay Day,'' says SPCA director Sharon Adams.
- Mary Reid Barrow
5:45 p.m. - A Food Lion on Virginia Beach Boulevard.
Several customers are waiting to be served at the deli counter. An elderly woman, who is waiting on her order, proudly announces that on Thursday, Feb. 29 (Leap Day) she'll be 80!
A middle-age female customer next to her rudely acknowledges her by saying, ``You look it, too!''
After hearing what was said, a male employee offers words of encouragement. ``I hope I live to be 80,'' he says with a smile.
- Patty Jenkins
8:30 p.m. - City Council Chambers.
The presentation for the super Wal-Mart is about to begin.
Representatives of the company, which plans on building a giant retail store at the corner of Lynnhaven Parkway and Princess Anne Road, are setting up displays to show council members the store's location and architectural drawings.
Two men are wrestling with a metal easel, trying to make it stand up.
Unexpectedly, one of the legs falls off and bounces on the carpet.
There is a moment of laughter, then one of them says teasingly, ``Say, where'd you get this thing? Wal-Mart?''
- Tom Holden
Wednesday, Feb. 28
9:20 a.m. - Independence Boulevard.
An admitted addict wears her habit of choice on the license plate of her maroon van. It says: ILV TCBY.
- Holly Wester
2:30 p.m. - Virginia Marine Science Museum's holding warehouse.
The first year of life for a seal is the hardest. Just ask the young hooded seal convalescing at the Virginia Marine Science Museum's warehouse facility.
The seal, which was rescued from the 44th Street beach Tuesday night, lies shivering on a platform in a holding tank filled with water. He's easily startled - even the sound of footsteps, camera's clicking and loud voices causes him to jerk up and look around.
A sign on the door of the warehouse reads, ``Quiet please. Hooded seal recovering.''
The seal apparently suffered the fate of many young seals that are thrust into the world by their mothers with little guidance. Many don't survive their first year because they haven't developed good hunting or navigating skills.
Blood tests show the seal is suffering from an infection. Museum staff and volunteers are monitoring him and offering antibiotics, fluids, vitamins and food.
Hooded seals are uncommon in area waters. He's the first found in Virginia Beach. They typically live in the Arctic Ocean around Greenland and Iceland.
``The poor thing's strayed a bit far from the Arctic,'' says Susan Barco, a marine biologist and a lead researcher for the museum's stranding team.
- Debbie Messina ILLUSTRATION: Photo by L. TODD SPENCER
It's no time for cold feet!
The beach in front of the Clarion Resort and Conference Center was
the scene last Saturday for Polar Plunge IV to benefit the Special
Olympics. Although the temperature in the Atlantic was 37 degrees,
Miss Virginia and 330 folks charged the water to take a body-numbing
dip. The event raised $56,000.
by CNB