Bottled Water

With local grocery stores and convenience stores selling sodas and other drinks with questionable health value, you'd think bottled water would be dependably clean and safe.  This might not be the case. According to a 1999 report by the National Resources Defense Council, 20 percent of bottled water in America contains xylene and styrene ? two chemicals known or suspected to cause cancer. The report is online at the NRDC Web site at www.nrdc.org/water/drinking/bw/exesum.

CONOCOCHEAGUE - Conococheague Elementary School will continue to use bottled water, as it has for the past seven years, a school system official said Tuesday night. cont. from front page About 70 people who were upset over lead found in the school's water supply urged the school system to keep the bottled water. Tony Suranno, the Washington County Board of Education's environmental safety specialist, said he will leave the bottled water until samples from all of the school's water fountains show lead levels are below federal limits.

The following are the gold medal winners of each category at the Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting competition. Municipal water: Desert Hot Springs, Calif. Non-carbonated bottled water: Ice Mist, Morarp, Sweden Purified drinking water: Pure StoneClear Springs Water, Vanleer, Tenn. Carbonated bottled water: Bosec, Harghita County, Romania People's Choice for package design: One Liter, Northumberland County, Markham, Canada

The PTA of Conococheague Elementary School has scheduled a meeting Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the school to address concern about the water quality in the school's drinking fountains. A flyer distributed by the PTA suggests there is lead in the drinking fountains and questions a decision to remove bottled water dispensers from the school. Tony Suranno of the Washington County Board of Education and a representative from the Washington County Health Department are expected to attend, answering questions about the water.

pepperb@herald-mail.com Students and personnel at Fountain Rock Elementary School will be drinking bottled water because of a risk the school's well could be contaminated by its septic system and sinkholes, school officials said Thursday. About 20 water coolers were expected to arrive at Fountain Rock by today, said Dennis McGee, the school system's director of facilities management. The elementary school becomes the third in Washington County - joining Conococheague and Old Forge - to use bottled water.

Members of Hagerstown AMVETS Post 10, 770 Frederick St. in Hagerstown, are collecting personal care and hygiene items to be sent to U.S. troops in Iraq. Items needed include: toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, disposable razors, shaving cream, lip balm, sunscreen, wipes, facial tissues, bandages, sunglasses, foot powder, bottled water, writing paper, envelopes and pens, combs, after-shave lotion, women's personal needs and similar nonperishable and unbreakable items. The items should be dropped at the AMVETS Post.

BERKELEY SPRINGS, W.VA. The key to a winning water is one that is refreshing, that is equally pure and "tastes alive and crisp," said Arthur von Wiesenberger, Water Master of the 15th annual Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting held Saturday at Coolfont Resort. Using those guidelines, more than 115 entries from throughout the world were judged in the four water categories of municipal, purified, bottled noncarbonated and sparkling. Both the public and judges voted for the People's Choice award for the best packaging design.

BERKELEY SPRINGS, W.Va. - Twelve media judges tasted water from around the world Saturday at the 17th annual Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting, held for the first time at The Country Inn. Arthur von Wiesenberger, an author and water tasting expert from Santa Barbara, Calif., trained the judges on how to taste water. He said water should not be tasteless, but "feels good in your mouth from the combination of minerals and trace elements, and one you would want to drink every day. " "It also should have an absence of odor and should be clear," von Wiesenberger said.

BERKELEY SPRINGS, W.Va. - Water from around the world was tasted by 10 judges Saturday at the 18th annual Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting at The Country Inn. The media panel judged municipal, bottled noncarbonated, sparkling and purified drinking water in the afternoon and evening. Jill Klein Rone, producer of the event, said there were 118 entries in this year's event, which was slightly more than last year. She said about 200 people attended the event. The judges were trained by water master Arthur von Wiesenberger, an international water expert from Santa Barbara, Calif.

trishr@herald-mail.com BERKELEY SPRINGS, W.Va. - Eleven media judges sniffed and tasted water from around the world Saturday at the 16th annual Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting at Coolfont Resort. Water Master Arthur von Wiesenberger, author and water tasting expert from Santa Barbara, Calif., who trained the judges, said they were tasting the "best of the best waters," and that "water tasting is not unlike tasting wine, but it is a lot more subtle. " More than 100 entries were judged in four categories of municipal, purified, bottled noncarbonated and sparkling.

Hurricane Sandy may still be expected to impact the area by Sunday, but not all local residents were out preparing for it Friday. In fact, some expressed indifference to the storm's arrival, including Hagerstown resident Chuck Holman, who said he plans to do “absolutely nothing” to prepare for it. “I don't think it's necessary because I don't see it being more than just rain,” Holman, 45, said. “I fear nothing like that. It's just nature.” Holman did say, however, that he would vote on Saturday just to make sure he gets it out of the way in case the storm does cause any problems.

Some things, on reflection, aren't surprising in the least, but when you hear about them for the first time, it's still a complete shock. I mean, who is really blown away by the revelation in The Washington Post last month that Rep. Roscoe Bartlett is an off-the-grid, bunker-inhabiting, tuna-hoarding survivalist? Of course he is. It all fits. The nightlong rants on C-Span in front of an empty House chamber about Peak Oil. The disappearances for extended periods of time, usually when his presence is being requested to participate in campaign debates.

The Waynesboro and Greencastle police departments have released information about their National Night Out activities planned for Tuesday, Aug. 7. In Greencastle, families can participate in activities at the Jerome King Playground from 6 to 8 p.m. Those activities include the conclusion of the annual scavenger hunt; meet-and-greet opportunities with first responders; exploration of police cruisers, firetrucks and ambulances; a dunking booth; and...

With all the talk about protein, carbohydrate and fat, it's easy to forget about a very important nutrient - water. Water makes up 55 to 75 percent of a person's body weight and plays a role in everything your body does every day.   Your body loses 8 to 12 cups of water every day and this needs to be replaced. Some factors which increase your fluid needs include: exercise, hot weather, low humidity, high altitude, a high-fiber diet and increased fluid losses from caffeine and alcohol intake.

With bottled water at their seats and an industrial fan behind them, 178 graduates from James Buchanan High School's Class of 2011 received their diplomas on an evening when the temperature exceeded 90 degrees. "Be proud of your accomplishments, and be proud you're a James Buchanan High School graduate," Principal Rodney Benedick said at the start of Wednesday's ceremony. Graduates' family and friends piled into the bleachers at Rocket Stadium and lined the track fence. They joined the teenagers in singing the school's alma mater.

Myersville Elementary will open on time Thursday, May 5. Water service has been restored.   The school will open on Thursday with the following conditions: Toilets: Commodes and urinals can be used as normal. Hand Washing: Water can be used for hand washing. Hand sanitizer shall be used after hand washing as a precaution. Drinking Water: We will provide bottled water for consumption. Meals: Food Service will provide bagged meals.

QUINCY, PA. -- It might take a few more years to eradicate the problem of contaminated wells in Quincy Township, but one township official said he is committed to finding the solution least burdensome to taxpayers. Supervisor Kerry Bumbaugh said his vote will go to the solution drawing the least amount of money out of residents' pockets each month. "Quincy is home to mostly low- to moderate-income residents, some who already struggle to pay their taxes and sewer bills," he said.

ROUZERVILLE, Pa. -- Three years have passed since a group of homes in Quincy Township were found to have contaminated wells and officials said Tuesday it could take another few years to fix the problem. The Quincy Township Board of Supervisors met Tuesday evening with the Washington Township Municipal Authority and representatives of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to discuss connecting 100 homes to Washington Township's public water system. DEP found trichloroethylene (TCE)

It's hot and you want a cool, refreshing drink. You have many choices but some will significantly increase your daily calories. o Sweet tea and soft drinks. These can contribute 200 to 300 calories a day. In addition to extra calories, they have very little nutritional value. Encourage your children to choose a cold glass of milk rather than these less nutritious beverages. Milk helps build strong bones and teeth and is a source of protein for their growing bodies. o Fruit drinks.

SHARPSBURG -- There was scarcely a single patch of shade along Sharpsburg's Main Street Saturday afternoon that wasn't covered in lawn chairs, strollers or blankets as hundreds of people from throughout the Tri-State area braved the heat to witness one of the oldest Memorial Day parades in the United States. In its 142nd year, the Sharpsburg Memorial Day parade lasted about an hour and a half and featured school and community bands, fire and rescue vehicles, military units, Civil War re-enactors, dancers, majorettes, Scout groups, youth sports teams, pageant winners and more.