Soft Drinks

HAGERSTOWN -- Richard Graceson, 64, remembers when a bottle of Coke cost 10 cents, a price that has risen with time, but a new tax threatens to increase the price of both soft drinks and alcoholic beverages. The U.S. Senate Finance Committee is considering raising taxes on alcohol and imposing a new levy on soda and other naturally sweetened drinks to help pay for overhauling health care. "I would agree with (raising the taxes)," Graceson said. "The way health care is now, they have to do something about it. " Graceson said his doctors have told him to cut back on the amount of soft drinks he consumes daily, but that advice has not quenched his thirst.

CHARLES TOWN, W.VA. ? State lawmakers are considering banning soft drinks and sugary snacks in public schools, but local schools already have restrictions on the drinks and food items. No soft drinks are offered in Jefferson County Schools, said Dorrie Blue, an accountant in the food service department for Jefferson County Schools. Jefferson High School has a vending machine that offers certain types of drinks, but the machine is on a timer and only dispenses drinks after regular school hours, Blue said.

CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. - State lawmakers are considering banning soft drinks and sugary snacks in public schools, but local schools already have restrictions on the drinks and food items. No soft drinks are offered in Jefferson County Schools, said Dorrie Blue, an accountant in the food service department for Jefferson County Schools. Jefferson High School has a vending machine that offers certain types of drinks, but the machine is on a timer and only dispenses drinks after regular school hours, Blue said.

A car loaded with soft drinks for an Elks Lodge function was reported stolen early Tuesday from behind 1066 S. Potomac St. - across from South Hagerstown High School. The white 1993 Plymouth Acclaim is a 4-door sedan with Md. tag ELK 1804, according to Maryland State Police. The owner of the car told police the vehicle was parked in his rear driveway around 9:45 a.m. Monday. At 9:45 a.m. Tuesday, it was gone. The keys weren't left in the vehicle, police said. There was no sign of broken glass in the driveway.

In a tradition that has lasted nearly 30 years, school bands, kids dressed in Halloween costumes and fire engines slowly made their way down Baltimore Street Thursday night in the town's annual Halloween parade. And as usual, youths in the bands and costumed kids who walked in the parade were treated to a meal afterward at the American Legion, Post 211. Inside the legion hall, kids crowded around serving lines for chicken nuggets, chips, cookies, soft drinks and candy, while outside members of the South Hagerstown High School and E. Russell Hicks marching bands were treated to hot dogs and soft drinks under a pavilion.

Batter up! South Mountain is local favorite as Hagertown hosts state Little League tourney A car loaded with soft drinks for an Elks Lodge function was reported stolen early Tuesday from behind 1066 S. Potomac St. - across from South Hagerstown High School. The white 1993 Plymouth Acclaim is a 4-door sedan with Md. tag ELK 1804, according to Maryland State Police. The owner of the car told police the vehicle was parked in his rear driveway around 9:45 a.m. Monday.

Lay off the cola To the editor: I read with interest the recent article, "Cola wars are back in high gear. " It seems that soda sales fell about 4.8 percent in the U.S. during the first nine months of last year. Cocoa-Cola's U.S. soft drink sales fell 4.4 percent in the same period. I hope this indicates that the U.S. population is getting smarter about knowing that soft drinks are empty calories, with no nutrition and are one of the greatest causes of obesity.

Most kids like snacks. Think of snacks as mini-meals that help provide nutrients and food energy your child needs to grow, play and learn.   Help your child snack smart. Your child has a small stomach, so he or she probably eats less at meals than you do. Smart snacks can help your child eat and drink enough during the day. Most children do best when they eat four to six times a day. Keep healthful snacks handy. Choose snack foods moderate in fat, sugar and salt.  Choose snacks high in fiber, vitamins and minerals.

Cars, trucks and food GREENCASTLE, Pa. - A car and truck show and chicken barbecue will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, June 17, on the grounds of Antrim Assembly of God Church, 11192 Bermisderfer Road, off Pa. 16, about one-half mile east of Greencastle, Pa. The cost is $4 for one-half chicken, eat-in or takeout. Side orders are extra. To order in advance, call BBQ by Ralph at 1-717-328-3583. Car donation day MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - Good News Mountaineer Garage will have a car donation day from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 17, at Trinity United Methodist Church, 220 W. Martin St. Volunteers will be on hand to drive donators home if needed.

Mary Poppins said, "A spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down. " The problem is that Americans are eating, and drinking, too many spoonfuls of sugar for good health. Based on U.S. Department of Agriculture surveys, Americans average 20.5 teaspoons of added sugars per day. That's 68.5 pounds per year. Added sugars are sugars and syrups added to foods in processing or preparation. This does not include the naturally occurring sugar in foods like fruit or milk. In some age groups, sugar intake is even higher.

The Hagerstown Rotary Club's eighth annual bull and oyster roast will be Sunday, Feb. 19, from noon to 5 p.m. at Hagerstown Community College's Athletic, Recreation and Community Center. This year's roast will feature raw and fried oysters, pit-roasted beef, Hoffman's sausages, ham, chicken fajitas and a number of side dishes and desserts. Beer, wine, soft drinks, coffee and tea will be served. There will be table games as well as musical entertainment by Hicktown and DJ Lou Scally.

In a tradition that has lasted nearly 30 years, school bands, kids dressed in Halloween costumes and fire engines slowly made their way down Baltimore Street Thursday night in the town's annual Halloween parade. And as usual, youths in the bands and costumed kids who walked in the parade were treated to a meal afterward at the American Legion, Post 211. Inside the legion hall, kids crowded around serving lines for chicken nuggets, chips, cookies, soft drinks and candy, while outside members of the South Hagerstown High School and E. Russell Hicks marching bands were treated to hot dogs and soft drinks under a pavilion.

Most kids like snacks. Think of snacks as mini-meals that help provide nutrients and food energy your child needs to grow, play and learn.   Help your child snack smart. Your child has a small stomach, so he or she probably eats less at meals than you do. Smart snacks can help your child eat and drink enough during the day. Most children do best when they eat four to six times a day. Keep healthful snacks handy. Choose snack foods moderate in fat, sugar and salt.  Choose snacks high in fiber, vitamins and minerals.

Writer has a serious concern for the country To the editor: I am responding to the letter by Pastor Raymond Young published in The Herald-Mail on Oct. 5. Though I'm not as well versed in scripture, I seem to recollect that God gave Lucifer temporary dominion over the earth when he cast him from heaven. Using the reverend's analogy, all those who gave respect to Hitler did the right thing for he was in authority and appointed by "God. " I disagree strongly. To begin with, an individual has to earn respect for it to be rendered honorably unto him. That is not to say that deserving groups such as police officers, firefighters and soldiers should not be respected as a group for the good they do, as well as teachers and the like.

El Palenque Cantina Restaurant is a storefront at 204 E. Franklin St. in Hagerstown. Finding it was worth the effort of figuring out the maze of one way streets downtown. Half bar, half restaurant, El Palenque Cantina is a neighborhood place where people come for a meal or a drink or a chat. Almost as soon as we sat down, we were given a plate of fresh, hot nacho chips and salsa that were irresistible. The salsa was fresh and spicy hot. My hand kept reaching for just one more chip as I read the menu.

El Palenque Cantina Restaurant is a storefront at 204 E. Franklin St. in Hagerstown. Finding it was worth the effort of figuring out the maze of one way streets downtown. Half bar, half restaurant, El Palenque Cantina is a neighborhood place where people come for a meal or a drink or a chat. Almost as soon as we sat down, we were given a plate of fresh, hot nacho chips and salsa that were irresistible. The salsa was fresh and spicy hot. My hand kept reaching for just one more chip as I read the menu.

HAGERSTOWN -- Richard Graceson, 64, remembers when a bottle of Coke cost 10 cents, a price that has risen with time, but a new tax threatens to increase the price of both soft drinks and alcoholic beverages. The U.S. Senate Finance Committee is considering raising taxes on alcohol and imposing a new levy on soda and other naturally sweetened drinks to help pay for overhauling health care. "I would agree with (raising the taxes)," Graceson said. "The way health care is now, they have to do something about it. " Graceson said his doctors have told him to cut back on the amount of soft drinks he consumes daily, but that advice has not quenched his thirst.

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.

CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. - State lawmakers are considering banning soft drinks and sugary snacks in public schools, but local schools already have restrictions on the drinks and food items. No soft drinks are offered in Jefferson County Schools, said Dorrie Blue, an accountant in the food service department for Jefferson County Schools. Jefferson High School has a vending machine that offers certain types of drinks, but the machine is on a timer and only dispenses drinks after regular school hours, Blue said.