Good news, readers. ‘Christmas card lady’
title, tasks taken overThere is at least one person willing to carry on the work of Helen Daniels, "the Christmas card lady" of Kailua.
We reported in our Oct. 3 column that Daniels, now 79 and ailing, was winding down her volunteer effort to make picture scrapbooks for hospitalized children using old Christmas cards.
She plans on giving the books she's already made -- and the few more she hopes to make -- only to Shriners Hospital this Christmas and perhaps next.
Several people called after the item appeared, interested in carrying on Daniels' work. Most discovered that "it's more work than they dreamed of," she said.
Cindy Delgado, a young housewife and mother of two, said she's willing to try.
She's already met with Daniels and gotten pointers, four boxes of cards and the names of contributors/volunteers.
She has to come up with her own poems, because the ones used by Daniels have been copyrighted. She hopes to enlist the help of her son, perhaps some older schoolmates, the Girl Scouts, etc.
It's an awesome task just to cut the cards, Delgado said, and she welcomes ANY volunteers. Call her at 239-1163 or mail cards to 47-158 Lile Place, Kaneohe, 96744.
Asked why she decided to do this, Delgado said, "The morning after the (Kokua Line) article came out, my baby slept in instead of waking up." That gave her time she ordinarily wouldn't have. "I started reading the paper and saw the article," she said.
"Maybe my baby sleeping in was some kind of sign that this is a way for me to get involved."
Meanwhile, Daniels said she has leads on some people like Cindy Delgado and would let us know if they, too, are up to the task.
We bought food at a fast-food restaurant recently and when we got home, we found three hairs in the french fries. What happened to the law that said food workers had to wear hair nets? We never see people wearing hair nets anymore when fixing food. We told the restaurant about the hair, but there was no concern about the problem. They just said we could get a free meal the next time. That's very discouraging. The state Department of Health regulation is that "the director may require that food-handling employees effectively restrain their head and facial hair to prevent the contamination of food or food contact surfaces," said Brian Choy, chief of sanitation.
That means it's not required that all food workers wear a restraint on their heads -- whether a hair net or cap, he said.
"We will require it when we believe there may be a problem," Choy said.
Food preparers will usually be required to wear at least a cap, while those putting the finished product in bags, for example, would not, he said.
If you would like to pursue your complaint or have the restaurant policy reviewed, call Choy's office at 586-8000 and an inspector will be sent to the establishment.
To the woman driving a silver Geo Prism eastbound on the H-1 about 9:15 a.m. Sept. 6. You were traveling way above the speed limit and had no intention of letting me in the Honolulu offramp. You made that clear by giving me the finger. Auwe
By the time we reached the Punahou offramp, you were still mad and called me an obscenity. You should consider your actions. I was basically understanding, but the next time, you may not be so lucky. Please change your driving attitude. -- C.F.
To a young woman driver in a reddish car. About 5:30 p.m. Sept. 10, going Diamond Head on Vineyard Boulevard at Alakea. Choke cars. You thought I was cockroaching, but I was trying to let some cars pass behind me. Sorry I barked at you. -- Haole Apologies
