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Show Page F8 — THE DAILY HERALD,Provo, Utah, Thursday, May 9, 1996 Twins unofficial mascots of San Francisco By MARTHAIRVINE Associated Press Writer SAN FRANCISCO Don't ask them when they were born There's no need to inquire about when they graduated from high school or ask for any other piece of information that would give away their age. Twins Vivian and Marian Brownaren’t about to budge. “We're 2I-plus,” the perky retirees like to say Even Ellis Schuman, their piano teacher for 10 years, does: n't know “It’s the best-kept secret in San Francisco, as far as the twins are concerned,” Schumansays, ge is, after all, everything > identical pair who've thecity’s unofficial mas cots. Known as the San Francis coT jave gained inter national g n, Starring in commercials and on_ billboards for everything from Reebok athletic shoes to IBM, Southwest Airlines and Joe Boxer underwear The fame has made them sticklers about collecting any and ull photographs taken of them “We have more thana thousand,” Mariansays. Around town, the self-proclaimed clothes horses are known for their perfectly matched outfits and overlapping banter that has earned them the nicknames “Chip and Dale.” “Their whole attitude is very uplifting.” Schuman says. © matter how muchthey giggle, don’t take these pushovers. “We do what we wantto do,” Vivian says. “If we don’t want to do it — no way.” Andif they have something to say. they say it — including opinions on everything from immigration policy (toughen it) to safe sex (they'refor it) and subsidized housing (there’s too muchofit). But appearance, especially whereclothing is concerned, has to betheir favorite topic “Wesay kids today all dress alike. It’s awful. All those bagg pants,” Marian says. “When people dress up, they look like they're going places.” Their own clothing — right downto the accessories — is a study in repetition, as is just about everything else in their lives. They've lived in the saine rent-controlled apartment on NobHill since 1978, sharing one bedroom with (what else?) twin beds. Each day, they rise at 9 a.m. in time to watch “The Price is Right” at 10. When Marianis not cooking dinner on Tuesdays and Thursdays, they eat at the same series of restaurants every week. And, without fail, they show up 45 minutes late for church on Sundays so they miss the handclapping Pentecostal music “God is not deaf,” Vivian says, holding her ears. She quickly adds, “But the pastor preaches the Word.” Thelife they've created in San Francisco is a long way from Mattawan, Mich., the sleepy farming town where they grew up. As theytell it, the town had a grocery store, a filling station, a church and Mattawan High School, where the twins were covaledictorians. “But it wasn’t because we were geniuses,” says Marian, who,like her sister, couldn't wait to shake the snow of Mattawan and nearby Kalamazoo, where both received degrees in business administration at Western Michigan University Ever independent, they still roll their eyes at their late father’s suggestion that “Girls get married.” often tell the story ofa set of fraternal twins who asked for their respective hands years ago, but to noavail. “There's nothing glamorous about housework,” Vivian says. “Or changing babies’ diapers,” Marian adds. “I knew that I at age 16.” By DR. MICHAELL. FREEDMAN,M.D. NEW YORK (AP) — Are you getting enough calcium in your diet? For a lot of oider people, the answer could be no, because the current expert advice on dietary calcium intakeis off base. That advice is given in stan- Peete dards for people over 50 which are Ee ee set by the Food and Nutrition Board of the National Academy of Sciences. A new study done at the Department of Agriculture's Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University has concluded that those official recommendations on dietary calcium intake for middle-age and older adults are probably too hard for most people to meet. Calcium is important because ofits role in preventing osteoporosis, the bone-wasting condition common in older women (and sometimes men). There is also some recent evidence that it may help control blood pressure and help prevent cancerofthe colon. The current recommendation for over-65 adults is 1,500 milligramsa day in the diet, about the amount in five servings of dairy products such as yogurt or skim milk Many people don’t have that amountofdietary intake, the Tufts researchers say. They recommend a daily supplement, most practically in the formof an antacid pill that contains calcium carbonate. Butit’s even better to take a supplementthat includes vitamins and minerals along with the calcium, theysay, to keep the body's nutri ent supply in balance. By theearly 1970s, Vivian's chronic bronchial condition was worsening, prompting a move to San Francisco, their permanent homesince 1973 Important to take in enough calcium AP Photo Vivian, left, and Marian Brown, identical twins, The city has made Vivian and Marianits unoffi- shake a leg in their favorite city, San Francisco, on April 2 in front of the Transamerica building. cial mascots, and they are invited to attend many public and private events. Dr. Michael L. Freedmanis the Diane and Arthur Belfer Professor of Geriatric Medicine and Director of Geriatrics at New York University Medical Center. Weinvite every Provocitizen to become a Partnerin Education. Whateverourage,it may be the most important gamein town. Former Mayor,Verl G. Dixonlistens with a grandfather’s love and pride as his grandson David Kader, son of Abe and Linda Kader, reads to him. Former Mayor Dixon, who has givenhis life in public service to the Provo community, typifies the spirit of unselfish giving that has made Provogreat. Nowin his eighty-seventh year, he has until recently spent his afternoons tutoring schoolchildren with disabilities who need extra help with their academic work. Provo Partners in Education is a community-wide effort designedto help students become more productive, responsible, competent and caring citizens. Because it is a grass rootseffort, it will depends onevery citizen voluntarily doing his or her part. A Partners in Education newspaperhas beendelivered to each homein Provo, inviting members of that householdto pledge to donate either 1 hour per month or $1.00 per week to local schools. When you receive your copy, please read it, then make a pledge to participate. Weneed yourhelp. Our effort depends upon yourwillingnessto contribute at least 1 hour per monthof yourtime or $1.00 per week of your money. Won’t youplease read your copy of the Partners in Education newspaperand thenfill out a pink pledge sheet? Weinvite you to join us as Partners in Education. George Stewart, Mayor Provo City Kenneth Matheson, President Provo Board of Education Steven Densley, President Sherry Kay, President Chamber of Commerce Provo City PTA Council Margaret Black, President Provo Education Association Dillon Inouye, President Provo Education Foundation If for some reason, you don't receive a Parteers in Education newepeper, call 374-4802 and icave yourname and adders |