1996 BEGINS WITH KWANZAA, CAR WASH

Cheryl Martz of Cape Girardeau went to a self-service car wash Monday so she could begin the new year with a clean automobile.

Not everyone spent New Year's Day watching bowl games on television.

From Kwanzaa to the car wash, area residents found plenty to do Monday.

The last day of Kwanzaa, a seven-day celebration that promotes African-American unity and heritage, was observed New Year's Day.

Kwanzaa has been celebrated for 30 years. It annually begins on Dec. 26 and is based on African harvest traditions.

About 30 people gathered Monday afternoon at the Salvation Army building in Cape Girardeau to observe the final day of Kwanzaa by sharing a meal and hearing from Jessica Slaughter, the author of "From Both Sides of the Street."

Slaughter, a resident of St. Louis, told stories of misbehavior during her childhood in Mississippi and dealing with her own children during their "bad" periods. Looking back, she now cherishes and laughs at those experiences.

"Laughter is good for us," she said. "Merrymaking is good for the soul."

Despite the cold and drizzle Monday afternoon, Cheryl Martz of Cape Girardeau washed her white car at a self-service car wash on William Street.

"I had nothing better to do so I decided to wash the car," she said as she rinsed the soap from the front of her car.

Martz wasn't alone. Several other people stopped at the car wash to give their vehicles a bath.

Two 14-year-old boys ushered in the new year doing what they enjoyed doing in 1995: skateboarding.

Phillip Ulrich and Jacob Dickey rode their skateboards on the concrete steps and sidewalk in front of the Arena Building Monday afternoon before becoming disillusioned with the dampness.

"It's too wet," said Ulrich, who worried that his banged up skateboard wouldn't last.

The teen-agers said they hope to improve their skateboarding skills this year.

"It's just fun. It's a challenge," said the sock-cap-clad Dickey.

Calvin J. Troxell of Marble Hill spent his holiday getting his four-wheel-drive truck ready for winter weather.

Troxell bought auto parts Monday at the Cape Girardeau AutoZone store.

"If you've got a car, you've always got something to spend your money on," said Troxell.

Joel and Rhonda Evans of Sikeston just built a new home. They moved in Christmas Eve. On New Year's Day, they were at Hancock Fabrics in Cape Girardeau to buy fabric to make into curtains for their home.

"We're both kind of crafty. We will buy it and see what happens," said Rhonda Evans.