April is barely a week old, and I’ve already been reminded via form letters and/or press releases in the letters e-mailbox that it’s Alcohol Awareness Month, National Pet First Aid Awareness Month and (the first!) National Multiple Birth Awareness Month, among others – or so proclaimed by various nonprofit or trade organizations that are seeking publicity for their cause or product.

Such “awareness” months, weeks and days can be a key ingredient in promoting a worthy cause – most people are familiar with Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Domestic Violence Awareness Month and Fire Prevention Week, all in October. But according to brownielocks.com, a Web site that lists hundreds of such observations, October is also National Roller Skating Month, National Sarcastic Awareness Month, Squirrel Awareness Month, Lee’s National Denim Day, National Bring Your Teddy Bear To Work & School Day and National Chocolate Cupcake Day. (The site notes that “All our holidays are validated with sponsors or organizations.”)

Leaving out the obviously commercial or satirical, there’s only so much “awareness” that can be accommodated on an opinion page, and I have to be “aware” of writers trying to submit form letters or letters that serve to promote their own private business or practice. We used to get form letters from local members of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons who took advantage of Breast Cancer Awareness Month to tout breast reconstruction after mastectomy, reminding readers throughout the letter that they were “board-certified plastic surgeons” (giving those who were persuaded by the letter to consider such surgery a ready “expert” to contact). That kind of free advertising went a bit too far, but local non-profits are always welcome to raise “awareness” among our readers on important topics, in their own words and preferably in a way that ties into the Westchester-Putnam-Rockland readership area.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to celebrate “Fresh Florida Tomatoes Month” with a slice of cafeteria pizza (but I guess that chocolate cupcake will have to wait until October).