Local variables not being defined

[ken]

I've got the following at the end of the current buffer (an html file,
if that matters):

<!--
Local variables:
html-helper-timestamp-end: "hhmts end -->"
html-helper-timestamp-start: "<!-- hhmts start"
End:
-->

I load the file (once by reloading emacs, other times by C-x C-v).  Then
I do "C-h v html-helper-timestamp-start" and it gives me:

-----------------------------------------------------
html-helper-timestamp-start's value is
"<!-- hhmts start -->"

Documentation:
*Start delimiter for timestamps.
Everything between `html-helper-timestamp-start' and
....
-----------------------------------------------------

What's the bogusity?


tnx,
ken
-- 
"Peace hath her victories no less renown'd than war."
        --John Milton