Public Safety Director's Spotlight - Driving on Super Bowl Sunday

 

Driving on Super Bowl Sunday

The Super Bowl is our nation's most anticipated sports event.  Millions of people watch the Super Bowl -- some for the exciting football plays and others for the commercials.  Some watch in sports bars or at private parties.  They share snacks, companionship and a few beers.  Some have a few more drinks than they should, then they get behind the wheel with tragic results.

If you will be attending a Super Bowl party, plan ahead for a safe ride home. If you will be hosting a Super Bowl party, I urge you to consider taking the following steps to protect your guests:

* Serve protein-rich and starchy foods that slow alcohol absorption.

* Serve a variety of non-alcoholic drinks.

* Do not serve alcohol to anyone under age 21.

* Stop serving alcohol during the third quarter of the game.

* Offer additional food and coffee during the final quarter.

* Do not let guests drive drunk. Call a taxi for anyone who is too impaired to drive.

 

Upcoming Events

Jan. 31 - Food Policy "Brown Bag" Speaker Series, Gateway Greening Office, Noon

The Food Policy "Brown Bag" Speaker Series will continue this Friday with Rhonda Smythe, Policy and Advocacy Manager for Trailnet, conducting an informal and participatory discussion on food policy, what it is, what are some of the main food policy focus areas being addressed both locally and nationally, and how people can get involved.  The discussion will take place from Noon to 1 p.m. at the Gateway Greening Office, located at 2211 Washington Avenue.  Please RSVP to Hannah at (314) 588-9600 ext. 104.

 

Jan. 31 -- St. Louis Poetry Center Trivia Night, Regional Arts Commission, 6:30 p.m.

The St. Louis Poetry Center will hold a Trivia Night this Friday from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the Regional Arts Commission, 6128 Delmar Boulevard in the Skinker-DeBaliviere neighborhood.  Trivia questions will focus on poetry and general knowledge.  Guests will also enjoy a silent auction, great raffle prizes and more.  Cost is $100 for a table of six; $20 for individuals at the door.  Questions?  Call (314) 503-0376.

 

Feb. 1 -- Arch Rival Roller Girls Trivia Night, German Cultural Society Hall, 6 p.m.

The Arch Rival Roller Girls will hold a Trivia Night this Saturday beginning at 6 p.m. at the German Cultural Society Hall, 3652 S. Jefferson Avenue.  Admission will include beer, wine, soda, and snacks.  Tickets are $20 per person, tables of 10.  Advance tickets are sold by table only.  Individuals and teams may also register at the door, on a first come, first served basis.  For more information, visit the Arch Rival Roller Girls Facebook page.

 

Feb. 1 -- Family Film Days, Missouri History Museum, 12:30 p.m.

Bring your family to the Missouri History Museum in Forest Park this Saturday for a free afternoon movie.  Light snacks will be offered.  Kids can enter to win a prize.  The movie, "Cinderella," will be shown starting at 12:30 p.m.  For a complete schedule of movies and showing dates on Family Film Days, visit the mohistory.org web site. 

 

Feb. 2 -- Friends of Tower Grove Park Lecture Series, Stupp Center in Tower Grove Park, 3 p.m.

The first of the Friends of Tower Grove Park Lecture Series will be held this Sunday beginning at 3 p.m. at the Stupp Center (Grand/Arsenal).  Andy Hahn of Campbell House Museum will present "Lucas Place: The Lost Neighborhood of St. Louis' Gilded Age." No reserved seats/tickets for this free event. Need more information?  Call (314) 771-2679.

Feb. 8 -- Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge Run, North Tucker Boulevard & Washington Avenue, 8:30 a.m.

You can be one of the first people to cross the Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge on foot before it opens to motor vehicle traffic on Sunday, Feb. 9.  Big River Running Company, Big River Race Management, and the St. Louis Sports Commission in coordination with the City of St. Louis, MoDOT and IDOT will present the Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge Run 6K on Saturday, Feb. 8 at 8 a.m. starting from N. Tucker Boulevard and Washington Avenue in exciting Downtown St. Louis.    Early registration (through 1/31/2014) is $30.  Late registration (2/1/2014 to 2/7/2014) will be $35 and Race Day registration will cost $40.  To learn more, call (636) 527-9700.

Saturdays from now through April 12 – Free Tax Preparation, Myrtle Hilliard Davis Comprehensive Health Center, 9 a.m.

Volunteers from the National Association of Black Accountants will provide free income tax preparation for elderly, disabled, and low-to-moderate income ($55,000 or less) individuals from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays at the Myrtle Hilliard Davis Comprehensive Health Center, 5471 Dr. Martin Luther King Drive in the Wells / Goodfellow neighborhood.  The service will be offered on Saturdays from Jan. 25 through April 12.  For more information, call (314) 367-5820.

Now through April 14 -- Free Tax Preparation, various locations, various times

Free volunteer tax preparation is now available at more than 100 locations throughout the St. Louis area for families making $52,000 or less.  Call United Way's 211 helpline for information on site locations, hours, and the list of documents to bring.  Electronic filing and direct deposit are available for fast refunds.  You may also get more information online at www.211Helps.org.  

 

Save the Date

Feb. 7 -- 20th Century Street Photography Exhibit, International Photography Hall of Fame & Museum, 7 pm.

Feb. 8 -- Friends of Places for People Trivia Gras, St. Vincent DePaul Church, 6 p.m.

Feb. 8 -- Trivia Night, St. Wenceslaus Parish Hall, 6:30 p.m.

 

Promoting Your Neighborhood Activities

Is there a neighborhood event on the schedule that you would like noted in the Spotlight? If so, you may email the information about it to me at deekenc@stlouis-mo.gov or to Cathy Smentkowski at smentkowskic@stlouis-mo.gov for consideration. You may also post it on the City's Calendar of Events on the City's web site:  http://stlouis-mo.gov.  The link to submit an event is on the home page. The listing is free. I encourage you to take advantage of this free way to promote your event.

 

Report to the Community

The fourth annual CityArchRiver 2015 Report to the Community will be presented on Wednesday, Feb. 5.  Project partners will speak on milestones achieved in the last year and upcoming activity for 2014.  The National Park Service, Great Rivers Greenway District, Missouri Department of Transportation, CityArchRiver 2015 Foundation, and project designers will provide updates to the public.  The doors to Ferrara Theatre at the America's Center, 701 Convention Plaza in Downtown St. Louis, will open at 5:30 p.m. with the presentation starting at 6 p.m.  For more details, visit the cityarchriver.org web site.

Charlene Deeken

Director of Public Safety

City of St. Louis