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The 2008 Project Lift Off tickets were sold out in advance again this year for December 6.

The event was another great holiday season D.A.R.E. (Drug Awareness and Resistance Education) party for the 5th through 8th grade boys and girls who wanted to have a great time without alcohol, tobacco or drugs. The partygoers had the use of the James J. Eagan Civic Center. Their nominal admission in advance got them all the Fortels Pizza and Pepsi products they could consume as well as use of the ice rink, swimming pool, game room, gym and the arts and crafts room to sit and eat pizza with friends.

Half of the gym was set up for basketball contests and half was used for dancing and dancing contests with DJ Jeff Dickson providing their favorite music. Contests were also held on the dance floor, gym floor, ice rink, in the swimming pool and in the game room. Winners of all the contests and the door prize winners received a MISSOURI TIGERS gold T-shirt. Character artist Gene Rubble sketched over 200portraits.

I would like to publicly thank everyone who helped make Project Lift Off XX the best one ever. The Florissant Parks and Recreation Department is always assisting in preparing for and supervising not only Project Lift Off but many, many events for our residents and guests of all ages. They host monthly D.A.R.E. dances at the JFK Center the third Friday of each month from October to March. Special thanks to Todd Schmidt, Janet Steib, and The Florissant Youth Advisory Commission youth and adult members are a tremendous help every year.

Mayor Robert G. Lowery has always supported the D.A.R.E. movement and has a special love for the youth of our community. Thanks to the Police officers and Rangers who directed traffic and monitored the event. A special thanks also to D.A.R.E. Officers Cameron and Perry, who promoted the event in area schools with D.A.R.E. programs that teach drug, alcohol and tobacco resistance as well as tolerance and violence prevention.

The City provided the Civic Center facilities and pays for the salaries of the many City employees who work hard at Project Lift Off, including the rink guards and skate rental personnel, the lifeguards at the swimming pool, the recreational staff, the concession stand staff, the rangers and the police officers. The prizes, the pizza, soda, character artist, DJ, advertising, and printing for the event are underwritten by Florissant Service organizations with generous donations.

I would like to give sincere thanks to all of the service organizations that supported Project Lift Off. Generous donations came from the American Legion, the VFW and Vietnam Veterans of America and their auxiliaries, the Florissant Optimist Club, the Rotary, the Elks, the Lions, the Kiwanis, the Soroptimist, the Knights of Columbus, the North County Athletic and Social Club, the Florissant Valley Jaycees, and the Christian Hospital Auxiliary. Thanks also to the North County Labor Legislative Club, the Florissant Valley Chamber of Commerce, North County Inc., Fischer’s Pro Line Sports, and Goldmark Enterprises.

The monthly D.A.R.E. dances at the JFK Center will be held the 3rd Friday of January, February, and March. Dates for the 2009 Splish Splash Summer D.A.R.E. Bash and next year’s Project Lift Off will be announced soon. We hope to see you back next year, but remember to get your tickets early because we expect to have another sell-out.

Thank you and Happy New Year,
Tom Schneider
Florissant Council Member
Project Lift Off Founder

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