Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 29, 2021)
12A | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2021 | SIUSLAW NEWS How to plan a safe New Year’s Eve night out New Year’s Eve is a popular night to paint the town red. That popularity could skyrocket even further as the world says goodbye to 2021 and ushers in 2022. Many cities and millions of individuals toned down their New Year’s Eve shenani- gans a year ago, as the COVID-19 pan- demic made it hard to celebrate safely. But the rollout of three effective vaccines has beckoned revelers out of their homes, and that could make for an especially rowdy New Year’s Eve. Fun might be the top priority on New Year’s Eve, but safety must be in the mix as well. As individuals make plans for a night out this New Year’s Eve, it can help to keep these safety tips in mind. • Utilize a car service. Whether it’s a ridesharing service like Uber, a taxi cab or even a private limousine for large parties, leave the New Year’s Eve driving to the professionals. This ensures that no one will drive after having too much to drink. Even revelers who can control their alcohol consumption should avoid driving if they plan to drink. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a person need not be legally impaired to experience impairment. Drivers with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 are considered to be legally impaired. But the NHTSA reports that a BAC of .05 can reduce coordination, lead to a reduced ability to track moving objects, make it difficult to steer, and produce a slow- er-than-normal response to emergency driving situations. • Go out for dinner first. Experts at the University of Notre Dame’s McDonald Center for Student Well-Being note that having food, especially foods that are high in protein, in your stomach prior to consuming alcohol will help slow the processing of that alcohol. Someone who has not eaten will typically hit a peak BAC between 30 minutes and two hours of drinking. But someone who has eaten will typically peak between one and six hours of drinking depending on the quantity of alcohol consumed. • Make a plan. Overconsumption of alcohol is not the only potential danger lurking on New Year’s Eve. Large crowds can make it easier for friends to become separated, especially if they plan to visit more than one establishment before or after the clock strikes 12. When going out with a group on New Year’s Eve, create an itinerary, complete with meet-up spots, for the entire night. This ensures anyone who gets lost can easily find his or her way back to the group. Individuals who are wandering alone on New Year’s Eve may be vulnerable to criminals who are looking to prey on people whose inhibitions have been lowered by alcohol and/or the festive atmosphere of the night. A rowdy New Year’s Eve may be on tap as the world ushers in 2022. That likeli- hood only underscores the importance of emphasizing safety when going out this December 31. Family-friendly activities for New Year’s Day SEASON’S GREETINGS From our banking family to you and yours BANK ON OPB member OPBC.COM People spend so much time planning New Year’s Eve revelry that they may not consider that they have another day on the holiday calendar to enjoy after the clock strikes 12. New Year’s Day activities may differ significantly from the countdowns and parties of the night before, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be equally enjoyable. Chances are children are home from school for holiday breaks, meaning New Year’s Day activi- ties should probably be family-friendly. Check out these family-friendly ways to spend New Year’s Day. • Catch (or play) a football game. New Year’s Day and football go hand in hand, and families can likely find a game on television to enjoy together. Of course, it’s also fun to burn off a few New Year’s Eve calo- ries by playing a game of football in the backyard on January 1. • Host a New Year’s Day meal. Give people plenty of time to recover from last nights’s antics by in- viting neighbors or friends and their children over for a brunch, late lunch or early dinner. Potlucks are great for these occasions because no one will likely want to cook for a crowd. • Enjoy a movie mar- athon. Spend the day in comfortable clothes and make a new family tradition. Select one movie for each family member to watch and then cue up the streaming service or dust off that DVD player. Use holiday mugs for hot cocoa and dig into any leftovers from holiday dinners. If a marathon at home isn’t up your alley, check out the showings at a nearby theater and enjoy an afternoon at the cinema. • Take a hike. Enjoy the cold weather up close and personal with a hike in the brisk air. State parks or nearby nature pre- serves may not be busy on January 1, making them an even more relaxing respite. • Tackle an organizational project. Get the whole family together and take on a project that has been pushed aside, such as orga- nizing the garage or clean- ing out the refrigerator. • Volunteer with a local charity. Give back to the community and start off the new year on a positive note by volunteering as a family. New Year’s Day presents an ideal opportunity to spend time together as a family. To our clients and fellow community members: e realize you have a choice when choosing a real estate professional to represent you and we strive to continue earning your business. Thank you for including Windermere Real Estate in your selection process when buying or selling your home. Here’s to a long and prosperous partnership in the years to come. Th is year and all those to follow, may you and your loved ones be blessed with good health and happiness. Happy Holidays! W To the Realtors of Windermere Real Estate: ongratulations on a successful 2021! Th ank you for all your hard work and dedication in this exciting real estate market. With resourcefulness and market knowledge, you maintained the high standards of professionalism and service our clients have come to expect from brokers at Windermere Real Estate. C We are truly proud to be affi liated with Lane County’s premier real estate company, comprised of dedicated, full time brokers, who have worked hard over the years to build the superb reputation we enjoy today. You, our Realtors, have been integral to the accomplishments Windermere has achieved. Th ank you and Cheers to 2022! Sincerely, Elliott Wood and Alec Armour Windermere Real Estate/Lane County Florence | 1625 12th Street Offi ce 541 997 5926 windermere.com | COOS BAY | EUGENE | FLORENCE | MEDFORD | ROSEBURG