St. Louis Proprietors Online Commercial Opposing Proposition N

KMOX VIDEO: Gary Voss & Bill Hannegan Oppose Proposition N

Both Gary Voss, Executive Director of the St. Louis Bowling Proprietors Association and Bill Hannegan of Keep St. Louis Free were the featured panelists opposing Proposition N on the Nov. 3 St. Louis County ballot.

KMOX Prop N Debate: Gary Voss Featured Panelist

Unedited podcast of The Mark Reardon Show on KMOX, Monday Oct. 26, debate of Proposition N, the no smoking referendum, on St. Louis County's ballot November 3rd. Representing the opponents are Gary Voss, St. Louis Bowling Proprietors Executive Director, and Bill Hannegan, of Keep St. Louis Free.

http://podcast.kmox.com/kmox2/2025839.mp3

ALERT: Gary Voss on KTRS "The McGraw Show" this morning

St. Louis Bowling Proprietors Exec. Director Gary Voss will appear this morning at 7:50 on KTRS radio's "The McGraw Show".

He'll be talking about the St. Louis County Proposition N referendum, and it comes off his appearance yesterday at KMOX. Video of that appearance will be posted shortly.

If Citizens for Prop N Use This, They're Crazy!

BOWLING HOOD endorses voting no against Proposition N on the Nov. 3 ballot in St. Louis County.

If the proponent use this ad, then there's going to be a real issue!


New Anti-Smoking Ads Warn Teens 'It's Gay To Smoke'

SIMON SEZ: A New USBC Record?

THREE'S A CROWD: Last Thursday in the Businessman's league at Show Me Lanes, Dale Butler, Joe Nolan and Don Griffin all shot 300 games - in the same game.

Until a couple of months ago, it would have been easy to find out if this was a USBC for the most 300 games thrown in one game by a team. But since the inception of the new USBC website, the record link was removed.

Does anyone have a good memory? Do you know of any team that had three 300 games in the same game? If so, let Bowling Hood know.

GOOD JOE: It was only the first 300 game in the past week for Nolan. He opened the Gran Prix Over/Under Doubles Tournament with one and has two so far in the Masters traveling league. Not bad for two months work! And to think he was "retired" for a bit before returning this fall.

NOW, BACK TO THE USBC: I like the look of their new website and the features are particularly good. What I don't like are the lack of a link to USBC records and forum management. Prior to the change, anyone could post messages freely in the forums and often times, the discussion was spirited and for the most part positive.

Since the change, all messages are screened for approval before posting. In America, we can express our feelings freely without reprisal, as long as they are reasonable. Many forums do moderate for content and remove that which is libelous or slanderous and that's fine. But the USBC has restricted its forum too much. And it shows with the number of postings much fewer than before.

You have to register your USBC membership number when logging into the forum. Our membership means we own the forum. And from some of the messages Bowling Hood has seen posted, they want the forums opened up the way they were before the website change.

Bowling - anything - is better when there is inclusion rather than exclusion.

LAST WEEK TO BUY HALL OF FAME DINNER TICKETS: The annual St. Louis USBC Hall of Fame Dinner is Sunday November 1, but the deadline to order tickets is Sunday October 25.

The 2008-09 Inductees: Superior Performance Male –Thomas Shucart, Meritorious Service to Youth Bowling,- Thomas Dawson.

Our scholarship winners include Brandon Monroe, Jennifer Wesley, Theresa Mullineaux, and Ryan Moyie. And the St Louis USBC Male Bowler of the Year is Donald Griffin, and the Female Youth Bowler of the Year is Stephanie Bergman.

Ticket prices are $32.00 and tickets may be ordered individually or by tables of eight (8).


Unfortunately, Dave Harmon won't be there. The prominent bowler and St. Louis USBC Director died of cancer last month.

Remember Dave in two ways - one, you can donate Dave's favorite charity by contacting Reynold Blondin of Gran Prix Tours. He has raised more than $600 so far and those who donate receive the commemorative bowling shirt iron-on decal shown to the left. You can contact Reynold through his website using the link above or donate the next time you enter a Gran Prix event.

I'll be there - you should be too,.

PBA BACK ON TV: Sunday, ESPN, check your local listing for time. Year 9 of the Microsoft boys regime. Difference this year, most of the shows the next few weeks were taped in Detroit. I didn't follow who won them, don't really care. Anyone who does know who won them all either has a good memory or needs a hobby. Enjoy, they're always fun to watch.

BLAST FROM THE PAST: After sitting next to the Hall of Famer Ray Bluth recently at a St. Louis USBC meeting, I looked all over for Ray Bluth bowling video. Unfortunately, I couldn't find one of him in action on tour or with the famed Budweiser team.

But I was able to find a video of him in an Ebonite commercial from 1968. Yes, bowling balls were advertised - and this one is a minute long! Black and white films too. Very retro. ]

Prop N Story: KSDK Channel 5 St. Louis

KSDK -- The decision is yours. On November 3, St. Louis County voters will have the chance to weigh in on the hotly contested county-wide smoking ban, and those on all sides of the issue are working hard to have their voices heard.

In the Loop Wednesday morning, the opposition, which includes smokers as well as smoke shop and bowling alley owners, gathered to discuss reasons to vote 'No' against Proposition N. They said the bill will drive those in the county to go elsewhere to do business and, therefore, cause a loss of jobs and revenue.

The law would exempt casinos, private residences, cigar bars and airport smoking lounges. Some of those for it wish there weren't exemptions, but have said this is as good as it's going to get right now.

"Even though smoking is very unpopular, by putting in these restrictions, we embolden government to take away other freedoms, other property rights in the future," said Bill Hannegan, director of Keep St. Louis Free. "I think it's very important for county voters to draw a line in the sand and tell government, 'No further.'"

"As such, do I think it's a good bill? Yes, it's miles ahead of what we've got right now," said Charles Gatton, chairman of County Citizens for Cleaner Air. "It accomplishes most of what we could ask for in terms of cleaner air."

Those who oppose the bill plan to make their next stop at the Board of Aldermen meeting Friday morning at 10.

Bowling Proprietors Prop N Position: KWMU Radio

Scott Simon, Greater St. Louis Bowling Proprietors Association,

and Jon Rand, Discount Smoke Shops, 

attend a press conference in University City Wednesday.

(KWMU photo) 

ST. LOUIS, MO (St. Louis Public Radio) - Owners of several restaurants, smoke shops and other small businesses announced their opposition today to St. Louis County's proposed smoking ban.

Proposition N will be on the county ballot November 3rd. It calls for a ban on smoking in some indoor public places, exempting casinos, smoking lounges at Lambert Airport and drinking establishments that earn 75 percent or more of their sales from alcohol.

Gerard Ezvan, owner of Jon's Pipe Shop in Clayton, says his business would be hurt by a ban.

"Owners of bars and restaurants should have the right to decide if they wish to have a smoking or non-smoking establishment. Let the marketplace decide and keep the government away," Ezvan said.


Marty Ginsburg, owner of the Sports Page Bar and Grill in Chesterfield, says the economic impact of such a ban could be devastating.

"Business is tough enough as it is now and to put another spoke in the wheel or whatever, another nail in the casket and say that nobody can smoke in bars and restaurants particularly I think it's wrong," said Ginsburg.
Proponents of the smoking ban say that, while it's not perfect, it would help reduce second hand smoke for customers and employees.

Indoor smoking is already banned in Illinois, as well as the Missouri towns of Ballwin and Arnold. Clayton has approved a ban and St. Louis City aldermen will vote soon on a ban, as well.

St. Louis Post Dispatch: Bowling Proprietors in News about Smoking Ban Proposal

Smoking ban would hurt bowling alleys, group says

By Margaret Gillerman

ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

10/15/2009

UNIVERSITY CITY — The smoking ban on the Nov. 3 ballot in St. Louis County would severely hurt bowling alleys there if passed, a proprietors' group said Wednesday.

Representatives of the 23-member Greater St. Louis Bowling Proprietors Association were at a news conference Wednesday in the Delmar Loop to announce their opposition to Proposition N.

Carolyn Haupt, who owns Hazelwood Bowl, said her business had been off since the Ford plant in Hazelwood closed in March 2006.

"If the St. Louis County smoking ban passes, that will be the nail in our coffin," Haupt said.

Also voicing opposition to the ban were a coalition of owners of bars, restaurants, tobacco shops and others making up Citizens Against Proposition N.

Scott Simon, a spokesman for the bowling association, and its president, Tom Shucart, said they planned a media campaign to oppose the ban.

Haupt said about half the bowlers at her alley smoke.

"Nobody is trying to condone smoking, but the ban doesn't give us an even playing field," Haupt said.

The ban would prohibit smoking in indoor public areas countywide except on casino floors, in smoking lounges at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport and in bars whose income from food is 25 percent or less of gross income.

On the other side, supporters of Proposition N have formed their own committee, County Citizens for Cleaner Air. Advocates of a ban say also that the St. Louis area and Missouri lag far behind most of the rest of the country in adopting bans. Only Clayton, Ballwin and Arnold have adopted bans and a ban is on the ballot in Kirkwood in November. Other Missouri cities with bans include Kansas City, Columbia and Springfield. Illinois has a statewide ban.

At the news conference, Jon Rand, president of Discount Smoke Shops and a ban opponent, said that as long as neighboring jurisdictions do not have smoking bans, St. Louis County businesses could be hurt by a ban.

"Why would you want to drive business from one county to another — put jobs in jeopardy — during a time like this?" Rand said.

The Rev. Harold Hendrick of the Bott Radio Network said St. Louis County government was "coddling casinos" by exempting casino floors.

"Once again, government has caved in to predatory casinos," he said.

St. Louis Bowling Proprietors in the News about Smoking Ban

THE CAMPAIGN BY THE GREATER ST. LOUIS BOWLING ASSOCIATION IS UNDERWAY, KICKED OFF WEDNESDAY IN A JOINT APPEARANCE WITH CITIZENS AGAINST PROPOSITION.

STORY AND PHOTO, COURTESY OF KMOX

Tobacco fight -- smoking ban debate gets hot in city and county

Kevin Killeen Reporting
kakilleen@cbs.com

UNIVERSITY CITY, MO (KMOX)  -- Like a cigar gripped in the teeth of an eager puffer,   the debate over the proposed St. Louis city and county smoking ban is blazing hot and billowing.

A coalition of merchants and others against the ban in St. Louis County warns it will hurt business and may be unconstitutional , while the author of the smoking ban bill in the city insists it will save lives.

At a news conference in University City, a group that includes bar owners,  tobacco merchants and an evangelical preacher blasted the ban.

Bar owner Marty Ginsberg, who runs the Sports Page Bar and Grill in Chesterfield, says the ban would come at a bad time, on top of the recession and as the Cardinals died in the playoffs.

"The cash flow is not what it used to be, " Ginsberg said, "And if this would go into effect, every little bit hurts.  It's a tough enough business as it is."

The owner of John's Pipe Shop in Clayton, Gerard Ezvan,  says he fears fewer people would buy tobacco from him.  "We have customers coming into the shop to buy a cigar on their way to have a drink," Ezvan said,  "If there's a ban, they're not going to stop in the shop to a buy a cigar to enjoy it."

The President of the Greater St. Louis  Bowling Proprietors Association,  Tom Shucart , says the 23
bowling alleys in St. Louis County may suffer a loss of business.

"A certain percentage of our bowlers  smoke," Shucart said, "and if they're not able to do something they would chose to in a certain area, then they're going to take their business elsewhere, and we're going to lose that money to some other form of entertainment, casinos or whatever."

Both proposed bans in the city and county would exempt casino floors and that's what bothers the Reverend Harold Hendrick, a nonsmoker, but longtime opponent of gambling.

"It points to an unhealthy, defacto partnership of government with casinos," Hendrick said.  "In this case the government is willing to exclude casinos because it certainly appears they hope all the citizens possible will go the casinos and lose as much money as possible."

St. Louis County voters are set to decide the issue November 3rd.

Meanwhile, the St. Louis City Board of Aldermen is set to open debate Friday on a smoking ban that would be enacted simultaneous with the county.

After going through committee like a bale of tobacco chopped up and cured for market,  the bill now includes the exemption for casino floors, plus a five year moratorium for small bars less than 15-hundred square feet.  (Some aldermen own small bars.)

The sponsor of the bill, Central West End Alderwoman Lyda Krewson, says all the huffing and puffing over the potential of lost business is not the issue.  "I think most of the voters in St. Louis city understand that this is a health issue, " Krewson said, "that second hand smoke is really bad for all of our health."

Krewson also disputes the claims of those who say it will hurt business, citing a study out of Columbia, Missouri.  "There is a study from Columbia, Missouri when they enacted smoke free legislation," Krewson said, "The sales tax or the revenue from bars actually went up from year to year."

When asked if the study may have been skewed by the number of Mizzou students who turned twenty-one that year,  Krewson laughed and said doesn't  know if that may have been a factor.
Despite all the opposition to her vision of enacting the simultaneous smoking ban,  Krewson remains convinced that the majority is on her side.

"Nationwide, about 20-percent of the population smokes, "Krewson said, "In Missouri, it's about 25 percent.  So, certainly the vast majority of people don't smoke.  And smokers are used to going outside to smoke, even in their own homes."

Gran Prix Tournament Stands Tall for Dave Harmon

As BOWLING HOOD reported a couple of weeks ago, the Gran Prix Doubles Tournament was renamed for the late Dave Harmon, and that a fund raiser was established during the event.

We received this email from long-time Gran Prix Tournament Director Reynold Blondin:

"Dave was my best friend and partner in Gran Prix Pro Shops and that is why I dedicated the Hazelwood Doubles to him.

 "I asked for a 'Moment of Silence' from the bowlers and had a '12 Bowler Salute' to Dave at Hazelwood and also at Imperial. I raffled off a Visionary ball and 2 bags that were donated by Terry Lines of Trio Bowlers Supply. We collected $585 which I presented to Janet Harmon for Dave's favorite charity."

Folks, there's a reason why the Gran Prix Tournaments have been around for 29 years. Reynold Blondin is a stand up guy who loves bowling and the people involved. This week's big time thank you is sent to Reynold and Terry.

Update on St. Louis City Smoking Ban Proposal

Bill Hannegan at Keep St. Louis Free informs BOWLING HOOD that the Health and Human Services Committee may consider exempting only the bar area of bowling centers

The proposal is being made by 9th Ward Alderman Ken Ortmann.

Bowling proprietors and bowlers at Epiphany, Moolah and Flamingo Bowl should contact Health and Human Services Committee Chairman Greg Carter to voice their opinion - by calling 314-382-7700.

 

SIMON SEZ: We Play The Hits - 6,000 and counting....

Two months ago, I thought we'd get 1,000 visits after a month and maybe 2,500 after two. Instead, BOWLING HOOD got 6,000 visits.

So this week's big thank you goes out to YOU, the reader.

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So now you're seeing the site and the changes. The reason I didn't do a Simon Sez last weekend was 1) I needed a writer's vacation, and 2) I need to step back and look at the site.

One - the experimental site at www.bowlinghood.com/forum site is going down. It looks great, but the platform isn't user - meaning me - friendly. It doesn't offer as many features as I can on the original site.

So set your bookmark to http://bowlinghood.blogspot.com. And while your there, please register so you can enjoy more features from the site.

Hope you like the Yogi Berra feature in the left column. My favorite Berra-ism involved the late Jack Buck:

How long have you known me, Jack?

And you still don't know how to spell my name.

(Upon receiving a check from Jack Buck made out to "Bearer".)

And check out a couple of new items too on the left - Amazon Deal of the Day, and St. Louis News.

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I enjoyed my luncheon address on Sept. 22 at the monthly Greater St. Louis Bowling Centers Association meeting at Hazelwood Bowl. The food Carolyn and Tom had for us was better than most 3-star restaurants.

Those who attended are the real troopers of bowling, making it possible for you to bowl and doing it often with hard sweat and finger-in-the-dike response to what you want.

And they are genuinely concerned about the Proposition N referendum on St. Louis County's ballot Nov. 3.

Why are they concerned? For those of you not in the bowling management business, here's what's at stake after doing some research with top analysts the past ten days.

In states that have had smoking bans forced on bowling centers, the average loss of business was about 8 percent. For a 32-lane bowling center, that translates to an average of $90,000 in lost business per center. For a 24-lane center, the loss averaged $68,000 per center.

You might think, so what, they make money. The fact is that about.1/3rd of the centers affected went from a profit to a loss in the first year. Half of those centers did return to profitability the 2nd year of the ban, but the fallout for the other half resulted in a lot of centers closing their doors. I know Spillway Lanes in Springfield, Il. was a casualty a couple of years ago after the city there banned smoking before Illinois mandated it last year.

So my address to them focused on the dynamics of voter emotion about referendums and motivating them to vote. I think several of them left more confident it could be defeated.

And BOWLING HOOD has learned that longtime referendum opponent Tom Sullivan is on board to oppose Prop N. Bill Hannegan of Keep St. Louis Free continues to work tirelessly on this issue and we've also learned that Sullivan's campaign committee, Citizens Against Proposition N has secured bowler Kurt Schimmer to be their treasurer.

To those proprietors and managers who didn't attend, I don't get it. You knew what the topic would be for the proprietor's meeting. This proposal if passed will cost you a lot of money and you'll have to make business decisions that are a lot tougher than what you're facing right now.

Your apathy in regards to the political process is ridiculous considering the emotional climate in this country. Seen the Tea Party protests on TV? You think it's a fad? Then you St. Louis nay-saying proprietors ought to get out to the TP rally from 4-7 p.m. today at Frontier Park in St. Charles. The weather will be good, the speakers even better, and the message the most important asset of all.

One proprietor who will remain nameless complained about his County Councilperson's vote on Prop N. Did he show up at the proprietors meeting about the issue? Nope. Guys like him are hot air and all blow when they don't show then wonder why government laws whacked their pocketbook.

And bowlers, how are affected? Centers will pass along the loss of business onto you with increased prices. Bowling is still the best value for recreational sport and game activity. But proprietors aren't in the business for fun and games. They like it but they're there to earn a living, one that isn't lavish.

Think of them the next time you bowl league or take your kids out for fun.

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One of the nicest things I'll always remember from the proprietors meeting is being able to sit next to the Hallf of Famer Ray Bluth.

So I thought this week's video segment should feature Ray. But instead of seeing him bowl, look at Ray in a bowling commercial. Yes kids, bowling companies used to advertise on television!



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Tino DeFranco also was in attendance, still doing his sit-down comedy as he let hear for years on KMOX. I'm nudging Ron Jacober to bring back a small bowling segment on Sports Open Line for a Sunday Morning. I heard Ron was a helluva bowler some years ago. Ron - we've got an opening in the Press Radio TV league on Mondays!


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REALLY SMART GUYS REPORT: I've bowled with two doctors in my lifetime. Dr. Robert Glass and Dr. Steve Moehrle. Bob, as you might remember, won the PBA Senior Bowler title in three straight years. Steve bowls the Press Radio TV league at Olivette. After not bowling this summer, he shoots 762 in his second set back on the lanes. Like riding a bike, you don't forget!

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Congrats to Ken Bourisaw, 845 at Show Me Lanes. Don't know what his games were. Who cares? They were all high! Makes up for his near 300 miss from week one of the Thursday Businessman's League.

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HI BOB! Super kudos to Bob Quinn at West County Lanes who gets the Bill Gates Bowling IT award of the week award. He's designed the new St. Louis Bowling Proprietors website - and ti's also the official website for the Mid America High School Bowling League which got underway last Sunday. It brings back fond memories of my days in the old Catholic conference league in the early 70's at the now-defunct St. Mary Magdalen Lanes while bowling for DeSmet.

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BOWLING ON TV: Don't forget, bowling is back on Sunday TV. The U.S. Women's Open the next three Sunday's, then the start of the PBA tour on October 25. Check out www.pba.com, www.bowl.com and www.go.espn.com for air times in your area.

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TOURNAMENTS AROUND HERE THIS WEEKEND: Tomorrow (Saturday), Scratch Doubles at Hazelwood Bowl, 10am.

The Metro East Men's 700 Club bowls at DuBowl Sunday, 9:15 start time. Dear DuBowl: It's ok to have an email link on your site. It's allowed. Government hasn't banned or taxed it...yet. Roll for the Dough bowls at Riverboat Lanes in Godfrey.

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That's all for now. Enjoy the new design and features of BOWLING HOOD. And don't forget, we're on Facebook too.

Hey, we even broke down and now we tweet too, at Twitter, screen name is BowlingHood.