Public Safety Director's Spotlight - Sept. 11th Day of Service

 

9/11 Day of Service and Remembrance

Since 2009, September 11th has been observed and recognized as a National Day of Service and Remembrance.  Participating in Day of Service and Remembrance activities to commemorate the September 11th anniversary is a positive and respectful way to remember the lives of those lost, pay tribute to those who rose in service, and honor those who continue to serve our country today, including veterans, soldiers, military families, and first responders.  On September 11, 2013, and on the days leading up to and following this day, I encourage you to volunteer for a service project.  Here are a few activities to consider:

*  The United Way of Greater St. Louis is seeking more than 500 volunteers to participate in 9/11 Day of Service & Remembrance events from Sept. 11-14.  To find out about the events and sign up, log on to stlvolunteer.org/stlremembers or call (314) 539-4298.

*  The American Heart Association's Mobile Hands-Only CPR Unit will be in St. Louis from Sept. 7 -11 with the goal to train 1,000 people in Hands Only CPR.  During the free 15-minute training session, you will learn a skill that can save lives.  Additionally, everyone who gets trained will take home a free CPR Anytime Kit to show friends and family what they've learned.  The session in the city will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 11 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the campus of Saint Louis University in the Busch Student Center, 20 N. Grand Blvd.  For more information, visit the heart.org web site.

*  The Mission Continues is inviting volunteers to join its service project at the St. Louis Fire Department Headquarters and Training Facility, 1421 N. Jefferson on Saturday, Sept. 7 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.Volunteers will paint, landscape, and clean the facilities.  To register for the event, go to the missioncontinues.org/get-involved website.

 

Upcoming Events

Sept. 6 & 7 – 39^th Annual Polish Festival, Polish Falcons, 4 p.m.

The 39^th Annual Polish Festival will take place this Friday and Saturday at the Polish Falcons Gardens, located at 2013 St. Louis Avenue in the St. Louis Place neighborhood. Visitors will enjoy authentic Polish food and live polka music.  The EZ Tones from Chicago will play polka favorites starting at 6:30 p.m. each day.  Polish sausage, cabbage rolls, pastries and more will be available after 4 p.m. on Friday and again starting at Noon on Saturday.  The only Polka Dance Contest in Missouri will step off at 8 p.m. on Saturday.  Sign up for the contest will begin at 6:30 p.m.  Questions?  Call (314) 421-9614.

Sept. 6 - 8 -- Greater St. Louis Hispanic Festival, Kiener Plaza, 10 a.m.

The Greater St. Louis Hispanic Festival will take place this Friday, Saturday and Sunday in Kiener Plaza, located at Broadway and Market in exciting Downtown St. Louis.  Enjoy live Latino bands, folkloric dances, authentic food, Hispanic arts and crafts, a kids' corner, a parade of Hispanic nations and more.  The Festival will run from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday.  The parade will step off immediately following the opening ceremony which will begin at 5 p.m. Saturday. The 2011 St. Louis Cardinals World Series Trophy will be at the Festival at Noon on Sunday.  Go to hispanicfestivalstl.com for more information.

 

Sept. 7 – Skinker DeBaliviere State Fair, 6000 Kingsbury @ Des Peres Avenue, 10 a.m.

The Skinker DeBaliviere Community will hold its first Neighborhood State Fair this Saturday.  Neighborhood residents have been invited to submit items for judging in a number of categories including vegetables, fruit, livestock, flowers, preserves, baked goods, needlecrafts and handcrafts.  Ribbons will be awarded for best in show in each category.  Visitors will also be able to attend free lectures on such diverse topics as raising backyard chickens and canning fruits and vegetables.  The Fair will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Greg Freeman Park at Four Corners, 6000 Kingsbury at Des Peres Avenue.  Invite your family and friends to join you for this marvelous exhibition of items.

Sept. 7 – WiffleFest 2013, Ray Leisure Park, 10 a.m.

The Gathering United Methodist Church and Kingdom House have teamed up for a day of sports, play, food and fun.  Everyone is invited to stop by Ray Leisure Park , 1129 Park Avenue, this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to cheer the Wiffle Ball teams in WiffleFest 2013 and to enjoy washers, other games, a coaches clinic, and more.  Volunteers are also welcome.  Children five and up may join a Wiffle Ball team.  Batting tees will be available.  To learn more and to register, visit the gatheringnow.org web site.

Sept. 7 – Fabulous Flamingo Festival, Citygarden, 10 a.m.

The fabulous Citygarden in Downtown St. Louis will host its Fourth Annual Fabulous Flamingo Festival this Saturday from 10 a.m. to Noon.  The All Things Pink Parade will step off at 10:30 a.m.  Other activities include a costume contest, face painting, a balloon artist, stilt walker and family fun.  For more information, visit the citygardenstl.org web site.

Sept. 7 – 30^th Annual Great Fire Engine Rally, Soldiers' Memorial Plaza, 10 a.m.

The 30^th Annual Great Fire Engine Rally will take place this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the area surrounding Soldiers' Memorial Plaza (13^th and Chestnut) in beautiful Downtown St. Louis.  A procession of new and vintage fire apparatus will travel from Jefferson and Market, east on Market to Tucker, north on Tucker to Pine, west on Pine to 13^th.  To learn more about all the activities planned, visit the firefightersweekend.com web site.

Sept. 7 - St. Louis Classic Cocktail Party & Free Concert, Lafayette Park, 6 p.m.

The Lafayette Square Concert Series will continue this Saturday by the gazebo in Lafayette Park, Mississippi and Lafayette.  The evening will begin with the St. Louis Classic Cocktail Party from 5 to 6 p.m.  Then the free concert featuring PowerPlay Band will run from 6 - 9 p.m.  Need more details?  Visit the LafayetteSquare.org web site.

Sept. 7 & 8 – LouFest Music Festival, Forest Park, Noon

 

This weekend's LouFest in Central Field in majestic Forest Park will bring national, regional and local musical acts together for two days of back-to-back concerts.  Visitors also will be able to browse and shop the Market Square, enjoy delicious treats in the Nosh Pit and family-friendly activities in the LouKidz area.  The Festival will run from Noon to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.  For the complete schedule of performers and ticket information, go to the loufest.com web site.

 

Sept. 8 – 9/11 Interfaith Commemoration in Music, Sheldon Concert Hall, 5:30 p.m.

 

Arts & Faith St. Louis, a collaboration of St. Louis arts and faith leaders, will be hosting its Third Annual Sept. 11^th Interfaith Commemoration in Music this Sunday starting at 5:30 p.m. at the Sheldon Concert Hall, 3648 Washington Boulevard in Grand Center.  The free concert will feature renowned Grammy-winning soprano Christine Brewer, Grammy-winning jazz pianist Peter Martin, St. Louis Symphony Concertmaster David Halen, and the St. Louis Children's Choirs.  To learn more, visit the artsfaithstl.org web site.

 

Sept. 8 – Church Homecoming Festival, St. John Nepomuk Church, 11 a.m.

St. John Nepomuk Church will host its annual Homecoming Dinner and Festival on Sunday.  Dinners will be served from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the parish hall.  The $9 dinners will include roast pork or baked chicken, potato dumplings, sauerkraut, dessert and coffee.  Invite your friends to join you at this fun festival.  Need more information, call (314) 231-0141.

Sept. 10 -- Twilight Tuesdays Ameren Concert Series, Missouri History Museum, 6 p.m.

The Twilight Tuesdays Ameren Concert Series hosted by the Missouri History Museum will continue on Tuesday, Sept. 10 at 6 p.m.  Invite your friends and family to join you on the Museum's front lawn at Lindell and DeBaliviere for an evening of Top 40 hits by the Star Lifters.  For the complete schedule of performances, visit the mohistory.org web site.

Sept. 15 -- The Color Run, Poelker/Kaufmann Park, 6 a.m.

The most colorful run in St. Louis, the annual Color Run will return on Sunday, Sept. 15 in Downtown St. Louis.  Race the 5K route solo or form a Color Team.  The choice is yours.  For all the particulars about this family-friendly event, visit the thecolorrun.com web site.

 

Save the Date

Sept. 13 – Local Social, Maryland Plaza, 5 p.m.

Sept. 13 – Food Truck Friday, Tower Grove Park, 5 p.m.

Sept. 13 – Ghosts of the Arch Grounds, Gateway Arch, 7 p.m.

Sept. 14 – Jazz on the Greenway, Delmar & DeBaliviere, Noon

Sept. 14 – Movie in Carondelet Park, at the Bandstand, 7 p.m.

Sept. 14 – Row by Row Farm Ramble, Local Harvest Grocery, 8:30 a.m.

Sept. 14 – Soulard Concert Series, Soulard Market, 6 p.m.

Sept. 14 – Flea Market Tail Gate Sale, 4801 Page Avenue @ Walton, 9 a.m.

Sept. 14 & 15 – St. Raymond's Festival, St. Raymond Maronite Cathederal, 6 p.m.

Sept. 15 – 15^th Anniversary Carnival, City Academy, 3 p.m.

Sept. 15 – Yoga Within the Confluence, Gateway Arch, 9:30 a.m.

Sept. 15 – 17 – St. Louis Black Film Festival, Tivoli Theatre, times vary

 

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.

 

Public Meeting on Bus Rapid Transit

A new type of public transit service called Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is being explored by Metro and its regional partners -- the Missouri Department of Transportation, East-West Gateway Council of Governments, the City of St. Louis, and St. Louis County.  A public meeting/open house will be held at City Hall on Tuesday, Sept. 10 in Room 208 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., with a presentation at Noon.  Attendees will be asked to provide additional feedback on the corridors, service strategies, and station amenities.  To read more about the initiative, visit www.movingtransitforward.org/stlrapidtransit .