Public Safety Director's Spotlight - September 11th National Day of Service

 

September 11^th National Day of Service and Remembrance

On the anniversary of the September 11^th attacks, Americans will unite in service in the same remarkable way that so many came together following the attacks.  As in years past, service and remembrance activities will take place across our great nation.  There will be opportunities for hundreds of thousands of volunteers to paint and refurbish homes, run food drives, spruce up schools, support and honor veterans, soldiers, military families, and first responders.  I encourage you to find opportunities to serve during this year's September 11^th Day of Service and Remembrance as a tribute to the 9/11 victims, survivors, and those who rose up in service in response to the attacks.

Upcoming Events

Sept. 5 –Annual Firefighters' Candlelight Vigil, Poelker Park, 8 p.m.

The Sixth Annual Firefighters' Candlelight Vigil will take place this Friday at 8 p.m. in Poelker Park, Tucker and Market Street in Downtown St. Louis.  The names of more than 190 St. Louis Metro area firefighters who lost their lives in the line of duty will be read during the ceremony.  All are invited to attend this special evening.  For more information about all the events scheduled for Firefighters Weekend, visit the firefightersweekend.com web site.

Sept. 5 & 6 – 40^th Annual Polish Festival, Polish Falcon Gardens, 11 a.m.

The Polish Falcons of America will celebrate their 40^th Annual Polish Festival this Friday and Saturday at the Polish Falcon Gardens, located at 2013 St. Louis Avenue in the St. Louis Place neighborhood.  Enjoy authentic Polish food and pastries, music, Polish artifacts, games and more.  Lunch will be served from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Friday.  The Garden will open at 4 p.m. and dinner will be served from 4 –7:30 p.m.  On Saturday, the Garden will open at Noon and dinner will be served from Noon to 7 p.m.

Sept. 6 – Hamilton Heights Better Block Exhibition, 5600 block of Dr. Martin Luther King Drive, Noon

The Hamilton Heights neighborhood will hold a Better Block event this Saturday from Noon to 4 p.m. in the 5600 block of Dr. Martin Luther King Drive (between Clara and Blackstone).  Similar to, but more than a street or block festival, the Better Block Exhibition is a grassroots effort to show the potential to create a great walkable, vibrant neighborhood center.  The event will feature pop-up retail outlets, pop-up restaurants, naturescaping improvements, murals, temporary street adaptations to enhance the pedestrian and biking experience, presentations on development plans and properties, pocket park demonstrations, a variety of entertainment, and more!  Questions?  Call (314) 389-3363.

Sept. 6 – Annual Great Fire Engine Parade & Rally, Downtown, 10 a.m.

The 31^st Annual Great Fire Engine Parade and Rally will take place this Saturday in exciting Downtown St. Louis.  The parade, with more than 100 pieces of Fire and Emergency Services Vehicles, will step off at 10 a.m. from Market and 20^th Street and proceed east on Market to Tucker, north on Tucker to Pine, west on Pine to 20^th, south on 20^th to Chestnut, then east on Chestnut to Soldiers' Memorial Plaza where the parade will end..  Rally activities at Soldiers' Memorial Plaza will include a parade expo featuring firefighter themed booths and booth vendors with items to purchase, firefighter competitions, live demonstrations, a kids' town, a variety of food vendors and more.  Invite your family and friends to join you for one of the country's largest celebrations of the time honored traditions of the fire service.

Sept. 6 -- Fabulous Flamingo Festival, Citygarden, 10 a.m.

Celebrate all things pink by stopping by the Flamingo Festival this Saturday.  The free children's event and costume contest will run from 10 a.m. to Noon at Citygarden, 801 Market Street in exciting Downtown St. Louis.  The Costume Parade will start at 10:30 a.m., and costume judging will follow at 11 a.m.  Activities will include kids' games, face painting, a balloon twister and chalk drawing.  For more information, visit www.citygardenstl.org/.

Sept. 6 – WiffleFest 2014, Ray Leisure Park, 10 a.m.

WiffleFest 2014 will take place this Saturday beginning at 10 a.m. in Ray Leisure Park, 1129 Park Avenue in the La Salle neighborhood.  The Gathering and Kingdom House communities have joined together to host this day of sports, play, food and fun.  The event will include a wiffle ball tournament, washers tournament, lots of other games, coaches clinic, picnic and more.  For more information, email jeremieballinger@yahoo.com.

Sept. 6 – First Annual Party on Pestalozzi, on Pestalozzi between Lemp and Missouri Avenue, Noon

The First Annual Party on Pestalozzi will take place this Saturday from Noon to 8 p.m. on Pestalozzi between Lemp and Missouri Avenue. Visitors will be able to enjoy both Yemanja Brasil's "Brasil Day" Festival and Venice Café's Street Art Fest as well as local bands such as Snarky Gargoyles and Scandaleros.  For more information, visit the bpnastl.org web site.

Sept. 6 – Shakespeare Festival Warehouse Sale, 5715 Elizabeth Avenue, 9 a.m.

Shakespeare Festival St. Louis will hold its first ever Back of House Sale this Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 5715 Elizabeth Avenue.  Shoppers will find a wide variety of costumes, props, furniture and housewares, fabrics, toys and many other unexpected pieces. Visitors will also find deals on Festival gift shop items.  For a few special costume pieces, visit http://www.ebay.com/usr/shakesfeststl .

Sept. 6 -- Summer 2014 Soulard Concert Series, Soulard Market Plaza, 6 p.m.

Invite your family and friends to join you this Saturday to hear the Soulard Blues Band in concert at the Summer 2014 Soulard Concert Series at Farmer's Market Plaza, 8^th and Lafayette, from 6 –9 p.m.  Bring your own picnic or stop by a Soulard restaurant for take out.  Cold beverages will be available for purchase, or feel free to bring your own.  Learn more by calling (314) 436-0282.

Sept. 6 & 7 – LouFest, Forest Park, Noon

LouFest 2014 will be rocking Central Field in Forest Park this Saturday and Sunday.  The music festival will open at Noon on both days.  In addition to the live performances, visitors will find food, a Market Square, a Kidz Zone and more.  For ticket information and the complete lineup of performers, visit the loufest.com web site.

Sept. 7 – Croatian Day, St. Joseph Croatian Catholic Church, 11 a.m.

Come celebrate Croatian culture at "Croatian Day" this Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at St. Joseph Croatian Catholic Church, 2112 S. 12^th Street in the Soulard neighborhood.  Visitors will be able to enjoy games and activities for all ages, performances by St. Louis Croatian Junior Tamburitza, and goulash, roasted pork and lamb and more will be available for purchase.  Invite your friends and neighbors to join you in this celebration of Croatian culture and history.  To learn more, visit the stjosephcroatiancatholicchurch.com web site.

Sept. 7 – Fourth Annual September 11^th Interfaith Commemoration in Music, The Sheldon Concert Hall, 5:30 p.m.

The Fourth Annual September 11^th Interfaith Concert will take place this Sunday at The Sheldon Concert Hall, 3648 Washington Avenue in Grand Center.  The concert will bring together people of all faiths and ethnicities to enjoy a wide range of musical performances by various faith groups.  For ticket information, call (314) 533-9900.

Sept. 9 – Free Concert, Art Hill in Forest Park, 7 p.m.

The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra will kick off its 135^th season with a free concert on Tuesday, Sept. 9 at 7 p.m. on Art Hill in fabulous Forest Park.  The concert will be conducted by Music Director David Robertson and will be followed by a spectacular fireworks display.  Bring a picnic and share a delightful evening with friends and family.  For more details, go to the slso.org web site.

Sept. 9 – Twilight Tuesdays Concert Series, Missouri History Museum lawn, 6 p.m.

The Fall 2014 Twilight Tuesdays Concert Series is currently underway.  From 6 –8 p.m. each Tuesday, enjoy a free concert on the front lawn of the Missouri History Museum, Lindell and DeBaliviere.  For the complete schedule of concerts, visit the mohistory.org web site.

Save the Date

Sept. 12 – Food Truck Friday, Tower Grove Park, 4 p.m.

Sept. 12 – 14 – St. Louis World's Fare – Heritage Festival & Games, Forest Park 4 p.m.

Sept. 13 – POW/MIA March to the Arch, starts at Soldiers' Memorial, Noon

Sept. 13 – Free Concert, Lafayette Park, 6 pm.

Sept. 13 – Public Media Commons Opening, 3655 Olive, 7 p.m.

Sept. 13 – CHIPS Health and Wellness Center 14^th Annual Run/Walk, 2431 N. Grand, 7 a.m.

Sept. 13 – Rock the Block:  A Skinker DeBaliviere Better Block Project, Greg Freeman Four Corners Park, Noon

Sept. 13 – Gateway Greening Cleanup Project, Bell Garden, 10 a.m.

Sept. 13 & 14 – Fiesta on Cherokee, 2800 Cherokee Street, 11 a.m.

Sept. 14 – The Color Run, Downtown, 8 a.m.

Sept. 14 – Free Concert, Benton Park, 3 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 GrayR@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 at the very bottom of the home page.  The listing is free.  I encourage you to take advantage of this free way to promote your event.

Grant for Filmmakers

Applications are now being accepted for the Roy W. Dean Fall Grant.  The grant gives filmmakers a chance to get their films going or completed with an award of $2,500 in cash and $30,000 in film products and services.  Films can be documentaries, short films, and features and must be unique and contribute to society.  Deadline for submission is Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2014.  For more information on the grant, you can go to http://fromtheheartproductions.com/film-grants/ .

Col. Richard Gray

Director of Public Safety

City of St. Louis