Public Safety Director's Spotlight on Neighborhood Activities

If the weather prognosticators are correct, St. Louis is in for a winter blast this weekend so before I highlight some of the neighborhood activities that are scheduled (weather permitting), I want to go over some winter safety tips. Making preparations now -- before the storm hits and transportation becomes treacherous and power outages occur -- can make getting through the storm a lot easier.

Winter Safety Tips

• Create a winter car kit for the trunk of your car. (This would include a blanket, spare radio with batteries, snacks or energy-type food, jumper cables, flares, shovel, sand or shingles to give tires traction.)
• Make sure your fireplace(s) and generator(s) are functioning properly. (Only operate a generator outdoors.)
• Exercise caution when shoveling snow or pushing a car out of a snow bank
• Avoid unnecessary travel when driving conditions are poor
• Keep up to date on weather forecasts
• Create a family emergency plan
• Have at home additional water and food that can be prepared without cooking in case of a power outage.
• Check on your elderly neighbors.

Holiday Shopping

Last week I mentioned that St. Louis has many wonderful, unique shops and restaurants, and if you’re looking for a gift for that certain someone, a gift card to one of these might be ideal. While you may find many shopping opportunities among the small businesses within your neighborhood, let me also suggest visiting the gift shops at our local institutions such as the Art Museum, History Museum, Zoo, Old Courthouse and Gateway Arch. These shops have many one-of-a-kind treasures that you won’t find anywhere else.

Listed below are just a couple of the neighborhood events that you, family and friends may find of interest. I encourage you to stop by those in your neighborhood as well as consider exploring neighborhoods new to you. They are perfect places to meet friends and neighbors or go to in support of worthy causes. See you in the neighborhood!

1810 Missouri Frontier Christmas

Wonder how the early French and American residents of St. Louis celebrated the holidays? Experience an 1810 Missouri Frontier Christmas on Saturday, Dec. 11 at the Old Courthouse, from Noon to 4 p.m. Enjoy music, dancing, complimentary cookies and juice. For more details, visit http://www.nps.gov/jeff/ .

Lafayette Square Holiday Parlour Tour

The Lafayette Square Holiday Parlour Tour is scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 12 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Experience a glimpse of early Christmas holiday traditions and modern holiday collections in a tour of homes in Historic Lafayette Square. The event also features carriage rides and carolers. Tickets are $20 day of event and may be obtained at the Park House, corner of Lafayette and Mississippi. For all the particulars, visit http://www.lafayettesquare.org/ .

Caroling in the City

To further enhance the Christmas season, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department is scheduled to present Caroling in the City on Sunday, Dec. 12 at the City Hall Rotunda, 1200 Market Street, from 5 – 7 p.m. The event is free and open to the public and will feature the Metropolitan Police Department Choir and Carr Lane Visual & Performing Arts Middle School Show Choir.

NIXLE

The Department of Public Safety’s City Emergency Management Agency (CEMA) provides free emergency alert service through http://www.Nixle.com/. Through the Nixle service, you will receive our informative and timely text messages on your cell phone and/or as e-mails on your computer. If you haven’t already done so, I invite you to visit the Nixle webpage and sign up for the service today. Note: in addition to CEMA, you may also sign up to receive messages from other St. Louis area entities that are on Nixle. If you have any comments about the service, please let me know.

Having an event in your neighborhood that we can support? Either e-mail the information about it to me at brysonc@stlouiscity.com or to Cathy Smentkowski at smentkowskic@stlouiscity.com.

And remember, if you see something in the neighborhood that just doesn’t look right, REPORT IT!

Charles Bryson

Director of Public Safety

City of St. Louis