Public Safety Director's Spotlight - 2013 National Night Out

 

National Night Out

The 30^th Annual National Night Out (NNO) program is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 6.  Since 1984 communities across the country have used this night not only to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness but to also strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships. Whether you are planning a block party, cookout, neighborhood walk, rally or other activity for National Night Out, I encourage you to let our Neighborhood Stabilization Team know, if you haven't done so already, by registering online at stlouis-mo.gov.  Please note that registration for street closing ends Friday, July 19.  For more information, call (314) 657-1392.

 

Upcoming Events

 

July 12 & 13, Celebrate St. Louis Summer Concerts, Soldiers' Memorial Plaza, 6 p.m.

The 2013 Celebrate St. Louis Summer Concerts, presented by the Fair Saint Louis Foundation, will take place this weekend and next at Soldiers' Memorial Plaza, 13^th and Chestnut in beautiful Downtown St. Louis.  Gates will open at 6 p.m. each evening and two local bands will be featured prior to the national headliner.  Country crooner Josh Turner will headline this Friday and the alternative rock band from St. Louis, "The Urge," will take the stage at 9 p.m. on Saturday.  To learn more, visit the fairsaintlouis.org web site.

July 12 – Local Social, Central West End, 5 p.m.

The shops, galleries and restaurants in the Central West End will host Local Social on the 2^nd Friday of each month from now through September.  From 5 – 9 p.m. on this Friday, local owners, artists and chefs will welcome guests to the Central West End to enjoy street entertainment, discounts, food and drink to highlight all things local.  For all the particulars, visit the cwescene.com web site.

July 12 – Food Truck Friday, Tower Grove Park, 5 p.m.

If you haven't yet stopped by a Sauce Food Truck Friday, you will have another opportunity to do so this Friday.  From 5 – 8 p.m. in the southwest corner of TowerGrovePark, a variety of local food trucks will be parked and ready to serve up their culinary delights for your dining pleasure.  Be early, bring your chairs or blankets, bring your friends and enjoy.  For more details, visit the saucemagazine.com web site.

July 12 – Summer of Love Outdoor Film Series, Art Hill in Forest Park, 7 p.m.

Everyone is invited to spend Fridays in July on Art Hill enjoying film, music and food at the Saint Louis Art Museum's Summer of Love Outdoor Film Series.  The party will start at 7 p.m. and the movie will begin at 9 p.m.  This Friday the movie, "West Side Story," will be shown.  Visit the slam.org web site for details.

July 12, 13 & 14 – Saint Joan of Arc Annual Flea Market, Hampton & Pernod, 6 p.m.

Do you enjoy visiting flea markets?  If so, then mark your calendar for this weekend's Saint Joan of Arc Annual Flea Market, 5821 Pernod (at Hampton) in the North Hampton neighborhood.  Preview Friday will be July 12 from 6 – 9 p.m.and there will be a $3 entry fee for the preview.  The Flea Market will run from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and from Noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday.  Visitors will find furniture, toys, jewelry, books, household items and more.

July 13 – Summer Family Fun Day, Missouri History Museum, 11 a.m.

July is National Ice Cream Month and the Missouri History Museum in Forest Park will be celebrating ice cream this Saturday.  What better way to celebrate this tasty treat as well as the fact that many people enjoyed ice cream cones for the very first time right here in St. Louis at the 1904 World's Fair.  The frozen treats will be served at Noon (while supplies last), but everyone is invited to stop by from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to listen to live music and make ice-cream-themed crafts.  This event is free and open to the public.  To learn more, visit the mohistory.org web site.

July 13 – Free Concert, Lafayette Park, 6 p.m.

Invite your family and friends to join you this Saturday from 6 – 9 p.m. in Lafayette Park, Mississippi and Lafayette, by the gazebo for a free concert by the "Ralph Butler Band."  Pack a picnic basket, bring lawn chairs or a blanket and enjoy an enchanting performance under starlit skies.

July 14 – Bastille Day Celebration, Chatillon DeMenil Mansion, 2 p.m.

The annual Bastille Day Celebration will take place this Sunday beginning at 2 p.m. at the Chatillon DeMenil Mansion, 3352 DeMenil Place in the Benton Park neighborhood.  Activities will include reenactments and demonstrations by French Marines, meeting costumed characters from the colorful history of the French Revolution including Marie Antoinette, an 18^th century dance performance, a flag ceremony and much more.  Admission is free.  For all the details, visit the demenil.org web site.

July 14 – Lindenwood Live Concert in the Park, Lindenwood Park, 6 p.m.

Gather up your neighbors and friends, pack a picnic supper and come enjoy the sound of "Miss Jubilee" this Sunday at the Lindenwood Live Concert in the Park beginning at 6 p.m. in Lindenwood Park, located at Jamieson and Pernod.  Murray's Shaved Ice will be available for purchase.

July 14 – Free Concert, Carondelet Park, 6 p.m.

The Carondelet Community Betterment Foundation will sponsor a free concert in Carondelet Park this Sunday, starting at 6 p.m. at the Bandstand off Loughborough. Bring your lawn chair, pack a picnic basket and enjoy the "Stompers."   For a complete list of the concert schedule, visit the carondeletliving.com web site.

July 15 – Monday Nights in Bellerive Park, S. Broadway & Bellerive, 7 p.m.

The Monday Nights in Bellerive Park Concert Series will continue this Monday, July 15 with a performance by the group "Blue Steel Rail."  Invite your family and friends to join you for a delightful evening in the park enjoying the free concert sponsored by Carondelet Community Betterment Foundation.  The festivities will run from 7 – 9 p.m.and Bellerive Park is located at South Broadway and Bellerive.  For more information, visit the carondeletliving.com web site.

July 16 -- Tuesday Nights in Fanetti Park, Michigan and Steins, 7 p.m.

The Carondelet Community Betterment Foundation will present the "Zydeco Crawdaddys" in concert at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, July 16 in Fanetti Park, located at Michigan and Steins.  The free concert will run from 7 – 9 p.m.

July 17 – Free Jazz Concert, O'Fallon Park, 6 p.m.

The fifth season of the O'Fallon Park Jazz Concert Series will continue on Wednesday, July 17 with a performance by "Good for the Soul."  Bring your lawn chairs, pack a picnic basket and enjoy the free outdoor concert with your family, friends and neighbors.  The festivities will run from 6 – 8 p.m.  O'Fallon Park is located at West Florissant and Harris.

July 18 – Free Outdoor Concert, St. Louis Place Park, 7 p.m.

Grace Hill's Whitaker Urban Evening Series will continue on Thursday, July 18 in St. Louis Place Park, located at Rauschenbach and St. Louis Avenue in the St. Louis Place neighborhood, with a performance by the "Charles Glen Group."  Invite your family, friends and neighbors to join you for the fun activities and great music from 7 – 9 p.m.  For more details, visit the gracehill.org web site.

July 20 – Uber Asphalt Scavenger Hunt, Lift for Life Academy, 9:30 a.m.

There is still time to register for Uber Asphalt, an exciting scavenger hunt using not only bikes, brains and brawn but testing some of your other unique skills as well.  Starting and ending in Soulard at Lift for Life Academy, bikers in teams of two will start at 9:30 a.m. to create their own courses throughout the City to get through six checkpoint obstacles in an attempt to complete this fun scavenger hunt in less than three hours.  Prizes will be awarded to the top three teams in each category.  Proceeds from the event will benefit the Academy and Trailnet.  Now through July 17 the registration fee is $100 per team ($50/person).  After July 17 and on race day the cost will be $120 per team ($60/person).  The Academy is located at 1731 S. Broadway.  For more information, visit the liftforlifeacademy.org web site or call (314) 231-2337.

 

Save the Date

July 19 – Free Movie, 3500 Hartford, Dusk

July 19 & 20 – Celebrate St. Louis Summer Concerts, Soldiers' Memorial Plaza, 6 p.m.

July 20 – Free Concert, Soulard Market on the Plaza, 6 p.m.

July 21 – Paddle With Your Pooch Boat Race, The Boathouse in Forest Park, 1 p.m.

July 21 – Free Concert, Carondelet Park, 6 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 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.

 

Preventing Dog Bites

 In closing, I want to pass along some information from a recent article by Angela Chen in The Wall Street Journal.  According to the American Humane Association, nearly five million dog bites occur in the U.S. each year.  The article offered some advice on how to read dog behavior.  Obvious warning signs include barking, growling, lifting its lip to show teeth or if the dog's ears suddenly prick up.  Dogs that attack are usually acting out of fear.  Signs of fear include tensing up or staring.

Should you encounter an unfamiliar dog while out walking or cycling, keep the above warning signs in mind.  Never run, but instead assume a non-threatening position and hold that position.  The dog may come quite close to sniff you, then lose interest.  Once it loses interest, back away slowly out of the area.  Staying calm and stationary are the best things to do as long as the dog isn't actually biting you.

 

Charlene Deeken