Public Safety Director's Spotlight - 2014 National PrepareAthon! Day

Disaster Preparedness

As National Preparedness Month comes to a close, there will be one more opportunity for individuals, organizations, and communities to prepare for specific hazards through drills, group discussions, and exercises.  National PrepareAthon! Day is Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2014 and will revolve around taking the actions to prepare for six specific hazards:

• Earthquake
• Flood
• Hurricane
• Tornado
• Wildfire
• Winter Storm

I encourage to use this day to increase your preparedness, to familiarize yourself about what to do to be safe and mitigate damage from specific hazards, and to practice your action plan with your family.  For more information about disasters, preparedness, and ways to get involved in America's PrepareAthon!, visit the fema.gov web site.

Upcoming Events

Now through 26 – City Municipal Court Warrant Forgiveness Program, 1520 Market, 8 a.m.

Individuals may come to the St. Louis City Municipal Court at 1520 Market Street (use the 16^th Street entrance) from now through Friday, September 26, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to cancel warrants and get a new Court date.  For $35, warrants will be canceled and a new Court date issued.  No matter the age of the warrant(s) or the number of warrants, the total cost is $35.  To learn more about the Warrant Forgiveness Program, visit the City Court web page at www.stlcitycourt.org.

Sept. 26 – Official St. Louis Fashion Week Kickoff Party, PublicMediaCommons at GrandCenter, 7 p.m.

Saint Louis Fashion Week (STLFW) will kick off its October 2014 season this Friday at 7 p.m. with the St. Louis Fashion Blog Awards reception and ceremony at the Public Media Commons at Grand Center, 3653 Olive.  Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door.  Join the St. Louis fashion community as it begins one of the most important seasons in STLFW history.  To learn more, visit www.publicmediacommons.org.

Sept. 26 & 27 – Scottish Games and Cultural Festival, Forest Park, 4:30 p.m.

The Scottish Games and Cultural Festival will take place in beautiful Forest Park this Friday and Saturday, south of the Missouri History Museum.  The Festival will run from 4:30 - 11:30 p.m. on Friday and from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Saturday.  The cost is $20 for a two-day pass.  Invite your neighbors to join you to see classic Scottish games played out in Forest Park.  Visit www.stlouis-scottishgames.com for all the particulars.

Sept. 26 – 28 – Greater St. Louis Hispanic Festival, SoulardMarketPark, 10 a.m.

The annual Greater St. Louis Hispanic Festival, the largest Hispanic celebration in the St. Louis area, will take place this Friday, Saturday and Sunday in a new location -- Soulard Market Park near 7th Street and Lafayette next to Soulard Market.  The event will feature Hispanic Folkloric dancers, a wide variety of food and beverages from Latin & South America, more than 50 booths, and the Los Ninos Kids Corner with Dora the Explorer & Diego.  For more details, visit the hispanicfestivalstl.com web site.

Sept. 27 – Tour of Forest Park, start at the Art Museum, 3 p.m.

The Office for International Students and Scholars has arranged with Renegade STL Tours to offer a special walking tour of Forest Park this Saturday just for international students and scholars.  The tour is only open to WUSTL international students and scholars and spouses and partners of international students and scholars.  The tour will explore the park's interesting history going from an open prairie to the site of the 1904 World's Fair to its current rebirth as one of the country's best urban parks.  It is bigger than Central Park in New York and full of St. Louis and American history.  If you or someone you know would be interested in this tour, log on to http://www.stlmag.com/news/Renegade-Tours-STL-Spices-Up-the-Urban-Walking-Tour/

Sept. 27 –Southampton Neighborhood Yard Sale, various locations, 8 a.m.

The 8th Annual Southampton Neighborhood Yard & Garage Sale will take place this Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.  The day will offer an excellent opportunity to stroll through the neighborhood and find some real bargains.  Maps to the homes with sales will be available beginning at 7:30 a.m. the day of the sale both online (sohastl.org) and at the corner of Macklind and Nottingham Avenues.  The sale acts as both a fundraiser for the Southampton Neighborhood Association and provides the opportunity to showcase the neighborhood.  Need more information?  Call (314) 832-1400.

Sept. 27 – SoHa Macklind Days, Nottingham & Macklind, Noon

Invite your friends and family to join you for an old fashioned street festival this Saturday at SoHa (Southampton) Macklind Days.  The free family-friendly event will include live music, beverages, local food and more on Macklind Avenue between Devonshire and Neosho, in the heart of SoHa.

Sept. 27 & 28 –Model Boat Club Regatta, The Boathouse in Forest Park, 10 a.m.

The Boathouse in Forest Park is proud to host the 26th Annual Regatta of the St. Louis Admirals, the local remote-control model boat club.  The two-day event this weekend will take place from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday.  Invite your family and friends to join you to watch these model boats set sail on Post-Dispatch Lake.  To learn more about the regatta, visit the stlouisadmirals.com web site.

Sept. 28 -- Art in the Park, Francis Park, 10 a.m.

Art in the Park will return to Francis Park in the St. Louis Hills neighborhood this Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.  More than 60 artists will come together to showcase their creative wares amidst live music, tasty cuisine and kids' activities in one of St. Louis' prettiest parks.  Francis Park is located at Tamm and Nottingham.  Go to http://www.artintheparkstl.com/ for more information.

Sept. 28 – Birthday Bell-a-bration, Second Presbyterian Church, 4 p.m.

The Gateway Ringers will present the Birthday Bell-a-bration Concert this Sunday from 4 to 5 p.m. at Second Presbyterian Church, 4501 Westminster Place in the trendy Central West End neighborhood in celebration of the St. Louis Quarter Millennial.  Selections as diverse as the history of our City will include W.C. Handy's "St. Louis Blues" and Scott Joplin's "Pine Apple Rag."  Auditioned musicians from the St. Louis metropolitan area form this premier handbell ensemble. Questions?  Call (314) 367-0366.

Sept. 28 – Pedal the Cause, Soldiers' MemorialPlaza, 7 a.m.

The annual Pedal the Cause cycling event to raise funds to fight cancer will take place this weekend.  On Saturday, riders will gather at Soldiers' Memorial in Downtown St. Louis to visit Riders Village and enjoy food, entertainment and an inspirational program.  On Sunday, staggered start times will begin at 7 a.m. for the various Pedal the Cause routes.  For more information, visit http://stlouis.pedalthecause.org/schedule.jsp

Sept. 28 -- Fall Festival, Sts. Peter & Paul Church, 11 a.m.

The Fall Festival at Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Historic Soulard will take place this Sunday beginning at 11 a.m.  Visitors will be able to enjoy live entertainment, music, great food, cold beverages, face painting and more.  The Church is located at 816 Allen Street. Need more information?  Call (314) 231-9923.

Sept. 30 – 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.

Oct 1 -- Wine to Water event, 3500 Winehaus, 5 p.m.

Union United Methodist Church and 3500 Winehaus will be hosting a fundraiser on Wednesday, Oct. 1 to provide families in Haiti with good clean water.  Come to the 3500 Winehaus, 3500 Watson Road in the Lindenwood Park neighborhood from 5 to 9 p.m. on October 1st and enjoy a wonderful night out with great food and drinks while transforming lives.  Fifteen percent of all sales that evening from the Wine to Water event will be donated to Union UMC to purchase Sawyer Water Filters for families in Haiti.  For more information, call (314) 353-9463.

Oct. 2 -- 4th Annual Art of Travel, Lambert-St.LouisInternationalAirport, 6 p.m.

Mark your calendars for the 4th Annual Art of Travel (AOT) to support the Lambert Art & Culture Program.  The event will celebrate film noir and fedora-style '40s with some exciting new elements for this truly unique art party.  Enjoy top-notch eats prepared at chef tables along with signature AOT cocktails and get your kicks with swing dancing demonstrations.  For ticket information and to learn more, visit flystl.com/artoftravel.

Save the Date

Oct. 3 -- St. Louis Oktoberfest, Union Station, 3:30 p.m.

Oct. 3 -- 2014 Sauce Food Truck Friday Series Finale, Tower Grove Park, 3:30 p.m.

Oct. 3 -- First Fridays in Grand Center, various venues, 5 p.m.

Oct. 3 - 5 -- Best of Missouri Market, Missouri Botanical Garden, 6 p.m.

Oct. 4 -- Yard Sale, Corner of Switzer and Goodfellow, 9 a.m.

Oct. 4 -- LinFest, Lindenwood Park, 11 a.m.

Oct. 4 - Grove Fest 2014, Manchester Avenue between Kingshighway and Vandeventer, 2 p.m.

Oct. 4 & 5 -- Historic Shaw Art Fair, 4100 Flora Place, 9 a.m.

Oct. 4 -- Taste of Benton Park Festival, Arsenal and South Jefferson, 10 a.m.

Oct. 4 & 5 -- World Hoop Day St. Louis Workshops, 2720 Cherokee Performing Arts Center, 11:30 a.m.

Oct. 5 -- Fall Family Funfest, Dennis & Judith Jones Visitor Center in Forest Park, 1 p.m.

Oct. 5 -- Remembering Maya Angelou, Missouri History Museum, 4 p.m.

Oct. 5 -- First Annual Chain of Rocks Community Association Oktoberfest, North Riverfront Park, Noon

Oct. 5 -- Polish Heritage Month Celebration, PNA Sports Club, Noon

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.

Neighborhood Beautification Projects Welcome Volunteers

This year, with the generous support of several organizations, Brightside St. Louis was able to approve 32 greening projects for the 2014 Neighbors Naturescaping Program.  Now that the projects have been announced, neighborhood volunteers will begin preparing their garden beds in anticipation of plant distribution days on Friday, Oct. 10 and Saturday, Oct. 11.  Many groups have already scheduled work days and are looking for additional neighborhood volunteers to help transform their project sites into beautiful community assets.  This is a perfect opportunity for neighbors to get to know each other while improving their shared community.  If you are interested in getting involved with a project near you, contact Brightside St. Louis at (314) 772-4646 or log on to the brightsidestl.org web site.

Col. Richard Gray

Director of Public Safety

City of St. Louis