Public Safety Director's Spotlight - Blitz 2013

Brightside's annual campaign to clean up city neighborhoods begins this weekend.

April 4, 2013 | 6 min reading time

This article is 12 years old. It was published on April 4, 2013.

Charlene Deeken, Director of Public Safety
Photo by Cathy Smentkowski Title: Portrait of Charlene Deeken, Director of Public Safety
Source: Cathy Smentkowski

 

Project Blitz 2013

 Project Blitz, Brightside's annual campaign to clean up city neighborhoods, will begin this weekend in the Region 2 North and Region 2 South areas and will continue through the weekends of

April 13 & 14 – Region 3 North and Region 3 South

April 20 & 21 -- Region 4 north and Region 4 South

May 4 & 5 -- Region 1 North and Region 1 South

The boundaries for Region 2 North are:  Palm & Natural Bridge on the north; Mississippi River on the east; I-64 & MetroLink on the south; and Taylor on the west.  The boundaries for Region 2 South are:  I-64 on the north; Mississippi River on the east; Meramec on the south; and Grand on the west.

For more information and to learn how you can join your neighbors to clean up the streets, alleys and vacant lots in your neighborhood, visit the  brightsidestlouis.org web site or call (314) 772-4646.

 

Upcoming Events

 April 5 -- Arbor Day Tree Giveaway, Missouri Botanical Garden, 9 a.m.

An Arbor Day Tree Giveaway will take place this Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (or while supplies last) at the Kemper Center for Home Gardening at the Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Boulevard.  The plan is to give 600 Chinkapin oak, flowering dogwood, deciduous holly, witch hazel, and river birch tree saplings on a first-come, first-served basis, one per visitor while supplies last.  The program will be included in the regular garden admission price ($4-$8).  Need more information?  Call (314) 577-5100.

 April 5 -- World Famous Budweiser Clydesdales-Full Hitch Appearance, Budweiser Tour Center, 4 p.m.

For the first time in three years, the World Famous Budweiser Clydesdales will present the full eight-horse hitch in an appearance at the St. Louis Tour Center this Friday from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Visitors will be able to enjoy music, tours, samples and give-a-ways.  Fredbird is expected to stop by at 4:30 p.m.  Admission is free.  The Tour Center is located at 1200 Lynch Street in the Soulard neighborhood.  If you need more information, please call (314) 577-2626.

 April 6 -- Water Tower Daytime Public Opening, Compton Hill Water Tower, Noon

The Compton Hill Water Tower, 1900 S. Grand, will be open to the public on the first Saturday of each month from April to November 2013 from Noon to 4 p.m.  Visitors will be able to climb to the top of the 170-foot tower and enjoy a spectacular, 360-degree view of the metropolitan St. Louis area.  The price is $5 for adults, $3 for children age 6 to 12 and free for children age 5 and under.  For more details, visit the watertowerfoundation.org web site.

 April 6 -- Downtown Architecture Walking Tour-West, St. Louis Union Station, 10 a.m.

Discover Downtown St. Louis beyond the Arch by taking the Downtown Architecture Walking Tour at 10 a.m. on April 6, starting from St. Louis Union Station, 1820 Market Street.  The two-hour guided tour will highlight the history and architectural significance of St. Louis' Memorial Plaza and surrounding district.  Historic buildings on the tour include the Peabody Opera House, City Hall, Soldiers' Memorial, among others, and the tour guide will focus on how these buildings played a role in the development and continuing redevelopment of the City.  The cost of the tour is $5.  For more information, call (314) 662-3187.

April 6 -- Prison Performing Arts & St. Louis Humanities Festival, Central Library, 11 a.m.

The Prison Performing Arts (PPA) organization will present a unique public performance this Saturday as part of the Second Annual Greater St. Louis Humanities Festival.  PPA's Alumni Theatre Company will stage three scenes from Mary Zimmerman's play Metamorphoses, based on the stories of Ovid.  The free performance will run from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the auditorium of the newly renovated Central Library, 1301 Olive in Downtown St. Louis.  To learn more, call (314) 289-4190.

April 6 – How to Be a Successful Landlord, St. Louis Community College, 9 a.m.

Do you own rental property?  If so, then you may want to consider attending the session on How to Be a Successful Landlord that will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at St. Louis Community College – Forest Park, 5600 Oakland Avenue in the Cheltenham neighborhood on Saturday, April 6.  Landlords can lower property damages and eviction costs by performing effective initial screening of potential tenants.  Participants will learn how to be creative and to use the telephone, interview, computer, rental application and lease expectations to ensure a pleasant tenant-landlord relationship.  The cost is $55 per person.  For registration information, call (314) 984-7777.

 April 7 -- Hard Rock Rising THE Global Battle of the Bands / Final Battle, Hard Rock Cafe-St. Louis Union Station, 4 p.m.

This is your opportunity to support local music and to cheer on your favorite St. Louis band from the first three qualifying rounds.  The Final Battle will take place on Sunday, April 7 from 4 – 7 p.m. at the Hard Rock Café at St. Louis Union Station, 1820 Market Street.  One of these bands will advance in the global competition for the opportunity to play a World Tour, make an album and video with the Hard Rock Records label and more!  The event is free.  Questions?  Call (314) 621-7625 (ROCK).

 

April 7 – Holly Hills Safety Expo, Rec Plex in Carondelet Park, 1 p.m. 

The Holly Hills Improvement Association is inviting everyone to stop by the Holly Hills Safety Expo on Sunday, April 7 at the Carondelet Park Rec Plex, 930 Holly Hills Drive.  Visitors will have access to a variety of safety-related resources for residents and businesses, including gun locks from the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, free smoke detector sign-up with the St. Louis Fire Department, vendors from alarm companies and glass block companies and more.  The free event will run from 1 – 3 p.m. To learn more, visit the hollyhills.info web site.

 April 8 -- St. Louis Cardinals 2013 Opening Day Pep Rallies, Downtown, 11 a.m.

The St. Louis Cardinals' home opener will take place this Monday, April 8.  First pitch will be at 3:15 p.m.  Make plans now to come Downtown and enjoy the pep rallies that will start at 11 a.m.  Opening Day Game activities will take place at Kiener Plaza, 7th & Chestnut; J Buck's, 10th and Clark; the Tums Lot on Broadway; and outside of Busch Stadium on Clark between Broadway and 8th.  Watch for announcements with more details as we get closer to Opening Day.

 April 10 -- Trailnet Bike Commuting Campaign Kickoff Party, 7 p.m.

Trailnet, our area's leader in fostering healthy, active, and vibrant communities where walking, cycling, and the use of public transit are a way of life, will hold a party on Wednesday, April 10 to celebrate the unveiling of its new campaign to encourage biking as a fun, fulfilling, and accessible means of transportation.  The kickoff party will run from 7 – 9 p.m. at the Schlafly Tap Room, located at 2100 Locust Street.  The party is free; drinks will be available for purchase.  RSVP at the Trailnet.org web site.

 April 13 -- Facts from the Stacks Trivia Night, St. Louis Central Library, 6:30 p.m.

The Young Literati of the St. Louis Public Library Foundation will present a fun evening of trivia on Saturday, April 13, in one of St. Louis' brainiest spaces – the Great Hall of Central Library, 1301 Olive Street in beautiful Downtown St. Louis.  The doors will open at 6:30 p.m. and the Facts from the Stacks Trivia Night will begin at 7 p.m.  Cost is $30 for an individual ticket and $200 for a table of 8.  Participants will enjoy complimentary Schlafly beer and soda, a 50/50 raffle, silent auction, prizes and more.  Outside food is welcome.  Attendees must be 21 years or older.  To learn more and reserve your table, call (314) 539-0359.

 

Save the Date

April 12 – Mouse Races in Carondelet, The Spanish Society, 5:30 p.m.

April 12 & 13 – LPUMC Book Fair, Lafayette Park United Methodist Church, 8 a.m.

April 13 – Czech Festival, American Czech Education Center, 11 a.m.

April 13 – Art and Tweed Bicycle and Art Ride, Kemper Art Museum @ Washington University, 10 a.m.

April 13 –Song Circle, Carondelet Historical Society, 2 p.m.

April 13-21 – 50th Anniversary of the Planetarium, Forest Park, various times

 

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.

 

Grow St. Louis Contest

Nominations for the latest round of Monsanto's Grow St. Louis program are being accepted at the stlgrown.com web site from April 1 through April 21.  Voting for this round will take place on the Grow St. Louis Facebook page from May 6 through May 19.  Nominate your favorite non-profit's project today.

 

Charlene Deeken
Director of Public Safety
City of St. Louis


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