Public Safety Director's Spotlight - Prepare Your Family

Plenty of fun activities in St. Louis City neighborhoods.  Enjoy!

September 12, 2013 | 7 min reading time

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

 

Are You Prepared?

I want to begin this week's Spotlight by passing along some information from the City's Emergency Management Agency (CEMA).  As I wrote a couple of weeks ago, September is National Preparedness Month. It is important that every family has a plan of action to follow in the event of a natural or man-made disaster.Is your family ready for emergency situations that can arise?  Prepare yourself and children now to be disaster-ready throughout the year. In addition to keeping your emergency contact information up-to-date at your child's school, CEMA suggests you follow these steps:

  • Find out where children will be taken if they have to evacuate the school;
  • Ask if they store enough food, water and other supplies in case they have to "shelter-in-place;"
  • Designate a friend or relative to pick up your children in an emergency and make sure the school knows who that person is; and
  • Ask how they will communicate with families during a crisis.


Visit the new Ready.gov/Kids site for valuable tools to help kids, parents and teachers prepare for emergencies.

 

Upcoming Events

Sept. 13 – United We Grill BBQ, Kiener Plaza, 11 a.m.

The entire community is invited to stop by Kiener Plaza, located at Broadway and Market in beautiful Downtown St. Louis, this Friday for the Tenth Annual United We Grill BBQ, organized and hosted by Laclede Gas Company employees.  Local CEOs and others will help serve the food.  Lunches will cost $6, with all proceeds benefiting the United Way of Greater St. Louis. The event will run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Sept. 13 – Local Social, Maryland Plaza, 5 p.m.

Maryland Plaza will be the place to be this Friday from 5 – 9 p.m. as the Central West End neighborhood celebrates Local Social.  Enjoy the mix of shops, galleries, and restaurants as local owners, chefs and artists welcome you to one of the most walkable neighborhoods in St. Louis.  For all the particulars, visit the cwescene.com web site.

Sept. 13 – Ghosts of the Arch Grounds, Gateway Arch, 7 p.m.

Curious about the people and places that once occupied the historic area where the Gateway Arch stands today?  If so, then consider taking the Ghosts of the Arch Grounds tour this Friday, Sept. 13th from 7 – 9 p.m.  Participants are invited to gather at the Arch for the exciting twilight walking tour.  Stargazing will follow the tour, weather permitting.  For more details, visit the gatewayarch.com web site.

Sept. 14 – 5K Walk/Run & Health Expo, Dwight Davis Park, 8 a.m.

Area F Council Federation of Block Units will present its Annual 5K Walk/Run & Health Expo in memory of Alderman Gregory Carter of the 27th Ward this Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Dwight Davis Park at Lillian and Oriole in the Walnut Park East neighborhood. The event will feature DJ Fastbuck, New Northside Drum & Bugle Corps, Friendly Temple Songstress Ms. D. Gomillia, the YMCA Line Dancers and special appearances by Young Ro & Friends and Urban League Warm-up Instructor Precious Green.  For more information about this special event, visit areafcouncil.com or call (314) 825-0585.

Sept. 14 – Jazz on the Greenway, Delmar & DeBaliviere, Noon

The Second Annual Jazz on the Greenway event will take place this Saturday from Noon to 4 p.m. at Ruth Porter Park and St. Vincent Greenway, starting at Delmar and DeBaliviere, then along the greenway in the West End neighborhood.  Everyone is invited to come out and walk, jog or bike the trail and enjoy live jazz, dance workshops, zumba, yoga, farmer's markets, healthy cooking demonstrations and more.  To learn more, visit the stvincentgreenwayinc.org web site.

Sept. 14 – Movie Night, Carondelet Park, at the Bandstand, 7 p.m.

The Holly Hills Improvement Association, Friends of Carondelet Park and the Carondelet Park Rec Complex are sponsoring a Movie Night in the park at the bandstand at 7 p.m. this Saturday.  Invite your family and friends, bring your lawn chairs or blanket and watch "Big Miracle," which is based on a true story.  The Rec Plex teen leaders will be selling concessions. Visit http://hollyhills.info/movie-big-miracle.shtml for more information.

Sept. 14 – Row by Row Farm Ramble, Local Harvest Grocery, 8:30 a.m.

Interested in learning more about city farming?  The family-friendly Row by Row Farm Ramble bike ride will stop at four farms.  Riders will learn about the farms' histories and how urban farming has taken hold in St. Louis.  The ride will be 15 miles long and will end at the Tower Grove Farmers' Market, where you may purchase locally grown, raised, and prepared food.  The cost will be $5 for adults and $3 for children 10 and under.  Registration will take place from 8 – 8:30 a.m. at Local Harvest Grocery, 3108 Morganford in the Tower Grove South neighborhood.  The group ride will depart at 8:30 a.m.  For more details, visit the trailnet.org web site.

Sept. 14 – Soulard Concert Series, Soulard Market, 6 p.m.

Soulard's got the Blues this summer – the Blues Concert Series, that is.  Everyone is invited to Soulard Market on the Plaza, Lafayette and 8th, this Saturday from 6 – 9 p.m. to hear the musical stylings of Kim Massie.  Bring your own picnic or stop by a Soulard restaurant for take out.  Wine, beer, soft drinks and water will be available for purchase, or feel free to bring your own cool beverages.  Learn more at soulardthecity.com.

Sept. 14 – Flea Market Tail Gate Sale, 4801 Page Avenue @ Walton, 9 a.m.

Lewis Place-Fountain Park and the surrounding associations are having their first Flea Market Tail Gate Sale this Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 4801 Page Avenue at Walton.  There will be an Early Bird Sale from 8 – 9 a.m. for a $5 entry fee.  Stop by and see what one-of-a-kind items you can find.

Sept. 14 & 15 – St. Raymond's Festival, St. Raymond Maronite Cathedral, 6 p.m.

Everyone is invited to stop by St. Raymond's Festival this Saturday and Sunday for a taste of the Middle East in the Midwest.  Visitors will be able to enjoy traditional Lebanese food and culture while taking a tour of the beautiful Cathedral, located at 931 Lebanon Drive in the LaSalle neighborhood.  The festival will run from 6 – 10 p.m. on Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.

Sept. 15 – 15th Anniversary Carnival, City Academy, 3 p.m.

City Academy will be celebrating its 15th Anniversary this Sunday with a Carnival on the Academy grounds.  There will be fun and food for the whole family.  Activities will include carnival games, dunking booth, photo booth, bounce houses, balloon artist, circus performers, face painting, juggling, music and more.  City Academy is located at 4175 N. Kingshighway in the Mark Twain neighborhood.

Sept. 15 – Yoga Within the Confluence, Gateway Arch, 9:30 a.m.

Yoga enthusiasts from across the region are invited to gather under the Gateway Arch this Sunday for the Fourth Annual Yoga Within the Confluence event.  Renowned yoga teacher Saul David Raye will guide the free event which is being sponsored by Big Bend Yoga Center, Great Rivers Greenway and the National Park Service.  Participants are encouraged to bring a yoga mat or blanket, water bottle and sunscreen. Need more information?  Visit the greatriversgreenway.org web site.  In case of rain, call (314) 918-9642, ext. 2.

Sept. 17 -- Twilight Tuesdays Ameren Concert Series, Missouri History Museum, 6 p.m.

The Twilight Tuesdays Ameren Concert Series hosted by the Missouri History Museum will continue on Tuesday, Sept. 17 at 6 p.m.  Invite your friends and family to join you on the Museum's front lawn at Lindell and DeBaliviere for an evening of Memories of Elvis with Steve Davis.  For the complete schedule of performances, visit the mohistory.org web site.

Sept. 17 – Free Concert, Art Hill in Forest Park, 7 p.m.

The St. Louis Symphony will kick off its 134th season with a free concert at Art Hill in Forest Park at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 17.  Everyone is invited to bring lawn chairs or blankets and enjoy an evening of classical favorites and highlights from the 2013-14 season.  The evening will be capped off with fireworks at the bottom of Art Hill.

Sept. 19 – 21, Shakespeare in the Streets, The Grove neighborhood, 8 p.m.

The 2013 Shakespeare in the Streets production next week beginning Thursday, Sept. 19 and running through Saturday, Sept. 21 in The Grove neighborhood will be an adaptation of the Bard's "The Winter's Tale."  This story of loss and redemption will explore themes of jealousy and healing.  The free event will begin at 8 p.m. each evening at 4226 Manchester Avenue.  For more information, visit the sfstl.com web site.

 

Save the Date

Sept. 20 – Breakfast For Bikers Series, Downtown Bicycle Station, 7 a.m.

Sept. 20 – RHCDA Street Party, Crown Square, 5:30 p.m.

Sept. 20 – Balloon Race Glow, Forest Park, 7 p.m.

Sept. 21 – Great Forest Park Balloon Race, Forest Park, Noon

Sept. 21 – Run for the Hills 5K Run, St. Louis Hills neighborhood, 8 a.m.

Sept. 21 – Dancing in the Street, Grand Center, 1 p.m.

Sept. 21 – Free Movie, Lafayette Park, 7:30 p.m.

Sept. 21 – 11th Annual Neighborhood Festival, 4600 Lewis Place in the parkway, 11 a.m.

Sept. 21 – Street Musicians Fest, Dogtown, Noon p.m.

Sept. 21 – 3rd Annual Neighborhood Dog Walk, Lindenword neighborhood, 10 a.m.

Sept. 21 – Macklind Days 2013, on Macklind Avenue between Devonshire and Nottingham, 3 p.m.

Sept. 21 & 22 – Soulard Art Fair, Soulard Market Park, 10 a.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.

 

Urban Crime Summit

Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster will convene an Urban Crime Summit in St. Louis on Wednesday, Sept. 18 and Thursday, Sept. 19 at the St. Louis University School of Law, located at 100 N. Tucker Blvd. in Downtown St. Louis. The two-day event will cover such topics as gang violence, youth employment programs to reduce crime, public safety and mental health resources, effective policing, St. Louis' armed offender docket, and New York City's experience with policing strategies and crime prevention.  The Summit will provide a high level briefing and discussion for crime prevention and neighborhood safety.  To view the full schedule, visit the Attorney General's web site at http://ago.mo.gov/UrbanCrimeSummit/UrbanCrimeSummit-AgendaSTL.htm .  If you are interested or active in crime prevention and keeping our neighborhoods safe, you will not want to miss this.

Charlene Deeken
Director of Public Safety
City of St. Louis

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Related Services

  1. Blocking Right of Way Permits Blocking Right of Way Permits are required for any activity that will block any portion of the public right of way (streets and sidewalks) such as dumpster placement, moving truck, block parties, construction related street closures.
  2. Apply for a Special Event Permit Outlines the process to apply for a permit to hold a small or large event in the City of St. Louis, such as a Street Fair, Outdoor Concert, Parade, Run and/or Walk, Cycling Race, or Ride.
  3. Sidewalk Permit A sidewalk permit is required for constructing a new sidewalk or reconstructing an existing sidewalk.
  4. Driveway Permits Constructing a new driveway or reconstructing an existing driveway
  5. Residential Block Party Permits Permit is required for neighborhood weekend social gatherings, and must be submitted at least two weeks in advance.

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