Public Safety Director's Spotlight - Back-to-School Safety Tips

 

Back-to-School Safety Tips

A new school year is beginning, and part of the preparation to ensure a successful school year includes reviewing back-to-school safety tips.  Many area students are transported to school by buses.  While school bus travel is generally very safe, the majority of related injuries occur when boarding or exiting a bus because of passing traffic or due to walking in one of the bus driver's blind spots.  Children ages 4 to 7 are at the highest risk of injury. To prevent accidents this school season:

• Educate children on safe bus riding and walking behaviors when getting on and off the bus.
• Teach children about traffic signs and signals, and safe walking zones.
• Instruct children to wait for the "walk" signal at a crosswalk, or for a crossing guard to signal the OK to proceed into the street.
• Drivers are reminded to be cautious as the new school year begins.  Yield to pedestrians and school buses when they're stopped and their lights are flashing.
• Drivers should never pass a bus from either direction if it is stopped to load or unload children.
• The area 10 feet around a school bus is the most dangerous for children, so stop far enough back to allow them space to safely enter and exit the bus.

Upcoming Events

Friday –August 14

Rhythm and Blues in the Afternoon, 14^th Street Artist Community, 2701 N. 14^th Street, 1 to 2 p.m.

Enjoy a free concert and art exhibit this Friday  .For more details, visit the 14thstreetartistcommunity.com website.

Music at the Intersection, Grand Center, 5 p.m.

If you love soul, R&B and hip-hop music, be sure to stop by Grand Center for Music at the Intersection this Friday.  More than 50 bands will play out across several venues including Ferring Jazz Bistro, the Kranzberg Arts Center, the Stage at KDHX, the Dark Room, and Lucha to name but a few.  Venues will offer staggered performance times so people can hear a portion of virtually all the music.  Go to grandcenter.org for more details.

Food Truck Friday, Tower Grove Park, 4 to 8 p.m.

Invite your family and friends to join you in Tower Grove Park this Friday for Food Truck Friday.  For all the details, visit http://foodtruckfriday.saucemagazine.com/ .

Local Social, Central West End, 6 to 9 p.m.

Celebrate all things local in the Central West End this Friday.  From 6 to 9 p.m. enjoy entertainment throughout the neighborhood, including live music, street performers and more.  Visit the cwescene.com website for more information.

Every Friday, May –September –Lunchtime Live, Old Post Office Plaza, 801 Locust, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Invite your co-workers to join you at this fun way to spend your lunch hour.  For more information, visit the downtownstl.org web site.

Every Friday –STLive on Washington Avenue, participating venues on Washington Avenue in Downtown St. Louis, 5 p.m.

Great venues.  Great food.  Great music.  Every Friday night all year 'round at various Washington Avenue restaurants, there is something for everyone to enjoy.  For more information, visit the STLiveMusic page on Facebook.

Saturday –August 15

Thousand Women March & Community Fair, Grand & Natural Bridge, 7 a.m. to Noon

Mothers Against Killing will hold its Thousand Women March & Community Fair this Saturday.  March participants will begin assembling in Fairground Park at 7 a.m. at the corner of Natural Bridge and Grand Boulevard.  The peaceful march will begin moving at 9 a.m. south on Grand Boulevard to St. Louis Avenue, east on St. Louis Avenue to Rauschenbach Park where the Community Fair will begin.  For more information, call (314) 919-6011

St. Louis African American Artifacts Festival, 14^th Street & St. Louis Avenue, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The 2^nd Annual Saint Louis African American Artifacts Festival and Bazaar will take place this Saturday.  Activities will include music, poetry, art, dance, vendor booths, food, and more.  Need more information?  Email saintlaaafab@gmail.com.

Free Concert, Lafayette Park (SE Corner), 6 to 9 p.m.

Big Rich and the Rhythm Renegades are scheduled to perform.  For more details, visit the lafayettesquare.org web site.

Croatian Jr. Tamburitzans of St. Louis Annual Social, St. Joseph's Croatian Church Hall, 2112 S. 12^th Street, 5 to 9 p.m.

Enjoy traditional Croatian music and dancing at the Annual Social.  Food will be available for purchase including home made desserts.  For more information visit the Jr. Tamburitzans' Facebook page.

Barbecue, Watson Terrace Christian Church, 4209 Watson Raod at Winnebago Street, Noon to 7 p.m.

Everyone is invited to stop by the Barbecue this Saturday.  Items available for purchase include pork steaks, brats, chicken breasts, hot dogs, burgers, side dishes, desserts and drinks  .Questions?  Call (314) 647-3840.

Sunday –August 16

K Dinner, Polish Cadets Lodge 1134, 8201 Vulcan Street, Noon to 5:30 p.m.

Invite your friends and family to join you for Polish cuisine this Sunday.  The cost is $10 per person.  Eat in or carry out Kielbasa, Kapusta, Katofla, Kava and more!  The lodge is located four blocks north of River City Casino.

Free Concert, Carondelet Park, 5:30 p.m.

The scheduled performance will be by "Mystic Voyage."  For details about the concerts at Carondelet Park and others that will be held in South St. Louis Square Park, Fanetti Park and Bellerive Park throughout the summer, visit www.carondeletliving.com.

Next Week

Wednesday –August 19

Every Wednesday –Wednesday Lunch Free Concert Series, Citygarden, 10^th & Market, 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.

Stop by and catch the performance by Fire Dog on Wednesday, Aug. 19.  Visit the citygardenstl.org web site for more details.

Save the Date

Aug. 21 –Breakfast for Bikers, Downtown Bike Station, 7 a.m.

Aug. 21 –Rise Up Festival, on Washington Avenue between 16^th & 17^th, Noon

Aug. 21 –Sandlot Movie Night, Ritz Park, Grand & Juniata, activities begin at 7 p.m.

Aug. 22 –Faithfest 2015!, Poelker Park, 13^th and Market, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Aug. 22 –Free Movie, Lafayette Park, (SE Corner), activities begin at 6:30 p.m.

Aug. 22 –Smartypants Trivia Night, Sheet Metal Workers' Local Union 36 Hall, 2319 Chouteau Avenue, 6 to 10 p.m.

Aug. 22 –St. Louis World's Fare:  Heritage Festival, Forest Park, Shakespeare Glen, 4 to 10 p.m.

Aug. 23 –Kirchweihfest, German Cultural Society Hall, 3652 S. Jefferson, 11 a.m.

Aug. 23 –Free Concert, Ivory Perry Park, 800 N. Belt, 6 to 8 p.m.

Aug. 23 –Lindenwood Live Concert, Lindenwood Park, Pernod & Jamieson Avenues, 5 to 8 p.m.

Aug. 23 –Free Concert, Benton Park, Jefferson & Arsenal, 3 to 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 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.

Volunteers Needed

With support from Great Rivers Greenway, Trailnet will be participating in the National Bicycle and Pedestrian Documentation Project for the fourth year in a row.  Volunteers are needed to count bicyclists and pedestrians at various locations around our region.  Volunteers are asked to commit to counting from 5 to 7 p.m. at one location on Tuesday, Sept. 8 or Wednesday, Sept. 9.  Last year more than 4,000 bicyclists and pedestrians were counted at 75 locations throughout the St. Louis region.  For more information and to volunteer, visit the trailnet.org website.

Col. Richard Gray

Director of Public Safety

City of St. Louis