Public Safety Director's Spotlight - Child Passenger Safety

 

Is Your Child in the Right Car Seat?

According to the United States Department of Transportation, car crashes are a leading cause of death for children 1 to 13 years old.  Many times deaths and injuries can be prevented by proper use of car seats, boosters, and seat belts.  Below are some safety tips for choosing the seat for child passengers:

• Children under age 1 should always ride in a rear-facing car seat.
• Keep your child rear-facing as long as possible, i.e., until your child reaches the top height or weight limit allowed by the car seat's manufacturer.
• Once your child outgrows the rear-facing car seat, he or she will be ready to travel in a forward-facing car seat with a harness and tether.
• Once your child outgrows the forward-facing car seat with a harness, it's time to travel in a booster seat but still in the back seat.
• Keep your child in the back seat through age 12.
• Keep your child in a booster seat until he or she is big enough to fit in a seat belt properly.  For a seat belt to fit properly, the lap belt must lie snugly across the upper thighs, not the stomach.  The shoulder belt should be snugly across the shoulder and chest and not across the neck or face.

Upcoming Events

Sept. 19 – St. Louis Symphony Concert, Old Courthouse, Noon

The St. Louis Symphony Landmarks Series will take over the Old Courthouse Rotunda this Friday for a free chamber concert from Noon to 1 p.m.  The performance will feature Dvorak's String Quintet in E-flat major, Viola Quintet.  The Old Courthouse is located at 11 N. Fourth Street in beautiful Downtown St. Louis.  For more information, visit the gatewayarch.com web site.

Sept. 19 – DPS Monthly Update Meeting, 1520 Market Street, 2 p.m.

The next DPS Monthly Update Meeting will be held this Friday at 2 p.m. in the SLDC Boardroom, 1520 Market Street. You are invited to attend the meeting to hear presentations describing the current status of each of the Public Safety Department's division's programs and goals.

Sept. 19 – Movie Night, Ritz Park, 8 p.m.

Enjoy Movie Night at Ritz Park this Friday.  The movie, "Honey I Shrunk the Kids" will be screened from 8 to 10 p.m.  Ritz Park is located at 3147 S. Grand in the Tower Grove South neighborhood.  For more information, visit the southgrand.org web site.

Sept. 19 – Webster University's Centennial Celebration Kick-Off, Old Post Office Plaza, 11 a.m.

The public is invited to participate in the festivities this Friday as Webster University kicks off its Centennial Celebration.  The festive Downtown lunchtime street party will run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Old Post Office Plaza, 815 Locust Street.  Need more information?  Call (314) 968-3060.

Sept. 19 –Third Friday event, Third Degree Glass Factory, 6 p.m.

The theme for this month's Third Friday Party at Third Degree Glass Factory is Glass Galore. Visitors will be able to pick hand blown glass gourds at the annual Glass Pumpkin Harvest and browse artist-made beads, pendants, sculptures, marbles, and jewelry at Glass Galore, a show-sale by St. Louis Lampworker's Society members.  The event will run from 6 to 10 p.m. this Friday.  Third Degree Glass Factory is located at 5200 Delmar Boulevard.  Call (314) 367-4527 for more information.

Sept. 19 – Balloon Glow, Forest Park, 7 p.m.

The annual Balloon Glow, held on the eve of the Great Forest Park Balloon Race, will take place this Friday in Central Field in Forest Park from 7 to 9:15 p.m.  The Balloon Glow is a walk through event only – not a drive through event.  Come and enjoy a beautiful evening strolling alongside the illuminated hot air balloons and ending with a spectacular fireworks display.  To learn more, visit the greatforestparkballoonrace.com web site.

Sept. 20 – The Great Forest Park Balloon Race, Central Field in Forest Park, 3:30 p.m.

The 42^nd anniversary of the Great Forest Park Balloon Race will be celebrated this Saturday in Forest Park.  Activities in Central Field will begin at Noon, with ceremonies taking place at 3:30 p.m. and the launch of the hare balloon at 4:30 p.m.  For all the details, visit the forestparkforever.org web site.

Sept. 20 –Run for the Hills 5K, Francis Park, 8 a.m.

The 23^rd Annual Run for the Hills 5K will take place this Saturday starting at 8 a.m.The challenging course will take runners on a scenic route through St. Louis Hills. A 1-mile walk or competitive kids run will start at 8:45 a.m.  Plenty of fun will be available for all after the race at Francis Park, Tamm & Nottingham, with music, an awards ceremony, and delicious food from local businesses including Ted Drewes, Mathew's Kitchen, and St. Louis Bread Co. To learn more and register for the event, go to www.stlhills.com.

Sept. 20 – Lewis Place Festival, Lewis Place Parkway at Marcus, 11 a.m.

Everyone is invited to stop by the 12^th Annual Lewis Place Neighborhood Festival this Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the Lewis Place Parkway at Marcus.  The theme for this year's celebration is "Anchoring the Past & Preserving Com-Unity:  Lessons of Mill Creek."  Activities will include a History Presentation Award, Gospel Choir and other entertainment, Spoken word, children's games, free food and more.  Lewis Place is the oldest African American private street in St. Louis.  Questions?  Call (314) 652-7794.

Sept. 20 – South Grand Fall Fest, on Grand from Humphrey to Arsenal, 10 a.m.

The South Grand Fall Fest is scheduled for this Saturday.  South Grand businesses will be offering specials from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. In addition, Ritz Park will feature entertainment all day.  Also, four side-streets will be closed to host vendors:  Juniata west of Grand, Connecticut west of Grand, Wyoming east of Grand and Wyoming west of Grand.  Vendors will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  For more details, visit the southgrand.org web site.

Sept. 20 – Dogtown Street Musicians Festival, on Tamm between West Park and Clayton Avenue, Noon

You do not want to miss the Fifth Annual Dogtown Street Musicians Festival that will take place this Saturday from Noon to 7 p.m. on Tamm between West Park and Clayton.  Invite your family and friends to join you for this fun Festival that will feature 30 of our area's talented street musician acts.  For more information, visit the Clayton Tamm Community Association Facebook Page.

Sept. 20 – Dutchtown Better Block event, 4700 block of Virginia, 4 p.m.

The Dutchtown Better Block event will take place this Saturday from 4 to 8 p.m. in the 4700 block of Virginia Avenue (between Itaska and Delor Streets).  Communities around the world are using the Better Block project to show the potential for revitalized activity in an area.  The grassroots effort shows the potential to create a great walkable, vibrant neighborhood center by constructing street improvements and developing pop-up businesses.  For more information, visit the dutchtownsouth.org web site.

Sept. 20 & 21 – Lebanese Festival, St. Raymond's Maronite Cathedral, 6 p.m.

Come and enjoy authentic Lebanese food, live music, activities for the children and Lebanese culture at St. Raymond's Lebanese Festival this Saturday and Sunday.  Saturday night will be an outside event featuring live music, Lebanese food such as kafta, falafel, kibbi nayee, hummus and a hookah booth.  Sunday will be an inside and outside event with live music, children's activities and Lebanese food such as meat pies, spinach pies, grape leaves, cabbage rolls, tabouli and much more.  Visit the straymondsmaronitecathedral.com web site for more information.

Sept. 20 & 21 – Soulard Art Fair, Soulard Market Park, 10 a.m.

The Soulard Art Fair will take place this Saturday and Sunday in Soulard Market Park, 9^th and Lafayette.  Activities include street performers, magicians, sketch artists, live music, wine garden, Taste of Soulard, face painting and more.  The Fair will run from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.  For a complete schedule of the entertainment, visit the SoulardArtFair.com web site.

Sept. 20 – POW/MIA Ceremony and March to the Arch, starts at Soldiers' Memorial, Noon

Make plans now to attend the POW/MIA Ceremony at Noon on Saturday, Sept. 20 at Soldiers' Memorial, 1315 Chestnut, followed by a March to the Arch, in remembrance of all POWs and MIAs.  For more information, visit https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/public-service/Soldiers_Memorial/index.cfm

Sept. 22 –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 Monday, Sept. 22 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, visit the City Court web page at www.stlcitycourt.org.

Sept. 23 – 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.

Save the Date

Sept. 26 – Official St. Louis Fashion Week Kickoff Party, Public Media Commons at Grand Center, 7 p.m.

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

Sept. 26 –28 – Greater St. Louis Hispanic Festival, Soulard Market Park, 10 a.m.

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

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

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

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

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

Sept. 28 – Pedal the Cause, Soldiers' Memorial Plaza, 7 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 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.

Vote for the Stan Span

The Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge project is one of the top 10 finalists in the 2014 America's Transportation Awards competition.  A panel of experts will select the Grand Prize winner.  The nation will decide through online voting which of the projects will receive the People's Choice Award. Online voting is currently underway and will continue through Friday, Oct. 24, at http://AmericasTransportationAwards.org.  Individuals are welcome to vote up to 10 times per day for their favorite projects. Cast your vote today!

Col. Richard Gray

Director of Public Safety

City of St. Louis