Public Safety Director's Spotlight - Cooking Safety

Cooking Safety

Cooking brings family and friends together, provides an outlet for creativity and can be relaxing.  But did you know that cooking fires are the number one cause of home fires and home injuries?  By following a few safety tips, you can prevent these fires.

• Be on alert!  If you are sleepy or have consumed alcohol, don't use the stove or stovetop.
• Stay in the kitchen while you are frying, grilling, or broiling food.
• If you are simmering, baking, roasting, or boiling food, check it regularly, remain in the home while it is cooking, and use a timer to remind you that you are cooking.
• Keep anything that can catch fire –oven mitts, wooden utensils, food packaging, towels or curtains –away from your stovetop.

If you have a cooking fire, just get out!  When you leave, close the door behind you to help contain the fire.  Call 9-1-1 after you leave.

Upcoming Events

July 11 -- Food Truck Friday, Tower Grove Park, 4 p.m.

Invite your family and friends to join you this Friday at Tower Grove Park for Sauce Food Truck Friday from 4 to 8 p.m.  Enjoy everything from pizza to tacos, cupcakes to crepes, and sushi to sausages.  Cold beverages will be onsite for you to purchase.  Be early, dare to try a new dish or two and enjoy the food, the park and the people.

July 11 –Outdoor Film Series, St. Louis Art Museum, 7 p.m.

Spend your Fridays on Art Hill in Forest Park at the St. Louis Art Museum Outdoor Film Series.  Music and festivities will begin at 7 p.m. and the movie will start at 9 p.m.  For a list of the films that will be shown and for more details, visit the slam.org web site.

July 11 -- Friday Evening Tours, Contemporary Art Museum, 6 p.m.

Everyone is invited to take advantage of the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis' late hours on Friday evenings (now through Aug. 8) and stop by for a special 30-minute tour of the exhibitions.  The museum is located at 3750 Washington Boulevard in Grand Center.  To learn more, visit the camstl.org web site.

July 11 -- Gateway to the Stars, Gateway Arch, 8 p.m.

Washington University scientist Ryan Clegg will present "Astronaut-Explorers" and discuss the future of human spaceflight this Friday beginning at 8 p.m. in the Odyssey Theater inside the Gateway Arch Visitor Center.  Pending clear skies, stargazing led by the St. Louis Astronomical Society will follow the discussion.  The event is free and open to the public.  Questions?  Call (314) 655-1750 ext. 472.

July 11-12 -- Clifton Heights Community-Wide Yard Sale, maps available at Patti Anne's Exchange, 6022 Southwest, 7 a.m.

The Clifton Heights Community-Wide Yard Sale will take place this Friday and Saturday.  Pick up your map at Patti Anne's Exchange located at 6022 Southwest, plan your shopping strategy, and have fun searching for bargains and unique items.  For more information, visit the Clifton Heights Facebook page.

July 12 – Bell Market Opening, 3815 Bell Avenue (Carriage House), 9 a.m.

Starting this Saturday, and every Saturday in the summer, the Bell Market will be open from 9 a.m. to Noon.  Get your fresh veggies grown by Gateway Greening.  For more information, visit the gatewaygreening.org web site.

July 12 -- Free Concert, Farmers' Market Plaza, 6 p.m.

The next performance in the Summer 2014 Soulard Concert Series will take place this Saturday from 6 –9 p.m. at the Soulard Market Plaza, 8^th and Lafayette.  Bring your own picnic or stop by a Soulard restaurant for take out, before settling in for the concert by David Dee and the Hot Tracks Band.  Beverages will be available for purchase, or please feel free to bring your own.  Learn more by calling (314) 436-0282.

July 13 -- Bastille Day 2014, Chatillon DeMenil Mansion, 1:30 p.m.

What better way to celebrate St. Louis' 250^th birthday and French heritage than at the Chatillon DeMenil Mansion's Bastille Day Celebration this Sunday.  The gates will open at 1:30 p.m. for guests to arrive and gather at the Mansion's East Porch for the opening ceremonies that will begin at 2 p.m.  Visitors will be able to enjoy a tour of the Mansion's beautiful first floor museum rooms, demonstrations by the French Marines, period dance performances and more.  Food and drink will be available for purchase.  At 4:30 p.m. visitors may join a walking tour of the Cherokee Historic District.  Go to the demenil.org web site for more information.

July 13-17 – 14^th Annual Whitaker St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase, Tivoli Theatre, 12:30 p.m.

The annual St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase presented by Cinema St. Louis will take place from July 13 through July 17 at the Tivoli Theatre, 6350 Delmar.  The Showcase will screen works that were written, directed, edited, or produced by St. Louis natives or films with strong local ties.  The screenings range from full-length fiction features and documentaries to multi-film compilations of fiction and documentary shorts.  Visit the cinemastlouis.org website for more information.

July 19 –Trivia Night for Do the Right Thing, BishopDuBourgHigh School, 7 p.m.

Do the Right Thing will hold its Seventh Annual Trivia Night on Saturday, July 19 at Bishop DuBourg High School (Cafeteria), 5850 Eichelberger in the St. Louis Hills neighborhood.  Doors will open at 6 p.m.  Trivia will begin at 7 p.m.  Cost is $20 per person or $160 for a table of 8 and includes beer, soda, hot dogs and snacks.  To reserve your table, call (314) 444-0106.

Free Concerts

Invite your family, friends and neighbors to join you at one of the many neighborhood concert series this summer.

July 13 -- Sunday Serenades in Francis Park, Donovan & Eichelberger, 7:30 p.m.  Visit chband.org for the full schedule.

July 13 -- Free Concert in Carondelet Park, Loughborough and Eugene, 6 p.m.  To learn more, visit carondeletevents.com.

July 14 -- Musical Mondays in Tower Grove Park, S. Grand & Magnolia, 7:30 p.m.  Visit chband.org for more information.

July 14 -- Free Concert in Bellerive Park, S. Broadway and Bellerive, 7 p.m.  Visit carondeletevents.com for more details.

July 15 - Free Concert in Fanetti Park, Michigan and Schirmer, 7 p.m.  Visit carondeletevents.com for more information.

July 17 -- Free Outdoor Concert in St. Louis Place Park, Rauschenbach and St. Louis Avenues, 7 p.m.  For more information, call (314) 584-6904.

 

July 17 – First DPS Monthly Update Meeting, 1520 Market Street, 1:30 p.m.

The Department of Public Safety will begin holding monthly update meetings to keep you informed of our programs and our efforts to safeguard the people of St. Louis and those who visit and do business in the City.  The first meeting will take place at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 17 at 1520 Market Street, 2nd Floor in the SLDC Boardroom.  Learn about each division (Police, Fire, Building, Corrections, City Emergency Management, Special Events, Neighborhood Stabilization, Citizens' Service Bureau, and Excise) and its programs.  We will not be taking questions during the presentations, but if you have a topic you'd like covered, please let us know via Twitter (@stlpublicsafety), Facebook page Publicsafety St. Louis or email through the Department of Public Safety webpage on stlouis-mo.gov.  

Save the Date

July 18 – Food Policy "Brown Bag" Speaker Series, Gateway Greening Main Office, Noon

July 18 – Third Friday Free Party, Third Degree Glass Factory, 6 p.m.

July 19 – Landlord Training Event, 4449 Red Bud, 10 a.m.

July 19 – Uber Asphalt (Urban Bike Experience Ride), Lift for Life Academy, 8 a.m.

July 19 – Community Health Fair, Union Tabernacle M.B. Church, 9 a.m.

July 19 – Flicks and Foodies, Gateway Arch Grounds, 7 p.m.

July 19 – Free Concert, Lafayette Park, 6 p.m.

July 20 -- Paddle With Your Pooch, The Boathouse in Forest Park, 12:45 p.m.

July 20 –Free Concert, Benton Park, 3 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.

Recycling Event

Have electronic items to recycle but can't wait until your bulk pick up day to put them out? Spectrum Ecycle will hold an Electronics Recycling Event this Saturday, from 9 a.m. to Noon at Seven Holy Founders Parish, 6737 S. Rock Hill Road.  The event is free.  One TV per vehicle, please.  To learn more about Spectrum Ecycle, visit the spectrumecycle.com web site.

Col. Richard Gray

Director of Public Safety

City of St. Louis

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