Public Safety Director's Spotlight - Cool Down Seeks Donations

 

Cool Down St. Louis Seeks Donations During Heat Wave

With the issuance of an Excessive Heat Warning by the National Weather Service in St. Louis, the Department of Public Safety is joining the Department of Health in encouraging residents to take precautions if they will have prolonged exposure outside.  All residents, especially the elderly, young children, and those without air conditioning should take precautions to protect themselves from the heat.  Know where to go to stay cool and be prepared to limit or stop outdoor activity.  Try to spend at least part of each day in an air conditioned environment.  Call the United Way of Greater St. Louis Referral Line at 1-800-427-4626 for information on cooling sites.  Drink plenty of water and other non-alcoholic and non-caffeine liquids.  Check regularly on elderly, chronically ill or incapacitated relatives, neighbors and friends.  Cool Down St. Louis is helping area seniors and the disabled with their air-conditioning and utilities.  If you would like to make a donation or need assistance, visit www.cooldownstlouis.org or call (314) 241-7668.  

Upcoming Events

Aug. 22 – PNC Arts Alive Friday Fly Nights, St. Louis Union Station, 5 p.m.

Taste the freedom of flight for just $10 at the PNC Arts Alive Friday Night Fly Nights at St. Louis Union Station the remaining Friday nights in August.  The Circus Harmony Flying Trapeze Center is located under the train shed, across from the Hard Rock Café at Union Station..  Stop by from 5 to 6:30 p.m. and take a swing on the trapeze.  It’s on a first-come, first-served basis so get there early.

Aug. 22 & 23 – Rummage Sale, Union United Methodist Church, 7 p.m.

Union United Methodist Church will be holding a Rummage Sale this Friday and Saturday at the church located at 3543 Watson Road in the Lindenwood Park neighborhood.  The Early Bird Sale will take place Friday from 7 to 9 p.m.  Admission price is $5.  The general sale will take place Saturday from 8 a.m. to Noon.  Questions?  Call the church at (314) 647-1228.

Aug. 23 & 24 – Festival of Nations, Tower Grove Park, 10 a.m.

St. Louis’ favorite and best attended annual multicultural celebration – Festival of Nations – will be held this Saturday and Sunday in Tower Grove Park, Grand and Arsenal Street.  The festival will offer a blend of new performers and traditions with long-time favorites.  Presented by the International Institute and 125 community organizations, the Festival is a multiethnic celebration featuring dance, music, food, cultural and educational exhibits, folk art, demonstrations, and craft market.  For all the particulars, visit www.festivalofnationsstl.org.

Aug. 23 – Greyhound Centennial Tour, St. Louis Zoo, 9 a.m.

Greyhound will be bringing its Centennial Mobile Museum Tour to St. Louis this Saturday in celebration of its 100 years of service.  The tour will include a bus converted into a mobile museum displaying memorabilia such as signage, vintage driver uniforms and an entire wall of history, as well as videos via interactive touchscreen displays.  The mobile museum will be at the St. Louis Zoo in Forest Park from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.  Go to the stlzoo.org web site for more information.

Aug. 23 – Free Movie, Lafayette Park, 6:30 p.m.

Invite your friends and family to join you for Movie Night in Lafayette Park, Lafayette & Mississippi, this Saturday.  Games and Arts & Crafts activities will begin at 6:30 p.m. and the movie “Monsters, Inc.” will begin at 8 p.m.  To learn more, visit the LafayetteSquare.org web site.

Aug. 23 – House History 101, Missouri History Museum Library and Research Center, 9:30 a.m.

Are you curious about the history of your house and its former residents?  Then plan to attend House History 101 this Saturday.  Missouri History Museum Associate Archivist Dennis Northcott will introduce participants to the vast array of resources at the Missouri History Museum Library and Research Center, 225 S. Skinker Boulevard in the Wydown / Skinker neighborhood.  The cost is $10 per person.  Reservations are required and may be made by calling (314) 361-9017.

Aug. 23 – Rags to Riches Neighborhood Yard Sale, starts at Grace Methodist Church Parking Lot, 8 a.m.

The Skinker DeBaliviere Neighborhood will hold its Rags to Riches Neighborhood Yard Sale this Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.  The sale will begin at the Grace Methodist Church Parking Lot, 6199 Waterman, and continue throughout the neighborhood.  For more details, visit the skinkerdebaliviere.wordpress.com web site.

Aug. 23 – Flicks and Foodies, Gateway Arch Grounds, 7 p.m.

Everyone is invited to the grounds of the Gateway Arch this Saturday at 7 p.m. for Flicks and Foodies.  The night’s featured movie will be “North by Northwest” starring Cary Grant.  Invite your family and friends to join you for a fun movie night under the Arch.  Local food trucks will be on hand starting at 7 p.m. and the movie will begin at sunset.  For more details, visit www.facebook.com/gatewayarchnps.

Aug. 23 – Old Frenchtown Bicycle Tour, Church of St. Vincent DePaul, 9 a.m.

Explore two of St. Louis’ most fascinating and historic neighborhoods on the Old Frenchtown Bicycle Tour this Saturday.  Registration will take place from 9 to 9:30 a.m. at the Church of St. Vincent DePaul, 1408 S. 10th Street in the Soulard neighborhood, and the ride will depart at 9:30 a.m.  The ride will consist of 10 miles through the Soulard and LaSalle Park neighborhoods.  Cost is $5.  For more information, visit the trailnet.org web site.

Aug. 23 – Croatian Junior Tamburitzans 1st Annual Social, St. Joseph Croatian Catholic Church, 6 p.m.

Everyone is invited to stop by the Croatian Junior Tamburitzans 1st Annual Social this Saturday starting at 6 p.m. at St. Joseph Croatian Catholic Church, 2112 S. 12th Street in the Soulard neighborhood.  Dinners will be available for $10.  Visitors will be able to enjoy several Tamburitza bands and raffles.

Aug. 23 – Knickerbocker Loft Tour, 13th and Washington, 1 p.m.

Do you love the convenience and culture of an urban lifestyle?  Then take a tour of one of the private lofts for sale in the Knickerbocker building from 1 to 3 p.m. this Saturday.  Located in the heart of the St. Louis downtown loft district, you’ll find a cosmopolitan lifestyle on your doorstep and awe-inspiring views of the city.  For more information and loft photos, visit www.ownstl.com.

Now through Aug. 24 – Missouri Style Week, Moto Europa, 6 p.m.

Missouri Style Week is currently underway in Grand Center from now through Sunday, Aug. 24, beginning at 6 p.m. each evening at Moto Europa, 3410 Locust Street.  Highlights include a bustling marketplace with red carpet, vendor shopping, complimentary cocktails, appetizers and desserts, live entertainment and more.  Visit the missouristyleweek.com site for more details and to purchase tickets.

Aug. 24 – Better Family Life PeaceFest 2014, Forest Park, 10 a.m.

Better Family Life is inviting everyone to stop by the 2014 PeaceFest this Sunday at Central Field in Forest Park.  Activities will include an expanded children’s playzone, music by national and local arts, a softball challenge and more.  The event will run from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Aug. 24 – 21st Annual Orchid Auction, Missouri Botanical Garden, Noon

The Orchid Society of Greater St. Louis will be holding its 21st Annual Orchid Auction from Noon until 5 p.m. this Sunday at the Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Boulevard, in the Beaumont Room.  The auction will feature various orchids not found in local stores to suit all experience levels and tastes.  All orchids are either supplied by members or by various orchid nurseries including some local sellers.  Need more information?  Visit the missouribotanicalgarden.org web site.

Aug. 24 – National Park Service Founder’s Day Celebration, Gateway Arch, 1 p.m.

The National Park Service will celebrate its 98th birthday this Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Gateway Arch.  Founder’s Day activities will include free children’s story time, arts & crafts, camping demonstrations, puzzles and games and more in celebration of our National Parks.  For more information, call (877) 982-1410.

Aug. 24 -- Free Concert, Carondelet Park, Loughborough & Eugene, 5:30 p.m.

Invite your family, friends and neighbors to join you at the free concert in Carondelet Park this Sunday, beginning at 5:30 p.m.  To learn more, visit carondeletevents.com.

 

Aug. 26 through Sept. 7 – 2014 Sinquefield Cup, The Chess Club, 6 p.m.

Please join the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis from Wednesday, Aug. 27 through Thursday, Sept. 7 as six of the top nine players in the world compete for the 2014 Sinquefield Cup.  Individual-round tickets are $15, along with multi-round packages starting at $65.  The Club is located at 4657 Maryland Avenue in the trendy Central West End neighborhood.  For more information, including area hotels with special chess rates, visit http://saintlouischessclub.org or call (314) 361-CHESS.

Save the Date

Aug. 29 – Sept. 1 – Gateway Cup Classic Bicycle Races

Aug. 29 – Tour de Lafayette in the Lafayette Square neighborhood

Aug. 30 – Tour de Francis Park in the St. Louis Hills neighborhood

Aug. 31 – Giro della Montagna ProAm on The Hill

Sept. 1 – Benton Park Classic in the Benton Park neighborhood

Aug. 30 – Free Concert, Lafayette Park, 6 p.m.

Aug. 30 & 31 – Big Muddy Blues Festival, Laclede&#’;s. 30 – Sept. 1 – Japanese Festival, Missouri Botanical Garden, 10 a.m.

Aug. 30 – Sept. 1 – St. Nicholas Greek Festival, Aug & Forest Park Ave., 11 a.m.

Kingshighway. 31 – Aug Giro della, departs from Shaw Montagna VPA, 7:30 a.m.

CEC. 31 – Bosnian Aug Festival, Bevo & Gravois, 11 a.m.

Sept. 1 – Unity in the Community Fair 2014, St. Louis Avenue & Grand Boulevard, 11 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 Morganford the information about it to me at email@stlouis-mo.gov or to Cathy GrayR at Smentkowski@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.

New Employment and Training Program

Near smentkowskic Employment Coalition (Southside) has launched a new employment and training program for urban males ages 18-25.  The program is aimed at placing the young men into employment and positioning them to start their own business.  Applications for the program are now being accepted through Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2014.  For more information, contact the NSEC at (314) 865-4453 or NSEC oward@nsecworks.org.

email. Richard Gray

Director of Public Safety

City of St. Louis