Public Safety Director's Spotlight - Emergency Preparedness Makes Sense

 

Emergency Preparedness Makes Sense

Just as having a working smoke detector and an exit strategy can increase the likelihood that you and your family will survive a house fire, the same holds true for surviving emergencies.  We must have the tools and plans in place to make it on our own, at least for a period of time, no matter where we are when disaster strikes.  Preparing for the unexpected just makes sense.  If you haven't already done so, I encourage you now to

• Get a kit.  This means having your own food, water, and other supplies in sufficient quantity to last for at least three days.
• Make a plan.  Your family may not be together when disaster strikes, so it is important to plan in advance:how you will contact one another; how you will get back together; and what you will do in different situations.
• Be informed.  To receive emergency alerts from the City's Emergency Management Agency, simply text STLCEMA to 888777.

For more information about emergency preparedness, visit CEMA's pages on the City website:  http://stlouis-mo.gov .

Upcoming Events

Oct. 24 – Gardens to Tables Food Day, Compton & Rutger, 11 a.m.

You are invited to the fourth anniversary celebration of "Gardens to Tables Food Day" this Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.  The event is held to promote sustainable, healthy, and just agricultural practices, and ultimately a healthier St. Louis community.  It will be held at the corner of Compton and Rutger in the Gardens to Tables Garden.  There will be several stations set up in the garden teaching about food deserts and food access, composting and vermiculture, how to get involved with community supported agriculture, fighting childhood obesity and the process of growing and promoting healthy, sustainable and just food that uses humane agricultural practices.  Each station will be serving a menu item using local produce highlighting the farms from which they came.  The cost of the meal is $5, which is payable in advance through the nd.slu.edu web site.

Oct. 24 – Food Policy "Brown Bag" Speaker Series, Gateway Greening Office, Noon

The Food Policy "Brown Bag" Speaker Series will continue this Friday at Noon with an informational talk by Randy Tempel, Community Garden Coordinator at Community Action Agency of St. Louis County (CAASTLC), on the CAASTLC community garden program.  The Gateway Greening Office is located at 2211 Washington Avenue.  Off- street parking is available in the lot east of Gateway Greening and metered parking is in front of the building.  Please RSVP to Hannah at 588-9600 x 104.

Oct. 24 – Community Resource Fair, Thomas Dunn Learning Center, 3113 Gasconade, 3 p.m.

The Dutchtown Caring Community HUB will be holding a Community Resource Fair this Friday from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Thomas Dunn Learning Center located at 3113 Gasconade (at Marquette Park).  Activities at the event will include job recruitment, free blood pressure screening, activities for the kids and more.  Immediately following the fair at 6 p.m. will be the screening of a family-friendly movie next door at the Marquette Recreation Center, 4025 Minnesota.

Oct. 24 – Last day to vote for the Stan "the Man" Span

The Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge and the Mississippi River Bridge project is one of the top 10 finalists in the America's Transportation Awards.  The competition awards a Grand Prize, which is chosen by transportation experts, and the People's Choice award, which is granted to the project that receives the most votes between now and Friday, Oct. 24.  Show your support and vote today at http://AmericasTransportationAwards.org

Oct. 25 – Harvest Fair 2014, Bell Community Garden, 10 a.m.

Gateway Greening is bringing Harvest Fair back this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Bell Community Garden, 3871 Bell Avenue in celebration of Food Day.  This will be a great opportunity to socialize with fellow community gardeners and volunteers over a shared potluck meal featuring seasonal, garden-grown ingredients.  Activities will include raffles, live music and fun for the entire family.  Raffle tickets will sell for $1.  For additional information, call (314) 588-9600 ext. 104

Oct. 25 – Fall Community Yard Sale, Clifton Heights Neighborhood, 8 a.m.

The Clifton Heights Fall Community Wide Yard Sale will take place this Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.  Maps will be available at various locations including Patti Anne's Exchange Thrift or Consignment Store –Furniture Store, 6022 Southwest across from Mason School.  For more information, visit the Clifton Heights Facebook page or address questions/comments to yardsale@cliftonheightsneighborhood.org – (314) 541-9582.

Oct. 25 – 2014 Financial Planning Day, St. Louis Community College at Forest Park, 9 a.m.

The Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, the Financial Planning Association, and the Foundation for Financial Planning along with the U.S. Conference of Mayors will be conducting their annual national financial education workshop in St. Louis this Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at St. Louis Community College at Forest Park.  The workshop is designed to help City residents in need of sound financial advice regardless of age, job status or income.  Meet with experienced Certified Financial Planners volunteering their services free of charge.  Space is limited to 250 people.  You may register at www.FinancialPlanningDays.org/SaintLouis or call (877) 861-7826.

Oct. 25 – Meet the Builders of the Gateway Arch, Gateway Arch Visitors Center, 10 a.m.

Come meet the men who built the Gateway Arch 49 years ago. Hear their stories, get their autographs, and pose for photos in the Arch Visitor Center this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.  For more information, visit the nps.gov/jeff web site.

Oct. 25 – Community Health Van, Beyond Housing, 10 a.m.

The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis' Community Health Van will be at Beyond Housing, 4156 Manchester from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. this Saturday.  The van is operated in partnership with BJC and the City of St. Louis' Department of Health and is a trusted and highly accessible health resource.  Neighborhood residents can receive health screenings for hypertension, diabetes and cholesterol, and counseling service at no cost.  Need more information?  Call (314) 615-3600.

Oct. 25 – Halloween Family Day, Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis, 10 a.m.

Celebrate Halloween at CAM with a fun-filled morning of artist-led workshops, face painting, storytelling, music, and more this Saturday starting at 10 a.m.  Visitors in costume will be entered in a drawing to win a special prize.  The museum is located at 3750 Washington Boulevard in Grand Center.  For more information, visit the camstl.org web site.

Oct. 25 – Halloween in the Central West End, Maryland/Euclid intersection, 11 a.m.

The family-friendly event celebrating Halloween in the Central West End will kick off at 11 a.m. Saturday with the kids' costume parade at Maryland &Euclid Avenue.  Trick-or-treating will begin at Noon, with children filling their bags with goodies from local businesses.  The dog parade will step off from McPherson & Euclid at 1 p.m. and end at the stage located at Maryland & Euclid.  The adult festivities will run from 8 to 11 p.m. and include an adult costume contest, dancing, live entertainment and more.  Questions?Visit the thecwe.org web site or call (314) 409-1915.

Oct. 25 – Tricks & Treats on Park, Plaza Fountain, 11 a.m.

Enjoy trick or treating at neighborhood businesses on Park this Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.  Visitors will also be able to party at Plaza Fountain, 18^th and Park, and participate in a Halloween parade.  For more information, visit LafayettePark.org.

Oct. 27 – Ghost Hunting Tour, The Lemp Mansion Restaurant, 7 p.m.

This Haunted History Tour is St. Louis' only year-round Ghost Hunting Tour at the Historic Lemp Mansion.  Experience the stories of the Lemp Family and their tragedies, tour the entire Mansion, and attempt spirit communications with a professional paranormal investigator.  The cost is $20.  Reservations are required.  Call Betsy at (314) 644-1814 for information and reservations.

Oct. 28 – National Fair Housing Webinar, Visitors Center in Forest Park, Noon

The City of St. Louis Civil Rights Enforcement Agency (CREA), along with the City Office of the Disabled, will co-host a National Fair Housing Alliance webinar on communicating with persons who are disabled.  The webinar will take place on Tuesday, October 28 from Noon to 4 p.m. at the Visitors Center in Forest Park.  The webinar will be broadcast from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. (CST) with a panel discussion to follow from 2:45 p.m. to 4 p.m. to discuss issues relative to the St. Louis area.  The webinar is free to attend.  Please register online at http://stlcrea.org/ or by calling the CREA office at (314) 589-6476.

Save the Date

Oct. 31 – Purchasing a Home Workshop, SLATE, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Oct. 31 – "Fright Night" Halloween Party, Ballpark Village, 8 p.m.

Oct. 31 – Halloween Parade & Party, Lafayette Park Playground, 5:30 p.m.

Oct. 31 – Trunk or Treat, parking lot of St. Anthony of Padua Church / Confluence Academy, 3132 Meramec (at Michigan), 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 31 – Halloween Twilight Tours, Campbell House Museum, 6:30, 7 and 7:30 p.m.

Nov. 1 – Change Your Clock, Change Your Battery safety event, Schnucks on the Hill, Noon to 3 p.m.

Nov. 1 – Dred Scott Footprints Tour, begins at Eugene Field House, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Nov. 1 – SLACO 19^th Annual Regional Neighborhoods Conference, Harris-Stowe State University, 8 a.m. to 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.

250 Ways to Improve Your Neighborhood

In honor of the 250^th birthday of St. Louis, the St. Louis Association of Community Organizations (SLACO) invites you to contribute your ideas to improve our neighborhoods.  SLACO Judges will select the finalists at the 19^th annual SLACO Regional Neighborhood Conference on November 1.  At the end of the conference, the Grand Prize Winner will receive a $250 value in cash and prizes.  To submit your idea(s) to inspire a better St. Louis, visit http://www.slaco-mo.org/250-ways-to-improve-your-neighborhood.html .

Col. Richard Gray

Director of Public Safety

City of St. Louis