Public Safety Director's Spotlight - Emergency Preparedness

Music, commemorations, multicultural celebrations and more in St. Louis City.  Enjoy!

August 22, 2013 | 6 min reading time

This article is 12 years old. It was published on August 22, 2013.

 

National Preparedness Month

I want to begin this week's Spotlight by reminding everyone that September will be observed as National Preparedness Month.  Being prepared for an emergency is a year-round activity, but organizations across the country will hold special activities to increase emergency preparedness awareness and to help people take steps to prepare for emergencies in their homes, schools, businesses, and places of worship.  One step you can take right now is to register to receive emergency alerts from the City's Emergency Management Agency via Nixle.com.  To sign up, simply text STLCEMA to 888777 from your cell phone.  You may also visit the Nixle web site to learn about more options available to you.  Emergency preparedness is the responsiblity of every citizen, and I encourage you to use this time to develop or review your own emergency preparedness plan.

 

Upcoming Events

Aug. 23 -- Outdoor Music Series, Art Hill in Forest Park, 7 p.m.

The Saint Louis Art Museum's 2013 Outdoor Music Series in celebration of the opening of the new East building continues this Friday from 7 - 8:30 p.m.  Bring your friends to chill on Art Hill and enjoy the sounds of Darin Gray on the upright bass, Mars Williams on the saxophone and Tyler Damon on drums as they perform on the Plaza at the top of Art Hill.  For more information about the free concert series, visit the slam.org web site.

Aug. 23 -- Free Concert, Carondelet Lions Park, 7 p.m.

The Carondelet Community Betterment Foundation will sponsor a free concert this Friday in Carondelet Lions Park, located at Michigan and Davis, from 7 – 9 p.m.  Invite your family and friends to join you for a lively performance by the "Big Shake Daddies."

Aug. 24 -- MLK50, Kiener Plaza, 10 a.m.

The St. Louis Reconciliation Network is inviting everyone to Kiener Plaza, located at Broadway and Market in beautiful Downtown St. Louis, this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for MLK50.  The free event will commemorate the 50th anniversary of Dr. King's "I Have A Dream" speech.  Participants will be able to reflect on Dr. King's original speech, music, and comments from local dignitaries.  Need more information?  Call (314) 409-7123.

Aug. 24 & 25 -- International Institute's Festival of Nations, Tower Grove Park, 10 a.m.  

St. Louis' favorite and best attended annual multicultural celebration, The International Institute's Festival of Nations, will return to Tower Grove Park this Saturday and Sunday.  The Festival will feature more than 40 ethnic food booths, non-stop dance and music, arts and crafts, and an international bazaar with unique gifts from around the world.  Admission is free.  The Festival will run from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.  For a complete schedule of activities, visit the festivalofnationsstl.org web site. 

Aug. 24 & 25 -- Camp In' Under the Arch, Gateway Arch, 1 p.m. 

Join the National Park Service this Saturday and Sunday to commemorate the service's 97th birthday by participating in Camp In' Under the Arch.  Hosted in the lobby of the Gateway Arch, children are invited to explore a life-size tipi, learn how to pitch a tent and sing songs around the campfire. The free activities will run from 1 – 4 p.m. each day.  Questions?  Call (314) 655-1614.

Aug. 24 -- Free Concert, Lafayette Park, 6 p.m.

Invite your family and friends to join you this Saturday from 6 – 9 p.m. in Lafayette Park, Mississippi and Lafayette, by the gazebo for a free concert by "Rich McDonough and the Rough Grooves."  Pack a picnic basket, bring lawn chairs or a blanket and enjoy a fun evening under starlit skies.

Aug. 24 -- Bicrobrews Microbrewery Bicycle Tour, departs from Urban Chestnut Brewing Company, 11 a.m.

Trek Bicycle Store of St. Louis is sponsoring the Bicrobrews Microbrewery Bicycle Tour that will be held this Saturday.  Registration will begin at 10:30 a.m. at Urban Chestnut Brewing Company, located at 3229 Washington Avenue, and the group ride will depart at 11 a.m.  Several urban microbreweries will be featured on this 15-mile tour.  Learn what it takes to craft a great brew as you tour the many stops and sample their products.  Cost is $5 for adults; not recommended for children.  You must be 21 years old to drink.  To learn more, visit the Trailnet.org web site.

Aug. 25 -- Better Family Life's PeaceFest 2013, Forest Park, 10 a.m.

Better Family Life will hold PeaceFest 2013 this Sunday at Central Field in Forest Park from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.  Activities will include a car show, corkball tournament, children's play zone, softball challenge and more.  Participants also will enjoy performances by national and local recording artists.  Bring your children, blankets, lawn chairs, snacks and spend the day with family and neighbors.  For more information, call (314) 381-8200.

Aug. 25 – Croatian Day – Homecoming Picnic, St. Joseph Croatian Church, 11 a.m.

St. Joseph Croatian Church will hold its annual Homecoming Picnic this Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the air-conditioned church hall located at 2112 S. 12th Street in the Soulard neighborhood.  Admission is free. Invite your family and friends to join you for a fun afternoon enjoying dance music by the St. Louis Croatian Junior Tamburitzans and more!  For more details, call (314) 221-3156.

Now through Aug. 24 – Missouri Fashion Week, Moto Museum, 6 p.m.

From the late 19th century to the end of World War II, the St. Louis Garment District was second only to New York as an American center for fashion design and manufacturing.  Events such as Missouri Fashion Week are creating a buzz once again about the raw talent of designers emerging from our state's colleges and universities.  This year's Missouri Fashion Week has transformed the Moto Museum, located at 3441 Olive in Grand Center, into a fashion hub teeming with designers, models, vendors and much more.  Missouri Fashion Week is in full swing now through Saturday, Aug, 24.  There's still time to purchase tickets for an energetic night offering guests the opportunity to shop, enjoy red carpet runway shows, mingle, network and more.  For the complete schedule and ticket information, visit the missourifashionweek.com web site.

 

Now through Aug. 25 – Downtown Restaurant Week 2013, various locations & times

Downtown Restaurant Week is underway now through Aug. 25.  In its 9th year, the event has grown to include 27 restaurants, offering a special 3-course dinner menu for $25 per person, plus tip, plus tax.  This is a great opportunity to rediscover a long-time favorite restaurant or experience one of St. Louis' hot new eateries.  Also, when paying your check, you may donate an "Extra Helping" of $5 to benefit Operation Food Search.  For more details and a complete list of participating restaurants, visit the downtownrestaurantweek.net/2013/ web site.

Aug. 28 – Mount Pleasant Neighborhood Association Quarterly Meeting, The Gretchen Inn at the Feasting Fox, 7 p.m.

The Quarterly Meeting of the Mount Pleasant Neighborhood Association will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 28 at 7 p.m. at The Gretchen Inn at the Feasting Fox on Meramec at Grand.  Kaleta Crisp will speak about Medicaid expansion, and Donna Lilley will talk about the rehabilitation of the Charless Home Property at I-55 and Broadway.  Invite your neighbors to join you for this informative meeting.

 

Save the Date

Aug. 30 – 2013 Food Policy Brown Bag Lunch, Gateway Greening, Noon

Aug. 30 – Tour de Lafayette, Lafayette Square neighborhood, 3 p.m.

Aug. 31 & Sept. 1 – Big Muddy Blues Festival, Laclede's Landing, 1 p.m.

Aug. 31 – Sept. 2 – Greek Festival, St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, 11 a.m.

Aug. 31 – Tour de Francis Park, St. Louis Hills Neighborhood, 10 a.m.

Aug. 31 – Third Annual Sidewalk Chalk Festival, The Delmar Loop, 9 a.m.

Aug. 31 – Fourth Annual Corvette, Cars, Bikes & Trucks Show, Upper Muny Parking Lot in Forest Park, 10 a.m.

Sept. 1 – Giro Della Montagna, Shaw VPA CEC, 9 a.m.

Septl 2 – Labor Day Parade, 15th & Olive, 9 a.m.

Sept. 2 – Benton Park Classic, Benton Park neighborhood, 10 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 deekenc@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 on the home page. The listing is free. I encourage you to take advantage of this free way to promote your event.

 

Lifesaver Awards

In closing, I want to pass along to you some information from the American Red Cross.  Each year, the Red Cross honors community members who acted heroically to help someone in critical need.  They are currently accepting nominations for the 2014 American Red Cross Lifesaver Awards.  For more information about nominating someone, visit the redcross.org web site.

 

Charlene Deeken
Director of Public Safety
City of St. Louis

 

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Related Services

  1. Blocking Right of Way Permits Blocking Right of Way Permits are required for any activity that will block any portion of the public right of way (streets and sidewalks) such as dumpster placement, moving truck, block parties, construction related street closures.
  2. Apply for a Special Event Permit Outlines the process to apply for a permit to hold a small or large event in the City of St. Louis, such as a Street Fair, Outdoor Concert, Parade, Run and/or Walk, Cycling Race, or Ride.
  3. Sidewalk Permit A sidewalk permit is required for constructing a new sidewalk or reconstructing an existing sidewalk.
  4. Driveway Permits Constructing a new driveway or reconstructing an existing driveway
  5. Residential Block Party Permits Permit is required for neighborhood weekend social gatherings, and must be submitted at least two weeks in advance.

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